Chapter 1 A Big Harvest

Under the stunned gazes of everyone, Su Lun conjured a three-masted sailing ship out of thin air.

Everyone no longer needed to soak in the sea, and they all cheerfully boarded the ship.

Thanks to the information obtained by Tani from the fish, they scoured the nearby waters again and found a few more Mechanical Octopi.

Including the previous ones, they had captured a total of forty-three this time.

It could be described as a great harvest.

Not to mention the labor and technical costs, the material cost alone for each Mechanical Octopus exceeded one hundred million Resso.

This wave of spoils directly saved Su Lun billions in costs and saved him one or two months of sleepless production time.

Moreover, now the Mechanical Octopus legion was of considerable size, and it truly had collective combat power.

Now there were forty-eight in total, and the materials in hand could still produce a few more. By then, Su Lun could also, like that guy before, directly confront an entire fleet.

With these Mechanical Octopi, which were the bane of ships, dozens of them attacking together were simply the nightmare of all warships.

Su Lun also felt that the "Mechanical Puppet Legion" route he had once envisioned finally seemed to see a glimmer of formation.

Not to mention other mechanical monsters, just these Mechanical Octopi, if there were another thousand of them, wouldn't it be like a plague of locusts, gods blocking would be killed, and demons would be destroyed?

Although mechanical products didn't perform well in the realm of high-level professionals, they could ultimately cause qualitative changes through quantity.

If a thousand wasn't enough, then ten thousand...

Su Lun felt that the future was promising.

As for how to get ten thousand Mechanical Octopi, he also had a "clue."

Besides the spoils, perhaps the greatest gain this time was that piece of intelligence.

He had obtained information about Duke Raphael's secret research base!

Qiantiao and the others, upon hearing this news, all said that they must find an opportunity to hit it. The people of Old Lingdun had been "miners" for generations and harbored some resentment towards the mine owners.

Su Lun also thought it was feasible.

After all, they were pirates now!

What if they could realize their dream of a mechanical legion in one fell swoop?

......

The Dawnbreaker Company had changed to a new ship, which was less conspicuous.

Even if they were to encounter that group from the “Frost Moon Princess” again, they wouldn’t be immediately recognized.

The crew members were in high spirits, all busy salvaging things from the previous sunken ship, and then helping to paint and tidy up the cabins. Several captains were also arranging for the crew members to find their own cabins and prepare for the post-battle celebration party.

The "New Dawn" sailed, while they continued to search the sea for crew members lost in the storm.

Those trivial matters naturally didn't require Su Lun to worry about.

On the deck, he was enjoying the sea breeze with Qiantiao.

Luo Luota, holding her sword, stood beside them.

This little girl now followed her teacher at all times, sensing the mysterious sword intent of the "Sword Saint Realm."

Tani also stood silently beside Su Lun, staring at the sea.

Enjoying the breeze was one thing, but Su Lun was more interested in seeing if he could pick up a few "fish that slipped through the net" in the sea.

This kind of attack, which was like a pie falling from the sky, was as good as it could get.

After all, who knew how much of Duke Raphael's influence had infiltrated?

......

The excitement on Tani's face hadn't dissipated for a long time.

This new crew member of the Dawnbreaker Company seemed extremely serious and full of energy. He gazed at the sea, carefully sensing everything around him, listening to the responses of the sea beasts.

This was the first time Tani had taken on such an important task on a large sea ship. He felt that he couldn't let everyone down and had to do a good job as the Dawnbreaker Company's chief navigator.

Su Lun looked on, a hint of contemplation appearing in his eyes.

They had encountered two fierce battles today. Because the plan was meticulous, the Dawnbreaker Company didn't suffer much loss.

But the actual process was also fraught with danger. A slight misstep could have resulted in total annihilation.

Moreover, this kind of situation would become more frequent in the future.

For the old members of the company, everyone knew this situation; but for a new crew member, Su Lun felt that some things should be explained.

