52: The 100-square-meter panoramic bathhouse made all the goddesses in the class go crazy with joy!

As the ferry sailed into calm waters, the storm gradually subsided.

Chen Du returned to the captain's quarters, lit a cigarette, and then leisurely checked the rewards given by the system.

[styx ferry · Level 2 Authority!]

Ka-cha—

A crisp sound of gears engaging came from the console.

The previously locked control panel slid open to both sides, revealing more dashboards and control levers.

Chen Du didn't look at those fancy control levers; his gaze was fixed on the resource monitoring screen.

[Fuel Consumption Report: This departure from the port consumed 125 barrels of fuel!]

[Current Remaining Inventory: 618 barrels.]

"Tsk, one stomp on the gas and what burns is all cold, hard fuel."

Chen Du took a puff of his cigarette and watched the smoke dissipate.

This was the apocalypse.

Even if one had just escaped death, the next second would be spent worrying about one's livelihood.

[Level 2 Authority Function: Locked areas are now open.]

[Detected that the living area is severely damaged. Spend resources for a one-click renovation?]

Chen Du swiped through the blueprints.

This ship was huge; as long as he was willing to pour resources into it, it could become a palace on the sea.

"Renovate!"

"Build the captain's quarters and the panoramic bathhouse! And install a constant temperature system!" Chen Du gave the order through gritted teeth.

[Command confirmed.]

[Calling upon shipboard resources... Consuming steel, timber, rare metals...]

[Warning: This modification will consume 48% of the current inventory! Confirm?]

"Nearly half the resources..."

Chen Du's heart bled as he looked at that percentage.

"Confirm!"

His gaze turned cold and sharp.

"In this hellhole, if I can't even take a hot bath, saving up more resources will only benefit others."

"I need to think bigger. At worst, I'll just go rob that Sakura Group again!"

Rumble—

A dull vibration came from beneath his feet.

In less than ten minutes.

The previously cramped panoramic bathroom had transformed into a spacious, bright, 100-square-meter bathhouse with non-slip tiles!

Chen Du turned on the ship-wide broadcast, his voice sounding lazy.

"Attention all personnel!!"

"To celebrate everyone's survival, the public bathhouse is now open for two hours."

"Go get yourselves clean. Especially certain people—don't stink up my deck."

"Fuel consumption for this voyage was massive! During the next landing, if anyone dares to slack off, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The broadcast had just finished.

High-pitched, sharp cheers erupted on the deck!

"A bathhouse?! We can take a bath?!"

"Ahhh!! Am I hallucinating?!"

"Long live the captain!! Chen Du, I love you!!"

An Nuonuo, who was so tired she didn't even want to move a finger, crawled up determinedly. "I want to wash!! I'm going to scrub off this whole stench!! Nobody better fight me for the showerhead!!"

"Move aside, move aside! I was at the front when killing monsters, so I'm going to be first for the bath too!" Tang Ran pushed aside the girls blocking her way and bolted inside.

Even the usually reserved and cold Li Yaozhi and Ye Qiu stopped caring about their image.

They were covered in monster fluids, mud, and seawater; they had long since reached their limit of endurance.

"Hurry! We only have two hours!"

"Don't push! My underwear is still in the suitcase!"

A group of ragged but undeniably beautiful girls were now like an army of shoppers rushing into a discount mall, scrambling to pour into the bathhouse.

Half an hour later.

Heat waves rolled and steam billowed.

The girls soaked in the scalding, constant-temperature hot water, forcing the chill out from deep within their bones.

"Wooo... I'm alive again..."

An Nuonuo was curled up in the water like a little duck blowing bubbles, her round little face flushed red. "The captain is simply my god! This water temperature is absolutely top-tier!"

"Thinking about the fuel cost is painful, though." Xia Xin leaned against the edge of the pool.

A pair of long, straight legs were faintly visible beneath the water, and she held a cup of cola in her hand.

She took a sip, her eyes filled with complexity. "The captain says he's self-interested, but he's actually very generous to us classmates."

"Hehe... nothing but legs... this is a total win..."

Xia Lai wore a diving mask and swam around underwater like a pervert.

From time to time, she surfaced, two suspicious red streaks hanging below her nostrils.

"Second Sister! Restrain yourself! You're a girl, for goodness' sake!" Xia Mo looked exhausted, wishing she could pretend she didn't know her.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the bathhouse.

Zhou Qian was vigorously scrubbing her arm with a bath sponge, her eyes coldly staring at Xiao Ai.

She was green with envy.

She deliberately puffed out her chest, displaying the red mark on her upper thigh—the one left behind when Chen Du had saved her earlier.

"Oh my, some people just have all the luck, having the captain risk so much to save them."

"Fuel is so precious. Who knows how many resources were wasted to save a mere handyman."

The bathhouse went quiet.

Li Yaozhi frowned, just about to speak up and scold her.

