Chapter 117: Digital Cruise (Thirty)

Chapter 117: Digital Cruise (Thirty)

Night had fallen.

Ning Suisui cautioned everyone that the NPCs on the first floor were likely human NPCs, whereas those on the floors above were sea monsters. Therefore, despite the signs warning "Guests on the first floor, please protect yourselves", many chose to stay on the first floor.

Having defeated Gu Zailai, the players had enough credits to afford the accommodation fees on the first floor—an average of 25 points per room.

Without asking, it was apparent that the reason these old, dilapidated rooms were so expensive was that the cost of Ronghua's rooms had been spread onto their bills.

As Ning Suisui stepped out, she happened to meet about ten people who had just paid for their rooms and were heading back to rest. The person at the lead greeted her with a smile, "Heading to pay your room charge, Captain Ning?"

Everyone had collaborated in a battle, even managing to kill a minor boss like Gu Zailai.

Many hadn't experienced the joy of defeating an NPC in a level five instance for a long time. Indeed, there's strength in numbers!

At this moment, everyone was getting along exceptionally well, with no distinct divisions between guilds or groups; everyone seemed eager to move as a large group of over sixty people.

Most importantly, they didn't have to worry about betrayal from their own, which was quite exhilarating, wasn't it?

Seeing Ning Suisui now, the group of ten or so players all wore joyous smiles.

Ning Suisui couldn't help but respond with a genuine smile.

"I've paid the room charge."

"Oh, are you going to dine now? Old Zhou and the others went to eat as well. You guys..."

"We've found a clue regarding the captain's daughter," Ning Suisui said, nonchalantly.

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

Liu Guangming's idea of "I found a clue and I intend to monopolize it" was the mainstream thought. After all, the dungeon rewards were linked to performance, and sometimes even within small groups, there were players with a "monopolistic" mindset. Yet, Ning Suisui candidly shared the information they had.

The person in the lead was the first to recover, asking hesitantly, "So, are we heading directly to find the captain's daughter now?"

"No rush, we'll all go together."

That's what Ning Suisui said, and indeed intended to do.

Sixty-nine people, including the solo players, were not forgotten as they moved majestically towards the room where Liu Guangming's team had spotted something.

Along the way, many who had just learned of this clue were similarly stunned and experienced a complex array of emotions. The way they looked at Liu Guangming and Ning Suisui was as if they were witnessing a second, unchanged Ronghua. By the time they reached the NPC's room, the group of sixty-nine was surprisingly quiet.

The lights were on in the NPC's room, and Ning Suisui stepped forward to knock on the door.

A slightly husky female voice emanated from behind the door.

"Who is it?"

"Hello, is this Zhang Min? I'm a guest on the cruise."

The next moment, the door swung open.

A woman appeared before everyone, her appearance bearing no resemblance to their imagined “captain's daughter”. She was gaunt and looked nothing like the affluent figure they had pictured.

She was dressed in dull grey work clothes, her apron so stained that its original color was indistinguishable, and her disheveled short hair looked neglected, matching the image of an NPC commonly found on the first floor.

Zhang Min's gaze pierced through the gaps in her disheveled fringe, surveying Ning Suisui with a cold expression.

"Did you people rummage through my room today?"

Ning Suisui was taken aback, realizing that lying was not an option at this juncture. She immediately apologized, "I'm very sorry, Ms. Zhang. We had no other choice. The captain... the monster on the fifth floor, an octopus, is too powerful. We are in desperate need of reliable allies, which led us to this desperate measure."

Zhang Min remained silent, her only response being a sarcastic smile as she stepped aside to create a path just wide enough for one person to pass.

"Cooperate? Let's talk inside."

As she spoke, she cast a glance at the crowd behind Ning Suisui, who seemed eager to crowd into the room, and sternly warned, "One person is enough."

Ning Suisui signaled to the crowd to remain calm and resolutely stepped inside.

The door closed shut, leaving the onlookers outside.

Inside the room, Zhang Min leaned against the door, arms crossed over her chest.

"What kind of cooperation are you proposing?"

After contemplating for a moment, Ning Suisui began, "We have someone named Sun Ting on our side..."

She watched Zhang Min closely, noticing that although her expression remained unchanged, her demeanor seemed to have softened slightly. Clearly, she was the one who had rescued Sun Ting.

Given that Sun Ting had triggered a special NPC storyline and seizing this golden opportunity to build a good relationship with a key NPC to clear the game, Ning Suisui pressed on, "Thank you for saving her."

Zhang Min's willingness to save Sun Ting indicated that she wasn't a malevolent NPC, making cooperation with her seemingly safer.

As Ning Suisui spoke, Zhang Min found the "guest" before her slightly less irritating than before.

"I don't know any Sun Ting." Despite finding her less annoying, Zhang Min had no intention of engaging in a friendly chat, swiftly moving past the topic, "What do you want to cooperate on?"

Ning Suisui inquired, "May I first understand the origin of the Abraham Cruise... and despite the cruise having seemingly normal facilities, why has it been occupied by those monsters?"

Upon her inquiry, Zhang Min's expression darkened.

"The Abraham Cruise was my grandfather's private yacht. My father refurbished it, hiring a large crew to seek out a long-famed marine treasure. Despite cruising the seas for three months, no discoveries were made. However, he encountered... several octopuses ensnared in fishing nets."

These were not ordinary octopuses; they seemed capable of thought, incessantly beckoning to the people on board with gestures of greeting. Those who had spent years at sea firmly believed that such creatures, akin to the caught goldfish in tales, could bring luck and blessings to those with kind hearts.

With his own hands, he liberated the octopuses, returning them to the embrace of the sea.

Soon, reminiscent of a fable where a golden fish grants rewards, the octopuses returned with a massive, articulate, and conversational giant octopus.

The octopus bore an air of civility.

"Honourable captain, you've saved my brethren. I am grateful and have come to offer you a reward. What would you desire?"

The benign and forthright captain, who had been drifting at sea for three months in a near-fanatical quest for the elusive maritime treasure, was nevertheless reminded of the fate that befalls avaricious humans at this moment.

"Mr Octopus, I require no reward. But if you insist... I wish for nothing more than the lifelong health and happiness of my daughter."

The octopus looked at him with its enormous eyes, and without a word, sank gracefully back into the depths of the sea, its tentacles waving a farewell.

The following day, it emerged with a chest filled with antiques, which the captain steadfastly declined.

But the octopus offered a gentle smile.

"Apart from rewarding you, dear captain, I wish to commend the valiant sailors aboard your vessel, thanking them for accompanying a kind-hearted captain to the sea."

It spoke in the presence of many crew members, most of whom were temporarily hired and now cheered in agreement, enthralled by the octopus's words.

Before the captain could refuse once more, the octopus flicked a tentacle and a shower of priceless antiques rained onto the deck, inciting a fervour of excitement and clamour among the crew.

