novelraw Chapter 155: The Massive Ship Purchase Contract
Chapter 155: The Massive Ship Purchase Contract
Chen Qi held the draft paper.
This woman with muscles like steel all over her body was clearly a mecha!
The merchants all gathered around, looking at the feminine mecha figure in the drawing with furrowed brows, staring at Burry as if he were an idiot!
This guy actually liked mechas!
In this world, there actually existed such a strange human! This was even more perverted than the people of the Goldenfinch Kingdom!
At least the Goldenfinch Kingdom folks liked living creatures.
Although Beiguo was a nation that governed the Hammer affinity, freaks like Burry who were obsessed with machinery were still a rare minority.
Moreover, due to the out-of-control A-tier Hammer Phase rift during Beiguo's early history, researching intelligent mechanical beings or soul-infused constructs was considered taboo among taboos.
This was almost on par with those from the White Tower Federation who enjoyed spiritual communion!
The merchants all wore expressions of disgust and quickly distanced themselves from Burry."I just wanted to have a meal..."
Burry was already accustomed to such looks as he downed a bitter drink.
He had long known that his ideal type simply didn't exist in this world!
He had worked at the Steam Hand Workshop since childhood, constantly surrounded by machinery, and his father strictly forbade him from early relationships.
By the time his father allowed him to date, he had unknowingly lost all interest in fragile humans and completely fallen in love with machines, with the sharp, resilient steel of mechas.
"......"
Hold it in. Think carefully. Compared to Seafood Sister who liked tentacles, he was actually quite normal... Chen Qi suppressed his urge to comment and coughed twice:
"Mr. Burry, this... condition of yours, no, this request of yours, can be treated."
"???"
Burry's eyes widened. Although the other's words were harsh, he could see the words 'worldly-wise' shining in Chen Qi's eyes!
Chen Qi smiled.
On Earth, humanoid mechas like this didn't exist!
But this was the New Sun World, where the world was vast and full of wonders.
In the New Sun World, due to the supernatural powers of profession cards or special surgeries, there actually existed many 'demi-humans.'
And thanks to the player forums, he was familiar with many of the world's races and customs.
Stone people, dragonkin, or certain flesh armors all met Burry's requirements!
It's just that in Beiguo, transcendent beings with these special professions were extremely rare.
Wait... Chen Qi suddenly remembered he still had that useless skill card called Wyvern Charm.
A sales opportunity... Chen Qi pondered:
"Burry, have you heard of dragonkin?"
"Dragonkin?"
"Yes, dragonkin."
Chen Qi picked up the draft paper and pen, casually sketching an abstract drawing of a dragonkin.
A lizard-like head, body covered in scales, with a steel-like shell and a robust tail.
Its appearance bore a seventy percent resemblance to a fully armored mecha!
Burry curiously took the draft paper, his eyes widening uncontrollably:
"I've always been in the Witch Sea and haven't heard of races from the Goldenfinch Kingdom..."
Did this world truly have a race over two meters tall with skin like mecha armor?
The dragonkin's robust physique and scale-covered appearance perfectly hit all his preferences!
They were as beautiful as the Coastal Apex Predators and steam-powered mechas!
Chen Qi sat on the chair, stroking the Deepsea Water Spirit:
"Mr. Burry, dragonkin are a special race living in the snowy mountains of the Goldenfinch Kingdom, also considered unique transcendent beings. Don't you think this race perfectly matches your expectations?"
Burry was speechless. He knew very little about these special races.
But undoubtedly, these dragonkin averaging over two meters tall were literally his dream partners!
This chef before him was actually so worldly-wise!
Never judge a book by its cover... Burry asked curiously:
"Do you know any dragonkin?"
"Nope."
Chen Qi declared shamelessly.
Dragonkin were a rare race—not so easy to encounter.
The chances of meeting one were only slightly higher than encountering a tentacle monster.
Sigh... Burry downed another bitter drink:
"I'll consider it. But right now, I'm more concerned with coastal matters than marriage, and I don't have time to travel to the Goldenfinch Kingdom. You know about the ghost ships, right?"
Not only do I know, I currently have a ghost ship's core engine... Chen Qi immediately pressed his advantage:
"Yes, Mr. Burry. But there are many foreigners in the Witch Sea these days. What if you happen to meet a dragonkin?
Unfortunately, as their appearances change, these special races' aesthetics also shift. They might not fancy ordinary-looking humans and could overlook someone like you."
What if I meet one... Burry fell into a beautiful fantasy.
He actually found Chen Qi's words quite reasonable.
Having been single for so many years, wasn't it about time for the Goddess of Love to bless him with his destined romance?
When his father saw him married to a tall, mecha-like woman, he'd be utterly shocked!
Hooked... Chen Qi smoothly handed over a skill card called 'Wyvern Charm' and said skillfully:
"Wyvern Charm, five million Shell Coins, plus help me build a ship. Interested?"
"!!!"
Burry was instantly dumbfounded, lost in thought.
This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!
The other's card-offering move was so practiced it was like he was being treated as a sucker!
Most crucially, he couldn't even refuse!
If what Chen Qi said was true, and dragonkin possessed that mecha-like armor, then they were his ideal partners!
This card might concern his marital prospects.
After all, no matter how much his shapeshifting captain Palu transformed, he could never become a mecha.
"Five million!"
Nearby, An's mouth formed a perfect 'O,' staring in shock.
Selling a conditional charm card for five million!
Chen Qi was playing way too hard!
Would he actually agree?
Yet, contrary to her expectations, Burry accepted the card from Chen Qi without hesitation:
"Deal."
