TYMIMA Chapter 94

After another full day of sailing, the cruise ship finally entered Tasman territory.

 

This was an area surrounded by several famous ocean trenches. The trenches were plagued by continuous storms, raging winds, and waves that often rose dozens of meters high, swallowing many visiting fishing boats.

 

Tasman, however, was a realm of azure blue and tranquility. There were few storms here, abundant resources, ample sunlight, a huge coral reef island, and rare shoal groups.

 

It was now afternoon. The shoals were only about a meter below the sea surface, so through the seawater, one could clearly see the colorful corals, strange seaweed, and various fish species.

 

The cruise ship deliberately stopped to allow VIP guests who had paid high fees to visit the shoals.

 

Most tourists lay on the deck, enviously watching those wealthy people take small boats to the shoal groups, then jump off the boats with Tasman people’s help, stand on the fine shoal sand in the middle of the sparkling seawater, and have their life moments recorded by cameras.

 

In the coral clusters, a glass squid nimbly emerged from a hole, avoiding small fish and shrimp, stirring up the raised sand, and silently disappeared into the deep sea, heading toward the cruise ship.

 

Chen Shun’an was collecting wine glasses left by tourists on tables. He stacked the glasses one by one, then picked up the bottom tray and held it in his arms.

 

The glasses were quite heavy, and the afternoon sun was too dazzling. He swayed back and forth holding the glasses, looking like he was about to fall, when suddenly a hand reached over to help him steady the glasses.

 

“Oh my, Old Chen, can you really hold so many at once?”

 

Chen Shun’an turned to look—it was the round-faced chef.

 

He showed a kind smile and carefully set down the glasses, taking only half: “How did you get to the deck? No work in the kitchen?”

 

The round-faced chef’s eyes darted around as he said casually: “Ah, the lunch rush just ended. I came out for a stroll.”

 

Chen Shun’an: “What a coincidence.”

 

Round-face looked him over and smiled deeply: “Yeah, I think it’s quite a coincidence too.”

 

Chen Shun’an walked toward the washing room holding the glasses while asking: “What about that guy? Didn’t he come out for a stroll with you?”

 

“Oh him? He’s got something to do.” Round-face absent-mindedly glanced at the sea surface.

 

Chen Shun’an carefully watched his expression changes and noticed that in just one minute, he had looked at the sea surface five or six times, and not toward the shoals but at the boarding entrance.

 

Chen Shun’an frowned slightly.

 

However, just as he was carrying the glasses near the hall area, 【Magnetic Field Sensing】 suddenly activated. He breathed in a unique fishy scent from the deep sea—the smell of prey that attracted sea turtles to chase.

 

Chen Shun’an instantly stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening immediately.

 

The round-faced chef was startled and quickly withdrew his gaze, looking at Chen Shun’an warily: “Old Chen, what’s wrong?”

 

Chen Shun’an knew that Li Bang had now boarded the ship, but he hadn’t seen the Tasman guard lined up in welcome, nor any unusual activity at the boarding entrance.

 

Li Bang had indeed come invisibly!

 

He couldn’t determine where Li Bang was now or what he planned to eavesdrop on with this ability.

 

But he had to immediately notify Ghost Eye and High Tower Guilds to let them prepare.

 

With this thought, Chen Shun’an set down all the glasses and suddenly covered his stomach with his hand, frowning and sucking in cold air: “Hiss, my stomach suddenly hurts a bit. I need to use the restroom.”

 

“Hey!” Round-face instinctively wanted to stop him, but Chen Shun’an’s reason was very reasonable, so he still swallowed back his words of obstruction.

 

On the entire Manxing Sea, only a few people knew that Li Bang would board the ship early, including these two.

 

The bearded chef had gone to welcome Li Bang.

 

But calling it a welcome was really just preparing a table of Li Bang’s favorite food to be sent to the suite in advance.

 

After all, Li Bang didn’t allow anyone to make a fuss.

 

Today the ship had deliberately organized this shoal excursion to create an opportunity for Li Bang to board silently.

 

Because even marine life Awakened ones couldn’t compete with the cruise ship’s massive turbines.

 

During the cruise ship’s operation, the seawater on both sides would create enormous suction. Once creatures got close, they would be quickly sucked into the turbines and ground into pieces.

 

So for Li Bang to board, he had to wait for the cruise ship to stop and shut down the turbines.

 

The round-faced chef looked toward the boarding entrance once again.

