4 Useful or Useless

The chime for a hidden achievement sounded, and Cen Jiu was ecstatic.

Although she didn't know the standard procedure for opening this area, the triggering of hidden achievements always required specific conditions—sometimes convoluted, sometimes counterintuitive. Regardless, "Rusty Key," you did well!

When one is in high spirits, the eerie atmosphere of the room suddenly becomes quite charming. She half-crouched, carefully pinched a bit of dirt from the floor with two fingers, and placed it into her waist pouch. The system honestly provided the relevant information:

【Dirt Exuding an Ominous Aura: Dirt found in the secret chamber of the *Flying*, causing a sense of unease.】

Good, this method works. Now that it’s identified, get it away—get it out of her storage space quickly. Then there was the square coffin in the center. If not for her limited inventory space, Cen Jiu would have definitely used the system to identify it as well. But could the wooden stake on top be pulled out?

Cen Jiu reached toward the stake. The moment she touched it, she shuddered involuntarily; it was the game system’s sensory simulation warning her. Better not. Let’s not pull it. She had already secured a piece of information about this room, enough to serve as a bargaining chip while waiting for the series of tasks to trigger later. Judging by the system's info and the coffin spilling out that vile dirt, it definitely wasn't anything good inside. It was best not to court death unnecessarily.

Retreating behind the secret door, she faced a new dilemma: when should she exit so as not to run into someone outside? She pressed herself against the wooden wall. Aside from the ambient sounds of the ship, it was deathly quiet outside. Should she leave now? She hadn't been in long, and Silva was likely still out there. Better to wait patiently.

Cen Jiu squatted on the floor, resting her head against the door. The rocking of the ship made her dizzy, and as she waited, her consciousness drifted into a hazy half-slumber.

...

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A rapid series of bell tolls rang out. Cen Jiu’s eyes snapped open, fully awake from her drowsiness. Simultaneously, the sound of chaotic footsteps erupted, and the harsh noise of the prayer room's wooden door being kicked open echoed from outside.

"Father Silva! Get to the deck, quickly!" The crewman’s voice was loud enough to be heard clearly even without pressing against the wall.

"Coming," Silva replied, sounding much more composed.

The sounds outside gradually melded into the chaotic ambient noise. Cen Jiu heard the crewman’s retreating footsteps, but not Silva’s. So, this riddle-loving man moved like a cat—silent. Good thing she hadn't just walked out.

She seized the moment to exit, and the door behind her clicked shut and locked automatically.

"?" How was this lock a one-time use?

There was no time to think. Cen Jiu noticed the sound of the wind and waves outside growing increasingly violent, and she hurried out of the room. The crewmen in the hallway seemed to have all rushed up already, sparing her from being questioned. Stabilizing herself against the ship's swaying, she moved through the dim cabin and quickly made it back to her original room.

She knocked and shouted, "Bella! Are you alright?"

The door opened the moment her voice fell, and Bella pulled her straight back inside.

"Thank heavens, you're safe!" Bella gripped Cen Jiu’s hands tightly. If anything had happened to her because of what she said, she would have never forgiven herself.

"I'm fine. I heard the bells below and ran out, though I don't know what's happening," Cen Jiu said, reporting her progress. "But I still haven't found the raft..."

Bella shook her head, pulled her hands back, and crossed her arms, looking out the window with a serious expression. "The most important thing now is to wait for the storm to pass."

The scenery outside was no longer what it had been when she woke up; the sky and the sea were both a murky, indistinguishable black. Cen Jiu felt that this beginner level was already halfway through—the big event was coming.

Cen Jiu nodded in agreement. The danger outside was precisely what the player needed to resolve. She patted Bella’s shoulder. "You rest here. I'll go to the deck and see if I can help with anything."

"It's too dangerous out there. They will target you," Bella stepped in front of the door, unwilling to let Cen Jiu leave.

Cen Jiu didn't stop her pace, smiling. "I know, but..."

