Chapter 270: Boarding the Ship
Chapter 270: Boarding the Ship
Following Tan Zhi's gesture, Chen Chuan surveyed the ship, estimating its length to be nearly 300 meters with twelve decks, and its entire body was a blend of blue and white.
On the sea at night, the lighting inside the ship and the external effect lights converged, reflecting off the seawater and creating a dreamy atmosphere.
The bow of the ship was relatively heavy, with a slightly raised and curved end, resembling a short, curved horn at the nose, which might be the origin of the ship's name.
"The Rhinoceros Horn Cruise Ship can accommodate three thousand tourists and has over fifteen hundred service staff. It's only stopping here at Ji Yang Port for three days, and we have a whole day to explore. I heard there are several matches today, including participants from our Wu Yi Academy, but you know how it is."
Tan Zhi shrugged as he spoke.
Chen Chuan recalled the words Wu Laoshi had shared with him about the non-affiliated students of Wu Yi Academy participating in various arena battles and entertainment events, which were well-received by the citizens of Central City. However, Chen Chuan had not witnessed such competitions yet, as he had only recently arrived in Central City.
"Today, we'll just wander around after boarding. Tomorrow, there's an event you'll definitely be interested in. It's said to be a high-level fighting competition featuring a Third Limit Fighter."
Chen Chuan was surprised. "A Third Limit Fighter in a fighting competition?" Most Third Limit Fighters held a certain status, and he rarely heard of them participating in such competitions.
"Not all Third Limit Fighters are willing to sell their lives to companies and the government."
Tan Zhi's tone unintentionally revealed his disdain for companies and the government. "Do you know about the Wilderness Sect? It's a fighting sect far removed from the civilized world.
They believe that fighters can only embrace true power by abandoning the advantages of civilization, immersing themselves in the wilderness, fighting beasts, competing with their peers, and forging themselves with the power of nature.
This group doesn't reject external communication and often invites other fighters to join them in training or combat. They also accept invitations from other fighters.
One of the fighters in this battle is from the Wilderness Sect.
The other fighter is sent by the company, and it's said to be an implantee with a compatibility rate of over ninety percent, known as a tamed implanted fighter."
"Tamed?"
Tan Zhi explained, "It's just a gimmick. It's about the compatibility between the implant and the implantee. Those with low compatibility often have to take anti-alteration drugs, and their performance is limited.
But with enough numbers, there will be a few who perfectly match the implants. The company needs these individuals to demonstrate the quality of their products to the market, so they're willing to promote this fight.
However, the Wilderness Sect refuses to set foot on Central City's land, so this battle is arranged on a cruise ship. It's a clash between civilization and barbarism, making it quite intriguing."
Chen Chuan paused for a moment, thinking that it was indeed rare to have the opportunity to witness a battle between Third Limit Fighters. He asked, "Is it tomorrow?"
"Yes, unless something unexpected happens, it's tomorrow. Just wait there, and you'll be fine. It's said that many of Central City's upper echelons will be watching this match."
Chen Chuan asked, "Will they understand what's happening?"
In a Third Limit fight, even without considering techniques, the average person's neural response wouldn't be able to discern specific movements, and they could only join the excitement.
Tan Zhi explained, "I heard that these two fighters will battle in an aquarium, where the water resistance will slow down their movements. Moreover, the nearby sea isn't far from Central City, so the Interface Token won't be interrupted. It will filter out the water ripples and bubbles for us.
Oh, and there might be some domain hyperfrequency processing to allow people to temporarily accept more information, although it may cause nausea and dizziness afterward, but it can be overcome with medication."
As the two chatted, they were getting closer to the port. Chen Chuan gazed out to sea and noticed many ships docked nearby. When he spotted a particular ship, his gaze paused.
It was also a cruise ship, and he had seen it on the Handling Bureau's platform before. It's the Palace Family's True Treasure Cruise Ship.
Was this ship still here?
He immediately checked the Handling Bureau's platform, which showed that the Palace Family was still in negotiations with Yuan An Corporation, hence the temporary stay.
According to the information he had obtained, the Palace Family's original itinerary didn't include Central City of the Ji North Road, and they had come here to rescue stranded people at sea. However, given the extended stay, it seemed their original sailing plan had been canceled.
