Sunlight streamed in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, glaringly bright.
Qin Yu's eyelids fluttered as he felt a heavy weight on his chest, like a large rock was pressing down on him.
With every breath, he inhaled a mixture of milky fragrance and the pleasant scent of some shower gel.
He opened his eyes.
His vision was filled with snowy, creamy white skin.
Yao Qian was clinging to him like an octopus, her limbs wrapped tightly around him.
Not only were her arms and legs entangled with him, but she was also nuzzling her head into his chest. Her twin tails were scattered messily across the pillow, a few strands of hair tickling Qin Yu's neck playfully.
The most crucial part was...
The girl was completely naked.
Last night's "Special Training" had clearly been too intense—she hadn't even had time to put on her usual White Silk Stockings that she normally wore to sleep.
At this moment...
The warm sensation of skin against skin felt like an electric current, continuously stimulating Qin Yu's freshly awakened nerves.
"Mmm... BOSS... don't run away..."
"I've got it... I've got it covered..."
Yao Qian smacked her lips twice, talking in her sleep, and her thigh unconsciously rubbed against Qin Yu's waist.
Qin Yu drew a sharp breath.
It was just early morning.
If this had happened last night, he would have definitely gone for another Overtime Match.
He gently peeled the "koala" off of him.
Looking at her petite body, which glowed with an ivory luster under the sunlight and still bore faint red marks from last night's frenzy.
A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Qin Yu's mouth.
He tucked the blanket around her, covering the spring scenery.
"Sleep well, you gaming addict."
Qin Yu got out of bed, took a quick shower, and changed into a sleek black combat suit.
Pushing open the bedroom door, he walked into the living area.
A rich aroma of rice porridge wafted toward him.
In the open kitchen.
Yao Xue, wearing a light blue apron, was busy with her back to him.
The apron strings accentuated her waistline to a deadly degree.
The usually aloof and proud head of surgery was now holding a soup ladle—the stark contrast warmed his heart.
At the dining table.
Li Ruobing was already seated.
This woman was full of energy; despite all the commotion last night, she was still vibrant and lively this morning.
She wore a loose white tank top and denim shorts, her long legs swinging casually as she nibbled on half a fried dough stick.
"Oh, Boss is awake?"
Seeing Qin Yu, Li Ruobing quickly swallowed the dough stick and greeted him with a grin.
"Where's Qian Qian? Still recovering?"
Qin Yu pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat down.
"She's a pig, still asleep."
Yao Xue brought over a steaming clay pot of seafood porridge and placed it in the center of the table.
She then served Qin Yu a bowl.
Casually, she set a plate of peeled tea eggs in front of him.
"Eat something first."
"You expended a lot last night."
Yao Xue's voice was still cool, but there was a hint of tenderness in her eyes.
Qin Yu didn't stand on ceremony and took a big sip from the bowl.
It was delicious.
Besides rice, it contained chopped abalone and crab meat—soft, glutinous, and smooth in texture.
"Your skills are amazing."
Qin Yu gave a thumbs-up.
"Of course."
Li Ruobing chimed in from the side.
"Sister-in-law woke up at five to make congee, saying she wanted to nourish your health."
"You talk too much."
Yao Xue shot her a glare, untied her apron, and sat beside Qin Yu.
She elegantly picked up her chopsticks.
"Let's get down to business."
While peeling a boiled egg, Qin Yu glanced up at the floating screen in the center of the hall.
A striking blood-red countdown was displayed there.
[Time until regional merger: 03:45:21]
It was currently 8:15 in the morning.
Meaning...
By noon, the world's structure would completely change.
"It's almost time."
Li Ruobing's playful expression faded slightly, her eyes turning sharp.
"Boss, do you think people from the other regions would piss themselves if they knew we have a Destroyer here?"
Qin Yu took a bite of his egg and smiled.
"They'd definitely be terrified."
"But more than that, they'd be covetous."
"To those starving wolves, this isn't a warship to them."
"It's a juicy piece of meat."
Qin Yu turned to look out the window.
Last night, it had been a vast white ice plain.
Now, it had completely transformed.
With the end of the extreme cold, temperatures had risen rapidly.
The meters-thick ice layers had completely melted overnight.
Replaced by...
an endless expanse of deep blue ocean.
Waves rose and fell.
The sea crashed against the President's sturdy alloy armor with dull thuds.
Sunlight glittered on the water's surface—if one ignored the apocalyptic backdrop, it might almost resemble a pleasant sea vacation.
