Chapter 48: Skill Allocation, Full Team Power-Up

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Skill Allocation, Full Team Power-Up

The once-empty floor was now piled high with various bathing supplies!

Brand new pure cotton towels, fragrant shower gel, and the shampoo she needed most...

"This..."

Shen Manyun, still clutching the pair of underwear in her hand, stared blankly at Lin Ji.

"Are these... all for me?"

The immense surprise instantly washed away her earlier shame, and tears even welled up in her eyes.

Looking at her stunned expression, Lin Ji spread his hands and revealed a playful smile.

"I just wanted to prank Teacher Shen earlier, to see if you’d actually use that thing to wipe yourself."

"Didn’t expect you to be so obedient."

"Alright, everything’s here. The towels are new too. Unpack and use them yourself."

With that, Lin Ji didn’t wait for Shen Manyun’s reaction and turned directly toward the door.

Click.

The door opened.

Outside, several sneaky figures froze instantly.

Gu Yihan, Su Qingyue, Tang Ling, and Bai Taotao had been eavesdropping by the door crack.

They had thought Lin Ji kept Shen Manyun alone for some unspeakable reason and were all perking up their ears to listen in.

They didn’t expect the door to suddenly open.

Seeing the awkward yet curious expressions on the women’s faces, Lin Ji shot them an annoyed glare.

His perception had long detected this group outside.

"What are you looking at?"

Lin Ji pointed at the pile of toiletries on the floor inside the room.

"Get in line and wash up! No cutting!"

The women followed his finger and, upon seeing the mountain of bathing supplies, their eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs.

"Wow! Is that facial cleanser?!"

"Oh my god! There’s shower gel too! Finally, we don’t have to endure the fishy smell on our bodies anymore!"

"Long live Captain Brother!"

The women, who moments ago were full of gossip, were now instantly enveloped in immense happiness.

On this sea where even fresh water was incredibly precious, having a complete set of toiletries was simply heavenly treatment!

The way they looked at Lin Ji now held not only their previous awe but also a thick layer of gratitude and dependence.

Even Su Qingyue, who had been feeling a bit jealous earlier, now felt a warmth in her heart.

Although this man could be a bit mischievous sometimes, when it came to taking care of his own people, he was truly impeccable.

"Don’t run off after washing up."

Lin Ji looked at the excited women, but his expression gradually turned serious.

"Everyone, assemble on the deck."

"I have something very important to announce."

After speaking, Lin Ji ignored the cheers behind him and walked alone to the open-air balcony on the second floor.

The sea wind howled, tousling his black hair.

He gazed at the churning black waves in the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.

Wang Xinxin’s words earlier had given him a strong sense of crisis.

Guilds, bug-exploiting tactics, resource monopolies...

The situation in this Forbidden Sea was even more complex than he had imagined.

The road ahead would likely be even more difficult.

Lin Ji arrived alone on the deck, the sea wind roaring.

He opened the System Panel and began taking stock of his remaining resources.

One look, and he immediately felt a pang of distress.

The Evolution Points that had seemed quite plentiful before were now almost depleted.

Killing two LV3 monsters gave 1500 points. Combined with the scattered points saved from previous explorations and trades, it only totaled a little over two thousand.

But spending money these past few days felt like water flowing away.

Upgrading Gu Yihan’s C-grade Wind Blade cost 500 points.

Upgrading the LV3 Steam Ship cost another 500 points.

That Transparent Bathroom Modification just now was 300 points.

Plus all sorts of toiletries, medicine, food...

The current balance showed a pitiful few dozen points left.

"We’re too poor."

Lin Ji rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

The prices of food and water in the Trading House were still skyrocketing. Although he had stockpiled some earlier, it wasn’t a long-term solution.

And as the Dead Silence Fog advanced, the days ahead would surely become even more difficult.

They had to find a way to make money or improve the team’s strength to seize more resources.

Lin Ji thought of the overflow Talent Energy the system had retained from killing that scar-faced group of five.

[C-grade · Rock Armor]: Already converted into a personal skill.

[D-grade · Fireball Spell]: Can be converted into 200 points.

[D-grade · Water Flow Control]: Can be converted into 200 points.

[E-grade · Great Strength]: Can be converted into 50 points.

[E-grade · Eagle Eye]: Can be converted into 50 points.

There was also that special D-grade skill obtained from killing the middle-aged woman who wanted to drain him—[Yin-Yang Harmony] could be converted into 200 points.

Lin Ji weighed his options.

If he converted them all into Evolution Points, it might solve the immediate crisis, but a few hundred Evolution Points couldn’t buy many critical supplies.

Instead, if he allocated these skills to the women on the ship, it could greatly enhance the team’s combat power and survivability.

In this cannibalistic world, people were the primary productive force.

Especially [Eagle Eye] and [Water Flow Control], which would perfectly complement Gu Yihan and Su Qingyue’s talents.

"Better to distribute them."

Lin Ji made up his mind and turned back to the captain’s cabin on the second floor.

At this moment, the women in the room had finished bathing.

Wrapped in the pure cotton towels Lin Ji had just bought, they sat by the window admiring the sea view.

Though they were just simple towels, in this world full of slaughter, this moment of warmth felt exceptionally precious.

As the Deputy Captain, Gu Yihan naturally held the highest status and was the core of the women.

Except for Su Qingyue, who remained aloof and stood alone in the corner watching the scenery, Shen Manyun, Tang Ling, and Bai Taotao were all gathered around Gu Yihan, chattering away.

Hearing the sound of Lin Ji pushing the door open, the women immediately stopped talking and looked over.

Lin Ji clapped his hands, his expression turning serious.

"Don’t relax too much."

"I just received news that some top guilds have already upgraded their Vessels to LV5, and there are even monsters who have Awakened SSS-grade Talents."

"Even in our waters, large alliances have probably emerged."

"If we don’t want to end up like those two women before, trampled underfoot and treated as playthings, we must improve our strength."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing the women’s post-bath excitement.

They thought of the woman chained with iron, of that horrific fate, and their faces turned pale one by one.

Especially Shen Manyun, who instinctively hugged Bai Taotao tighter in her arms, her eyes filled with fear.

Seeing the effect achieved, Lin Ji nodded in satisfaction.

"So, I’ve decided to assign you all new skills now."

Upon hearing this, the women’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

They all knew Lin Ji had the miraculous ability to bestow powers upon others—Gu Yihan was the best example.

"Gu Yihan, come here."

Lin Ji beckoned.

Gu Yihan immediately stepped forward obediently.

Lin Ji placed his hand on her forehead and focused his mind.

[Ding! E-grade Talent Energy Eagle Eye consumed, bestowed upon target Gu Yihan!]