Qianyuan: My crew comes from the world of anime.

The surrounding behemoth crisis has not yet been resolved, the population loss at Chongshan Station, coupled with the ambiguous attitude of the Europa Alliance... all these factors make them hesitant to invest a large amount of capital.

Luo Tianming, however, remained completely calm and explained, "No problem. The stationmaster of Hongxing Station is my friend. The population there is close to a thousand. 200 kilograms is just a side dish for them in a day."

"They will definitely buy more in the future... Mushrooms can be stored for up to a year after being baked to remove moisture, and the Europa Alliance's food factory can also be converted to produce canned mushrooms... Now is the time to compete for the market. In the early stages, I will use low-price dumping to directly take over all the market share of Red Star Station, and then after monopolizing it, I will reprice it."

"...!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell into deep thought—indeed, Red Star Station was a station that was about to be designated as a colony. If Luo Tianming seized all the available space, it would be difficult for others to squeeze in.

At the same time, more people began to focus on other sites.

If one could secure a monopoly on sales for an entire site like Luo Tianming did, profits could be maximized very quickly.

Then, these people began to realize that the nature of the situation had gradually changed since Luo Tianming made his bold statement—it had become a commercial war, and whoever could seize the market first would have the power to set prices for the goods.

When they came to their senses... the harmonious discussion just moments before instantly transformed into ugly faces, with everyone starting to divide up territory and prepare to implement a monopoly.

A mushroom feast led to nearly 1800 kilograms of agricultural products being pre-ordered directly from Chongshan Station.

Chapter 79 The Secret Room

After the banquet, Luo Tianming and his crew boarded the Nautilus.

However, Luo Tianming, who has been busy with the impending pressure of facing a behemoth, began preparing for the next voyage's inspection as soon as he entered the submarine...

He didn't even notice that there was an inconspicuous entrance beneath the quietest part of the submarine's bridge.

Below is an irregular space that was overlooked in the structural design. It leads directly to the lower level and is next to the cargo hold. The interior is about 18 square meters and used to be a place to store miscellaneous items...

However, after three more women joined the submarine, the space gradually stopped being cluttered with miscellaneous items and began to be filled with various things that the women had collected bit by bit.

With a bed, wardrobe, refrigerator, and jacuzzi, this room already has the feel of a basic living room.

While Luo Tianming was dealing with personnel and social matters, they rearranged the room, bargained hard at the costume shop run by the clowns, and laid out blankets and warm wallpaper.

Just as they deliberately removed their communication devices, intending to keep the matter a secret and surprise Luo Tianming...

That clueless guy, after returning from the banquet, went straight into the workshop and started hand-crafting bullets, testing diving equipment, and troubleshooting malfunctions...

This made Levi and Lucy, who were excitedly preparing to show Luo Tianming their results, somewhat hesitant to disturb him.

"..."

"Pfft~ Ha!"

Levi took a big gulp of beer and wiped the foam off with the back of her hand, saying, "Alo, that guy... he's a complete workaholic. If he keeps himself on such high alert, he'll be tied up and needing medical treatment sooner or later."

Lucy grasped the top of the beer can with her slender fingers, taking small sips as she replied, "The captain has his reasons, doesn't he... Didn't the doctor say that he always seems to be hiding something from us, which is why he's under so much pressure sometimes?"

Revy: "At least he should have discussed it with us first. He didn't tell us anything and is about to face that monstrous beast again. This time, we might really die... Does he think he's the savior?!"

Lucy wholeheartedly agreed with Revy's complaint: "It's true, even heroes who save the world need to 'indulge' themselves occasionally."

"..."

For some reason, both Levi and Takemi felt that there was something more to Lucy's words. The seductive manner that had appeared out of nowhere, as well as the flush on her cheeks, had nothing to do with being drunk.

Takemi Myoji, who understood this deeply, knew that this was a young girl's expression of first love.