 

He wasn’t sure if Captain Li Bang had already boarded, but he was very envious. If he also had such a useful ability, perhaps he wouldn’t have been assigned to monitor a worthless old man.

 

Chen Shun’an escaped from the round-faced chef and hurried downstairs.

 

He returned to the staff interior cabin, quickly pulled out a black shirt to put on, then hurried to the elevator area and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.

 

As expected, just as the elevator doors were about to close, the two obvious spies sent by Selarl followed in, standing on his left and right.

 

The elevator climbed floor by floor. Chen Shun’an glanced sideways, his heart pounding wildly, sweat beading in his palms.

 

At the same time, a transparent figure dropped down from the pool level, climbing along the white railings on both sides of the cruise ship and leaping onto the fifteenth floor.

 

The deck, originally dried white by the sun, was left with a circle of shallow water stains.

 

Li Bang had just come out of the freezer where Gudeshao’s body was stored.

 

He had examined the corpse, already frozen gray-white and blue, turning it over and over, his gaze falling on the charred scar on Gudeshao’s back.

 

Although surveillance couldn’t record any invisible abilities, the wound on Gudeshao’s back was web-shaped, red and swollen, clearly caused by lightning strikes.

 

Now he just needed to know who could manipulate lightning to identify one of Gudeshao’s killers.

 

Li Bang straightened the black round hat on his head, revealing a sinister smile.

 

From his brow bone to his nose bridge, there was a hideous scar.

 

That was from when he was young and foolish, using his ability to peep at female omegas bathing, and was accidentally cut by someone with a blade.

 

He was only seventeen that year and couldn’t control his 【Invisibility】 ability well. When his body became too excited, he would reveal his true form, but that female omega happened to be a B-level mantis-form Awakened one.

 

In nature, female mantises could eat male mantises when lacking energy—this was common behavior among insect populations. Due to this special awakened attribute, this female omega could suppress male alpha Awakened ones beyond her level.

 

Although Li Bang was S-level, his ability’s attack attribute wasn’t strong, so he was cut and fled in embarrassment.

 

Then he was imprisoned by the king in an underwater prison for a whole year.

 

After his release, when he wanted to use his S-level ability to secure a good future, he found himself discriminated against.

 

According to laws set by the king, he wasn’t allowed to enter any official institutions of the Tasman Pirate Nation, could never board Tasman’s mothership for life, couldn’t engage in special professions like teacher, journalist, or priest, and couldn’t hide his criminal record when marrying Tasman omegas.

 

Just because of mistakes made in youthful recklessness, even after paying a painful price, his life was still ruined.

 

He angrily believed this was all because the king was an omega himself, which was why he was so harsh on people like him.

 

Sure enough, when the king disappeared and Selarl became Tasman’s ruler, he was quickly promoted.

 

During this year, he had helped Selarl eliminate many rational faction opponents, including the most troublesome Chen Mingbi.

 

Then he naturally succeeded Selarl and became the captain of Tasman Royal Palace’s guard.

 

The first thing Li Bang did upon becoming guard captain was to eliminate the female omega who had destroyed his life years ago.

 

This female omega had always lived in boat houses. She was a Tasman child but had awakened as an insect-type.

 

So Li Bang dragged her into the sea and drowned her alive in the seawater.

 

When Selarl learned of this, he only gave him a hard slap, warned him not to challenge the king’s laws, to recognize his position, then covered up the matter for him.

 

Li Bang accepted that slap, smiled and admitted his mistake, and voluntarily handed over three months’ salary.

 

He knew Selarl wouldn’t abandon him for an omega who didn’t belong to the ocean.

 

Selarl was different from the heartless king.

 

Li Bang habitually touched the scar on his face.

 

Since getting this scar, he liked being invisible even more. This scar was like a brand left by that past on his body, making him forever endure others’ strange looks.

 

Just as he was thinking, a door not far away opened.

 

The person opening the door was an omega with reddish-brown hair, fair skin, and delicate features, especially those eyes—clear with cunning, extremely alluring.

 

Li Bang was very familiar with the person waiting at the door. This person had a serious expression, elegant appearance, and every gesture seemed molded by upper-class society templates, revealing elite aura in every way.

 

This person was Ghost Eye Guild’s personnel director, Zhan Qinghe’s capable subordinate—Adrian.

 

Li Bang’s first target for investigation was Ghost Eye Guild.

 

For no other reason than Ghost Eye Guild possessed the largest reserves of red parrot crystal ore. In this bidding, they were determined to win, so when Gudeshao claimed he didn’t plan to cooperate with top guilds, their retaliation would definitely be the strongest.

