Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

Luke called his three assistants in and briefly explained the plan to regain control of the cruise ship's cockpit.

He looked at the three of them and solemnly said, "The upcoming battle will be very dangerous. If any of you want to back out, now is the time.

I can also understand your decision."

The three exchanged glances, showing no intention to retreat.

"You are true heroes," Luke praised them and began assigning tasks.

He looked at Hamidi Shawn's two bodyguards, "Later, the two of you will go with me to reclaim the cockpit." He then looked at the black chef, "You're responsible for guarding this hijacker."

The black chef frowned, "Why am I the one left to watch this guy?

I also want to go with you to retake the cockpit. I know how important the cockpit is. You need a guide; no one knows this cruise ship better than me."

The reason Luke wanted the black chef to stay and guard the hijacker was that he was worried the chef hadn't received military training. He was likely to get hurt in the fight and possibly cause instability to the team.

Luke persuaded, "The upcoming task is very dangerous; there's a possibility of getting hurt."

The black chef looked at the two bodyguards, "If they can go, why can't I? Don't underestimate me."

Luke patted him on the shoulder, "Buddy, I don't mean it that way. They've both retired from the military, received professional military training, and have extensive combat experience."

Luke then glanced at the captured hijacker, "Besides, we do need someone to watch him."

The black chef didn't give up, "I can find a colleague to watch him.

He's injured now, and his hands are cuffed; he's not going anywhere.

I want to fight with you."

Seeing the chef's determined attitude, Luke no longer argued, "Be careful. Protect yourself and make sure to follow orders."

"I understand."

Luke continued to ask, "Martin, do you know the situation in the cockpit?"

The black chef replied, "Of course, there's no place on this cruise ship unfamiliar to me.

The cockpit is on the fifth level of the cruise ship. Its glass is bulletproof, and the door is reinforced, making forced entry quite difficult."

At this moment, the cruise ship's broadcast sounded with a man's voice, "Good morning, passengers!

You should all be aware of what's happening on the cruise.

I now officially announce that this cruise ship has been hijacked, and everyone should stay in their rooms obediently.

Anyone who dares to run around will be thrown into the sea to feed the sharks.

Also, I know there's an FBI agent on this cruise ship.

This damned bastard killed my partner and gathered a few helpers to try and challenge me.

I'm angry, but I'm not afraid.

Let's go; I'm in the cockpit, and I'm all alone here." At this point, the man in the broadcast chuckled, "By the way, there's one more thing to tell you.

I've installed a bomb on this cruise ship. If any strangers dare to approach the cockpit, I will detonate the bomb.

Though it may not destroy the whole ship, it'll definitely sink it to the bottom of the sea, and hundreds of passengers will be buried with me.

I believe they and their families will thank you, haha.

Come, I'm waiting for you in the cockpit."

After the broadcast ended, the kitchen storage room fell silent.

Luke and his team's actions could only pause temporarily.

The black chef Martin asked in panic, "Is there really a bomb on the cruise ship?"

No one answered.

From Luke's perspective, to find out if there's a bomb, they must first understand the hijackers' motives.

According to the captured hijacker Baldie, the hijackers' goal was to rob the passengers on the cruise ship and then select a few wealthy ones to kidnap to Mexico for ransom.

Luke felt there were some issues with this explanation.

Firstly, these hijackers were weaker than expected. With their personnel and firepower, controlling the entire ship seemed quite challenging.

If the hijackers weren't using cruise passengers, they wouldn't withstand a single offensive from the SEAL team.

Secondly, the timing of hijacking the cruise ship seemed off.

If they were planning to kidnap passengers to Mexico, they should have acted before reaching the Mexican port of Cancun rather than now, after passing Cancun and having to redirect back to the coastal area of Mexico, which seems contradictory.

Luke speculated that the hijackers might have other intentions, but temporary accidents changed their original plan.

Only by figuring out the hijackers' initial plan can they know if a bomb was planted on the cruise ship.

Hamidi Shawn's bodyguard asked, "Consultant Lee, what should we do now? Do we still try to retake the cockpit?"

Luke answered, "Since the hijackers are prepared, regaining control of the cockpit will be much more difficult.

If there's really a bomb on the cruise ship, the hijackers might detonate it in a critical moment to create chaos and escape.

To prevent large-scale casualties, the priority is to eliminate the bomb threat."

Luke looked at the cuffed hijacker Baldie, "Did you plant a bomb on the cruise ship?"

"I don't know. I'm just a minor player; even if there's a bomb, they wouldn't tell me beforehand."

"Then tell me what you know."

"I really only know this, I swear."

Luke asked, "Tell me the identities and jobs of those six hijackers."

"The leader is the second mate. The one who spoke on the broadcast is him, and he recruited me. His name is Gor Neville.