Before she could finish, the light in the room vanished, and darkness instantly swallowed them. The oil lamp at her waist lit up, pulling her back to her senses.

"...What is that?" Bella’s gaze fell in terror behind Cen Jiu. To be precise, it fell on the window behind Cen Jiu.

A massive suction cup slid across the glass surface, leaving behind a thick, frictional screech.

What on earth is this?! Does this game actually have magical elements?

"Go, hurry!" Cen Jiu grabbed Bella’s hand and shouted, snapping her out of her stupor. The two ran out of the room in a panic, not forgetting to close the door behind them.

Sharp screams erupted from everywhere outside, and everything was in chaos. Bella headed deeper into the cabin, her voice resolute: "I have to save them."

Cen Jiu stood still, seeing the notification pop up regarding the save file and the quest change.

【Escape the Sea Monster: You have unfortunately encountered a sea monster. Find a way to survive.】
【Survive the Shipwreck 0/1】
【Help Bella (Optional): There are others on the ship treated as commodities just like Bella. You may be able to help them.】

"I'm coming too!" Cen Jiu followed Bella, unwilling to miss this side quest. "Who are you going to save?"

"The people who were treated as commodities alongside me." Bella gave her a complex look. "Follow me."

The cabin was a mess. As they ran, they bumped into a crewman holding a firearm and heading toward the deck, who snarled, "Stop running around and causing trouble!"

That only made them run faster. The crewman was too busy to deal with them, burdened by orders from the boss, and could only shout in frustration, "You stinking wenches, just wait until I teach you—"

The ship lurched violently. Before the crewman could finish, he fell to the ground, his mouth bloodied. Cen Jiu and Bella didn't know someone had met with misfortune; they had already reached their destination.

"Bella...?" The person sitting on the ground stood up, surprised by their arrival. "You're still alive!"

The room, separated by iron bars, only had a window the size of a human face high up. The cell was empty, housing less than ten people, and they had assumed the commotion outside was just a particularly fierce storm.

"No time to talk," Bella gasped for air, grabbing a wooden stool from outside the bars and slamming it against the iron lock. "It's a sea monster, we must escape!"

【Iron Lock Durability -20】
【Iron Lock Durability 250/230】

Cen Jiu watched Bella’s full-force blow to the lock. It was possible!

"Rest for a moment, you need to," Cen Jiu said, pulling out her dagger as Bella stood panting after a few strikes. Bella nodded, drained, and slumped to the side to catch her breath.

Cen Jiu aimed her dagger at the link of the iron chain and struck hard!

【Iron Lock Durability -40】

Her stamina dropped simultaneously, but it didn't seem to decrease as much as when she had knocked on the secret door. After a few hits, the link began to deform. With a deft twist and pull, the lock gave way.

The people rescued seemed to look to Bella as their leader; not one chose to stay behind.

"Go below! There are spare lifeboats down there!"

They didn't encounter any meddlesome crewmen on the way. Bella led the group, supporting one another, until they reached the area where the lifeboats were stored. This was a storage space with a boat large enough for them and several small rafts. It connected to a balcony from which the boat could be launched directly.

But the biggest problem wasn't moving the boat—it was that the sea monster's tentacles were prowling outside.

The rescued people were stunned. "It's real..."

One recoiled. "No, we might die in the sea monster's grip, or die on the way out!"

"Have you ever seen a ship return from the clutches of a sea monster?!" Bella roared. "No!! None!! Never!!!" She took the lead in lifting the boat. "You think those boars can beat a sea monster? Better to believe we can escape."

"Right, it's death either way, why not take the gamble?" Cen Jiu was the second to help lift the boat, adding fuel to the fire. "The monster seems more interested in the gunfire above. If we want to run, now is the time!"

Soon, a third joined. "I'm with Bella." Then the fourth, the fifth...

Excellent. Once again, no one stayed behind.

