Chapter 722 - 457: Logging (Part 2)

Chapter 722: Chapter 457: Logging (Part 2)

Alvin was in a difficult position.

On one hand, the boss’s orders were unshakeable. On the other, his crew was completely exhausted.

His brow furrowed even tighter, his heart tangled with indecision.

Seeing the captain’s troubled expression, a look of someone caught between a rock and a hard place, the First Mate steeled his resolve and pressed on.

"Captain, I really think we need to contact the boss. The *River Beach* has been operating at sea for so long... the crew is exhausted, body and soul. If we keep this up, it’s only a matter of time before something serious happens. And it’s not just the men. The ship’s equipment has been running nonstop. It needs a full overhaul and maintenance in port, too."

Alvin listened to the First Mate, his hesitation growing.

His gaze drifted to the deck. He could see the profound exhaustion in the crew’s gait; every one of their movements was sluggish and heavy.

After a moment of thought, he gritted his teeth, turned, and strode back toward the pilothouse.

Just two days ago, Alvin had been in contact with the Crown Territory.

The cold snap that had invaded Alaska had already receded.

He learned that aside from the Mossy Tundra and the plantations, which were severely damaged in the cold snap, all personnel were safe and sound.

While this news put Alvin at ease, he was also confused. The cold snap was over, so why was the boss still making the *River Beach* continue its fishing operations?

And what’s more, the catches had no economic value.

After all, every time the *River Beach* went to sea, the cost of fuel, provisions, and general depreciation added up to a massive sum.

Every time the ship returned to port, after maintenance and paying the crew’s salaries, they were essentially operating at a loss. Sometimes, they were even deep in the red.

This business model, where they were losing money instead of making it, was something Alvin simply couldn’t wrap his head around.

He had no idea what the boss was planning.

However, his awe and fear of the boss kept him from daring to call and ask why.

But now, the crew had reached their breaking point, both physically and mentally.

Including Jerry, who was injured today, three crew members were now hurt.

If they kept up this high-intensity work, losing crew members to injury was likely to become a regular occurrence.

Even if the First Mate hadn’t spoken up just now, Alvin had already been planning to report the situation to the boss.

He wanted to see if he could secure some rest time for the *River Beach* and its crew.

After all, the health and safety of the crew was fundamental to the ship’s operation.

Returning to the pilothouse.

The Second Mate was slumped over the sonar fish-finder screen, his eyes glued to the flashing signals.

Hearing a sound behind him, the Second Mate turned his head mechanically toward the door. His expression was dazed and numb as he spoke, his voice weak.

"Captain, the sonar’s picked up another school of northern cod, one kilometer southeast of the *River Beach*."

"Fack, I’m over here," Alvin said. He was standing by the satellite phone, nowhere near the door.

But when he saw the Second Mate’s vacant, half-dead expression, Alvin sighed.

Like the rest of the crew, the man was utterly exhausted, body and soul, from the prolonged, high-intensity work.

"You rest for a bit. I’ll make a call and then we’ll decide whether to continue working."

With that, Alvin took a deep breath.

He picked up the satellite phone and dialed the boss’s number.

The phone on the other end rang... BEEP... BEEP... a few times before connecting.

Alvin could hear a lot of noise on the other end.

It sounded like a crowd of people talking, mixed with the howling of wind. He quickly raised his voice and reported the *River Beach’s* current problems.

As the conversation continued.

The deep furrows in Alvin’s brow gradually smoothed out, replaced by an expression of growing, pleasant surprise.

"Boss, don’t you worry, this absolutely won’t delay the fishing operations."

"Yes, yes, I’ll inform the crew."

"No problem. We’ll be sure to stay safe."

When he hung up the satellite phone.

Alvin turned around with a wide grin. He saw the First Mate looking at him expectantly and the Second Mate staring off into space.

A joyous smile appeared on his face, like sunshine breaking through the gloom.

He cleared his throat, raised his voice, and announced excitedly.

"The boss has agreed to let us return to port and rest."

