The sun rose as usual, but its light seemed pale and listless as it scattered across the sea surface.
Qin Yu stood on the spacious deck of the "President," stretching lazily with his bones cracking loudly.
Last night's Overlord Crab feast had been too rich.
Grade A ingredients were truly different - a warm current had been circulating in his stomach all night.
Now he felt brimming with endless energy.
"Brother Yu, morning."
Yao Qian rubbed her sleepy eyes, wearing her signature White Silk Stockings pajamas, and snuggled up to him like a drowsy kitten while holding a steaming cup of milk.
"Morning."
Qin Yu took the milk and drank a large gulp.
His gaze turned toward the distant horizon.
There, a thick black line, as if drawn with ink, was spreading toward them at a visible pace.
Black Tide.
It was faster than expected.
"At this speed, it will cover this sea area by tomorrow noon."
Yao Xue walked out wearing a white lab coat, pushing up her glasses with a grave expression.
"Just in time for the 'Mist Ruins' to open."
Qin Yu nodded.
"The system bastard has it all calculated."
"Driving everyone into the dungeon."
"Either enter the dungeon to fight for your life, or stay on the sea to feed the bugs."
"This is like cultivating gu."
Qin Yu sneered coldly.
He opened the system panel.
Glancing at the lottery interface in the upper right corner.
[Targeted Lottery: 23]
He hadn't drawn yesterday, nor today.
He had been saving them on purpose.
"Just enough saved up by the time the dungeon opens tomorrow."
Qin Yu calculated in his heart.
No one knew what to expect in such a large-scale dungeon.
Draw whatever is needed on the spot.
That's the correct way to use the system.
"Alright, stop looking."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Time for breakfast."
Breakfast was sumptuous.
Crab roe congee.
The leftover crab shells and roe from last night had been simmering all night, until the rice grains completely dissolved, with golden oil droplets floating on top - so fragrant it made one want to swallow their tongue.
Paired with Yao Qian's pickled vegetables.
It was simply heavenly.
Li Ruobing hadn't gotten up yet - she had stayed up late last night studying that torpedo launcher, like a child who had gotten a new toy.
After breakfast.
Qin Yu didn't idle around.
Although supplies weren't lacking now, and he could even be described as filthy rich.
But that was only for him.
For this vast sea, resources would never be enough.
"Idling is idling anyway."
"Let's do some fishing."
Qin Yu carried his SSS-Rank Sea King Fishing Rod and sat in his usual spot.
These past few days had been all about fighting, upgrading the ship, and construction.
He had actually spent less time on proper fishing.
And...
Qin Yu frowned.
It seemed like it had been a long time since he caught a proper treasure chest.
Just fish, shrimp, and crabs.
Although edible and could boost attributes.
What the "President" needed more now was black technology.
Those kinds of desperate trump cards.
"Give me some strength."
Qin Yu skillfully baited the hook.
With a piece of mutated sea beast meat.
"Whoosh—"
The fishing line cut through the air, carrying the hook far out into the deep blue seawater.
Waves lapped against the hull with a rhythmic splashing sound.
Time passed minute by minute.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
The fishing float remained as motionless as if dead.
"No way?"
"Did that Mosasaur eat all the fish in this sea?"
Qin Yu impatiently shook his leg.
The Poseidon Fishing Rod had a hidden attribute - it tended to attract big catches.
It shouldn't be this quiet in theory.
Just as Qin Yu was about to reel in and change bait...
"Gulong."
The float suddenly sank violently.
Without any preliminary testing.
Direct black float!
"It's here!"
Qin Yu's eyes focused intently.
That familiar sensation traveled through the fishing rod to his palm.
Heavy.
Dead weight.
It didn't feel like a living creature struggling, but more like he had hooked an iron ingot sunk to the seabed.
"Snagged on the bottom?"
Qin Yu was momentarily stunned.
No.
This was several thousand meters deep - where would there be a bottom?
Moreover, although the force was heavy, it was slowly moving.
That dragging sensation felt like metal being pulled through seawater.
"Up you come!"
Qin Yu didn't dare be careless.
His arms exerted force, muscle lines instantly tensing.
The SSS-grade fishing rod bent into a heart-stopping arc.
"Zhi zhi zhi—"
The reel spun wildly, emitting a piercing friction sound.
"Oh? Still stubborn?"
Qin Yu grinned.
He loved tough opponents like this.
"Ruo Bing! Stop sleeping!"
"Come out and work!"
"Big catch!"
A series of clattering sounds came from the cabin.
Li Ruobing rushed out with messy bed hair, wearing only a hot little tank top.
She still carried that laser cutting knife in her hand.
"Where? Where?"
"Is it something delicious again?"
"Or a sea monster?"
"Slice it or braise it?"
This girl only had killing and eating on her mind nowadays.
"Don't know."
"Dead weight."
Qin Yu gritted his teeth, his feet rooted firmly to the deck like they'd grown there.
"Help me control the boat!"
