NOVEL WEB Chapter 761: Large Purchase
Now, Shane was curious about what he was about to see.
Soon, they stopped before three nearly identical bottles.
They were from a small dusty box and seemed to be scheduled to be thrown away…
After wiping off the dust, Shane saw that each bottle contained a sturdy, broad-hulled vessel…
From what he could see, they were single-deck transports. They looked old in design but clearly practical.
The plaques read:
Coastal Runner – 38 passenger capacity– 6 defense cannons – 30,000 Points.
The Tide Bearer – 46 passenger capacity – 6 defense cannons – 32,500 Points.
Sea Mule – 25 passenger capacity – reinforced cargo hold – 26,500 Points.
Based on his observation, Cargo ships indeed have a lower passenger capacity, probably because of the bunk beds they can place. But it could carry more than just passengers anyway.
"They're slow," the clerk admitted, "but they'll get you where you need to go and back again without capsizing in a mild storm. You just need a small crew, so it has manageable upkeep."
Shane gently nodded, but he was unsure why they were stored here, collecting dust.
It means that these ships could have issues he wasn't aware of.
"They're good. But overpriced for what they are. Are there any issues with them?" Shane asked.
The clerk continued with his business smile and explained the situation.
"Well, they're all 15 to 20 years old or so… They have outdated designs and they're not built for comfort. You might have to consider doing some internal renovations as well…"
Shane expected that there might be some renovations to be done, but he wasn't sure if a 20 to 30-year-old ship was actually a good choice.
Still, with Cloud's analysis, 15 to 20-year-old ships like these shouldn't be at the end of their lifespan yet. They could still serve for many years to come, especially if they were maintained properly…
"I'll take all three… if you can give them to me for twenty-five thousand each."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Seventy-five thousand total for ships that would normally fetch ninety thousand? That's a bit..."
"You said it yourself—you've got no customers," Shane countered. "Three ships out the door now, or you can wait another year for someone to walk in."
The silence stretched for a moment. Then, the clerk's smirk returned. "Fine. Twenty-five thousand each. But I'll have to adjust the listings in the BidLink. Two hours for the bidding process to close, and then they're yours."
"That won't work for me." Shane leaned in slightly. "I'm prepared to pay now. Change it from bid to buyout. I want them in my inventory before I leave."
Shane was trying to push his limit. Since he was able to do such transactions with Zach and learned more about these people, he knew that they could actually make some adjustments. They weren't completely bound by the price they had placed on them.
Furthermore, Shane was also aware that they needed to earn Points as much as they could since it wasn't every day that Survivors visited this place.
The clerk then realized that Shane was indeed aware of how this realm worked.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Alright… if you're serious."
He moved behind the counter, tapping quickly into a device connected to the BidLink network. The prices on the items had soon changed. Soon, Shane's BidLink device refreshed. It got updated with the new buyout option on the item he had selected.
A few moments later, Shane confirmed the purchases. Three soft chimes sounded as the Coastal Runner, Tide Bearer, and Sea Mule were transferred into his System Inventory.
Total spent: 75,000 Points.
Shane was already picturing them docked somewhere in the future. He imagined some outposts linked by sea, new trade lanes opening to other islands or continents long before anyone else even realized it was possible.
As the transaction cleared, the clerk gave a genuine smile.
"For a man who just dropped 75,000 Points in my store… I have something for you."
He ducked below the counter and came up with a long, narrow bottle unlike the others.
Inside was not a ship, but a strange, half-submerged platform with odd equipment—tall poles with crystal tips, a small crane arm, and a cabin... The plaque simply read:
[ Tidewatcher – Special Deployment Platform ]
"This one's… unconventional," the clerk explained. "It's a floating utility platform. You can use it for repairs, light fishing operations, or as a temporary sea base. No weapons, but it's durable and self-stabilizing in rough waters. Consider it a thank-you for your business."
Shane carefully checked the bottle and nodded. It didn't look like it was in good condition, but that was probably the reason why it was being given for free...
"I'll put it to good use."
The clerk slipped the bottle into a protective case and handed it over.
"Oh… one more thing… You might want to check out the Apex Auction. I heard others talking about it… They might be selling floating ships… or even a floating fortress."
Shane was shocked as he heard this. "Floating fortress?"
He had only seen them during the A.I. Rebellion Apocalypse.
It was owned by another group of Survivors who were all Legendary Talent Holders.
Unfortunately, since they do not have an A.I. Cloud to guide them like him, they were still eliminated by Anima.
"You heard it right… But that's just the rumor… I might be wrong." the clerk said with a shrug. "Could be a sales pitch, could be real. But if it's true… well, it makes anything I sell here look like rowboats."
Shane smiled faintly. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip."
With that, he left the store, as he kept the bottles within his inventory.
He had been inside the store for only 15 minutes or so… As he looked around, Shane noticed the narrow shop near a small apothecary.
It was a bookstore that had an "Ink & Steel Archive" signboard.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary bookstore...