As the murderous command "Scram!" echoed across the waters, the steel beast known as Black Hawk descended slowly. Its massive rotors whipped up fierce winds that tousled Qin Yu's hair on the deck, yet he remained perfectly still.
Only when Li Ruobing skillfully landed the helicopter on the H-shaped pad and cut the engines did movement resume. The fleeing rafts had already scattered like startled fish across the newly merged waters, vanishing without trace. The sea returned to deathly stillness, with only distant white wakes remaining as evidence of their panicked escape.
"Hahaha! Boss! That was incredible!" Li Ruobing tore off her flight helmet, shaking out her wavy hair as she jumped from the cockpit. She rushed to Qin Yu, her face flushed with excitement. "Did you see their expressions? Like they'd swallowed flies! That Zhang Nanhai character ran faster than a rabbit!"
Yao Qian emerged from the command room clutching a tablet, her cheeks rosy with exhilaration. "Brother Yu! The drones caught everything! That woman in pink was so scared she dropped her binoculars into the sea! I nearly died laughing!"
The three women gathered around Qin Yu, chattering like victorious soldiers after a major battle. The suffocating pressure of being surrounded by countless vessels had evaporated completely, replaced by absolute confidence in their own strength.
Qin Yu smiled at their enthusiasm, though the coldness in his eyes hadn't completely faded. He ruffled Yao Qian's hair, messing up her neat twin tails. "Enough celebrating. They're just a disorderly mob - there's no pride in scaring them off."
Turning to face the empty horizon, he continued, "Do you really think they're afraid?"
Li Ruobing paused, her smile fading. "They all ran away - isn't that fear?"
"Temporary fear," Qin Yu corrected, walking to the railing and tapping the cold alloy handrail. "Humans remember rewards but forget punishments. It's daytime - they saw our machine guns and helicopter, triggering instinctive fear."
His voice lowered. "But when night falls... in that pitch-black darkness where you can't see your own hand... when greed overwhelms fear, they'll become the most bloodthirsty wolves."
Yao Xue adjusted her glasses, brow furrowed. "You mean they'll return tonight?"
"Without doubt." Qin Yu's tone was certain. "You can't teach lessons to humans through words, but experience teaches instantly. The President is too big, too conspicuous. In their eyes, it's not just a threat - it's a golden mountain filled with supplies."
"Even if half of them die, they'll think it's worth it just to seize one gun or one case of water. That's the apocalypse."
Turning to face the three thoughtful women, his expression turned grave. "Listen carefully."
"Joy is joy, but vigilance must not be lost."
"Li Ruobing."
"Here!" Li Ruobing instinctively snapped to attention.
"The helicopter doesn't need to be hangared. Keep it on the deck, maintaining hot standby at all times."
"Ensure full ammunition loadout. We'll likely be setting off fireworks tonight."
"Understood!"
"Yao Xue."
"I'm here."
"You're responsible for medical and logistics. Distribute the first aid kits."
"Though I doubt anyone can harm us, it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Also, keep an eye on Qian Qian. Don't let her hot-headedness send her charging out to feed the enemy."
"Understood." Yao Xue nodded.
"Yao Qian."
"Huh? I... I'm not hot-headed at all!" Yao Qian protested, puffing out her cheeks.
"Your task is the most critical."
Qin Yu pointed at the ten "Black Ant" robots positioned along the ship's railings.
"Take control of these ten little fellows."
"Set them to 'Active Annihilation' mode."
"Maximize radar power."
"If any living creature approaches within one hundred meters of our ship..."
"No need for authorization."
"Kill directly."
That word "kill" was spoken softly by Qin Yu.
But to the three women, it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
Yao Qian shrank her neck and nodded heavily.
"Got it, Brother Yu!"
"I guarantee not even a fly will get through!"
After arranging everything,
Qin Yu waved his hand.
"Alright, everyone attend to your duties."
"I need to check on my treasures too."
Having said that,
Qin Yu paid them no further mind, turning directly to head toward the luxurious master bedroom on the top floor.
Because at the very moment he had intimidated the crowd earlier,
that long-awaited prompt had finally sounded in his mind.
...
Returning to the bedroom,
Qin Yu locked the heavy soundproof door behind him,
shutting out all the noise outside.
He sat on the spacious leather sofa and let out a long sigh.
"System."
"Open panel."
[Ding! Host has successfully established dominance on the first day of server merger! Deterrence value has broken through the critical point!]
[Daily Lottery System Version 2.0 upgrade complete!]
Before Qin Yu's eyes,
the familiar blue interface had undergone subtle changes.
