Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 104 - 101: The Lighthouse’s Holy Hall Research Institute
The distant Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse, a King-level Wandering Ship even larger than the Twelve Stars, housed fourteen public research institutes, each with a different focus. Some studied sea beasts, some researched energy, others focused on medicine, and some were still tenaciously exploring space travel...
The sea of stars, an endless journey.
The ship also had two secret "Underwater Research Institutes" that studied certain forbidden subjects and answered only to the First Governor.
Not long ago, the ship’s President, the First Governor, gave special approval for a 15th institute,
the "Holy Hall Research Institute."
Its research focus was the Holy Hall Relic they had worked so hard to obtain.
Although Edward was already dead, and his remains were impossible to find even with a Treasure Compass, they were likely devoured by sea creatures and scattered across the Endless Ocean.
But the research could not be abandoned or shelved.
The head researcher of the Holy Hall Research Institute was originally a doctor from one of the Underwater Research Institutes. Due to his breakthroughs and expertise in sea beast research, the First Governor brought him up from the "underwater" division to a public-facing role, making him the current director of the Holy Hall Research Institute.
But on his very first day in the position, this doctor made a bold request.
He wanted the Lighthouse to specially assign an S-rank Awakened to cooperate with his Holy Hall-tier human experimentation.
The First Governor was, of course, furious and berated him for his wild fantasy.
’How can this sort of filthy underwater research be brought out into the open?’
’And you actually want an S-rank Awakened to cooperate?’
’What is an S-rank Awakened?’
’They are the foundation of a nation, its ultimate martial power! How could one possibly be used as a test subject for such dangerous research?’
’The audacity!’
But the "doctor" didn’t give up. He relentlessly tried to persuade the First Governor with both reason and emotion, doing his utmost to explain the benefits. He even painted a beautiful vision of the future—one where this endless ocean would no longer be the domain of sea beasts, where humanity would rule once more, and all suffering would vanish, just as it was written in the Book of Genesis.
All of this, he argued, was a necessary sacrifice.
The First Governor of the Lighthouse remained unmoved and gradually began to show his impatience.
Finally, the doctor took a step back—
"If a living Awakened is not possible, a dead one will do. If there are any Awakened who have died for their country, or..."
"Insolence!"
The First Governor was beside himself with rage!
’Do you hear what you’re saying!?’
’Have you research-crazed lunatics had your brains eaten by groundhogs? I ought to take this scepter from my desk and give you a good thrashing on your backside!’
"Governor, sir, what I mean is, an S-rank Awakened from an enemy faction would also work. For example, the one rumored to have killed the Navigator was an S-rank Awakened. If we could kill him, not only would we avenge a hero, but we could also advance our research... This research is truly important. Believe me, sir, it’s on the verge of a major breakthrough..."
"Once successful, it will be a milestone, remembered by the world for all time. And you,"
"will achieve eternal fame."
...
...
...
In the European Sea Region, at the location of the newly appeared Eye of Extreme Cold, the Da Yun Ding Lan was anchored near the eye of the sea, and everyone on board was busy.
"Come on, come on, sign up one by one!"
Yellow Cannon was shouting on deck, promoting the latest "Awakening Loan."
"The captain said, anyone who wants to Awaken, sign up with me!"
"A D-rank sea beast is 100 Contribution Points, a C-rank is 500! It’s okay if you don’t have enough points, you can take out a loan! Limited spots available, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
This was all at Shi Ming’s direction.
The newly formed Eye of Extreme Cold was a treasure trove coveted by the sea beasts of the surrounding waters. Guarding such a place was like holding a juicy piece of meat in a pack of hungry wolves. From time to time, sea beasts would come to cause trouble. In just half a day, three D-rank sea beasts, unable to contain their greed, had already tried to snatch this prize from Shi Ming.
Their fate was to be slain by Shi Ming beneath his ship.
Among them were sea beasts of a type he had already killed, so they couldn’t be absorbed by the Black Tortoise Shield for more points.
Shi Ming planned to use their blood to Awaken his crew members and increase the ship’s overall strength.
Of course, it wouldn’t be free.
People never cherish things they get for free. Shi Ming was responsible for slaying the sea beasts and providing the opportunity to Awaken, while the crew had to offer corresponding contributions.
If they were temporarily short on contributions, they could overdraw their account and pay it back later.
This was the Awakening Loan.
The Awakening Loan was very popular on the ship; a long line formed with people wanting to inquire and sign up.
"Captain, everyone on the ship has filled out an application form. Twenty-three people in total."
’Twenty-three people?’
’How long is this going to take?’
’They can just line up according to their current Contribution Points.’
’Besides, Stone Pillar and the others are D-rank Awakened now. If they work together, they should be able to hunt D-rank sea beasts. When a suitable one appears, I can let them handle it for practice.’
Shi Ming had expected this outcome. For an ordinary person, Awakening was an irresistible temptation. D-rank Awakened wanted to advance to C-rank, C-ranks wanted to become B-ranks... and so on, a never-ending pursuit.
Even at the S-rank level, one would never complain about having too many skills.
They might even covet the higher "Holy Hall Tier."
The sun gradually set in the west, and the air grew colder. After sunset, the water temperature in this sea region had already dropped below 5 degrees Celsius. At the Eye of Extreme Cold, a large number of bubbles continued to rise ceaselessly. He had no idea what was causing such a strange phenomenon.
’I should go explore it when I get the chance.’
What disappointed Shi Ming a little was that even after ten full hours of the ship’s Dome Crystal extraction equipment running at high efficiency, it had not produced a single piece of the so-called "Ice Jade Marrow."
’Looks like the drop rate is incredibly low!’
’It’s as valuable as a Pure Dome Crystal, and just as hard to get.’
’Oh well, I’ll just kill a few more sea beasts to make up for it.’
Guarding this place meant he didn’t have to run around searching; the sea beasts would deliver themselves right to his doorstep.
And speak of the devil—
"Captain, the Sea Patrol Radar has detected a sea beast with a high energy signature approaching. It’s already within ten nautical miles."
"Oh? How high?"
"The threshold has passed red."
"Hm?"
The upgraded Sea Patrol Radar could not only detect creatures at a greater distance but also provide a threat assessment based on their energy signatures.
Based on past experience, D-rank sea beasts were marked as yellow on the radar, and C-ranks were orange.
And red?
That meant a big one had arrived!
"Sound the alarm!"
Shi Ming took out the Map of the Endless Sea.
The sea beast had just entered the ten-nautical-mile radius. He prepared to use the Map of the Endless Sea to confirm what rank this big one was. If it was an S-rank sea beast, he would have to make a hasty strategic retreat! No shame in that.
He first infused it with his own Awakening Power.
No match.
Then he dripped a drop of B-rank sea beast blood onto it.
Still no match...
’A-rank?’
Shi Ming’s eyes narrowed.
An A-rank sea beast, the kind that could take down the Huang Shi with it. Shi Ming had originally planned to hunt one after leveling up a few more times, but he never expected to run into one so unexpectedly...
Since it had come to this,
then...
Fight!
