novelraw Chapter 140: White Pigeon Expedition Ship
Chapter 140: White Pigeon Expedition Ship
The storm relentlessly battered against his face.
"Am I really outpacing a ghost ship?"
Chen Qi looked down at his battered small houseboat.
At this moment, his houseboat's speed couldn't even match his running pace on the open sea!
Then his gaze swept across the massive expedition ship before him.
Its gray-white painted hull bore a giant white pigeon figurehead at the bow, the bird's head raised defiantly toward the sky as if challenging the storm itself.
The 'White Pigeon expedition ship' - a famously swift vessel type in the Witch Sea, affiliated with the White Pigeon Press.
Compared to other merchant ships, White Pigeon ships had relatively better reputations.
Judging by their course, they too were headed for Moonstone City.
Ghost ships came in many varieties, and without sufficient intelligence, engaging one would be extremely unwise.A ghost ship could easily reduce his small houseboat to smoldering wreckage, devouring it whole!
Chen Qi cupped his hands and shouted:
"My engine's broken! Can you give me a lift?"
The kind-hearted sailor on deck fell silent momentarily.
Their merchant ship was currently fleeing at full speed, with no time to pick up some ordinary fisherman.
Under normal circumstances, he might have discussed it with the captain and shown some charity.
But this voyage carried distinguished guests from across the lands - people of considerable status!
These honored guests wouldn't appreciate seeing some bedraggled, shipwrecked fisherman ruining their refined atmosphere.
Moreover, what chased their ship was a particularly vicious ghost ship.
Chen Qi immediately produced his water spirits and a White Pigeon Press business card:
"I'm a chef from Moonstone City! I can pay 100,000 Shell Coins as compensation!"
100,000 Shell Coins... The blond sailor hesitated.
Just then, the gold-toothed captain who'd been battling the storm glanced at Chen Qi, his gleaming golden tooth flashing as his expression turned to shock.
He recognized this man - Moonstone City's famous chef! Owner of the Water Spirit Floating Restaurant!
Even now, people at the docks still awaited this chef's return, hoping he'd cook them another delicious meal!
They'd even erected a 'Waiting For Your Return' signboard, and some had hired witches to perform summoning rituals!
He must have made a fortune... The captain could make some easy money... Gold-Tooth Captain bellowed:
"Fine! He's a second-tier Transcendent. I've eaten his cooking before - owner of the Water Spirit Restaurant. Throw him a rope."
A second-tier Transcendent wasn't exceptionally powerful, but still someone of notable capability.
Many minor gang leaders only reached second-tier in their Transcendent rankings.
The ship maintained its speed.
"Sigh, the captain's after money again..."
Amid the gale, the blond sailor threw down a thick rope from the deck.
Chen Qi acted decisively, grabbing the sturdy rope and passing it to Deepsea Water Spirit Number One.
Without needing instructions, the most reliable water spirit immediately understood its master's intent, winding the rope around the houseboat.
The blond sailor gaped - surely this chef didn't plan to haul the boat aboard during this storm?
Before he could react, Chen Qi nimbly stepped onto the deck, locking eyes with him.
What the hell!
The sailor recoiled as if seeing a ghost!
What was this man trying to do?
Then he heard the man whisper softly:
"Detonate."
BOOM!
The water spirit beneath the houseboat exploded violently!
The tremendous force sent the small boat airborne.
Chen Qi gripped the rope tightly, using the momentum like some spinach-fueled Popeye, hauling his damaged houseboat right onto the deck through sheer strength.
CRASH!
The houseboat landed heavily on deck, drawing everyone's attention with the thunderous impact.
The crew stared dumbfounded.
What incredible strength! What had this guy been eating?
Shaking rainwater from his disheveled hair, Chen Qi addressed them:
"Thanks. My boat broke down - only Moonstone City's shipyard can fix it."
He surveyed the crowd.
His aggressive boarding served two purposes:
First, he couldn't abandon his houseboat - even damaged, it still housed a Steam Hand Workshop engine.
