In the game《Maritime Navigation》, ships are divided into ten levels.
The first two levels are considered beginner ships, and by the time you reach level four, you can decide the ship’s development direction.
Levels three through seven are intermediate ships.
At level five, a ship can face simple sea disasters, meaning it can continue sailing during the plum rain season—this is a minor dividing line.
Starting from level eight, those are truly advanced ships.
The boundary between level seven and eight is whether the ship possesses a Sea God Secret Treasure.
The Sea God Secret Treasure holds a fraction of the Sea God’s divine power and can influence the ocean to a certain extent.
Only with this treasure can a ship be considered level eight.
Ships below level eight have no chance against one with a Sea God Secret Treasure.
Upgrading from level seven to eight is both the easiest and the hardest upgrade.
It’s easy because only one credential is needed to upgrade, but difficult because the Sea God Secret Treasure is extremely rare—no one knows where it will appear.
Because of this, many level seven ships are stuck there for decades, unable to advance.
This time, they were heading to the site of an eight-level sunken ship.
There might very well be a Sea God Secret Treasure left behind on that ship.
If they could retrieve it, it would be equivalent to possessing the foundation of level eight in advance.
Plus, James’s main ship was already a level six ship bordering on level eight—this upgrade was practically guaranteed.
Sules hesitated and asked, “Aren’t you afraid something might go wrong if you tell me all this now?”
“Something go wrong? What could possibly happen?”
Anthony sneered.
“We’re already this far from shore. Even if you wanted to send a warning, there’s no chance.”
Indeed, in this era, only captains could communicate through the control room’s communication device. Others had no way to communicate remotely.
Sules realized she was overthinking it with modern logic and helplessly shook her head.
“You’re right. I’m just thinking too much.”
Perhaps seeing Sules’s humble attitude, Anthony didn’t mind sharing some extra experience with this rookie captain.
“You probably noticed that James is going to the mysterious sea with a specific goal, so you chose to come on our ship, right?”
Sules nodded.
There was no reason to hide it.
“Young people are still too impulsive.”
Anthony walked to the window, looking out at the raging storm, and said slowly, “You’re only thinking about what benefits you can get from this trip but haven’t realized the huge danger lurking beneath.”
Sules knew the trip was dangerous, but hearing Anthony’s words, it seemed there was more to it.
“Please elaborate.”
Anthony asked, “Tell me, which do you think is stronger, a level six or a level seven ship?”
“Obviously, a level seven ship.”
“Now imagine we actually get the Sea God Secret Treasure on this trip. Once that news leaks out, what will happen?”
Sules immediately answered, “It will cause a scramble among many ships. Our situation will become very dangerous. Is that what you mean?”
Anthony didn’t confirm or deny but asked, “Then tell me, what kind of danger are we talking about?”
Sules hesitated, “Those people will want to steal the treasure on our ship, so they will attack us. It will be very hard to protect ourselves amidst the fighting. That’s the danger.”
She had thought of this before, but suddenly saw a meaningful look in Anthony’s eyes.
She instinctively paused and fell into deep thought again.
After a while, her expression darkened.
As a big company owner, she could empathize with those in power the most.
“You mean, to prevent this information from leaking, we insiders might very well be wiped out?”
Right—she had been thinking as an employee.
But from the perspective of someone at the top, if the secret got out, they wouldn’t be able to keep the treasure safe.
So, to keep the secret, they’d have to eliminate the employees.
Anthony smiled and nodded.
His eyes narrowed slightly, laugh lines stretching from the corners, looking exactly like an old, scheming fox.
Sules couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.
Although she had been a successful businesswoman in her previous life, compared to this old captain who had sailed for decades, her experience still fell short.
“Captain Anthony, you’re so confident—you must already have a plan. What can I do to help?”
Since Anthony had already considered this level of danger, he must have a way out.
And since he was willing to tell her, it meant she was needed for this plan.
Hearing her question, a look of appreciation flashed in Anthony’s eyes.
From their conversation, he already knew Sules was smart. But now, it seemed he had underestimated this young female captain.
To be able to quickly overcome the fear of mortal danger and rationally analyze the deeper meaning behind his words—this girl was impressive.
It also made him more confident in his plan.
Anthony didn’t reveal his plan outright but instead began explaining why, knowing there was a trap, he still chose to set sail.
“A few days before setting sail, I didn’t even know the purpose of this voyage. James’s excuse to others was just ‘exploration.’ Usually, I’d follow such a mission without question, so I didn’t pay it much mind.”
It wasn’t until the day before departure that he accidentally saw the sailor in charge of procurement on the main ship buying a large amount of sea-hard gold.
