An turned around, smiled, and said,
"The Crack Tide, for us apprentices who have just stepped onto the path of the Transcendent, is a rare opportunity.
Once the news is confirmed, those old folks in Shell Country, hoarding their fortunes, might all run down to our countryside to scramble for a bite.
If we can survive the wave, maybe we too can witness the sights of the Transcendent peaks."
After finishing, An put an anticipatory glance on Chen Qi.
If an ordinary person wants to become a High-order Transcendent, the most basic requirement is a High-order Occupation Card.
And High-order Occupation Cards are only produced in High-order cracks.
As a student of Bei Country Royal University, she knew deeply how much those old folks in the capital of Shell Country prized the high-grade cracks.
Even with her unprecedented efforts, she now lacked even the qualifications to enter a High-order crack.
But the Crack Tide, while bringing disaster, would also bring about new cracks.
Naturally, these unknown new cracks would also be more dangerous than those that had been controlled.
These disasters are also opportunities.
Chen Qi also gazed towards the distant sea.
An was right, but not entirely so.
It's not only the people from inland Shell Country who will stir trouble and scramble for food at the Witch Sea.
According to the game data, the rift tide at Witch Sea would be more turbulent than all tides in history.
Apart from inland Shell Country, neighboring Golden Flower Bird Kingdom, White Tower Federation, and far-off Black Blood Empire all want to step into Witch Sea.
During their conversation, the ship's captain, wearing a captain's hat, came down the ship ladder, took off his hat to salute, interrupting their talk.
He had matters to discuss with Maro Town's new guide instructor and the mayor.
And An, as an important figure in Maro Town, had other matters to attend to.
"I need to deal with some issues first,"
An took a few steps forward, then suddenly thought of something, swallowing:
"Right, Qi, you're a Chef now, correct? I'll send you something nice in a while."
"?"
Something nice? Chen Qi crossed his arms, tilting his head in confusion.
More stuff?
He had to admit, as the player rankings stated, An was a rather responsible guide instructor.
After An and the Mayor of Maro Town left.
At that moment, the little Maro who had been by his side finally let out a sigh.
"Phew!"
He patted Chen Qi on the shoulder and said,
"Wow, bro, you're actually a Chef! I hardly ever see Transcendent Chefs. I've heard your cooking makes clothes burst off with its deliciousness. Hook me up with a meal sometime."
Chen Qi looked at little Maro speechlessly.
Then, little Maro looked around and whispered quietly,
"So, how about it, they're gone.
Bro, let's go find the money-stealing thief with the Sea Beast disease together, then tell the mechanical arm Hunter about it and make a hefty sum!
I remember that person is quite wealthy!"
You're still thinking about your money? Chen Qi's eyes became guarded.
According to the information provided by little Maro, someone had sneaked into Maro Town and even tried to kidnap him.
In the shadows of Maro Island, did someone want to make a move against him?
He carefully scanned the crowd on the dock.
Among the crowd, he saw no one with a mechanical arm.
Chen Qi spoke to little Maro again,
"Are you sure that person jumped into the sea? Also, from your impression, did that person have any companions?"
"Yes, I guess they've already landed. No companions, I think. The person was wearing a cloak, seemed like they came alone, probably a tough person specialized in handling debts for a company!"
Hearing this, little Maro suddenly realized something and also began looking around.
"The enemy is in the dark, we are in the light…"
Chen Qi thought that if the other party was indeed here to kidnap him, they wouldn't make their move at this time.
The place they would choose must be somewhere dimly lit, away from the crowd.
"Home?"
Chen Qi came up with a preliminary answer in his mind.
While they were just talking, the moon had already shown a corner, and the light on the dock was exceptionally dim.
"The person asked little Maro for information..."
Inquiring blindly about information also meant that this person was not cautious and did not know his situation.
If the other party was very anxious, they might have also asked others for information.
Chen Qi looked around to make sure he wasn't distancing himself from the crowd before walking forward.
Old Bailey, who had been sitting on the dock all day, might know something if a man with a mechanical arm had passed by.
Chen Qi squatted down, took out four hundred Shell Coins, and handed them over:
"Old Bailey,"
Seeing the money, the sleepy Old Bailey immediately woke up:
"What is it?"
"I'll rent your boat for a few more days. I'll pay you the full amount for the boat next time I return.
Also, have you seen anyone on the dock asking about others?"
Old Bailey took the money, recalling:
"It seems there really was someone, a person from Moonstone City. He said our Maro Town produced a damn money thief who stole their company's money and came here to collect debts.
He even warned us not to shelter any criminals, or he'd break our legs too."
There really was... Chen Qi inquired softly:
"Do you know where he went?"
"Not sure, he was just wandering nearby. I remember someone responded to him, and then he suddenly disappeared."
Responded!
Did that person already get my information from others? Chen Qi tensed up internally.
"Can you really pay the full amount?"
Old Bailey asked, still somewhat dubious Chen Qi had that much money unless he involved in some illegal activities.
"Of course."
Chen Qi stood up and looked around once more.
At this moment, the key was not the money, but to find the person hiding in the shadows.
There was no one on the dock...
