Beidou and her crew hadn't arrived particularly early.
After all, they had been drifting at sea for so many days that once they set foot on solid ground, it was only natural to drink their fill and reward themselves.
However, when they arrived in the morning, they hadn't realized just how long the queue would be!
Fortunately, Beidou had finally made it to the counter.
"Hello, Boss Lu!"
Beidou, bold and unrestrained, greeted Lu Heng with a hearty laugh.
Lu Heng nodded and smiled. "So, how do you plan to arrange things?"
Beidou had already made up her mind before coming. Without hesitation, she replied, "Of course, I'm going to get all my crewmates equipped with the good stuff from your place!"
"Oh?"
Lu Heng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Seems like you've got quite the plan."
The Nanchou Fleet was an armed fleet, not one of those weak merchant convoys that couldn't even withstand a few waves.
To ensure the safe voyage of such a large fleet on the open sea—aside from natural storms—the biggest concern was pirates.
And when it came to pirates, none were more rampant than those around Inazuma.
Other waters, meanwhile, were home to all sorts of monsters.
The number of Vision holders was exceedingly small.
In the entire Nanchou Fleet, Beidou was the only one, along with Kaedehara Kazuha.
The rest of the sailors, though strong from their work, still couldn't compare to Vision holders in terms of combat prowess.
Beidou's reasoning was simple.
If even first- and second-tier cards held considerable power, why not equip her crew with them?
That way, ordinary sailors could instantly become formidable fighters.
Would it still just be a fleet then?
No—it'd be a full-blown navy!
Aside from admiring Beidou's vision, Lu Heng was also encountering such a bold and straightforward woman for the first time.
Her personality was unconstrained, her demeanor free of pettiness—she truly embodied all the qualities a leader should have.
Beidou had already started distributing equipment and phones to her crewmates.
They had discussed this beforehand.
The money originally meant to be distributed among the crew had been pooled together.
Because Beidou was so well-respected, her crew fully supported her decisions.
So, with the fleet's collective funds, Beidou bought each of them two equipment sets and two phones.
The reason for the extra phones was simple.
Sailors spent long stretches at sea—sometimes weeks, other times months.
Being able to stay in touch with family at all times was something every sailor yearned for.
And the phones fulfilled that need perfectly!
Just imagining her crew video-calling their loved ones from the vast ocean lifted Beidou's spirits.
She even mused that during her downtime at sea, she could challenge Ningguang to a few rounds of Liyue Millennium and win a couple more games against her.
"Boss, I don't need this," Kaedehara Kazuha shook his head.
He only accepted one set of equipment and one phone.
As things stood now, he really didn't have much use for a second set.
Beidou glanced at him but didn't press the issue, simply giving his shoulder a firm pat.
After tallying up the crew's purchases, the total came to 80 million Mora.
The Nanchou Fleet was large, but a single voyage couldn't possibly net them 80 million—this was likely the result of several trips' worth of savings.
"This money belongs to all of us. Let's do a hundred pulls each," Beidou declared.
"Boss, most of this is yours! We'll just watch—no need to include us!" First Mate Hai Long waved his hand.
Though sailors on the Nanchou Fleet earned high wages, even a million Mora would take years to save up. This trip's earnings only amounted to about 30,000 to 50,000 Mora per person—hardly enough to justify a hundred-pull.
"Quit the nonsense."
Beidou brushed it off. "Everyone's luck is different. Who knows? Maybe mine's rotten today. Hurry up and give it a try. But let me make one thing clear—whatever's pulled belongs to the fleet. Only with good stuff can we grow stronger!"
Meanwhile, Lu Heng fell into thought.
Was the Nanchou Fleet not already strong enough?
Officially classified as an armed fleet in Liyue, in reality, the Nanchou Fleet's strength rivaled that of an official navy!
This wasn't an exaggeration.
The giant crossbows aboard the Alcor alone could pierce straight through a whale with a single shot.
"Hai Long, you go first!"
