Endless Ocean: Escape Starting from a Canoe

Chapter 3: Obtain food, canned beef!
Ten minutes later, the stairs between the decks.

"You're quite good at seizing opportunities to rise to power." The exploration team leader, leading the two team members who had been forcibly awakened by the captain, looked at Shi Ming with a meaningful gaze and said with a hint of sarcasm. "You were able to easily subdue these two pieces of trash. Your skills are indeed quite good. If you can survive, you might actually become my subordinate."

"That would be my honor."

"Heh, let's focus on surviving first."

Shi Ming fully understood the captain's unspoken meaning—exploring new islands was an extremely risky undertaking, and in today's maritime world, unexplored islands were treasure troves, indeed rich in resources, and even capable of giving birth to strange and wondrous creatures... but they might also be inhabited by various powerful mutated sea beasts, posing unimaginable dangers.

Based on past data, the survival rate is no more than 30%.

Even expedition teams are unwilling to gamble with their lives on such extremely dangerous work. Usually, the most skilled personnel go first to confirm that there is no major danger before the exploration team goes ashore to explore and search for the resources needed by the drifting ship.

Slaves were also cannon fodder used as scouts.

Shi Ming didn't mind this. Even if he became cannon fodder, he was confident that he could burn himself into a ball of fire and send a grand cannonball back at the entire drifting ship.

What's more, he also has a cheat code that's reviving.

Before long, the four of them arrived at the slave quarters on the lowest deck.

open the door.

Of the original twenty people in the dark room, only eight remain. Besides the nine corpses that perished in the storm, there are two other slaves whose whereabouts are now unknown. They are most likely dead, or they were the kind of slaves who had lost their value as laborers and were thrown into the sea with holes punched in them. They have now become food for the fish.

The remaining eight slaves, after resting on a steamed bun, regained some of their energy and spirit.

"Listen up, you lot. From now on, you are all incorporated into the Vanguard Group, and he will be your acting group leader, responsible for overseeing your upcoming exploration work."

The slaves all looked at Shi Ming, their eyes filled with envy and a hint of fear.

The exploration team leader turned to look at Shi Ming.

"In an hour, you will be responsible for taking them to the island to conduct resource exploration and crisis assessment. I know you are a smart man with some skills, and I hope you can seize this opportunity to perform well. The captain's promise is not something everyone is entitled to. If you complete the mission well, you may indeed be able to get rid of your status as a slave."

The captain took out a bag of supplies from his waist pouch.

Because he was being escorted to the captain's cabin, Shi Ming did not receive any food during the previous distribution.

This is "compensation," or rather, "reward."

"You've never had such good food before, have you? Eat your fill so you can work better."

The exploration team leader turned and walked out of the dark room, slamming the rotten wooden door shut. Darkness and gloom once again invaded the small space. Fortunately, the only energy-saving light in the dark room was still on, adding a sliver of light to the dim room.

Two packs of biscuits, a can of food, and a bottle of water.

Having not eaten for a day and a night, even with his iron body, he was now a little hungry. After quickly devouring a bag of biscuits, Shi Ming picked up the heavy can of food and opened it without any hesitation in the dark room.

"Boom."

The enticing aroma, like a bomb, quickly filled the small space.

This is not vegetarian food, but a can of rich, succulent beef, a relatively rare commodity. Just smelling it is enough to make many slaves' mouths water.

For a moment, the sound of swallowing saliva rose and fell, like a strange symphony.

Shi Ming wasn't afraid of anyone trying to take it from him at this moment.

He's incredibly strong now; he could easily take down twenty of these people.

Eating canned food here wasn't about showing off or flaunting his privileges as the team leader—that was pointless. With the island's arrival approaching, he needed to be in top condition. In the current environment, his own strength was his only real asset. To have supplies and fight on an empty stomach—that would be foolish.

Coo coo, coo coo...

Without comparison, there is no harm. Those slaves who had just eaten a steamed bun suddenly felt even hungrier. But no one dared to make a move. They just silently lowered their heads, smelling the tempting aroma of meat, and fantasizing that they too could eat such a delicacy.

Some of them hadn't tasted meat for years, and some even had the strange idea that if they could eat a can of beef, it would be worth dying for.

Unfortunately, some people's lives may not even be as good as a can of beef.

……

Shi Ming ate about 70% full.

He casually tossed the empty can at his feet and began to adjust his mindset. He couldn't rely on these slaves—a bunch of guys who hadn't eaten for days and had only eaten one steamed bun. It would be good enough if they didn't drag him down. How could he expect anything from them?

If they encounter danger, he will not hesitate to abandon them.

The title of slave leader? Ha! Nobody takes it seriously.

As he was resting, he suddenly noticed a bald slave with a scar on his forehead staring at him—no, he should be staring at the tin can at his feet.

"Team leader... um..."

The bald slave's eyes were burning with desire.

Shi Ming understood the slave's intentions, and he sighed inwardly, then casually kicked the tin can at his feet away.

The slave was overjoyed and hurriedly rushed over, picking up the canned food with some soup still on it as if it were a priceless treasure. The other slaves, on the other hand, were filled with envy and regret, lamenting their own lack of foresight.

The bald slave was about to put the can of food in his mouth and start sucking when he seemed to remember something.

He hesitated for a moment, stuck out his tongue and licked the lid, then picked up the can and handed it to another slave who was covered in dirt and had a vacant look in his eyes.

"Here. It's delicious. Here you go."

……

……

……

After a long silence, Shi Ming took out the half of a moldy, stinky steamed bun from his pocket.

Because of this half-eaten bun, a person even lost their life.

He threw the half-eaten bun over there.

It was obvious that this disheveled slave hadn't received any food during the recent rationing and still looked like he was starving. Perhaps the staff had missed his share, or perhaps someone else had taken his supplies, but someone like that would only be a burden if he came down the island.

"Thank you, team leader, thank you, team leader."

The bald slave was so excited he almost knelt down, but Shi Ming waved his hand, closed his eyes slightly, and just wanted to rest quietly for a moment.

Inside the dark room, there was no sound except for the faint sounds of chewing and waves.

(End of this chapter)