The Giant Kraken's Domain
We'd finally reached the end of the 38th floor with the colossal Kraken in tow. There, the canal leading up to the 39th floor came into view.
"Stop!"
As the Prokho approached the canal, a soldier patrolling on a scout boat shouted the order to halt. He came alongside and called out.
"Heading to the 39th floor?"
"Yes."
"That'll be 10 gold for the canal toll."
Namgung Seojun tossed over a pouch containing 10 gold. The soldier checked it, then threw back another pouch and said, "Hang this green flag. Once you're in the canal, we'll let you through."
A crewman verified the flag and hoisted it atop the highest mast of the Prokho. As they entered the canal, a guide shouted, "Stick as close as possible. Closer... closer... closer..."
Following the instructions, they pressed the ship right up against the mechanism that lifted vessels from the 38th to the 39th floor. The guide latched a hook device onto the Prokho.
"Alright, here we go!"
The guide yelled, and after three seconds, the Prokho began rising, pulled by the hook amid a rhythmic clack-clack-clack-clack of machinery. It ascended at a 30-degree angle. About ten minutes later, they arrived on the 39th floor.
"Move it along, quick!"
The canal worker on the 39th floor urged them to hurry for the next ship. As the Prokho pulled away, they set sail across the 39th floor's sea.
"Party leader, there's a big city called Lauren up ahead—it's basically the gateway to the 39th floor," Captain Kang Inho announced.
Every eye on deck turned to Namgung Seojun.
"We'll dock at Lauren for now."
His words sparked anticipation among the group as they headed toward the city. Ten minutes later, as the Prokho entered Lauren's harbor, cheers erupted.
"Finally, a city!"
"Land! Actual land!!"
"Hooray!"
Everyone was overjoyed to arrive at Lauren's port. After Treasure Island, Namgung Seojun and the captain had opted for rapid transit—no more wasting time. The party members had no choice but to keep pace. The captain plotted the shortest routes, resupplying only at small villages without lingering, pushing nonstop from the 37th to the 39th floor entrance in just one month. For the party, it meant their first time off the ship in a city—not for supplies, but to actually stay.
"Hyungnim, we're sticking around here for a bit, right?"
"Seojun! We've hit the 39th floor!"
Lee Guho and Gisohee's questions drew all eyes to Seojun. Their expressions screamed, He won't just resupply and bail this time, will he? and We're resting for sure. The longing gazes of his comrades, crew, and slaves were impossible to ignore.
"We'll rest here for five days."
"Nice! Hell yeah!!"
The group erupted in cheers, settling on five days of downtime in Lauren. Once decided, party members, slaves, and crew alike poured off the ship into the city. Namgung Seojun headed out for a meal with Captain Kang Inho.
Their spot was the captain's regular tavern, one that served food too.
"Well! Captain, it's been ages!"
A server greeted him warmly.
"The usual room, like always."
"Right away. Head on up to the second floor."
They climbed to a private room on the second floor. Soon after, the server set out food and drinks—and a dozen women filed in.
"Pick your fancy."
It was a tavern where you chose a female companion to serve you drinks. Seojun selected an Eastern woman with a perfectly balanced face and figure to his taste.
"Me... Sayori. You still working? Let's have fun tonight."
"Sure."
Captain Kang Inho picked his partner too. Ten minutes later, the reason for the tall tables became clear. Namgung Seojun and the captain ate and drank while seated, but beneath the table, their female companions gripped mounted rods and rocked their hips.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Ah! Ah! So good!"
A place where women serviced you from under the table, even if you just sat still. As the pair enjoyed the blowjobs and drinks, conversation flowed.
"You'll need to make a choice here."
The captain showed Seojun a map of the 39th floor—starkly divided. At the center loomed a massive island, no, a continent. Circling it led to the exit city for the 40th floor, perilously close to Lauren geographically.
"So, why not take the short route?"
But fleets stuck to the long coastal path for a reason. The shortcut was giant monster territory.
The colossal Kraken ruled those waters. For over 300 years, it had sunk dozens of ships yearly, devouring hundreds of adventurers. Guilds and cities had rallied high-level hunters multiple times, but the cunning beast—smart and survival-savvy—always endured.
"The 39th floor is a paradise for massive sea monsters. Ships hug the coast for safety. But even then, the short route's infamous for the colossal Kraken."
Most adventurers went overland or the long coastal way.
"What's your pick? I recommend the long coastal route."
Namgung Seojun didn't answer right away at Captain Kang Inho's question.
"I'll... think it over. Need more intel first."
"Fair enough."
Even as Seojun pondered... Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Ah! Hak! Ahhh!"
...the women below delivered primal pleasure to their lower halves. Savoring the meal and sex, Seojun parted ways with the captain and headed to Lauren's intel guild.
On the way, he consulted his Super Sense nonstop.
Land route better?
It favored sea travel.
Safe long sea route? Or short but risky?
Ambiguous this time—both had pros and cons.
Meaning the short one's risky but offers gains.
Super Sense affirmed it.
Mulling options via his trait, he arrived at the guild.
"Welcome."
The guild clerk greeted him warmly. Seojun stated his need plainly.
"Info on getting from 39th to 40th floor."
"Yes, one moment."
Common request—he fetched a slim booklet quick.
"Latest 39th floor intel, as of a month ago. Keep that in mind."
Seojun paid five gold and left with the booklet.
The colossal Kraken dominating the short route had a 100,000-gold bounty. But failed hunts proved its deadliness—no easy prey, even for Seojun.
"Hm? Wait."
The booklet noted an Achievement just for passing the short route unscathed.
"An Achievement... usually tough to snag, but just skirting danger gets you one?"
For Namgung Seojun with Super Sense, it was a must-have. He chose the third path: the risky shortcut. The captain could only laugh in disbelief.
"Party leader, you're not saying we hunt the colossal beast, right? I'd never agree."
Captain Kang Inho had joined a Kraken hunt five years back. Even a major guild's all-out raid—50 level-80 adventurers—had failed. Immense destructive power, insane defenses, and sly intelligence: it fled underwater when cornered.
No way was he tangling with it. Seojun acknowledged the limits.
"Obviously not hunting it."
"Then? Dodging it? Still dangerous..."
The captain fretted, but Seojun saw potential—Super Sense greenlit it. Anyone else picking the short route? Flat refusal. But this leader had pulled off impossibles for over a year, so...
"Fine. But we need countermeasures."
First, boost the Prokho's speed, the captain insisted.
"Money's no object. Mod it for max velocity, whatever it takes."
"Our mobility's top-tier now, but for more? Extra sails on the mast, second mana engine. Cuts cargo space, though."
They pored over blueprints for a speed demon vessel. A week later, upgrades complete. The shipyard tech beamed proudly.
"Added a second mast sail—the max this hull can handle."
"Dual mana engines for blazing speed, but turning's iffier."
"Shed iron plating for less weight. Lowers defense and cargo."
"Tradeoff: blistering fast. 1.2 times original speed. Fastest in class, guaranteed."
The ultimate speed Prokho was born. While refitting, the party debated tactics.
"Nine days—that's all for the short route."
"Party leader, what if big monsters hit mid-voyage? Mana cannons buy seconds at best."
"Lee Guho's picked up heavy spells, but we're prepping backups too."
At the captain's words, Seojun and the party readied more.