Although she, like Revy, couldn't figure out the girl's thought process, at least Lucy had stopped pretending about her pursuit of Luo Tianming.

During the dinner party, in front of so many people, they tried to feed him with a fork...

When she returned, she slipped her hand through Luo Tianming's arm in front of everyone, just like a bride...

In front of Levi, she asked Luo Tianming if he had any free time and if they could go shopping together...

These things are like dancing ballet on Levi's minefield; I really don't know how far she intends to provoke that guy.

That slow-witted guy is like an old piece of wood.

He probably wouldn't open his mouth unless the meat was roasted and seasoned right in front of him.

Is this what science students are like...?

Wu Jianmiao shook her head, and only when her name was suddenly called from the side did she notice:

"Doctor, what do you think of this?"

Levi took a pair of cat ears and forcefully stuffed them onto Lucy's head... They fit perfectly, making one want to put a collar around her neck.

Of course, this is assuming we ignore Lucy's already grinning face.

She swatted away Revy's hand that was pressing on her head as if she were breathing on it: "Don't do this kind of thing. Didn't I tell you when we were choosing clothes that I'm not suited for this cute style!"

Takemi: "..."

Previously, when they were buying clothes, the three of them bought a lot of clothes at the costume store, including some things that they didn't even know what they meant.

For example, these cat ears and tails... At the time, all three of them said that these things were definitely not suitable for them, but now, after searching around, they found two sets of cat ear outfits, one black and one white.

Meanwhile, Lucy was holding a bunny girl outfit...

Just as Wu Jianmiao was about to rummage through the contents to see what else was inside, her fingers seemed to touch something like a rope.

"?"

She lifted the 'rope' and found there was more than one—when the whole thing was exposed to the air, Levi let out a teasing whistle.

"~?"

A bikini made almost entirely of ropes and sequins was being lifted up by Takemi Myo.

No, this is not a bikini.

Miaomiao thought to herself, "What a joke! What's the difference between wearing this and not wearing anything? It's just a rope. Would anyone actually wear something like this?"

Levi, however, teased with a roguish grin, "So our doctor likes this kind of thing? There are still quite a few pearls in the warehouse, how about we get some to make a swimsuit? Haha..."

As she spoke, she gestured to the other two: it was the kind of style that exposed all the vital parts... supposedly, prostitutes in Roanapur dressed like that.

Lucy, standing nearby, relentlessly chimed in, "No wonder she's a doctor, a woman who masturbates for a whole page and a half of the medical records..."

“…That’s enough!” Wu Jianmiao blushed, embarrassed by the teasing. “I didn’t take this at all! Someone must have smuggled it in.”

Revy: "So what? You've already been seen naked by that guy Alo, haven't you? What's wrong with wearing clothes like this?"

Wu Jianmiao: "That's not allowed! That's not allowed either..."

She hesitated for a long time, but never uttered the words of 'fawning' at the man.

Miaomiao glanced at Lucy over there. There was someone here who really wanted to wag her tail... The set of white cat ears that had just been stuffed into Lucy's ears had mysteriously disappeared.

She glanced at the black rope bikini in her hand... and secretly clenched it in her palm: "And what about you guys... are you planning to wear that bunny girl outfit to the captain again, Levi?"

Revy was touched on a sensitive spot, and her face flushed slightly as she said:

"Stop nagging... What I wear is none of your business!"

After her last exploration outside the ship with Luo Tianming, the girl finally stopped hiding her feelings.

Lucy, however, coolly crossed her arms and said, "It's no big deal, as long as it makes 'him' happy."

"..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she attracted the attention of the other two people.

Then—Levy and Takemi exchanged a glance: 'What's wrong with this girl?'

Despite being the 'last' to arrive, she seemed more eager than anyone else to make progress in her relationship with Luo Tianming.

Levi and Wu Jianmiao do have something in common: they both like Luo Tianming to some extent.

But Lucy was different; they didn't feel that kind of affection, it was more like pure desire...

