Maritime Entertainment

Yue Shi stepped onto the wide, stable gangway and walked toward the floating platform at the entrance of the entertainment ship.

The platform was constructed of heavy wood and non-slip metal grating, with exquisite brass railings along the edges. A massive overhang extending from the ship's hull above shielded most of the wind and rain.

Several well-dressed staff members stood waiting with their hands at their sides. Both men and women, they were all good-looking and maintained an air of professional welcome that was neither fawning nor cold.

The entrance consisted of a heavy wooden door intricately carved with sea creatures. It stood open, revealing warm, bright light and a faint fragrance from within.

A man who appeared to be the purser took half a step forward. His gaze quickly swept over Yue Shi's face and the snow leopard in his arms. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but his professional discipline allowed him to quickly regain his composure.

“Welcome aboard, distinguished guest.”

“As this is your first time boarding, please present your credentials or undergo asset verification.”

He bowed slightly, his voice steady. He spoke a language Yue Shi wasn't familiar with, yet he could understand it perfectly.

Yue Shi didn't say a word; he simply handed over an inconspicuous bag.

The purser took it with both hands, feeling its significant weight.

He opened it discreetly and saw heavy gold bars and brilliant gemstones. A smile immediately bloomed on his face.

He didn't need any instruments; based on experience and intuition alone, he knew the value of these items far exceeded the usual threshold fee for boarding. They were even enough to squander for quite some time on the ship.

This was an easy mark.

“Pardon my intrusion. Please wait a moment.”

The purser's attitude became even more respectful. He signaled an assistant to take the bag to a small curtained booth nearby.

Soon, the assistant returned and whispered a few words to the purser. The purser nodded and turned back to Yue Shi with an even more practiced smile.

“Your assets have been verified. According to the ship's rules, we will exchange the gold bars for gold and silver coins of equivalent value, which you may use anywhere on the ship.”

“The jewelry can also be exchanged for coins, or we can store it for you temporarily.”

As he spoke, he had the assistant bring over a tray lined with velvet.

On the tray was a stack of gold and silver coins of various denominations, embossed with patterns of waves and pavilions. Next to them was a card.

“This is your initial exchange; please keep it safe. If you require more, you may visit the pawn windows or service desks on any floor at any time.”

“This card serves as your boarding pass. You will not need to undergo asset verification again when you visit us in the future.”

Yue Shi took the items casually and stuffed them into his pocket without a second glance. This nonchalant attitude made the purser's gaze deepen slightly.

“Please, come in. I wish you a pleasant stay.” The purser stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture.

Stepping through the door was like entering a completely different world.

The wind and rain outside were completely sealed off. The air that greeted him was as warm as spring, and countless crystal chandeliers and wall lamps created a brilliant glow that was bright but not blinding.

The air was filled with distinct layers of various fragrances. Beneath his feet was a soft, thick, deep-red carpet embroidered with golden seaweed patterns.

Before him was an extremely spacious circular lobby with a dome painted with magnificent oceanic murals.

In the center of the lobby was a massive fountain feature that constantly changed colors and shapes. Surrounding it were several wide corridors leading to different areas.

Illuminated signs hung above the corridors, bearing labels like 'Casino' and 'Concert Hall.'

People came and went through the lobby, but it didn't feel crowded.

The guests were dressed in various styles and came from diverse backgrounds. Some even displayed non-human traits, such as scales on their skin.

They all appeared composed, carrying the excitement of those seeking pleasure.

Waiters in uniform wove through the crowd carrying drinks, their movements light and swift.

Occasionally, exceptionally attractive men and women in ornate, revealing clothing—likely dancers or companions—leaned against pillars or sofas, their eyes scanning for potential patrons.

The overall atmosphere was one of luxury and revelry, yet it maintained a sense of order.

A waiter approached and asked respectfully, “Is this the guest's first time here? Do you require a guide, or do you already have a destination in mind?”

Yue Shi remained expressionless. How did everyone here seem to know it was his first time?

He shook his head, indicating he would just look around on his own.

The waiter didn't press further and bowed before retreating.

Cradling the snow leopard, Yue Shi began to stroll through the lobby and the connected corridors.

He didn't deliberately flaunt himself, but he didn't try to lower his presence either.

Standing in the crowd, he was naturally the focus.

