Because the sky was shrouded with thick clouds and the torrential rain had lasted for days, the entire sea was pitch-black, making it impossible to see the way ahead.
Thankfully, Sules was steering under the System’s control, so she had no risk of running aground.
But just because she wouldn’t run into trouble didn’t mean others wouldn’t.
About halfway through the journey, Sules happened to come across a ship that had already struck a reef.
The ship was slowly sinking, and the people onboard were desperately shouting for help.
When they saw Sules’s ship approaching, the captain’s face lit up with hope.
Braving the downpour, he shouted through a loudspeaker, “I’m Sim! Please help us! If you can save us, we’ll reward you handsomely once we reach a safe place!”
Following the principle that saving a life is greater than building a seven-story pagoda, Sules had the System halt the ship and called out, “Captain Sim, how many people are on your ship?”
Captain Sim immediately replied, “Ten people!”
She hesitated for a moment.
The System had told her that her ship could only carry ten people at most.
That number was calculated by factoring in both cargo and emergency situations—and right now, in the midst of a storm, it was already an emergency.
If she took on even one more person, her ship might collapse under the strain.
She could save people, but she would never risk her own life.
With that in mind, Sules gave them a choice, “I can only take three more people on my ship at most. You’ll have to choose who comes.”
Upon hearing this, Sim’s face fell.
He hadn’t noticed before because it was so dark, but now he realized Sules’s ship was about the same size as his own—it couldn’t possibly fit many more.
Ten people, three spots.
For those not chosen, it meant certain death.
For anyone, it was an agonizing decision.
The other crew members on Sim’s ship understood that their lives now rested in the captain’s hands, and they immediately began to beg.
“Captain, I’ve sailed with you for so long. Even if I haven’t done great things, I’ve worked hard! You can’t abandon me!”
“Captain, I have elderly parents and young children at home. If I die, my whole family will be left destitute. Please, save me!”
“Captain, this is my first time out at sea! I don’t want to die like this, wuwuwu!”
In no time, everyone was clinging to Sim, begging for their lives.
If this were an ordinary situation, Sules would have given them plenty of time to decide.
But in this storm, every extra minute on the sea meant extra danger.
So she pressed, a bit coldly, “Hurry up and choose. I can’t stay here long.”
Sim knew now was not the time to hesitate.
As an experienced captain, he quickly made up his mind.
“First Mate, Boatswain, you two come with me.”
As soon as he said this, the other seven exploded in protest.
“Captain, how can you do this?”
“Save me, wuwuwu, I don’t want to die!”
One even shouted angrily, “If you abandon me now, I’ll take you down with me!”
That was the problem—nobody wanted to die.
If these ten people couldn’t come to an agreement, Sules really couldn’t lower the gangplank, or else she’d be inviting trouble.
The wind and rain grew fiercer, and Sules began to feel anxious.
She watched as the people on the sinking ship kept arguing, her gaze falling on the hull as it slipped lower into the waves.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
Sules moved away from the broadcast and asked the System, “If I take in their ship, can it be restored to perfect condition?”
The System immediately answered, “Yes, this is your reward for acquiring a new ship.”
Sules grinned, moved the broadcast back, and called out, “Hey! Captain Xiao, how much money do you have on hand? What supplies are on your ship?”
Captain Xiao, harried by his crew, still managed to answer, “I have seventy-three silver shells, and the ship has some timber, food, and Iron Blocks we were going to deliver to the mainland.”
Sules asked, “Would you be willing to give me your ship? I have a way to restore it as good as new. It’s the only solution I can offer.”
Upon hearing this, Captain Xiao didn’t hesitate to agree.
As much as he hated to give up his ship, compared to human lives, it was nothing.
He was about to die anyway—what use was a ship to a dead man?
Sules quickly drew up a contract and, braving the storm, brought it over.
“Sign here. Once you do, the ship will be mine.”
By the light of a fish lamp, Xiao carefully read the contract—it was a ship transfer agreement, along with a crew employment contract.
If he signed, the ship would belong to Sules, and he himself would serve as her crew for one month.
It was fair enough.
Unless you were the main captain, you couldn’t command a ship under someone else’s name.
Though he knew he was taking a loss, Xiao signed without hesitation.
There was no time to lose.
Even if this was technically taking advantage of someone in distress, he had no choice.
Nothing was more important than survival.
At the same time, Sules heard the System’s voice in her ear, “Ding! Congratulations, Player, your number of ships is now 2. As a reward, both ships have been fully refurbished. The captain may select any ability under level 3 to upgrade.”
