After studying the map for a long time, it was time for lunch.
Shi Ming put away the map. He planned to study and verify its abilities in detail later. Perhaps when he grew stronger, he could personally explore the other black dots on it.
Whether those places were powerful sea beasts or rare patches of land, they would all be great opportunities.
...
"Captain, sorry to keep you waiting!"
"This is pan-fried fish fillet. It was slow-fried on low heat with deep-sea fish oil..."
"This is a cold-tossed fish skin salad, made in the old Cantonese style. I hope you like it."
"This is a snow-white fish head soup. It's stewed a little too long, so it's a bit soft. But please, have a taste."
"And this is sashimi, made from the most succulent part of the blue trout."
Old Yang stood before the captain's exclusive dining table, introducing the dishes he had cooked one by one.
There were four dishes in total. The two hot dishes were still steaming, their aroma filling the air. To properly complement the priceless blue trout, Old Yang had even rummaged through the warehouse and pulled out four exquisite iron plates.
"Not bad."
Shi Ming was very satisfied that a single fish could be made into four different dishes. He had originally expected Old Yang to just grill or fry the fish, but he hadn't thought he would be so dedicated as to prepare it four ways.
Shi Ming picked up a piece of the cold-tossed fish skin.
The fish skin was prepared perfectly. It was crisp yet elastic. Paired with the spices and seasonings rarely used on the ship, it was refreshing and appetizing. For a moment, it felt as if Shi Ming had been transported back to Shunde, sitting in a time-honored restaurant on the street and eating the most authentic local specialties.
To be able to eat such a delicacy on a drifting ship was a rather extravagant affair.
No, it was extremely extravagant. A fish that cost over a thousand Sailing Coins was not something just anyone could afford.
As Shi Ming enjoyed his meal, he listened to Old Yang's report—
"Captain, the new food items we added to the menu today are incredibly popular, especially the braised beef noodles. Almost every crew member ordered a bowl!"
"That's good. It makes the time and effort I spent upgrading the food production line worthwhile. Besides, the crew members all got a raise, which will stimulate spending. It's a good thing."
Shi Ming chewed on the pan-fried fish in his mouth.
'Still, handmade food just tastes better.'
'It would be even better with a bottle of beer, or a glass of iced cola.'
Unfortunately, there was only fresh water on the ship. Forget beer; they didn't even have low-quality ale.
'What a pity!'
...
After eating and drinking his fill, Shi Ming returned to the captain's cabin.
According to his original plan, the next step was to use his cheat, the Brain of Creation, to upgrade his weapons and do his best to increase his combat power.
He now possessed two S-rank defensive skills and a Gold-grade drifting ship canoe that was convenient for escaping. He was confident in his ability to survive, but his only regret was that his offensive methods were a bit limited. If he encountered other Awakened, the only ways he could effectively damage an enemy were with his Arm of Power and the reflective damage from his Black Tortoise Shield.
It was a bit too passive, and his ranged damage was insufficient.
The materials needed to upgrade his 92B-2037 pistol were just one High-Level Sea Crystal Stone and three iron ores. There was still plenty of iron ore in the warehouse, and Shi Ming had also found a few High-Level Sea Crystal Stones in the former captain's collection. The conditions for an upgrade were met.
Upgrading the cross saber was even simpler, requiring only five iron ores.
Shi Ming activated the ability of his Brain of Creation, focusing his attention on the pistol placed on the table.
[92B-2037 Pistol]
[Level: 2]
[A standard-issue pistol, but its power should not be underestimated. It was one of the most popular pieces of personal equipment in the old era.]
[Upgrade requires: High-Level Sea Crystal Stone x1, Iron Ore x3]
[Upgrade conditions met. Upgrade now?]
"Yes!"
[Upgrading...]
The pistol upgrade took about three minutes. When the system prompted that the upgrade was complete, Shi Ming focused his attention on the pistol again to check its changes—
[92B-2037 Pro Pistol]
[Level: 3]
[A modified standard-issue pistol with further enhanced power. Consumed ammunition has been replenished. It can pierce through three-centimeter-thick steel plates, has a faster firing rate, and poses a certain threat to some Awakened.]
[Upgrade requires: High-Level Sea Crystal Stone x3, Iron Ore x10]
Shi Ming was quite satisfied with this upgrade result.
During his fight with Chunyi on Turtle Island, he had fired this pistol three times but missed every shot. Its effectiveness against the enemy was worse than the cross saber's. Of course, that was also because the former captain, Chunyi, was an Awakened who specialized in speed.
'Now that its speed and power are increased, I probably won't be so passive if I face a similar situation again.'
Besides, he still had two upgrade chances left for the day. If he upgraded it one more time, what would this pistol evolve into?
Shi Ming took stock of Chunyi's collection.
'There are still four High-Level Sea Crystal Stones.'
'That's enough.'
'Good steel is meant for the blade's edge.'
'Upgrade again!'
BEEP!
The upgrade from level three to level four took a full fifteen minutes.
[92B-2037 Pro+ Pistol]
[Level: 4]
[A super pistol that poses a significant threat even to Awakened! The bullet's firing speed has been greatly increased, and the bullet material has been modified, allowing it to easily pierce 10 centimeters of steel. However, due to the immense force, it requires extremely high wrist strength from the user. Furthermore, to avoid overheating, it cannot be fired in rapid succession.]
[Upgrade requires: High-Level Sea Crystal Stone x10, Iron Ore x30]
'The description makes it sound powerful, but I'll need to test it myself to know for sure.'
Shi Ming picked up the gun.
The texture had improved significantly, and it was also heavier.
He raised his hand, aimed at a steel railing standing on the deck outside his window, and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
It was a good thing his arm strength was extremely high and his right hand was incredibly steady, allowing him to control the powerful recoil.
In the blink of an eye, the vertical steel post snapped at the point of impact, and both halves were sent flying far away by the force!
Molten iron from the high temperature was even visible at the break!
'Incredible!'
There were only eleven bullets. After testing the feel of the gun, Shi Ming wouldn't waste any more so easily. He hung the pistol at his waist, concealing it with his captain's jacket. When he needed it, he could draw it in less than a second and fire a fatal shot at an enemy.
He wasn't worried about this powerful weapon being taken by others either.
Snatching a weapon from him was already a difficult task in itself. Moreover, this gun had a difficult "temper" to control; if someone didn't adapt to it beforehand, they would surely suffer a backlash at a critical moment.
After putting away the pistol, he also used the iron ore to upgrade the cross saber to level three.
The Third-Level Cross Saber was sharper and tougher, and the design of the blade had become more ergonomic—it would save 20% of his strength when cutting someone.
Most importantly, it could now fully withstand a tenfold overdraft of his Arm of Power without easily shattering under the immense force.
In ancient times, it would definitely have been a divine weapon capable of stirring up a bloody storm in the martial world!
After putting away the enhanced cross saber as well, Shi Ming's upgrade chances for the day were completely used up.
The Brain of Creation seemed like a cheat, but it actually consumed his Spiritual Power. He would need to spend some time to recover his mental energy.
'I'll take a short nap.'
Shi Ming lay down on the bed and, before he knew it, was about to fall asleep.
Just then, the sound of urgent footsteps came from outside his door.
"Captain, we have a problem!"
"A subordinate drifting ship from the Black Society is heading toward us at high speed!"
"What grade?"
"Bronze-grade!"