Shi Ming stood on the deck of the Sakura, watching his crew members bustle back and forth, carrying the spoils of war.
Speaking of which, other people's ships all had such imposing names, like "Sakura," "Black Society," "Shiva," "Da Yu"...
Especially "Da Yu." Its commanding name carried a hopeful vision, perfectly befitting the prestige of a King-level Wandering Ship!
'My own Silver Wandering Ship doesn't have a name yet, does it?'
'What should I name it?'
'I'll have to give it some serious thought.'
...
Nailu Ye had lost all her imposing presence and stood obediently behind him.
Now that Shi Ming also had control of her Celestial Net Chip, she naturally didn't dare to act up again.
"No wonder your Black Society loves to plunder. It's such a fast way to get resources."
Shi Ming glanced sideways at Nailu Ye.
In less than an hour, the ship's warehouses had already filled up considerably. Shi Ming had even found four High-Level Sea Crystal Stones in Nailu Ye's office.
These were essential materials for upgrades!
"Sailing Coins, 8,729..."
"Sea Crystal Stones, two crates. Ironhide, get a count and log it in the warehouse."
"One peculiar statue."
"An old food production line... This thing takes up too much space. We don't want it..."
"..."
"Captain, there's another machine. We don't know what it is."
Shi Ming took a look. It was a machine that resembled a soda fountain from a fast-food restaurant in his previous life, but its structure was completely different. And this thing also consumed Sea Crystal Stones.
Shi Ming looked at Nailu Ye.
"It's a beer machine."
Nailu Ye explained readily.
"Beer? Now this is good stuff." Shi Ming knocked on the machine with his knuckles, hearing a crisp echo.
Although he wasn't a big drinker, the ship was severely lacking in beverages, with fresh water being the only option.
Sometimes when he wanted to relax a little, he could only drink plain boiled water while facing the sea breeze, which really killed the mood.
"Move it to the dining area on sub-level two. And see if there are any other good finds."
"Yes, Captain."
The sea breeze made his captain's coat flutter and snap.
Shi Ming stood to the side, enjoying the pleasure of the harvest.
'Not bad, not bad at all. If a few more blind fools show up to deliver supplies, my crew won't even have to work anymore.'
'You're all such good people.'
Nailu Ye didn't make a sound.
'The victor is king, the loser is scum.' She just hoped this Evil Star would leave as soon as possible.
...
For the people on Shi Ming's ship, today was definitely an unforgettable day.
From the initial anxiety of encountering an enemy, to the shock and excitement after seeing their captain in action, and finally the joy of the haul, their emotions were a veritable roller coaster.
At the same time, everyone had witnessed Shi Ming's power.
'Was this just power?'
With just one slash, he had crippled the right arm of that she-shark of a female captain, forcing her to kneel on the deck and surrender!
What incredible combat strength! Following a captain like this was the only way to have a real future!
As for the former captain, Chunyi?
A stingy bastard who exploited his crew and had no strength to speak of. No wonder he died young.
On deck, a celebration banquet was in full swing. Everyone sat around wooden planks laden with food, enjoying a rare chance to completely relax. The Sakura had already departed empty, and its captain had reached a "contract" with Shi Ming to ransom her life.
Stone Pillar and the other members of the exploration team were all holding up beers, cheerfully toasting Shi Ming.
"Captain, this is all thanks to you!"
"Under Chunyi, we were never as free or happy as we are now!"
"Captain, can I join the exploration team too? The moves you used against the enemy looked so cool!"
Yellow Cannon, who was gobbling down canned beef, looked up, his mouth smeared with sauce.
This captain, who was much younger than him, had already won his loyalty.
Yellow Spear looked at his brother, speechless. "The captain's been training since he was a kid. Bro, with your build, you probably can't even hold a knife steady..."
"You little brat! Don't look down on me!"
Shi Ming smiled and shook his head.
The two brothers had been born slaves and had spent most of their lives as such, sold from one wandering ship to another. They had never met a captain like this one—a captain who had abolished the system of slavery on his ship, who celebrated with his crew, who fought alongside them, and who allowed two slaves like them to live the lives of normal people.
Their gratitude was beyond words.
The crew spent a joyous night. Except for those on duty, everyone drank a lot of beer. The beer machine found on Nailu Ye's ship was indeed a great find, becoming a favorite among the crew in just one evening.
'But I can't have them getting addicted.'
Shi Ming had already decided that starting tomorrow, beer would be double the price: 20 Sailing Coins a glass!
At the same time, he also planned to try using his Brain of Creation tomorrow to upgrade this old beer machine. Who knew what other surprises it might yield.
...
「In the blink of an eye, the night faded, and the pale light of dawn appeared on the horizon.」
Shi Ming was already up early, breathing in the fresh sea air. A sudden downpour in the latter half of the night had left the air feeling much fresher. He closed his eyes, savoring the beauty of the morning, then slowly opened them again.
"Eye of Intelligence, acquire intelligence."
It was a new day, and the Eye of Intelligence had also refreshed.
[BEEP.]
[Organizing intelligence...]
[Searching. Confirming host's detailed coordinates... Search successful. Summarizing intelligence... Intelligence generated: King, Admiral, Gold, Silver, Bronze... Wandering Ships have distinct tiers, and within each tier are 5 minor levels. By using the Brain of Creation and focusing your attention on the ship's helm, you can obtain the Wandering Ship's upgrade blueprint. Reaching level 5 allows the Wandering Ship to advance to the next tier!]
This piece of intelligence was something Shi Ming had never, ever expected!
Wandering Ships could actually be upgraded with the Brain of Creation!
'This Brain of Creation is seriously OP!'
All he had to do was activate the ability and focus his attention on the ship's helm to get the upgrade blueprint!
Although he had a Gold-level Wandering Ship, and its functions were far superior to this Silver ship, it could only support one person, served a unique purpose in specific situations, and couldn't even produce food. Now, using the Brain of Creation, a Silver-level Wandering Ship could become a Gold-level one, and a Gold-level one could potentially become an Admiral-level one!
Shi Ming could practically see a bright future ahead.
He prepared to try it out immediately.
He walked up to the ship's helm, activated the power of his Brain of Creation, and focused his attention on it.
Information appeared before his eyes.
[Silver-level Wandering Ship, No. 23333]
[Level: 2]
[An ordinary type of Silver-level Wandering Ship, with no special features. Compared to a level 1 Silver ship, its appearance is merely a bit more ornate, and the hull is slightly sturdier. The equipment on board is quite outdated, and its speed can only reach 120 nautical miles per hour.]
[Upgrade requirements: Sea Crystal Stone x1000, Iron Ore x300, High-Level Sea Crystal Stone x5, Functional Hardware on board ≥3]
!!!
'It really works!'