novelraw Chapter 168: Beneath the Sea
Chapter 168: Beneath the Sea
Chen Qi complained:
"Do I really look that weak..."
An coughed twice:
"Well... I'm not good at close combat, and I wouldn't... wouldn't pin him down. By the way, Qi, when are you planning to set sail?"
Chen Qi gazed at the sky and said slowly:
"I plan to set sail tomorrow to test my new ship's performance."
He wondered what kind of power would manifest from installing the ghost ship's core.
"Tomorrow?" Burry spoke in an unusually serious tone:
"But I must remind you, according to Beiguo Meteorological Bureau reports, the sea has become terrifying recently. Just among Moonstone Archipelago fishermen alone, three hundred have already gone missing."
"Three hundred..."Chen Qi stroked the water spirit in his arms.
There were at most a thousand fishermen sailing from Moonstone Archipelago.
Nearly a third had disappeared.
Now was about the time when the second phase of the Dimensional Tide would begin.
Power strong enough to tempt C-rank hunter teams from inland companies would soon appear in coastal waters!
Suddenly, Burry tentatively asked:
"If you're planning to venture onto the sea... would you be interested in joining a pirate crew?"
"A pirate crew? The Ice Demon Pirates, one of the Four Pirate Emperors?"
Chen Qi looked up at the sky.
A top pirate crew still recruiting?
What, were the Ice Demon Pirates short on chefs?
An stared at Burry.
As an official, she hated pirates most, along with the monsters of the sea.
Many innocent families had died at the hands of these pirates.
Even when already fat with wealth, they would still steal the last crust of bread from civilians preparing for winter.
Chen Qi also glanced at Burry.
Burry immediately coughed twice:
"No, I misspoke. I meant a hunter team. You know how serious the Dimensional Tide has become—many Beiguo companies have started forming hunter teams now!
Like Magic Bullet Company and Bonfire Energy—they've already sent out their expedition ships.
And coincidentally, I have a friend who's a researcher at Sprout Biotech running a hunter ship specialized in archaeology. They happen to be short-handed."
"Company-affiliated hunter teams..."
An crossed her arms, deep in thought.
Though Chen Qi was strong, he preferred fighting alone.
No matter how strong one person was, they couldn't face hordes of sea beasts or pirate ships with overwhelming numbers.
Like those ghost ships before—it was through sheer numbers they crushed adventurer after adventurer!
Many third-tier adventurers had fallen to the ghost ships' concentrated firepower.
Joining a hunter team, even as a temp, would make the sea much safer.
Just the title "Steam Hand Workshop employee" could scare off those reckless fools!
Chen Qi watched the fading daylight in the sky.
"Specialized in archaeology"—wasn't that just the Ice Demon Pirates?
Truth be told, the Ice Demon Pirates were worth joining.
In fact, they might be the most worthwhile pirate crew to join.
Unlike the other three pirate crews with over a thousand members, the Ice Demon Pirates were an elite-type crew where every member was at least third-tier, totaling no more than fifty.
Besides their shapeshifting captain Palu, the Ice Demon Pirates boasted several fourth-tier Transcendents.
Their formidable individual strength, combined with their extensive knowledge of the sea's secrets and powerful backing, had propelled this young pirate crew of fewer than fifty to become one of the Four Pirate Emperors, deeply intertwined with the main storyline.
Moreover, the Ice Demon Pirates offered excellent benefits. While other pirate crews or hunter teams operated on "boss commands employee" dynamics,
with the Ice Demon Pirates, you could even order the captain around!
Shapeshifter Palu, aside from investigating the Ice Witch and Blackfin Crew, spent most of his time fulfilling crew requests.
However, joining the Ice Demon Pirates was notoriously difficult.
Legend said their captain knew a historical secret he would reveal to new full members.
Any crewman who learned this secret became a permanent member.
Yet in all game forums, no player had ever discovered this secret.
Becoming a full member was as hard as scaling the heavens.
With my current strength, even if Burry agreed, Shapeshifter Palu wouldn't accept me into the Ice Demon Pirates.
They wouldn't recruit someone just for good cooking.
