MMORPG: Birth of the World's Luckiest Player

Chapter 515: Setting Sail on the Luxury Vessel

A Rich Man’s Wish pointed to Sea Lion’s Tomb, a small island far off the eastern coast. Reaching it meant traveling by sea, so Marcus and the others headed first to Blue Sea Citadel’s sprawling harbor to rent a system vessel.

Ships functioned much like horses on land or flying mounts in the sky. They were the primary way to travel across the ocean, making long-distance voyages both practical and efficient.

Under the system’s rules, players could sail for extended periods without needing any real sailing experience. However, spending too much time at sea came with its own drawbacks. The longer players remained on the open water, the more their combat effectiveness declined, and the penalties stacked up surprisingly quickly. Extensive testing by players had already confirmed that after ten hours at sea, all attributes dropped by thirty-five percent, with the rate of decline increasing the longer the voyage continued.

There were only a few ways to recover. Players could return to land, rest aboard a ship for a while, or purchase Deep Sea Cores from the system store. Unfortunately, those cost a staggering ten thousand gold each, making them far beyond the reach of ordinary players. As a result, most adventurers simply rented ships with cabins so they could rest whenever their accumulated penalties became too severe.

Aside from that, sailing was simply enjoyable. Ships traveled almost as quickly as horses on land, and the endless ocean scenery made the journey worthwhile in its own right.

The moment they stepped onto the docks of Blue Sea Citadel, the magnificent view greeted them. An endless blue sky stretched above an equally endless sea. Ships of every size crossed the sparkling water while seabirds circled gracefully overhead, gliding between the waves and the clouds. Warm sunlight spilled across the harbor, and the gentle sea breeze carried a fresh, salty scent that instantly lifted the spirit. Combined with the beautifully preserved coastal architecture surrounding the docks, the entire place felt vibrant and alive.

Amber and Jade immediately ran toward the waterfront, spreading their arms wide as they breathed in the cool ocean air. "Marcus, this feels amazing!" Amber laughed. "The air out here is so fresh!"

"It really is," Jade agreed, grinning from ear to ear. The others smiled just as brightly.

Even Marcus found himself quietly enjoying the moment. Looking around, he couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. Ever since Dominion launched, he’d been so focused on leveling, gathering resources, and growing stronger that he’d rarely taken the time to simply relax with everyone. Moments like this reminded him that there was more to the game than constant grinding.

After spending a little while admiring the scenery, they got back to business. They stocked up on potions and other necessities before making their way to the system shipyard. Once they rented a ship, it would finally be time to set sail.

Naturally, the group attracted attention everywhere they went. Marcus still wore the same inexpensive mask sold by the system along with an ordinary set of casual clothing. Nothing about his appearance stood out. At a glance, he looked like just another average player wandering through the harbor.

The women beside him, however, were impossible to overlook. Lily and the others were all dressed in exquisite outfits from the system’s highest-end boutique. Although masks concealed their faces, their elegant clothing, graceful figures, refined manners, and unmistakable presence made them seem almost unreal.

Countless players stopped in their tracks. ’It looks like nine goddesses just descended from heaven...’ The thought crossed nearly everyone’s mind. Seeing even one woman with such extraordinary elegance was rare enough, and seeing nine together was astonishing. Seeing all nine accompanying the same man was enough to leave people speechless.

To make matters even worse for the onlookers, Amber and Jade each happily held one of Marcus’s arms, chatting and laughing with him as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jealousy spread through the crowd almost instantly. "Who is that guy? How can someone so ordinary be that lucky?" That question echoed again and again among the watching players.

One man laughed bitterly. "So plain clothes are fashionable now? Is that the secret to attracting beautiful women?" Another cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted dramatically, "Where can I buy the cheapest outfit in the game?" The surrounding players burst into laughter.

Not everyone was fooled, though. Veteran players quickly noticed details others overlooked. Marcus’s clothing might have been ordinary, but his posture was relaxed and confident. His footsteps were steady, his movements efficient, and he carried himself with the quiet composure of someone completely in control.

That wasn’t the bearing of an average player, and no ordinary man could naturally earn the trust and affection of nine extraordinary women.

Marcus noticed the stares but paid them little attention. Ever since deciding to stop hiding his progress, he no longer cared what strangers thought. He simply smiled as he chatted with everyone, leading the group through the bustling harbor until they arrived at the shipyard.

A dockworker spotted them immediately and hurried over with a welcoming smile. "Good day, sir. Looking to rent a vessel? We have ships to suit every need."

Marcus nodded. "What options do you have, and what are the prices?" The dockworker handed him a catalog.

