He then shifted his gaze to a broader catamaran nearby:
"That's a 'Cheetah 40' catamaran. This one's better—twin-hull structure offers far superior stability compared to monohulls, decent speed, spacious deck, comfortable living quarters, also equipped with auxiliary power. It has a shallow draft, and judging by its position, it likely sustained less damage."
"The downside is it can't handle heavy storms."
He pointed toward a more luxurious-looking but severely tilted large vessel in the distance with visible hull damage:
"That one... seems like a custom-built luxury yacht, probably around 30 meters long. All-aluminum hull, lavish amenities, but it's too badly damaged—the hull is cracked. Almost impossible to repair. Plus, it's likely a diesel-electric hybrid, so we might as well skip it."
"Over there, a few small fishing boats and speedboats—fast and agile, but poor range and storm resistance. Not suitable for long voyages, only good as auxiliary tenders."
Now that's what you call expertise.
Han Ning remained silent, listening intently.
Xu Ming spoke rapidly, pointing continuously at different vessels as if listing treasures:
"That half-sunken one, based on its outline, looks like a small coastal cruise ship. decent tonnage, but two-thirds submerged—beyond saving..."
"Huh? Wait! Boss, look at the innermost one, near the breakwater corner."
Xu Ming's eyes fixed on the farthest edge of his field of vision.
There floated a vessel partially obscured by a half-sunken crane and container debris.
The ship was painted deep blue overall, its design less like a typical leisure sailboat or yacht and more rugged and utilitarian.
The hull appeared relatively intact, though covered in grime, with only a slight tilt and a clear waterline visible.
"It's... a modified 'Explorer' series ocean-going trawler!"
"This type of ship, if we disregard power issues, is perfect for our current situation."
"We have to consider power though. We can't source large amounts of diesel, and electricity is uncertain too," Han Ning responded.
"Uh, I know that, boss. Just hear me out."
Xu Ming turned excitedly to Han Ning:
"I've seen similar ships at boat shows before. The hull is tough and durable, top-notch storm resistance, moderate tonnage—probably three to five hundred tons—and not too deep a draft."
"Most importantly, it was originally designed for harsh sea conditions and long-term operations. The power system is usually very reliable, with large fuel reserves. It comes with onboard desalination equipment, plus comprehensive freezer holds and storage space."
"Look at its superstructure—clearly modified. The wheelhouse is raised for better visibility, and there are additional communication antennas installed..."
"Even if we don't choose it, the equipment on board would be extremely useful if salvaged."
Listening to Xu Ming's detailed introduction, Han Ning cut straight to the point:
"Lao Xu, given our current situation, which type do you think is most suitable?"
Xu Ming wiped rainwater from his face and answered seriously:
"Boss, that depends on your specific needs."
"If you prioritize speed, agility, and quick mobility or exploration, those 10+ meter monohull or catamaran sailboats are excellent choices—like the 'Blue Water 46' or 'Cheetah 40'. They're relatively simple to operate, have shallow drafts, are less prone to running aground, rely on wind power for sailing, and have minimal dependence on fuel."
"If you're after cargo capacity, stability, and long-term survivability, that modified 'Explorer' fishing vessel is definitely the best option."
"It has large tonnage, is rugged and durable, can withstand heavy storms, comes with built-in desalination equipment and ample storage space—it's practically a mobile fortress."
"The drawbacks are obvious: it's bulky, has a relatively deep draft, and in these urban ruin waters, it's highly susceptible to running aground or colliding with obstacles."
"Fishing boats generally have low decks, which makes them riskier, and starting them up requires a lot of fuel—something we can hardly get our hands on right now."
Han Ning thought for a moment and said:
"The boat I want should be sturdy enough to withstand storms, maybe even some monster attacks."
"It needs enough space to carry all the supplies we need, and ideally have room for me to grow crops."
"As for propulsion..."
"With fuel being scarce, sailboats seem like the only solution, right?"
Of course, Han Ning had another idea he didn't voice.
That was to use Animal Companions, contracting a few giant aquatic creatures to swim and pull the boat.
Then cultivate incredibly strong Vines or gather some tow ropes, letting the creatures pull the vessel, with other water-dwelling monsters serving as their food source—maximizing environmental utilization.
But for now, this plan was still in the conceptual stage; he hadn't found suitable creatures.
Anyway, things had to be taken step by step. First, find a boat and secure a fallback option before considering anything else.
"Lao Xu, based on these criteria, which one do you think is most suitable?"
Xu Ming stirred the water surface, scanning the faintly visible boats in the mist, his mind racing as he filtered out options that didn't meet Han Ning's requirements.
The boss's demands were almost like asking for the impossible—a "colorful black," so to speak.
And now he wanted even more...
He had a headache.
Xu Ming carefully said:
"Um... boss, to be honest, it's hard to find a boat like that in a civilian port."
"You want both large cargo space and high speed—those are contradictory. Warships could manage both, but they rely on fuel power, and energy is what we're shortest on right now."
"Those luxury yachts with aluminum hulls look sleek and sturdy, but they're badly damaged, beyond repair, and guzzle fuel—so they're out."
"The modified 'Explorer' trawler has large tonnage, is rugged, and has massive interior space, but its biggest issue is its weight."
"Deep draft, high drag—even with full sails, it definitely won't be fast. In these complex waters, it's too inflexible and highly likely to run aground or hit obstacles. I already mentioned the deck issue earlier."
Even though the weather was cold, Xu Ming felt himself sweating.
He rubbed his head again and said, "Let's keep going, let's swim around a bit more and see."
"Alright."Han Ning also knew his demands were harsh and didn't press Xu Ming further."
The three humans and one lizard moved along the dock line, carefully searching for a suitable boat.
When they reached the southern part of the dock,
Xu Ming's head kept turning, his gaze settling on one particular vessel—and suddenly, his eyes lit up.
His finger lightly tapped the water surface, pointing in a direction:
"Look over there, that ship!"
Han Ning followed Xu Ming's pointing gaze.
The hull was covered in a layer of algae, its overall structure appearing relatively intact with only a slight tilt.
The towering mast stood bare without any sails, though its structure remained undamaged.
Xu Ming's voice came through:
"Deep-V bow, tall twin masts, the hull looks sturdy..."
"If I'm not mistaken, this is most likely the 'Wind Chaser' ocean-going sailboat!"
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