Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 414: The Master of the Great Sea on the 29th Floor (2)

‘Step.’

Light footsteps echoed.

A woman with bronze-toned skin and long black hair entered the cabin of the ship.

It was Nirasha, the master of the Gandhara Guild.

Despite the presence of administrators and guardians, Nirasha looked around casually, showing no sign of intimidation.

The “Thousand Worlds,” a coalition of Veda and Hindu forces, was a massive entity ruling over the 45th floor. It was only natural to tread cautiously when dealing with one of their apostles.

“Squeak, squeak. Please, have a seat here.”

Aruty gestured to a chair.

“Impressive. So this is how you’ve been keeping tabs on us?”

“Squeak! It’s not with ill intent. It’s simply a tool for smooth operations.”

“Really? Looks more like surveillance to ensure everything goes your way… Well, whatever. So, why did you call me here? We’re busy exploring the sea, you know.”

“I invited you to propose a mutually beneficial deal—a win-win situation.”

“I’m listening.”

“I’ve heard the Gandhara Guild possesses one of the largest fleets on the 29th floor.”

“It’s quite sizable, yes.”

“Then, using that fleet…”

A sinister smile spread across Aruty’s face.

“…we would like you to prevent the players from progressing to the next floor as much as possible.”

“Hoh. That’s quite a big ask.”

“I understand. Naturally, we’ll compensate you generously.”

‘Ding!’

A golden scale appeared midair.

[The map marking the location of the ‘Final Island’ is displayed on the scale.]
[A guidebook titled ‘12 Rules for Safe Navigation’ is displayed on the scale.]
[A one-time-use ‘Spear of Atlantis’ is displayed on the scale.]

Three items were revealed.

“These are all items that would be incredibly useful on this floor. If you accept the proposal, they’re yours.”

“Hmm… They’re certainly tempting.”

Nirasha appeared somewhat intrigued.

However…

“This is slightly insufficient. Add one more thing.”

“What would that be?”

“Kang Jinhyuk.”

It was time to settle the grudge that had started in the Empire.

The humiliation she had endured because of him was immeasurable.

And now that all the necessary pieces, including the administrators and keys to clear the 29th floor, had been assembled…

It was finally time to kill that bastard.

[The upper deities of the ‘Thousand Worlds’ support their apostle.]

“Squeak, squeak! Just hearing that makes my heart race!”

Aruty offered an untouched sunflower seed as a token of his vow.

‘Buzz!’

[Under the guidance of the Scale, a contract has been established.]

A new rule was added to the 29th floor.

—

‘Whoosh…’

Amidst the undulating waves, Jinhyuk crossed the vast sea with Lee Tae-min and Yoo Yeonhwa.

The warm sunlight and gentle sea breeze made the experience unexpectedly enjoyable.

‘This is a vacation. What else could it be?’

Even tropical drinks delivered by drones added to the bliss.

But…

The peaceful journey didn’t last long.

‘Boom!’

Water sprayed into the air as a cannonball exploded on the surface.

It was an attack.

A fleet of ships appeared before them.

Pirates? But they hadn’t strayed far from the starting point yet.

“Hyung!”

“Oppa, quick… over here!”

The two urgently called Jinhyuk to the stern.

When he arrived, an unusual scene greeted him.

“This is my territory.”

Standing atop a dinghy was Chun Yoosung.

Surrounding him were pirates on a dozen similar dinghies.

“Yo, Yoosung. Long time no see. How’ve you been? Eating well?”

“Don’t give me that crap. You’re the one who ditched us here and disappeared, and now you’re acting all concerned?”

“Come on, don’t be so childish. I told you, I had things to handle on the lower floors.”

At Jinhyuk’s words, the pirates aboard Chun Yoosung’s fleet erupted in outrage.

“How dare you call the captain childish!”
“Do you even know who he is?”

“And who might that be?”

“He’s the Red Arm Chun Yoosung! To not recognize him, you must be a greenhorn new to these seas!”

Red Arm Chun Yoosung?

What a sense of naming.

“Honestly, even a crew of idiots would be better. I bet Goguma could assemble a more respectable and formidable pirate crew.”

“I’m going to make you eat those words.”

“Just give the order, Captain!”
“We’ll tie him to the mast and pour saltwater down his nostrils!”

The black pirate flag waved dramatically above the fleet.

“No matter what insults you throw, it doesn’t matter. This is the perfect chance to take you down.”

The ‘Summit Duel’, the Tower’s main event…

…would be his stage to defeat the strongest veteran and declare his triumph to the world.

“I’ll be the one to reach the Final Island first. I’ll crush anyone who stands in my way.”

‘Shing!’

Chun Yoosung unsheathed his sword.

In this naval battle, individual skills were important, but the performance and number of ships were equally crucial.

Due to the floor’s unique effects, falling into the sea would halve all stats.

‘Yeonhwa and Tae-min’s ship is superior in quality, but there’s only one of it.’

On the other hand, while Chun Yoosung’s fleet consisted of dinghies, he had nearly twenty of them.

Even sacrificing half his fleet in a chaotic battle could give him a significant edge.

Just then, more ships appeared from the opposite side.

‘Thud, thud!’

The proud flag of the Ataraxia family was raised atop the approaching ships.

