Endless Ocean: Escape Starting from a Canoe

Chapter 21 Nobune
Although the level 3 sailing suit can be upgraded again, the upgrade blueprint requires an additional material called "three-sided starfish," and the seaweed also needs to be "mutated seaweed," which is no longer ordinary seaweed.

These were materials that Shi Ming had never even heard of before.

Especially the three-sided starfish, even with the captain's authority, Shi Ming was unable to retrieve it from the ship's warehouse.

"It seems this garment can only be upgraded to level three today. Moreover, the upgrade function of the Creation Brain can only be used three times a day."

After trying out the functions of the Brain of Creation, Shi Ming deeply felt that although it could only be used three times a day, it was still a skill with infinite potential. It could not only upgrade his clothes, but also his sword, guns, tables and chairs... even the red wine on the table could be upgraded!

Shi Ming focused his attention on the red wine on the table.

Full-bodied red wine

【Level: 3】

Upgrade requires: 30 Sea Crystals, 1 High-Grade Sea Crystal

This bottle of wine is rated at level three from the start! It's the highest-grade item he's ever seen! No wonder it's a legendary vintage red wine worthy of being a collector's item!
He then looked at the pistol placed on the table.

Model 92B-2037 pistol

【Level: 2】

[A standard-issue pistol, but its power should not be underestimated; it was one of the most popular pieces of personal equipment in the old days.]

Upgrade requires: 1 High-Grade Sea Crystals, 3 Iron Ore

……

Looking at the lines of small text appearing on the panel, Shi Ming felt quite pleased. Although many things couldn't be upgraded due to a lack of materials, the very existence of the Brain of Creation gave him unlimited potential and possibilities.

Materials can be found, but not everyone has the ability to upgrade!

Shi Ming grew increasingly excited. He put on his newly upgraded clothes and prepared to take another stroll on the drifting ship to see if some of the ship's old equipment could be upgraded using the Brain of Creation.

Especially that food production equipment!

He didn't want to eat those dry, hard breads and canned food every day.

He went down to the second basement level.

This is where the ship's food production line is located. Because the previous captain wasn't very particular about his diet, this adrift ship only has three food production lines: steamed buns, biscuits, and canned food. The crew members can only obtain other nutrients through medication.

"The food on the ship is still too monotonous."

As a reborn individual from a great foodie empire, even a former special forces soldier like Shi Ming couldn't stand eating this kind of food every day.

He focused his attention on the production equipment and unleashed his creative potential.

[D3 Level Standard Food Production Line]

【Level: 1】

[A basic food production line can use the energy of sea crystals to break down ingredients and remanufacture them into standard food rations. Currently, it can produce steamed buns, biscuits, and canned goods. The resulting food has a limited flavor and only meets the body's daily needs.]

Upgrade requires: 100 Sea Crystals, 30 Iron Ore, and 1 Skynet Smart Chip.

The resources needed for this upgrade are far more than anything like red wine or clothes!
There is currently no shortage of sea crystals in the ship's inventory; the warehouse is full of them. There is also a lot of iron ore left over. This drifting ship does not currently have any facilities to consume iron ore. The former captain usually collected so much for trading purposes.

Both of these items are easy to obtain.

But is this SkyNet Smart Chip related to the SkyNet chips implanted in the crew members' brains?

Shi Ming called the warehouse manager via walkie-talkie.

...Basement level, crew rest area.

"Brother Huang, what do you think of this room? It's close to the captain's cabin, in a great location, and it even has a window! If you get tired, you can lie down on this side of the ship, look at the sea, and have a drink. It would be wonderful. Hehe."

“That’s good, we’ll stay here.”

"Okay, I'll register you right away."

Drop, drop.

The walkie-talkie hanging on the warehouse manager's waist rang.

He picked up the walkie-talkie, glanced at it, and quickly pressed the connect button.

"Captain, it's me, Lao Wang... You're in the warehouse now? Smart Chip? Never heard of it?... Wait, let me think. Right, I think we had some kind of smart chip in stock before, I don't know if it's what you need, I'll get it for you right away. Okay, please wait a moment."

The warehouse manager hung up the walkie-talkie.

"Captain, please make yourselves at home if you need anything. If you need anything else, just let me know."

Old Wang left the room where the crew members had just been registered and ran down the stairs. If anyone on the ship was the busiest today, it would definitely be him! He was responsible for assigning crew members to the slaves, arranging their registration rooms, and leading the captain on a tour of the warehouse. Now, the captain needed something, and he had to rummage through the warehouse to find materials for him.

But he didn't dare to utter a single complaint.

Everyone knows that being the warehouse manager is the most lucrative job on the entire ship. Now that the ship is adrift in turmoil, he must be cautious and proceed with caution to keep this lucrative position.

If you accidentally anger this young captain, he might just throw you into the sea and replace you with a trusted confidant as the warehouse manager, but no one will speak up for you.

……

While the warehouse manager was rummaging through boxes and cabinets, Shi Ming wandered around the boat alone.

"The pharmaceutical production equipment can be upgraded first. The drinking water purification equipment... well, it's enough."

"The equipment and ecosystem inside the drifting ship is quite complete, it can be considered a small society. Almost all the infrastructure you can think of is here. Although it is not very advanced, it can meet your daily needs."

Though small, it has all the vital organs. This drifting ship, though only of the silver level, represents the pinnacle of human technology. It is precisely because of this that it can serve as a safe haven for preserving the human race, allowing humanity to continue to survive on this blue planet after the land has sunk.

It's unknown who was in charge of building these 100001 drifting ships as the end of the world approached.

Speaking of which, I also have an even more advanced "Gold-class drifting ship," which is quietly sitting in the warehouse.

I'll examine it tonight and see what's so special about it. How can something so small reach the gold level?!
……

"Captain! We've found it! Look, isn't this the chip you need?"

The warehouse clerk carried a box down from a storage shelf. The box was open, and Shi Ming immediately saw that it contained a palm-sized, irregularly shaped electronic chip.

"Is it possible to trace its origin?"

"Let me check the inventory records... Oh, it's from about six months ago, during a battle with another random ship. The former captain looted it from their ship, and then threw it, along with a lot of other spoils, into the warehouse, and nobody cared about it... If it weren't for you today..."

The warehouse clerk stopped halfway through his sentence, then looked at Shi Ming with a strange expression.

Shi Ming naturally noticed these subtle actions.

"Speak directly if you have anything to say."

"...Captain, have you forgotten? You too...were captured from that wild ship and then became a slave...Oh, bah! It was all because of that blind former captain who mistook an awakened being like you for a slave!"

(End of this chapter)