"Boss… Alright." Hai Long was nervous.
He rubbed his hands together before tapping the hundred-pull button.
Not a single golden light—not even a purple.
"Next."
Beidou's expression didn't change.
Third-tier cards were already formidable!
The lower the tier, the smaller the gap between them.
Beidou herself wasn't even at the fourth-tier level yet!
Though she had once defeated the mighty Haishan, fourth-tier figures were on a whole other level—think adepti and Fatui Harbingers!
One by one, the sailors stepped forward.
Those with good luck pulled purple cards, their faces alight with excitement.
Those who didn't even get a third-tier card in their hundred-pull wore expressions of guilt, feeling they'd let Beidou down.
Lu Heng observed the crew's reactions.
For a woman to command such respect among a crew of hardened sailors spoke volumes about Beidou's charisma.
"Kazuha, your turn!"
Kaedehara Kazuha sighed lightly.
Since everyone else had tried, refusing would be inappropriate.
With a calm demeanor, he tapped the hundred-pull button.
Purple light flashed.
"Not bad, kid!" Beidou praised.
"Just borrowing some of your luck, Boss," Kazuha replied with a smile.
"Cut the crap!"
Beidou called for the next sailor. "Come on."
The crew was sizable.
After everyone had taken their turn at a hundred-pull, Beidou still had 1,600 pulls left.
"Let's see what I can get."
Even Beidou felt a flicker of anticipation.
She went straight for a thousand-pull.
+1 Purple Card
Next, six hundred-pulls.
Among them, she landed another purple card, bringing the total to five purple cards, along with three third-tier cards and a slew of first- and second-tier ones.
"Sorry for taking up so much of your time, Boss Lu. Mind taking a look?" Beidou clasped her hands.
"No need for formalities."
Lu Heng sorted out the five purple cards while smiling. "A team like yours pulling all at once is a first for me. Honestly, the efficiency isn't bad—definitely not a waste of time."
"If you say so." Beidou nodded, her gaze fixed on the five purple cards, anticipation bubbling in her chest.
Fourth-tier!
She had heard that fifth-tier gold cards corresponded to the level of gods.
That meant fourth-tier was just below divine status!
Too bad she hadn't pulled a gold card… That Ningguang woman must be filthy rich—rumor had it she'd gotten several!
Lu Heng began appraising them one by one.
The first purple card was decent but nothing extraordinary.
The second, however…
[Upgrade Cube]
[Tier]: Fourth-tier (Purple)
[Type]: [Item Card]
[Trait]: [Technological Advancement]
[Description]: When used on a technology-based item, it will enhance its technological level. The degree of improvement varies, but will not exceed fourth-tier.
This one… had potential.
"Technology-based items? What counts?" Beidou asked.
"Plenty of things," Lu Heng explained. "Phones, street lamps—basically anything that isn't easily handmade and follows a structured manufacturing process falls under 'technology.'"
"By that logic… would the Alcor count?" Kazuha asked.
Beidou's eyes lit up. "Would it?"
"Absolutely," Lu Heng confirmed.
"Then we're using it on the Alcor!"
Beidou might not have understood technology, but she knew her ship inside out.
If this was a fourth-tier card, it had to be a major upgrade for the Alcor!
Lu Heng paused.
Just how far could the Upgrade Cube take the Alcor?
If the enhancement was minor, the Alcor might just switch to steam power and gain some cannons.
But if the upgrade was significant… could it go nuclear?
And if this were a fifth-tier card with maxed-out effects—would it turn into a planet-cracker of a warship?
"Since you've made your decision," Lu Heng said, "let me congratulate you—you've just earned the right to free navigation."
"Free navigation?" Beidou was puzzled.
"Free navigation right along other nations' territorial waters," Lu Heng clarified.
Beidou froze for a second before bursting into laughter. "Then I definitely have to try that!"
After all, the Nanchou Fleet was primarily a trading fleet.
When the time came…
Open the gates! Free trade!
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T/N:
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