True Apocalypse Game

"Recruiting crew!"

Shen Feng’s shout immediately drew the attention of everyone on the Floating Island Market.

Many of the Floating Island Market’s residents, who had been in the middle of capturing the Ghost Thieves, now had their eyes light up. They frantically waved and shouted toward Shen Feng on the great ship’s deck:

"Honorable Captain, I want to be your crewman!"

"I’m an old sailor with thirty years of experience! Please, you must take me!"

"Pick me! Pick me!"

"By the Savior! Please, take a look at my muscles!"

...

Some, ignoring the sharks still swimming in the water, even paddled small boats and rafts directly toward the Sail Warship, hoping to board and beg Shen Feng for a spot.

For those who had been born and raised on the Floating Island Market, and for the sailors who drifted on the sea, being able to board this unprecedented great ship and become a crewman for that mysterious man would be the greatest happiness of their lives.

Meanwhile, a dozen or so pirates who originally belonged to the Beast King Pirate Group paddled for their lives. They were the first to reach the front of the Sail Warship, grabbing the ropes left by the Ghost Thieves and climbing onto the deck.

The moment they climbed aboard, they immediately bowed to Shen Feng.

"Captain!"

"Please leave a small matter like recruiting crew to us!"

"Under your leadership, we’ll definitely become the strongest pirate group!"

These pirates had it all figured out. This captain who’d appeared out of nowhere was an incredible backer. As long as they held on tight, as the first sailors to follow him, they were guaranteed a good life.

Just looking at those minerals was proof enough.

Besides, if they could become crewmen on such a super warship, that experience alone would be enough for them to do as they pleased in this part of the sea.

Shen Feng smiled slightly, nodded, and said to Old Bill:

"Alright, I’ll leave this to you. I need one hundred crewmen and enough supplies."

The control system of this Sail Warship had already been mechanically modified, to the point that Shen Feng himself could barely manage to operate it alone.

Not many people were needed to perfectly control the entire Sail Warship; one hundred would be more than enough.

After all, on this vast sea, the consumption of supplies was a critical issue.

Old Bill was so excited he was on the verge of tears.

He never could have imagined that in just two days, he would go from being a member of a small, unknown pirate crew to a senior officer on a giant warship—and even be put in charge of recruiting new sailors!

"Captain, please rest assured! I will definitely recruit the highest quality sailors and make our Beast King Pirate Group the strongest in this sea!"

Old Bill said, his gaze fixed resolutely on Shen Feng.

Shen Feng smiled faintly and said:

"I believe in you. Also, it’s about time we changed our group’s name..."

Old Bill jolted and replied hastily:

"Please give the order, Captain."

For a pirate like him who had spent his entire life on ships, changing the name of their pirate group was a monumental event. And for the captain to discuss it with him was a great honor.

Shen Feng stroked his chin and said:

"Let’s call it... the Savior Pirate Group. And this Sail Warship will be called... the Hope."

’I’ll inevitably be dealing with all sorts of survivors in this world. A name like the Savior Pirate Group will make my stance clear and avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.’

Hearing this, Old Bill quickly expressed his approval, then led a group of pirates to get to work.

"Everyone to the docks! The Savior Pirate Group will be conducting hiring registration and assessments at the docks!"

As an experienced old sailor, Bill naturally understood that recruiting couldn’t be done on the ship itself, but had to be carried out at the docks.

Several tables were quickly set up at the docks. The dozen or so former members of the Beast King Pirate Group either maintained order or directly handled recruitment, striking an impressive formation.

The residents of the Floating Island Market who had just been begging Shen Feng now all flocked to the docks, obediently lining up and waiting for their interviews.

The interview process wasn’t complicated. The main points were checking for physical disabilities or illnesses, followed by an age restriction—only young and able-bodied adults were considered. Finally, their proficiency in sailing tasks was tested, which included climbing the side of the Sail Warship on the spot and demonstrating their ability to furl and unfurl sails.

Of course, literate candidates were given priority.

Standing on the deck and watching the bustling recruitment scene at the docks, Shen Feng couldn’t help but smile.

’Every boy has, at some point, dreamed of being a pirate. I never thought I’d actually get to live that dream here.’

Witch Tower’s voice sounded from behind him:

"If you want to go to the Holy Corpse Market, you’ll have to sail a great distance and cross several Mist Sea Regions. You’ll need an extremely experienced Navigator to be your eyes and a lighthouse on the dark sea... But as far as I know, on a small Floating Island Market like AN-13, even the most senior Navigator has only ever traveled within a hundred-nautical-mile radius..."

Hearing this, Shen Feng couldn’t help but frown.

Shen Feng hadn’t really considered the problem of positioning and navigation on the open sea.

After all, GPS had been so convenient in the past that he’d never thought about how to navigate on a vast sea with no satellites or internet.

It seemed that even with this Sail Warship, sailing steadily would be a problem.

"Then where can I recruit an experienced Navigator? Do you know the way to the Holy Corpse Market?"

Although he already had a feeling he knew the answer, Shen Feng asked anyway.

The young Minstrel, Witch Tower, just gave a knowing chuckle and pointed to her own little nose as she spoke:

"As it happens, I’m a high-level Navigator with a full set of equipment. I’m also a Minstrel, and my hiring price isn’t cheap. However, as payment for you saving the AN-13 Floating Island Market, I can waive my fee. But you have to answer some of my questions."

Shen Feng turned to size up the young Minstrel with the Longbow on her back. He noticed the grim expression on her face had completely vanished, replaced by a mischievous smile. Her jade-like eyes sparkled, finally revealing a hint of her girlish nature.

He nodded and said:

"Alright, it’s a deal. If there’s anything you want to know, just come to my room and ask me in private."

’Whether you get an answer or not will depend entirely on how you ask.’

The crew recruitment continued until midnight. Once one hundred crewmen were assembled, Shen Feng reviewed them and felt they were all quite good. He was also satisfied with the work of Old Bill and the others.

This was followed by a full night of gathering and purchasing supplies.

The entire Floating Island Market was nearly emptied.

The original crewmen also finished processing the "minerals" they had received earlier. Each one made a fortune and was grinning from ear to ear.

Shen Feng didn’t disembark, spending the night resting in the captain’s quarters of the Sail Warship.

Witch Tower, for her part, returned to the suspended tower on the Floating Island Market and did not reappear.

The newly recruited sailors were now giving it their all, desperate to prove themselves, and they did their jobs beautifully.

After a night’s rest, a conch horn sounded across the deck of the Sail Warship Hope early the next morning. The sails were then fully hoisted, and the ship set sail!