As the captain frantically attempted to restore order, he caught a glimpse of the octopus tilting its massive head, akin to a human spectator enjoying a spectacle, before it waved a tentacle and retreated to the sea floor once more.

It returned yet again the next day.

This time, it brought an uncountable array of jewellery and silks, exquisite fabrics that draped elegantly.

Among them were priceless baby-fist-sized pink pearls, each resembling beautiful and surreal bubbles, once again presented to all the sailors.

The captain realized something was amiss.

The ocean's bounty was excessively generous, so much so that it instilled a sense of foreboding fear.

He ordered his trusted subordinates to maintain order, anticipating the octopus's return on the third day.

On the third day, the octopus indeed came back.

This time, it brought only a map.

"Captain, this gift, I believe, is reserved for someone of your stature."

"It is said that in the ocean, there lies a pulsating heart, the origin of all marine life. To possess it is to rule the sea, granting even the possibility of immortality to those of strong will," the octopus said as it brandished the scroll in its hand. "This map reveals the location of the maritime treasure, a key to finding the pulsating heart of the ocean."

Immortality.

Not only the captain and crew who were directly hearing these words from the octopus but even now, Ning Suisui couldn't help but feel her heart racing at the prospect.

The Heart of the Ocean, a name that instantly signifies a Tier One ability.

Ning Suisui had witnessed the potency of a Tier One ability before; during the time when the eighth member of the Money Leopard Squad was killed by Ji Ge, she went to negotiate with Ji Chaoyang harboring a do-or-die mentality. She unleashed all her abilities and dispensed rare, one-time use items as if money was no object, yet Ji Chaoyang only furrowed his brow slightly.

Around him, a strange vision resembling the starry cosmos appeared. Ning Suisui couldn't withstand a single move, a mere glance from him sent her flying.

If it weren't for Zhang Daowu coming to her rescue in time, she would have lost her life at the hands of Ji Chaoyang.

Even now, being one of the top players on the leaderboard, she couldn't help but ponder - could she stand toe-to-toe with Ji Chaoyang in a battle?

—No.

But if she could acquire this Tier One ability within this instance, Ning Suisui would dare to risk everything, taking Ji Ge away before the "National Instance" commences!

Although her heart raced with the few words from Zhang Min, having cleared numerous instances, Ning Suisui managed to maintain her composed facade.

Her expression remained calm as she met Zhang Min's scrutinizing gaze, even managing to respond casually, "And then?"

Zhang Min spoke slowly, "Then... he resisted the temptation of 'immortality'."

The captain wanted to find the ocean treasure, but it became increasingly clear to him that the octopus definitely harbored ulterior motives towards this cruise ship.

It might be scheming for the treasures on the cruise, perhaps the "legendary" medicine pouch in his possession, or even... the fresh batch of humans on board.

This was an evil creature.

The octopus had been patient for three days, expecting to easily deceive and seduce the greedy humans, yet it hadn't anticipated that the supreme commander on this ship was an astute old man.

It and its minions had waited for too long.

The octopus creature decided to launch an attack on the ship.

That night, amidst the fierce winds and torrential rain, the pitch-black ocean whipped up waves as tall as ten meters, relentlessly assaulting the ship carrying thousands.

A crossfire ensued.

Wave after wave of terrifying creatures assaulted, yet under the experienced command of the captain and the deputy captain, these creatures could only scream before being hurled back into the sea.

Inside the captain's cabin, frantic orders were issued one after another, with the cannons firing continuously till late into the night.

Almost everyone believed that they would prevail in this battle against the monsters, humans had numerous sophisticated weapons after all, but no one had expected...

"After the crew on the ship received the gifts from the monster and heard about the ocean treasure and that nautical chart, they spontaneously united, intending to force my father to cooperate with the octopus. After my father disciplined a few individuals, a servant surnamed Hu, accompanied by a small Irukandji jellyfish and under the pretext of reporting on the battle situation, broke into the captain's cabin. Following my father's death, they killed most of my father's subordinates and appointed that Hu as the new captain." At this point, Zhang Min glanced at Ning Suisui, "The same person you killed this afternoon. If not for them, the Abraham cruise ship would still be sailing freely on the ocean."

Ning Suisui's expression turned somber, "Condolences."

"That's the history of Abraham. Is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Ning Suisui hesitated for a moment, "I heard that you have a medicine pouch left by the former captain that can kill everyone on the ship... is that true?"

Without uttering a word, Zhang Min retrieved the medicine pouch from his sleeve and handed it to her.

Ning Suisu lowered her gaze.

【Item: Medicine Pouch for Daughter (Semi-Finished)】

【Description: The captain of the Abraham cruiser searched all over the world to gift his daughter a pouch of medicine capable of curing her unique ailment. However, the medicine pouch is not completed; a most precious ingredient still needs to be found in the ocean.】

"Everyone assumed he invested so much effort just for the ocean treasure, but I know... it was all for me," murmured Zhang Min.

Ning Suisu couldn't help but be moved as well.

However, at times like these, she always remembered that completing the instance dungeon was the utmost priority.

Initially, Ning Suisu thought that Zhang Min would be the key to cracking the case, as this former captain's daughter held what seemed to be a powerful weapon in her possession.

But now, Ning Suisu had seen the effects of the medicine pouch.

Despite the touching narrative, if Zhang Min had no trump card and only these stories to offer, was there any necessity for them to cooperate?

If they do not cooperate... should she kill her for points?

When Sun Ting was being pursued by the guards, Zhang Min helped her. This NPC might have a considerable amount of points as well...

Ning Suisu quickly weighed her options in her mind before directly inquiring: "Tell me honestly, none of us are confident about facing the Octopus Captain; that creature is too powerful. Do you have any solutions?"

Zhang Min understood the implication behind her words and looked at Ning Suisu, "Indeed, I have a way, because I am the true 'medicine pouch' capable of killing all individuals and creatures on this cruise ship."

.

The large communal space on the third floor.

The Ronghua group was enjoying a jovial time, almost like a party, while Zhang Dao'an stood alone on the balcony, fiddling with something in his hand.

His complexion was pale, but his fingers were persistently moving without pause.

After being chased away from the card table following two rounds of "Dou Dizhu", Jie Fangcheng idly scanned the surroundings before choosing to approach Zhang Dao'an.

"What are you doing?"

Zhang Dao'an had been silent since his return, and seeing his restless fingers, Jie Fangcheng realized, "Monitoring Ning Suisu and her team, aren't you?"

Zhang Dao'an shook his head, "No need to watch them. They should be on the first floor by now... having found the NPC to save Sun Ting, the captain's daughter. As for that legendary medicine pouch that could kill everyone on the ship, why didn't the captain use it before he died? Moreover, considering the peculiar taste of the thing that NPC gave to Sun Ting... I suspect the medicine pouch is fake, and the flesh of this NPC has a lethal toxicity to the creatures, which is the real deal."

Jie Fangcheng couldn't help but let out an "Oh" of realization.