The Dawnbreaker Company was free to come and go, with almost no restrictions.

If anyone felt tired and didn't want to wander anymore, they would also receive a severance payment.

But since Qiantiao led that group of old members of the "Cross Society" from the beginning, no one had ever left except for those who died in battle.

Looking at Tani's slightly immature face, Su Lun thought for a moment and took the initiative to speak, "Tani, I was too preoccupied with the battle before, and I haven't asked for your opinion... By the way, what do you think of our Dawnbreaker Company?"

After all, they hadn't known each other for too long. Su Lun's initial invitation to Tani was just a transaction.

Using the potion that would help his mother temporarily slow down her petrification as a condition to complete this defection plan.

Su Lun also saved himself too much trouble because of this correct decision.

But from beginning to end, he hadn't asked Tani himself if he really wanted to stay in this team for a long time.

After all, this person's identity and background were also somewhat special.

Hearing Su Lun's words, Tani's face instantly filled with panic. He thought he had done something wrong and asked uneasily, "Mr. Su Lun, what... what do you mean by that? Did I do something wrong?"

In the past, when he followed other pirate groups, he was always ostracized and neglected by those mean pirates. Especially his special "cursed physique," after encountering storms at sea, he was always disliked and cursed.

At this moment, he thought he had done something wrong.

After all, if it weren't for the previous storm, those crew members wouldn't have fallen into the water.

Su Lun looked at his anxious face, smiled, and explained, "What I mean is, our Dawnbreaker Company is not an ordinary pirate group. In the future, we may do many meaningful things, take risks in very dangerous places, and face many battles, just like today. The future journey will be full of dangers."

Speaking of this, he paused for a moment and added, "Although our Dawnbreaker Company really needs an excellent navigator like you, we also need to respect your opinion. This is not a transaction; we need a partner who can share life and death with us."

"I'm willing!"

Before he could finish speaking, Tani nodded without hesitation.

He then said very quickly, "Mr. Su Lun, my dream is to become a navigator and adventurer! To go on adventures in the sea, to explore unknown waters, I'm not afraid of any danger..."

As he spoke, he seemed to realize that he was too excited, and his confidence was somewhat lacking, so he weakly added, "If possible... I... I... I want to become everyone's partner."

Hearing this, Su Lun's lips slightly curved upward, "Yes."

He didn't speak. Luo Luota, who was beside him, looked at Tani's cautious expression, patted him on the shoulder boldly, and said, "Hey, hey, our navigator, you don't have to be so restrained. Mr. Su Lun is actually very kind and easy to talk to. Also... we're not like those dirty pirate groups. Now that we're partners, no one on the ship will bully you."

She herself came from the slave gladiatorial arena, so how could she not understand the mentality of someone who had been bullied and ostracized for a long time, someone who was very sensitive and afraid of doing something wrong and then losing the little bit of "happiness" that they had just obtained.

Hearing Luo Luota's words, Tani seemed to have heard the things he most desired in his heart. He bit his lower lip and nodded very seriously, "Yes."

......

Finally confirming the intention of the Dawnbreaker Company's chief navigator also counted as settling a major matter.

Some broken debris was floating on the sea, and the rescue was also proceeding in an orderly manner.

Speaking of this, Su Lun thought of another matter and asked, "Tani, did your mother tell you who your father is?"

Hearing the sudden mention of his father, whom he had never met, Tani's expression became very depressed, "No..."

After a moment of thought, he added, "My mother said that my father is a very powerful big shot. I can only know his name when I am strong enough. Otherwise, it will bring me trouble."

"..."

Hearing this, Su Lun didn't know whether he should tell him his speculation.

After all, that "Pirate King" Sam Bellamy was truly one of the people who stood at the pinnacle of that era.

It was better to be cautious about recognizing one's father.

Otherwise, what if he guessed wrong?

With a thought, Su Lun only said the information he had identified, "I felt a mysterious force connected to your bloodline in that [Cursed Gold Coin] in your hand. It will protect you and keep you away from bad luck. Perhaps... it was left by your father."

Hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed across Tani's face.

But he thought of another matter and took out his gold coin and the other two that Su Lun had given him, "My mother didn't say where these gold coins came from. But when I was very young, she told me that only those favored by fate could get these three Cursed Gold Coins. She also said that if I meet someone who brings the other two gold coins to find me, that is the person I can trust, and I can go on adventures with him!"

Hearing this, Su Lun smiled and thought to himself: It really takes great luck to get these two gold coins.

Just then, Tani suddenly thought of something. He rubbed the three gold coins in his palm and blew on them. Incredibly, the three gold coins suddenly glittered with a golden light under the sunlight.

Su Lun keenly captured this change and let out a soft exclamation.

Suddenly, an even more magical scene appeared.

Like a rainbow after a storm, a virtual sea chart appeared before their eyes.

The sea chart showed a scene of a blue ocean. A closer look revealed that the black dots the size of sesame seeds were actually islands. It was as if they were overlooking this sea from a very, very high place. The map meticulously marked many named islands, as well as storm zones, dangerous sea areas, and areas where sea monsters appeared.

Bristol Trench, Alterac Volcano, Cenarius Chaotic Wind Zone, Burning Sea, Narachi Nightmare Ghoul...

One landmark name after another appeared before their eyes.

Many were "death seas" that made people change color and that no one had ever set foot in.

"This..."

Su Lun's expression froze as he looked.

Because at this moment, the names of the three Cursed Gold Coins in his eyes had also changed, actually becoming [Black Sam's World Sea Chart]!

[Black Sam's World Sea Chart]

Details: A virtual map made of special memory material; the sea chart personally drawn by the Pirate King Sam Bellamy, he drew the traces of his life's adventures in the sea on this sea chart; this is a very special alchemical item that can record coordinates, record terrain, climate, wind direction, ocean currents...

.......

Looking at the changed three gold coins in front of him, Su Lun realized what the Pirate King had left behind.

Such a magical alchemical sea chart was definitely a navigation artifact!

It allowed the map to no longer be limited to strokes on paper, but a truly visible bird's-eye view of the real scene... a sea area diorama!

Tani had obviously just tried it on a whim and didn't know that these three gold coins would have such a magical phenomenon. He stammered, "This... I... I don't know why this appeared."

But looking at the accurate, shocking, and real-scene sea chart, he also saw the value of this alchemical item and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Good heavens, it records so many places... many of which are unknown sea areas that have never been recorded on any sea chart!"

No treasure could make a navigator more excited than to have a map that they didn't know about.

The coordinates marked on the sea chart almost covered the entire Luying Empire, the Maha Empire, the Arctic Ice Plains, the Four Northern Nations, the Western Sea Islands, the South Sea... all known human territories.

"So this is what the world is like..."

There was also unparalleled shock in Su Lun's eyes.

He still remembered how shocked he was when he saw the world map for the first time in his previous life.

Just like now, he was seeing the "world map" of this world for the first time.

He thought that the Four Northern Nations Archipelago, which was very, very large, was just a grain of sesame on this sea chart.

The Arctic Ice Plains where the Silent Forest was located was the edge of the ice plains on the map...

Even the three large islands of the Luying Empire were only the size of a fingernail.

This sea chart marked too many place names and even more areas that Su Lun had never heard of.

What secrets did the Western Sea, where Black Sam ultimately shipwrecked, hold?

What was beyond the west?

Did the sea have an end?

Where did the endless mountains east of the Maha Empire lead?

How wide was the endless ice plain in the North Sea?

Was this plane round or infinitely extending?

...

One question after another popped up.

Su Lun didn't know how to describe his feelings. His heart was shocked.

Seeing this sea chart, a thought uncontrollably emerged from his heart.

This world is big, and I want to see it.

He had an urgent impulse to take a boat to explore and unlock the secrets of those "fog zones"... and then mark them on this map.

