A massive mechanical claw tore through the air and plunged into the water, firmly gripping the Devil Tentacle's pulped core flesh.
"Lift!"
Accompanied by the grating screech of tightening winch cables, the hundreds-of-tons deep-sea overlord was forcibly dragged to the surface.
Purplish-black blood cascaded like a waterfall, staining the deck even more menacingly.
The orange S-grade treasure chest was also scooped up by the mechanical arm and placed lightly beside Qin Yu's feet.
"Ruo Bing, don't just stand there."
Qin Yu nudged the tentacle at his feet with his foot—it was still twitching from nerve reflexes.
"Deploy the Engineering Robots."
"This is S-grade lord flesh, every piece more valuable than gold."
"Skin it for armor, section the tentacles for freezing, and that ruined eyeball... see if we can extract some biological materials."
Li Ruobing snapped out of her daze and quickly operated the control panel.
"Understood!"
The cargo hold floor opened.
T-X Robots slid out.
They lunged at the massive corpse.
Soon, the deck was filled with the sizzling sound of laser-cut flesh.
Qin Yu paid no attention to that.
His focus was entirely on the orange treasure chest.
"Hah..."
Qin Yu rubbed his hands together, a rare glint of anticipation in his eyes.
Yao Qian and Yao Xue gathered around.
Even Li Ruobing, who was in the cockpit, couldn't resist setting the ship to autopilot and coming to the deck to join the excitement.
After all, witnessing a treasure chest of this level being opened was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Heaven help us, give us a Gundam!"
Yao Qian clasped her hands together, murmuring prayers.
Qin Yu shot her a disdainful look.
"Dream on. There's no such thing as Gundams in this world."
He reached out and pressed his hand against the chest's Biological Lock.
Click.
A crisp mechanical unlocking sound echoed.
Then, the lid of the treasure chest slowly sprang open.
There was no blinding golden light as one might imagine.
Only a cold, metallic chill wafted out.
The interior space of the chest seemed folded.
It appeared to be only one square meter in size, but inside, it resembled a bottomless weapon rack.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for opening an S-grade treasure chest!]
[Item obtained: S-grade · Individual Tactical Armory (Set)!]
[Description: This is a top-tier equipment set sufficient to arm an entire special forces squad, encompassing S-grade individual weapons in four categories: assault, sniper, close combat, and defense.]
Qin Yu's eyes lit up.
"An armory?"
"Perfect. We're exactly short on individual equipment."
No matter how powerful the ship is, it's still just a ship.
If they ever had to engage in island combat or face boarding attacks in the future, their current gear would be far too inadequate.
Qin Yu reached in and grabbed.
The first thing he pulled out was an exaggeratedly designed heavy firearm.
It was entirely silver-gray, with a thick barrel and faint blue energy circuits flowing across its surface.
[Name: S-grade "Tyrant" Rail Assault Rifle]
[Rate of Fire: 600 rounds/min]
[Trait: Ignores all shields below B-grade, features auto-aiming, and unlimited recharge (consumes energy blocks).]
"Fine piece of craftsmanship."
Qin Yu weighed it in his hand.
The heft—a solid, weighty feel—was pure masculine satisfaction.
"Ruo Bing, catch."
He casually tossed the brutally elegant firearm to Li Ruobing.
She fumbled to catch it, nearly buckling under its weight.
"This... is for me?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the weapon.
The cold touch of the gunmetal and the faint vibration hinting at destructive power made her breath quicken.
"You're ranked second, with decent combat instincts."
"This gun suits frontal assaults. If anyone tries to board us, use it to shred them to pieces."
After speaking, Qin Yu pulled a sleek black rifle from the crate.
Exceptionally long and fitted with a suppressor and high-magnification thermal scope, it exuded a ghostly stillness.
[Name: S-grade "Nether" Biotoxic Sniper Rifle]
[Trait: Completely silent; bullets carry neurotoxin—even a scratch can drop an elephant.]
"Yao Xue."
Qin Yu handed the rifle to the ice-cold beauty beside him.
"As a doctor, you know best how to end lives quickly."