 

Li Bang certainly knew Ghost Eye Guild’s power. Zhan Qinghe controlled millions of square kilometers of land and over twenty S-level underground cities, no different from a regional overlord.

 

However, this was at sea.

 

No matter how powerful these Awakened ones were on land, once they fell into water, they became lambs for slaughter.

 

So Li Bang wasn’t afraid.

 

Taking advantage of his thin build, he squeezed into the room through gaps.

 

He saw Adrian and that omega sitting facing each other in the room, with two cups of coffee on the table, and a muscular omega sitting on the bed listening.

 

Lance spoke: “Director, my boyfriend just told me that High Tower finished nearly a day ahead of us.”

 

Adrian frowned slightly. He first picked up his coffee for a sip, then asked puzzledly: “How were they so fast?”

 

Lance smiled: “I don’t know. Maybe those guilds happened to be easy to talk to.”

 

Adrian’s arm hung in mid-air as he looked down thoughtfully, seriously replying: “Possible, but we can’t comfort ourselves. We should also learn from opponents and improve efficiency.”

 

Lance smiled without speaking.

 

These few short sentences made Li Bang’s eyes flash with excited, greedy light.

 

High Tower, ahead of schedule, those guilds, improve efficiency.

 

He keenly caught these keywords, realizing that yesterday before his arrival, Ghost Eye and High Tower had taken some actions.

 

What could it be?

 

Adrian seemed to think of something. He leaned forward to put down his coffee and moved his lips: “Also—”

 

Li Bang quickly moved closer, turning his ear toward Adrian, wanting to eavesdrop on more secrets.

 

However, just then, the room door was suddenly banged loudly.

 

The knocking was chaotic and urgent, making Adrian immediately fall silent.

 

Li Bang’s face instantly darkened as he stared sinisterly at the door.

 

“I’ll get it.” Wu Peng jumped off the bed to open the door.

 

As soon as the door opened, it revealed Chen Shun’an’s aged, gaunt face.

 

Chen Shun’an had sweat on his forehead, hunched back, and uneven breathing.

 

He tugged at his black shirt collar as if to cool down, then smiled at Adrian: “Hello, customer. I found the VIP free drink voucher you dropped in the restaurant yesterday. I was busy with work yesterday and just remembered to bring it to you now.”

 

With that, Chen Shun’an handed Wu Peng two drink vouchers with room numbers written on them.

 

Wu Peng took them and turned to look at Adrian.

 

Adrian’s gaze remained fixed on Chen Shun’an’s black shirt. He nodded and said slowly: “Thank you, old man.”

 

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.” Chen Shun’an waved his hand, lowering his eyes as he helped close the door.

 

Back in the room, Adrian looked at the empty coffee cup without immediately continuing their previous conversation.

 

Lance wasn’t in a hurry either. He smiled and dropped two sugar cubes into his coffee, stirring carefully.

 

Li Bang was getting somewhat impatient waiting on the side.

 

He was about to hear the key point when that damn old man interrupted, and Adrian seemed to be a slow type who wasn’t in a hurry after just opening a door.

 

At this moment, Adrian suddenly asked Lance: “Can you speak Hick?”

 

This was a language from the southern Federation, mostly circulated among merchants. Since the south had a developed economy and a thriving crystal ore market, cities in the west and north would deliberately learn Hick to open this trade route.

 

Lance stopped stirring his coffee, looked up, and met Adrian’s gaze: “I have some knowledge of it.”

 

After all, Harbor Tan City belonged to the southern Federation. When he was young, Lan Wendao often spoke Hick when doing business. Lance had been influenced by what he heard and saw—he couldn’t write it, but could speak it.

 

Adrian: “What about Astanfa?”

 

This was an encrypted academic language created by the Red Suo Ability Research Institute, mostly used in scientific research circles.

 

Lance nodded: “Quite familiar with it.”

 

Adrian: “Capital City Restricted Zone Official Language?”

 

This was a language created by high society to distinguish themselves from ordinary classes. Adrian had been forced to learn it by Howard.

 

Lance: “I browsed the Duolingo app[mfn]this green bird is everywhere!![/mfn] when I had nothing to do and passed the Official Language Professional Level 8.”

 

Adrian said with satisfaction: “Worthy of being first in your grade. Let me test you.”

 

Lance understood and smiled back: “I couldn’t ask for more.”

 

Li Bang: “???” What the hell, you academic overachievers are sick!

 

##

---

 

 (advanced chapters available on kofi)