Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Chapter 41 In search of boats [1]

"You two looking for a boat?"

A thin man slunk out from the shadows, his bony fingers rubbing together as he grinned. His teeth were yellowed, his eyes sharp and calculating.

Ace barely glanced at him. "Yeah. A boat for two."

The man chuckled—a low, raspy, grinny laugh that sent a faint shiver down Liu Mei's spine.

"Alright, I'll help you find one for fifty gold coins.."

Ace stared at him. Then he let out a slow, deliberate sigh.

"Listen here, whatever you think we are," he said, voice dripping with unimpressed annoyance, "we're not gullible. Now shoo."

The man clicked his tongue in irritation. "Tch. Bunch of fools."

Muttering under his breath, he slunk away into the shadows.

Liu Mei watched him leave, her brows furrowed.

"Master... what was that?"

"Ignore him. Just a scammer trying his luck."

"But Master, will we actually find a boat?"

Ace didn't answer immediately. Because at this point, boats were the least of his worries.

His mind kept circling back to the system's ominous warning.

What was in that ocean? What kind of danger prompted even the system to freak out?

Last time he didn't dare confront it.

What gave him the courage to confront now?

His eyes drifted toward the water, its surface deceptively calm under the morning light.

But something was definitely lurking beneath.

And that was going to be a problem.

Ace and Liu Mei spent the next half-hour searching for a boat, but every answer was the same.

"The sea's been restless around Dark valley."

"Not taking Dark Valley passengers today."

"If you're smart, you won't try to cross Dark Valley around this time of the month."

No matter who they asked, the response was either a nervous shake of the head or a sharp refusal.

Even the few boatmen who had seemed eager at first—rubbing their hands together at the thought of easy coin—shut down the moment they realized where they wanted to go.

Ace sighed, rubbing his temple. "So nobody wants to take us across? No one at all?"

An old fisherman, hunched over and smelling of salt and rum, gave him a long, pitying look before spitting to the side.

"Boy, you must have a death wish."

Ace stiffened. That was the second time someone implied that crossing the sea meant certain death.

"50 gold. Take it or leave it."

Ace stared at the rusted keys in the drunk man's hand, feeling his palms grow sweaty.

50 gold coins. A bargain.

Too much of a bargain.

His gut screamed "BAD IDEA!" but the voice in his head? Oh, the voice was having a field day.

"Take it. Take it. Take it."

Ace frowned. "What? No. I'm not taking it."

"Take it."

"No!"

"Take it, you coward."

Ace clenched his jaw. "Coward? Excuse me?! I'm being reasonable!"

"You're being scared."

Ace scoffed. "I am not scared. I am just... strategically hesitating."

"Oh? So if a divine beast appeared and offered you a golden boat, you'd take it without question?"

Ace smirked. "Of course! That's different."

"And yet, a random drunk offers you a boat, and you suddenly grow a brain?"

Ace faltered. "That's... that's not fair."

"What happened to your adventurous spirit? Your daring nature? Your thirst for—"

"I NEVER HAD THOSE!" Ace internally screamed.

Meanwhile, Liu Mei watched him, head tilted. "Master... Why are you making that face?"

Ace blinked. "What face?"

"You look like you're trying to swallow a very large bug."

Ace sighed dramatically. "Mei'er, I am at war with myself."

She nodded sagely. "Oh. Well, good luck."

The voice in his head was relentless.

"You came all this way just to watch a tournament, and now look at you. Worrying about some little 'mystery danger' in the ocean. Weak. Pathetic."

Ace groaned. "I just wanted to see a bunch of overpowered freaks beat each other up! That's it! Why am I suddenly debating my own mortality?!"

"Because you're a protagonist, dumbass. You own a system."

Ace nearly choked on air. "WHAT?!"

Liu Mei blinked. "What?"

"Nothing!" Ace waved her off, cursing the omnipotent peanut gallery living rent-free in his brain.

The drunk man tapped his foot impatiently. "Well? You buyin' or not?"