Zhang Dao'an just smiled, "I suspect this NPC isn't a normal human being; logically speaking, this might be a land-dwelling creature."

Jie Fangcheng still wore a bizarre expression.

He wasn't Nie Shuangshuang; Manager Jie's germaphobia extended from the inside out.

"Let's not talk about this now." Jie Fangcheng squinted, and if you looked closely, you could see a thread finer than a strand of hair extending from Zhang Dao'an's fingertip. One end of the thread was held in Zhang Dao'an's grasp, while the other end... was it in the sea?

Jie Fangcheng tiptoed to get a better view, "What are you doing? Fishing?"

Zhang Dao'an responded, "Something like that."

"Have you caught anything?"

Zhang Dao'an looked at him.

Jie Fangcheng was puzzled, "What happened?"

After a couple of seconds, a smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Dao'an's face.

"It's here."

As he spoke, he abruptly flicked his hand upward.

Under the luminous moonlight, the glittering sea surface echoed with a "splash" as the other end of the red thread finally emerged from the water.

It indeed was "a big fish".

A few tiny sea creatures clung beneath the golden shield, falling back into the sea one after another as the shield swiftly ascended from the water.

The shield soared, flying from the sea into Zhang Dao'an's hands.

In the moonlight, Zhang Dao'an winked at Jie Fangcheng.

"Give it a try."

Saying this, he handed the shield over to Jie Fangcheng.

Jie Fangcheng hesitated for a moment before taking the shield and examining it, quickly figuring out how to use it.

With a mere thought, the golden shield in his hand transformed into a massive golden sword, standing as tall as Jie Fangcheng when erected. Holding the sword with his right hand, Jie Fangcheng noticed that almost the entire blade was blunt, except for the gleaming sharp tip that extended for about three inches.

Jie Fangcheng swung it a couple of times, unable to resist commenting, "What a wonderful item."

Of course, it was a splendid thing!

Ning Suisui, who didn't even have a single listed skill, managed to rank seventh on the player leaderboard, largely owing her numerous victories to this second-ranked item on the prop list, the "Material Pack".

But now, one could argue that having this item in Jie Fangcheng's possession was somewhat a waste of its potential.

Players needed the special properties of props to enhance their attack power. Like Ning Suisui, whose "Material Pack" came with the skill "Steel Fortress", a prelude shooting skill that could fire a hyper-magnetic cannon, humorously dubbed the "Italian Cannon".

During the encirclement to kill the steward Hu, surrounded by numerous creatures, Ning Suisui blasted a pathway open with the Italian Cannon.

Even if the minions in the level-five dungeon were weak, they were still creatures of a level-five dungeon, showcasing the remarkable strength of this weapon.

But for Jie Fangcheng, he fundamentally didn't need a powerful weapon; he merely required a weapon that was handy and to his liking.

"It really can't clean itself, huh?" Jie Fangcheng held the golden colossal sword in one hand while pulling out the "Golden Hooped Rod from Tourist Attractions" that Wei Yuan casually gave him with the other. Frowning as he compared them side by side, he found it quite difficult to choose.

At that moment, someone among the group playing cards finally noticed the commotion over here.

"My God! What is that? An EX curry stick???"

Everyone swiftly turned their heads.

"What a massive sword!"

"Curry stick, what? Damn, that is indeed a massive sword!"

"A heavy sword with a dull edge, masterfully unrefined! Where did Brother Jie get it from? Is this something from Yang Guo?"

Nie Shuangshuang recognized the golden object even more. She froze for a moment, a sense of foreboding settling in her heart. She glanced at Jie Fangcheng, then at Zhang Dao'an.

"Where... did this come from?"

Zhang Dao'an gave her a sidelong glance, "A gift from Mother Nature."

“……”

Jie Fangcheng deliberated between the two weapons for a while, deciding to abandon the old for the new and give the new weapon a try. If it didn't suit him, he could always switch back!

Habitually slinging the sword over his shoulder, he felt that aside from its inability to clean itself, everything else about the sword seemed fine.

Facing Nie Shuangshuang's query, Jie Fangcheng gave a slight smile, "Shuangshuang, your friend is truly a good person."

Nie Shuangshuang: "…"

Just as Nie Shuangshuang was nervously contemplating the possibility of Ning Suisui jumping into the sea on the spot upon seeing this giant sword during their next encounter with the Golden Panther Squad, everyone heard a "ding" sound.

The watches that recorded everyone's stats lit up.

Nie Shuangshuang quickly pulled out her watch to check.

The watch displayed a new rule.

"The new rule is..."

— "The new rule stipulates that eliminating any one 'rebel' will grant access to the third floor, allowing one to survive the upcoming two days."

All sixty-nine people exchanged uneasy glances.

Just now, Ning Suisui had entered Zhang Min's room alone. She used a sensory skill on Yan Xiaotong to ensure that her own hearing would be transmitted to the corridor outside. Thus, as Ning Suisui sparred verbally with Zhang Min inside, Yan Xiaotong translated aloud outside, allowing everyone to understand what was happening inside as if watching a live broadcast.

In the end, when Zhang Min declared, "I am the 'Medicine Pouch' capable of killing all people and monsters on this cruise ship," Ning Suisui paused momentarily, immediately deciding to seek cooperation with this NPC!

Zhang Min had methods to deal with the monsters, and the combined strength of them, the players, was reasonably adequate.

Collaborating with this NPC is the most orthodox approach to successfully completing this instance.

But when Ning Suisui revealed her intentions, Zhang Min simply gave her a profound look, "Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, if your intentions remain unchanged, I am willing to cooperate with you."

Why tomorrow? What is going to happen today?

Upon seeing the new rule that appeared on her watch, Ning Suisui understood.

Someone was still inquiring, "Who does the '[Rebel]' refer to? Those monstrous NPCs?"

But some individuals were obviously quick-thinkers, "From the current [Captain]'s perspective, anyone attempting to overthrow his reign would be considered a rebel. For instance, Zhang Min inside the room, and... us, the players."

Silence.

Ning Suisui also gazed intently at the players present.

To have the players genuinely collaborate was virtually an impossibility.

But in the present scenario where only one path lay before them, they managed to achieve it, albeit in a surreal manner.

Yet, with the emergence of the new rule on their watches, everyone was exchanging wary glances once more.

In reality, many didn't decide to betray anyone at this moment. Most were thinking: I won't betray the group, but the young man before me looks sly and cunning; he might backstab me.

This kind of mentality cannot be allowed to proliferate!

Before Ning Suisui could figure out what to say, Zhou Heqi slammed his axe onto the ground with a domineering gesture.

"Let me, old Zhou, say a few words!"

Zhou Heqi's gaze swept over everyone present, "We are all seasoned players who have cleared numerous instances. I won't beat around the bush! This is a divisive scheme! As that NPC mentioned earlier, we all understand how this once mighty ship turned into its current wretched state. The NPCs on the first floor serve as a warning! Believing in the deceitful words of that old turtle will only lead to a dead end! I, for one, don't buy it, and I advise you all not to believe it either!"

