Chapter 270: Boarding the Ship
Chapter 270: Boarding the Ship
Following Tan Zhi's gesture, Chen Chuan surveyed the cruise ship, estimating its length to be nearly 300 meters with twelve decks, all painted in a blue and white color scheme.
On the dark sea, the ship's internal lighting and external effect lights combined to create a dreamy atmosphere, reflecting off the water's surface.
The bow of the ship was sturdy, with a slightly upturned and tapered end resembling a short, curved horn, perhaps the origin of its name.
"The Rhinoceros Horn Cruise can accommodate up to 3,000 tourists and has over 1,500 service staff. It's only stopping at Ji Yang Port for three days, and we have a whole day to explore. Today, there are several events, and some of our nominal students from Wu Yi Academy will be participating. You know what I mean."
Tan Zhi shrugged as he spoke.
Chen Chuan recalled the words Wu Lao had shared with him about Wu Yi's external students participating in various arena fights and entertainment matches. These competitions were said to be popular among Central City residents, but Chen Chuan had yet to witness one during his short time in the city.
"Today, we'll just wander around, and tomorrow there's an event you'll definitely be interested in. It's said to be a high-level fighting match featuring a Third Limit fighter, and you'll surely find it intriguing."
Chen Chuan was surprised, "A Third Limit fighter in a fighting match?" 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 souls to the companies and the government."
Tan Zhi's tone unintentionally revealed his disdain for both the companies and the government, "Have you heard of the Wilderness Faction? They're a fighting group that stays away from civilization. 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 natural forces."
This group wasn't reclusive; they often invited other fighters to join them in training or combat and accepted invitations from others as well.
One of the fighters in this upcoming match was from the Wilderness Faction.
The other fighter was sent by a company and was said to be an Implant with a compatibility rate of over 90%, earning the title of a tamed fighting master."
"Tamed?"
Tan Zhi explained, "It's just a marketing gimmick. It's about the compatibility between the Implant and the recipient. Those with low compatibility often have to take anti-alteration drugs, and they can't utilize their full potential.
But with enough numbers, there will be a few individuals who perfectly match the Implant. The company needs these people to prove the quality of their products to the market, so they intentionally seek them out."
The Wilderness Faction refuses to set foot in Central City, so this match is taking place on the cruise ship. It's a battle between civilization and savagery, and it's definitely worth watching."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. If it was indeed a match between Third Limit fighters, it would be a rare opportunity to witness. He asked, "Is it tomorrow?"
"Yes, unless something unexpected happens. The specific time is being kept secret, but we'll be there when it begins. Apparently, some of Central City's elite will be watching the match."
Chen Chuan inquired, "Will they understand what's going on?"
In a Third Limit fight, even basic moves would be too fast for regular people's nerves to comprehend, let alone the intricacies of techniques. At most, they could only enjoy the excitement.
Tan Zhi explained, "This time, the two fighters will be battling inside an aquarium, where the water resistance will slow them down. Moreover, we're not far from Central City, so the Boundary Token won't be interrupted. It will filter out the splashes and bubbles caused by the fight.
Oh, and there might be some field frequency processing to allow people to temporarily process more information. Although it may cause nausea and dizziness afterward, medication can alleviate these symptoms."
As they chatted, the port came into view. Chen Chuan glanced out to sea and noticed numerous docked ships in the nearby harbor. One particular vessel caught his attention.
It was another cruise ship, the Palace Clan's "True Treasure Cruise," which he had seen on the Processing Bureau's platform.
Was this ship still here?
He quickly checked the Processing Bureau's platform, which showed that the Palace Clan was still negotiating with the Yian An Corporation and had not yet departed.
According to the information he had gathered, the True Treasure Cruise was not originally scheduled to stop at Central City in Ji Bei Province. It had only come to rescue those stranded at sea, but now, with such a prolonged stay, it seemed the original itinerary had been altered.
The car pulled into a parking lot filled with luxury vehicles. Tan Zhi parked and led Chen Chuan to a pier where speedboats were docked, specifically assigned to transport passengers to and from the Rhinoceros Horn Cruise.
After boarding a speedboat and settling in, the engine roared to life, leaving a curved white trail on the water's surface as it sped towards the cruise ship amidst the splashing waves.
Chen Chuan could see that it wasn't just them; speedboats were departing from the pier from time to time, all heading towards the cruise ship.
As their speedboat approached the massive vessel, it dominated their entire field of view. A simple elevator was lowered from above, carrying them and other passengers onboard.
After a short while, the two of them reached an open platform on the side of the ship. Fully armed security and service personnel stood on both sides. Tan Zhi directly produced an invitation card and used his Boundary Token to access the communication interface.
Both parties checked and confirmed there were no issues. The security personnel opened the blocked barrier, and the service staff respectfully bowed and invited them in.
The two of them exited through the internal inspection passage and stepped onto the spacious deck outside, climbing the stairs to the upper level. Standing there, they faced the sea breeze, with a vast ocean surrounding them and more than half of the port behind them. Above their heads was a starry night sky, and around them was a bright glow enveloping the ship.
Tan Zhi turned back and said, "How does it feel? Pretty good, right? The guest rooms are already booked. Let's put our things down, have a bite to eat, and then watch some shows."
Chen Chuan responded.
Led by a steward, 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 20 square meters, with a balcony offering a direct view of the sea and Central City.
He placed his luggage 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. He then exited the bathroom.
As for the Thunderbolt and Snowjun Blade, he still carried them on his person, never leaving them behind.
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
After a while, Tan Zhi also came out, wearing an imported suit and a ceremonial sword hanging from his waist. After closing the door, he called out to Chen Chuan, "Let's go and get something to eat first."
The two of them left the cabin and headed to the deck outside. After a few steps, they reached the dining area. Under the shade was a long bar, with upbeat and rhythmic music playing. The air was filled with the aroma of alcohol and desserts, and people were bustling around, creating a lively atmosphere.
Two waiters 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. After a while, he said, "Ha, they're also on board. Let's order our food first. They'll be here soon."
The two of them sat down, and the ordering interface appeared on their Boundary Tokens. They each ordered their meals.
For the appetizer, Tan Zhi ordered a bowl of Moi Onion Soup, Machi Cheese Crumbles, Lemon Juice Scallops, and a plate of Fresh Salmon Slices. For the drink, he ordered a glass of Honey Milk.
Chen Chuan looked at the menu and ordered Spring Rolls, Crystal Shrimp, Shiitake Chicken Thread Soup, and a plate of Crispy Tofu. For the drink, he randomly ordered a glass of Purple Sweet Potato Drink.
At this moment, a man and a woman approached them. Chen Chuan and Tan Zhi stood up to greet them. The male student came forward and shook Chen Chuan's hand, saying, "Hello, Chen. I'm Pan Xiaode, and this is Qi Huixin. I want to emphasize that we're not siblings."
Chen Chuan said, "Tan explained it to me, but after your confirmation, my trust in you has increased."
Pan Xiaode couldn't help but laugh. After the greetings, they sat down and started to order their meals.
Qi Huixin seemed quiet and introverted. Pan Xiaode did most of the talking, appearing very lively. Their personalities were clearly different, and it was hard to imagine how they became such good friends.
Pan Xiaode turned to Chen Chuan and said eagerly, "Chen, I heard you didn't get a recommendation but earned your spot. How about we go for some practice after we finish eating?"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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