Chen Qi complained:
"Do I look that weak..."
An also 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 looked up at the sky and slowly said:
"I plan to head out to sea tomorrow to test the performance of the new ship."
I had no idea what kind of power the core of the Ghost Ship would exhibit.
Heading out to sea tomorrow? Bri, uncharacteristically, said in a serious tone:
"However, I still need to remind you that according to the Shell Country Meteorological Bureau, the sea has been extremely dangerous recently. Just in the Moonstone City Islands, three hundred fishermen have already gone missing."
"Three hundred people..."
Chen Qi touched the Water Elf in his chest.
The fishermen who go out to sea from the Moonstone Islands are at most a thousand.
Nearly one-third missing.
This point in time, the second phase of the Crack Tide was almost about to begin.
Rank C, capable of luring inland companies' Hunter Groups, was about to appear in the nearby Domain!
Suddenly, Bri asked tentatively:
"If you're interested in venturing out to sea, would you be interested in joining a pirate crew?"
A pirate crew? One of the four great emperors, the Ice Witch Pirates?
Chen Qi looked up at the sky.
Pirate crew still recruiting?
What's going on, does the Ice Witch Pirates need a chef?
An stared at Bri.
As an official, what she hated most were pirates, and also the monsters above the sea.
Many innocent families had died at the hands of these pirates.
Even if they were already fat and prosperous, they would still steal the shriveled bread from civilians trying to get through the winter.
Chen Qi also glanced at Bri.
Bri immediately coughed twice:
"No, I misspoke, it's a Hunter Group. You should know that the Crack Tide has been getting worse recently, and now many companies in Shell Country are starting to form Hunter Groups!
For example, Magic Bullet Company and Bonfire Energy have already dispatched their exploration ships.
And coincidentally, I have a friend who is a researcher at Mengya Biological Company, operating a Hunter ship dedicated to archaeology, and they just happen to be short-staffed."
"A Hunter Group under the company's command..."
An crossed her arms and pondered.
Chen Qi was quite strong, but he enjoyed fighting alone too much. Discover stories at empire
No matter how strong he was on his own, he couldn't face swarms of Sea Beasts and numerous pirate ships.
Just like the previous Ghost Ship, which had crushed one adventurer after another with its superiority in numbers!
Many Third Rank adventurers had perished under the concentrated firepower of the Ghost Ship.
If he could become an employee of a Hunter Group, even a temporary one, it would be much safer on the seas.
An employee of Steam Hand! Just that title alone could scare off those ignorant fools!
Chen Qi watched as the daylight in the sky was about to extinguish.
Dedicated to archaeology, isn't that the Ice Witch Pirate Crew?
Speaking of which, the Ice Witch Pirates is also a force worth joining.
It could even be said it's the most worthwhile pirate crew to join.
Unlike the other three major pirate crews with over a thousand members, the Ice Witch Pirates are a typical elite pirate crew, with all members being at least Third Rank and total numbers not exceeding fifty.
And besides the capricious captain Palu, the Ice Witch Pirates also have several Fourth Rank Transcendents.
Their powerful personal strength, combined with the mastery of many secrets of the seas, and their strong background, have made this young pirate crew of fewer than fifty people one of the four great emperors of the seas, closely linked to the main storyline.
Beyond that, the Ice Witch Pirates offer quite decent terms. Unlike other pirate crews or Hunter Groups, where the 'boss' commands the 'employees.'
But in the Ice Witch Pirates, you could even order the captain to work!
Palu, apart from investigating the Ice Witch and the Black Whale Group, spends most of his time trying to fulfill the crew's needs.
However, it's extremely difficult to join the Ice Witch Pirates.
Legend has it that the captain of the Ice Witch Pirates knows a secret from history, a secret that Captain Palu tells to the newly joined formal crew members.
Any crew member who learns this secret will henceforth be an official member of the Ice Witch Pirates.
But in the game forums, no player has ever known this secret.
Becoming a formal member of the Ice Witch Pirates is as difficult as reaching the heavens.
With my current strength, even if Bri agrees, the capricious Palu would not let me join the Ice Witch Pirates.
The Ice Witch Pirates wouldn't let me join just for a few good meals.
Chen Qi smiled wryly and said:
"Bri, the Hunter Group you're talking about is temporary work, right? However, I'm about to enter the Crack Sea, so if you have any good business propositions, feel free to recommend them to me."
As a mechanic of Steam Hand, Bri was a treasure!
Bri blew out a smoke ring and boasted:
"Although it's temporary work, my friend's Hunter Group is no ordinary one!
Currently, our Hunter Group's boss is dealing with the Black Hunter and the Flower Witch, as well as investigating Black Whale Blood."