The car arrived at a parking lot filled with luxury vehicles, where Tan Zhi parked and led Chen Chuan to a ship docked nearby. This ship was one of the Rhinoceros Horn Cruise Ship's dedicated vessels for transporting passengers.
Once they boarded and settled in, the engine roared, and the ship's hull carved a curved white line on the water's surface, speeding towards the cruise ship amidst the splashing waves.
Chen Chuan and Tan Zhi arrived at the cruise ship, a massive vessel that dominated the entire field of vision. A simple lift hung above, and they were led up by a crew member along with other passengers.
After a short while, they reached an open platform on the side of the ship, where fully-armed security personnel and staff were stationed. Tan Zhi took out an invitation card and used the Interface Token to access the communication interface.
After both parties checked and confirmed there were no issues, the security personnel opened the roadblock, and the staff respectfully bowed and invited them in.
The two walked out through a passage from the internal inspection point, stepping up the stairs to the spacious deck outside. Standing there, facing the sea breeze, they could see the vast ocean around them and half of the port behind them. Above, the night sky was filled with countless stars, and they were enveloped in a bright glow.
Tan Zhi turned back and said, "How does it feel? It's great, right? The room is booked. Let's put our things down, have a bite to eat, and then watch some shows."
Chen Chuan replied with a yes.
Led by a crew member, they entered a narrow cabin corridor through a deck passage and found rooms numbered 1453 and 1454.
Chen Chuan's room was 1453. He entered a long cabin, approximately twenty square meters, with a balcony outside offering a direct view of the sea and Central City.
He placed his luggage bag in the closet near the door, slid the sliding door shut, and then went to the bathroom across from the closet to wash his face in front of the mirror. He then exited the bathroom.
As for the Thunderbolt Gun and Snow Lady Sword, he still carried them with him, never leaving his side.
After a while, Tan Zhi also came out, now dressed in an imported formal suit, with a ceremonial sword hanging at his waist. After closing the door, he called out, "Let's go, let's get something to eat first."
The two left the cabin and headed to the deck outside, where they soon reached the dining area. Under the shade was a long bar, and lively music with a strong beat filled the air, mixed with the scent of alcohol and desserts. The surrounding crowd was bustling, and the lively atmosphere made their footsteps lighter.
Two attendants opened the restaurant door for them, and they entered. A server approached, took their order, and led them past several crystal candle towers to a table for four.
Tan Zhi seemed to be contacting someone at the moment, and after a while, he said, "Ha, they're also on board. Let's order first, they'll be here soon."
After they sat down, a menu appeared on the Interface Token, and they each ordered their meals.
For appetizers, Tan Zhi ordered a bowl of Moi Onion Soup, Machi Cheese Crumbles, Lemon Juice Scallops, and a plate of Fresh Salmon Slices. For drinks, he ordered a glass of Honey Milk.
Chen Chuan looked at the menu and ordered Spring Rolls, Crystal Shrimp, Shiitake Chicken Soup, and a dish of Crispy Tofu. For drinks, he casually ordered a glass of Candied Purple Sweet Potato Drink.
At this moment, a man and a woman approached them, both wearing Wu Yi Academy uniforms and carrying two rapiers. They appeared to be siblings, with the female student exuding a more mature aura and the male student looking a couple of years younger and more lively.
Tan Zhi chuckled and said, "You think they're siblings? No, they're actually just good friends. There's no romantic involvement between them; they just get along well and often train together."
"But their families don't get along, and they thought they were dating. To prove they weren't, they went and got their faces done without telling their families, making them look like siblings. But this only made their families, who didn't know the truth, even more annoyed. We almost died laughing back then."
As they approached, Chen Chuan stood up with Tan Zhi. The male student came forward and shook Chen Chuan's hand, saying, "Hello, Chen Chuan. I'm Pan Xiaode, and she's Qi Huixin. And I must emphasize, we're not siblings."
"Tan Zhi explained it to me, but after Pan Xiaode confirmed it in person, my trust in him increased a bit more," Chen Chuan said.
Pan Xiaode couldn't help but laugh. After the greetings, they both sat down and started ordering.
Qi Huixin seemed quiet and introverted, while Pan Xiaode was talkative and seemed very outgoing. Their personalities were clearly different, and it was a mystery how they got along so well.
Pan Xiaode turned to Chen Chuan and said eagerly, "Chen Chuan, I heard you didn't get recommended but earned your spot. How about we go practice after we're done eating?"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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