"From now on, we’ll be at sea for five days a week, with two days of rest."

The First Mate couldn’t help but clench his fists and cheer under his breath.

Alvin paused, then continued, "And, the crew is getting a 50% raise for this period."

As soon as he said that.

The pilothouse was filled with joy. Even the Second Mate’s numb expression finally broke into a rare smile.

The First Mate was so overjoyed he started waving his arms and legs, muttering, "My God, the boss is so generous! I’m going to tell the crew the good news right now."

He had barely finished speaking.

When there was a THUMP.

The Second Mate, who had been forcing himself to stay upright in front of the sonar, suddenly went limp and collapsed heavily onto the machine.

Alvin and the First Mate hurried forward to check on him.

They found the Second Mate’s head slumped to one side, rhythmic snores escaping his lips. His face was relaxed; he had clearly passed out from sheer exhaustion.

The two couldn’t help but look at each other.

They exchanged a wry, pained smile.

Everyone had been under immense pressure. A rest and a reward couldn’t have come at a better time.

It was for the best.

Alvin picked up a coat and gently draped it over the soundly sleeping Second Mate.

Then, he turned to the First Mate and ordered.

"Go on, pass down the order to stop all fishing operations now. Except for the engine room, which needs someone on watch, everyone else can rest. Open up the rec room, get the galley cooking, and break out the liquor. Let the boys relax."

"Roger that!"

The First Mate’s face was flushed with excitement. Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and hurried out of the pilothouse.

He couldn’t wait to spread the good news to every corner of the *River Beach*.

The next moment.

Wild, unearthly cheers erupted from the deck.

The sound was deafening, as if it could shatter the cold sea air and pierce the clouds.

The crew’s long-suppressed emotions erupted at this moment.

They stood on the deck, cheering and jumping.

They released days of accumulated fatigue and stress with their shouts.

Listening to the near-frenzied shouts from outside, Alvin couldn’t help but smile.

’The crew really needed a chance to blow off some steam.’

He then turned, walked over to the helm.

And activated the *River Beach’s* autopilot.

Although the crew could finally get some proper rest, Alvin couldn’t let his guard down.

In his call with the boss just now.

The boss had told him to start preparing.

In a few days, they were going to Russia to buy more fishing vessels.

’I was just born to work myself to the bone, wasn’t I!’

But even so, a tired yet satisfied expression spread across Alvin’s face.

He sat down in the captain’s chair, tilted the backrest slightly, and propped his feet up on the console.

He casually picked up the *River Beach’s* specifications manual.

And began to flip through it at his leisure.

...

「Moonlight Forest.」

Feng Mountain and his men were hard at work, their activity heating up the cold air.

The winter forest air was bone-chilling, but it did nothing to dampen the men’s enthusiasm.

One by one, tall spruces and cedars fell under axes and saws.

First, they used axes to fell the large trees, then used chainsaws to clean off the branches.

The chainsaws buzzed, sending sawdust flying. Before long, the tangled branches were trimmed and neatly stacked.

Next, the entire log trunks were tied tightly with ropes.

The tigers weren’t idle either. Using their own strength, they dragged the cleaned logs with steady steps to a temporary loading point.

Then, everyone worked together to lift the logs onto a sled.

They then carefully tied them down with thick ropes to ensure the logs wouldn’t roll off during transport.

Once a sled was full, Paine and his team would tow it back to camp with snowmobiles.

The snowmobiles zipped across the snow, kicking up a flurry of powder that trailed them like a white dragon.

AWOOOO!!

Suddenly, a series of chilling howls echoed from deep within the forest.

Yet, the men acted as if they hadn’t heard the howls, continuing their work in an orderly fashion.

After all, in this land.

Everyone knew that while they couldn’t speak for other places.

Here in the Crown Territory, there was absolutely no other Wolf Pack besides the White Wolf Family.

And the leaders of the White Wolf Family.

Prince and Princess, were the boss’s darlings.

They would never harm anyone.

So, the men had long since grown used to the howling, remaining focused on their work, completely unfazed.

....