Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 90 - 87: "12-Star" 10-Hour Experience Card
Only the outer areas of the Twelve Stars were open to the public for visits.
This open area was divided into sections of various sizes. Some became offices for different organizations and general-level wandering ships, some were rented out to various "organizations," and others served as "shops" selling strange items from the ocean.
The Ocean Hunter Organization that Shi Ming was looking for was an organization jointly run by seven King-level Wandering Ships, with a contact point on each one.
"All visitors, please register."
"Codename: Stone."
"Celestial Net Chip verification passed."
"No permanent residency status. First-time entry into the outer area requires a payment of 10 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones for a 10-hour time limit. Visitors who do not leave or renew their stay within 10 hours will be charged a 50% late fee. If the late fee reaches a certain limit, it will be forcibly collected, and you will be added to the Twelve Stars’ visitor blacklist."
...
Uh...
Shi Ming was stunned.
’It costs money?!’
It was no wonder. Space on a King-level Wandering Ship was limited and precious. After thirty years of development, it had evolved from a "sanctuary" into "one of the largest civilized strongholds." They controlled the highest-end living and production resources in existence, easily capable of satisfying all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
If people were allowed to come and go as they pleased, the ships would quickly become overwhelmed.
On the Endless Ocean, if an ordinary person or an Awakened suffered a severe injury, like a severed leg, they would most likely die if not treated promptly.
But here, the medical technology of the old world had been perfectly preserved. As long as you had the money, even an Awakened could have a limb reattached.
Therefore, with the exception of the extremely rare native inhabitants and the new generation of privileged "Celestial Dragon People," all other outsiders had to pay a fee to enter.
It was said that on the black market, a residency permit for a King-level Wandering Ship could sell for several hundred Pure Dome Crystals.
This was a price an ordinary person couldn’t even dream of.
’I can’t afford to live here permanently, but a trial pass for a few hours is manageable.’
The fee of one High-Level Sea Crystal Stone per hour was actually a humanitarian discount. The crews of Bronze or Silver-level Wandering Ships could scrape it together. After drifting at sea for a long time, they could come here to handle business like consigning materials or accepting commissions, which could be done in an hour.
Wandering ships without backing, and even wild ships, could pass through here without issue as long as they paid the fee.
Shi Ming took out 10 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones.
A staff member from the Twelve Stars gave him a watch-like device.
It had a countdown timer on it.
hours.
The staff member kindly reminded him, "Please proceed to sea area point 122 to arrange for your wandering ship’s anchoring service. You’ll receive a 10% discount for your first time. The anchoring fee is also one High-Level Sea Crystal Stone per hour..."
’There’s a parking fee too? Fine!’
He felt like a country bumpkin visiting the big city.
’Don’t tell me I have to pay to use the restroom too?’
He shook his head. Following the directions, he paid the corresponding fee and anchored his wandering ship in the designated sea area. After giving a few instructions to Stone Pillar and Lin Hai, he took one of the Twelve Stars’ public shuttles alone to the boarding dock.
The Great Fortune would be very safe docked here. Since he had paid the fee, the Twelve Stars would be responsible for the ship’s security.
So, he had nothing to worry about.
...
All armed conflict was forbidden within the Twelve Stars. Anyone caught would be subject to forceful control measures.
Boarding another wandering ship for the first time, a King-level one at that, Shi Ming felt quite excited.
This King-level Wandering Ship was enormous; calling it a floating city would be more accurate. But even so, its internal layout was still very compact, with all space utilized to the absolute maximum.
Narrow corridors, various contact points, embassies, organizations, repair shops, service centers...
The passageways were also lined with cameras.
There were official "shops" run by the Twelve Stars, selling all sorts of common materials.
"D-rank Sea Beast Blood, 20 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones per portion."
"Rare material [Black Coral], 10 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones per gram."
"Real-time language translator, 100 Sea Crystal Stones each."
"Triangular Sea Star, 100 Sea Crystal Stones."
There were also "banks" where you could exchange different Energy Stones. For example, one Dome Crystal could be exchanged for 100 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones, but it required an additional 5% service fee.
There were also "contact points" for major wandering ships.
"Residency Agencies" that provided housing services and "hospitals" for medical care.
"Residency Offices" for handling registration.
Passing by a Residency Office, Shi Ming went over to take a look out of curiosity.
Electronic screens were filled with all kinds of information.
[Room 1221 in Area D222, 3 square meters, fully furnished. Only 300 Pure Dome Crystals to make a home for yourself on the Twelve Stars!]
[High-end residence, Villa 122 in Area A12, 30 square meters. Exclusive 5A-grade living resources, inheritable by descendants, close to medical research institutes and Awakened training facilities. For sale at only 1800 Pure Dome Crystals!]
Tsk, tsk.
’1800 Pure Dome Crystals?’
’Is this something I should even be looking at?!’
Even if the native inhabitants of the Twelve Stars enjoyed special treatment, Shi Ming still couldn’t believe a 30-square-meter residence could sell for 1800 Pure Dome Crystals.
’That’s equivalent to my entire bounty!’
’I’d have to sell myself to afford that!’
After satisfying his curiosity, he didn’t linger and headed for the Ocean Hunter Association on the seventeenth floor, just as the hooded woman had told him.
’First, I need to take care of business.’
After paying 20 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones, Shi Ming registered a new Ocean Hunter identity under the codename "Stone."
During the strength demonstration part, Shi Ming displayed the physical constitution and power of an A-rank Awakened.
His control over his own power was currently superb.
The staff member in charge became much more respectful. After completing a series of evaluations, they retrieved a palm-sized "A-rank Hunter Terminal" from under the counter.
The Ocean Hunter Association’s bounties and missions would be continuously updated on the terminal.
However, the Association only provided the platform and was not responsible for other matters.
The subsequent execution of the mission and the exchange of the bounty money had to be handled by the parties themselves.
The A-rank terminal was a bit more advanced, signifying a different status. It also came with a golden nameplate that was particularly conspicuous in the listings, and it allowed him to accept higher-paying missions.
Shi Ming picked up the terminal and gave it a quick look.
[A-rank Mission: Hunt the sea beast "Candlelight Clam." Reward: 5 Dome Crystals.]
[B-rank Mission: Search for the whereabouts of Wandering Ship No. 33281. Reward: 30 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones.]
[Selling D-rank sea beast carcass. Price negotiable. Location to be arranged.]
...
The rows upon rows of missions and information were dazzling.
After a quick glance, Shi Ming suddenly saw a noteworthy piece of information.
[Bounty: Dragon Fish Golden Scale. 30 Dome Crystals.]
The screen was in color and came with images and photos. This bounty had a picture of a scale attached. Shi Ming found it familiar. Thinking back, wasn’t this the exact same golden scale he had found in a safe on the Huangshi?
’That scale... I never knew what it was used for.’
’It’s actually worth 30 Dome Crystals?!’
