National destiny: Starting with a coffin, building an aircraft carrier is broadcast live globally.

Light, steady footsteps echoed down the corridor—

However, there was only one person.

I stopped walking. That guy had been as noisy as a parrot, why was he suddenly so quiet?

He turned around and looked, somewhat puzzled.

Noah stood frozen in place as if under a spell, his head hanging low. The well-fitting suit made him look like a disheveled, drowned dog.

On second thought.

This arrogant being has lived for thousands of years, swindling and cheating everywhere.

The result was that one day I found out...

Not only have I been exploited by clients for centuries, but I've also been unknowingly and diligently playing the role of a free extra for others for centuries!

Yes, it's normal to feel uncomfortable.

He shook his head, walked back with a kind heart, and patted Noah on the shoulder.

"If you think about it, we've just been made a fool of like monkeys for hundreds of years."

"..."

Noah's chest rose and fell visibly.

"And even though you cut so many fuses haphazardly, it didn't explode."

His tone softened further as he asked, "What does this mean?"

"What does that mean?" Noah forced out a few words through gritted teeth.

"That means you've been busy for centuries, but you've completely missed the point!"

"..."

The man clenched his fist, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

"Of course, it's also possible that Nyarlathotep doesn't take your petty squabbles seriously..."

"But it's okay."

She thoughtfully smoothed out the wrinkles in his collar.

"Even though I've only been here for two days, haven't we already found a breakthrough?"

"I'll defuse this bomb. If you can't, just stand over there and be careful. If you're really bored, you can keep eating that jar of gum."

Noah suddenly tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and began to take a deep breath.

Inhale—exhale—

"Take it easy, be careful of hyperventilation syndrome. If you pass out, I'll call Wonka to give you CPR."

"wait......"

Noah desperately wanted to speak.

Before Ren Yi could finish speaking, the concern on his face vanished instantly.

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Where were we? Oh, right, defusing the bomb."

"Noah, I need you to tell me everything that was signed on this ship, no matter how small or large, and whether the other party is alive or dead."

The topic changed so quickly that Noah almost couldn't catch his breath.

He stared at Ren Yi for a long time, his green eyes almost burning red and green, but faced with this bleak reality...

He ultimately compromised:

"I can tell you... but you'll have to do me a favor after we get out."

"It depends."

After giving a perfunctory and watertight response, he immediately extended his right hand:

"We can discuss all our personal conflicts after we leave this ship. Enjoy the collaboration!"

This guy...

One second they're rubbing salt into his wounds, the next they can casually propose a collaboration.

Noah stared at the hand for a full three seconds, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

In the end, he raised his hand.

But just as the two hands were about to overlap—

"Snapped!"

A child mischievously shouted "Give me five!"

Ծ‸ Ծ

Just as Renyi's brows were about to furrow, Noah preemptively grabbed his hand and shook it:

"Deal made! A pleasure doing business with you!"

Done.

He immediately changed the subject and began to talk at length about the unlucky guy he had signed a contract with on this ship.

"Let me think... There aren't many contracts on this ship that I'm concerned about. The first one should be..."

......

On the other side, in room 303.

Nathan pushed the very useful wooden wheelchair to a stop at the door.

He had just returned from the boiler room on the basement level. Before going, he handed the bottle of [Poseidon's Awakening Potion (Essence Version)] to Sean.

Anyway, Sean can't see the attribute panel.

After giving Sean instructions, he went to get the wheelchair... This is the efficiency of division of labor, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the "use with caution" instruction!

Throughout the journey, Nathan's mind was in a constant whirlwind of thoughts.

Noah's reaction when he saw his boss conjure those epoch-making artifacts out of thin air wasn't the composure one would expect from someone who's seen it all; rather, it was more like...

Exploring the techniques of peers.

Just like when you see various treasures at an auction house, your first reaction is not to be amazed, but to estimate their value and analyze their origin and craftsmanship.

This Noah...

They don't seem like simple NPCs in a game, nor do they seem like players from some other world.

He can produce gummy bears that don't belong to the era of the "Narwhal," and he can casually grant an ordinary human immortality...

His existence seems to transcend the rules of the game "Ocean Era".

Time traveler?

Nathan had only learned about this concept from some novels or movies.

If Noah can truly travel through time, then once he's outside, could he travel through space... or even across worlds?

Everyone is trapped in this damned sea world, trying to figure out how to get through.

But what if there was another way?

—Without relying on the [Ocean Era] game system, you can return directly to Earth... or even travel between Earth and the [Ocean Era]!

After we've sorted out this mess on the ship, let's discuss this conjecture with Renyi first.

Thinking of this, Nathan pushed open the door to room 303.

"Sean, Ivan's awake..."

The room was completely empty.

"...Is that right?"

Apart from the fish-shaped indentation on the mattress where Liv had pressed down, and the lingering smell of blood in the air, there was no trace of anyone else.

What about people?

Nathan frowned and strode into the room.

"Boss?"

He called out, but no one answered.

Only a sea breeze blew by, stirring the curtains by the window.

When was the window opened?!

His heart skipped a beat, and he rushed to the window, leaning out to look down.

The third floor isn't particularly high, but below it lies the black sea with its white waves crashing.

Just then.

Noah's cheerful voice rang out from outside the half-open door.

"...The old man in the wheelchair said he wanted to see the stars in his hometown."

"At that moment, I thought, this ship is full of surprises! It's not like we're on another planet, so what's the difference?"

"And then? You let him see it?"

This is what the boss asked.

The sound grew closer and clearer:

"Of course, he jumped in, reflected in the sea."

"..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ren Yi pushed the door open and came in.

He looked around the empty room, his gaze finally settling on Nathan by the window.

"Where are Ivan and Sean?"

Nathan turned around, his face pale, and pointed heavily out the window.

Noah: (꒪⌓꒪)

Any: (°ー°〃)

There was a two-second silence.

"......OK."

The captain nodded, calmly indicating that he understood.

"Perhaps when they come back alive, we'll know where our 'little brother' is."