"It’s about a seventy percent match."

Reinhardt studied the outline and structure of the wandering ship in the intelligence report. He coveted the massive bounty and had once requested the most detailed intelligence on wandering ship number 23333 from the Golden Pagoda Organization. He knew the information on that ship by heart.

This included its hull layout, size, materials, various details, and emblems...

"But it’s only a seventy percent match. Still, that’s understandable..."

"Once prey realizes it’s being hunted, it always tries to disguise itself to shed its former appearance. It’s a biological instinct."

"In fact, prey that doesn’t disguise itself is far more terrifying."

He carefully studied the report before him, feeling he had grasped the key to the matter.

He activated his Awakened skill, Heart of Weaving. The skill sharpened his mind, opened him up to new possibilities, and rapidly enhanced his judgment, allowing him to link and recall various pieces of past intelligence, connecting them into a web of information.

This skill was the foundation of his livelihood.

The sweet, milky aroma in the air of the Little Milk Cow Bar seemed to make Reinhardt’s thoughts even sharper.

He stroked the light golden stubble on his chin, contemplating quietly. His assistant stood by silently, awaiting the captain’s orders.

’Most notably, many of the crew members have eastern features. It’s known that the Silver ship number 23333 once belonged to a fringe faction in the Dragon Country. Later, it was supposedly absorbed by the Black Society, and a large number of its crew and slaves were Dragon Country People.’

’One similarity is just a coincidence,’

’but when you have two, you have to pay attention.’

The allure of the Pure Dome Crystal was far greater than that of the beauties in the Little Milk Cow Bar. Reinhardt was desperate for the massive bounty. Even though this was just a tenuous lead, he believed in his own abilities. If he couldn’t find a clue, the other good-for-nothings would never get the reward either.

"Where is this wandering ship’s approximate location now?"

He asked his assistant.

He trusted his assistant completely. Since the assistant had presented this report, he must have already arranged for follow-up and tracking. This was one of the qualities Reinhardt valued in him.

"Captain, the wandering ship is currently anchored 30 nautical miles north of the Twelve Stars at a bearing of 324 degrees. It’s a free-trade area under the jurisdiction of the Twelve Stars. They’re selling the bodies of some D-rank and C-rank sea beasts."

"Some? C-rank sea beasts?"

While under the effect of Heart of Weaving, Reinhardt keenly seized upon every detail.

A C-rank sea beast. An ordinary Silver Wandering Ship would face a vicious battle if it encountered one. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Even if they managed to slay it by a stroke of luck, a C-rank sea beast’s blood and body would be extremely valuable to them. They would rarely sell it unless they were in dire need of other resources or already had a surplus. The report used the word "some," which implied they had harvested more than one!

’This is no simple matter!’

Reinhardt’s thoughts raced as he connected all the intelligence he knew: the sea beasts, Yan Dao Lin’s dereliction of duty, the Black Society’s bounty, the disappearance of the navigator... and so on.

’But it’s still missing the most important hook...’

’What was the root cause of all these events?’

’Sea beasts...’

’The Map of the Endless Sea?!’

The thought popped into his head, and for a moment, even he found it fantastical.

But if he inserted this clue, the entire puzzle would be complete! Many things would suddenly make sense—

The Black Society lost their great treasure, the "Map of the Endless Sea," and tried to find it using a navigator, but they met with disaster, the mission failed, and the navigator died. The Golden Pagoda Organization was furious and issued a huge bounty alongside the Black Society. Meanwhile, ship number 23333, having obtained the Map of the Endless Sea, began hunting sea beasts on a large scale to sell their carcasses?

’That’s not very likely, is it?’

But speculation is often bold.

Thinking about the severity of Yan Dao Lin’s punishment, Reinhardt felt that even if the lost treasure wasn’t the Map of the Endless Sea, it must be something of immense value.

’Perhaps the truth isn’t far off?’

"How many people know about this intelligence?"

"Captain, this is firsthand intelligence obtained by one of our subsidiary intelligence vessels. No other factions are aware of it. However, we don’t know if other factions have taken notice of this ship."

"Excellent. We’ll go to the marketplace and take a look as well."

...

...

...

Just as Reinhardt suspected, on their way back to the Twelve Stars, Shi Ming and the *Dayun* had killed two more C-rank sea beasts. Not only did this allow Lin Hai and Stone Pillar to advance to C-rank Awakened, but it also left them with one complete C-rank and one D-rank beast to sell.

This was his plan.

To act as bait, you first had to make yourself conspicuous.

He wasn’t affiliated with any factions friendly to the Black Society or the Golden Pagoda Organization, so he wasn’t qualified to accept the massive bounty himself. To get the prize money, he needed a little "help" from a third party.

Under the pretext of selling sea beast carcasses, Shi Ming piloted the *Dayun* to the free marketplace affiliated with the Twelve Stars.

This was a vast stretch of sea on the outskirts of the Twelve Stars, falling within its territorial jurisdiction and weapon range. It was therefore relatively safe and had become a "black market" tacitly permitted under the Twelve Stars’ humanitarian policies. Transactions here were not subject to additional taxes, making it very popular with other Silver and Bronze-rank wandering ships. D-rank and C-rank sea beasts were hot-selling commodities.

The place was a motley gathering of all sorts. Some Bronze-rank wandering ships that couldn’t afford the Twelve Stars’ entrance fee often came here to trade for necessary supplies.

There were also many spies from major factions.

Leaking one’s intelligence appropriately here was a very logical course of action.

Shi Ming stood in a conspicuous spot on the bow, his body painted with greasepaint. On his face, he wore the Hundred-Faced Sea Lizard mask he had purchased from the Twelve Stars. The Brain of Creation had upgraded the mask, making its disguise effect so powerful that even if he looked in a mirror, he wouldn’t recognize himself.

His Dragon Country People’s facial features were completely gone; instead, he looked like someone from a South American Andean Tribe.

Moreover, the mask fit so snugly against his skin that not a single seam was visible.

He anchored the ship in an open patch of sea.

The enormous sea beasts were placed in the most conspicuous position on the deck.

Ships of all sizes came and went nearby.

In just one hour, Shi Ming saw no fewer than a dozen wandering ships, something that would be completely unimaginable in other parts of the sea.

’I hope this can attract the attention of some factions.’

He delegated the task of quoting prices and receiving customers to Yellow Cannon and Yellow Spear. A transaction involving D-rank and C-rank sea beasts wasn’t likely to cause any major trouble. If anyone was foolish enough to try something, he wouldn’t mind showing them the Descent of the Titan.

’Just kidding. There’s no need for the Descent of the Titan. Besides, how can I scare the fish away before I’ve even cast the hook?’

The wait was dreadfully boring.

He watched the low-rank wandering ships of various sizes coming and going.

A thought occurred to him.

’I wonder if the Eye of Intelligence can uncover any surprising information here?’