“Alice?”

“Yes, Alice has also formed a temporary alliance with us. As long as we can eliminate you, the most likely winner, the rest of us can compete against each other afterward.”

“Contractor! Witness the greatness of Ataraxia’s— ‘Aaaah!'”

At that moment—

‘Boom!’

A deafening explosion rang out as Alice’s ship was blown in half.

Black smoke billowed upward from the shattered wreckage.

“Sure, I appreciate everyone’s effort to try and stop me. Really, the effort is commendable, but…”

A ship emerged, dwarfing all others. It spanned nearly 50 meters and was on a completely different level from the ships that had appeared so far.

It was the special warship Jinhyuk had obtained from Berial—a ship designed for large-scale fleet battles.

[The Demon Realm’s ship, ‘White Pearl,’ has set sail!]

An 8-star-rated ship.

For comparison, the vessel Lee Tae-min and Yoo Yeonhwa had painstakingly built was 3-star-rated. The largest ship currently on the 29th floor was also 8-star-rated.

For a player who had just entered the 29th floor to own such a ship was enough to completely shatter the balance.

“W-What…? You were supposed to be on the lower floors! When did you build something like that?”

“Things happened. I wasn’t just idling around, you know.”

Jinhyuk had firmly persuaded a gullible Demon Lord in the Demon Realm to gain this overwhelming advantage in naval warfare.

Alice might have been wealthy, but her riches were limited to jewels and decorations. When it came to practical assets, she was far behind Berial.

“Wipe them all out.”

“Huh?”

“Oppa? Are you serious? Really?”

“Don’t worry. They’re tough; they won’t die that easily. Probably.”

Reluctantly, Lee Tae-min and Yoo Yeonhwa followed Jinhyuk’s cold command.

‘Boom! Boom-boom!’
‘Kaboom!’

“Aaaah!”
“R-Run! Abandon the ship!”
“Captain! What do we do?”

The cannon fire shredded Chun Yoosung’s fleet like paper boats.

“Kang Jinhyuk!”

Naturally, Chun Yoosung, who had been aboard one of the ships, was left at the mercy of the ocean, on the brink of becoming fish food.

—

“‘Cough!’ Ugh! ‘Cough!’ ‘Hack!'”

Chun Yoosung spat out the saltwater that had filled his lungs.

Fortunately, he managed to grab onto a piece of floating wood. Without it, he might have ended up at the bottom of the sea.

The cannon barrage had been utterly merciless.

Just then—

‘Tap-tap.’

Something tapped Chun Yoosung’s head.

A fishing line with a hook dangled above him.

It was Jinhyuk’s doing, from aboard his ship.

“What the hell are you doing? Get that thing away from me right now!”

‘Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap!’

“I said get rid of it!”

Swinging his sword with one hand while clinging to the wooden plank with the other, Chun Yoosung severed the fishing line, sending it plopping into the sea.

“I was trying to save you, but your reaction is so disappointing. Do you plan to stay there forever?”

“I’d rather die than beg for my life from the likes of you. I’ll find my own way out, so get lost!”

“Is that so?”

If that’s what he wanted, Jinhyuk was happy to oblige.

Cranking the ship’s speed to the maximum, he turned the bow sharply, creating massive waves several meters high.

“You bastard!”

A tsunami swallowed Chun Yoosung.

One wave, then another, and then another.

Jinhyuk kept circling, creating wave after wave until Chun Yoosung was on the verge of drowning.

—

Hours later, Chun Yoosung and Alice, both drenched and shivering, sat in a corner of the ship.

Chun Yoosung looked as though he wanted to kill someone with just his glare, while Alice, bundled in a thick blanket, sneezed.

To top it off, Jinhyuk handed them steaming mugs of cocoa.

“‘Achoo!’ Sniffle… It’s so cold in here. Put more logs on the fire and bring a down-filled blanket. This cocoa… Oh! It’s surprisingly refined. Did you use high-quality sugar for this?”

“Ugh, this is humiliating…”

The two leaders who had defied the Veteran Corporation were now prisoners.

The overwhelming disparity in power made the term “defeated” almost laughable.

Still…

Seeing their expressions while sipping cocoa made them look a bit cute.

These two were capable enough to command respect anywhere in the Tower, yet they had been scrambling for something so trivial. It was almost pitiful.

Jinhyuk let out a small sigh and spoke.

“The rewards you two were promised—I’ll get them for you.”

“What?”
“Are you serious?”

Both Alice and Chun Yoosung shot to their feet.

“All I have to do is fight you in the Summit Duel, right? That’s not a big deal. And Alice, you just want to visit that weird island or whatever, right?”

“T-That’s correct! If possible, I’d like you to accompany me there and… enjoy some fruit together.”

“Fruit?”

“I… I have a delicious apple that I’d like to share with you. It’s said to be the most exquisite apple ever.”

Alice averted her gaze, her words awkward and hesitant.

It felt suspicious, but it wasn’t a difficult request.

“I don’t mind joining either, as long as you make the same promise that administrator did. It’ll speed up clearing the floor anyway.”

Chun Yoosung nodded.

“Good. Then let’s all work together to clear this place.”

Now, only Teresa remained.

The once-scattered members of the Veteran Corporation were finally reunited.