Sea-hard gold—Sules had read about it many times in the 《Chart of Maritime Navigation》.
It was the hardest metal known on Mercury. Besides making hard objects, its biggest use was manufacturing the hulls of level seven ships.
Without hesitation, Sules said, “You mean Captain James is already preparing to build a level seven ship?”
Anthony smiled bitterly and nodded.
“I wish I’d been as clever and quick as you back then. But I had no idea and even greeted that sailor.”
He sighed heavily.
“When I thought about it carefully after returning, I understood the matter. But I’ve followed James for a long time and know him pretty well. He’s not someone who accepts being subservient. Once you reach level seven, you have to find a level eight ship to back you, or you’ll easily be bullied. That’s why James has been cruising at level six for so long. He already saved up enough money and bought everything rare on the market. Yet, he still hasn’t bought sea-hard gold to upgrade to level seven.”
Hearing this, Sules understood perfectly.
James had avoided upgrading to level seven because he didn’t want to rely on anyone.
But now that he suddenly started buying upgrade materials, it could only mean one thing—he had a way to become level eight as soon as he upgraded to seven.
As said before, the difference between level seven and eight is only the Sea God Secret Treasure.
Since James didn’t want to be subservient but began collecting materials to reach level seven, the purpose of this trip was obvious.
Sure enough, Anthony continued, “I guessed he must have heard news of some secret treasure and planned this voyage because of it. James is smart; if he really gets the treasure, he will eliminate anyone suspicious on board to prevent any leaks before he’s ready.”
Sules felt some sympathy for the old man.
“But you were already seen by that sailor.”
Anthony nodded.
“Yes. I realized even if I tried to fake illness and skip the voyage, it was too late. James would definitely find out I met the sailor that day. James is very suspicious and would suspect I already guessed his plan and might leak it. That would only hasten my death.”
Suddenly, Sules said, “But you can bind with him. Once bound, you’re both on the same ship—James won’t harm you.”
Her eyes were probing as she looked directly at Anthony.
Anthony was momentarily stunned, then laughed.
“I’ve been free and easy on the East Sea my whole life. You want me, an old captain, to bind with someone? Sorry, I’d rather wander the sea with it.”
He said this, then asked Sules, “What about you? Want to bind with Qiu An? If you go to James and bind, he definitely won’t hurt you either.”
Sules stretched lazily and looked at the raging storm outside.
Her emerald eyes seemed to swallow the tempest.
“No thanks. I’m still young.”
The old and young shared a smile.
Having settled this matter, they moved on to discuss how to survive under these circumstances.
Anthony said, “I know James well. To be safe, once he gets the treasure, he will try to wipe us out on the way back.”
Sules followed his words, “We’re his crew, so we can’t hurt James. The only option is to run.”
Anthony nodded.
“That’s what I think too. Our route is to the mysterious realm to seek treasure, then return the same way. This journey is close to the Alvis family’s territory. We can jump ship there on the return trip. With the treasure message we have on Charlotte, we should be able to seek help.”
This made sense, but Sules had one question: “Then why are you telling me all this?”
Anthony’s whole plan didn’t require outside help.
The fewer who knew about the escape, the safer.
So why tell her?
Anthony explained, “I’m telling you because I need your help. I’m already fifty-four years old. Even the shortest distance is hard to swim on my own. So I need someone to help me.”
Seeing Sules’s doubt, he added, “Besides that, I need your help as cover. When we jump ship, James’s suspicion will rise with two captains missing. If he launches a large-scale search, we’ll be wiped out. My captain ability can bind two people, allowing instant teleportation between them. You distract James first; once I’m far enough swimming, you teleport to me.”
As he said this, Anthony pressed his hands on Sules’s shoulders.
A blue light flashed over her body, and immediately, new information filled her mind.
She closed her eyes to sense it—indeed, it was a teleportation chain lasting two months, allowing each person one chance to teleport to the other.
He hadn’t lied about the ability, and it seemed flawless.
After opening her eyes and thinking for a moment, Sules asked, “Why don’t you distract the captain and let me swim? I’m young and strong—I’ll definitely swim farther. That way, you save your energy. Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?”
Anthony hadn’t expected her to say that.
After hesitating, he explained, “James and I are old friends. He knows me well. If I try to distract him, he might notice something’s off and discover our plan.”
“Oh, I see…”
Sules lowered her head, appearing to believe him, and smiled.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll distract James, and you swim away. If we work together, we can definitely escape!”
Anthony smiled and extended his hand.
“Then, shall we have a pleasant cooperation?”
Sules looked down at the hand, hiding the thoughts in her eyes, and clasped it.
“Pleasant cooperation.”