Second, he needed to prevent being fleeced.
These merchant ships weren't charities.
Without demonstrating sufficient capability when boarding, exploitation was inevitable.
The gentler ones would use bunny girls, gambling, and banquets to relax you before draining your wallet.
The brutal ones simply pressed a blue-flaming gatling to your head and robbed you outright.
Either way, appearing weak guaranteed being swindled.
Hence Chen Qi's muscular display upon boarding.
Now the White Pigeon's gold-toothed captain swallowed his "additional fees" idea whole.
The captain's Transcendent rank was modest - just an ordinary second-tier Shell Aspect [Merchant] with no combat skills.
One glance told his experienced eyes this man possessed strength rivaling second-tier gang enforcers!
No extra charges then - maybe earn some honest money through bunny girls instead...
The captain sighed mournfully.
Six deepsea water spirits leaped back from the sea to Chen Qi's side.
Inspecting his houseboat:
The little sea witch hid obediently in a barrel, while Sea Cloud disguised itself as wool crammed in the tiny cabin.
As his ventures expanded, the houseboat grew increasingly cramped.
Time to buy a bigger ship... Chen Qi produced 100,000 Shell Coins from his Backpack Card, handing them to the captain:
"Apologies for the trouble. My boat's issues ruined most ingredients I gathered from the Rift Sea."
"Braving the Rift Sea alone?!" The captain forced a smile accepting payment:
"No worries, Chef. With pirates rampant, small businesses like ours should help each other against spectral Rift calamities."
Deepsea Water Spirit Number One perched on Chen Qi's head, shielding him from rain while watching for threats.
It would defend its master instantly against any attack!
Chen Qi inquired curiously:
"Spectral Rift calamities? Could you elaborate?"
The gold-toothed captain gritted his teeth fearfully:
"You know the consequences of Rift mutation, yes?"
"Rift mutation..."
Chen Qi pondered.
Rift mutations didn't just elevate Rift levels - mutated Rifts became pollution sources corrupting the world.
Like the No. 8 Train Rift he'd encountered - if left unchecked at C-rank, phantom trains might truly run through city shadows, clattering to lure weary passengers to the Styx.
Unprocessed Rifts became walking cataclysms!
Hence the Dimensional Tide spawned increasing maritime anomalies.
Chen Qi asked:
"So that ghost ship chasing you results from Rift mutation?"
The captain lowered his head:
"Yes - a green-flamed ghost ship of terrifying speed. Recently it's plundered multiple vessels near shore.
It claims to replace the Coastal Apex Predators as new ruler of coastal waters!
Our ship has inland Bonfire Energy propulsion, yet still can't outrun it.
Only thanks to passengers' intervention did we escape being robbed clean."
"New coastal overlord? How presumptuous..." Chen Qi smirked internally.
But the captain's description suggested extraordinary speed.
Bonfire Energy Corporation, like Steam Hand Workshop, managed A-rank Rifts - a renowned Beiguo enterprise.
Many giant steam mechs used Bonfire Energy cores.
White Pigeon ships with Bonfire engines were already exceptionally fast.
Chen Qi inquired further about this 'ghost ship' Rift calamity.
The marauding specters called themselves Greenflame Ghosts - pirate spirits obsessed with plunder and coastal domination.
Their ghost ships' speed made them nearly unstoppable.
An hour ago, this ship had shaken pursuit only thanks to powerful passengers.
Yet the ghost ship still gave chase! It demanded blood and gold from all coastal passersby.
Chen Qi peered at the lower decks.
This ship housed someone capable of repelling ghost ships.
Just then, thunderous shouts erupted from below:
"Quiet up there! Our trading banquet is about to begin!"
"Send up your entertainers and delicacies immediately!"
Hearing this, the captain shuddered violently.
Such intense transcendent aura...
Chen Qi noted silently.
This ship carried truly extraordinary passengers.