Where there was previously only a solitary "Click to Draw" button,
it had now become more complex and refined.
[Current System Level: Lv2]
[New Function: Fate's Accumulation (Targeted Draw)]
[Description: Host may choose not to consume the day's draw chance, instead "accumulating" it.]
[Rules as follows:]
[1. Accumulation Period: Minimum 3 days required to activate targeted draw function.]
[2. Targeted Selection: After activating targeted draw, host may specify resource categories (e.g.: Weapons, Vehicles, Living Supplies, Technology, Superpowers, etc.).]
[3. Critical Chance: The more days accumulated, the higher the prize pool level, with probability of obtaining rare (S-class and above) items increasing exponentially!]
[Example: Accumulate 3 days - guaranteed A-class or above targeted resources; accumulate 7 days - guaranteed S-class or above; accumulate 30 days...]
Qin Yu's eyes grew brighter as he read line after line of explanations.
Finally, he couldn't help but slap his thigh forcefully.
"Excellent!"
"Now this is a true golden finger!"
The previous daily lottery, while satisfying, had been too random.
But now things were different.
This "Accumulate" feature directly handed the initiative to him.
"Even if I don't draw for three days..."
"As long as I can get the category I want on the fourth day, that's a huge win."
Qin Yu stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Currently, the ship had ample supplies of food and drink.
In terms of weapons, with the armed helicopter and autocannon, conventional firepower was already more than sufficient.
For defense, there were the "Black Ant" robots and the "President's" own armor.
So where was the weak point?
Qin Yu's gaze grew profound.
Supernatural abilities.
Or self-enhancement.
No matter how powerful external tools were, they remained just that—external.
If this system could draw items that strengthened his own abilities, like that "Supernatural" category...
"The more time accumulated, the higher the level..."
Qin Yu looked at the "Draw Today" button on the panel, which was already lit up.
He fought back the itch to press it immediately.
"Hold back."
"A little impatience spoils great plans."
"Let's try accumulating for three days first."
"See what good stuff this targeted draw can give me."
Qin Yu took a deep breath.
And directly clicked the [Accumulate] button.
[Ding! Today's draw opportunity has been frozen!]
[Current accumulated days: 1.]
[Please keep it up, host. Patience is a hunter's greatest virtue.]
Looking at the number "1,"
Qin Yu smiled with satisfaction.
The system was teaching him that in this apocalypse, learning to endure and wait was often more important than blindly charging forward.
Just like those temporarily retreating hungry wolves outside.
The current wait
Was for a more lethal strike in the future.
...
Meanwhile.
In a sheltered bay about thirty nautical miles from the "President."
Dozens of rafts of various sizes were gathered in disarray.
Waves slapped against the sides of the boats, creaking and groaning.
On the largest ship, flying a black dragon-head flag,
The atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.
Zhang Nanhai sat in a master's chair draped with a tiger skin, idly rolling two iron balls in his hand.
The iron balls clacked together as they turned,
Making the surrounding underlings nervous.
"Dragon King..."
A man with a scarred face cautiously approached.
"We just tallied the numbers."
"About forty-plus boats retreated here with us."
"Another sixty or so are scattered in other directions, heading this way."
"But..."
The scarred man hesitated.
"But what?"
Zhang Nanhai didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice icy.
"But morale is really low."
"That display Qin Yu put on earlier was too frightening."
"Many are whispering that... it's like a god's power, something we can't possibly fight."
"Some captains even want... to leave the alliance and try their luck in other waters."
Clack!
Zhang Nanhai's hand suddenly stilled.
The two iron balls smashed together, sparks flying.
He raised his head.
His murky eyes were filled with menace.
"Want to leave?"
"Once you've entered my domain, do you think you can just walk away?"
He stood up and walked to the edge of the ship, looking down at the disheartened survivors below.
Among them were his original followers and newcomers from the newly merged zone whom he had forcibly recruited.
Now, fear was spreading.
If he didn't find a way to stop this decline, his "South Sea Fleet" would fall apart before it even got started.
Zhang Nanhai snorted coldly.
He pulled out a black walkie-talkie.
This was a high-quality device he had spent a fortune to acquire from the trading market, capable of covering the shortwave frequencies in this sea area.
"Everyone."
"Listen up."
His voice transmitted through the walkie-talkie to every nearby ship.
"I know you're scared."
"I'm scared too."
"That helicopter, one burst of its machine gun, and we'd all be turned into mincemeat."
Survivors on the surrounding ships exchanged glances, surprised that the usually arrogant Dragon King would admit fear?