"Don't let it drag the ship off course!"
"Got it!"
Li Ruobing rushed into the cockpit and operated the controls.
The side thrusters activated.
Forcingly countering the tremendous pulling force from underwater.
The two sides began a tug-of-war.
This struggle lasted half an hour.
The thing underwater seemed to have finally exhausted its kinetic energy.
It began to be slowly pulled to the surface by Qin Yu bit by bit.
"Splash—"
Water sprayed everywhere.
A silver-white cube broke through the water's surface.
Reflecting dazzling light under the sun.
Not a Sea beast.
Nor any strange creature.
It was a box.
A purely metal-crafted box full of sci-fi aesthetic!
"Treasure chest?!"
Li Ruobing exclaimed, her eyes wide as copper bells.
"Holy shit! Brother Yu!"
"Your luck is insane!"
Qin Yu also breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally not another crab.
He swung his arm.
The metal box, nearly half a person's height, landed heavily on the deck.
Making a dull "thump" sound.
Even the deck trembled slightly.
This weight definitely contained something substantial.
Qin Yu stepped forward.
Examining the box.
The box was entirely made of an unknown silver alloy, with no seams on its surface, only a pale blue circle of light pulsing like breathing.
On the corner of the box was carved a prominent letter: A.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host! Successful fishing!]
[Acquired: A-grade Deep Sea Technology Treasure Chest x 1]
[Description: Legacy from a certain destroyed advanced civilization, containing their proud single-soldier combat weapon.]
A-grade.
Though it couldn't compare to that quasi-S-grade torpedo or S-grade helicopter, for current survivors, A-grade equipment represented the pinnacle—a dimensional downgrade attack.
"Open!"
Qin Yu didn't hesitate in the slightest.
He pressed his palm against the glowing circle.
Click—hiss—
A sound of pressure release echoed as the metal panels on all four sides of the case slid open smoothly, revealing its contents.
There were no firearms as one might expect, nor any protective gear.
Lying nestled in black shock-absorbing foam was...
An octopus?
A mechanical octopus entirely silver-gray, constructed from precision metal joints!
Roughly the size of a washbasin, its eight tentacles were curled together, each densely covered with what appeared to be suckers.
But upon closer inspection, those weren't suckers—they were micro-drills and high-energy cutting nozzles!
Embedded in the center of its head was a dark red electronic eye, currently in a dormant state.
Beside it lay a controller resembling a gamepad.
[Acquired: A-grade Bionic Submersible Weapon—"Deep Sea Specter" Mechanical Octopus (Prototype)]
[Type: Special Operations/Sabotage]
[Power Source: Micro Nuclear Battery (10-year endurance)]
[Functions:]
[1. Ultimate Stealth: Surface coating absorbs 99% of sonar waves, perfectly blending with seawater background.]
[2. Strangulation Tentacles: Eight high-strength alloy tentacles capable of 5 tons gripping force, easily crushing small vessel keels.]
[3. Armor-Piercing Drills: Tentacle suckers contain high-frequency laser drills capable of penetrating 50mm homogeneous steel plates.]
[4. Intelligent Entanglement: Once an enemy vessel is locked, automatically lurks beneath the hull, entangling propellers or destroying steering gear until target is disabled.]
[Description: It wasn't made for head-on confrontations. It was a specter beneath ships, a sailor's nightmare. When your ship inexplicably springs leaks or loses power, it's watching you from below the waves with a grin.]
After reading the attributes, Qin Yu drew a sharp breath.
This thing...
Was utterly insidious.
It seemed tailor-made for these very seas.
In this world dominated by ships, this device was an unreasonable assassin.
No matter how large your vessel or powerful your artillery, it would simply drill through your hull underwater or tangle your propellers.
Could you even dive down to retaliate?
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Li Ruobing leaned in, reaching out to touch the cold metal tentacles.
"This design is rather... distinctive."
"How do you use it? Keep it as a pet?"
Qin Yu picked up the controller and pressed the activation button.
Hum—
The mechanical octopus's dark red electronic eye instantly lit up, gleaming with dangerous light.
Its eight tentacles unfurled as if alive, flexibly supporting its body on the deck while emitting a nerve-grating mechanical friction sound.
"Go."
Qin Yu pointed toward the sea beside the ship.
The mechanical octopus seemed to understand the command, its eight legs swiftly alternating as it scurried spider-like over the railing.
Plop!
It dove into the water without splashing a single drop.
Qin Yu watched the screen on the controller—the perspective instantly switched to an underwater view with remarkably high clarity, complete with night vision and thermal imaging.
Manipulating the joystick, he guided the mechanical octopus, which moved through the water with astonishing speed like a silver lightning bolt.
In an instant, it reached the hull of the "President."
All eight tentacles firmly adhered to the ship's bottom.
With a single thought from Qin Yu, those drills could begin their work.
"Fine equipment."
"What a fine piece of equipment."
