Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"Is that really a ship?"

A girl dressed in a black gothic Lolita dress posed the question. Her face adorned with heavy smoky makeup, she looked around apprehensively, clutching her suitcase tightly.

Her question mirrored the thoughts of many, for they couldn't discern the nature of the distant speck. As it approached, the tumultuous waves became more violent, as if a colossal creature lurked beneath, churning the waters.

Could an actual ship sail in such treacherous waves?

From the shadows behind them, the menacing roars of unknown creatures grew louder, as if heralding the arrival of their leader. All these signs made it difficult for the onlookers not to suspect that the approaching entity was not a ship, but some sea monster.

"It's a ship."

Xie Yinxue confidently reassured the crowd.

As his voice was carried away by the sea breeze, the form of the distant speck finally came into clear view for everyone.

It was, undeniably, a ship, or more specifically, a steamboat.

While it seemed insignificant amidst the vast expanse of the sea, as it docked, its magnificent enormity became evident. The top of its smokestacks was barely visible, with gray smoke merging with the overcast sky, making it appear as if the looming clouds were produced by the ship's burning coal.

At last, the steamboat anchored near the moss-covered wooden platform. As it approached, the splash from the waves moistened the already damp, algae-ridden planks, rendering the platform even dirtier.

As everyone took a step back to avoid the splashes, their eyes followed the boat's edge, finally resting on the name etched at the bow of the ship: Helle's Dream.

A man dressed in a blue and white naval uniform appeared beside the railing, waving and smiling cheerily as he greeted the people on the platform, "Hey, are you all here to board the ship too?"

"I'm the first officer of this cruise, you can call me Eno." The man had dazzling golden hair and sky-blue eyes. His youthful and fair face shone brightly amidst the gloomy and damp seaside, making him look as radiant as an angel, bursting with vibrant energy.

"He must be the guide NPC for this instance," remarked a goth-dressed girl. "In every instance, the first to converse with the participants is always the guide NPC. They never lie to us, and their words are often crucial. We must listen."

Standing beside her was a girl in a Japanese uniform, seemingly her companion. "Yun Qian, he asked if we are boarding the ship. Are we heading onboard this time?"

The goth girl, named Yun Qian, nodded, "It seems so."

As they conversed, a gangway leading to the cruise deck was gradually lowered. Eno appeared at the end of it, accompanied by several individuals dressed similarly to him but varying in height, build, and hair color.

Yun Qian stepped forward and addressed Eno, "Yes, First Officer, we're all here to board."

"Boarding requires a ticket. It's one gold coin per ticket."

Eno, the guiding NPC, was unusually kind and attractive. Always smiling and speaking in a sweet tone, however, his words left the crowd on the platform exchanging puzzled glances.

"A gold coin?"

"Do you mean real gold?"

"I only have cash. Is that acceptable?"

A businesswoman dressed in black silk reached into her wallet, pulling out several hundred-dollar bills to offer Eno, but he shook his head, "Sorry, we only accept silver coins and gold coins here. A hundred silver coins make one gold coin. If you don't have the coins, you can pawn something valuable to get the equivalent in coins."

"Something valuable?" The businesswoman pondered for a moment, then removed a jade bracelet from her wrist, asking Eno, "Is this acceptable?"

"A Floating Jade bracelet, it's worth three gold coins," Eno took the bracelet and handed her two gold coins in change. "You can board now."

"Wan Mu, Wan Mu!" A woman, also dressed in black and seemingly a colleague of the businesswoman, hurriedly called out, "You have two more gold coins. Could you pay for my ticket?"

Wan Mu hesitated, not immediately agreeing but not declining either.

A man in a black suit stepped forward, removing a green watch from his wrist, "Man Qing, let me cover your fare."

After receiving the watch, Eno inquired, "A Rolex Submariner Hulk, worth seven gold coins. Sir, are you paying for two tickets?"

The man in the black suit replied, "Make it four. Include the tickets for these two employees of mine as well."

He was referring to two slender men in grey vests and trousers standing next to him. Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up in gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. Fang! We truly appreciate it..."

It became clear that these five were colleagues, possibly from the same company. Though newcomers, they quickly managed to gather the necessary coins for boarding.

Others began to remove their valuables, and those without any jewelry handed over their smartphones to gather enough for the fare — after all, almost every newcomer carried a phone.

