Chapter 267: Chapter 260: Da Yu’s Treasure Vault

"Elder Zhou, the treasury terminal to be given to Shi Ming is all set. His A-level access has been defined, and 11,000 points have been credited to the account. If you confirm there are no issues, we will present it to him, along with the Sea-Rising Cherry Root, at the upcoming victory celebration."

"A-level access..."

The treasury terminal was different for every user.

The treasures available for redemption depended on one’s access level. In a way, Da Yu’s reserves were the most profound among the six giant King-level Wandering Ships. Even with the outermost D-level access, one could redeem a considerable number of rare items. Any treasure acquired from the vault could be taken to the external trading seas or the secondary market and easily sold for double its price.

For an Awakened who wasn’t one of Da Yu’s core members, A-level access was the highest possible honor.

"Put the seed that was excavated from Mount Everest in the vault. Set the price at 30,000 points—no, 20,000 points."

Huh?

Hearing this, the forty-something assistant’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His pupils constricted, and for a moment, he was in utter disbelief.

"Elder Zhou? Are you sure?"

That was a top-secret material!

Fewer than twenty people on the entire King-level Wandering Ship even knew of its existence. Its true value was immeasurable by points. To the ignorant, it was worthless, but to those in the know, it was a priceless treasure.

It was no exaggeration to say that if the "Doctor" from the Lighthouse Sanctuary Research Institute learned of this item, he would defect from the Lighthouse and do everything in his power to get a chance to study it!

Something so rare!

’Just like that, you’re giving it to a young man in his twenties?’

’Could Elder Zhou be muddled from overwork!?’

As an assistant, it was his duty to offer a reminder.

Before he could speak, Elder Zhou added:

"This was the result of the Jiuzhou Platform’s deliberation. Of course, I’m the one who set the price at 20,000 points—a price he can’t afford right now. As for his other permissions, set them to A+ level, and keep me updated on any items he redeems. Also, the victory banquet is set for nine o’clock tonight. Remind me half an hour beforehand. I will attend personally."

The 20,000-point price was perfectly calibrated.

It was a price he couldn’t afford at the moment, but not one that was truly out of reach.

It was like he was 50% of the way there; with just a little more effort, he could grasp it. This gave him plenty of motivation. However, if he failed to recognize the item’s true value, all this careful planning would be for naught.

"Understood, Elder Zhou."

Since it was confirmed to be a decision from the Jiuzhou Platform, there was surely a good reason for it. The assistant withdrew and began personally modifying the treasury terminal’s access permissions.

...

...

...

Out on the ocean, the Da Yun approached from afar. Soon, it and the Moon Shadow, piloted by Shi Ming, were within sight of each other.

Shi Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, someone else could take the helm. He could relax now instead of having to personally operate this unauthorized wandering ship. The two S-class battles had been mentally and physically draining. He’d then spent all night at the helm with no chance to rest. And while he’d had a brief, intimate session with the Canglang Water, the exhaustion was still unavoidable.

"Da Hang, Shunliu, you two take turns at the helm."

"Your movements are restricted to the deck and the control room. Do not enter any other areas."

"Yes, sir."

The situation inside the enemy ship was still unclear. Most of its systems were offline, but they still needed to be vigilant. The Snow Country was a secretive organization with a strict internal hierarchy. A base of operations like this would surely have many hidden areas. If they accidentally stumbled into a restricted zone without authorization, they could trigger a defense mechanism and suffer unnecessary casualties.

As for Shi Ming, he naturally took this opportunity to get some rest. Once they reached Da Yu, he was bound to enter another busy period.

He now had time to read and deal with some messages he hadn’t had a chance to reply to.

First was a "report" from [Let There Be Light]:

[Lighthouse: Received a distress call from the Snow Country’s leader, Catherine. She lost her ship, the Moon’s Shadow, in the Sea of Soaring Dragons, and was then attacked by Katyusha’s War Bears in the Endless Ice Sea. She is currently piloting the Gold-level wandering ship "Snow Maiden" with the remnants of her forces, heading to the Columbia Sea to seek aid. Shenqu can act on Lighthouse’s behalf for now, verbally promising to help her reclaim the Moon’s Shadow.]

[Shenqu: Understood.]

[Lighthouse: The Lighthouse is not a charity. Everything follows the principle of equivalent exchange.]

[Shenqu: Yes.]

’So after the Empress fled the Sea of Soaring Dragons, she was ambushed by the War Bears? And now she’s run to the Lighthouse? She wants to use their power to take back the Moon Shadow?’

’Too bad the Lighthouse can’t help you.’

Setting aside whether a verbal promise was effective or what the price of "equivalent exchange" would be, Shi Ming put himself in Trellin’s shoes. Trellin was surely up to some quiet mischief right now. Until he achieved some initial results with the Great Black Heaven Dragon, he would definitely stay quiet in the Fujing Mountain Sea Region and avoid making any big waves.

Especially with Da Yu watching him menacingly from the north.

’Take back the Moon Shadow?’

’The ship is in my hands now, and you think you can take it back?’

Before long, after I’ve unraveled this ship’s secrets and explored its full value, the Moon Shadow will be broken down into various reusable parts and scattered across the seas. The Sailing Star will also become a stepping stone for the Da Yun or the She Ri to ascend to King-level, fulfilling its ultimate purpose.

Putting away the [Let There Be Light] communicator, Shi Ming looked at his other devices.

There were messages on several of them.

’Is today some kind of special day?’

[Nailu Ye: Boss, it’s been months. Really miss you. The Sakura hasn’t received a single order in all this time. Have you perhaps forgotten there’s still a wandering ship out here, drifting on the lonely sea with nowhere to go?]

???

’The Black Society is sunk, so now you’ve got no purpose, is that it? Isn’t there still the Renhuang waiting for you to get revenge on?’

Shi Ming directly ignored Nailu Ye’s message.

[Shentu Kuo: Brother Shi Ming, the canoe you once entrusted to my care was inadvertently seen by Dr. Chongwen of the Xirang Research Institute. As this wandering ship is remarkably similar to an old possession of the doctor’s elder brother, seeing it brought back memories. He hopes to meet with you privately. I know this is quite sudden and I am aware of my forwardness. If I have disturbed you, please forgive the intrusion; I will be sure to apologize in person.]

’So the hook I left to get closer to Xirang has finally been taken?’

Unsurprisingly, the next message was a letter from Dr. Chongwen.

He first congratulated Shi Ming and Rong Bing on their great victory in the campaign, then seamlessly transitioned to the matter of the canoe.

In the letter, Chongwen stated that when he saw the canoe, which looked identical to the Gold-level wandering ship Number 360, the *Tun Nan*, memories of the past came flooding back.

Times had changed, and more than twenty years had passed. Xirang had long since given up on recovering that wandering ship. No matter who it had fallen into the hands of, they would respect the current owner’s legal right of succession.

But Chongwen had never stopped thinking of his brother, Dr. Shangwu, who had never returned from the expedition against Xuanwu. If Shi Ming had ever seen the canoe’s original model, or had any clues about Dr. Shangwu, he hoped Shi Ming would not hesitate to share them.

If possible, he also hoped they could meet in private.