"Captain, we’ve entered deep into the Sea of Silence."

"Black Gold’s location is one hundred seventy-five nautical miles ahead."

The temperature in the Sea of Silence was over ten degrees higher than in the Sea of Yellow Sand. For an ordinary person, such heat would be unbearable. However, the crew of the Da Yun Hao were almost all Awakened, and even though most were only D-class, they could just barely withstand the high temperatures.

Of course, they still felt uncomfortable.

No matter how powerful an Awakened was, they still preferred a comfortable eighteen degrees Celsius. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As they ventured deeper into the Sea of Silence, the number of ordinary wandering ships began to plummet. The Bronze-level ships, the most common type in the Endless Ocean, were nowhere to be seen. There was nothing on the vast sea but endless rolling waves, a scorching sun, and heat-loving sea beasts.

This place was a paradise for sea beasts.

Except for the very center of the Sea of Silence.

The wandering ship, Black Gold, stood guard there. Within a one-hundred-nautical-mile radius, very few other powerful sea beasts dared to trespass.

Black Gold, one of the seven great King-level Wandering Ships.

For thirty years, it hadn’t moved an inch.

Shi Ming had once used the Map of the Endless Sea to detect a living S-rank Sea Beast directly beneath Black Gold.

Although King-level Wandering Ships were massive and difficult to move, they weren’t immobile.

By consuming vast amounts of Pure Dome Crystals, they could still wage war from afar and deal with unimaginable threats. The five King-level Wandering Ships besides Black Gold all had records of long-distance expeditions. The most extreme example was Lighthouse, which once crossed the Great Western Sea Region, waging war across thousands of nautical miles.

Yet Black Gold hadn’t moved in thirty years.

Officials had never revealed the specific reason.

’With Black Gold’s power, even if it can’t compare to Twelve Stars or Lighthouse, deploying a few S-rank Awakened shouldn’t be that hard, right? If worse comes to worst, they could just call in some outside help and kill that S-rank Sea Beast directly.’

’Why stay trapped in this godforsaken place, not moving an inch for thirty years?’

’Unless...’

’...the S-rank Sea Beast it’s suppressing is absurdly powerful? So powerful it requires a King-level Wandering Ship to use its full strength?’

That seemed to be the only explanation.

On the deck of the Da Yun Hao, crew members were constantly carrying blocks of ice into the ship’s interior.

They could endure the high temperatures, but the ship’s equipment could not.

As Shi Ming was new to all this, the Da Yun Hao wasn’t equipped with a proper cooling system. Thus, they could only resort to the primitive method of making ice blocks to cool the equipment. Using Formless Pure Ice would make it too cold, which the equipment also couldn’t handle.

They had to find a middle ground.

However, after sailing a bit farther, they would reach the area where Black Gold was located.

There would be more wandering ships there, so they could just find a merchant vessel and purchase a cooling system.

Besides, the ship also needed supplies. Essential goods like iron ore could all be purchased there.

Shi Ming wasn’t worried about being a wanted man.

Nor was he worried about retaliation from the Pharaoh.

First, he had no intention of docking with the King-level Wandering Ship, Black Gold, itself. He would just find some other wandering ships in the vicinity to trade with. No matter how harsh the environment, there were always plenty of trade vessels around a King-level Wandering Ship.

Second, the Africa Region was fractured. The Pharaoh didn’t have much influence, nor was its relationship with Black Gold particularly close, making it difficult to get Black Gold to act on its behalf. As for the other General-level wandering ships—like the Red Sea, the Nile River, and the Golden Bodhi—they were all rivals and would never help the Pharaoh get revenge.

Third, if anyone did come seeking revenge or causing trouble, he would be ready for them.

...

...

...

Black Gold.

In the distance, Shi Ming saw the wandering ship, which looked like a city on the sea.

The feeling could be described in one word:

Awe.

Compared to the freedom and romanticism of Twelve Stars, Black Gold possessed more of Africa’s rugged and primitive nature. Its bold lines and steel framework made the wandering ship, which stretched for several kilometers, look exactly like a true iron fortress.

’Or maybe a prison on the sea?’

The trading atmosphere in the waters around Black Gold was a far cry from that of Twelve Stars, but there were still some merchant vessels. A few ships that appeared to be Silver-level were broadcasting "Trade" beacons, but there wasn’t a single Bronze-level ship in sight.

They had long since moved on to regions where it was easier to survive; there was no need to eke out a living in such a harsh environment.

Shi Ming stood on the deck, gazing at Black Gold.

And at the endless, churning hot waves below it.

’Who among ordinary humans could possibly imagine that beneath this sole human haven in the Sea of Silence, an S-rank Sea Beast lay dormant?’

’I’ll have a look for myself and see what’s really down there!’

"Eye of Intelligence, acquire intel!"

[BEEP... BEEP...]

[Organizing intel...]

[Searching... Confirming detailed coordinates... Search successful. Summarizing intel... Report generated.]

[S-rank Sea Beast: Nameless Cocoon]

[A mysterious chrysalis incubated in the Great Rift Valley. Cocoon is 18 meters long, with a sturdy, nigh-indestructible surface. It cannot be killed. Currently in a controlled and suppressed state.]

[Pre-hatching Rank: 72]

[Post-hatching Rank: 3]

[The faint fluctuations it emits in its dormant state can easily rupture the planet’s crust, causing deep-sea earthquakes or tsunamis. It was originally set to hatch within 12 years, giving birth to a unique and mysterious creature, but its hatching process has been significantly delayed due to the full-power suppression from the King-level Wandering Ship, Black Gold.]

[Note 1: This is a creature that, while under human control, cannot be destroyed and requires vast resources to keep suppressed. It was named by Abdu, a scientist aboard Black Gold. In its post-hatching state, it is the most powerful S-rank Sea Beast known to humanity.]

[Note 2: Pre-hatching, it is indestructible and cannot be killed.]

[Note 3: Post-hatching, it is extremely dangerous.]

’As I thought, you can’t underestimate any S-rank Sea Beast. An immobile cocoon is ranked 72nd, and after hatching, its rank skyrockets to the top three, becoming the most powerful sea beast known to humanity...’

After reading the report, Shi Ming sighed.

’Black Gold has made a huge sacrifice!’

’No wonder they don’t have the energy to deal with the chaotic situation in the Africa Region. They’re busy suppressing this monster.’

’This sea beast—no, it should be called a sea worm—was born in the East African Rift Valley who knows how many years ago. Its faint fluctuations alone can rupture the planet’s crust!’

’Even the Eye of Intelligence gave it evaluations like "indestructible and cannot be killed" and "extremely dangerous."’

This reminded Shi Ming of the Black Society, which also guarded an incredibly powerful sea beast.

’Frankly, the Black Society got incredibly lucky. The beast they’re guarding is an even higher-tier Holy Hall-level Sea Beast, yet they feel no pressure at all! The Great Black Heaven Dragon is in a state of complete slumber.’

’The threat level is extremely low.’

’Even when it stirs a little in its sleep, it only causes a few ordinary earthquakes and tsunamis.’

’The Vortex People have gotten used to it.’

’The Black Society’s researchers can even sneak into Fujing Mountain from time to time to scrape off a few cells from the Great Black Heaven Dragon’s body, hoping their scientific methods can uncover its fatal weakness.’

’Sigh. When you compare one ship to another, it’s enough to drive you mad!’