After Lucy recounted this, she calmly took a puff of her cigarette and replied:

"What's wrong? Is it not allowed? If I'm really going to die this time, I plan to indulge myself before I die. If I die without ever experiencing the pleasures of a woman, my soul won't be able to go to heaven."

Levi: "Why does it have to be that guy, Alo..."

Lucy: "Because I don't hate them. This has already been explained clearly, right? I hate those crazy people, childish people, and unkempt guys. The captain is more in line with my aesthetic."

Levi: "Then..."

She interrupted, "Are you saying that kind of man is everywhere? Levi, open your eyes and look around. There are no such people around here... This isn't Earth. These people born on Europa have almost been poisoned by this narrow world."

"It's already quite rare to have a captain who is a fairly normal person and someone we can talk to..." she said, then realized what she meant.

"No, judging from the captain's age, he should also have been born on Jupiter, so how could he..."

Seeing that she seemed to have fallen into doubt, Takemi asked, "Didn't you ever think that the captain might refuse you?"

“Impossible!” Lucy’s eyes showed no doubt. “In fact, I’m very close to succeeding recently.”

"?"

"I named it [Operation Paralyzing the Nerves]."

Chapter 80 Returning to Red Star Station

After inspecting the ship's malfunctions, Luo Tianming instructed the porters to load 200 kilograms of mushrooms onto the ship, and the Nautilus headed straight for Red Star Station without stopping.

At this moment, they were truly racing against time to decay.

"..."

Luo Tianming, who was focused intently on steering the boat, had been on edge for several hours... While sailing in this sea area, he was constantly on guard against any giant beast that might appear at any moment.

It has been a week and a half since it last disappeared, and no one can be sure whether that thing will suddenly attack again.

After all, the damage inflicted on it last time was very serious, so the 'Scarlet Queen' should be very hungry right now.

He forced himself to suppress several yawns along the way.

Just as his eyelids were about to stick together, a voice suddenly echoed twice, less than ten centimeters from his ear:

"Captain, would you like some chewing gum?"

"?"

Luo Tianming was startled by the sound. Lucy, who should have been in the power room, suddenly appeared behind his seat, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, gently turned his head, and pressed her fingers softly on his temples.

At the same time, the helm left his hand and began 'autopilot'—in fact, Lucy had hacked into the control system and was now taking over the submarine's control.

She split her prosthetic brain region in two, one part responsible for hacking into the control system to control the ship, and the other part responsible for giving him massages.

As Luo Tianming enjoyed the soothing massage, he still asked her, "Is the work in the power room finished?"

Lucy: "Well, that's enough for now. We'll keep this pace from now on... I'll go over when we get on the tower radio."

"Instead of that, Captain... open your mouth~ ah~"

She held a small piece of chewing gum between her fingers and slowly brought it closer—it seemed she wanted to feed it to him.

"..."

For some reason, Luo Tianming felt that he had been being fed a bit too frequently lately... Lucy would even sometimes stuff half-smoked cigarettes into his mouth.

While feeding him chewing gum, Lucy inadvertently inserted her finger into Luo Tianming's mouth, letting his lips feel the cool touch of her finger.

Levi: "Tsk!"

Lately, every time Lucy interacts with Luo Tianming, strange noises come from the weapon control area, and Revy is almost turning into a speechless machine.

"..."

Fortunately, they soon reached the radio coverage area of ​​the Red Star Station tower.

Tower:

"This is the control tower. Radio serial number detected... Nautilus. Hello... Please report your arrival intentions."

Luo Tianming: "..."

It seems they've changed operators this time; their sudden departure last time should have made the league more cautious.

However, he was not nervous and answered very calmly:

"Tower, this is the Nautilus. We've brought some gifts."

"?"

"..."

As the Nautilus's airlock opened, the soldiers who had been waiting there, their tongues tasting the beer, couldn't help but become addicted to it.

Today, besides beer, Luo Tianming brought something else: mushrooms.