System vessels came in a wide variety of models, with prices varying greatly depending on size and quality.

Broadly speaking, they fell into two categories. Small vessels came in ten classes, capable of carrying anywhere from one hundred to one thousand passengers. Large vessels came in only two versions, with capacities of fifteen hundred or two thousand people, making them ideal for guild wars, large-scale expeditions, or major naval operations.

Each size could also be rented in three different grades: standard, mid-range, and luxury. Higher grades featured better materials, greater speed, and significantly more comfortable accommodations.

Marcus’s group consisted of only ten people. After browsing through the catalog, he chose a luxury vessel designed for twenty passengers.

A standard twenty-passenger ship cost just four hundred gold per day, averaging twenty gold per passenger. It was affordable for almost anyone, but the facilities were minimal. Aside from twenty simple seats and basic transportation, there was little else. Its speed rating was only ten.

The luxury version was in an entirely different league. It featured twenty private bedrooms, spacious observation decks, beautifully furnished interiors, elegant lounges, and two system attendants dedicated to serving the passengers throughout the voyage. The experience resembled staying in an upscale seaside hotel rather than traveling aboard a ship. On top of that, its speed rating reached eighteen, nearly twice that of the standard model.

Naturally, the price reflected those upgrades. Five thousand gold per day. That worked out to roughly two hundred and fifty gold per passenger.

For Marcus, who had more than enough money, the comfort and speed easily justified the expense.

Of course, these were purely passenger vessels and possessed no combat capabilities whatsoever. If combat broke out or another player attacked them, the system would automatically store the ship in Marcus’s inventory while safely placing everyone into the surrounding water to fight. Once the battle ended, the vessel could be summoned again without damage.

After completing the rental, the dockworker personally escorted the group to their assigned berth. The moment Marcus saw the ship, he couldn’t help staring. Calling it a twenty-passenger vessel almost felt misleading. The ship was enormous.

Broad decks stretched across the bow and stern, while a beautifully constructed three-story cabin occupied the center. Even though the system limited the number of passengers to twenty, the vessel looked spacious enough to comfortably accommodate several times that number.

It radiated luxury from every angle. Marcus couldn’t hide his excitement. "Alright, everyone! Let’s get aboard." Laughing, he waved everyone onto the ship.

Once the group had settled in, Marcus issued the departure command through the system interface.

The massive vessel slowly pulled away from the harbor before gathering speed, gliding smoothly across the open sea as it headed northeast toward Sea Lion’s Tomb.

From the docks behind them, countless pairs of envious eyes followed the departing ship. Standing at the bow, Marcus looked out across the vast ocean.

Ships dotted the distant horizon like scattered leaves floating across an endless blue lake.

Dominion’s seas were even larger than its continents, filled with hidden islands, lost treasures, dangerous monsters, and countless unexplored secrets. Adventurers from every major city had already begun venturing onto the water in search of fortune.

Most, however, remained close to the coastline. Players below level fifty simply weren’t strong enough to risk venturing into the deep sea. They preferred hunting weaker sea monsters near shore, where escaping back to safety was still possible.

The deeper waters were an entirely different world. Powerful sea monsters could erupt from beneath the waves without warning, attacking passing ships in an instant. Exploring those regions required both overwhelming strength and the willingness to accept the harsh penalty of dying at sea. Very few players at the current stage of the game were willing to gamble with that risk.

As a result, while plenty of ships filled the surrounding waters, nearly all of them hugged the coastline.

Marcus’s luxury vessel stood out immediately. Occasionally another mid-range ship could be seen in the distance, but nothing else compared to the floating mansion carrying Marcus and his companions.

After all, five thousand gold per day was a luxury almost nobody could afford.

Their voyage quickly became the center of attention. The luxury vessel effortlessly overtook one ship after another, leaving smaller boats trailing far behind. Players aboard those vessels could only stare in amazement as the elegant ship swept gracefully across the sea.

What truly caught their attention, though, were the nine graceful women standing on the decks. Their flowing clothes danced gently in the sea breeze as they admired the endless ocean together. From a distance, their silhouettes seemed almost dreamlike, like heavenly maidens taking in the view from a floating palace.

More than a few players rubbed their eyes, wondering if they had imagined the scene.

About an hour later, Marcus’s ship had completely left the crowded coastal waters behind. The surrounding sea grew quieter with every passing minute until only a handful of distant vessels remained visible.

A few curious captains attempted to follow, eager to discover where such an extravagant ship was headed.

Unfortunately for them, their vessels simply couldn’t keep up. Before long, Marcus’s ship disappeared into the distance, leaving those pursuing captains with nothing but a fading silhouette on the horizon.