Chapter 1: Black Beasts? Black Beast Crew?
“What crime did you commit to end up here? What’s your name?”
“Mo Wen… Mo Wen Reiland.”
Reiland?
Upon hearing the surname, the young woman dressed in prison garb, leaning against the ship’s bulkhead, raised her brow and glanced at the young man sitting with the same posture across the barred metal fence, a note of surprise in her voice.
“Reiland… you mean the Reiland, one of the Empire’s Twin Pillars, Count Reiland’s family? So you’re the son of a noble? How did you fall to this state?”
“Those who board the ‘Black Beast’ rarely make it back alive… although there are rumors that this ship can lead people to the legendary pirate king’s hidden treasure.”
The young man’s face darkened with sorrow as he sighed, “First, my surname Reiland is just a coincidence… Second, I only intended to find a menial job at the arena in Starfall Port. I never expected that cursed black broker to lead me straight to the Black Beast’s dock.”
“Then, I was dragged inside.”
“…What about you? You don’t look like a simple farmer’s child either. How did you end up here? What’s your name?”
“That’s me.” The girl in the prison uniform straightened her chest, pride coloring her voice. “My name is Freya. My dream is to become a great figure like the Pirate King. That’s why I boarded—to let the Black Beast take me to the Pirate King’s hidden treasure.”
Indeed, it was no small ambition.
To be precise, it was quite grand.
Mo Wen withdrew his gaze from the girl and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
“So, you boarded willingly?”
“Exactly!”
“Then where did you get those prison clothes?”
“I caused a ruckus earlier and was caught by the city guards. When I heard the Black Beast was docking, I didn’t even have time to change. I rushed over. How’s that for speed?” Freya lifted her chin defiantly.
Fast indeed—fast enough to board and face death ahead of everyone else.
You even escaped prison, didn’t you?
And no one’s praising you! What’s with the arrogance?
Why do I get the feeling this girl isn’t the sharpest?
Mo Wen sighed, lowering his head. His eyes seemed to fix on the damp deck beneath, but in truth, they were focused on the panel only he could see.
[Congratulations! You are about to find a livelihood! Otherworldly Perfect Life System pre-unlocked!]
[Acquired system pre-unlock reward—Reconnaissance Skill (Trial Version)]
[Acquired employment information for “Black Iron Rank Profession—Black Beast Crew Member”!]
[Employment conditions: Do you want to become a crew member of the infamous, mysterious Black Beast? Want to experience an extraordinary life? Simply complete the “Black Beast Ritual” within one day of boarding, and your wish will be granted!]
[Employment effect: Unknown, unlocked upon successful employment]
[Advancement path: Unknown, unlocked upon successful employment]
[The perfect life in another world must be filled with diverse and colorful professions, right?]
[Successfully securing your first profession will officially unlock the system!]
Good news: Transcended with a system.
Bad news: System partially unlocked, but still limited. Also, trapped in prison with an uncertain fate.
Mo Wen lamented inwardly, tilting his head to peer through the small, fist-sized window on one side of the cabin, watching the rolling waves outside.
The Black Beast had already left port, sailing across the vast sea.
His only chance for survival now was to become a member of the Black Beast’s crew.
But that “Black Beast Ritual”—just the name alone felt ominously wrong!
Based on information from his “cellmate” Freya, very few who boarded the Black Beast ever returned alive.
Surely a death sentence, a one-in-nine survival at best!
Mo Wen looked at his only current skill—Reconnaissance Skill (Trial Version).
This stingy system, even the pre-unlock was grudging, and the skill granted was still only a trial version. How infuriating!
But having no other choice, he gritted his teeth and endured.
[Reconnaissance Skill (Trial Version)]: A pre-unlock reward from the Perfect Life System, usable three times free of charge to gather information on designated targets.
A skill useful, yet not all that useful.
Mo Wen’s face showed utter despair.
It was useful in theory—knowing oneself and the enemy could solve many problems—but as an ordinary man, even knowing too much often brought no advantage.
“Squeak—”
At that moment, the wooden door of the cabin was suddenly flung open not far off, sunlight greedily pouring into the dim space.
Two tall figures, wearing masks, gray gloves, and hooded robes, strode along the sunlit path to the cell holding Mo Wen.
“The Black Beast Ritual will begin immediately,” came a rough, slightly rasping voice from one of the crew members.
Behind the withered yellowed mask, cold and indifferent eyes fixed mercilessly on Mo Wen as if he were prey.
Their broad arms, thick as an average person’s thigh and barely concealed by the ample robes, their sturdy stature over two meters tall, and the curved dagger at the waist—all combined to quell any thought of resistance.
Mo Wen obediently stepped out of the cell.
He was lean and weak—no chance of fighting back.
He glanced sideways at his cellmate but found Freya had already stepped out before him, energetically moving her limbs, throwing punches with a “heave-ho” vigor that seemed oddly spirited… for someone heading to their death!
Mo Wen lost count of his sighs.
Escorted by the two crew members, one at the front and one behind, with no possibility of escape, he had no choice but to follow obediently.
Before long, they reached the spacious upper deck.
The wet, salty sea breeze mingled with the cold, scrutinizing gazes of the Black Beast crew forming a circle.
One massive figure, towering above the others, laughed heartily:
“Welcome our newcomer! We shall now conduct the Black Beast Ritual!”
“Once successful, he will join us and become one of our own.”
“Everyone, give a warm welcome!”
The synchronized clapping of many gray-gloved hands—three sharp beats—sounded less like applause and more like a funeral dirge.
As the clapping ended, the Black Beast’s first mate nodded with satisfaction.
Unlike the other crew, his face bore no mask, and he wore no gloves. His skin was an unusual dark brown.
He looked at Mo Wen, grinning to reveal yellowed teeth, patting the figure cloaked in a black hooded mantle standing beside him.
“Come, newcomer. Step before me.”
“Kill it, or survive after being defeated by it—that’s how you pass the Black Beast Ritual.”
“Clang…”
A dagger was tossed onto the deck before Mo Wen.
He took a deep breath, bending to pick up the dagger while casting a “Reconnaissance Skill” on the black-cloaked figure.
This skill only had three trial uses; otherwise, he’d want to scan everyone.
Gray mist appeared before his eyes, then stabilized into text he could understand.