From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos
Chapter 37 - 317: Catch Them All
"Boss, thirteen large fish have appeared. Should we cast the net?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Seeing this, First Mate Zhang Houqiang quickly reported it. He couldn’t identify the fish just by their length and other features, so he wasn’t sure what species they were.
By now, the ship’s hold was already filled with fish, but none of them were valuable.
"Oh? I’ll cast the net myself!"
Li Yang said, a look of interest on his face.
Of course, Zhang Houqiang didn’t argue with Li Yang’s decision.
Li Yang was the captain; he could do as he pleased.
The net was readied. Li Yang’s mind raced as he calculated the ship’s position, the location of the Bluefin Tuna, and every other variable.
’This first cast has to be perfect,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, this whole thing could be for nothing!’
On deck, the crew stood by, waiting for Li Yang’s command.
The net on a large fishing vessel wasn’t the simple kind one person could cast. It was a complex system that required the ship’s machinery to deploy.
Li Yang waited. Below the ship, his octopus avatar also waited in silence.
One man on the deck, one avatar in the ocean, both searching for the perfect moment!
At that moment, Li Yang felt as if time itself had slowed. The next ten-odd seconds felt agonizingly long.
Finally, after fifteen seconds, Li Yang commanded, "Cast the net!"
The entire ship sprang into action. As the net descended, the school of Bluefin Tuna below continued their leisurely swim, completely unaware that a deadly crisis was upon them!
As the net dropped, Li Yang grew tense. Through his octopus avatar, he had a clear view of the scene unfolding on the seabed. He watched the thirteen Bluefin Tuna swimming peacefully and saw the net plunging into the water toward them.
Soon, a flash of excitement appeared in his eyes!
"Success!"
In his view, eleven of the thirteen Bluefin Tuna had been caught in the net!
"Reel it in!" Li Yang ordered immediately, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
However, the two largest and most alert fish had managed to escape the net’s reach!
These two were the largest of the school, and needless to say, they were also the most valuable!
’They’re good at escaping,’ Li Yang thought. ’But can they really get away?’
SWOOSH!
Under the sea, the octopus avatar shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Its speed was astonishing as it chased directly after the largest Bluefin Tuna!
In Li Yang’s original plan, he knew catching all thirteen Bluefin Tuna at once would be difficult. As long as he caught the majority, the plan was a success!
Because the octopus avatar could easily take care of the few that got away!
Soon, the octopus avatar caught up to the largest of the Bluefin Tuna. The fish tried to struggle, but it was undoubtedly no match for the avatar and stood no chance.
Meanwhile, the net was being hauled in.
"We got them!"
The crew members were all thrilled, feeling the immense weight of the net.
Finally, the net was hauled aboard and opened, revealing eleven massive fish to everyone.
Staring at the massive fish and their streamlined bodies, the crewmen suddenly froze, their faces filled with utter disbelief.
"Is... is that tuna?"
"No, not just any tuna... it looks a bit like Bluefin Tuna!"
"What do you mean, ’a bit like’?! These ARE Bluefin Tuna! My God, I can’t believe I’m seeing eleven Bluefin Tuna caught at once!"
The crewmen’s faces were filled with shock, and their voices trembled.
As veteran, experienced fishermen, how could any of them not recognize such an incredibly precious fish?
"Bluefin Tuna? Brother Li, I think I’ve heard of these fish. They’re worth a lot of money, right?"
Sun Datao asked curiously from beside Li Yang.
He knew a little about marine life, but his knowledge wasn’t as comprehensive as that of the veteran crewmen.
First Mate Zhang Houqiang smiled and said excitedly, "Worth a lot is an understatement! A while back, a Bluefin Tuna weighing over six hundred pounds was auctioned for the sky-high price of over twenty million! Even if these aren’t quite that big, each one is still worth at least several million!"
He beamed, marveling at Li Yang’s luck!
He’d been working on fishing boats for decades and had never encountered anything like this. On the first trip, four tons of large yellow croaker. On the second trip, good heavens, eleven enormous Bluefin Tuna!
With luck like this, he’d believe it if someone told him Li Yang was the secret son of Lady Luck herself!
But even as he marveled, Zhang Houqiang was overjoyed. A huge haul for the boat meant a much bigger bonus for them!
The other crew members were the same, watching excitedly and wondering just how much the Bluefin Tuna would sell for—and how big their bonuses would be.
’Xiaoyang’s luck really is heaven-defying, just like Dad said,’
Li Jun was also on deck, staring at the Bluefin Tuna with a look of shock.
’This cousin of mine is getting more and more amazing!’
Nearly everyone on the ship was lost in celebration, but Li Yang was still focused on the situation beneath the waves.
In the grip of the octopus avatar’s tentacles, the Bluefin Tuna—estimated to weigh around 550 pounds—was powerless to resist and easily captured.
Then, carrying the captured fish, the octopus avatar pursued the last one.
Although its speed was significantly reduced, it was still incredibly fast.
It all happened in an instant. In just two seconds, one Bluefin Tuna was caught. The other hadn’t gotten far and soon appeared in the octopus avatar’s line of sight.
A hint of delight appeared in his eyes, and the avatar immediately moved in for the capture.
However, just as it was about to make the capture, a behemoth suddenly appeared in the distance, charging straight for the Bluefin Tuna!
’Dammit, not another great white shark!’
Li Yang couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
He had run into a great white during the large yellow croaker incident, and now it was happening again.
But this great white shark was four to five meters long—a fully grown adult!
The great white’s target was clearly the fleeing Bluefin Tuna!
If a great white took a bite out of such a valuable fish, its price would plummet.
’Get the hell out of my way!’
The octopus avatar tried to yell in Chinese, but only a gurgling sound came out of its beak. It reached the Bluefin Tuna’s side and viciously whipped two of its tentacles at the great white shark.
Li Yang had already begun the third of the four major stages of the Body Refining Chapter. His physical attributes were at least fifteen times greater than that of an ordinary person!
This was an all-around enhancement of his physical condition, and the same applied to his octopus avatar!
Moreover, because the avatar was so much larger, Li Yang estimated that in a real fight, his own body would be no match for it!
The tentacle whipped fiercely against the great white’s body, causing it to stagger. A welt even appeared on its skin!
With a single strike, the adult great white shark was nearly knocked unconscious.
It stared at the octopus avatar with a ferocious glare, then immediately turned and fled.
Its intelligence was quite high; it could tell the octopus avatar was not to be trifled with.
Seeing this, the octopus avatar didn’t give chase. The Bluefin Tuna was the priority.
Without the great white shark’s interference, the octopus avatar held the two Bluefin Tuna with its seven remaining free tentacles.
Meanwhile, back on the boat, another net was cast under Li Yang’s orders!
Once the net was in the water, the octopus avatar took the opportunity to place the two Bluefin Tuna it was holding into the net.