[Seaman Luu Yuan successfully signed, salary: 400 Copper Coins/month, paid]
[Ship's Ocean Affinity Attribute +5]
[Ship's Sailing Speed +5 knots/hr]
[Ship's Exploration Range +5 meters]
[Stability Ability +1]
A contract emitting a faint blue glow quietly merged into the bodies of Luu Yuan and Fang Yu, signifying that Luu Yuan had become a member of Fang Yu's ship crew.
His Ocean Affinity Talent also augmented the ship, significantly enhancing Fang Yu's ship.
Fang Yu felt a sense of joy, shifting his gaze to his lord panel, noticing the changes in the ship's attributes.
[Captain: Fang Yu]
[Lord Level: 1 (0/100)]
[Lord Ability Level: 1 (1 unit represents the average attributes of an adult)]
[Ship Type: Small Cargo Vessel]
[Cargo Limit: 700 tons]
[Ship Speed: 15—20+5 knots/hr]
[Exploration Range: Depth 10+5 meters]
[Stability: 6+1 (Can withstand sea state level 7)]
(Note: Sea state level 7 waves are about 6-8 meters high, wind force level 8-9)
[Extraordinary Ability: None]
[Ship Modifications: None]
[Crew Management: 1]
Luu Yuan: Level 1, Basic Ocean Affinity (Contract can be terminated)
[Lord Talent: ???]
The section for Lord Talent was filled with question marks.
Yet Fang Yu was delighted, as having this section meant he possessed a Lord Talent.
It just hadn't reached the awakening level yet.
Moreover, Lord Talents awakened in the early stages were almost always of the monetary type.
While those awakening later were mostly of the combat type.
Combat type talents, in the later stages, became far more significant than monetary ones.
Currently, having already recruited a crew member with the Ocean Affinity Talent, the ship's abilities had seen a significant boost, but Fang Yu planned to continue recruiting more crew members.
In his plan, with an initial fund of 2000 Copper Coins, he straightforwardly decided to recruit 3 crew members.
Being wealthy was one aspect, but having more crew members also meant higher efficiency in the early stages.
It was a way of investing to speed up improvement.
"Captain, do you need me to accompany you to recruit other crew members?"
Luu Yuan had already settled into his role, observant and perceptive. Noticing Fang Yu looking at other crew members in the human resources market, he softly asked.
"No need, you go purchase supplies!"
Fang Yu shook his head, making the best use of everyone's abilities.
He directly handed Luu Yuan 100 Copper Coins, instructing him to buy the food and living supplies needed for sailing.
Then Fang Yu continued wandering in the talent market.
After Fang Yu's previous show of financial power in recruiting crew members, it was clear to everyone that he was undoubtedly a captain with a promising future.
Their gazes towards Fang Yu became increasingly eager.
Some even refused offers from other captains because they wanted to see if Fang Yu would hire them.
Other captains were astonished, turning their eyes towards Fang Yu.
Normally, Lords lead, and crew offer is a privilege often quickly accepted by the crew.
The ratio of captains to crew is 1:9.
Due to financial constraints, a captain can usually only hire about two crew members.
Approximately 70% of crew candidates are eliminated in the first round of selection, forced to lower their rates or even work for free.
Otherwise, growth is stunted, making progress impossible.
Hence, being rejected by a crew member was unbelievable for other captains.
The captains subconsciously focused their gaze on Fang Yu.
Who is this person? So arrogant...
The captains internally pondered.
But the captain's gazes did not interfere with Fang Yu's vision in selecting people.
He ultimately focused on two individuals.
Du Ran: Basic Strength Talent, 200 Copper Coins/month, robust build, square face, appearing honest. Fang Yu needed someone looking strong to be the...
beast of burden...
Fang Yu was very satisfied and decisively signed an employment contract with Du Ran.
The future core crew members would largely be chosen from those who followed from the start.
Thus, Fang Yu looked not only at abilities but also at character when selecting crew members.
Hmm... Du Ran seemed honest and reliable, unlikely to be a slacking crew member.
For the third crew member, Fang Yu chose someone with nautical skills.
Ma Shuo: Basic Nautical Management Talent, 300 Copper Coins/month, thin build, known by the nickname "Ma".
A chatterbox, very talkative.
Fang Yu, after chatting briefly, was slightly overwhelmed by Ma's enthusiasm and decisively signed a contract with him.
Seafaring is very monotonous.
This person should be able to liven up the ship's atmosphere, his outgoing personality potentially motivating even the more introverted crew members.
Managing crew members should be no problem.
A ship needs a manager.
But not every captain can afford managerial talent.
Only someone as wealthy as Fang Yu could be carefree about it.
With the signing of Ma's contract, several managerial attributes appeared on Fang Yu's captain panel.
[Warehouse Utilization Rate +15% (Cargo Limit increased to 805 tons)]
[Food Calorie +15%]
[Crew Gains Basic Fishing Skill]
At this point, Fang Yu's initial three-member crew was fully stocked.
Simultaneously, Fang Yu's savings had been reduced by 1000 Copper Coins.
With only 1000 Copper Coins left on the panel, Fang Yu chose not to continue recruiting but instructed Ma and the others to meet up with Luu Yuan. Then he left the talent market to head to a...
[Ship Modifications Store]
After spending the remaining thousand Copper Coins, Fang Yu left the modification store contentedly, carrying a scroll.
He quickly sensed the location of his three crew members through his lordly intuition.
Hmm?
At the dock?
Fang Yu walked his way to the vicinity of Qiyun Port's docks, spotting his three crew members already gathered. At that moment, Ma waved at him, "Captain, over here!"
The three were standing in line.
As an initial cargo ship, the dock is where all captains go to pick up delivery tasks.
Every day, a large amount of cargo needs to be transported by ships from here.
However, a batch of captains had just arrived today, with a crowd waiting here, many wolves and little meat.
The situation had shifted from waiting for ships to waiting for cargo.
Arriving late meant queuing up, waiting for the clients to assign delivery tasks, and possibly getting no cargo today.
Seeing the three standing there for quite some time, the queue moving only a few spots forward, Fang Yu chuckled silently, beckoning the three, "No need to queue, come over here, I'll take you to accept special cargo!"
The three were stunned, exchanged glances, "Special cargo?"
"Special cargo requires a cargo capacity of over a thousand tons to accept. Captain... our ship isn't enough!"
Ma widened his eyes at Fang Yu, reluctant to leave the line.
Leaving would mean re-queuing, possibly not getting any cargo today.
The three shook their heads, wondering if their captain had not looked up the strategies.
Seeing their expressions, Fang Yu widened his eyes, "Hurry up, don't make me miss the cargo!"
The three exchanged glances again, reluctantly leaving the line, dejectedly walking over to Fang Yu.