Cen Jiu was lucky, and so were they. Just as she predicted, the tentacles were more interested in the "bang-bang" of the firearms above, ignoring their act of launching the lifeboat into the sea. Everyone climbed down the soft ladder on the balcony one by one. Finally, only Cen Jiu and Bella remained.

"Ah-Jiu, you go down first."

"You guys go ahead, I have something important to do," Cen Jiu said, shaking her head. She still hadn't seen the plot unfolding above.

Seeing the sincerity in her expression, Bella was silent for half a second before giving her a tight hug. The embrace didn't last long—just a few seconds.

"Stay alive." Bella climbed down the ladder with agility and landed in the boat.

"Go, hurry!"
"Is she not coming? We still have room..."
"She has her own plans."

The boat rocked in the wind and waves, sailing into the distance.

【Help Bella (Completed)】
【Achievement: Sea of Freedom】

The moment Bella landed on the boat, the achievement notification popped up. Cen Jiu knew their escape route was secure. She turned back toward the cabin and ran toward the deck. Before reaching the deck, a stench of blood, gunpowder, and rotting seafood hit her.

"Hack! If the ammo is gone, just hack at it!"

Rain mixed with blood dampened the deck. The one-eyed captain was in the back, loading gunpowder and yelling at the crew fighting the monster. Behind him, Silva—his white robes soaked through, appearing to emit a silver glow—remained conspicuous. He skillfully bandaged the crewmen's wounds, reciting prayers without subtitles.

With the deck’s wide view, Cen Jiu caught a glimpse of the sea monster's true form.

【Tlaloc Envoy's Tentacle Durability 2714/5000】
【Tlaloc Envoy's Tentacle Durability 3048/5000】

There were parts without visible health bars. The monster had only used two tentacles, yet it was enough to inflict heavy damage on the humans.

"I'll help too." Cen Jiu walked over to the other wounded, and seeing Silva nod, she took the medical supplies and began bandaging.

【You have mastered a new skill: First Aid.】

She had often sustained injuries when she first started working out, so bandaging was a real-world skill, effectively an "input" into the game.

"Tsk—" Cen Jiu caught an unfriendly look from the one-eyed captain, but he was too busy fighting off the tentacles to curse her.

Cen Jiu ignored him, focusing on the interface only she could see, counting silently.

2619, 2581, 2522, 2497!

The health of one of the tentacles was already past the halfway mark.

"—!!!"

A high-frequency shriek erupted from beneath the sea. Every human on deck froze, and the tentacle surged with power, sweeping several paralyzed crewmen off the deck.

"Splash! Splash!" They fell into the water one after another, not even leaving behind a final word.

The tentacles clinging to the rest of the ship converged toward the center of the deck, coiling and tightening.

The one-eyed captain barked orders: "Board the boats! Run! It’s going to snap the ship in half, we can't save it!"

Receiving the retreat order, the crew swarmed toward the lifeboats on the side of the deck, sabotaging each other in the face of death.

"In order! Anyone who pushes, I'll hack you down!" The one-eyed captain slashed at someone pulling another person, covering himself in blood.

The killing served as a warning; the remaining crew quieted down, their behavior turning orderly under the weight of terror. Cen Jiu and Silva helped the wounded onto the boats. Soon, they were the only ones left standing on the deck.

"Let's go, Silva." Cen Jiu was just about to step onto the lifeboat when the one-eyed captain kicked her in the chest.

"?" Crossing her arms to protect her chest, Cen Jiu backstepped and jumped back onto the deck. The cause she had sown earlier was finally bearing fruit; she had been wary of the one-eyed captain for a long time.

"Stinking [expletive]!" The captain spat, perhaps frustrated by his missed target. "Get lost!"

"Captain Parsi," Silva took a half-step forward, raising a hand to block in front of Cen Jiu.

The captain looked at Silva, who also hadn't boarded yet. He had never liked Silva, this man in church robes, and an opportunity to mock him was right in front of him.

"Tsk tsk tsk, poor little lamb. Give that stinking [expletive] next to you a lesson, and I'll allow you to board."