94: Chapter 94 The strong never reason.

"How about... you go and beg the Captain?"

Chu Mengyao asked tentatively as she looked at Sa Wanwan's conflicted expression.

Hearing this, Sa Wanwan snapped her head up, biting her lip hard without saying a word.

Beg that man?

The man who had treated her with an attitude of complete indifference from beginning to end?

She couldn't do it.

"What are you still thinking about?" Chu Mengyao looked at her, somewhat frustrated by her lack of resolve. "Do you think that little bit of pride of yours is worth anything in this world?"

"Back then, I was just like you, thinking I was a favored daughter of heaven, thinking everyone should revolve around me.

But what was the result? If it weren't for the Captain's kindness, I would have starved to death in the cabin long ago!"

Chu Mengyao's tone became somewhat agitated.

"You have to do something for the team, right?

You can't just give nothing and feel entitled to let Brother Captain support you, can you? Why should he?"

"He respects your choice, lets you be self-reliant, and even gave you a place to stay—that is already immense mercy! What more do you want?"

"He isn't targeting you; he's just using the most direct way to tell you the rules of this world—the strong never listen to reason from the weak!"

This string of words pierced deep into Sa Wanwan's heart.

She was left speechless, her face turning pale and then flushed with shame.

Indeed...

What right did she have?

By virtue of having read a few useless books?

Or by virtue of those survival skills that were so fragile in the face of absolute power?

In this team, she was currently the most useless one.

Sa Wanwan sighed helplessly.

Her usually heroic appearance now looked full of loneliness and helplessness.

She felt like a defeated rooster, all her pride and confidence crushed to dust by reality.

It seemed she had no choice but to bow her head to that man and submit to him.

"Think about it carefully yourself."

Seeing that she seemed touched, Chu Mengyao didn't say more.

"I can only remind you that if you go soften your stance with the Captain now, there's still time. If you wait for Sister Mei to personally come 'persuade' you..."

"The vibe will be completely different."

After saying that, Chu Mengyao turned and left the deck, leaving Sa Wanwan alone to continue being buffeted by the cool sea breeze.

Sa Wanwan looked at the pale blue energy shield that blocked out the cold wind; from the inside looking out, it was completely transparent, offering an unobstructed view of the seascape.

But from the outside looking in, nothing could be seen clearly.

Just like her current mood—confused and unable to see the path ahead.

After an unknown amount of time, she seemed to have finally made a decision.

She turned around, took a step, and walked toward the cabin.

...

The next morning.

When the first ray of sunlight spilled into the room through the giant floor-to-ceiling window, Li Taiping opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

He stretched, feeling his entire body filled with inexhaustible power.

Last night's experience left him with a lingering aftertaste.

Lin Shishi was simply a natural enchantress.

That figure, those looks, and that coy charm of resisting while yielding were perfectly suited to every man's heart.

He turned his head and glanced beside him.

The girl was still fast asleep, with a few crystalline teardrops still hanging on her long eyelashes, looking so pitiful that one couldn't help but want to bully her again.

Li Taiping could clearly feel that the life aura within her body had undergone an earth-shaking change.

She had jumped from a weak ordinary person to a transcendent at the peak of good grade.

This was naturally thanks to the unlimited supply of [ice crystal fruit] and [Frost Fruit] from the treasure basin.

Last night, shortly after they started, Lin Shishi was crying and shouting about the pain, feeling like she was about to faint.

Only then did Li Taiping remember he had these good things in his warehouse.

So, he took a few fruits and fed them to her.

As a result, Lin Shishi's constitution received an epic grade enhancement instantly.

And then... she suffered even more.

A battle that might have ended within an hour lasted through the entire night.

...

...

...

Pulling his thoughts back, Li Taiping smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly.

He opened the system panel.

[Talent: God-tier Forging]

[Quality: Excellent (Growth-type)]

[Effect 1: You have obtained miraculous forging abilities. Every day, you can randomly obtain one free item production blueprint of any grade from 'normal grade' to 'Excellent Grade' and of any type.]

