So, for Bai Youwei’s plan to work, there was one essential precondition: real-time information relay!

Shen Mo said: “We can use walkie-talkies.”

“Walkie-talkies?!” Shen Fei was stunned. “But… but walkie-talkies need electricity.”

Yu Yaqing froze for a moment, then it clicked — and her expression lit up with excitement!

“There’s electricity! We have electricity! Right now it’s nighttime at the amusement park — the walkie-talkies can work!”

The park was full of walkie-talkies!

Not just in the security office — every ride’s control booth had walkie-talkies too!

With the biggest obstacle resolved, the group immediately set out for Treasure Bay —

Yu Yaqing and Tan Xiao took a detour around the western side toward Treasure Bay. Shen Mo entered from the south to rendezvous with Yan Qingwen. Bai Youwei and Shen Fei had the weakest mobility, so they remained on the outer perimeter of Treasure Bay.

They moved quickly. Through the walkie-talkie came Yu Yaqing’s voice:

“We’re here! The target has been spotted prowling around the Ghost Ship — Mali is very likely on the Ghost Ship…”

Bai Youwei heard this and immediately spread her map open on a bench by the road. She said gravely: “No — Mali is not on the Ghost Ship! The fact that the rag dolls and the cat are prowling near the Ghost Ship is almost certainly meant to mislead us! The space under the hull is too tight for the cat to enter — but the entire ship can move. If it lures us all inside, that cat will ram the ship into the lake!”

The Ghost Ship’s design was even worse than the old pirate ship had been — falling apart everywhere. Once it hit the water, it would sink far faster than the pirate ship ever could!

Through the walkie-talkie, Bai Youwei heard Tan Xiao curse from the other end.

“Don’t rush — keep watching the rag dolls and the cat.” Bai Youwei stared at the park map, her voice unusually calm. “Even though they’re guarding the Ghost Ship, they will constantly be checking to make sure Mali’s hiding spot is still safe. Just keep your eyes on their eyes — whichever place they glance at most often, that’s where Mali is hiding!”

The walkie-talkie went quiet.

Shen Fei, who had stayed by Bai Youwei’s side the whole time, couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration inwardly.

— When someone’s home has been broken into and they return to find the intruder gone, the first thing they do is check wherever they keep their valuables.

What Bai Youwei had said was basic psychological common sense, and yet not everyone would think of it.

Wherever Mali was hiding would inevitably receive more attention from the rag dolls and the stuffed cat! Even if they tried to pretend otherwise, their eyes would give them away!

They waited two or three minutes.

“From when we started talking until just now… Mali has looked southeast five times, northwest three times, northeast… nine times…” Yu Yaqing’s quiet voice came through the walkie-talkie.

Shen Fei looked at the map.

To the northeast of the Ghost Ship were two attractions: the Treasure Bay Theater and the Mysterious Crystal Tower.

“Either of those two could be it.” Shen Fei looked up at Bai Youwei. “How do we narrow it down from here?”

Bai Youwei held the walkie-talkie, thought for a moment, and said: “Yu Yaqing goes to the theater. Shen Mo goes to the Crystal Tower. Tan Xiao — three minutes after they depart, you go to the Ghost Ship.”

Tan Xiao’s voice immediately crackled through the walkie-talkie: “Why do I have to go to the Ghost Ship? Didn’t you say the Ghost Ship was a decoy?!”

Bai Youwei frowned: “Obviously it’s a precaution — we have to have someone at the Ghost Ship.”

What if Mali happened to be hidden on the Ghost Ship after all?

Tan Xiao: “Oh… what a brilliant plan!”

Shen Fei doubted whether he had actually understood any of it.

But it didn’t matter whether he understood — as long as he could follow instructions.

The walkie-talkie fell silent on the other end; everyone had already moved toward their respective destinations.

Shen Fei found a nearby tree and managed to climb it, standing on a branch and gazing out. He spotted a dark shadow leap into the night toward the north, away from the Ghost Ship.

The cat really did leave the Ghost Ship!

Only the distance and angle from where Shen Fei stood made it impossible to tell whether the cat’s destination was the theater or the Crystal Tower.

Moments later, Shen Mo’s voice came through the walkie-talkie:

“The cat is coming.”

—