novelraw Chapter 133: Monster, what do you want to do?
Chapter 133: Monster, what do you want to do?
The sea breeze continued to blow.
"It's the Beiguo Meteorological Bureau personnel..."
Chen Qi's icy gaze aligned perfectly with the gun barrel pointed at him.
Click! Click!
The sounds of bullets being chambered echoed repeatedly.
Unlike combat-specialized navy forces, the Meteorological Bureau prioritized stealth and reconnaissance.
Their objective wasn't victory, but information gathering and delivering that intelligence back to their research base.
Concealment. Investigation. Survival. Homecoming!
These simple words embodied the core philosophy of the Beiguo Meteorological Bureau.
All ten crew members aboard possessed techniques to conceal their auras, while the ship itself had undergone special modifications.This explained why Chen Qi had failed to detect any presence before their ship lights illuminated.
Resting his chin on his hand, Chen Qi pondered.
This group differed completely from the Meteorological Bureau personnel he'd encountered on the island.
Nine second-tier Transcendents, plus a third-tier Transcendents squad leader.
The third-tier leader was named Jiger, whose profession was Hammer-Blade Phase [Artillery Specialist], boasting formidable firepower.
In the Rift Sea, this configuration could already be considered elite.
Each member carried long-range firearms, steam-powered thermal cutting blades, sedatives, headlamps, and self-destruct vials.
Within the Witch Sea branch of Beiguo Meteorological Bureau, research department investigation teams were classified into five tiers: S, A, B, C, and D.
D-tier consisted of cannon fodder, while higher ranks indicated more completed dangerous missions.
With such high-grade equipment, they had to be at least an A-rank investigation team.
Where the hell did you come from?
Chen Qi's heartbeat accelerated as Ember's Touch tentacles twitched defensively.
In direct confrontation, his chances of victory weren't high.
He never imagined an A-rank investigation team would dare sail their research vessel deep into these waters tonight!
While his abilities ensured he wouldn't be easily killed if captured,
he'd undoubtedly be handed over to Beiguo's Containment Control Department for brutal interrogation.
Given Beiguo Research Institute's methods, he'd likely spend eternity as a sea beast communication tool with no hope of escape!
Troublesome... Chen Qi glanced into the depths below.
The Tentacle Giant Tree showed no reaction to the research vessel's presence.
This titan was unexpectedly docile!
Yet despite multiple gun barrels aimed at him, no shots were fired.
The gentle breeze carried subtle blade-like sharpness, amplifying everyone's fear.
The investigation team maintained maximum composure.
"What exactly is..."
a crew member whispered.
The monster before them wore tattered hunter's garb, its tattered sleeves floating underwater as if alive, swaying with the currents.
In that moment, they recalled the Witch Sea's infamous monster - the Abyssal Merchant!
Abyssal Merchants feared light.
A crew member increased the ship light's intensity.
Yet the creature before them completely ignored the illumination, as if mocking light itself.
A female gunner's eyes widened, palms sweating:
"Captain Jiger, orders? Should we use tranquilizer darts? I can flank and shoot its nape!"
As an A-rank team, they excelled not only in stealth but also tactical coordination and concentrated firepower!
They had experience slaying various deep-sea monsters, even jointly repelling juvenile Coastal Apex Predators!
Moreover, their base was located in these very waters!
The resolute Captain Jiger remained silent.
Though the opponent emitted only second-tier energy, this was clearly no ordinary foe.
Appearance-wise, this matched the intel - the monster that hijacked the Devil Ray!
"Problematic..."
Chen Qi steadied himself, crouching to stroke small green algae's tentacle hair.
Regardless, this was his territory now.
The gunner could barely contain herself, whispering:
"Captain, he's on the latest bounty list."
The individual before them was the tentacle monster from the Devil Ray incident!
The navy had just issued his bounty.
Chen Qi scratched his ear.
Since when was the navy this efficient?
Upon confirming Chen Qi's identity, the female gunner could no longer suppress her combat urge.
How dare a mere second-tier Transcendent act so arrogantly, putting on airs like this!
The reckless gunner drew her sniper rifle, aiming directly at Chen Qi:
"Only 10 million bounty - doesn't seem strong. Captain Jiger, requesting permission to shoot then tranquilize!"
"..."
Captain Jiger hesitated profoundly, utterly conflicted.
He didn't know how to handle this monster.
But perhaps as the gunner said - just a 10 million criminal.
Inferior even to Captain Blackeye.
Jiger whispered:
"Appr..."
Before he could finish, the tense gunner smirked and pulled the trigger, muzzle flash illuminating the waters blue.
Against monsters, fear only brings death!
The best way to conquer fear is facing it head-on!
Bang!
A specialized giant-slaying incendiary round erupted forth, sworn to reduce this monster to ashes!
Direct attack?
Chen Qi prepared to defend.
But what happened next defied expectations.
The bullet never fired.
Or rather, was intercepted mid-flight by a calloused hand.
Captain Jiger's left hand had shattered into bloody pulp, gushing crimson!
He'd physically blocked the bullet with his own flesh.
"Who the hell authorized that shot?!"
Jiger roared through searing pain.
Just because you sense second-tier energy, you assume that's their true level? Utter stupidity!
Since when do second-tier Transcendents take midnight sea strolls alone?
When the gunshot rang, Jiger felt his brain tremble.
He remembered his obedient daughter, beloved wife, and tomorrow's breakfast -
like death's legendary life-flash.
Gazing at his bleeding hand, even he didn't understand why an A-rank team would fear a second-tier with 10 million bounty.
But instinct screamed they'd narrowly escaped death.
Had that bullet struck Chen Qi, consequences would've been unimaginable.
Life and death balanced on a razor's edge.
Post-gunshot, underwater tentacles stirred with thunderous resonance.
"Interesting..."
Chen Qi stood.
He never expected someone would intercept that shot.
They feared him.
In this situation, showing fear would be disastrous.
If Beiguo Meteorological Bureau learned about someone with Deep Sea Affinity roaming the seas, they'd mobilize thousands to capture him.
Clapping lightly, Chen Qi casually seated himself on the withered tree, asking:
"Meteorological Bureau investigators - what brings you here?"
Captain Jiger's hand trembled slightly. The entity's calm tone and immediate identification of their affiliation meant this was no sea-beast-possessed corpse.
Nor was it one of the light-fearing Sea God Pirates fanatics!
In his assessment, this being surpassed even the notorious Abyssal Merchant in danger level.
After decades of marine research, he'd never encountered anything so bizarre.
"Captain Jiger, he's on the navy's bounty list..."
the gunner whispered through gritted teeth.
His bounty's not even high!
He couldn't comprehend why their captain feared a 10-million-bounty monster.
Sure, he might be strong, but they were an A-rank investigation team!
Capturing this monster meant 1 million Shell Coins each!
"Silence!"
Jiger snapped, keeping his shotgun ready while maintaining vigilance:
"We came for deepwater samples and attempts to collect central zone tree fruit."
Struggling to maintain investigative team dignity, Jiger demanded:
"Monster, what do you want? What will make you leave?"
Leave? Chen Qi lounged comfortably on the sea-bound withered tree, stroking small green algae's tentacled head:
"Provide something satisfactory, and I might consider granting... rewards."