For love... Burry had lost all rationality.
So straightforward? No haggling? Chen Qi was also stunned.
Even at Goldenfinch Kingdom auctions, Wyvern Charm would fetch three million at most.
He had stumbled upon a super cash cow.
Burry pocketed the card, fantasizing about encountering a dragonkin.
After indulging briefly, he coughed twice and switched to work mode:
"So, Chef—no, Guest—what are your requirements? By the way, I never build cheap ships."
Such a quick shift... Chen Qi listed his needs:
A kitchen, a deck restaurant, a bedroom, a room for sea witches and water spirits, a storage hold,
And it must use premium materials capable of withstanding storms, volcanic rain, and other harsh weather.
Plus, there must be ample space reserved for future ship expansions.
Simply put, a luxury upgrade of his small houseboat.
Burry quickly sketched a design:
"Twenty million Shell Coins. Deducting the five million for Wyvern Charm, that's fifteen million. Any requirements for the propulsion system? I have options ranging from five to ten million.
If you want our Steam Hand Workshop engines, that's an additional twenty million."
Burry's lips curled confidently:
"Our Steam Hand ships can match speeds with the infamous ghost ships in a three-minute burst!!"
Chen Qi winced at the prices.
Fifteen million was within his budget, but adding the Steam Hand propulsion system brought it to thirty-five million—an astronomical sum beyond imagination.
The propulsion system could cost more than the ship itself.
Chen Qi decisively refused:
"I have connections for cheaper cores. My ship doesn't need an engine core—just install your Steam Hand propulsion system."
No engine core, just the system... Burry smiled in confusion.
For a premium ship, the engine core was paramount! It was one of Steam Hand Workshop's most crucial technologies!
"Guest, some things aren't worth skimping on."
Burry confirmed one last time:
"Ordinary scrap engines can't compare to those using C-tier rift materials and ten-company collaborative designs.
Of course, if it's just the propulsion system, about seven million."
Seven plus fifteen made twenty-two million.
Acceptable... Chen Qi nodded firmly:
"Budget constraints. Final answer."
Burry could understand—for an ordinary second-tier transcendent, purchasing a full Steam Hand engine outright was unimaginably expensive.
He noted the requirements:
"No problem, Guest. As you wish. I'll call some friends—twenty days for delivery.
Of course, if you want to upgrade the engine later, visit Bonfire Energy in Moonstone City.
To handle Dimensional Tides and develop new tech, many major companies have dispatched specialized rift-hunting teams while establishing branches in Moonstone City."
With that, Burry efficiently handed Chen Qi a simple contract:
"Ten-month installment plan available, but with 10% premium, my esteemed guest."
Despite his scruffy beard, this guy was unexpectedly professional.
Chen Qi accepted the contract:
"I'll gather the funds ASAP."
"Very well, Guest."
"Holy..."
An's ears perked up like an extremely startled kitten.
Right before her eyes, at an ordinary banquet, Chen Qi had just closed a twenty-million deal!
Unable to contain herself, An stepped over to scan Chen Qi's ship purchase contract.
She never imagined Chen Qi would buy a twenty-million ship!!
An said:
"Qi, this..."
Chen Qi replied:
"What's wrong, Teacher An?"
An could no longer maintain her composure:
"Qi, did you rob someone? Where'd you get so much money?"
After all, Chen Qi was just a chef!
Even if his ingredients were human, he couldn't possibly earn this much!
"......"
Robbery? That hit close to home.
Though he now owned a sea beast farm,
The main funds for this ship purchase came from looting the Black Rabbit and weapons voluntarily surrendered by the Beiguo Meteorological Bureau investigation team.
Chen Qi coughed twice, whispering in An's ear:
"An, actually I found some treasure on the way to Sea Monster Gorge. Of course, I don't have that much cash—I'm going with installments."
In a way, the Giant Slayer and the investigators' weapons were all found in the deep-sea titan's territory.
Found them, installments...
Hearing this explanation, An exhaled deeply, regaining some rationality.
Wait no! Even with installments, buying a twenty-million ship was insane.
You didn't take loans or get into shady business, did you... An said calmly:
"Qi, installments are an option, but loans aren't wise. They'll only burden you. Many banks employ third-tier Beiguo-affinity debt collectors."
An feared Chen Qi might attract attention from Moonstone City gangs—or worse, banks.
Beiguo banks could devour entire families with simple contracts.
For someone like Chen Qi with some skills now, the outcome could be even worse.
No loans... Chen Qi crossed his arms:
"Relax, Teacher An. I know what I'm doing. You can't make it in the Rift Sea without a proper ship."
After their conversation,
Burry noticed the armband on An's arm—she was the novice mentor of Damarro Town.
Shipbuilder Burry suddenly turned serious, addressing both:
"You two are the transcendent administrators of Damarro Town, correct?"
An and Chen Qi paused, looking at Burry.
An nodded:
"Yes, I'm the novice mentor. All supernatural incidents near Damarro Town fall under my jurisdiction."
Chen Qi crossed his arms, observing Burry.
Burry pulled three bounty notices from his bag:
"Actually, I have some business near Damarro Town. If you handle it, I can discount your ship."
Business to handle? An and Chen Qi accepted the bounties.
Chen Qi was slightly startled.
The three on the bounties were precisely Little Crow, Siren, and the cloaked elder he'd encountered on the White Pigeon expedition ship.
"What's this about?"
An's expression instantly turned icy.
These three were notorious pirates recently making waves at sea.
Anything involving them was definitely no small matter.