OPTC Chapter 178: A Newcomer
"Hard to port! Hard to port!"
Artoria quickly spun the wheel according to Shark Chili's order. In truth, she could handle steering the ship entirely on her own instincts. With her riding skill, her level of control surpassed nearly every helmsman in this world.
"Reef the sails! Pull them in!"
Rui Meng Meng loosed the ropes holding down the yard and cranked the winch with all her strength. The canvas folded upward under the pull of the lines. Zhang Da Ye and Tom had already climbed the mast to tie down the bundled sail.
A sudden gust hit. Tom was blown off balance and smacked straight into Zhang Da Ye's face, clinging to his head with all four paws, refusing to let go.
"Uuugh—! I can't breathe!" Zhang Da Ye nearly suffocated. When he finally tore Tom off, the sound was like ripping duct tape, and for a moment he wondered if half his face had come off too.
Then a massive wave, higher than the mast itself, surged from the side as if it meant to swallow the entire ship.
"Big wave coming! Turn the rudder! Everyone hold on tight!" Shark Chili shouted, his voice rushed and unclear. He hadn't even said which direction to turn or how much.
That was the weakness of a rookie navigator. He wasn't worried about himself, but the lives of his companions and the fate of the ship weighed heavily on him.
Luckily, their helmsman was Artoria. Even in this situation, she showed no panic. She spun the wheel decisively, angling the ship just right.
The storm winds whipped her hair, the rain lashed against her face and body. Water streamed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. Her thin raincoat was useless now, the white shirt and blue skirt beneath soaked through and snapping in the gale.
Against the backdrop of towering waves, her figure looked small—but she stood unshaken at the bow, as if no wave could ever overturn the ship as long as she was there.
There's a reason some people are born to be kings.
Artoria guided them out of danger—and at the same time gave everyone on board the thrill of riding a storm like a surfboard.
Of course, that thrill wasn't pleasant. The violent shifts in speed and direction had Rui Meng Meng and Shark Chili staggering.
Zhang Da Ye and Tom were thrown from the mast altogether. Fortunately, Zhang wasn't the same as before—he twisted midair and landed safely, using a move he'd copied from Tom: the Cat's Landing.
The only problem was the awkward pose—on all fours.
Tom, the real cat, didn't actually know how to land like a cat. He flailed his paws a few times, panicked, then smacked flat on the deck, limbs and tail splayed.
Zhang Da Ye quickly picked up the pieces of Tom, watching him reform before breathing a sigh of relief. At least the deck hadn't cracked—this was their brand-new ship, after all.
Tom patted his face, looking pitiful. For some reason, his owner's worried look had quickly turned into something malicious.
"Is everyone alright?" Artoria asked over her shoulder.
"We're fine!" they all answered.
Only Tom disagreed. If the ship kept rocking like this, he was definitely going to get seasick.
"Don't relax just yet. The storm's not over!" Shark Chili warned. "The course is off. Adjust forty-five degrees to starboard! Rui Meng Meng, help me trim the mainsail! Boss Da Ye, Tom—clear the deck, tie down the tables and chairs before they get in the way!"
"Got it!"
They all scrambled to their tasks. When the wind grew too strong, Shark Chili even shifted into his super transformation form—not for strength, but because those limbs were far more practical than his normal ones.
They worked nonstop for nearly two hours before finally breaking free of the storm. Thankfully, the stormclouds had drifted in a different direction, or who knew how long they would have been stuck inside.
"Ugh, I'm dead…" Zhang Da Ye lay spread-eagle on the drenched deck, too tired to move. Physically he still had stamina to spare, but mentally, the frantic pace had drained him.
Rui Meng Meng looked just as bad. Her ponytail had come loose, bangs plastered to her face by the rain. "So this is what going to sea is like… no wonder sailors are said to earn such high wages."
Zhang Da Ye chuckled at the clear blue sky. "Are you hinting at a raise? Approved! Starting this month, your pay goes up one thousand berries!"
Rui Meng Meng laughed. "Wow, stingy boss!"
Tom twisted his soaked tail, not understanding what the two were laughing about. He only knew his stomach was starting to growl.
Artoria's clothes and hair were just as soaked, but she still carried herself with dignity. Sitting cross-legged on the deck, she glanced at Tom. "It's nearly lunchtime. Hunger is a warrior's greatest enemy."
"Let's drop anchor and rest," Shark Chili suggested. "You all bathe and cook. I'll keep watch outside. A bit of rain doesn't bother me."
"Fair enough." Zhang Da Ye got up, glancing at the energy bar on his hand. Hours of work had filled it to the brim, and he figured he might as well use a draw.
Then—ninety percent of the energy vanished. The purple screen shattered, scattering into emerald-green sparks that gathered on the deck, forming a glowing magic circle.
"Huh?" Zhang Da Ye froze. He'd really missed seeing one of these.
Tom also stopped. He knew what this meant—another mouth to feed.
Artoria and Rui Meng Meng halted too. They'd seen magic circles before. "A newcomer?" Rui Meng Meng asked.
"Hopefully a companion," Shark Chili said. "We're stretched thin as it is. Even scheduling night watches is a headache."
The glow faded, revealing… a giant mushroom?
It was as tall as a man, with a red cap and yellow stalk. One look told you it wasn't edible.
"What is this? A mushroom spirit?" Rui Meng Meng tilted her head.
Tom padded over and poked it curiously.
"Hands off! This is my performance art—'The Lonely Mushroom.'" The mushroom turned, revealing a human face beneath the cap.
Light blond hair, drooping eyes that looked half-dead, and a teardrop mole under his left eye. Still, as he explained his art, there was a trace of pride.
At that moment, Zhang Da Ye saw the system panel appear:
Name: Ye Yan
Alias: Watchman, Small Fry, Gong-Striker
Origin: World of Ace Agent
Profile: A student of Bozhou Xiahou High, scion of the Watchman Ye family. The strongest talent of his generation, alongside the Loose Immortal and the Gravekeeper. One of the Night Division's Three Night-Patrolling Agents, responsible for overseeing yokai and punishing those who break the rules.
"Whoa, what's with those outfits?" Ye Yan finally noticed the group's drenched, battered state, and that they were standing on a ship. He slapped his palm. "Ah, so you're performance artists too! Let me guess—your piece is called 'Exhausted Sailors'? Incredible! So true to life!"
Zhang Da Ye fell silent. He'd read some of Ace Agent before. Ye Yan was reliable in combat, but outside of battle he was… well, a weirdo obsessed with performance art. To most people, his "art" was little more than cross-dressing.
As for personality… maybe "comic relief" was the best description. At least, on the surface.
(TL/N: Ye Yan is from Guardians of Night)
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