But then.
Zhang Nanhai's tone shifted, becoming vicious and menacing.
"But!"
"Use your brains and think!"
"If we run, will we survive?"
"In this vast ocean, with no food or water."
"How long can the supplies you have last?"
"Three days? Or five?"
"When the food and water run out, we'll die anyway!"
"What does Qin Yu's ship have?"
"Meat! Alcohol! Women! Countless supplies!"
"It's a gold mine!"
Zhang Nanhai's voice was full of temptation, like a demon preaching.
"No matter how powerful Qin Yu is, there are only four of them."
"Including that little girl."
"Does the helicopter not need to sleep?"
"Does Qin Yu not need to sleep?"
"We have over a hundred ships! More than eight hundred brothers!"
"Even if he's a tiger, with so many of us wolves, we can bite him down to the bone with just one bite each!"
Restlessness began to stir among the crowd.
The flames of greed were reignited.
But some were still afraid.
"Dragon King... that's a machine gun... charging forward would be suicide..."
A timid voice came through the walkie-talkie.
Zhang Nanhai's eyes turned cold.
"Who's speaking? Report your position."
There was silence for a moment.
"I'm... from Squad 7..."
"Good."
Zhang Nanhai shot a glance at the scar-faced man beside him.
"Squad 7, attempted mutiny just now, disrupting morale."
"Kill them."
"Distribute their supplies to the brothers nearby."
"Keep the women."
The scar-faced man grinned viciously, drawing the machete from his waist.
"Understood!"
A few minutes later.
Piercing screams came from a nearby raft.
Then, blood stained the seawater.
Several corpses were thrown into the sea, immediately attracting a few mutated fish drawn by the scent.
Dead silence fell over the surrounding ships.
No one dared to utter another word of dissent.
Zhang Nanhai watched the scene with satisfaction and sat back in his chair.
Rewards and punishments.
This was his way of controlling people.
He picked up the walkie-talkie, his voice low.
"Did you all see that?"
"Follow me, and you'll eat well."
"This is the fate of deserters."
"Now."
"Everyone, listen up."
"Get all the grappling hooks and rope ladders ready."
"Prepare all the Molotov cocktails."
"We won't fight them head-on with firearms."
"Tonight at midnight."
"When the moon is covered by clouds."
"Everyone, wrap your oars in cloth, no noise."
"We'll use 'Ant Swarm Tactics'."
"All eight hundred charge together."
"As long as one person boards that ship."
"Qin Yu's doom."
"Will have arrived!"
Zhang Nanhai stared fixedly in the direction of the "President."
A cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"An S-class battleship?"
"After tonight."
"It'll be renamed the 'Dragon King Ship'!"
Night fell.
The sea at night was as dark as ink.
So pitch-black you couldn't see your own hand before your face.
The daytime clamor had completely subsided, leaving only the monotonous sound of waves lapping against the ship's hull.
Aboard the President.
The vessel was brightly lit.
Massive searchlights swept across the dark sea like twin blades.
But the ocean was vast.
Beyond the beams of light remained endless darkness.
In the dining room.
Qin Yu was leisurely cutting into a medium-rare steak.
His movements were elegant, as if completely unconcerned about the lurking danger outside.
"Brother Yu, everything's ready."
Yao Qian sat across from him holding a tablet, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the radar scan displayed on the screen.
"No large targets moving within five kilometers."
"But..."
Yao Qian wrinkled her small nose.
"There are many small interference waves."
"Like... many small wooden planks drifting."
Qin Yu speared a piece of beef and put it in his mouth.
Chewed.
Swallowed.
"Those aren't planks."
"Those are our 'guests'."
He picked up his wine glass and took a sip.
"It seems this Zhang Nanhai is quite clever."
"Knowing how to divide his forces."
"He wants to play infiltration warfare with me."
Li Ruobing sat nearby, cleaning a black submachine gun.
Hearing this, she let out a cold laugh.
"Infiltration?"
"Trying to infiltrate against thermal imaging?"
"Have these people not fully evolved yet?"
Qin Yu set down his glass.
His gaze sharpened.
"Don't be careless."
"When there are many people, there will always be some who slip through the net."
"And..."
Qin Yu turned to look out the window at the pitch-black night.
"If they dare to come."
"They must have something up their sleeves."
"Tell Yao Xue."
"Put away the sniper rifle."
"Switch to the flamethrower from the individual weapons cache."
"Tonight."
"I'm going to host a bonfire party."
"On this vast sea!"
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!