A middle-aged man, previously seen bullying a young girl, grumbled, "Do we really have to board? I get seasick. I didn't come here willingly, so why should I pay?"

Before any of the veteran participants could react with disdain, Eno turned to him with a cheery smile, "Boarding is entirely up to you. We won't force you. However, night is approaching, and there won't be another cruise docking here."

The man, glancing behind at the ominous and slowly encroaching shadow of some hidden danger, cursed under his breath but didn't dare stay on the platform. Pointing at a security guard, he exclaimed, "It's all your fault for damaging my car that I ended up here! You pay my fare."

The security guard, holding his daughter close, pleaded in desperation, "But I only have one phone. I can't even afford the ticket for my daughter."

The middle-aged man pointed to the pager on the security guard's belt, "What about that pager? Can't you exchange it for a ticket?"

The security guard shook his head, "That belongs to the company. I have to return it when my shift ends."

"Why should I care?" The middle-aged man glared and lunged forward, trying to snatch the phone from the security guard. "Hand it over to me now!"

"What's wrong with you?" The young man, whose face reddened whenever he looked at Xie Yin Xue, stepped in once again, blocking the middle-aged man. He handed the security guard a gold coin, "Here, this is for your daughter's ticket. But I have to remind you, surviving here is the most important thing. Forget about the company's rules."

"Sir, thank you..." The security guard bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.

After exchanging his phone for a gold coin, he and his daughter approached the gangway. As the young girl handed the coin to Eno, he looked at her with pity, "Such a young child... Poor thing. Children can board for free. Go ahead."

The girl, brimming with joy, hopped down from her father's embrace and rushed to the young man, "Big brother, I don't need a ticket. Here's your gold coin back. Thank you."

"It's alright, keep it," the young man replied with a smile.

Standing straight, he scanned the wooden platform. Xie Yin Xue and Zhu Yi Kun had not yet moved, the last two yet to board the ship.

Knowing his own worth, Zhu Yi Kun hesitated, whispering to Xie Yin Xue, "Mr. Xie, what should we do?"

Xie Yin Xue, sitting upright, dangled his feet off the chair. Ignoring Zhu Yi Kun, he looked at Eno, "First Officer Eno, do you offer any special services aboard?"

Zhu Yi Kun was bewildered.

What special service? Didn't he just reject the offer for a "foot massage"?

Everyone was both baffled and astounded by Xie Yin Xue's request. In a place where survival was the primary concern, he was asking for "special services". Many participants in this instance had unique outfits, making Xie Yin Xue, in his long gown, seem out of place against the cruise staff. No one suspected him to be an NPC, rather assuming him to be a newcomer from some spa town.

Yet, Eno's expression remained unchanged, replying calmly, "We offer various special services, but they come at an additional cost."

"Money isn't an issue." Xie Yin Xue, ever the affluent individual, never regarded money highly. He pointed towards the massage chair beneath Zhu Yi Kun, "How many gold coins is this chair worth?"

Zhu Yi Kun was utterly confused.

Eno glanced at the chair and chuckled, "Thirty."

Hearing this, the others on the ship were stunned. One of the suited man's subordinates exclaimed, "Which spa town sells such an expensive massage chair?"

His boss's Rolex Submariner was worth only seven gold coins, but a massage chair was worth thirty?

Xie Yin Xue, unperturbed by the astonished gazes upon him, grinned, "Deal."

Eno signaled two sailors to come over and collect Zhu Yi Kun's chair.

Without his chair, Zhu Yi Kun had no choice but to stand barefoot on the mossy, mud-soaked wooden planks, "Wait, wasn't that my chair..."

Xie Yin Xue purchased two boat tickets, handed one to Zhu Yi Kun, who gave him a perplexed look. Upon meeting Xie's cold, willowy gaze, Zhu Yi Kun relented with a sheepish smile, "Fine, it's yours. Use it as you please."

"I'd like a special service." Xie Yin Xue, holding a small bag containing twenty-eight hefty gold coins, nodded slightly, "Send someone to carry me aboard."

The crowd: "…?"

"Mr. Xie, is this the 'special service' you're asking for?" Zhu Yi Kun asked, disbelief evident in his eyes.

"What else? You expect me to walk over this muddy ground?" Xie Yin Xue responded, slightly furrowing his brow and pointing to the moss-covered platform. "At home, even on rainy days, someone always carries me over puddles. Not a drop of water can touch my feet."