Had that person suddenly disappeared, hidden in the water?
A suitable place to hide... Chen Qi turned his head and fixed his gaze on his small houseboat.
The small houseboat, gently swaying a few times on the sea.
A sense of danger spontaneously arose.
Could it be that I was already seen by someone when I disembarked?
That person knows I would return to the boat.
So...
Could it be that the person has already sneaked into my boat and then waits for night to come, to crawl into my bed while I sleep and surprise me?
Chen Qi's heart pounded as he sighed deeply.
In the remaining light of the day, he took the collector from his backpack, hid it beneath his clothes, and then stepped towards the small houseboat.
If the information from Maro is correct.
Although the other person is just a First Order Transcendent, he is equipped with a mechanical arm.
In the New World, there are three types of powerful equipment: mechanical armor, flesh implants, and blood-mechanical armor.
Mechanical armor, as the name suggests, is common armor in the New World.
Flesh implants refer to equipping oneself with live monsters stripped of their consciousness, leaving only the most basic combat functions, a very dangerous type of equipment.
Blood-mechanical armor is a hybrid of the two, incorporating both monsters and machinery into the equipment.
Although the mechanical arm is only a hand, it's still quite a decent piece of equipment early on.
A single punch could kill a pig!
Chen Qi recalled momentarily, in the original host's memory, that First Order Transcendent's mechanical arm was not a brand-name product.
Tap, tap, tap—
Unconsciously, Chen Qi had already arrived in front of his small houseboat.
He was about to step with his left foot, preparing to jump onto the boat.
"Qi!"
Just then, a female voice came from behind.
"Calling me at this time..."
Chen Qi let a few beads of cold sweat fall, stepped back a few steps, confirmed there was no danger, then, quietly speaking, said:
"What's wrong, Teacher An?"
The caller was none other than An.
At this moment, she was happily approaching with two bags in her hands.
One bag contained ingredients like potatoes and beef, while the other was a set of brand-new cooking utensils.
She came over, blinked her blue eyes, and handed the two bags to Chen Qi:
"You should need to complete your daily task today.
Just so happens, I ran into a chef on the merchant ship, so I casually asked them for some ingredients, just right for you."
"Ah?"
Chen Qi was shocked.
Though ingredients and cooking utensils were not expensive items, her actions still left him with an indescribable feeling.
A strange feeling of being kept...
He once again deeply understood why on the newcomer instructor leaderboard, she held the nickname 'Mom An'.
"Okay, thank you, Teacher An."
Chen Qi took the ingredients and cooking utensils, turned around, carefully walked toward the small houseboat again.
And just as he turned back, An directed a sly smile at Chen Qi's back, showing a face that revealed her plan had succeeded!
Plan success!
On the surface, she gave him food to help him, but that was only her first layer.
In reality, all the dishes she gave Chen Qi were her favorites!
"The food in Maro Town is really bad..."
An rubbed her growling stomach.
Her father's cooking was really not to her taste, and he loved making fish, which she disliked.
However, choosing to become a Transcendent Chef must mean he's quite skilled!
In the capital, her friends had treated her to meals prepared by a Transcendent Chef, which were exceptionally delicious.
Although Chen Qi had just become a chef, An felt his cooking should be tastier than what others in Maro Town could offer.
Her real motive was to freeload meals under the guise of work and mentorship!
If the food really tasted good, she could enjoy delicious meals every day from now on.
This was An's second layer of thought.
An touched the corner of her mouth, unable to hold back, and a bit of unbecoming drool trickled out.
Chen Qi jumped onto the small houseboat and peeked inside through the cracks of the cabin's door.
Although the lighting inside was dim, he saw a person's figure faintly hiding under the ramshackle bed.
And he could smell a sweat scent that was not his own.
As expected!
At that moment, Chen Qi's mind flashed through one image after another.
He could almost be certain that the person under the bed was 'Iron Hand', a gang member who had lured him to the Black Rabbit Gang, cheating him of all his work money, and colluded with human traffickers!
Iron Hand was a greedy and bold brute who, due to his swimming prowess, had once used his mechanical arm to drag a pair of siblings attempting to escape the gang into the sea, drowning them alive, hence earning the terrifying nicknames 'Water Ghost' and 'Iron Hand'.
Such a ruthless man was like a demon to many young people.
But now, in terms of strength, Iron Hand might not be his match.
Wait!
Chen Qi suddenly realized something.
Why did An call him just now? Was it really just to help him, or to freeload a meal for such a simple reason?
No!
An's observation skills were extraordinary, she might have already noticed that person sneaking onto his boat.
By calling out to him earlier, she was actually warning him!
Chen Qi thought of the third layer and turned his head back, looking towards An.
What terrifying observational skill!
"Ah!"
Why did he look back? Did he understand? Was his intention to freeload a meal discovered?
An blushed, turned her head away, and embarrassedly smiled, then lifted her head again, revealing an expectant look.
She could already imagine the scent of Chen Qi cooking.
That look...
Is it up to me to handle it? Chen Qi shook his head and responded with his eyes.
No matter what, he had to take care of the person who had broken into his house uninvited.