"The ice has melted."
Yao Xue adjusted her glasses, watching outside.
"This means all Rafts can move again."
"And those Mutated Creatures in the sea will emerge."
Qin Yu nodded.
Where there was water, it was his domain.
The President's propulsion and weapon systems could perform at 100% capacity on the water.
"No problem."
"We'll handle whatever comes."
Qin Yu finished his congee in a few gulps, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and stood up.
He walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the long-unseen vast blue waves.
His hands felt somewhat itchy.
"Haven't gone fishing in a while."
Qin Yu murmured to himself.
During the previous extreme cold, the sea had frozen over, requiring ice drilling to fish—too troublesome.
Besides, he'd been busy with construction and establishing authority through killing.
He'd neglected this original trade that started his fortune.
"The system seems quite generous lately."
"Last night's rewards for kills were average, but the drop rate has clearly improved."
Qin Yu calculated internally.
There were still over three hours until the merger.
No point just waiting.
Might as well cast a few lines.
Maybe he could get some good loot to steady his nerves for the upcoming battle.
"Wife, bring me my precious one."
Qin Yu called over his shoulder.
Li Ruobing froze, her face instantly flushing red.
"Boss... in broad daylight... in the living room? Isn't that inappropriate?"
"What are you thinking?"
Qin Yu shot her an exasperated look.
"I meant my fishing rod!"
"Do I look like someone who'd engage in daytime indecency?"
Li Ruobing stuck out her tongue.
"Hmph, I think you do."
Despite her words, she briskly hurried to the armory.
Before long...
She came running back, clutching the pitch-black SSS-grade "God of Anglers" fishing rod that shimmered with an ethereal glow.
"Here, your precious."
Qin Yu took the rod.
That familiar sensation instantly coursed through his entire body.
This rod was the very foundation of his survival.
"Let's go."
"Get some fresh air on the deck."
"See if we can land something big today."
The three of them arrived at the foredeck.
The deck had been thoroughly washed clean, with not a trace of blood scent remaining.
The sea breeze blew against their faces.
Carrying a moist, salty tang.
The temperature was comfortable, around twenty-five degrees Celsius.
Qin Yu walked to the ship's railing.
"Whoosh—"
With a flick of his wrist.
The fishing line traced a graceful parabola through the air.
The hook, baited with lure, landed precisely in the seawater a hundred meters away.
Splashing up a small spray.
"Our area just had so many people die," Li Ruobing leaned against the railing, holding a can of ice-cold cola as she gazed at the sea.
"Even though the bodies were all shredded."
"That smell must still be lingering."
"Could it attract sharks?"
Qin Yu sat on the portable fishing chair, legs crossed casually, his expression calm.
"Good if it does."
"We'll have shark fin soup tonight."
"These days, mutated shark meat might be sour, but the fins are genuinely good stuff."
No sooner had he spoken.
The rod in Qin Yu's hands suddenly jerked downward violently!
The tip instantly bent into a full moon shape!
"Holy crap?"
"So fast?"
Li Ruobing's eyes widened.
The bait had barely been in the water a minute, right?
Qin Yu's eyes also lit up.
This feel...
Heavy!
Extremely heavy!
It didn't feel like the frantic struggling of a living creature, but more like a dead, weighty pull.
"Got something."
Qin Yu exerted strength in both arms, pushing the SSS-grade rod's flexibility to its limit.
The reel made a "zzzz" sound as the line tightened furiously.
"It's not a fish."
Qin Yu judged based on the feedback through the line.
"It's a crate."
"And a big one at that."
Yao Xue also set down her medical book and came over, her gaze fixed intently on the water's surface.
"Splash!"
With Qin Yu's final heave.
The water surface broke.
A metallic crate gleaming with silvery-white light emerged from the water!
Qin Yu swung it directly onto the deck.
"Clang!"
The crate landed with a crisp sound.
[Acquired: A-grade Supply Crate x1!]
Li Ruobing ran over and kicked the crate.
"Great luck, boss!"
"Starting off strong! An A-grade right off the bat!"
Qin Yu smiled.
Seemed like today's fortune was truly "extremely auspicious."
"Don't rush to open it."
"Let's accumulate more first."
"This is just the first cast."
Qin Yu re-baited the hook and cast again.
The next half hour.
Was practically Qin Yu's solo performance.
"Whoosh—"
"Up!"
