The natural fat from the S-grade ingredients dripped onto the charcoal, sizzling loudly.
Chen Xiaoya held a brush, carefully applying a secret sauce to the steak.
Yao Qian crouched by the grill like a greedy kitten, her eyes fixed on the pieces of meat gradually turning golden brown.
"Qian Qian, don't get too close. Be careful not to burn your face."
Yao Xue walked over with a plate full of sliced fruits and vegetables. Using her chopsticks, she picked up a piece of grilled marbled beef, gently blew on it, and then naturally brought it to Qin Yu's lips.
"Try it. The timing should be just right."
Qin Yu opened his mouth and took a bite.
A rich meaty aroma instantly exploded in his mouth, and the gentle energy contained within the S-grade ingredients flowed down his throat into his stomach.
[Ding! Consumed S-grade Dragon-Pattern Steak. Minor all-attributes enhancement. Stamina recovery rate increased by 50%!]
"Your skills are improving, dear," Qin Yu said while chewing the meat, casually wrapping an arm around Yao Xue's slender waist.
Her long legs, encased in black silk stockings, stiffened slightly.
A rare blush appeared on Yao Xue's perpetually icy face.
"People are watching," she protested softly, but her body leaned honestly into Qin Yu's embrace.
"Watching what? Who dares to watch?"
Qin Yu glared at Qi Chun.
Qi Chun immediately turned his head and began furiously attacking a pile of king crabs.
"I didn't see anything! I saw nothing at all! Damn, these crabs are so white!"
"Pfft—"
Chen Xiaoya and Yao Qian both burst out laughing.
Even Li Ruobing walked over carrying two glasses of Glacier Spirits and sat down next to Qin Yu on his other side.
"Here, hubby, bottoms up!"
Li Ruobing raised her glass boldly, her chest straining against her tank top in a stunning curve.
Qin Yu took the glass and downed it in one gulp.
The strong liquor burned his throat like a blade, but it was followed by a rush of exhilaration that shot straight to his head.
Refreshing.
So damn refreshing.
Outside, with the regional mergers, players worldwide were fighting tooth and nail just to survive.
But here on the President...
There was wine, meat, brothers, and women.
This was the most luxurious enjoyment in the apocalypse.
Qin Yu leaned back in the spacious lounge chair, gazing at the sea not far away.
Dapeng had his head resting on the water's surface.
Qin Yu had just thrown over a hundred tons of S-grade sea beast meat his way.
This once-arrogant SSS-grade Sky Dominator was now eating so voraciously he couldn't even lift his head.
Every now and then, he even let out a couple of cheerful "quacks" that sounded like a duck.
The scene had completely shattered any sense of dignity.
"This silly bird," Qin Yu chuckled and cursed.
Everything seemed so peaceful, so perfect.
But Qin Yu knew very well in his heart.
This peace was merely a brief calm before the storm.
His progress bar was already stuck at 80%.
That Executive Officer hiding in the background would absolutely not sit idly by and watch him collect the final fragment.
"Brother-in-law."
Right at that moment.
Yao Qian, who had been holding a tablet and watching the radar data, suddenly looked up.
A trace of confusion appeared on her small face.
"What's wrong?" Qin Yu cut a piece of roasted meat and tossed it into his mouth.
"The radar has picked up a strange signal source."
Yao Qian's fingers swiped rapidly across the screen.
"About eight hundred nautical miles from us."
"The signal frequency is... exactly the same as that glowing blue stone in your bag."
Hearing this...
The atmosphere on the deck instantly shifted.
Qi Chun paused his hand while cutting meat.
Li Ruobing set down her wine glass, her gaze sharpening in an instant.
Yao Xue pushed Qin Yu's hand away, the blush on her face fading as she returned to her composed, surgeon-like demeanor.
"The fifth fragment."
Qin Yu wiped his hands and straightened up.
He wasn't in a hurry to check the radar.
Instead, he first opened the system's public channel.
Sure enough.
Just as Yao Qian locked onto the signal.
A crimson global system announcement forcibly popped up before the eyes of every surviving player.
[World Announcement!]
[Version 2.0: Wasteland Era - Ultimate Bounty has been triggered!]