As he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement resounded around him.

Seizing the moment, Ning Suisui chimed in, "We have now found Zhang Min, and the path laid before us is one of collaborating with a key NPC to take down the ultimate boss. This is the most legitimate strategy to clear the game. I want to emphasize once more, since we have decided to work together, I absolutely will not tolerate anyone betraying their comrades!"

The crowd unanimously pounded their chests in assurance.

The group majestically retreated to their rooms to rest, and nearing nine o'clock, the watches lit up once again.

This time, the new rule seemed more lenient.

"【Eliminate any servant on the first floor to receive a +100 numerical reward, and waive the ship fare and accommodation fees for the next two days.】"

Any servant on the first floor!

Currently, the first floor was occupied by human NPCs, who were weak and in a state that even Qi Chanyang could eliminate.

These NPCs would pose no difficulty to kill, and there appeared to be a substantial number of them.

However, this was a tempting start. As soon as they took this step, it was foreseeable that Zhang Min would no longer cooperate with them.

Ning Suosuo went door to door, emphasizing the deep-seated dangers of the new rule, and everyone continued to confidently assure their compliance.

— It resembled a performance.

A futile kind of performance that, for some unknown reason, needed to be carried out.

Ning Suosuo spoke until she was parched and those she persuaded continually promised adherence. With a throbbing head from the circular reminders, she returned to her room only to hear a "ding" noise once again.

Feeling an uneasy sensation in her heart, she pulled out her watch and saw the latest rule: "The first ten guests to reach the third floor will receive a numeric reward of +200, and an additional clue to the ocean treasure."

A clue to the ocean's treasure...

At this moment, Ning Suosuo experienced the same feeling of helplessness that the original human captain must have felt.

The rules displayed on the watch were clearly crafted by the octopus monster, who had similarly, step by step, taken over the ship.

Ordinary human NPCs couldn't resist its sugary bombardment, and now these players, with selfishness ingrained deep into their bones... Could they truly hold out?

Even if she were to step out again, knocking on each door, emphasizing the monster's deceit to everyone, would they truly be able to heed her words?

"Captain..." Yan Xiaotong looked at her with concern.

Ning Suosuo managed a bitter smile.

"Forget it, collaborating with players was always going to be a difficult task. After spending so long in this game, it's become very hard to trust anyone... let them be."

Yan Xiaotong knew this was the norm, so she refrained from saying more.

The night was exceptionally quiet.

Despite the rulebook stating, "Guests on the first floor, protect yourselves", the silence outside, punctuated only by the sounds of the waves, seemed to deliberately facilitate conditions for players possibly advancing to the third floor, exuding an eerie tranquillity and safety.

The living conditions on the first floor were subpar, with each person's room spanning just a few square meters, able to fit only a bed and a small bedside cabinet, with a strong smell of seawater permeating the space.

From the window, you could see waves occasionally rolling in, and in the darkness, it seemed like countless pairs of eyes were keenly watching the ship, salivating and waiting to feast.

Would the other players choose to believe the monster's words and become guests on the third floor, or stay and join forces with the players nearby, becoming a new wave of resistance against the octopus captain?

Ning Suosuo felt that she already had the answer in her heart.

Ning Suosuo gripped her spare weapon tightly in her right hand, resting in a semi-conscious state throughout the night.

A calm night passed, and early the next morning, after mentally preparing herself, Ning Suosuo finally opened the door.

At the doorway, there were already many early risers standing in the corridor waiting.

Ning Suosuo scanned the area and paused, momentarily surprised.

She hadn't expected so many people to remain.

As the number of people in the corridor gradually increased, soon, the hallway on the first floor was packed full. Looking over, Ning Suisui couldn't help but feel that, perhaps it was an illusion, but the number of people didn't seem to have significantly decreased from yesterday.

She couldn't resist and started counting directly.

Many others, even the taller ones, were craning their necks and swiveling their heads, joining in the count.

"...sixty-five, sixty-six, sixty-seven, sixty-eight..."

Ning Suisui kept counting in a daze, until, finally, her finger pointed at herself.

"...sixty-nine people, not one less."

The majority of players present hadn't expected that these seemingly restless and shifty "companions" around them had all chosen to stay.

A moment of silence was shattered by someone exclaiming, "Holy shit, that's awesome!", followed by a burst of chatter filling the hallway.

"Damn it, Old Liu! I wasn't worried about anyone else yesterday, just concerned you'd betray us with your sneaky ways... Didn't expect this from you, Liu, good on you!"

"Shut up! You're the one betraying us!"

"Brother Wang is a good guy, we can get along with him. After we get out, let's add each other as friends and run dungeons together!"

"Damn, I don't think we're any less than Ronghua and their gang! With so many of us united, we can beat the octopus mini-boss, and kick the asses of those on the third floor, including little Ronghua... why are you covering my mouth?"

"If you want to die, go by yourself! Don't drag our guild down!"

The enthusiasm yesterday when Ning Suisui gave her speech was similar, but that fervor felt more like a performance of oaths, where everyone feared being accused of lacking enthusiasm or sincerity by others. Now, this fervor stirred a strange feeling in the depths of Ning Suisui's heart.

At this moment, someone with sparkling eyes turned to her, "Captain Ning, tell us, what should we do next?"

Faced with a group of equally excited and eager faces, Ning Suisui belatedly realized — she truly had a group of comrades she could trust.

Although these comrades still harbored their own schemes, and might fight each other desperately for a slim chance of survival in the near future, at this moment, at this moment of passing the monster's test, everyone had the potential to unite as one.

Perhaps this change began when Ronghua's team was full, forcing everyone to form a single team, or perhaps it started when Ning Suisui decided to share the NPC clues openly without holding back.

This was her first time experiencing something like this in the game. Those who were scheming against each other just yesterday, had proven today... that there were still countless possibilities in the relationships between players.

Ning Suisui pressed her lips together, "Thank you, everyone..."

She wasn't exactly sure what she was "thanking" for. After saying this, Ning Suisui cleared her throat.

Initially, she viewed these people before her as stepping stones, as pawns to be used. Much of what she said before was just for show. Yet now, Ning Suisui seemed to have lost that ability to play to the gallery.

"Let's... how about we have breakfast first, and then go find Zhang Min?"

Although it was such a simple and unpretentious statement, everyone cheered enthusiastically, moving in a grand procession towards the first-floor dining hall.

Meanwhile, at the staircase leading to the third floor, Jie Fangcheng, yawning and carrying his newly acquired giant sword, sauntered leisurely towards the stairway entrance with a bored expression.

"Has no one come yet?"

The four players assigned to guard the staircase were also yawning wearily.

"Nothing, not a player in sight, not even an NPC."

"Jie, you should head back, we'll call you if anything comes up."

Someone rubbed their eyes, "Did Zhang miscalculate this time..."