Xie Yin Xue sat upright, exuding an air of aristocratic calm and entitlement, his tone dripping with the aloofness and pride of an old-world noble.

Zhu Yi Kun believed him. After all, as long as Xie Yin Xue was alive, the Shen family could afford thirty caretakers just to feed him daily.

Zhu then hesitated before offering, "Shall I carry you?"

"You?"

Xie Yin Xue smirked, clearly unimpressed.

His gaze then shifted to a tall man standing behind Eno.

This man wore a silver-white military uniform, with ashen-gray hair. His appearance was austere, exuding an imperial aura. The eyes, almost pale white, radiated an icy, emotionless pressure.

Yet, facing those eyes, Xie Yin Xue's smile grew even brighter.

Raising his hand, he pointed at the man and stated, "I choose him."

Xie thought: This man looks sturdy. He'd be stable carrying me. I don’t want some skinny fellow who might drop me in the mud.

"First Officer Eno, how many gold coins for him to carry me?"

Eno glanced back, momentarily frowning, "He's our Captain Hel. To have him serve you would require..."

"Thirty gold coins," Captain Hel interrupted, his voice as cold as a looming storm cloud.

"Mr. Xie, we only have twenty-eight coins left," Zhu Yi Kun whispered, stressing the amount as if indicating the ridiculous sum it was. "I can carry you instead?"

"No, I want him." Xie Yin Xue then removed a pear blossom bracelet from his wrist, asking Eno, "How much is this worth?"

Weighing the bracelet in his hand, Eno smiled, "Three coins. Here's your change."

Yet, Xie didn’t pocket the last coin immediately. He addressed the crowd, "Whoever helps me carry that massage chair aboard will get this gold coin as a reward."

"I'll do it!" The young man raised his hand enthusiastically, adding with a smile, "I’ll help you, no need for the coin."

"It's fine. Material wealth is but a worldly possession."

Still, Xie had Zhu Yi Kun hand the coin to the young man.

Finally, turning towards Captain Hel, Xie Yin Xue extended his hand and said with a smirk, "Captain Hel, I've paid. Would you do me the honor of carrying me?"

As unbelievable as it sounded, that's precisely what happened.

The crowd watched with mixed emotions as the gray-haired man carried Xie Yinxue onto the deck. They struggled to regain their composure even as the ship's horn blared and they left the seaside platform behind.

"Daddy, look —!"

The curious little girl, now peering over the railing, pointed to where they had just departed.

The security guard followed his daughter's gaze and gasped at the sight on the shore.

Hearing the commotion, everyone looked back to see their former standing point now ensnared by a tentacle emerging from the obscured darkness.

The tentacle, a deep red reminiscent of an octopus limb, was armed with barbed hooks. The once-sturdy wooden platform crumbled under its grip, disintegrating in mere moments and vanishing beneath the waves.

The middle-aged man muttered, relieved, "Damn, lucky I wasn't still there."

"Welcome aboard the Helios Dream —!"

But the First Mate, Eno, seemed exhilarated. He climbed to an elevated deck, arms outstretched, declaring, "This is a paradise where dreams come true and hopes are renewed. We'll chase the sun until our journey concludes in seven days."

"However, I do have some unfortunate news," Eno added, his demeanor suddenly somber. "There have been some unsettling occurrences on the Helios Dream. I advise all passengers to return to their rooms before sunset and stay there. It could be dangerous otherwise."

The middle-aged man inquired, "Where are our rooms?"

"Rooms are reserved with coins," Yino said with a chuckle, his fist clenched in enthusiasm. "The Dream of Helios has nine levels above. The first level, which is the lowest, costs ten gold coins a night. With each level up, the price doubles, but it's also safer. The crew and I stay on the sublevel, while the captain resides on the ninth. First class is on the eighth, and the seventh is a common area with a dining room, kitchen, pool, and the Cradle of Dreams Ballroom."

"Ten gold coins for the cheapest level?!" exclaimed a woman in sportswear, previously unnoticed in her plain appearance. "Are they mad? Where will we get all these coins?"

Even the single coin for boarding had stressed them out, yet now they needed ten coins just for one night?