Splash!

Xiao Ai stood up from the water.

She made no attempt to cover herself; her tight muscles shimmered with a wild luster under the lights.

The scars weren't ugly; instead, they exuded a chilling killing intent.

She walked straight toward Zhou Qian, her gaze full of contempt.

"You really are pathetic."

Xiao Ai leaned down, her powerful aura forcing Zhou Qian to shrink her neck.

"That mark isn't a sign of affection; it's a slave's serial number."

"It's like the brand they put on livestock back home, and you're actually treating it like a treasure?"

"Do you understand? Idiot!"

Zhou Qian's face froze. "You—!"

"As for me."

Xiao Ai pointed to her own heart, her tone fanatical, "I am his most loyal warrior!"

"A parasite like you who only knows how to spread her legs to survive isn't even qualified to wash the captain's socks."

"Say one more word, and I'll shove that plastic face of yours into the drain. We'll see if the captain pities you for even a second."

Having said her piece, Xiao Ai grabbed a towel and left with a cool air.

Zhou Qian stood frozen in place, her face turning from red to purple, gritting her teeth in hatred... Late at night.

On the top floor, in the newly renovated captain's suite.

With deep red wool carpets and a soft, large bed, it was simply a different world from the living area below.

Chen Du was dressed in a bathrobe, playing with the dark green [Talent Poison Sac] in his hand.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Enter."

Xia Mo pushed the door open and walked in.

She had just finished bathing, crystal water droplets still hanging from the tips of her hair, and she was wrapped in an oversized shirt.

The shirt barely covered her buttocks, and two blindingly white legs crossed as she walked toward him.

Her cool exterior combined with this peek-a-boo outfit was the absolute peak of the 'pure desire' aesthetic.

"Captain, I'm here."

When Xia Mo saw the round bed, her heart beat so fast it felt like it would burst through her chest.

Although they had already done what needed to be done, being alone in this environment was still a bit much for her to handle.

"Come here, sit here." Chen Du patted the spot beside him.

Xia Mo sat down obediently.

Chen Du took her palm and placed the poison sac on it.

"This is a rare drop from Duke Fly."

"Your burst speed is fast enough, but your crowd control is a bit lacking. With this, you'll be able to deliver an instant kill upon drawing blood!"

"I kept this trophy specifically for you."

Xia Mo gripped the poison sac, her heart feeling warm.

In this dog-eat-dog world, favoritism was more effective than any sweet words.

"Thank you... Chen Du."

She changed how she addressed him, a spring of emotion hidden in her eyes.

Then she leaned her delicate body closer, her pleasant scent wafting straight into Chen Du's nose.

"Only verbal thanks?"

Chen Du raised an eyebrow, his finger tracing her collarbone.

Xia Mo's breath hitched and her face turned red to the ears, but she didn't back away. "As long as it's you... anything is fine."

The atmosphere was at its peak.

There was no reason not to enjoy such a meal delivered to his door.

Chen Du was just about to lean down to do what adults love to do.

Knock, knock, knock!!

The urgent knocking on the door nearly gave Chen Du a brain hemorrhage on the spot.

"Cap-Captain! I have something to report! It's extremely urgent!!"

Outside the door, An Nuonuo was clutching a bear pillow and wearing strawberry-patterned pajamas, shrinking her neck as she knocked.

She had come to apply to be a personal guard because her Pink Cloud was gone and she had imagined scenes of Sirens eating people.

Chen Du's movements froze, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

Xia Mo sprang away like a startled deer, hurriedly tidying her collar, her face completely flushed.

With a dark expression, Chen Du said, "Come in!"

The door opened.

As soon as An Nuonuo poked her little head in, her smile froze.

She saw Xia Mo with disheveled clothes and a flushed face.

She also saw Chen Du in a bathrobe, looking completely frustrated.

Her CPU fried on the spot, and she turned to stone.

Three seconds later.

"Wah—! Sorry! I didn't see anything!"

An Nuonuo covered her eyes, her little face exploding in red.

She turned to run but ended up slamming her head into the door frame.

"Wooo... I didn't see Sister Xia Mo snacking! I didn't see that the captain's bed is huge!"

"My pure soul is shattered! You guys continue! Just pretend I'm dead! Wooo!"

Watching the little girl flee with her head in her hands, Chen Du laughed out of sheer exasperation.

Xia Mo wanted to leave with her red face. "Um... I should probably head back first."

"Trying to run?"

Chen Du gave a cold laugh, backhanded the door locked, and pulled Xia Mo into his arms.

"Since this girl wants to be a personal attendant, let her stand guard at the door. As for you, you're not going anywhere tonight."

Xia Mo gave a small cry of surprise as she was pressed directly onto the soft, large bed.

Waves slapped against the side of the ship, but the storm inside the cabin had only just begun.

An Nuonuo: "?!!"