Before the sentence was finished, someone next to him quickly covered his mouth, smiling awkwardly, "Just kidding, Jie, don't take it to heart!"

"Huh?" Jie Fangcheng was unaware of why he was being apologized to.

In the midst of the conversation, another main character opened the door and stepped out.

Zhang Daoan was dressed in a business suit, resembling an office worker headed to the company, only lacking a briefcase.

He looked towards the stairway entrance.

"No one has come by?"

"Yes, yes, exactly."

Zhang Daoan nodded thoughtfully.

"It's earlier than I anticipated."

Everyone remained silent.

Zhang Daoan turned to Jie Fangcheng, "Shall we go to eat?"

"Sure."

Saying this, Jie Fangcheng hoisted his sword onto his shoulder again, and quickly disappeared with Zhang Daoan.

The person who was silenced earlier asked in confusion after the two left, "What happened to Zhu? I only mentioned it because I saw that person didn't come out, can't I say that in front of Jie?"

Last night, Ning Suisui and her team faced their first test. On the third floor, Zhang Daoan had arranged a shift schedule, grouping four people together, usually consisting of three veteran Ronghua players mentoring a newbie, standing guard from the second to the third floor at the staircase. It was another form of bonding experience.

The one who silenced the other earlier was one of the veteran players from Ronghua.

Hearing the question, the older player named Zhu extended a finger and shook it.

"Young man, you don't understand," he said, oozing wisdom, "Let me tell you a secret."

"What secret?" The new player listened attentively.

The veteran player lowered his voice, bringing his thumbs together in a mutual gesture, "Jie and Zhang, they are like this."

"Damn! Seriously??"

"You don't understand, do you? Let me explain in detail..."

.

Inside the restaurant on the third floor.

Zhang Daoan and Jie Fangcheng were seated at a dining table, with Zhang Daoan maintaining a calm demeanor.

"The final battle is imminent."

Jie Fangcheng did not anticipate this sudden remark and paused momentarily before nodding, "So soon, huh."

"I didn't expect it either," said Zhang Daoan, who despite saying so, seemed to have anticipated this based on his facial expression, "It seems the majority within the player community are indeed intelligent."

It would be utterly foolish to heed the rules on the watch and proceed to the third floor.

The players on the first floor have already endured a major battle together. If anyone now covets information about ocean treasures, abandoning their fellow players—who at the very least are fellow human beings—with whom they have shared life-and-death experiences to trust monsters known for their criminal tendencies and human-eating habits, these fools will undoubtedly become the most dangerous group among the player community in the future.

In the battlefield, being foolish equates to being malevolent.

However, many suffer from overestimating their own intelligence, especially these veteran players who have cleared levels numerous times. They sometimes become too confident, believing that their wit would allow them to negotiate even with a tiger for its skin, to spar with the boss.

The anticipated scenario did not occur, at least not among this batch of players who fortunately did not harbor any fools.

"And if I were an NPC, seeing how trustworthy my collaborators are, in order to catch the monsters off guard, I would start preparing for a counterattack immediately."

Zhang Daoan seemed to be in a good mood, prompting Jie Fangcheng to suddenly remark, "I can't shake the feeling that you're harboring some kind of ulterior motive."

Zhang Daoan paused, but admitted quite frankly,

"There is one."

"What?"

Zhang Daoan's gaze fleetingly swept over the golden greatsword beside Jie Fangcheng, yet he merely shook his head, "It's nothing."

"Achoo!"

On the first floor, Ning Suisui rubbed her nose, muttering quietly, "Why do I keep feeling a chill down my spine, as if some ghostly entity is watching over me?"

Countless players had already changed into uniform grey outfits resembling NPC attire, pockets filled with peculiar pills of various sizes. At a glance, they blended seamlessly with the numerous NPCs, making it impossible to distinguish one from another.

She hadn't anticipated such smooth progress.

After breakfast, she went to find Zhang Min. Zhang Min was stunned for a few seconds when she realized that not a single person had entered the third floor.

Ning Suisui could relate to her astonishment well.

After all, Zhang Min's NPC father had faced similar dilemmas in the past. Unfortunately, that captain didn't survive.

Zhang Min quickly regained her composure, not only promptly agreeing to Ning Suisui's collaboration proposal but also presenting a plan that Ning Suisui hadn't anticipated, one that must have been devised over a considerable period.

"You need not worry about the humans still alive on the first floor leaking any information; they won't betray us."

Indeed.

Although a portion of them were originally the ones who forced the old captain to collaborate with this octopus monster, their prolonged ordeal has finally made them see the harsh reality clearly.

"As for the monsters upstairs, each one of us is nothing more than a reservoir of food — except for me. The flesh on my body is highly toxic. Consuming it would kill them. I understand that you guests are somewhat different, remaining unaffected for a considerable time after ingestion and recovering with the help of some potion. Therefore, when they come to 'harvest flesh' later, take a pill beforehand. The flesh will be supplied, and although I am unsure of its effectiveness now... killing even one monster with it would be worth the effort."

Consequently, Ning Suisu and the others changed into the attire of the first floor NPCs, standing together with the group of NPCs, waiting for the grim task of flesh harvesting.

The prospect of the forthcoming scene made many feel their skin crawl, yet when the moment arrived, everyone felt a sense of nausea.

Over a thousand NPCs remained on the first floor, in contrast to the initial estimate of one to two hundred NPCs on the second floor, and seemingly even fewer on the third.

In this regard, it appears that human NPCs are the majority aboard the ship.

However, despite their numbers, the NPCs seemed almost non-existent normally, with only occasional sightings of them wandering the corridors.

Their living quarters resembled a series of rat nests, dark and damp, devoid of any sunlight.

Now, this crowd of a thousand stood silently, awaiting the monstrous harvest, their faces bearing an eerie numbness, unresponsive to the newcomers like Ning Suisu.

Soon, two octopuses appeared at the end of the cluttered corridor leading to the rat nests.

They seemed a size smaller than the previous guard octopuses, not even as robust as an average adult as they squirmed their way forward.

Despite their modest appearance, seemingly easy to overpower by three or four people, they held a wolfish dominance while selecting their prey amidst the nearly a thousand individuals present.

The two octopuses quickly singled out their first victim.

"The leg, perhaps. This one seems to have quite meaty legs."

After a brief consultation, they raised their flesh-harvesting knives, meticulously gouging out a bowl of flesh from the selected NPC's leg.

The harvested NPC screamed in agony, receiving several brutal whips from the tentacles.

Meanwhile, the cart held by the octopuses accumulated hundreds of bowls.

Before long, Ning Suisu was the first player to be chosen.

"Huh? This one seems somewhat unfamiliar." One of the octopuses leaned in closer, scrutinizing her intently.

Ning Suisu feigned terror, even retreating a couple of steps, amusing the octopuses to no end. They wrapped their tentacles around her, stretching her entire body out violently.

"This one's high quality, can't believe we haven't noticed her before... Let's take two bowls from her, shall we?"

