Finally, with the falling off of the last large piece of shell, the Old Whale let out a sound of joy like a steam whistle, and a stream of light flashed across Chun's entire body:
——System Notification: Congratulations! Your team has completed the stage cleaning of the Whale's ailment, the Whale's friendliness level has risen to "Trust", and you have gained the achievement skill "Whale Guardian": The Whale will protect your team's ship on the sea. You can clap underwater to send an ultrasound signal to contact the Whale. You have taken the profession of "Cleaner Fish", gaining the professional skill "Purification", and received a profession reward: Attack +10, Defense +5, Attack Speed +1, Movement Speed +1, Life +100, Physical Strength +50, Weight Capacity +50.
——Cleaner Fish: Each time the player's character level increases by 1, Attack +1, Life +1, Physical Strength +1, Weight Capacity +1.
Purification: Can automatically detect filth and uncleanliness and consume physical strength and water to cleanse it.
——System Notification: Congratulations! You have completed the high-tier assessment of the Cleaner Fish profession, obtaining the reward achievement "Power of the Whale": Power Storage Purification, Corrosive Poison Damage -10, Attack +10%, Defense +10%, Attack Speed +10%, Movement Speed +10%, Physical Strength +10%, Life +10%, Weight Capacity +10%.
Power Storage Purification: Consumes all physical strength to perform a powerful purification, and the more physical strength consumed, the stronger the physical attack. It can only be used once a day.
——System Notification: Congratulations! Your Underwater Mining Technique has grasped the Essence of Mining, advanced to Advanced Level 1, obtaining achievement: Physical Strength +1, Weight Capacity +1.
...
Actually got the job! This Whale can really be a professional mentor; so this is a Cleaner Fish!
But the profession skill actually requires water; could it really be about cleaning? If there's no water, do I have to carry a bucket as ammo at all times? This is too...
It doesn't seem as powerful as imagined, but as a secondary job to the main Warrior, it's a good balance of toughness and finesse.
Look at this high-tier achievement, Power of the Whale, it's really Bullshit! Although, for a newcomer, a 10% increase is not much, but reducing Corrosive Poison Damage by 10 is really amazing. Most poison damage is continuous and in low single digits, so this probably means I'm immune to most poisons, practically a natural toilet cleansing physique!
However, this is not the main focus right now. The real focus is the "stage cleaning" and Whale Guardian from the first notification.
Stage cleaning means the storyline with the Whale isn't finished yet; later, it must be fully healed with Medicine Refining—there's still a chance to visit this island again!
Whale Guardian can ensure that we won't be attacked by Pirates on our way back. But these nine small boats are already a drag, carrying so many spices back could lead to shipwreck mid-journey and there's nowhere to hide them.
So the most prudent plan is out!
Chun said: "Sherry, we'll just take two pieces of spice on board, sell one for the repayment to Miss Vivian, she has many connections and knows a Baron, so she'll definitely have a way. If questioned, we'll just say we found it at sea. We keep the other for learning Alchemy ourselves. All other spices will be buried in the sea, and we'll retrieve them when the Whale is fully treated later! Then we'll transport some shell minerals dug from the Whale back as medicine refining materials."
Sherry exclaimed: "Just transport two pieces of spice?"
Chun nodded: "We can't be greedy, even if there are unexpected events, we'd only lose two pieces of spice at most!"
Sherry added: "Even transporting two pieces of spice into the city will be difficult, so we can only bury them outside the city, then let Miss Vivian figure out a way to get them out of the city."
"Makes sense!"
So let's first count the spices, a total of 36 pieces, big and small, with 12 being top-grade white ones; we'll take two top-grade ones back first. Also, the footprints on the island need to be erased; unless someone comes right after us, in a few days the sea winds will naturally smooth them over...
Next is to first move some onto the ship, Sherry once again freezes the bottom of the ship before rowing away from the shore to survey the seabed.
At this moment, the Whale came over proactively and hummed twice.
——System Notification: You seem to understand that the Whale is asking if you are going home?
Oh? The way of communicating with the Whale is quite simple.
No!
The Whale didn't ask further and swam happily towards the open sea.
Chun then confirmed a spot 300 meters from the shore, in about ten meters of water. This distance is already far enough, if anyone can still find it, well, then I'll admit defeat.
Ten meters is the maximum depth a normal person can dive without oxygen tanks, and Chun's goal is to challenge this limit and push Advanced Swimming up. After preparing, he went into the water to dig and mine.
——System Notification: Your Swimming Proficiency has increased.
——System Notification: You have comprehended the Essence of Mining, and your Underwater Mining proficiency has increased.
Even without ore, but gaining some proficiency is good—it accompanies swimming. Spice is lighter than water and will float, so the pit must be dug deep and buried well, with no room for slacking...
Not far away, a big crab was found, great, when physical strength is low catch it and cook a pot.
The following time was repetitive, up and down. Though monotonous for Chun, who had grabbed hold of the big shot's opportunity, there was a fire burning in his heart...
——System Gentle Reminder: Dear player, you have been online continuously for 12 hours, please be mindful of your health, you can choose the smart AFK mode.
——System Notification: The current environment does not allow automatic AFK.
Only then did Chun realize that unknowingly it was already 12 noon, and without having breakfast or lunch, he surprisingly felt no fatigue or hunger.
This state of excitement seemed only to occur during those youthful all-nighter project sessions, how many years has it been since I felt this way?
...
At 1 PM, Chun finally felt a weight lifted off and finished burying all the spices.
Then it was back to the previous beach to scoop some shell minerals from the seabed onto the ship for transport— Wait a minute!
Chun discovered a major oversight, what if someone comes after and finds the shell minerals on the beach seabed? It's too easy!
No, not even a trace can be left, transport it to the far sea and dump—no, can't dump recklessly, bury it like the spices! Who knows if a large amount will be needed for Medicine Refining in the future?
But this work is much larger than burying spice; the tide may come before it's finished, need to call the Whale to help with towing the boat. Yes, seize the opportunity to communicate with the Whale!
Chun reached into the water and clapped loudly.
Sure enough, the Whale came over, really being like a performing killer whale in a marine aquarium.
——System Notification: You seem to understand that the Whale is asking if you are going home?
Again asking if going home?
This kind of stumped Chun, feeling like training a beginner AI as a player, how to accurately express my intentions?
Just hand the fishing line to the Whale and point to the distant sea surface.
The Whale indeed understood and began towing the boat, the previous prompts appeared again:
——System Notification: Your team has triggered the hidden skill "Module Combination"! Your Fishing Technique proficiency has increased significantly, your Fishing Technique has advanced to Intermediate Level 5, obtaining achievement: Physical Strength +5, Weight Capacity +5.
Holy Shit, it really is a Grade S bite, another 5 levels at once! This fishing is indeed as easy as pie!
Sherry was also pleasantly surprised again: "My Tailoring Technique has leveled up again!"
They must all improve, after all, the current ship with all its cargo is very different from before. Then try a few more rounds, let's see what this Module Combination really is.
Reach the designated sea area, unload the goods. Then continue loading on the return trip, with the Whale towing again.
——System Notification: …Your Fishing Technique advanced to Advanced Level 1…
Up to this point, the Fishing Proficiency no longer increases.
Chun quickly asked Sherry: "How's your Tailoring?"
"Advanced, I can't progress further either."
Alright, having gained so much, there's no need to fuss over it.
Once all the shell minerals were transported and poured in place, Chun began diving to dig and bury again. It felt like with one more push, upgrading to Advanced Swimming was in sight.