As if in this way, he would truly leave his footprints on this world.

No matter what the ending of life was, it would prove that he had once been here.

......

Tani, as a professional navigator, obviously saw the value of this map even more, and he was also shocked beyond words.

Seeing that Su Lun and Qiantiao were both looking at him, he explained, "I didn't know there was a sea chart in this gold coin before. And... and then after I could continue to hear the voices of the sea beasts, I thought I could try it. And then, it became like this..."

"Yes."

Su Lun had a guess in his mind.

It seemed that this was a secret that could only be unlocked after awakening his talent?

He felt that it was probably the threshold that Black Sam had set for his son. If he hadn't awakened the ability to "listen to the voices of sea beasts," Tani wouldn't have been able to see this sea chart.

Because it was very dangerous.

Now it seemed that the Pirate King had left something for his child.

Thinking of this, some of Su Lun's concerns also dissipated a lot.

Before, even if he knew that this was a sea chart left by the Pirate King Sam, and the degree of danger was really unknown, he maintained a very cautious attitude.

After all, there were many malicious people, demons, and evil races in this world. Those guys would make some fake treasure maps, pointing to some dangerous sea areas, attracting those navigators who harbored adventure and treasure hunting thoughts to their deaths.

But if there was Tani, this concern could be dispelled.

Tani also said, "A sea chart is recorded in this gold coin. I already know where it points. But that is a very dangerous sea area, in the west, a place with dragons..."

Su Lun wasn't too surprised and nodded.

That sea area was one that their Dawnbreaker Company didn't have the strength to explore for the time being.

However, with this sea chart, not to mention anything else, it would have an inestimable help for their future navigation!

......

Su Lun stayed on the deck for most of the day, and the crew members had almost salvaged everything, but they didn't find any more Mechanical Octopi.

He went to the captain's cabin and stayed there.

This battle had yielded a lot of spoils, which needed him to take inventory.

In addition to the forty-odd Mechanical Octopi, there were also the storage rings of the Maha Royal Guards who had been killed when intercepting the submarines. There were twenty or thirty of those, and two damaged [Lieutenant Colonel-level] Mechanical Armors.

Su Lun took stock of the people's storage rings and found a large number of advanced alchemical munitions and replacement and fitting equipment for the Mechanical Armors.

Mechanical Armors were not fixed; they could choose different equipment according to different combat situations.

For example, heavy firearms, missile launchers....

It had to be said that people from the royal family were all rich.

Although these storage rings didn't have any sundries, that row of neatly arranged spare ordnance and munitions were all top-notch ordnance that couldn't be bought on the market.

Su Lun's eyes sparkled.

The value of the individual equipment was at least worth several tens of millions, not to mention that set of Mechanical Armor, which was priceless.

The equipment carried by these ten or twenty people might be worth more than robbing dozens of ordinary pirate groups!

The mechanical equipment of the Royal Guard Corps was the pinnacle of Maha's military achievements, usable, but now it was very difficult to analyze.

Su Lun didn't bother with this effort.

He took out his experimental equipment and set up a temporary mechanical laboratory in the captain's cabin.

He was thinking of re-examining the Mechanical Octopi, which were the things that could quickly form combat power.

After setting up, Su Lun sat at the workbench and carefully analyzed the drawings he had drawn before.

The batch of Mechanical Octopi he had harvested had almost no damage during the battle.

There was nothing to repair.

He wanted to improve the design of this batch of Mechanical Octopi even more.

The current design concept of the Mechanical Octopi was actually very perfect. They had super-strong metal bodies, with both physical and magic defense being very strong; they also had vibrating alloys and special runes, and the influence of mental power or other mysterious means would also be very small; the movement control system, kinetic energy system... almost everything was impeccable.

This was definitely the research result of a large team that had spent many years of effort.