Ning Suisu bore the ordeal stoically, letting out only a suppressed moan when they extracted her flesh.

As thousands waited for their flesh to be sufficiently harvested, the octopuses didn't depart. They inspected each individual they had harvested from, ensuring no fatalities or abnormalities had occurred. Only then did they leisurely push their cart, laden with a mountain of flesh, away with a creaking sound, leaving the scene at last.

As soon as they left, the players immediately exchanged for and ingested the potion.

Compared to the surrounding skin-and-bones individuals who are frequently harvested for flesh, they indeed were all prime sources of meat, none could escape this fate.

After the octopus monsters left, the surrounding NPCs who were not harvested retreated impassively, while those who were harvested were screaming in agony.

Before leaving, the octopus monsters applied a layer of medicine to their wounds, stopping the bleeding and forming a rough red membrane, allowing for recovery and future harvests.

Beside Yan Xiaoxi lay an NPC who appeared to be of a similar age, currently writhing in pain. Unable to hold back, she exchanged two bottles of potions, administering one to her and the other to another NPC beside her.

At this moment, many players, sharing the bond of humanity, made the same choice.

The NPCs who were wailing in pain soon recovered rapidly at their wounds, many of them getting up numbly, swiftly disappearing, with the few remaining managing only to whisper a word of thanks.

Ning Suisui, observing the corridor that could originally accommodate thousands becoming desolate and silent, couldn't help but inquire, "Is there really no way for them to fight back?"

Initially, Ning Suisui thought that these NPCs could be persuaded like Zhang Min, but Zhang Min's response dealt her a heavy blow.

"Impossible," Zhang Min seemed to chuckle, but her voice was cold. "The first batch of people who died were the most fervent resistors, mostly my father's subordinates. Those who survived either submitted or never resisted from the beginning. They didn't dare back then, much less now."

Zhang Min had tried, but the only thing on these people's minds now was "survival".

Resist? Their first question would always be: How do we resist?

The monsters upstairs are terrifying, they don't even have weapons. Are they expected to fight the bosses with their bare hands?

"In the end, it's all up to us," Zhang Min calculated the time, "After the monsters collect the flesh, they first take it to the kitchens on various floors. Once prepared by the chefs, it will be served to those who are entitled to enjoy it... From preparation to enjoyment, it would take about half an hour."

Zhang Min had a map of the entire ship in her hands.

"The second and third floors are manageable, but the fourth and fifth floors are where the captain operates. It is very cautious, and I suspect, it might already be aware of our alliance."

Ning Suisui had also noticed this.

They had just met with Zhang Min last night when the rules on their wristwatches changed, indicating that their plans to join forces were known.

Ning Suisui asked, "I want to know if providing this poisoned meat this morning is really effective? If it knew we were joining forces, wouldn't it suspect that we might offer poisoned meat? If it has any doubts, a single command will suffice to make them avoid the meat we provided, right?"

Zhang Min smiled, "It knows, but to it... the death of numerous subordinates is insignificant."

Ning Suisui was stunned.

Zhang Min gazed into the distance.

"Because in the entire ocean, all are its subjects, losing a batch doesn't matter. Compared to its own people dying, it enjoys watching the feeble struggle more... Although it isn't human, in the aspect of enjoying 'sadistic killing', it shares something in common with some humans."

Zhang Min's words were somewhat harsh, and Ning Suisui was reminded of the strange taste of the 'pills' she was given.

According to Zhang Min, her flesh contained toxins, which meant that those pills were likely made from her flesh.

Initially, Ning Suisui was quite repelled by the pills, but upon sniffing them, she found no smell of blood but a faint aroma resembling mushrooms. The taste as well was akin to raw mushrooms.

Could it be that Zhang Min is... a terrestrial monster transformed into human shape given the presence of creatures in the sea?

This thought crossed Ning Suisui's mind.

The half-hour passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, the distant sounds of commotion could be heard coming from upstairs.

"It's time!" Zhang Min stood up.

The opportunity for revenge was within reach, and she couldn't help but have her fingers tremble slightly.

Ning Suisui nodded at her.

"Don't worry."

With that, everyone changed into their respective outfits.

Ning Suisui held her double-handed sword tightly.

Although this sword wasn't as powerful as the ones found in the [Material Pack], it was still a top-ranking divine weapon.

Now, she walked at the forefront, the rare gear she wore flapping vigorously as she moved.

As they approached the staircase, they encountered several NPCs who had been previously butchered for their flesh. These NPCs were carrying basins full of mountain-like piles of dirty laundry.

This was the daily life of the first-floor NPCs, toiling day and night, occasionally being forced to supply the monsters upstairs with their flesh and blood.

Seeing them heading out at this time, the NPCs stood against the wall, their numb eyes revealing a hint of uncontrollable curiosity.

Ning Suisui wasn't sure what came over her, but as she passed them, she couldn't help but speak up: "We are about to launch an attack on the monsters upstairs! If you are willing, you're welcome to join us!"

As expected, her words were met with no response. Ning Suisui had anticipated this, offering them a polite nod before continuing her determined march forward without pause.

Soon, the sounds of conflict echoed from the second floor.

Zhang Min was waiting on the first floor as originally planned. Although the flesh on her body contains a deadly toxin capable of killing those NPCs, her own abilities are akin to those of a regular human NPC.

At this moment, with the noises emanating from the second floor, she turned her attention towards the surrounding NPCs.

Quite a few NPCs were drawn by the commotion upstairs, peeking out from their gloomy rooms with bewildered expressions, glancing towards the upper floor, yet not a single one dared to ascend and witness what was actually happening.

Among them were many familiar faces. After all, before these monsters invaded the ship, as the captain's daughter, Zhang Min had been a cherished little princess onboard.

Now, witnessing these familiar faces transformed into worn, sallow visages, bearing no trace of their once spirited demeanors on the ship, Zhang Min suddenly raised her voice.

"Everyone! Today we have a group of trustworthy allies! They are willing to help us drive the monsters from this ship and reclaim the Abraham cruiser, to restore our normal lives! I hope, you can lend your hands in this endeavor!"

A silence enveloped the first-floor corridor.

Zhang Min waited for a while, until the prearranged signal came from above. The crowd simply stared at her blankly.

Never mind then.

Perhaps because she had anticipated this reaction, Zhang Min didn't feel any disappointment.

Without any further hesitation, she turned and ascended to the second floor.

At the entrance to the second-floor staircase, Ning Suisui was waiting for her.

"It went very smoothly!" Ning Suirui was surprised it had gone so well.

After they came upstairs, the floor was already littered with one after another monster returned to its original form. There were also some that hadn't managed to eat yet or were fortunate enough not to have eaten the toxic flesh. These monsters were generally not too powerful. The strength that sixty-nine united players could unleash was beyond Ning Suirui's imagination - they were like a bulldozer steadily plowing ahead. The floor was soon covered in the scattered remains of the sea monsters.