"No need for pinpoint accuracy—just hit the target."
"You'll handle any distant rats trying to snipe us."
Yao Xue accepted the sniper rifle.
She worked the bolt and chambered a round with fluid, practiced motions.
Peering through the scope at a distant ice floe, she allowed a faint smile.
"Fits well."
"Thank you, husband."
The term "husband" rolled off her tongue so naturally that Li Ruobing twitched beside her.
Finally.
Qin Yu retrieved a tech-laden light exoskeleton suit and a glove resembling a drone control terminal from the crate's depths.
"Qian Qian, the 'Swarm' tactical system is yours."
"Stay back from the front lines."
"Just deploy drones to blast them from cover."
Yao Xue cheered, immediately suiting up with the gear.
"Amazing! Now I'm combat-ready too!"
After distributing the others' gear, Qin Yu finally looked at the very bottom of the crate.
There lay a blade.
No scabbard.
The blade itself was a sinister dark red, as if steeped in blood.
[Name: S-grade "Asura" High-Frequency Particle Blade]
[Trait: Vibrates at 30,000 Hz per second, slicing through metal and jade; innate 'life steal' effect restores wielder's stamina upon killing.]
Qin Yu gripped the hilt.
"Vrrrm—"
The blade hummed faintly, the air buzzing with its thirst for blood.
"Now this is proper."
He spun the blade in a flourish before storing it in his system space.
With that, the entire team was re-equipped.
The firepower of this four-person squad was now obscenely luxurious.
If they encountered that Devil Tentacle again—
even without the ship's main cannon—
just the weapons in their hands would be enough to grind it to dust.
"Alright."
Qin Yu clapped his hands.
He glanced at the nearly dissected corpse.
"Clean up the area."
"Ruo Bing, set course for the 'Underwater Garden.'"
"Let's see what this S-grade giant squid tastes like."
...
Night fell.
In the Extreme Cold Ice Zone, darkness arrived exceptionally early.
The blizzard continued to rage outside, with temperatures plummeting to minus ninety degrees Celsius.
Yet inside the President's luxurious dining hall, it was as warm as spring.
The crystal chandelier cast a soft glow.
The long redwood table was laden with exquisite dishes.
The main course was naturally the Thousand-Eyed Devil Tentacle.
And specifically the freshest tentacle tips.
"Sizzle—"
Yao Qian was using chopsticks to flip thin slices of tentacle meat on the iron grill, each piece cut as translucent as a cicada's wing.
The purple meat quickly changed color under the high heat, releasing a peculiar, rich aroma.
This wasn't ordinary meat fragrance.
It was the unique scent of a high-level energy creature, invigorating with just one whiff.
"Wow! It's done, it's done!"
Yao Qian picked up a piece and, unbothered by the heat, popped it directly into her mouth.
"Mmm!!"
Her eyes instantly widened.
"So springy! And it's bursting with juices when you bite into it!"
"Brother Yu, you have to try this!"
Qin Yu sat at the head of the table, holding a glass of red wine.
He picked up a piece and tasted it.
It was indeed excellent.
The meat was firm, melting in his mouth, and after swallowing, he could clearly feel a warm current flowing down his esophagus to his limbs.
That was the pure energy contained within S-grade flesh.
If an ordinary person ate it, they might directly awaken some strength-based talent.
But everyone present had already taken the Gene Serum, so this was now purely a potent supplement.
"Eat more."
Qin Yu took a sip of wine.
"The next few days will be very busy."
"After the server merge, we'll be the prime target."
"We must be in peak condition."
Li Ruobing sat further down the table, eating elegantly but no less quickly.
As she ate, she glanced worriedly out the window.
"Boss."
"That server-wide announcement said they'll reveal coordinates..."
"With our ship this large, we definitely won't be able to hide."
"Should we find a place to lay low for a while?"
"Lay low?"
Qin Yu set down his wine glass, cutting into the steak on his plate.
The clink of knife and fork rang clear.
"Why should we hide?"
"It's better that the coordinates are published."
"Saves me the trouble of finding them."