[Location: Absolute Zero Trench (Coordinates: X:9982, Y:-4451)]
[Item: Sea Soul Crystal Mother (Fragment · Final)]
[Regional Rules: This area has abnormal gravity, a temperature of absolute zero, and water pressure that will crush all vehicles below A-grade.]
[Additional Rules: Within this area, all thermal weapons and high-energy weapons will be suppressed by 'Magic-Sealing Chains,' reducing their power by 90%!]
[Warning: This area is extremely dangerous. System-predicted survival rate: 0.0001%!]
Looking at the screen full of red warnings.
The World Channel fell deathly silent.
Then, it erupted with overwhelming cries of despair.
[Is this even meant to be obtained?! Absolute zero? And magic-sealing?!]
[The system's gone mad! This is clearly a death trap!]
[Water pressure crushing A-grade vehicles? I haven't even scraped together a C-grade raft yet!]
[Who the hell is this targeting…]
Watching the players' comments flooding the channel.
Qin Yu smiled.
He closed the interface, stood up, and walked to the bow of the ship.
The sea breeze blew against his face, carrying a faint, bone-chilling cold.
"Targeting who?"
Qin Yu lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
"It's obvious. Targeting me."
The Executive Officer's intention couldn't be clearer.
Openly telling you where the fragment is.
Then setting up a certain-death trap, waiting for you to jump in.
Absolute zero.
Extreme water pressure.
Firepower reduced by 90%.
Combined, these three conditions meant even an entire aircraft carrier fleet would be instantly turned into scrap metal.
"Bro, this is clearly a trap."
Qi Chun walked over, his brow furrowed into a tight knot.
"A 90% reduction in firepower means our main cannon won't even make a splash."
"And that absolute zero thing—anyone going down would freeze into an ice sculpture instantly."
Li Ruobing tightened her grip on the pipe wrench, gritting her teeth.
"What's there to fear!"
"At worst, I'll put on the armor and go down to smash it with my hands!"
"Enough."
Qin Yu exhaled a smoke ring and flicked the ash.
"Since the Executive Officer dares to release the coordinates, it means he's absolutely confident we can't cause any trouble there."
Qin Yu turned around, looking at the people behind him.
"But I specialize in defying the odds."
Qin Yu stubbed out his cigarette on the railing.
A flash of wild fighting spirit gleamed in his eyes.
"Magic-Sealing Chains, huh?"
"Firepower reduction, huh?"
Qin Yu touched the [Kiss of Death] in his Storage Space—the weapon that had just absorbed over fourteen thousand high-energy embryos, its energy nearly explosive.
A 90% reduction?
My gun has now broken through the SSS-grade barrier—it's a rule-grade weapon!
Even if only 10% of its power remains.
It's more than enough to blast that damn trench flat!
"Ruo Bing, Xiao Ya, freeze and pack all the leftover meat."
"Yao Xue, check the pressure resistance of all medical equipment."
"Qian Qian, lock onto the coordinates with the radar."
Qin Yu issued his commands methodically.
The previously relaxed and carefree group instantly shifted into combat mode.
"Qi Chun!"
Qin Yu looked up into the sky.
"Here!"
"Keep your fortress hovering above the sea surface as our signal relay station and absolute retreat route."
"If we encounter an irresistible force, be ready at any moment to provide firepower coverage over the sea surface and cover our retreat."
Qi Chun stood at attention and saluted.
"Understood! Not a single mosquito will get past me!"
Finally.
Qin Yu walked to the bow of the ship, looking at the well-fed and spirited Three-Eyed Spirit Roc.
"Dapeng."
"Screech!"
The giant bird let out a piercing cry.
"Now that you're full, it's time to get to work."
Qin Yu patted the dark golden liquid armor of the President.
"Target, the Absolute Zero Trench."
"Let's go meet that Executive Officer and see what final tough challenge he's prepared for us!"
"Boom—!"
The three SS-grade plasma thrusters at the stern of the President simultaneously erupted with blinding blue light.
The massive warship tore through the waves, leaving a white trail hundreds of meters long on the sea surface.
Heading toward that unknown Sea of Death.
At full speed, they advanced.