"It's already evening, and that sea fish still hasn't shown up. Is it really dangerous? Or did the villagers just make it up?"
On the warship, a sailor standing by the ship's railing couldn't help but say.
Captain Kurume shook his head and said, "No, they specifically paid a reward for this fish, so it can't be fake."
"There was a reward too?"
Another sailor's eyes lit up, a hint of joy on his face.
For these sailors from the branch, whose salaries weren't very high, some extra money could help spice up their lives.
Hearing this, Captain Kurume nodded and said, "The reward was about 300,000 Belly, and it's already been given to Lieutenant Colonel Berio."
"Lieutenant Colonel Berio?"
A sailor shook his head and sighed, "Then it looks like we won't get a single cent."
"Yeah, if it's in the Lieutenant Colonel's hands, there's no way we'll get any share," another sailor couldn't help but say.
"Shut up."
Captain Kurume, hearing this, secretly chuckled inwardly but put on a cold expression and reprimanded, "Don't talk about the Lieutenant Colonel behind his back."
"Yes, yes,"
The sailors quickly responded, but their expressions showed considerable dissatisfaction.
"What is that?"
Just then, a sailor who was staring at the seawater suddenly shouted.
Captain Kurume and several sailors immediately rushed to the ship's railing and looked down, immediately seeing a huge dark shadow slowly approaching in the water.
"It's so big,"
The sailor couldn't help but say, "With this depth of water, to have such a large sea fish, I really don't know how it grew so big."
"What should we do?" another sailor looked at Captain Kurume.
"Don't make any noise, wait for it to take the bait,"
Captain Kurume said quickly, "Once it takes the bait, immediately pull in the fishing net, and get the crossbows and harpoons ready, aim at it."
The sailors on the ship got ready, two crossbows and two harpoon guns were aimed at the black fish below.
The giant black fish slowly approached the hook, opening its massive maw, about to bite the bait.
"It's on the hook,"
A sailor whispered excitedly.
"Prepare,"
Captain Kurume raised his hand, and the other sailors waited for his command to attack the black fish.
But just then, the black fish suddenly retreated slowly, closing its mouth.
"Huh?"
Everyone was slightly stunned, not understanding why it didn't bite and chose to retreat at the last moment.
"Captain, what do we do?" a soldier asked cautiously.
"Wait a moment,"
Captain Kurume still held onto hope, staring intently at the black fish below, hoping it would take the bait.
But seeing the black fish turn around and prepare to leave, he didn't dare to delay and shouted, "Attack."
With his words, the fishing net suddenly closed in from three sides, wrapping towards the black fish.
Four sailors controlled two crossbows and two harpoon guns, all pulling the triggers simultaneously, shooting short bolts and long spears at the black fish.
"You're not getting away,"
Captain Kurume gritted his teeth and said.
But the next moment, the black fish suddenly turned, swimming towards the side of the ship, the net closing in, perfectly avoiding it.
Its movement also dodged a long and a short arrow.
But it was still hit.
Clack.
Neither the crossbow nor the harpoon gun caused any damage to it.
Whoosh.
The black fish, brushing against the side of the ship, dived continuously, swimming away into the distance from below, escaping the area.
Captain Kurume's expression turned grim, and he gritted his teeth, "Prepare the cannons."
But the next moment, a sailor shouted, "It's swimming towards the bow, our cannons can't hit it."
"Failed,"
Seeing this, Captain Kurume fiercely clenched his fist, his expression filled with unwillingness.
It didn't take the bait and could find the net's only exit. Furthermore, even rapid-fire harpoons and crossbows couldn't harm it, and it dodged the artillery's line of fire.
It was difficult to change direction in the harbor, making it impossible to attack.
This sea fish was too intelligent.
Damn it.
After toiling all morning to lure this fish, was it just going to let it escape?
But at that moment, a voice rang out, "A bunch of useless fools, unable to even hunt a single sea fish."
As the voice sounded, a burly figure appeared not far away. He was bare-chested, his powerful muscles containing immense strength, and he held a harpoon in each hand.
"Lieutenant Colonel Berio."
Upon seeing the figure, Kurume couldn't help but call out.
"Leave it to me. I'll kill it."
The newcomer was indeed Lieutenant Colonel Berio. As soon as he spoke, he strode to the bow of the ship, gripped both harpoons, leaped high into the air, and plunged into the sea.
"Lieutenant Colonel Berio plans to go into the sea to capture it?" one sailor said blankly.
"I wonder if he'll succeed," another sailor said with some apprehension.
...
It hurt.
Xia Qiu was hit by an arrow underwater. Although it didn't penetrate its scales, the impact caused Xia Qiu to feel pain.
Xia Qiu dove along the hull, avoiding the closing net, and reached the seabed, intending to leave. But then it remembered something.
The Marine warship had artillery. If it tried to leave from the side, it would definitely be hit by the cannons.
It needed to go around.
Xia Qiu immediately swam towards the bow, intending to take a detour before leaving.
Whoosh.
Xia Qiu swam to the bow, changed direction, and propelled itself away.
But just then, splash, the sound of water breaking rang out.
"What was that sound?"
Xia Qiu looked behind it and saw a figure rapidly approaching.
What is this?
Xia Qiu saw the figure and realized it was a person, holding a harpoon and chasing after it on the surface of the water.
He wants to hunt me in the sea?
But if he wants to capture me, he must know how big I am, right?
Meaning, he knew my size and still went into the water to capture me.
I can't be careless.
Xia Qiu quickly swam away, propelling itself towards the distance.
Splash.
But Xia Qiu's turn to escape had cost it time. The man rapidly closed in, managing to match Xia Qiu's speed and appearing above Xia Qiu on the water's surface.
A shadow was cast down, giving Xia Qiu an ominous feeling.
At this moment, the man overhead suddenly dove into the ocean, pushed off with his legs, accelerating again, and lunged towards Xia Qiu.
Whoosh.
Xia Qiu propelled itself away, increasing its speed.
At this speed, the other party couldn't possibly keep up underwater.
But just as Xia Qiu outpaced the figure, the owner of the figure raised his arm and fiercely threw the harpoon in his right hand.
Whoosh.
The harpoon crossed the distance between them, parting the seawater, and instantly struck Xia Qiu's tail.
Thwack.
The harpoon pierced the spot where Xia Qiu's tail fin connected to its body. Five steel spikes broke through the scales and penetrated more than two inches deep.
"Ah!"
Intense pain shot through Xia Qiu, causing its body to stiffen. The next moment, the attacker grabbed the harpoon embedded in Xia Qiu's body, pushed off with his legs, charged forward again, and raised his right arm. Another harpoon was thrust down.
This time, the harpoon was aimed at Xia Qiu's back.
Sensing the approach, Xia Qiu quickly tried to evade by turning sideways, but its massive body restricted its turning speed.
Thwack.
The harpoon grazed Xia Qiu's body as it passed, but one of the spikes still hit Xia Qiu.
Splash.
The spike tore through its scales, leaving a bloody gash on Xia Qiu's flank.
Hit again.
Xia Qiu gritted its teeth, its eyes turning crimson.
I can't escape.
With its tail fin injured, it couldn't shake him off. If he kept following and attacking, its combat power would only decrease further.
How much strength would it have left then?
I can't let him wear me down.
Then I'll fight.
I'll kill you, then leave.
Xia Qiu clenched its teeth, turned its body, and began to attack.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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