Including myself, there are two cruise ship security guards.

There are also three who are cruise ship warehouse managers."

"Three hijackers are warehouse managers?"

"Yes."

Luke frowned slightly.

Is it a coincidence? Or do these roles have another purpose?

If recruiting security was to unexpectedly take control of the cruise ship.

Then what was the purpose of recruiting three warehouse clerks?

Also, why did the head of the hijackers know my identity as an FBI agent.

When Luke revealed his identity, only those in the restaurant should have known.

This indicates that someone in the restaurant is very likely colluding with the hijackers.

Luke looked at the bald hijacker, "Are there accomplices of yours in the restaurant?"

"No."

Luke stared at the person, not detecting any obvious signs of lying.

His thoughts returned to the three warehouse clerks.

If this recruitment is not a coincidence, it means the warehouse is very important to the hijackers.

Is the bomb placed in the cruise ship warehouse?

Thinking of this, Luke asked the black chef beside him, "Do you know the location of the cruise ship's warehouse?"

"Of course."

Under the guidance of the black chef, Luke and the three others hurried to the cruise ship warehouse, which was very large and stored passengers' luggage.

Luke searched around but didn't find any trace of the hijackers.

Luke instructed the four to search separately for the bomb.

Luke found a pool of blood under a shelf.

Next to it, covered by a black plastic sheet, was the corpse of a white male, dressed in a security uniform, shot in the chest, staining the area red.

The appearance of this corpse confirmed some of Luke's suspicions; having three warehouse clerks among the hijackers was no coincidence, as they might have been transporting contraband using the clerks' identity.

Possibly in this process, something unusual was discovered by this security guard, leading to his later shot and killed.

If this contraband is indeed a bomb, Luke speculates that this bomb is most likely not in the warehouse anymore and could be placed somewhere else.

The reason is simple: the bomb is the biggest leverage for the hijackers, and they would certainly have someone guarding it, but the warehouse was empty except for a cold corpse, indicating they have abandoned it and hidden the bomb in a more secluded place.

The searches by others also showed no progress; the warehouse was large and contained hundreds of pieces of passengers' luggage, searching them one by one would take too long, and the hijackers would unlikely give Luke that much time.

Moreover, the result of the search might end up being empty.

Luke decided to change the direction of the investigation; if the transported contraband is indeed a bomb, then Luke speculates that the bomb may have been loaded onto the cruise ship at the Mexican Cancun port.

There are three reasons; first, compared to Mexico, America is stricter in controlling explosives.

Secondly, the time the hijackers hijacked the cruise ship was just after passing the Mexican Cancun port.

Thirdly, the direction of escape for the accomplices of the hijackers is also Mexico, perhaps that's their base.

According to Luke's indication, there were only two passengers who boarded yesterday from the Mexican Cancun port, Julian Ron and Anty Doherty.

Do these two people know some inside information?

Additionally, these two not only know his identity but also personally experienced the restaurant incident.

Following this, Luke took out his walkie-talkie, wanting to reach Hamidi Shawn to understand Julian Ron's movements.

Luke had just turned on the walkie-talkie when Hamidi Shawn's voice came through from the other side, "Luke, we were attacked, I...

Bang bang bang..."

...

Five minutes ago, Hamidi Shawn was escorted by two bodyguards towards the elevator to return to his room on the ninth floor.

Earlier, after the three of them left the restaurant, the whole cruise ship became chaotic, with passengers hurriedly rushing back to their rooms.

A crowd was scrambling for the elevator, climbing stairs.

The two bodyguards, worried about any mishaps, first escorted Hamidi Shawn to a safe place.

Now that the situation on the cruise ship has stabilized, the two bodyguards took Hamidi Shawn back to his room.

"Ding dong..."

The cruise ship stopped on the ninth floor.

A tall black bodyguard checked the outside situation before taking Hamidi Shawn out of the elevator, quickly heading toward room 906.

Just as the three were about to reach the door, a man emerged from the stairwell, wearing a baseball cap, a black jacket, and his hands in his pockets.

The two bodyguards involuntarily became alert.

Before they could react, the man in black pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed at Hamidi Shawn.

"Bang..." The gunshot rang out.

The body of the black bodyguard shielded Hamidi Shawn, and the bullet hit the bodyguard.

"Bang bang..."

The other bodyguard also drew a gun in return, firing back at the man in black.

"Get inside..."

The black bodyguard opened the door and pushed Hamidi Shawn inside.

"Bang bang..." Gunshots continued to ring out.

The armed bodyguard was also hit, clutching his shoulder as he retreated into the room.

The man in black did not give up, firing wildly at the doorway.

"Bang bang..."

The bullets pierced the door, hitting the armed bodyguard's leg...