If they hadn't met Su Lun, a professional who could directly "physically control" them with mental threads, then under normal circumstances, fourth- and fifth-order professionals would have to chop for a long time to deal with a Mechanical Octopus. Either they had the strength to directly cut off the metal tentacles like Qiantiao, or otherwise, a cluster of forty or fifty would be enough to make a sixth-order professional retreat.

Although Su Lun felt that no one should have his physical [mental tentacles], the supernatural powers of this world were strange and varied, so he had to guard against them.

Today, he could wipe out others, and tomorrow others might be able to wipe him out.

Small workshops had the advantage of being able to use very extravagant rare materials in certain areas.

He planned to improve these Mechanical Octopi in his own areas of expertise. Runes, coatings, materials, defenses against mystical methods...

After clarifying his thoughts, he also got busy.

In this way, Su Lun stayed in the cabin for several days.

......

One day, Su Lun's Mechanical Octopus modification work was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Suddenly, he saw the two captured headless Mechanical Armors in the laboratory, a flash of inspiration went through his head, and his gaze paused for a moment.

This was only a [Lieutenant Colonel-level] Mechanical Armor, not too high-end.

And there were only two, so they weren't very useful.

Su Lun originally didn't plan to disassemble them first.

But at this moment, he had an idea.

The Mechanical Octopi had already formed combat power underwater, so what about on land?

This was his combat power shortcoming.

Mechanical Armors equipped with various equipment would be more than suitable.

But he didn't have a complete one in his hand now.

Su Lun felt a little worried when he thought of this.

Moreover, a thought also appeared in his mind: If he encountered the Maha mechanical legion next time, could he only do this, cutting the Black Sickle into two pieces and then relying on luck to pick up some scrap?

Without a complete Mechanical Armor, even if it was repaired, there would be big problems.

Su Lun was still working on the Mechanical Octopi, but the thoughts in his head became active.

The previous [Colonel-level Battleship-Slaying Type 9 Mechanical Armor] was complete because a special sealing item like the [Bow of Time] had directly shot and killed the operator in the mecha.

He didn't have that kind of thing.

He did have a [Rune Human Skin Black Umbrella] in his hand.

But the conditions for using this black umbrella were very harsh, and it could almost only be used one-on-one. Against high-level mecha, the other party could still escape.

What should he do if he encountered a group of mechanical warriors again?

Moreover, the people of the Maha Empire had a habit of self-destructing when they couldn't win.

Su Lun's thoughts spread out, and he suddenly felt a headache.

Now he already knew that there was a high probability of a "secret mechanical research institute" around that "Frost Moon Princess," and he had marked the location of one of the submarines, making it very likely to be captured.

Then the problem also came.

What if they encountered it next time, even if they successfully intercepted it, and the other party directly started the self-destruct program?

Su Lun was confident that he could disperse and eat away at the other party, but he had no way to deal with this self-destruction.

If he really worked hard, picked up a pile of scrap metal, that was definitely not what he wanted.

But neither he, nor Qiantiao, Dr. Banks, or anyone else in the Dawnbreaker Company had the means to kill people through the mecha.

"What method can be used to take down the submarine intact? Without special cursed objects, it can only be mystical means. Releasing a virus? Dr. Banks does have that ability, but how to release it is also a big problem. Or a mental warlock... I'm still far from that level."

The more Su Lun thought about it, the tighter his brows furrowed.

He thought about all his things, abilities, and even the people he knew.

There was no suitable method.

Even if Mr. Mirror came, it seemed that he couldn't solve this problem.

Su Lun's thoughts fell into a dead cycle.

It felt like a gold mine was right in front of him, but without the tools to smelt the gold mine, could he only rely on luck to pick up nuggets?

"Huh...!"

Suddenly, Su Lun thought of something, and his brows suddenly relaxed.

If it was mental control, Su Lun couldn't do it himself, but he knew someone who was many times stronger than himself.

"Pandora's charm ability is very special, and the intensity is also very strong... Isn't that the top mental control?"

Su Lun then remembered the alchemical homunculus who had been locked in the "Small Void Realm" for a long time.