Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

After the communication ended, Su Zhixu closed the chat interface of the online forum.

A clear smile played on his lips, and he felt a surge of gratitude towards this mentor and friend.

The older brother was right. Although they initially bickered and teased each other, they built a friendship in the process.

Just like this crucial moment, the older brother was exceptionally reliable.

A nautical compass was placed in the center of the magic array, which Su Zhisu examined carefully.

It is about the size of a palm, with fine wave patterns engraved on its bronze surface. The central pointer does not point north, but trembles slightly, as if searching for something.

This compass will not only allow him to find Hydeland and fulfill the first mate's wish, but also to obtain Liliana Thea's puppet alchemy legacy.

You can also use this compass as a foundation to pursue a career as a navigator.

Although he does not currently meet the requirements to become a navigator, nor does he understand what the cornerstone means, this does not prevent him from considering becoming a navigator as a career option.

Moreover, his current starting profession—Survivor—also has the professional characteristics of the [Path of Survival].

Taking a deep breath, Su Zhisu reached out to pick up the compass.

However, the moment his fingertips touched the compass, the temperature in the room suddenly dropped.

The eerie blue flame within the night watch lamp flickered violently, and the pocket watch on his wrist vibrated frantically, issuing urgent warnings.

It was a semi-transparent, dark green shadow, the figure of a tall man, dressed in tattered captain's clothes and wearing a crooked captain's hat. His face was blurry, but his eyes were unusually clear, except that one of his eyes was a murky gray-blue, while the other shimmered with an eerie dark green light.

[The Ghost of the Captain of the Cape of Good Hope—David Roger]

[Category]: Undead/Contaminated

[Spirit]: -20

[Reason]: 1/-99

[Talents/Skills]:

Undead Body: Treats mental attributes as physical attributes; regular physical damage is ineffective.

Stirring the tides: Summon the spirits of the Cape of Good Hope's first mate, gunner, and ordinary crew members.

Guide the course: Guide the course of the "Cape of Good Hope" and summon the "Cape of Good Hope" to charge towards the enemy.

[Special Skill]: The Empress's Radiance: The great Empress Hydeland is watching over you, allowing you to retain your last vestiges of clarity when you are corrupted.

[Information]: He was the captain. We do not know what happened to the "Cape of Good Hope". All we know is that he did not regret going to sea. He only regretted bringing his crew along.

[Hidden Information]: This captain does not appear to be hostile.

"The final moment has finally arrived." The captain's ghostly voice was low and hoarse, as if it came from the deep sea.

"I've been waiting for a professional, a professional who has passed the White Mist Trial."

Su Zhisu did not retreat, but instead held the gleaming harpoon horizontally in front of his chest. The sharp harpoon was ignited with a ghostly blue Night Watch Heart Flame, ready to deal with any possible attack at any time.

But just as the hidden message suggests, Captain David Roger doesn't seem to have any real hostility.

Instead, he sighed, his gaze falling on the compass in Su Zhisu's hand, while also noticing the pocket watch wrapped around his wrist.

"It seems that Edgar's wish will also be fulfilled by you." David Roger's tone was filled with complex emotions.

"Every sailor on the Cape of Good Hope is my eyes. I know what you did; you brought us relief."

Su Zhisu remained vigilant: "Why didn't you stop me? This compass seems very important to you."

David Roger shook his head and let out a bitter laugh: "Stop you? While you're purging my crew? No, you're helping them, and..." His image flickered slightly.

"I've already failed. Even if I had succeeded in getting the job, what difference would it have made? In this 'fucked' world, the dead are even better than the living."

"I have some doubts..." Su Zhisu's pocket watch had stopped vibrating.

"What is a professional? What is the White Mist Trial? Where is Hydeland? Why...?"

David Rogers froze, his grey-blue eyes suddenly lighting up as he realized something.

Then he burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the empty captain's cabin, carrying with it endless sorrow and relief.

"Hahahaha... Is this damned world finally coming to an end?... " He wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes.

"You came here alone, yet you don't know you're a professional? You don't know what the White Mist Trial is? You don't even know Hydeland? Hahaha..."

Su Zhisu waited patiently. The vibration of the pocket watch had subsided, but the watchful spirit on the cold-eyed harpoon had not been extinguished. He maintained the most basic vigilance.

"Listen, young man!" David Roger's smile vanished, and his voice turned serious.

"I can't tell you too much. But please believe me, the white mist is just the beginning, a trial for all captains who set sail, for everyone who wants to become a professional, and for you as well!"

"Go to Hydeland, go see my Queen! There you will find all the answers you seek! There lies the last bastion of civilization in this world!"

His gaze fell on the compass in Su Zhisu's hand, and he said meaningfully, "The compass in your hand will guide you. When you stand on the land of Hydeland, all your doubts will be resolved."

"If you want to become a professional, then choose your foundation carefully!"

"cornerstone?"

David Roger looked at the Night Watch Lamp in Su Zhixu's hand, placed his hand on Su Zhixu's shoulder, and looked serious.

"Your foundation is the starting point of your career path, your initial motivation when you took the job... so listen carefully, be extremely cautious, and very cautious again when choosing your foundation!"

Seeing Su Zhisu nod subconsciously, his hand reached towards the Night Watch Heart Flame burning on the cold-light harpoon, and his voice began to become ethereal.

"I chose the nautical compass, but I lost my way...that's why I failed."

His figure gradually became transparent, leaving only his soft voice echoing in the air: "Go to Hydeland... take Edgar's pocket watch with you, and take my regrets with you. Finally, I'll give you my scimitar. A professional wielding a harpoon as a weapon? Hahaha..."

"Finally... I can go home..."

As David Rogers' last voice faded, his figure vanished completely into thin air.

Almost simultaneously, a notification sound from the comprehensive network rang in Su Zhisu's mind:

[Network notification: Dungeon completed]

[Instance Name]: The Undead of the "Cape of Good Hope"

[Instance Progress]: 120%

[Rewards]: 500 Disaster Coins, 50% Survivor (Initial) Class Experience, 3 Flooded Cannons, Thorne's Pocket Watch, Nautical Compass, and Scimitar Towards the Storm

[Instance Rating]: S (Discover Edgar Thorne's Journal, Defeat Captain David Roger without a fight)

[Network notification: You have leveled up, free attribute points +4]

[Network notification: 5 minutes remaining in the dungeon countdown]