No one could ignore him. With the small snow leopard in his arms, he was like a bright moon in the dark night, quickly attracting many gazes.

Curiosity, admiration, greed, and wariness—all sorts of stares came from every direction.

Most of the guests who could afford to spend here were either wealthy or possessed special abilities, so their eyes were sharp.

They could see Yue Shi was extraordinary. Anyone who dared to appear here so openly and alone either had an unfathomable background or was powerful enough to ignore the rules.

Either way, he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Consequently, most gazes only lingered for a moment before cautiously turning away, at most resulting in a few whispered private discussions.

No one dared to approach him for a conversation.

Yue Shi didn't like the feeling of being stared at, so he activated his indiscriminate contamination. The dark side of people's hearts would gradually begin to take over.

Then, Yue Shi walked away quickly, continuing his aimless wandering.

He first visited the internal mall, which was lined with shops selling everything from antique jewelry and weapons to strange potions and specimens of unknown creatures. it was more like a high-end black market.

Next, he passed the entrance to the dance hall, from which rhythmic music and cheers drifted out, along with flickering colored lights and silhouettes through the cracks in the door.

The air in the casino seemed to be oxygenated or infused with some kind of exciting incense, as every gambler was hooked.

He caught the scent of food and followed it toward the restaurant area.

But just as he turned, a young waiter carrying an empty tray seemed to trip over his own feet. With a cry, he tumbled straight toward Yue Shi.

The movement looked like an accident, but in Yue Shi's eyes, the slight adjustment of the youth's center of gravity, the arc of his arm, and the extremely hidden movement of his fingertips as he collided were as clear as slow motion.

He was a pickpocket.

His technique was decent, aimed right at the coins in Yue Shi's pocket.

Yue Shi didn't dodge. Acting as if he hadn't noticed a thing, he let the other man crash firmly into him, nearly knocking the tray out of the waiter's hand.

“I'm so sorry, guest! Are you alright? I was so careless.” The youth hurriedly steadied himself and apologized repeatedly, his face full of panic. One hand instinctively reached out to steady Yue Shi's arm for a second.

Yue Shi looked down at him, his gaze flat and calm. He said nothing, merely flicking away the hand on his arm before continuing toward the restaurant with the snow leopard as if nothing had happened.

The young waiter watched Yue Shi's departing back, a glint of smug cunning in his eyes. He quickly slid the stolen wallet into his sleeve and vanished into the crowd of another corridor.

...

The entertainment ship featured a massive circular food court, divided into several independent restaurant zones with vastly different styles.

There were Zhongzhou cuisine, seafood, South Continent specialties, and even exotic beast cuisine restaurants that served ingredients of unknown origin.

Yue Shi chose a quiet-looking restaurant specializing in seafood and light dishes and took a seat by the window.

The window was a porthole, but instead of the open sea, it showed a simulated underwater landscape. The water was a brilliant blue with schools of fish swimming by—clearly a high-tech projection, yet incredibly lifelike.

Yue Shi ordered a few dishes and began to eat slowly.

He placed the snow leopard on an empty chair beside him, setting a small dish of carefully prepared fish in front of it.

The restaurant environment was elegant, and the guests spoke in low tones, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Halfway through his meal, a figure approached Yue Shi's table, looking both angry and embarrassed.

It was the same youth from before, seemingly in his early twenties, wearing a plain jacket and trousers. He had applied a bit of makeup to change his facial contours, giving him a more thuggish look.

But Yue Shi recognized him at a glance as the pickpocket from earlier.

The panic was gone from his face, replaced by suppressed rage and a hint of confusion.

He stared intently at Yue Shi and lowered his voice. “Brother, nice work.”

Yue Shi set down his chopsticks, took a napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth, and looked up at him with an innocent gaze. “Do we know each other?”

“Stop acting.” The pickpocket nearly lost control of his voice, drawing glances from several nearby tables.

He quickly lowered his tone again. “Just now, in the corridor... give me back my damn money!”

“Money?” Yue Shi tilted his head slightly, appearing indifferent like a chrysanthemum. “What money? How can you slander my reputation out of thin air?”

“If you've lost your money, would you like me to call the staff for you?”

The pickpocket's face turned red with rage.

Earlier, he had intentionally bumped into Yue Shi to steal his wallet.

After succeeding, he had ducked into a restroom to gleefully inspect his spoils. To his shock, the wallet was empty—not a single coin inside!

