Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 88 - 85: The Hooded Woman
[Congratulations! You have slain the B-rank sea beast, Red Tide Sea Parasite, and obtained the B-rank skill: Red Tide!]
[The skill "Red Tide" is of too low a rank and has been devoured by the S-rank skill, Black Tortoise Shield.]
[Obtained: Physical Strength +6, Attack Power +2]
[Attack Power: 52]
[Physical Strength: 66]
[Endurance: 72]
[Defense Power: 110]
[Spiritual Power: Unknown]
Without a doubt, Shi Ming’s newly acquired "Red Tide" skill was once again devoured completely. This time, however, he was quite satisfied with the stat points he gained—a full 6 points in Physical Strength and 2 in Attack Power.
Compared to the two or three points from a D-rank sea beast, a total of eight points was simply generous!
’As expected of a B-rank sea beast.’
Shi Ming called for his crew to come out and salvage the red, "seaweed-like" remains floating beneath the hull. At the same time, he picked up a submachine gun that was leaning nearby and aimed it at a 97-degree angle ahead.
BANG! He pulled the trigger!
The bullet whizzed through the air and, with a loud CRACK, struck a transparent barrier over three hundred meters away, bursting on impact.
"You’ve been watching for three minutes. Still going to hide?"
Even before the battle, he had noticed a drifter ship anchored over three hundred meters away, watching them.
The distance was rather delicate, right on the edge of what could be considered a friendly range.
A crew member had already informed him via radar. He had originally planned to send a signal to drive them off, but the Red Tide Sea Parasite took the bait so suddenly that he had no choice but to spend a few seconds slaying the B-rank sea beast before dealing with them.
SPLASH—
Three hundred meters away, the calm waves began to stir.
A drifter ship gradually materialized on the sea’s surface, as if appearing from invisibility.
Mimetic cloaking technology.
It wasn’t a particularly advanced cloaking method; it had strict requirements regarding the viewing angle.
A woman in a red robe stood at the bow. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
She sent a friendly signal and slowly sailed toward the Dayun.
...
"I mean no harm. I’m truly sorry for intruding on your battlefield."
The two ships were fifty meters apart.
The woman bowed in apology, indicating she had no ill intentions.
Shi Ming lowered his submachine gun.
He tossed aside his jacket, which was contaminated by the algae parasite, and put on a clean captain’s uniform handed to him by Yellow Cannon.
The algae parasite had to be removed as soon as possible.
He observed the other party’s drifter ship.
It was a small drifter, only sixteen meters long. It looked like the common fishing boats or patrol boats from Shi Ming’s previous life. It had three rooms, but its rank couldn’t be determined from its appearance.
Along the edge of the hull was a circle formed by twelve stars.
It was the symbol of the Twelve Stars.
’Having the symbol doesn’t necessarily mean she’s part of the Twelve Stars’ forces.’
The woman at the bow wore a red robe with a matching red hood.
The brim of the hood was low, hiding most of her face.
Shi Ming couldn’t see her features clearly.
He could only make out the long, golden hair hanging down.
The Sea Patrol Radar confirmed she was the only person on board.
’Piloting a ship alone... she’s definitely not someone to be taken lightly.’
"Intruding on the battlefield? Even if it was by mistake, is this how you apologize?"
’Not even showing your face. I highly doubt the sincerity of your apology.’
The woman paused for a moment, then lowered her hood.
Beneath the hood was a face with long, golden hair—bright and elegant, yet still retaining a hint of youthfulness. Her eyes, sharpened by the sea breeze, were as deep and clear as a tranquil lake.
A classic Western beauty.
The crewmen nearby stared, momentarily stunned.
However, this clear and profound beauty lasted for less than three seconds.
As if spoiled by the wind, the girl’s golden hair suddenly faded to a grayish-brown. Her normal ears grew pointed and sprouted long, black fur.
Even her gentle face began to undergo beastification.
Her bright elegance twisted into something grotesque and incongruous.
Her lake-blue eyes transformed into ferocious, ghostly green, slitted pupils.
’Beastification?’
Even the well-traveled Shi Ming tightened his grip on his long saber.
Seeing his reaction, the woman put her hood back on.
The raging beastification came to an abrupt halt.
Her grayish-brown hair reverted to its golden color.
"My apologies. This is my Awakened ability, Beastification. I can’t control it. I’m truly sorry for frightening you."
Shi Ming looked at the woman before him.
He had a feeling she did that on purpose.
"It’s fine. Awakened abilities come in all shapes and sizes. Is there anything else?"
’The implication was clear: if there was nothing else, she could leave.’
’I still have to clean up the battlefield and collect my spoils.’
’If you keep lingering here, I’ll assume you have ulterior motives.’
’And at that point, conflict will be unavoidable.’
The hooded woman paused for a moment.
"I am also an Awakened. You can call me Yize. To be honest, I’m hunting a B-rank sea beast to solve my beastification problem. However, I’ve been tracking it for half a month with no success. Would you be willing to sell me the sea beast you just killed?"
"I’m very wealthy. I’m willing to pay any price."
She added.
"You’re willing to pay *any* price?"
The hooded woman hesitated.
"Yes."
"I can’t sell you this sea beast," Shi Ming said.
He added silently in his mind, ’Because it’s already been sucked dry. The main body of the Red Tide Sea Parasite was tiny, and the Right Arm Red Pattern on my arm forcefully drained everything within 0.1 seconds of contact. It was impossible to stop.’
Of course, to any onlookers, it would have just looked like the blood evaporated.
"In that case, I’ve disturbed you. I’m truly sorry."
Even though the woman was wearing her hood, Shi Ming could clearly sense her disappointment.
’Perhaps she really did just want to make a trade.’
"However, I do have other Sea Beast Blood. 2,000 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones, take it or leave it."
2,000 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones, which is equivalent to 20 Dome Crystals, was an extremely high price.
It far exceeded the market rate.
The conversion rate between Energy Stones is 100.
One Dome Crystal is equal to 100 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones.
One High-Level Sea Crystal Stone is equal to 100 regular Sea Crystal Stones.
Generally speaking,
the blood of a D-rank sea beast is worth around 20 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones.
The blood of a C-rank sea beast is about five times more valuable than a D-rank’s, worth around 100 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones.
The blood of a B-rank sea beast sees another tenfold spike in value, costing approximately 1,000 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones, or 10 Dome Crystals.
However, it often has a price but no market, meaning it’s impossible to buy and rarely circulates.
As for the blood of an A-rank sea beast, the price skyrockets by several thousand times!
If a faction needs A-rank Sea Beast Blood, they usually post a bounty through an organization like the "Gold Tower," which can cost up to several hundred Pure Dome Crystals. Compared to B-rank, this isn’t just a thousand-fold increase in price; more often than not, it also requires special channels or personal connections.
Going even higher, the blood of an S-rank sea beast is a strategic asset.
It is equivalent to the "atomic bombs" or "nuclear bombs" of Shi Ming’s previous life. It would never appear on any open market, and of course, no one would sell it privately either.
There might be a small amount of circulation between major powers, similar to the lunar soil of old, possessing only research value.
Hearing his offer, the woman was stunned.
’Does she think it’s too expensive?’
But less than three seconds later, the woman spoke again.
"Do you have *other* B-rank Sea Beast Blood?"
"???"
