Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 94 - 91: The "Secrets" in the Tattered Notebook
[Tattered Notebook]
[Level: 1]
[A notebook lost by some unknown person in the ocean. Its material is special, remaining undamaged even after being submerged for many years. Unfortunately, the writing on it has been completely eroded and is illegible.]
[Upgrade requires: Sea Crystal Stone x3, Wood x1, Cuttlefish Ink Sac x1]
Sea Crystal Stones were the most common material, and as for cuttlefish ink sacs, the carcasses of cuttlefish Shi Ming had hunted were still on the ship.
Relatively speaking, wood was actually the rarer material on the ocean... Luckily, the exploration team had brought back quite a few branches from shrubs on Turtle Island last time. ’Branches count as wood, right?’
If that didn’t work, Shi Ming could always just dismantle some of the old tables and chairs on the ship.
The materials were all gathered. ’Upgrade!’
A tiny notebook consumed far less Spiritual Power than upgrading the drifter ship.
Just one second!
Upgrade complete.
[Intact Notebook]
[Level: 2]
[A notebook lost by some unknown person in the ocean. Its material is special, remaining undamaged even after being submerged for many years. Under the influence of a mysterious power, the secrets recorded within have surfaced. Perhaps these secrets will be useful one day?]
[Cannot be upgraded again.]
Shi Ming scratched his head.
’Secrets, huh? Alright, let’s see what these secrets are.’
’Besides, with a method like this, couldn’t I exploit a bug?’
’I could damage materials that the Brain of Creation can’t identify, then use the Brain of Creation to repair them, and in doing so, appraise the item’s true purpose? Of course, this method has its drawbacks. If I damage something and don’t have the materials needed for the upgrade, then a perfectly good item would be lost for nothing.’
’It has its pros and cons, I guess.’
’And it might not even work.’
His fingers brushed against the material’s unique texture as Shi Ming opened the notebook.
After reading two pages, he discovered it was a travel journal written in the international language.
The handwriting was elegant, seemingly that of a woman.
[...]
[The Pyramid. The sunken Pyramid is like a tomb at the bottom of the sea, exceptionally solemn. Not even fish or seaweed will grow here, as if it is a place of death. Only the lonely Pharaoh and Sphinx are buried in this tomb. Our scans detected no anomalies here, but we were instead struck by the stark, deathly beauty....]
[Mammoth Cave. There are no signs of powerful creatures here, but the energy readings from our detectors are certainly abnormal. Alas, it’s a shame we searched for thirty days, even using ourselves as bait, and still found no clues. But the mystery of Mammoth Cave fascinates me. I absolutely love it here....]
[Fujing Mountain. The Hai Sheng Ying here are truly fantastical.... But, damn it! Before we could even begin our investigation, the Black Society drove us away!]
...
[Fichaz Sea Abyss. This place is even deeper than before. Pitch-black....]
[Earth’s Lung....]
...
[Mount Everest. The mysterious great stone tablet with thirty-three thousand characters was discovered here. Unfortunately, it’s too cold, even colder than it was at over 8,000 meters! The snow and frigid winds carry an irresistible sharpness.... It’s a pity we underestimated it; our preparations were insufficient.]
...
[We found a hint of emerald green on a ridge of Mount Everest. It looked so delectable that my partner ate it, only to be frozen stiff. Thankfully, a researcher from Xirang saved us. It took him three days to recover.]
...
’Great secrets? Where are the secrets?’
At first read, Shi Ming thought it was just a travel journal.
But the more he read, the more he realized the journal’s owner seemed to be deliberately exploring specific places, as if searching for something.
She and her partner had scoured the world’s sunken landmarks during the early days of the Wandering Era, twenty-eight years ago. But even by the end of the journal, her tone remained one of regret, as if she never found what she was looking for.
’What was she looking for?’
’Treasure? A Sea Beast? A fortuitous encounter?’
There was no way to guess.
The author’s writing style, however, was excellent. Her descriptive ability was top-notch, and her records of these landscapes were incredibly detailed.
As Shi Ming read, it was as if he were there himself.
He put the journal away.
A traveler who could explore the depths of the Endless Ocean in the early Wandering Era was bound to be extraordinary.
’This journal probably does hold some unknown secrets.’
’I just haven’t figured them out yet?’
He had one last upgrade opportunity for the day, and Shi Ming used it on the Hundred-Faced Sea Lizard Mask.
He raised the identity-disguising mask from its initial Level 2 to Level 3.
[Hundred-Faced Sea Lizard Mask]
[Level: 3]
[A mask made from the skin of the Hundred-Faced Sea Lizard. Its disguise effect is superb, capable of fooling the vast majority of detection devices. An essential item for concealing one’s identity! The disguise duration has now been upgraded to two hours! And it’s even harder to see through!]
[Upgrade requires: Lizard creature blood 100g, B-rank Sea Beast Flesh and Blood 50g.]
If he took on any missions to slay Sea Beasts in the future, he would very likely need this mask.
Better safe than sorry.
Honestly, he felt he would make a terrible Mercenary in this world, especially on missions to hunt Sea Beasts. Whenever he killed one, his right arm might accidentally drain all of its power.
The blood would still be there, but it wouldn’t allow anyone to Awaken.
What kind of Employer could tolerate such an outcome?
’They spend money, put in the effort, and then have the fruits of their labor stolen?’
’It’s a surefire way to screw someone over.’
...
「Twelve Stars.」
Ocean Hunter Association.
"Esteemed Sir Wright, the Association does have two portions of B-rank Sea Beast Blood, but they are currently stored at the ’Tinder’ branch. If you need them, we can have them expedited."
"Mm, I’ll have to trouble you, then."
Wright de Albert, a veteran A-rank Awakened, was currently sitting in the Ocean Hunter Association’s VIP lounge with his apprentice, the red-hooded Yize.
Hearing that the staff member could arrange for two portions of B-rank Sea Beast Blood to be transferred, Yize breathed a sigh of relief.
Even her eyelashes seemed to relax beneath her red hood.
It was a bit expensive, costing her an extra 50 Dome Crystals.
But that wasn’t important.
As long as she could get what was promised and then find one more portion of B-rank Sea Beast Blood, she would have the twelve portions she needed to solve her body’s problem and completely master the power of her beastification.
Then, she could go hunt that powerful A-rank Sea Beast.
At that point, she would become a dual A-rank Awakened.
Even on Twelve Stars, she would be one of the elites of the younger generation, second only to the three S-rank Awakened on board the ship.
"Sir, we also need to post a commission."
Wright put down his red tea and spoke to the staff member beside him.
"Please, go ahead, Mr. Wright."
"This commission is exceptionally dangerous, but the reward is absolutely worth it. The only requirement is that we need A-rank Awakened."
