Chapter 2: The Supply Boxes

Haine didn't rush to fish for the supply boxes. Instead, he decided to see what others had caught. Silently invoking the Divine Network, a floating screen materialized before him.

The top left corner of the screen displayed his name: Haine. Below were the time, weather, area, chat, personal space, and rules.

Time, Haiyou Calendar: Day 1[Newbie Protection Period]

10:32 AM

Weather: Clear.

Area: Maritime Server 42, Population: 20000[Guide: Alice]

Haine opened the world chat and was instantly overwhelmed by a flood of messages.

World Chat:

Brenda: Guys, what supplies did you get? The supplies are so far from me, I can't reach them~ Can any kind guy share some food with me? I'll send you black silk stockings~

Taiyaki Tastes Great: I've noticed the supplies float with the waves within a fixed area. They won't drift beyond it. I calculated the furthest they could go is about three meters. Our nets are only 1.7 meters, so we can't go into the sea. We just have to wait for the waves to bring the supplies to us.

Lulu: What did you all get? I got a huge box, but it only had a tiny loaf of bread. It was gone in one bite. I've used up my chances for today. If I don't get food tomorrow, I'll starve.

Alexander: I'm already starving. I'll trade 2 pieces of wood for 100g of pure water. Contact me if you want to trade!

Baibai: So thirsty, does anyone have water to spare? Please～

Reading these chats confirmed Haine's suspicions: survival here really depended on luck. Those with bad luck could actually die.

Haine was just an average person with ordinary luck, neither stepping on dog poop nor winning the lottery. He had no idea what supplies he might get. He might actually end up starving for three days.

But no matter. He had to start fishing!

Haine grabbed the fishing net, stretching his arm as far as he could. He struggled for a long time, always missing the supplies by a hair's breadth. Sometimes the waves even pushed the boxes further away!

Resting on the base, Haine caught his breath. The midday sun was scorching. He had worked up a sweat, which now dripped down his face and into the sea, creating ripples.

He was so thirsty, so hungry.

Haine licked his dry, chapped lips and eyed the floating supply boxes with longing. Although he was alone with no attachments, he still wanted to survive.

After a short rest, wiping the sweat from his forehead, Haine tried a different approach. He lay on the edge of the base, one hand holding the edge and the other the net, half his body hanging over the sea to extend his reach.

Fortune favors the bold.

After a couple of vigorous attempts, Haine finally managed to catch the nearest supply box!

The box was palm-sized, easy to hold in one hand. Shaking it, he heard no sound, piquing his curiosity about its contents.

"Hope it's not empty..." Haine scratched his head, holding the box in one hand while summoning the screen with the other to ask a question in the world chat.

World Chat:

Haine: Does your box make any noise when you shake it?

Alexander: No, I found a ball of cotton inside.

Gavin: Trading 200g of bread for 1 wood piece, 100g of water for 2 nails. Contact me if interested, serious offers only.

Bob is a Cat: My box rattled. Inside, I found a box of sugar beans. Can't eat them as a meal, but they provide sugar. I saw someone get a bag of rice.

The variety of supplies amazed Haine.

Now even more curious and excited about his own supply box!

He took a deep breath, rubbed his hands together, and then opened the box with great solemnity.

Inside the palm-sized box was just a piece of candy!

"Candy is good, at least it's sugar," Haine thought, not too disappointed. He still had two more chances to catch something useful, or at least something to trade.

He popped the candy into his mouth, crunched it up, and then sat back on the base, gazing at the sea. The supplies had been pushed away by the waves, at least two meters out of his reach. He could only wait for the waves to bring them back.

While waiting, Haine didn't waste time. He inspected the base, which consisted of three one-square-meter planks, each floating with a red transparent number showing its durability: 100/98.

In just half a day, the durability had dropped by two points. On a sunny day like this, that was worrying. If a storm, fish, or other hazards struck, the durability would decrease even faster.

He tapped the wrench icon next to the numbers. A message appeared.

"Repair Unavailable.

Repair Conditions: Each 10% decrease in durability requires 1 wood piece, 2 nails for repair."

Wood and nails were crucial repair materials. Haine had seen people on the world channel already starting to trade them, probably planning to buy low and sell high to those in desperate need.

The boxes drifted near and far on the waves. After waiting all afternoon under the blazing sun, Haine finally caught two more boxes.

The larger box contained a ball of cotton.

No immediate use.

Haine could only hope that the last box contained some food or water. He was so hungry, so thirsty.