A twenty-jin mutated bluefin tuna was hauled aboard.
This thing was a top-tier ingredient even before the apocalypse, now it was priceless.
"Whoosh—"
"Up again!"
[Ding! Acquired: Refined Steel x100!]
[Ding! Acquired: High-Energy Battery Pack x10!]
[Ding! Acquired: A-grade Supply Crate x1!]
Another A-grade!
Li Ruobing and Yao Xue exchanged glances.
Both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
This drop rate was a bit ridiculous.
Previously, half a day of fishing would only yield wood and plastic, with an occasional C or D-rank chest.
What's going on today?
A system clearance sale?
"It seems the system wants to give us a boost before the server merge," Qin Yu analyzed while reeling in the line. "With increased difficulty, the rewards naturally follow suit."
As he spoke, a third A-Rank Treasure Box was hauled aboard.
They were neatly arranged on the deck—three silver-white chests gleaming under the sunlight.
"Three A-ranks now." Qin Yu shook his sore arm and checked the time. An hour had already passed.
"One last cast to round it off."
He took a deep breath and attached the final piece of S-grade secret bait.
This cast was made with exceptional force, sending the hook nearly two hundred meters away into a deep blue stretch of sea.
Time ticked by, but unlike before, there was no immediate bite. The sea remained unnervingly calm, without even a ripple.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Li Ruobing finished a can of cola and burped. "Boss, did you run out of bait? It's been ten minutes. If there's nothing, let's call it. We're not short on supplies."
Qin Yu remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the rod tip. His intuition told him something was down there—something big, testing and circling.
Suddenly, the rod tip quivered almost imperceptibly.
In that split second, Qin Yu sprang into action.
"Got it!" He jerked the rod upward violently.
"Boom!"
This time, not only did the rod tip bend, but the entire black fishing rod instantly tautened into a straight line! A terrifying force transmitted through the line, pulling Qin Yu forward a step. The alloy deck beneath his feet creaked under the strain.
"Holy crap!" Li Ruobing was startled, crushing the cola can in her hand. "What is that? A whale?!"
Qin Yu's face flushed red, muscles bulging and veins snaking like coiling dragons along his arms. "Not a whale... It's inanimate... but... it's incredibly heavy!"
The weight was ten times greater than the three A-Rank Treasure Boxes combined. If not for the monstrous strength of the SSS-grade fishing rod, any ordinary rod would have shattered instantly.
"Rise... NOW!!!" Qin Yu roared, nuclear energy surging through his body as he anchored his feet firmly on the deck. Leveraging his core, he yanked backward with all his might.
On the sea surface, the once-calm water churned violently as if boiling. A massive whirlpool formed, and from the depths, a dazzling golden light erupted, outshining even the sun overhead.
"Go... golden light?!" Yao Xue, equally unsettled, adjusted her glasses and stepped closer.
"Splash—!!!"
With a tremendous surge, a chest nearly one cubic meter in size was forcibly dragged out of the water. Crafted entirely from an unknown golden metal, its surface was adorned with intricate, mystical patterns that shimmered with radiant hues. Its noble aura was palpable even from a distance.
Seizing the moment, Qin Yu reeled in decisively. The massive golden object traced a heavy arc through the air.
"Thud!!!"
The box landed heavily on the deck.
The entire "President," this colossal ship with a displacement of ten thousand tons.
Actually trembled slightly.
From the impact of this single drop!
Qin Yu panted heavily, shaking his slightly numb hand.
He stared at the treasure chest gleaming under the sunlight.
[Successfully Obtained via Fishing: S-Rank·Strategic Resource Treasure Chest x1!]
"S-Rank..."
Qin Yu licked his chapped lips.
His eyes blazing with fervor.
"And it's strategic resources?"
Li Ruobing and Yao Xue had already gathered around.
The three women (Yao Qian had also rushed out, rubbing her eyes and hastily dressed) stared at this massive object.
Their eyes practically sparkling.
"Brother Qin Yu... what is this?"
Yao Qian, still not fully awake, asked dazedly.
"It's so shiny, how many lollipops could this trade for?"
Qin Yu reached out and touched the cold metal surface of the chest.
"Lollipops?"
"If we open this thing."
"We could buy all the lollipops in the world."
He straightened up, gazing at the spoils before him.
Three silver A-Rank Treasure Boxes.
One golden S-Rank Treasure Chest.
This kind of luck was simply defying the heavens.