With the help of the tide, their rowing speed increased significantly, and soon they were far from the shore. From a distance, the bustling Black Iron Pioneer City looked like a sea of twinkling lights.
Yet Chun still hadn't received any hint about mastering the Sailing Technique. What's the issue? Maybe the speed wasn't enough, or perhaps this collection of small boats tied together couldn't be properly recognized by the Sailing Technique system.
The speed couldn't be increased any further. Normally, speed and thrust don't scale proportionally. For a boat to increase its speed by a few knots, the engine might need several times more power.
By now, both of their physical strengths were nearly depleted, so it was time to rest and eat.
Chun recommended his fried clams, "Sherry, give it a try!"
Sherry took a bite and was amazed, "Is this shark oil? It smells fantastic!"
Chun got excited, "How does it compare to those restaurants in the city?"
Sherry felt awkward, "The restaurant food is expensive, I don't often eat there."
Um...
Chun expressed his thought, "I was thinking if my recipe could start a restaurant."
Sherry suggested, "You can share your recipe with Miss Vivian's tavern restaurant. If the dish sells, you'd get a cut. It might not be much. The main thing is that shark oil is very expensive, and pricey ingredients are only used for signature dishes. You're not famous as a chef yet, so if you could reach Expert-level cooking, it would be much easier."
In the end, to really make money, you need to be at Expert-level. Advanced is just enough for self-sufficiency. But money doesn't matter now; improving relationships is key.
Chun laughed, "If there's a share, we'll share it together. Let me first share it with you!"
——System Alert: You have shared the recipe with Sherry.
Sherry happily said, "Oh, that's really too kind of you!"
Chun laughed, "The dividends will only increase in the future!"
At this moment, a particular fishing rod was pulled very tight, could it be?
Chun reeled it in and found the rod bent with substantial force—Holy shit, it's really a big fish! Quickly reel in and release...
After a series of pulls, a half-meter-long big fish emerged from the water.
——System Alert: Congratulations! You successfully caught a small "Sardine" and a large "Yellow Croaker." Your fishing proficiency has significantly increased, and your Basic Fishing Technique has risen to level 5, achieving: Physical Strength +4, Carrying Capacity +4.
Holy shit! One hook, two fish, leveling up four times—is it really the public test strategy that's reliable, or is this Lucky Fishing Rod matrix bullshit?
Sherry was even more surprised, "Turns out you really can use small fish as bait!"
Chun's inspiration erupted: Could I use this big fish as bait to catch even bigger fish? Wouldn't my fishing skills rocket up again! Although a single fishing rod and line couldn't handle it, I could string all nine boats together, so what if I bound six fishing rods together, and twisted the lines into one? Sherry's a pro with ropes and even has Basic Tailoring skills; maybe she could twist the lines?
Chun shared the idea with Sherry.
Sherry was also very interested, "Let me try. You hold the six fishing rods tight first..."
In the next moment, Sherry, as if weaving a braided ponytail, entwined the six fishing lines together. Her technique gave Chun great confidence; maybe this idea would work!
However, Chun quickly realized: A fish big enough to take such bait would at least be a shark, and with a shark's strength, it could definitely wreck those nine lousy little boats—wasn't this just asking for it?
Chun noticed the red light flashing from the offshore lighthouse and suddenly remembered that there was a profession task involving an Old Whale. The red light was a warning of danger.
Chun's heart was racing, fishing for a whale? Whales are generally stronger than sharks, but this is an Old Whale! Since it moves less, it's covered in barnacles and painfully weak. Its advanced age and frailty would make it perpetually starving, making it highly likely to take the bait… Holy shit, what am I thinking? This is my profession task Boss!
Chun, feeling confused, shared his thoughts with Sherry, "Sherry, there's an Old Whale by the lighthouse..."
Sherry exclaimed, "Yeah, that's widely known in the city. It's the S-Class bounty quest from the Sea Merchants Association, but no one's been able to complete it."
Holy shit!! The Cleaner Fish's profession task Boss overlaps with the world Boss for the bounty quest! Yet the old man's tone didn't make it sound super strong, and he even suggested I consider it early, meaning I should finish it before the bounty's taken down?
Chun found it unbelievable, "Isn't a sea monster bounty quest only S-Class? Why is an old whale scraping the ship bottoms also S-Class?"
Sherry was equally puzzled, "I usually only focus on beginner quests and haven't paid much attention to high-end ones, but the difficulty rating for bounty quests is also time-related. If a quest isn't completed for a long time, it indicates difficulty and the rating naturally increases."
Chun grew more suspicious, "The old man said the whale created a lot of benefits for the shipyard, so the shipyard definitely doesn't want the whale killed. Could they be privately giving perks to city experts or threatening them not to hunt the whale, so the whale lives longer, thus becoming S-Class?"
Sherry said, "Since we're here, let's take a look!"
That makes sense! But Chun was concerned for her safety, "It's very dangerous!"
Sherry looked resolute, "As a Mage, I'll face even stronger Abyssal Demons in the future. Let us bloom courageously like roses in the darkness!"
Alright then, NPCs can be revived after all...
"Then let's go check it out!"
Chun's emotions were tumultuous; when a normally difficult to kill bounty Boss overlaps with a storyline task Boss, it's clearly going to trigger a storyline, right?
