C3 I Want to Check My Body!

Zhang Hai's face twisted in distaste, yet he couldn't help feeling elated. This was a magic tool, and his first encounter with one at that. Far more intriguing than that shoddy system he was used to.

Without much thought, he slipped the ring onto his finger.

A human warrior like this could easily fall in battle. A little protection certainly wouldn't hurt.

"Give me your knife."

The design was quite impressive. It was likely a formidable Magic Weapon.

He seemed intent on arming this warrior to the hilt.

The big-bearded man had no choice but to comply.

Grimacing, he reluctantly handed over his belongings.

"Hmm, considering you've shown some sense, I'll spare you."

The big-bearded man's face lit up with creases of relief.

But before he could express his gratitude, he was shocked to find a lifebuoy suddenly in his embrace.

His face froze, not even getting a chance to question the meaning of this gesture.

A warrior had just tossed him into the water.

Clutching the lifebuoy, he looked on in bewildered embarrassment.

So this was Zhang Hai's idea of mercy?

"No! You can't do this! I'll die!"

Zhang Hai was indifferent. After all, this scoundrel had used the same tactic to torment him before.

The warship was doomed to be consumed.

Yet, the Warship Experience gained from a vessel of the same class was less than he expected. To evolve, he realized he'd need to consume a more advanced Warship Core.

The strategy worked fine against a Barbarian Blood Warship, but it might not be effective against a higher-tier warship.

"Ding! You have acquired two Magic Cannons. Would you like to integrate them?"

"Yes."

"Magic Cannon +2, firepower increased by 5%."

"Captain, there's something I need to bring to your attention."

"What is it?"

"We've captured a woman among the spoils of war."

"A woman? That's unexpected. She wasn't killed outright?"

"It was possible, but she's a captive of the pirates. The system believes she may be more valuable if we keep her."

Zhang Hai pondered for a moment, seeing the logic in the suggestion.

His consciousness shifted to the fully-armed warrior as he stepped into the cabin.

There, a single-braided beauty sat, her anxiety palpable.

She never expected to be robbed from one pirate ship only to be taken captive on another.

What kind of misfortune was she cursed with?

When someone entered, she tensed up with anxiety.

"Name."

"Wang, Wong Jiangxue."

"Wong Jiangxue? That's an odd name. Are you born in the Year of the Dog?"

Wong Jiangxue quickly shook her head and gestured with her hands.

"No, no. Just one 'Wang.'"

Zhang Hai's lips quirked up in amusement.

"I see. Next time, introduce yourself differently. I might just start feeding you dog food."

What could she say in response? She was already his captive.

"Age?"

"20."

"Gender."

A line of frustration creased Wong Jiangxue's forehead, her tone clearly irritated.

"Can't you tell just by looking?"

Zhang Hai's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Go on, strip her. I want to conduct a body search."

As if. She wasn't about to let the misconception that there were no formidable women in the Alien World slide.

Of course, he wouldn't admit that his curiosity was piqued by the biological structure of humans in this place.

"Hey, don't overdo it. I am a woman!"

"Ah, you answered too quickly. Next time, I'll gag you first."

Zhang Hai was slightly disappointed. This woman didn't seem to hold much value.

To him, she was nothing more than an NPC.

Given his penchant for decimating cities in games, she was the type he'd typically dispatch without a second thought.

"Never mind, she's just a waste of resources. Throw her into the sea for the fish."

The two warriors grabbed her, ready to toss her out.

Wong Jiangxue's face drained of color, panic-stricken.

"Wait, I can pay you. Just take me to Blue Flying Free Port. I'll give you 10,000 as ransom!"

Zhang Hai gestured dismissively, his eyes gleaming with avarice as his demeanor shifted to one of eager hospitality.

This was a wealthy individual offering 10,000 Refinement Crystals.

The bearded man before had only given him 3,000 Refinement Crystals.

And with his accursed Phantom Warship being such a glutton for gold, money was what he coveted most.

"Come, serve our esteemed guest the finest food and prepare the best room."

"Aye, Captain!"

Zhang Hai gave a slight bow, his face plastered with a grin that reeked of insincerity.

"Miss Jiangxue, right this way, please."

Wong Jiangxue was somewhat bewildered by the abrupt shift in demeanor.

Nevertheless, she obediently stood and followed him out of the chilly room.

The Barbarian Blood Level Phantom Warship now boasted two additional guest rooms. Their purpose was unclear, but they were proving to be useful at last.

Wong Jiangxue surveyed the clean, modest room before her and felt quite content.

Considering her previous accommodations had been a prison cell, this was a significant upgrade.

"What's your name?"

She finally gathered the courage to inquire.

"Zhang Hai, captain of this Phantom Warship."

"Alright, I'll remember that. If you can ensure my safe return to the Blue Flying Free Port, you'll receive the promised ten thousand Refinement Crystals, not one less."

"Thank you for your generosity, Miss Wong."

The Blue Flying Free Port was quite a distance from their current location. By the magic map they had, it was at least three thousand nautical miles away.

With no need for combat, the Phantom Warship's cruising speed was only sixty percent of its battle mode.

Zhang Hai noticed that the ship's speed had actually decreased following its evolution.

Previously capable of reaching two hundred knots, the speed remained unchanged even after the Magic Engine was upgraded.

"System, show yourself to the captain."

"What's the issue?"

"Don't play dumb. Why is our speed still at two hundred knots? Wasn't the Magic Engine supposed to be more efficient?"

"Captain, intelligence is quite the asset, you know."

Zhang Hai was on the verge of losing his temper. The system was getting cheeky, daring to sass him.

But he was curious to see what excuse it would come up with next.

"Captain, allow me to explain. Our warship was twenty-five meters in length before."

"After evolving to the Barbarian Blood Level, its length, width, and draft all increased significantly."

"Had the Magic Engine not evolved to the Barbarian Blood Level as well, you'd be moving as slow as a sea turtle right now."

Zhang Hai realized that he had overlooked the increase in size. Especially since he hadn't felt any different after the growth.

He had made such a basic error.

The system, noticing his setback, seemed to perk up with glee.

"Captain, we've recorded all of our previous battles."

"Should we edit and upload them to the trending videos?"

Zhang Hai certainly wouldn't decline.

It was an excellent opportunity.

Even though he was puzzled about how the system connected to Earth's network,

the likes his videos garnered could be converted into system points.

These points were the sole currency used in the System Merchant Shop.

He quickly edited the video and uploaded it.

This blockbuster, on par with Hollywood productions, was sure to capture many viewers' attention.

He had long been eyeing the items in the System Merchant Shop, particularly one item.

He rummaged through the warehouse to inspect their latest loot and discovered another gem.

A low-level Repairing Gravity Field capable of mending a designated area of the warship.

Upon reading the instructions, the mischievous side of him began to stir. Without hesitation, he swapped out the Barbarian Blood Gravity Field.

Late into the night, the sea was eerily calm, not at all like the churning oceans of Earth,

rendering the entire seascape unsettlingly tranquil.

Wong Jiangxue wasn't in the mood to sleep.

She stood silently by the ship's railing, gazing up at the two moons—one red, one blue—her mind swirling with complex thoughts.

"If the data isn't up to par, I'm going to be in a real bind."