Yun Qian calculated quietly, her expression grave. "Ten coins for the first level, twenty for the second, forty for the third... So, staying in first class would cost us 640 coins?"

"In theory, yes. But the Dream of Helios doesn't accommodate guests on the seventh level," Yino replied, tilting his head innocently. "So, the first-class on the eighth level is 1,280 coins a night. All food in the dining room is also purchased with coins, but the prices are quite fair—three silver coins for a full meal, and ten gold coins for a lavish one."

Such an amount was astronomical for everyone present, even for Xie Yin Xue, who owned a thirty-gold-coin massage chair.

Especially for the security man, given he had a daughter. Yino mentioned that children board free and can share a room with a parent, but meal expenses were another matter.

Yino's gaze wandered over their faces, seemingly savoring their distressed expressions. He then said soothingly, "Don't worry too much. Due to recent strange events on the Dream of Helios, we're short-staffed. You can become temporary crew members, earning wages through work, or serve the first-class guests in the seventh-floor ballroom each afternoon for high compensation. Tip: Serving the guests could also get you generous tips."

A middle-aged man responded with profanity, "Damn it! I work for capitalists in reality, and now I have to serve NPCs in this game? Is there no justice?"

Though he had been cursing since the game started, this comment resonated with everyone.

"You're free to use any tool on the ship. If you have any questions, find me on the sublevel or seek Captain Helios on the ninth," Yino added.

"But as you've seen, Captain Helios is quite temperamental and asks for a lot of coins," he remarked with a troubled expression. Then, with a gleeful smile, he added, "But I'm always here to help for free. There's also another person on board who can help, for a small price... he can make your dreams come true."

It was evident that Yino was a guiding NPC. The person he mentioned, who required a price, hinted at a Ferryman NPC. The question was: on which level was he?

"Lastly, to welcome you aboard the Dream of Helios, tonight's stay on the first level is on us," Yino announced, removing his navy cap and bowing. "Wishing you all a pleasant journey."

Having spoken, Yino quickly led the remaining crew members away.

Xie Yinxue gazed at Yino's receding figure, pondering the clues he'd given. Suddenly, she heard someone address her—

"You have keen eyesight."

Turning at the remark, Xie Yinxue recognized the young man who always blushed around her. "I couldn't even distinguish that speck at first, but you instantly realized it was a ship."

The young man, having composed himself, didn't blush this time. Still, his reddened earlobes betrayed his lingering nervousness. Pointing to a more mature man beside him and a woman with a buzz cut, he introduced, "I'm Wenren Yan. These are my friends, He Yao and Han Si."

"My name is Xie Yinxue," she smiled, gesturing to Zhu Yikun next to her, "This is Mr. Zhu."

"Pleasure to meet you all, I'm Zhu Yikun." Zhu was quite adept socially. He possessed no pride that would prevent him from reaching out, shaking hands, and exchanging pleasantries, especially when recognizing seasoned participants.

Xie Yinxue sometimes had to admire Zhu Yikun's adaptability; his knack for saying the right thing to the right person. It's no wonder he could align with seasoned players and clear the game during his first attempt.

"Is this your first time in this game?" Wenren Yan inquired. "My friends and I have been here thrice. Feel free to ask us anything."

Zhu chuckled, not replying. He cast a glance at Xie Yinxue. Admitting they were novices would be embarrassing — who else among the veterans would bring only two massage chairs?

Xie Yinxue, however, showed no intent to deceive. "No, this isn't our first time. It's my second game."

"Then you..." Wenren Yan hesitated, glancing at the massage chairs he'd just helped haul onto the deck.

Xie Yinxue succinctly replied, "An unexpected turn."

Recognizing the boundaries, Wenren Yan chose not to press further.

Meanwhile, the gothically dressed girl, Yun Qian, demonstrated remarkable poise and leadership. After Yino departed, she tapped the ground with her parasol. Once all eyes were on her, she announced, "We'll be here together for seven days. Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Yun Qian, a veteran game player."

Author's note:

Xie Lord: "I need a special service."

NPC: "Legitimate services cost. Illicit ones are free."

Xie Lord: "?"

Accommodation costs on the cruise: First floor: 10 coins; Second: 20; Third: 40; Fourth: 80; Fifth: 160; Sixth: 320; Seventh: not for staying, but corresponds to 640; and the luxury suite on the Eighth floor: 1,280 coins.