Endless Ocean: Escape Starting from a Canoe

Chapter 342 The Secret of Black Gold

Two options?

The Nirvana offered two choices, and Beyoncé, the Black Gold Commander, chose the latter.
Shi Ming has roughly figured it out.

Fifteen years ago, Black Gold was beset by internal and external troubles. Its founder, Beyoncé, used the ultimate means to obtain aid from the Nirvana. In return, Beyoncé left Black Gold with the Nirvana "three months later" and has been missing ever since. Her whereabouts are still unknown.

The timing of "three months" is intriguing.

Could it be that the Nirvana spacecraft needs three months to return to Earth from space?
There was another point that puzzled Shi Ming.

That's what the Grand Commander looked like.

"Does the Second Commander have a photograph of your Commander-in-Chief?"

"photo?"

Although Sivir didn't understand why Shi Ming was so interested in these old stories, she nodded nonetheless.

From her beehive, she took out a device resembling a cell phone from the Land Age, and within half a minute, she pulled up a photograph. It showed a woman with wheat-colored skin, all her limbs intact, who looked like she was of mixed African and European descent, and in fact, she was.

She is said to be a descendant of the Fontaines who lived in Africa during their land-based era.

Aside from the age discrepancy, they look extremely similar.

"Could mechanical modification make people younger?"

With all four limbs severed and transformed into machines, the changes in age were not unacceptable. Just by looking at this photo, Shi Ming could confirm that the woman standing behind the captain of the Nirvana in the prophecy was the Black Gold Commander!
She addressed the captain of the Nirvana as "master"!
Is this the "price"?

The fact that this commander would rather lose himself than choose another path shows that the other price would be even more unacceptable.

Sivir was equally puzzled.

Inspector Shi was only twenty-two or twenty-three years old. He was undoubtedly born in an era of wandering and was just a seven or eight-year-old child fifteen years ago. Why would he be interested in these old stories that no one mentions now?

Does he have any relevant clues?

Or are you just curious why Black Gold doesn't have a Sailor?

She didn't investigate further.

The two chatted for a while longer.

Black Gold had no clue about the remaining Divine Revelation Stone Tablets. The scattered small stone tablets looked like ordinary stones in normal circumstances, and it was difficult to discover their value unless observed or probed up close.

The probability of finding it in the endless ocean is still too small.

During this exchange, after Black Gold promised not to conduct dangerous experiments on the remains of the Abyss Lord, Shi Ming indicated that he could sell them more of the Abyss Lord's remains.

They will be stationed in the Boiling Sea region to explore and develop this lost sea.

Other research findings also promised to be shared with Shi Ming as soon as possible.

After seeing the guests off.

Ah Jian's voice appeared in Shi Ming's mind.

"Owner."

“Her mental strength did not fluctuate abnormally, so she should not be lying. When I was suppressed these past two years, the black gold dossier that I saw through my mental strength did indeed record that its commander went out on a mission fifteen years ago, and there were no records after that.”

"As for the cone of destiny."

"Because of the seal on the sealing prison, I did not awaken my consciousness fifteen years ago. Therefore, I could not confirm whether such a sea beast really attacked Black Gold, and I cannot sense its existence now. I only understand the essence of this skill through some memories from my previous life."

No one wants to be someone who doesn't want to be the darling of fate.

Wishes come true; fate smiles upon them.

No one could resist playing a hacked version of Baldur's Gate on the endless ocean, where you can cheat at any time by rolling the dice.

Even Shi Ming, who possessed three Saint-level skills, coveted the Cone of Destiny. However, since Black Gold had sought help from the Nirvana, this sea beast had likely already been killed by the Nirvana, which had intervened in the Endless Ocean through the Skynet. But fate is also strange.

Even the Wheel of Fortune can find a low-probability tributary of fate, allowing one to turn defeat into victory; perhaps the Cone of Fate also has a way to escape.

If it manages to escape, and you encounter it, then kill it.

The matter of the Boiling Sea has been resolved. Next, Shi Ming needs to return to the Silent Sea to meet Ptolemy's envoy and obtain the golden mask of Natutankala.

The Universiade departs for its return journey.

The three-eyed golden crow stands atop the Grand Canal's watchtower, radiating golden light as it gazes upon the sea.

Ah Jian continued to huddle discreetly at Shi Ming's collar.

The crew of Da Yun are now all A-level or B-level Awakened. This group of crew members who have followed him the longest are now all considered elites on the endless ocean. Unbeknownst to many, his subordinate force has become first-rate.

Their high-end combat capabilities are unmatched.

……

……

……

"Inspector Shi, this is Ptolemy's apology."

He sincerely apologizes to you.

"He too was deceived by Jafar. Now that the ringleader is dead, Ptolemy will, as previously agreed with you, offer up all his personal wealth. The Pharaoh will abolish the captain system, establish a command center, and become a general-class drifting ship under Black Gold's command."

"I hope you can forgive his mistake when he was ignorant."

Shi Ming looked at the treasures that the "apology team" brought up.

The golden mask placed on the ornate tray is the Tutankhamun golden mask. Thirteen golden chests contain the Ptolemaic family's wealth. The 20000 Pure Crystals will be paid for in installments.

“Ptolemy was indeed clever.”

"Knowing he has offended too many people and is afraid of retaliation, he completely surrendered to Black Gold after suffering heavy losses. I won't interfere with these matters. Huang Qiang and Huang Pao, you two go and take stock of these Pure Crystals and treasures, and report back to me. Captain Abu, you can go back and report now."

Abu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your kindness."

After the treasure was handed over, Shi Ming picked up the mask and returned to the captain's cabin.

The Tutankhamun Golden Mask, ranked 54th among the artifacts.

"Eye of Destiny, gather intelligence."

Shi Ming also needs its detailed information.

[Beep~ Beep~]

[Intelligence being compiled...]

[Searching. Confirming detailed coordinates... Search successful, intelligence summary in progress... Intelligence generated:]

Tutankhamun's Golden Mask

[The golden mask worn by the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun after his death, hoping to enter the realm of the dead and gain the power of immortality through it. With the advent of the Age of Wandering, the dormant aura of death within it, accumulated over millennia, began to stir, endowing it with new power and abilities.]

Those who wear masks can conceal all traces of the living, walking through the realm of the dead as if they were inanimate objects.

Those who wear masks can maintain their current state and continue to survive without relying on air, food, energy, or anything else.

The person wearing the mask can see, through the mask's eye, what some creatures saw in their last three seconds before death.

(End of this chapter)