The Black Hunter, the Flower Witch? Black Whale Blood? An looked puzzled.
Bri glanced toward the distant sea.
"Qi, I actually have an extremely dangerous mission here, and if you go out to sea these past few days, you might run into it immediately."
"???"
Bruce took out a stack of papers:
"Our Hunter Group has been recently collecting Black Whale Blood."
Chen Qi pretended to be puzzled:
"Black Whale Blood?"
"Yes, according to our investigation, the legendary Flower Witch, the Blade Witch, as well as the Black Whale Group, Black Hunters, and Deep Sea Merchants, are all likely searching for Black Whale Blood."
Bruce explained:
"Black Whale Blood grants humans unimaginable strength; put simply, it transforms into monstrous mutants. It's said that the Flower Witch, along with the newly emerged Blade Witch, are both searching for Black Whale Blood!"
"???"
The Flower Witch is also looking for Black Whale Blood? Could this really be true and not some false rumor?
Speaking of which, it has been so long, I wonder how the Flower Witch is doing now.
Chen Qi looked at the backpack card on his waist.
Previously, all the Black Whale Blood that he and the Flower Witch fought over ended up with him.
Chen Qi confirmed:
"So to put it simply, you need Black Whale Blood?"
This person might really be able to find Black Whale Blood... Bruce felt an intuition in his heart:
"Yes, the higher the concentration, the better. As a reward, I can install the latest naval equipment for you, even military-grade cannons! Defense installations!"
"Mhm."
Chen Qi nodded and lay on the ship, enjoying the slight sea breeze.
Once he set sail tomorrow morning, these peaceful days would immediately come to an end.
Under the gentle breeze, An leaned against the side of the ship, quietly watching the distant sea.
Under her precise spiritual power perception, she seemed to faintly hear a special whisper, a seductive whisper that lured people into the sea.
The sea was becoming more and more ominous.
According to the Shell Country Meteorological Bureau's warning, B-rank cracks were even forming above the sea.
She looked at the Water Elf cushion on the ship, wishing she could join Chen Qi at sea.
But as Shell Country's official Transcendent, she must always be on guard against pirates, against the unknown Black Hunters.
Perhaps I should remind Chen Qi to watch out for what's beneath the sea, to beware of storms, beware of Shadow Demons...
That way, Chen Qi might be able to stay a few more days.
But then, she had another thought.
Although Chen Qi was a newcomer, his sailing experience had already surpassed hers.
She was the one who needed to be reminded.
In the end, after a long silence, she softly said:
"Qi, I wish you a smooth sailing tomorrow."
Chen Qi gazed at the distant sea.
Now, he could only tie with An when using basic techniques, but hopefully, when he returned the next time, he would witness An's release techniques.
...
The next day.
Chen Qi bid farewell to the Mechanic Bruce, An, and the Mayor of Maro Town, who kept trying to retain him, and steered the houseboat toward the distant sea.
"Waku Waku (Goodbye! Goodbye!)"
The Deep Sea Water Elf waved a rag, bidding farewell to the people of Maro Town from the bow of the ship.
Chen Qi smiled. Unnoticed, the Deep Sea Water Elf had also grown fond of this peaceful little town.
But it was time to go. These waves called for adventurers.
Eventually, the Maro Town Lighthouse disappeared above the horizon.
After setting out to sea, Chen Qi first went to his White Tree Domain, installed the Ghost Fire Engine Core, and then dealt with Hai Yunduo and Ghost Fire Fish.
Finally, he sent Water Elf No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 to dive into the sea to search for drift bottles floating on the surface.
He had previously made an agreement with Palu.
Palu would place the information she collected into drift bottles and put them at a designated spot for him.
If Palu was serious about the work, there should be a drift bottle fixed on the reef in the designated sea area.
"Why haven't they returned yet?"
Chen Qi stood on the bow, quietly waiting for the Deep Sea Water Elves to come back.
Suddenly, a cold wind brushed his skin.
"Waku Waku!"
"Waku Waku!"
From the surface of the deep sea in the distance came the calls of the Deep Sea Water Elves.
Such a cold wind... Chen Qi felt a buzzing in his ears and brain, and his back began to ache.
He stood on the bow, striving to open his eyes, looking into the distance.
Below the sea surface, behind the Deep Sea Water Elves, there seemed to be some kind of huge black monster.
The moment Chen Qi looked towards that part of the sea.
Hundreds, thousands of crimson eyes appeared on the surface of the water.
"Waku Waku!"
In the midst of the surging black waves, the cries of the Deep Sea Water Elves were heard.