"We'll anchor the ship at the Underwater Garden."
"And wait right there."
"Anyone who dares to come, I'll bury them there as fertilizer."
His words radiated domineering confidence.
Li Ruobing's heart raced as she listened.
She looked at the man before her.
His sharp profile appeared especially stern under the light.
That composure, unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, was like the most potent aphrodisiac to a woman.
She felt her face grow warm.
Quickly lowering her head, she took a large sip of soup to cover up.
...
After dinner.
Yao Qian took the newly assigned drone back to her room to study it.
Li Ruobing went to the cockpit for night duty.
The ship fell quiet.
Qin Yu went alone to the open deck on the top level.
The sea wind howled.
Causing his clothes to flap violently.
Leaning against the railing, he lit a cigarette.
The red ember glowed and dimmed in the darkness.
Below stretched the endless black ocean.
Deep, terrifying, as if monsters could leap out at any moment.
But Qin Yu relished this feeling.
The feeling of standing at the top of the food chain, looking down upon all living beings.
"What are you thinking about?"
A cool voice came from behind.
Then.
A warm, soft body gently pressed against his back.
Two slender arms wrapped around his waist.
Qin Yu didn't turn around.
The scent of disinfectant lingered at the tip of his nose, mingled with the cool fragrance of high-end perfume.
That was Yao Xue's unique scent.
"Thinking about how many people to kill tomorrow would be appropriate."
Qin Yu blew out a smoke ring, casually making a joke.
"You're never serious."
Yao Xue chided him softly.
She pressed her face against his broad back.
"It's so cold outside, yet you don't wear more."
Though she said this,
she herself wasn't dressed heavily.
A black turtleneck sweater, covered by a white lab coat.
Below was a tight pencil skirt.
Most deadly were those legs.
Encased in thin black silk stockings, they shimmered with an alluring glow under the faint light.
These legs were Qin Yu's favorite.
They were also the signature of this former cold and aloof chief physician from a top-tier hospital.
Qin Yu turned around.
Wrapping his arm around her slender waist.
His hand met warm softness.
"What?"
"Afraid I'll catch a cold?"
Qin Yu looked down at the beauty in his arms.
Yao Xue had applied light makeup tonight.
Gold-rimmed glasses rested on her tall nose bridge, adding an intellectual, abstinent aura.
But those usually icy eyes now resembled melted spring water.
Full of tenderness.
"I'm a doctor."
"I have a duty to care for the captain's health."
Yao Xue looked up, her gaze somewhat dazed.
Her hand slowly slid up Qin Yu's chest.
Finally stopping at his collar, she gently unbuttoned the first button.
"And..."
"After consuming so many S-grade tentacles earlier."
"I feel a bit hot."
"Need... to cool down."
The implication couldn't be clearer.
Qin Yu smiled.
He loved this contrast in Yao Xue.
By day, a cold and ruthless chief physician wielding a scalpel; by night, an enchanting beauty blooming only for him.
"Hot?"
Qin Yu exerted force abruptly.
Lifting Yao Xue directly into his arms.
"Ah!"
Yao Xue gasped in surprise, instinctively wrapping her legs around Qin Yu's waist.
The friction of her black silk-clad long legs against his tactical pants created a blood-stirring sensation.
Qin Yu didn't take her back to the room.
Instead, he took two steps and placed her on the cold metal railing.
"Let's enjoy the breeze here."
"That should cool you down."
Yao Xue sat on the railing, behind her the pitch-black sea like a bottomless abyss.
The cold wind tousled her hair.
The metal railing beneath her was piercingly cold.
But this chill only intensified the inner heat.
"Qin Yu..."
"Not here..."
"We might be seen..."
Yao Xue glanced around nervously.
Though it was night, this was the open deck.
What if Yao Qian or Li Ruobing came up...
"This is my ship."
"I'll do as I please.Qin Yu interrupted her domineeringly.
He stepped forward, positioning himself between her legs.
Placing his hands on either side of the railing, he encircled her completely.
"Besides."Aren't you fond of stimulation?""
Qin Yu lowered his head, whispering by her ear.
His warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe.
Making her shiver.
"I..."
Yao Xue bit her lip, her last shred of reserve.
But her body was honest.
Her arms wrapped around Qin Yu's neck, fingers threading through his short, bristly hair.
Since she couldn't resist.
She might as well enjoy it.
In this apocalypse, every second could be the last.
Rather than maintaining the chief physician's dignity at such a time.
It was better to go completely mad once.
"Kiss me."
Yao Xue removed her glasses.
Those captivating eyes, now unobstructed, were filled with desire.
Qin Yu wasted no words.
He kissed her directly.
Rough, wild, carrying an air of plunder.
"Mmm..."
Yao Xue let out a muffled groan.
Followed by an ardent response.
Upon this ice sea where fierce winds howled.
On this night when sea beasts could attack at any moment.
The two were like blazing fires.
Burning recklessly against the cold railing.
...
"Creak."
The iron door leading to the top deck was pushed open a crack.
Li Ruobing held two cups of hot coffee.
She had originally come up for some fresh air and to bring a drink to the boss.
After all, they were traveling through the night, and she feared Qin Yu wouldn't hold up.
But the moment she pushed the door open.
The scene before her made her freeze completely.
The coffee cups trembled slightly in her hands, nearly spilling.
By the faint light from the cabin.
She saw.
That usually aloof, queen-like Doctor Yao Xue.
Now sitting on the railing without any semblance of dignity.
The white coat symbolizing purity was already half-slipped off her shoulders.
Those proud Black Silk Stockings-clad legs were tightly wrapped around Qin Yu's waist.
Swaying in the wind.
Fragmented sounds, torn by the wind, reached Li Ruobing's ears.
This voice.
Where was the cold, elegant doctor now?
She was... simply like a wanton woman.
Li Ruobing felt her face burning.
Her heart raced so fast it threatened to leap from her throat.
She should leave.
Should immediately close the door and pretend she saw nothing.
But.
Her feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Her gaze fixed intently on the man's back.
Broad, strong, brimming with explosive power.
That was conquest.
That was absolute control.
Li Ruobing felt her legs weakening.
A strange heat rose from her lower abdomen.
She was quite a figure in District 9527 herself.
The men chasing her could line up from bow to stern.
But never had a man made her feel this way.
This... desire to kneel at his feet and submit to him.
"So..."
"This is how our sister-in-law is in private..."
Li Ruobing bit her lip, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
There was shame.
There was envy.
Even... a trace of unconcealed jealousy.
If she were the one in that position...
If those legs wrapped around his waist were hers...
Once that thought emerged, it grew wildly like weeds.
"Smack"
"Focus."
That domineering voice sent a shiver through Li Ruobing's body.
She jolted awake.
No.
She couldn't watch any longer.
Any more and something would happen.
Li Ruobing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil within.
Carefully, gradually, she retreated.
"Click."
The iron door closed softly.
Li Ruobing leaned against the wall behind the door, gasping for breath.
The coffee in her hands had gone cold.
But her heart was hotter than the steaming coffee had been.
She glanced down at her own legs—straight and slender even in jeans.
Then recalled Yao Xue's beautiful Black Silk Stockings-clad legs.
Li Ruobing suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly.
"It seems..."
"I still need to work harder."
She placed the coffee on a nearby shelf.
Turned and walked toward the cockpit.
Yet those footsteps were noticeably more hurried than when they had arrived.
Outside the door,
the wind and snow continued unabated.
Qin Yu's movements did not falter at the faint sound of the door closing.
In the darkness, the corner of his mouth curled into a playful smirk.
His hearing had long surpassed that of ordinary people.
He didn't need to turn around to know who had made those footsteps moments earlier.
But he didn't stop.
Nor did he call it out.
In this post-apocalyptic world,
some things were more interesting when left to ferment naturally.
"It seems this little wildcat
is about to lose her patience."
Qin Yu chuckled softly to himself,
then poured all his focus into the game of conquest before him.
The night was still long.
The President cut through the towering waves,
racing headlong toward the unknown depths of the sea.
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