Qin Yu retracted the octopus, having it wait in readiness at a corner of the deck.
With this thing,
naval battles would become far more interesting from now on.
"Zhang Nanhai's hundred or so broken-down ships—"
"If this thing sneaks over there—"
"It could sink half of them in one night."
A wicked grin tugged at Qin Yu's lips.
The mental image alone was thrilling.
Just then,
a voice message suddenly popped up in the Chat Channel.
"Zhang Nanhai is conspiring with others to ambush you!"
Qin Yu raised an eyebrow.
That voice...
sounded somewhat familiar.
But he showed no surprise, instead letting out a light laugh.
"Plenty of people want me dead."
"The line stretches all the way to the Black Tide."
"And who the hell are you?"
The other party was clearly hot-tempered.
Hearing Qin Yu's nonchalant tone, their breathing grew heavier.
"I'm Qi Chun."
Qi Chun.
Rank three.
That eccentric with the flight Thruster.
Qin Yu straightened up slightly.
This man always kept to himself—a battle maniac solely interested in technology and leveling up.
Why would he contact me out of the blue?
"Oh, Boss Qi."
Qin Yu's tone grew a bit more serious.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"What?"
"Zhang Nanhai wants me dead—what's it to you?"
"Are you here to deliver the bad news?"
Qi Chun snorted coldly.
Even through the radio, one could sense his suppressed fury.
"I don't care whether you live or die."
"I just want to see Zhang Nanhai dead."
"That bastard."
"On the day the servers merged, he tried to shoot me down to steal my Thruster."
"I've been holding a grudge ever since."
Qin Yu nodded.
The enemy of my enemy.
Might not be a friend,
but at least a temporary ally.
"Go on."
"What's the intel?"
"If it's nonsense, I've got fishing to do."
Qi Chun took a deep breath,
as if steadying his emotions.
"Tomorrow's 'Mist Ruins'—"
"Zhang Nanhai has teamed up with Yu Weiwei and that Yin Mingtao from rank five."
"They're setting a trap for you inside the instance."
When he mentioned the name "Yin Mingtao,"
Qi Chun's tone noticeably grew more solemn.
"That Yin Mingtao is a madman."
"He specializes in poison."
"I know you have antidotes."
"But Yin Mingtao's toxins are compound poisons."
"They corrode the skin and paralyze the nerves."
"Ordinary antidotes are useless."
After saying this,
Qi Chun paused,
as if waiting for Qin Yu's reaction.
Panic?
Fear?
Or rage?
Instead,
all he heard
was the crisp click of a lighter.
Click.
Qin Yu lit a cigarette
and took a deep drag.
"That's it?"
That dismissive tone left Qi Chun stunned.
"What do you mean, 'that's it'?"
"Three of the top five ranked players are teaming up!"
"It's a certain-death scenario!"
"Are you really that dumb, or just pretending?"
Qin Yu exhaled a smoke ring,
gazing at the Mechanical Octopus sunbathing outside the window,
and smiled.
A cold smile.
"Three trash heaps lumped together—"
"At best, they form a bigger trash heap."
"Poison?"
"Heh."
"Alright, Boss Qi."
"Thanks."
"Even though I'm not afraid,"
"I'll take this as a favor."
Qin Yu flicked his cigarette ash.
"You want to see Zhang Nanhai dead, right?"
"Don't worry."
"Tomorrow—"
"I'll twist his head right off."
"If you're free, you can come watch the live show."
Qi Chun fell silent on the other end for a long while.
Seemingly rendered speechless by Qin Yu's arrogant attitude.
After a long while.
He finally managed to utter a sentence.
"You'd better not die."
"If you die."
"That bastard Zhang Nanhai will become even more arrogant."
"Beep beep beep..."
The call ended.
Qin Yu put down the receiver.
Looking at Yao Xue and Li Ruobing beside him.
Both women wore serious expressions.
"Yu Ge..."
Yao Xue frowned.
"Yin Mingtao's poison is indeed troublesome."
"If it penetrates through the skin..."
Qin Yu waved his hand.
Cutting off her concerns.
"Trouble?"
"No."
"This is a good thing."
Qin Yu stood up and walked to the nautical chart table.
His finger tapped heavily on the sea area marked "Mist Ruins."
His eyes gleamed with the light of a hunter seeing prey fall into the trap.
"I was just worried about not being able to find them."
"Since they're so thoughtful as to deliver themselves to our doorstep."
"Then I'll oblige them."
"However..."
The corner of Qin Yu's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile that sent chills down one's spine.
"Who's the real dog."
"Can only be determined through a fight."
"Since they want to play with poison gas warfare."
"Then we'll play a bigger game with them."
"I'll make them understand."
"What it means to be hoist with one's own petard."
"What it means..."
"To invite the enemy into a trap."
Li Ruobing's eyes lit up.
Instantly understanding Qin Yu's meaning.
"Hehehe..."
"Yu Ge, you're too wicked."
"But I like it!"
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