The once magnificent hall was now filthy and polluted, but upon entering the second floor, Zhang Min was overcome with nostalgia.

"We didn't find the secret passage you mentioned," Ning Suirui said, more concerned about this.

This was also the most critical point of their cooperation.

Zhang Min mentioned that a concealed control room was hidden on the fourth floor, known only to her and the old captain.

There was a secret passage leading from the second to the fourth floor, which provided direct access to the control room.

This control room harbors a plethora of precious firearms capable of restraining the monsters, constituting a pivotal factor for our victory.

"Follow me."

Leading the group, Zhang Min navigated through various twists and turns, soon reaching a dimly lit room.

The room, untouched for a long time, housed an array of miscellaneous items and books.

A fleeting glance from Ning Suisui revealed a plethora of medical texts.

Upon entering this room, Zhang Min evidently became much more relaxed.

As she busied herself activating the mechanism to open the secret passage, she spoke nostalgically, "Initially, this was a toy room my grandfather had set aside for me. Later, when the cruise ship was renovated and two floors were added, my room was moved to the fifth floor. This space then transformed into my father's study... Only he and I were privy to this secret. He enjoyed sneaking down here from the fourth floor to eavesdrop on the sailors, gathering bits of gossip or critiques about his leadership. He would note them down and promptly make amendments. He was dearly loved by everyone on board."

While speaking, Zhang Min finally unveiled the long-sealed secret passage.

An age-old rope ladder dangled down. Just as Zhang Min was about to ascend, Ning Suisui halted her.

"Hold on! Let me go first. After all this time, we can't afford any mishaps."

Zhang Min nodded nonchalantly, "Alright."

Taking the lead, Ning Suisui climbed up with agile movements.

The silent, deserted passageway led to an equally quiet room. Upon landing, Ning Suisui quickly scanned the surroundings utilizing her keen vision.

It was indeed a room filled with crates and an array of incomprehensible equipment. Ning Suisui casually opened a crate near her, revealing neatly arranged rows of firearms; another even contained landmines.

This is an armory, she realized.

After confirming it was safe, Ning Suirui pulled the rope ladder to signal there was no danger below.

Soon after, Zhang Min climbed up second.

Upon entering the control room, she only glan

"Do you remember how to operate these?" Ning Suisui asked.

Zhang Min shook her head, then nodded.

"I haven't actually operated it myself, but I've seen my father do it, so there shouldn't be any issues," she said confidently.

With that, Zhang Min settled herself in the chair, immediately immersing herself in the study of the apparatus before her.

The rest of the players began clambering up from the rope ladder one after another, only to quickly encounter a new problem.

"Stop climbing! There's no more space here!"

"Ah? What should we do now?"

Ning Suisui couldn't help but furrow her brows.

"Here's what we'll do," she quickly made a decision, "Gold Leopard Squad, take this box of firearms. You will lead the remaining players to the third floor to assess the situation. If possible, eliminate the NPCs on that floor; after all, the points are substantial. If not, prioritize your safety. Should we encounter any issues, I'll call for reinforcements immediately."

"Understood!"

Soon after descending, the group of five managed to calm the other players, and together they advanced towards the third floor.

Meanwhile, Zhang Min, engrossed in her study of the equipment, had made some progress.

"The ship's three cannons have been dismantled. Only one on the right side remains operational. One cannon is far from sufficient to face the threats in the sea. We need to reassemble the dismantled cannons!"

Assembling cannons, huh...

Ning Suisui couldn't help but voice her concern, "Isn't assembling a cannon a task too complex for just one or two people? Doesn't it require certain skills?"

Zhang Min showcased her unique abilities as a cruise ship magnate's daughter: "No worries, as long as I can get the cannon barrel, I can assemble it."

"Where is the cannon barrel?"

"I'm not certain. But if it's as before... it might be in the storage room at the far end of the fourth floor, where various items are kept."

Ning Suisui paused, "The far end... we're at the front right now?"

"Yes."

In other words, they would need to traverse half the cruise ship to retrieve the cannon barrel, then assist Zhang Min in installing it.

Not to mention, the fourth and fifth floors were the captain's domain, and just venturing to the fourth floor already posed a significant risk.

The initial plan was to lure the captain into the sea before opening fire on it.

The method of luring had been discussed; not only was Zhang Min's poison lethal, but it also induced hallucinations. She was confident in being able to control it for a few seconds upon contact.

A few seconds, though perhaps insufficient to kill the octopus, should be enough to drive it off the ship.

Once it was in the sea, they would bombard it, aiming simply to prevent it from returning aboard.

The precondition being that the firepower was sufficient.

So, that's how it is.

Ning Suisui hesitated for a moment before resolving to take the risk.

"Alright! Inform me of the exact location, I'll go."

"Captain!" Yan Xiaotong couldn't help but try to stop her, "Let me go instead! My skills are also quite suitable for finding things and escaping!"

Yan Xiaotong's claim wasn't without merit; she possessed a skill named "Heavenly Patrol," which allowed her to almost become invisible and significantly enhance her speed when activated.

However, Ning Suisui simply shook her head.

She had encountered the octopus captain before and knew very well that this monster was not an ordinary boss.

"I should be the one to go. Even if you encounter the captain, you might not be able to escape unscathed."

Zhang Min, who was busily working on the apparatus, glanced over at her, evidently moved by her willingness to undertake this dangerous task.

Not being one to dawdle, Ning Suisui gave her instructions, took a deep breath, and opened the control room door without any further ado.

Outside the door, all was quiet, though the distant sounds of intense fighting echoed faintly from below.

Ning Suisui carefully closed the door behind her before sprinting off like an arrow towards the direction given by Zhang Min.

But unknown to all, shortly after her departure, a snake slithered gracefully along the ceiling, making its way towards the fifth floor.

.

The third floor.

"Damn... Why is the fight downstairs so fierce?"

Inside the large dormitory room, Ronghua's men had already heard noises from below when the fighting began on the second floor. Many had dashed to the staircase to witness the commotion, only to find that, aside from the NPCs meeting their demise, the grand group of sixty-nine individuals seemed to be getting along harmoniously, unlike their previous disputes over a mere fifteen points of fare. They resembled sworn brothers who had known each other for many years.

Everyone was puzzled, unable to comprehend how this previously disorganized group now appeared closer than even ordinary guild players.

Now, the uproar had spread directly to the third floor, providing a more convenient viewing experience.

Some even took the opportunity to stop acquaintances.

"Old Yue! What's going on with you guys?"

The person who was stopped couldn't remember a time when they fought so freely, not having to worry about players betraying them and confidently entrusting their backs to those behind them, only needing to fend off NPC attacks.

At this moment, too lazy to offer a detailed explanation, he threw a curt "It's a long story" over his shoulder before resuming his bulldozer-like advance.

Before, they had only perceived these NPCs as terrifying and fierce, and even now, before being poisoned, these NPCs were indeed fierce. However, no matter how fierce, under the siege of over forty players, even a small boss couldn't withstand the onslaught.

