Other people's systems came loaded with cheats and endless assistance, turning their hosts into overpowered protagonists who could conquer anything. But what about Gustave, Po, and Tom's system? It dumped a mission on them, tossed them a mysterious pendant, and vanished without a trace. The gap between systems was truly astronomical.
"Alright, forget about that useless system for now. Our immediate priority is finding land, because we'll definitely die if we keep drifting out here for much longer."
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Gustave, and I'm a professional chef. I got completely wasted last night and somehow woke up on this boat with no memory of how I got here."
Gustave took the initiative to break the ice with Po and Tom. No matter how bizarre their situation was, life had to go on. Finding land was their top priority, but that would require all three of them working together as a team.
"My name's Po! I've got a dad back home who's also a chef, just like you, Gustave. He runs this little noodle shop in our village. I went to sleep in my own bed last night and somehow woke up here instead. Hehe..." Po scratched his head with that trademark goofy grin.
Looking at Po's honest, cheerful demeanor, Gustave couldn't help but think: Just like in the movies—Po really is as genuine and lovable as he appears.
After the two had introduced themselves, they both turned expectantly toward their feline friend.
Tom stood there with his paws clasped behind his back, flashing an awkward smile that revealed his gleaming white teeth. It was obvious that explaining how he'd ended up on this boat was going to be rather embarrassing for him.
Although Tom remained silent, a small white thought cloud materialized above his head, playing out the events like a private movie screen.
The cloud revealed Tom and Spike—the neighborhood bulldog—in their eternal rivalry. Apparently, their owner had grown tired of supporting two pets and declared that whoever could finally catch Jerry the mouse would get to stay, while the other would be kicked out.
The result was predictably disastrous. Neither Tom nor Spike managed to catch Jerry, and in their attempts, they completely destroyed the house. Fed up with both of them, their owner threw them both out onto the street.
However, before their unceremonious eviction, Tom and Spike had managed to "liberate" quite a collection of useful items from their former home. After reaching a secluded spot with their pilfered goods, the cat and dog had divided up their haul and gone their separate ways.
Tom had been sleeping on the red cloth bundle that contained his share of the loot when he'd somehow ended up on this boat.
Watching this impromptu cinema show, Gustave marveled at how Tom's red bundle seemed to work like Doraemon's four-dimensional pocket—small on the outside but capable of holding an impossible amount of stuff.
Tom noticed Gustave and Po trying to suppress their laughter while staring at something above his head. Following their gaze upward, he realized with horror that his embarrassing backstory had just been broadcast for all to see.
"WHAT?!"
Tom's fur stood on end as he frantically waved his paws above his head, frantically erasing the thought cloud like it was drawn in chalk.
So much for making a good first impression on his new companions. His most humiliating moment had been revealed within minutes of meeting them.
"Hey, don't worry about it. We're all going to be traveling together from now on, so there's no need to be embarrassed," Gustave said reassuringly. After all, despite his mischievous streak, Tom was fundamentally good-natured.
"I used to sneak food from our kitchen all the time," Po added with a warm smile. "Dad would always get mad when he caught me, but he'd forgive me in the end."
Despite his simple exterior, Po possessed remarkable emotional intelligence and a naturally caring heart. Seeing Tom's distress, he immediately shared his own embarrassing confession to help their new friend feel better.
Deeply moved by their kindness, Tom walked over to his red bundle and began rummaging through it. After a moment, he pulled out a whole roasted chicken, several slices of bread, fresh tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and strips of bacon.
Tom then produced a small knife and tossed the bread and tomatoes into the air. With lightning-fast precision, he sliced and assembled everything mid-flight. Within seconds, three perfectly crafted sandwiches appeared before them.
Tom pointed at the sandwiches, then gestured toward Gustave and Po before pushing the roasted chicken to the center of their small circle.
Gustave and Po immediately understood the generous gesture and didn't hesitate to accept. After expressing their heartfelt thanks to Tom, they each grabbed a sandwich and began eating eagerly.
If they wanted to find land quickly, they needed to maintain their strength. Only with full stomachs would they have the energy to row effectively. Within minutes, both the sandwiches and the roasted chicken had been completely devoured.
