"I want all of you to mine these crystals," Ace told the weaker rankers.
They'd given up on chasing strength and had focused on keeping the safe zone tidy, but now Ace had real work for them.
"Is it safe?" one asked.
"Yeah. Tava'Az is unlikely to show. Stick together, don't dive too deep, and bail if anything feels off. Simple."
"Mining underwater's rough. We can't breathe, Don Capo."
"Got you covered," Ace said, pulling a black seashell from his pocket.
The shell was dry, black, and leathery—like Black Umi hide. The weaker rankers flinched at the memory while the rest leaned in for a better look.
"This lets you breathe underwater for thirty minutes, then needs five to reset," Ace explained.
In my first life rankers used these shells to raid the Crimson Shrine. The five‑minute cooldown killed plenty, but my people will stay shallow and safe. I can buy more in Heaven Village—rankers sell everything.