Chen Qi forced a wry smile:
"Burry, you mean temp work for this hunter team, right? But I'm about to enter the Rift Sea—if you have any good jobs, feel free to recommend them."
As a Steam Hand Workshop mechanic, Burry was a treasure trove of connections!
Burry blew a smoke ring and boasted:
"Even as temps, my friend's hunter team is extraordinary!
Currently, our leader is handling matters with the Black Hunter and Flower Witch, plus investigating black whale blood."
"Black Hunter? Flower Witch? Black whale blood?" An looked puzzled.
Burry glanced at the distant sea.
"Qi, I actually have an extremely dangerous mission here. If you sail these next few days, you might encounter it immediately."
"???"
Burry produced some papers:
"Our hunter team has been collecting black whale blood recently."
Chen Qi feigned ignorance:
"Black whale blood?"
"Yes. Our investigations suggest the legendary Flower Witch, Blade Witch, Blackfin Crew, Black Hunter, and Abyssal Merchant are all searching for it."
Burry explained:
"Black whale blood grants humans unimaginable power—simply put, it mutates monsters. Rumor has it both the Flower Witch and the newly emerged Blade Witch seek it!"
"???"
The Flower Witch too? Not fake news?
Come to think of it, I wonder how she's been all this time.
Chen Qi touched his Backpack Card.
All the black whale blood he and the Flower Witch had seized before was stored there.
Chen Qi confirmed:
"So basically, you need black whale blood?"
This guy might actually find some... Burry had a hunch:
"Yes, the higher the concentration, the better. As payment, I can install the newest ship equipment for you—even military-grade cannons! Defensive systems!"
"Hmm."
Chen Qi nodded and lay on the deck, enjoying the sea breeze.
After setting sail tomorrow morning, such peaceful days would end.
In the gentle wind, An leaned against the railing, quietly watching the distant sea.
Through her precise spiritual energy perception, she seemed to hear strange whispers—ones that lured people into the depths.
The sea was growing ever more bizarre.
According to Beiguo Meteorological Bureau warnings, even B-rank dimensional rifts were forming out there.
She looked at the water spirit cushion on deck. If possible, she'd sail with Chen Qi.
But as a Beiguo official Transcendent, she had to guard against pirates and the unknown Black Hunter.
Maybe I should warn Chen Qi—watch the depths, the storms, the Shadow Demons...
That way he might stay a few more days.
But then she reconsidered.
Though a novice, Chen Qi had more sailing experience than her.
She was the one needing warnings.
After a long silence, she finally whispered:
"Qi, fair winds tomorrow."
Chen Qi gazed at the distant sea.
Currently, he could only fight evenly with An using basic spells. He hoped upon his return, he'd witness her unleashed techniques.
...
The next day.
After bidding farewell to mechanic Burry, An, and the persistently urging Mayor Damarro, Chen Qi piloted his houseboat toward the open sea.
"Waku waku! (Goodbye! Goodbye!)"
The Deepsea Water Spirits waved rags from the bow, saying farewell to Damarro Town's residents.
Chen Qi smiled. Unconsciously, the water spirits had grown fond of this peaceful town.
But it was time to go—these waves called for adventurers.
Finally, Damarro Town's lighthouse disappeared below the horizon.
After setting sail, Chen Qi first headed to White Tree Shallows to install the Ghostfire Core engine and handle the Sea Clouds and Ghostfire Fish.
Lastly, he sent Deepsea Water Spirits Three, Four, and Five diving to search for message bottles.
He'd made an agreement with Pelu.
She would place intel-filled bottles at designated sea locations.
If Pelu worked diligently, there should be a bottle anchored to reefs in his specified area.
"Why aren't they back yet?"
Chen Qi stood at the bow, patiently waiting.
Suddenly, an icy wind brushed his skin.
"Waku waku!"
"Waku waku!"
From the distant deep sea came the water spirits' cries.
Such cold wind... Chen Qi felt a ringing in his ears and brain, his back throbbing with pain.
He strained to keep his eyes open, peering ahead.
Behind the water spirits, something massive and dark lurked beneath.
The moment Chen Qi looked—
Hundreds upon thousands of crimson eyes surfaced across the water.
"Waku waku!"
Amid churning black waves came the water spirits' agonized wails.