The entire ocean is my fishing ground.

"you……"

Zhao Deding's lips trembled.

"You country bumpkin, you just got lucky."

"You caught a fish that's almost extinct, what's with all the swagger?"

"It's just a fish, what does that prove? A bet? I was just joking, and you actually took it seriously?"

"Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? Do you think you're worthy of betting against me, Zhao Deding?"

Upon hearing this, many of the business owners around frowned.

They can't accept defeat; it's too embarrassing.

Everyone present was shrewd; they could all see that Zhao Deding was throwing a tantrum and acting shamelessly.

But he was, after all, a long-established giant in the provincial capital's aquatic products industry, and no one was willing to offend him for the sake of a young man.

"Oh? Hehe..."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, smiling instead of getting angry.

"So, according to Chairman Zhao, the bet we just made in front of all our industry peers in the city was just bullshit, right?"

"Who the hell are you cursing?!"

Zhao Deding exploded instantly.

"Who are you going to insult? You're just insulting whoever agrees."

Lin Chen retorted calmly.

"alright!"

At this moment, Chu Tiankuo spoke up.

"Manager Tang."

"I'm here, Chairman Chu."

Tang Mingyuan immediately bowed.

"Go and close the door!"

"Yes."

At that moment, everyone realized something was wrong.

Zhao Deding's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Chu Tiankuo and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Chairman Chu, what...does this mean?"

Chu Tiankuo finally looked up at him.

"When Yunhai Pavilion opens its doors to do business, the two words we value most are: rules and regulations."

"In my view, a promise made is a promise kept. If you gamble, you have to accept it. If you lose, you have to be punished."

"A win is a win, and a loss is a loss!"

"If Chairman Zhao doesn't drink this water today..."

"Then don't even think about leaving this room."

Zhao Deding knew that Chu Tiankuo was not joking.

He really dares to lock himself up here.

He wanted to beg for mercy and say a few kind words, but in front of so many colleagues, his pitiful pride prevented him from opening his mouth.

Just then, Lin Chen walked towards the ornamental pool.

He casually picked up an empty wine glass from a decorative tray next to him and dipped it into the water.

In the clear pond water, several precious koi carp were startled and swam away in a panic.

The cup stirred up the silt at the bottom of the pool, and some algae and flocculent matter were swept into the cup along with the water flow.

Lin Chen shook the cup to make sure it was fuller.

He carried the glass of water and walked back to Zhao Deding step by step.

"Chairman Zhao."

"please."

Zhao Deding looked at the murky liquid and felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

He had never been so humiliated in his life.

All eyes were fixed on his back, some mocking, some sympathetic, but mostly gloating with amusement.

He looked to Chu Tiankuo for help, but the latter just stared at him coldly, his eyes conveying a clear message: drink, or stay.

"Pfft..."

Someone couldn't help but laugh out loud.

That laugh was like a switch, instantly igniting the entire room.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"Chairman Zhao, have a drink, it's good for your health."

"This is water from a koi pond; drinking it will bring you good luck."

Laughter and banter filled the air one after another.

Zhao Deding knew that if he didn't drink this glass of water today, his name would become the laughing stock of the entire province tomorrow.

Drinking it would be shameful.

Refusing to drink means losing both your life and your career.

He accepted the wine glass.

Close your eyes and drink it all in one gulp.

A mixture of earthy and fishy smells assaulted my senses.

"vomit--"

He had just finished drinking when he couldn't hold back any longer and began to gag violently, covering his mouth, looking quite disheveled.

The audience erupted in even louder laughter.

Amidst the laughter, Zhao Deding could no longer stay and stumbled towards the side door.

Only after watching Zhao Deding's retreating figure did Chu Tiankuo's face reveal a slight smile.

"Well done, young man."

"I'll say it again, from today onwards, Mr. Lin Chen is a top-tier supplier for Yunhaige."

"Manager Tang."

"exist."

"I will immediately deposit 500,000 yuan into Mr. Lin's account as a token of my personal sincerity."

The top-tier supplier paid a deposit of 500,000 yuan on the spot.

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.

Five hundred thousand.

This money would allow him to build a nice house in Huangni Village, ensuring his parents would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives.

Before he could speak, a heavy breathing came from beside him.

It belongs to my father, Lin Jianguo.

At that moment, he was staring intently at Lin Chen's phone.

Ding--

【您储蓄卡帐户于12月15日14:32完成一笔转帐存入交易，金额：500，000.00元】

Lin Jianguo stared at the long string of numbers, his lips moved a few times, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Tears quickly welled up in her eyes.

One drop, two drops, fell to the ground.

He turned around and wiped his face haphazardly with the back of his hand.

The Lin family had been fishermen for generations, suffering and being bullied their entire lives.

He never dreamed that his family could actually turn things around thanks to his son.

Watching his father's trembling back, Lin Chen patted his shoulder, about to say something.

【Ding. 】

[Congratulations, host, on completing the epic mission: Deep Sea Beast.]

[Congratulations, host, for unlocking the rare achievement: Rising to Fame.]

[Mission Rating: Perfect.]

[Rewards being processed...]

[Reward received: 1000 system points.]

[Achievement Reward: Unlock Level 2 Access to the Shop.]

Current points: 1070.

One thousand points.

This is a huge sum of money.

He immediately opened the system store.

Two brand-new products were quietly displayed at the top of the shelf.

[Deep-Sea Water-Repelling Bead (Disposable Item): A wondrous artifact originating from ancient sea god rituals. When crushed, it forms a layer of ultra-micro-pressure fluid shield on the body surface, lasting for thirty minutes. During this time, the host can breathe freely underwater at any depth and is immune to all water pressure. Redemption Points: 500 points.]

[Intermediate Combat Proficiency (Passive Skill): Comprehensively enhances the host's neural reflexes, muscle explosiveness, and resilience, and instills numerous modern mixed martial arts techniques. Can easily handle an attack from five or more armed adult males. Exchange Points: 300.]

Deep-sea water-repellent beads.

This means that he will no longer be limited by any diving equipment and can explore those deep-sea forbidden zones that humans have never set foot in before.

The ancient shipwrecks mentioned in the system intelligence, as well as the treasures hidden in the deep trenches, now offer opportunities to explore.

And intermediate-level combat proficiency...

Although Zhang Tiejun was arrested, he had been entrenched in the town for many years and had complicated relationships.

No one can guarantee that there won't be desperate criminals causing trouble for themselves and their families.

This skill came at just the right time.

This is his trump card for survival and protecting his family.

Wealth, status, and power—he has them all in his hands today.