Chapter 35: Deep Sea Merfolk

Seeing this, Lily Rhodes patiently replied to them one by one:

"I found an island and stripped it bare. There are plenty of coconuts. How many do you want? I’m out of vegetables and fruits for today, so wait until tomorrow. I haven’t opened any boxes these past two days."

Mr. Rhodes: "By the way, I have a batch of chicken leg mushrooms maturing in the next two days. Eating them can enhance your constitution."

After sending this message, Lily crossed her arms and sat back down on the sofa. Outside, a light, pattering rain had already begun to fall. The Sunshine Doll’s weather forecast was accurate after all.

Compared to the cold drizzle outside, the group chat was incredibly lively.

Items that could directly enhance a person’s constitution were absolute hard currency nowadays.

Zhan: "How effective are they?"

Rhodes: "They aren’t mature yet, but looking at the System Introduction, the effects should be pretty good."

Saying that, Lily sent over the System Introduction for the chicken leg mushrooms.

Although chicken leg mushrooms could improve one’s constitution, the effects were only at their best upon the first consumption. Afterward, the benefits would gradually diminish until they completely disappeared. By bringing them out early, she wanted to tell these people that she had good stuff on hand. If they wanted any, they had to prepare items for trade in advance.

Moreover, judging from the amount of vegetables and fruits they had purchased from her over the past few days, the quantity far exceeded a single person’s consumption. This meant they definitely had family members with them.

According to the System’s rules, these were highly likely elderly people or children—individuals who required special care. For them, the chicken leg mushrooms were lifelines that could allow them to survive in this cruel world.

Sure enough, the moment the news of the chicken leg mushrooms came out, the people in the group chat immediately placed pre-orders. As for the items to be traded, those remained undecided for now.

Just then, Shelly’s urgent calls suddenly echoed in Lily’s mind.

She quickly closed the group chat, grabbed the umbrella by the door, and walked outside.

When she reached the edge of the fence, Sprout wrapped its thin vines around her wrist. The grip was gentle, not hindering her movements, yet strong enough to prevent any accidents at a critical moment.

However, Lily’s attention wasn’t on that; her eyes were fixed straight ahead.

Not far away on the sea’s surface, a Silver Treasure Chest floated quietly.

This Treasure Chest was very different from the Silver Treasure Chests she had opened before. It was a full size larger, and the chest itself was much more ornate, with red gemstones embedded in its silvery-white metal surface.

However, upon seeing this Treasure Chest, Lily’s first reaction wasn’t happiness, but excitement.

After all, only Wooden Treasure Boxes had been floating on the sea previously. For a Silver Treasure Chest to suddenly pop up now—any idiot would know this wasn’t normal.

Moreover...

"Shelly, where is that thing?" Lily asked in her mind.

"Just under the water. That Treasure Chest is its tail."

It turned out to be a monster. Sure enough, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

According to Shelly’s description, the thing hiding beneath the seawater was very different from the Sea Beasts they had encountered at night. It was a humanoid creature.

Its entire body was covered in blue-gray scales. It had pointed ears, long and powerful limbs, and sharp claws. The Treasure Chest floating on the sea’s surface was exactly this humanoid monster’s tail.

It acted like a patient hunter, knowing that a Survivor couldn’t resist the temptation of a Treasure Chest, especially a Silver Treasure Chest.

However, to Lily, besides being a hunter, it had another identity—prey.

Because of the rain, Shelly hadn’t moved at all. While stationary, Shelly looked just like an ordinary small island. It was likely for this reason that the monster had come knocking.

Otherwise, with Shelly’s usual deterrence, let alone monsters, even large fish rarely approached during the day. Even if a blind one occasionally wandered near, Shelly would have eaten it long ago.

After all, considering Shelly’s massive size, its daily meat consumption was a terrifying figure. Aside from Lily’s feedings, it would also occasionally catch Sea Beasts from the ocean to eat as little snacks.

"This thing isn’t tasty. It’s stinky," Shelly said.

Hearing Shelly say this, Lily’s mouth twitched. She thought to herself that it was no wonder she was notified this time; it turned out Shelly just didn’t find this monster appetizing.

However, any creature capable of thinking to use a Treasure Chest as bait probably wasn’t some brainless Sea Beast.

Thinking of this, Lily narrowed her eyes slightly. She could just use this monster to test out the power of her newly acquired weapon.

With that in mind, she willed it.

The originally calm sea surface instantly rippled. Immediately after, a spinning waterspout emerged. Trapped inside the waterspout was the exact humanoid monster Shelly had described.

[Deep Sea Merfolk]

[Level: D Level]

[An amphibious Sea Beast possessing a certain level of intelligence. It excels at using the Treasure Chest on its tail to lure a Survivor closer.]

D Level?

Sea Beasts actually had Levels? How come she had never noticed this before?

Or was it that the ones she had killed previously were just small fry that didn’t even have a Level?

When the Deep Sea Merfolk, which had been hiding perfectly well in the water, made eye contact with Lily, it was momentarily stunned. It seemed unable to process what had just happened, but instinct quickly overcame that imperceptible trace of confusion.

"ROAR!!"

The Deep Sea Merfolk bared its sharpest teeth at Lily and roared, as if trying to intimidate her.

However, Lily’s face didn’t show any trace of fear. After all, this Deep Sea Merfolk was currently the equivalent of her prisoner. She had to admit, these Water Manipulation Skills were truly handy. With just a thought, she could control the water flow at will.

But it was better to finish this quickly. This Deep Sea Merfolk weighed several hundred pounds, and maintaining control over it took quite a toll.

Lily raised her arm, revealing the Arm Crossbow already loaded with arrows.

SWISH SWISH SWISH...

Following a few sounds of the air tearing, the arrows plunged straight into the Deep Sea Merfolk’s body.

Feeling the pain, the Deep Sea Merfolk began to struggle violently.

Although the areas pierced by the arrows weren’t fatal, her arrows were poisoned. The more intensely the Deep Sea Merfolk struggled, the faster the toxins took effect.

Soon, the scales on the Deep Sea Merfolk’s body turned completely from their original blue-gray to a purplish-black. The tail behind it drooped weakly, just like a dead fish.

Seeing this, Lily didn’t approach immediately. Instead, she raised her Arm Crossbow again—this time using a standard Arm Crossbow—and shot it at the Deep Sea Merfolk.

In the next second, the previously motionless Deep Sea Merfolk abruptly opened its eyes. A Trident gleaming with a metallic luster had somehow appeared in its hands, directly swatting away the incoming arrows.