Finally, Sherry finished tying up the fishing rods and lines; her meticulous handiwork was simply impressive! The biggest flaw was that the hooks couldn't merge into a large one, and relying on these six little hooks to catch a whale seemed dubious at best, but triggering the Old Whale to smash the boat was highly likely—Holy shit, why do I keep thinking of fishing it?
Chun decided to think outside the box, like Jiang Ziya fishing without a hook!
Sherry asked in surprise, "How do you fish without a hook?"
Chun forced an explanation, "What city hunting experts can't do, we can't either. Anyway, we're just here to 'look around,' and maybe offer it some food to see if we can gain its favor. If it doesn't work... we'll come back next time."
Sherry exclaimed in surprise, "If you're sending food, just toss the yellow croaker over."
Chun explained, "The yellow croaker might swim away, what if the old whale can't catch it?"
At the end of the day, I still want to fish. As long as the whale bites the bait, with just a little splash, who knows how much my fishing technique will soar?
"Got it, then I'll tie the yellow croaker with the fishing line."
Tying complete, then the fishing rod is tied to the boat, ready to go.
At this moment, the boat drifted along with the current to the lighthouse, and from a distance, the thunderous sound of blowholes came from the sea.
Chun's heart pounded wildly, it's the whale breathing, no need to look further.
Turn off the sailor's lamp and put the yellow croaker into the water.
Then the boat drifted closer, using the afterglow of the lighthouse to see a jet of water on the sea surface.
However, the whale was unmoved, showing no mystery, nor triggering any special plot scenes.
Chun was anxious, if it doesn't interact soon, my boat will drift away with the tide! Is the bait not fresh enough?
Chun remembered he had shark oil, and it's said whales and sharks are mortal enemies. Once it smells shark, the whale should react, right?
Chun immediately retrieved the yellow croaker bait, smeared shark oil all over the fish, and poured extra oil into its belly, then tossed the bait again.
The thunderous fountain sound on the sea stopped.
There's a reaction!
The next moment, a red light exploded in Chun's eyes, the fishing line snapped tight from the water, the fishing rod shook violently, and the boat shuddered!
It bit the bait! Chun's heart raced up to his throat.
Time seemed to freeze, the fishing line remained taut, there were no large waves on the water, and the boat didn't continue to tremble, firmly held by the fishing line, not drifting further.
Sherry's voice trembled, "It… neither swallows nor lets go…"
Chun was a hundred percent sure the plot had been triggered! The whale rubbing its belly against the boat is a form of seeking help, so now it's still asking for help. As an unemployed "Cleaner Fish," the only solution is to swim over and knock off the barnacles?
Just as he was thinking this, the urgent flashing of a red warning light in front of Chun began to soften—a sign of hostility diminishing.
Because there's no hook?
Chun suddenly realized, perhaps the key to triggering the plot was no threat! The less threatening a newbie, the more possible this is, and he was so weak it ignored him directly, only noticing him because of the shark oil... So this might be the esoteric mystery that even the big guy wanted me to "consider early on." I've come early enough, right? I'm only level 1!
Anyway, no matter the guess, Chun had to act: "Sherry, I'm going over with the hoe, in case something goes wrong… just wait until the tide returns tomorrow."
Sherry nodded nervously!
Then let's go. Normally, it's hard for someone with intermediate swimming technique to move in the tumultuous tides of the ocean, but Chun had a diving suit, and there was a thick fishing line between him and the whale, so he could slowly make his way over.
——System prompt: Your intermediate swimming technique proficiency +20!
Proficiency skyrocketing, exhilarating!!
In the dark sea, a pair of eyes as big as windows stared at him!
Keep calm!
Finally, as he got a few meters closer, Chun saw it. It seemed to be a sperm whale, its mouth and head covered in a shocking amount of barnacle shells.
Then start with the mouth, one hoe strike!
——System prompt: Your basic underwater mining proficiency +5. You've cleaned the barnacle off the whale, the whale's friendliness towards you increased!
——System prompt: Your diving suit successfully resisted the corrosive water.
Chun was overjoyed, success!
Then continue…
——System prompt: Congratulations! You accumulated a lot of proficiency, you advanced to "Intermediate Artistic Swimming" level 1. Your resistance in water decreased to a certain extent, Achievement gained: Physical Strength +1, Load +1.
——System prompt: Congratulations! Your intermediate swimming technique increased to level 3, Achievements gained: Physical Strength +1, Load +1.
——System prompt: Congratulations! Your basic underwater mining technique increased to level 2, Achievements gained: Physical Strength +1, Load +1.
Hahaha, the thrill of surging through skills is amazing, but the expectation of completing the big task is even more thrilling!
After clearing the large area of barnacles near the whale's mouth, the whale no longer showed any hostility and turned into a Yellow Name. But Chun's physical strength was nearly exhausted in the ocean waves, he needed to save his strength to get back to the ship to rest and eat.
Just as Sherry was pulling Chun back onto the boat, the whale let out a long blast and spouted a fountain, the fishing line snapped tight again, and the boat moved with the whale.
——System prompt: Congratulations! Your fishing proficiency greatly increased, your basic fishing technique rose to level 10, Achievements gained: Physical Strength +5, Load +5!
Holy shit! Fishing really leveled up by five!
But the barnacles haven't been completely dug out, where's it going?