Then he checked his own person, only to find that the dozens of gold coins he had painstakingly saved in his inner pocket had vanished!

In a flash, he realized he had hit a wall.

The man before him was apparently a master in the same trade, and his skills were far superior. In the very moment the thief thought he had succeeded, he had been picked clean instead!

Being the victim of a dog eat dog play, and being cleaned out so thoroughly without even noticing, left him both ashamed and furious.

“Fine, you're tough.” The pickpocket gritted his teeth and looked around. Seeing that no one was paying particular attention, he continued in a low voice.

“I'll take the loss. I admit it. But we're in the same trade, after all. Keep whatever you took, but give me half back, and we'll call it even. Otherwise...”

“Otherwise what?” Yue Shi picked up his water glass and took a slow sip, a teasing curve touching the corner of his mouth.

“If you insist on framing me, I can only say I'm at a loss for words. If you continue to harass me during my meal, I might have to call for help.”

His attitude was so calm it was infuriating—a complete picture of someone staying out of trouble, like a white lotus rising unstained from the mud. It was incredibly aggravating.

The pickpocket clenched his fists. He wanted to strike, to punch Yue Shi directly, or perhaps just snatch the valuable snow leopard and run...

But logic held him back.

This was a maritime entertainment ship. If things escalated and attracted the patrol guards, a pickpocket without a background like him would definitely suffer.

Moreover, the man before him had a sense of fearless calm that made him feel uneasy.

Could someone who could reverse-steal from him instantly without him noticing be an ordinary person?

If he kicked a steel plate, the consequences might be worse than being caught by the guards.

He didn't dare fight, he couldn't win the argument, and he couldn't get his money back. The pickpocket felt a surge of frustrated rage burning in his chest, making him fume.

“Don't push it too far,” he growled, fierce in appearance but weak within. “I've remembered you. This isn't over! You'd better...”

Just as the pickpocket was about to utter a few more threats to save face.

Snap!

The lights in the entire restaurant—no, seemingly the entire food court as far as the eye could see, and perhaps an even wider area—extinguished simultaneously.

The simulated underwater landscape outside the porthole went dark as well.

Only a few emergency exit signs in the distant corners emitted a faint, eerie green glow.

“What's going on?!”

“Is it a power outage?”

“Someone, get a waiter!”

After a brief moment of dead silence, the cries and panicked voices of guests rang out in the darkness.

The pickpocket standing by Yue Shi's table was also startled. He instinctively shut his mouth and looked around warily, though he could see nothing.

In the darkness, Yue Shi remained in his seat, his posture unchanged.

The eyes of the snow leopard in his arms took on a faint glint in the dark.

“Distinguished guests, we are terribly sorry. There seems to be a minor issue with the lines. Please remain calm; it will be fixed shortly.”

The voice of a staff member rang out in the darkness, trying to maintain composure. He had likely rushed over from a nearby service desk.

Upon hearing it was just a circuit fault and not a pirate attack, a monster raid, or some other more terrifying anomaly, the tension and fear in the restaurant were instantly replaced by a different emotion.

“What the hell? A power outage in a place like this?”

Reprimands erupted one after another in the darkness.

Many guests found an outlet for their emotions, venting their frustration on the staff member who had come to apologize.

“Yes, yes, we are very sorry. It was our oversight. The maintenance crew is already performing emergency repairs. It will be back soon, very soon!”

The waiter could only apologize repeatedly.

Amidst the clamor, the pickpocket beside Yue Shi leaned in closer. “Hey, can we really not talk about this?”

Yue Shi ignored him, instead quietly scanning the surroundings.

The moment the lights had gone out, he had sensed a strange aura that vanished in an instant.

He also smelled a very faint scent of blood, quietly spreading from a certain direction.

The scent was fresh.

The snow leopard in his arms also lifted its head, its nostrils twitching slightly as a low purr rumbled in its throat.

The pickpocket, still trying to get his money back, twitched his nose. He smelled the blood too, and his expression suddenly became solemn.

“Ah!”

A shrill scream pierced through the noise of the restaurant.

The scream was filled with horror and panic, enough to make one's skin crawl.

Immediately following was the clatter of a chair being knocked over and more chaotic cries from the crowd.

“Someone's dead!”

Another trembling voice shrieked, confirming the worst suspicion.