[Effect 2: You have a tiny 1% probability of extracting a special quality blueprint with no grade. (Note: For the first extraction, the probability is increased to 100%!)]

[Effect 3: You possess extremely high creative ability in equipment forging and an unparalleled creative Talent.]

[Evaluation: You are a natural god of blacksmiths; even if a piece of scrap iron is given to you, you can hammer it into a divine artifact!]

"Holy crap!"

Seeing the description of this Talent, Li Taiping's eyes instantly widened.

God-tier Forging!

This Talent was practically tailor-made for him!

The metal-styled forging room on his ship that had just been upgraded could finally be put to use!

One random blueprint every day, up to Excellent Grade!

This meant that with good luck, he could even get production blueprints for Excellent Grade equipment for free!

More importantly, the first extraction had a 100% probability of obtaining a special quality blueprint with no grade!

Special quality!

These two words instantly made Li Taiping's heart skip a beat.

According to the rules of this world, special items with no grade often possessed unconventional and extremely heaven-defying special effects!

"I've hit the jackpot! This time I've really hit the jackpot!"

Li Taiping forcibly suppressed the wild joy in his heart and, without any hesitation, immediately used today's blueprint extraction opportunity.

[Extracting blueprint...]

[Congratulations! You have triggered the first-time guaranteed effect; you have obtained a special quality blueprint!]

With a flash of light, an ancient golden scroll appeared out of thin air in his hand.

Li Taiping took a deep breath and slowly unfurled the scroll.

[subordinate covenant production scroll]

[Type: Special Item Blueprint]

[Effect: By referring to this scroll, you can produce a 'Subordinate Covenant'. After signing the covenant, the signer will become your subordinate; you are the master, and they are the servant.]

[Feature 1: Master-Servant Link. You can check the real-time location and basic status of all subordinate members anytime, anywhere.]

[Feature 2: Loyalty Visualization. The loyalty level of all subordinate members toward you will be presented before your eyes as a specific numerical value (0-100).]

[Feature 3: Absolute Control. When a subordinate member's loyalty falls below 60 (Warning Line), you will receive an alert. When loyalty falls below 30 (Betrayal Line), you can decide their life or death with just a single thought.]

[Evaluation: Go forth and build a maritime fleet that belongs only to you and is absolutely loyal to you! Let them conquer this sea for you!]

[Production Materials: Spirit Crystal x1, Parchment x1, Magic Ink x1.]

"Good stuff! This is a true strategic-level item!"

Looking at the description on the scroll, Li Taiping was so excited he almost jumped off the bed.

The effects of this [Subordinate Covenant] were domineering to the extreme!

Loyalty visualization!

Deciding life and death with a thought!

Wasn't this the legendary "Slave Contract"?

With this thing, the grand plan he had in mind last night to form a "Worker Legion" would no longer have any lingering concerns!

He could confidently hand over resources and tasks to those Survivor who had signed the covenant without worrying about them betraying him or being outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant.

Because everything about them would be under his control!

What made Li Taiping even more ecstatic was that he already had all the materials needed to produce this [Subordinate Covenant]!

Spirit Crystals, Parchment, Magic Ink...

He had already opened a large pile of these things from treasure chests before, and the quantities all exceeded thirty-six!

This meant...

He could mass-produce them!

As long as he wanted, he could produce thousands of [Subordinate Covenants] and turn the Survivor of the entire world into his loyal "workers"!

When the time came, by relying on this absolutely loyal and massive legion, the power of the whole world would serve him alone, collecting all kinds of rare materials and information for him...

To what terrifying degree would his development speed reach?

He even had the confidence to tear away the mysterious veil shrouding this world in the shortest time and peer into the ultimate secret!

Li Taiping felt the blood in his entire body burning with excitement.

Lin Shishi was simply his lucky star!

...