"Tom, how much food do you have left in that bundle of yours?" Gustave asked after letting out a satisfied burp. "We're drifting in the middle of nowhere with no idea when we'll reach land. We need to ration our supplies carefully."
Tom examined his bundle, then opened it wide and motioned for Gustave and Po to take a look inside.
What they saw was astounding. Tom's bundle was like a pocket dimension—it looked modest from the outside but contained an incredible amount of items. Unfortunately, food didn't make up a large portion of the contents. Combined with Po's substantial appetite, Gustave estimated they had maybe four days' worth of provisions at most.
Actually, Tom's bundle had originally contained more food. When he and Spike had divided their spoils, Tom had generously given the dog extra rations, knowing Spike's larger size meant a bigger appetite. That kindness had led to their current predicament.
"Tom, Po, we need to start thinking about resource management," Gustave said seriously. "We should conserve what food we have in Tom's bundle while trying to catch fresh food from the ocean. What do you both think?"
Tom and Po nodded in agreement. If they wanted to survive long-term at sea, they'd need to be both thrifty and resourceful.
Fortunately, while Tom's bundle was short on food, it was packed with useful tools: fishing rods, axes, oars, mallets, and incredibly—even a full-sized refrigerator! The bundle truly was magical.
Now properly equipped, the trio established their strategy. They chose a direction and began taking turns rowing, switching positions every half hour to ensure everyone got adequate rest.
To maximize their chances of catching food, they decided to stop the boat and rest between noon and four o'clock in the afternoon. The midday heat was brutal, and staying stationary would help conserve their energy.
Considering the harsh sun reflecting off the ocean's surface, Tom produced a large parasol from his bundle and secured it to their small boat. Gustave and Po immediately felt relief from the blazing heat.
With everything prepared, the three began their journey toward hopefully inhabited land.
Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, eleven o'clock had arrived—their designated rest period. Taking advantage of the break, Gustave let Tom and Po relax while he retrieved the fishing rod from Tom's bundle and cast his line.
He baited the hook with a small piece of bread, wound up, and sent it flying far out into the ocean.
After more than two hours of fishing, Gustave had only managed to catch two tiny fish no bigger than his thumb. The pathetic results reminded him of his failed attempts at fishing during his military service days.
Just then, Tom woke up from his nap and gestured that it was time to switch shifts. Reluctantly, Gustave handed over the fishing rod.
Tom took over and decided to try a different approach. He baited the hook with one of Gustave's small catches, hoping to use it to lure something much larger.
Almost immediately, there was a powerful tug on the line. Tom's face lit up with excitement as he prepared to reel in their catch, but the fish was incredibly strong and nearly pulled him overboard. Fortunately, Gustave grabbed Tom just in time.
Even with both of them pulling together, they were no match for whatever was on the other end of the line. Their small boat began tilting dangerously as they were dragged through the water. The commotion woke Po immediately, and he rushed to join the struggle.
Po's impressive muscles weren't just for show. His addition to the team made a dramatic difference, stabilizing the boat and giving them a fighting chance.
After several minutes of intense battle, the massive fish's struggles began to weaken. Sensing their opportunity, all three companions started reeling in the line with renewed vigor.
Soon, the shadow of an enormous fish appeared beneath the surface, but their catch had no intention of surrendering. It began thrashing desperately in one final attempt to escape.
This display of defiance irritated Tom immensely. He pulled his trusty mallet from his bundle, leaped directly onto the fish's head, and began delivering precise strikes. After just a few well-placed hits, several large bumps appeared on the fish's skull, and it finally lost consciousness.
Po and Gustave seized the moment to reel in their prize, successfully hauling the massive fish onto their boat.
"Good grief, this fish is absolutely incredible! It's got to weigh at least a hundred kilograms," Gustave exclaimed, staring at the 1.5-meter-long fish with its comically bumpy head. This was easily the largest fish he'd ever seen caught, let alone helped catch himself.
Tom climbed back onto the boat wearing a supremely proud expression, pointing his thumb at himself to make it clear who deserved the credit for their success.
Gustave couldn't help but grin at the display. "You're absolutely right, Tom! We couldn't have done this without you!"
Po chimed in enthusiastically, "Tom, you're amazing! This fish will keep us fed for days!"
Hearing praise from both his companions, Tom puffed up with even more pride. He could definitely get used to this kind of recognition!