As soon as the System finished speaking, Xiao’s ship burst into dazzling light.
The glow vanished as quickly as it appeared, and the ship that had been smashed to pieces by the reef was now as good as new.
The ten people who had been arguing stood on deck, shielding their eyes from the intense light.
As it faded, they looked in disbelief at the completely restored ship.
“My heavens! The ship is really fixed!”
Xiao cheered, looking excitedly at Sules.
“Captain, you’re our savior!”
Sules shook her head.
“I benefited too, so it’s mutual. Hurry back to the bridge and get moving—we’ll head to the trade ship for shelter.”
Xiao nodded, and he and his crew quickly got the ship moving again.
The two ships sailed side by side, heading toward the trade ship.
Taking advantage of the System being back in control of her body, Sules opened the System panel to check her latest status.
With the addition of a new ship, the System interface had changed dramatically.
Player: Sules Sulia
Fleet Size: 2
Ships Owned:
Sules’s Small Boat (non-editable) (click for details)
Xiao Victor’s Small Boat (editable) (click for details)
Funds: 89 Silver Shells, 35 Copper Shells
Basic Supplies:
Timber x267
Food x573
Vines x233
Cloth x56
Iron Blocks x47
Treasures: None
Total Crew: 17
Main Captain: Sules Sulia
Captain’s Talent: Sea God’s Heart (Level 1)
Hired Captain: Xiao Victor (click for details)
Missions: To be activated
Available Rewards: Upgrade any ability of any person up to level 3
Sules ignored the rest and checked on Xiao’s ship.
“Xiao’s Small Rudder”
Acting Captain: Xiao Victor
Ship Class: Single-Mast Sloop (2)
Max Capacity: 10
Crew: 10 (click for details)
Overall, it was the same as her own ship, except with more crew.
She scrolled up and tapped on Captain Xiao’s personal information.
Captain: Xiao Victor
Level: 3
Talent: Sea Whirlpool Teleportation (click for details)
Loyalty: 25
Sules tried to tap on “click for details” under Xiao’s captain talent, but the System popped up a message—“Ding, since this person is not a bound crew member, you cannot view their talent information.”
Fair enough.
Sules nodded, not bothered by it.
This time, she’d really profited—a whole extra ship, plus a good amount of funds.
With the supplies Xiao provided, she might even be able to upgrade her own vessel.
Satisfied, Sules squinted at the rewards section.
Earlier, when binding the new ship, the System had rambled on about rewards, but she hadn’t caught it all.
Only now did she realize there was such a benefit.
The System’s rule was that she could upgrade any ability up to level 3.
Obviously, upgrading a level 3 ability to level 4 would give her the most benefit.
Currently, among her crew, only Xiao and Annabella had level 3 abilities.
But Xiao’s loyalty was only 25—once the one-month contract ended, he’d leave, so there was no point upgrading him.
Annabella was on a year-long contract, which wasn’t exactly long-term either. Upgrading her would feel like a waste.
Sules thought it over and decided to save the reward for now, using it when the time was right.
The two small boats looked precarious amid the stormy sea.
Suddenly, a huge wave crashed over them, and Sules immediately felt the ship get heavier as the waterline rose.
She opened the broadcast, “Quick, quick, quick, bail out the water! Don’t let the ship sink!”
At her command, Ketu’er and the others rushed out with pots and basins, braving the rain to bail water from the ship.
Sules glanced around and realized Adolph was missing.
She immediately shouted in annoyance, “Adolph, where are you? It’s really too much for you to be slacking off at a time like this!”
“Hey, stop yelling.”
Just then, a lazy voice sounded behind Sules.
She turned to see Adolph leaning casually against the doorframe, his black hair soaked and clinging to his neck, making him look a bit out of sorts.
Sules raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
“What are you doing here?”
Adolph replied crisply, “Tell them how much longer until we reach our destination.”
Sules blinked, but as a leader herself, she immediately understood the hint.
She glanced at the screen, then used the broadcast, “Everyone, hold on! We’ll arrive in five minutes. Soon, everyone will be safe!”
The effect was obvious.
As soon as Sules finished, everyone started bailing faster, as if renewed with energy.
The tense atmosphere lightened, and it was clear everyone felt more hopeful.
Sules turned, wanting to thank Adolph for the reminder, but found he’d already slipped away without a sound—just as quietly as he’d arrived.
Five minutes passed in a flash.
At last, Sules led the two small ships to dock with the trade ship!