Ultimately, the third floor echoed with shouts of "Over here, over here" and "There, there," not resembling the panic and fright of clearing a level five dungeon, but rather a leisurely and jovial massacre within a level one dungeon, with people even finding the time to jest and laugh.

As they joked and laughed, the bewildered faces of Ronghua's group inside the large dormitory could only stare blankly.

"Are their abilities truly that formidable? Do they regard NPCs as negligible entities now?"

"Not entirely negligible... They are fervently competing for points from the NPCs, aren't they..."

"What's happening?"

As the conversation progressed, many people's gazes instinctively drifted towards Zhang Daoan's face.

Everyone could perceive the transformation in the poisoned NPCs. Suddenly, an NPC would reveal its true nature and collapse, its muscles seemingly dissolved, clearly displaying a vulnerability that made them easy to kill.

While everyone remained in the dark about the unfolding situation, the tempting points lying before their eyes were too alluring to resist, wasn't it?

Yet, Zhang Daoan restrained them.

"Do not snatch monsters from others when they are down to their last sliver of life; it is a quick path to making enemies," he advised.

That was his counsel.

Making enemies!

What an assertion... Not to mention how common it was for players to foster enmities within the dungeon, Zhang Daoan’s actions since entering the dungeon should have already spawned numerous foes, if any were to be made.

Nevertheless, no one dared to defy his words.

At this moment, as they watched others outside merrily acquiring points, with exclaims of "It has a hundred points" ringing here and there, a certain unease started to creep amongst the group.

"But these are rewards," someone murmured sotto voce.

In such dungeons, it was evident that the more points acquired, the more generous the rewards upon returning from a successful raid.

To everyone, these points represented the loot and score obtained from clearing the dungeon.

Zhang Daoan showed no indulgence: "These are rewards earned through others' hard work. If you wish to have a share of the pie, you might as well venture into the sea and hone your skills there."

The room fell silent.

Xie Fangcheng, however, was enjoying the spectacle, leaning out to survey the scene and even analyzing it with Nie Shuangshuang beside him.

"That person is incredibly fast."

"Which one, which one?" Nie Shuangshuang focused intently, only to be rendered speechless momentarily, "Brother, isn't that either Yan Xiaotong or Yan Xiaoqian?"

"Indeed." Xie Fangcheng, who still remembered the twin sisters, unabashedly inquired in his next breath, "Hey, do you know if her speed is due to a skill or a piece of equipment?"

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."

Xie Fangcheng noted her expression: "What kind of look is that?"

With a despondent gaze, Nie Shuangshuang implored, "Brother, could you perhaps find another sheep to shear? The golden leopard is nearly bald from your incessant shearing!"

"It's not that serious," retorted Xie Fangcheng, cheerfully planting his sword beside him.

The great sword shimmered with a golden hue. From the corner of her eye, Yan Xiaoqian, who was being watched intently from afar, caught a fleeting glimpse of a familiar bright yellow tone.

However, as she sharply turned around, she first noticed Xie Fangcheng scrutinizing her shoes, seemingly pondering over the attributes of the footwear — contemplating if they enhanced speed, and if he could possibly acquire them — a pure act of banditry, utterly reprehensible.

Without uttering another word, Yan Xiaoqian dashed off, faintly hearing a familiar voice echoing from behind.

"She indeed runs incredibly fast; I wonder if those shoes have some exceptional attributes..."

Zhang Daoan observed the over forty players running outside.

"We're short of twenty people; Ning Suisui and Yan Xiaotong haven't shown up. That talkative one, Liu Guangming, is also absent. They must be guarding Zhang Min... I suspect Ning Suisui might have headed to some sort of control room."

"Control room?" Deprived of the ongoing excitement, Xie Fangcheng returned to his seat. "What's in the control room?"

"It houses the main helm that controls the direction of the ship, equipment monitoring the ship's facilities, and likely... weaponry, among other things."

Speaking thus, Zhang Daoan furrowed his brow.

"If I recall correctly, only one turret remains operational on this ship, right?"

"?? How did you come to know this?" Nie Shuangshuang exclaimed, astonished.

Zhang Daoan did not respond; he often sauntered on the deck where other affluent players assumed he was simply enjoying the view. In reality, should one inquire, they would find Zhang Daoan frequently estimated the ship's course by sight, seeking out the cruise ship's destination and scrutinizing its features.

The ship's turrets were openly exposed; of them, only one appeared to be in working order, the rest seemed to be obstructed and non-functional.

Zhang Daoan had a fairly accurate hunch regarding Ning Suisui's plan. Zhang Min's flesh was poisoned, and her survival until now, being the daughter of a former cruise ship captain, clearly implied that the current octopus captain was keeping her alive to witness her futile struggles, much like enjoying a tragicomedy enacted by a clown.

Zhang Min seemed to be aware of this, yet despite her awareness, she confidently collaborated with the players, even initiating a massive attack so swiftly, clearly indicating she had other supports.

What kind of backing instilled such confidence in her?

Even if her poison was exceptionally potent, if the captain chose not to ingest it, its effectiveness would be considerably diminished. If the poison were that powerful, there would be no need to collaborate with the players; she could devise her own strategies to accomplish her goals.

That left her identity as a viable resource.

Her status granted her access to highly confidential information, such as details about the armory or the control panel, among other things.

But currently, with three malfunctioning turrets, her initial task was to restore the artillery firepower.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Daoan suddenly turned his head: "Miss Nie."

Nie Shuangshuang's friends were generally easygoing, and hearing Zhang Daoan use such a formal address made her feel as uncomfortable as if she were covered in crawling caterpillars.

"Ah..." Nie Shuangshuang stood up promptly, resembling a student being called upon by a teacher.

"Could I ask a favor of you, please?"

"Please go ahead, please go ahead." Nie Shuangshuang responded, both eager and apprehensive.

Zong Daoan pointed in the direction where Yan Xiaoxi had left moments before.

"Could you please catch up with her and inquire if Ning Suisui really doesn't need any assistance?"

"...Huh?"

Zong Daoan looked at her.

Nie Shuangshuang snapped to attention, and darted out like an arrow released from its bow.

Not long after she dashed out, she returned with a perplexed expression on her face.

"They said they don't need it."

It turned out that the moment Yan Xiaoxi heard that the inquiry was from Zong Daoan, she recalled Jie Fangcheng's gaze from earlier and hastily stepped back.

"These shoes give a percentage boost! He couldn't possibly also need a percentage boost, could he??"

Her reaction was as if she had encountered a bandit.

Nie Shuangshuang relayed this with a touch of schadenfreude, finding it refreshing that Zong Daoan, who usually seemed to have clairvoyant abilities, also had moments of vulnerability.

Before she could finish relishing in this, Yan Xiaoxi hurried over with a serious look on her face.

Upon reaching the entrance to the Ronghua, she swiftly removed her shoes and placed them in front of Jie Fangcheng.

"They've encountered danger!"