Where the sea sleeps [HoonHao] ✔

24

There's a large box in the middle of the deck. Square in shape, but nevertheless large. He was taller than it at the very least. It looked very uninviting.

"You mean to say that you have absolutely no idea as to what this is nor what it contains?" Woozi turns to Minghao who has yet to say anything. Ever since their walk, he hasn't said anything other than 'I don't know'. Woozi wanted to ask him about it, but he chose to wait. When they boarded, a silence hummed through the air as everyone took in the box. It was a complete mystery. It looked harmless, but then again, so did every other crate he'd seen in the docks and for all they knew, it could contain something that got them arrested. Nevermind the fact that the people they agreed to do the trade for refused to tell them a thing about the item.

"I don't," he admits.

"They wouldn't tell us," Scoups says from beside Minghao. "Just said it needed to be delivered to the main city as soon as possible." Scoups seems just as displeased as Minghao about this. His arms are crossed over his chest as he eyes the box. "And we can't open it to find out because they'll know and we'll get into trouble."

"How much trouble could you get into when this is an illegal delivery in the first place?" Vernon shoots. His once earsplitting smile has long ago faded since they left. Woozi couldn't imagine leaving someone he loved behind the way Vernon was doing. And every time? He doesn't think he'd be able to bear it.

"This is an illegal delivery?" Woozi queries when he's finally processed the words. He looks to the group, waiting to hear their response.

"Technically speaking, yes." Minghao stares at him, face void of emotion as he continues. "We're not a cargo ship. We're not a delivery ship, so we're not meant to be making any deliveries. That's why we're paid an extra amount than what they would be paying the delivery ships."

"So the item itself—"

"We don't ask questions if they don't want us to," Minghao confirms.

Dino, who has been observing their conversation and occasionally sparing the box a glance in between, clears his throat. He's standing beside Scoups, arms crossed in a similar manner. "That's sort of suspicious though, don't you think?"

"Add to the matter that they paid us extra to ensure that, not only do we not ask questions, but we don't say a word to anyone else about this delivery then yeah. Extremely suspicious," Scoups comments.

"So then you're not going to open it?" Joshua asks as he assesses the room. It's not that he didn't hear Minghao saying they weren't going to open it, but more that he was looking to confirm this. With the hopeful look in his eye, Woozi suspects he wants Minghao to provide a better reason than them getting into trouble. One glance at Minghao, however, tells them it's not enough to get him to speak. Which is probably what prompts Joshua to add on. "I doubt they will know. And if this is an illegal delivery, then surely the trouble you get into for opening the box won't be able to measure up to the trouble you're in if you're caught in this illegal delivery." Joshua's reasoning is solid. Solid in a way that it makes sense. It's not like he's telling a lie either. Though Woozi isn't sure whether it's enough of a reason to open the box; as much as it was an illegal delivery, it still felt like an invasion of privacy.

"We're not going to open it," Minghao states. "As much as this delivery is illegal, we still abide by the basic human rights rules which means that we respect everyone's privacy. We work on customer confidentiality. A non-disclosure agreement if you will. So no, once again, we will not be opening the box." His gaze casts over the group, eyes analyzing each and every person as he turns around slowly. "The box will remain untouched until we arrive at the destination of its delivery."

He walks up to the wheel, a nod in Joshua and Hoshi's direction. The two proceed to make their way to the one side of the crate, dropping down paint, brushes and material that unrolls itself slightly at the drop.

"What is this for?" Woozi queries aloud, glancing up at Minghao who he has a sneaking suspicion instructed them to get these. Minghao's lips quirk when they make eye contact.

"If we're heading into the main city, we can't go with the current flag we have or they'll recognize it. So we'll be making a new one."

Mingyu eyes him. "By we, do you mean us and not you?"

"Seungcheol and I will switch steering so we can both help out with the flag." A crooked smile wavers across his face, eyes shining. "After all, it is still our ship, right?"

They set to work on the new flag almost immediately. Every chance he has to stand still for a moment or just look up, he catches Joshua and Hoshi talking hushedly. He thinks nothing of it until one of the other crew members make their way over and their talking comes to an abrupt stop.

Brows lifting, he frowns curiously as he watches the two, but he doesn't linger on it. Instead he decides to ignore it for now, until the flag is complete. Even then, he's not sure whether he'll even approach them about it.