Chapter 80: Oceanic Favored Transformation

Wu Chang did not run with the villagers; he walked slowly behind them, watching everything unfold.

Harrison and others rushed up the cliff and sprinted into town.

Hearing their shouts, other townsfolk roughly understood what had happened, grabbed tools and torches, and followed Harrison and the others.

Even the priest and nuns from the cathedral were swept up in this massive pursuit.

A massive killing intent filled the entire island.

The Golden Flying Fish? That was a blessing bestowed by the gods upon Briver Island! Stealing divine grace was harder for them to accept than stealing a villager's own parents.

In short, even if the thief were the missing Count Jemaine, today, if caught, he would die.

No one could escape.

Unfortunately, the fish thief was too cunning; the place where the divine grace aura was detected was too far from the Divine Grace Ceremony, and by the time the townsfolk arrived, the aura had vanished completely.

The thief fled with the Golden Flying Fish.

Wu Chang, moving slowly behind the crowd, walked up to Mo Leina and asked: "Sheriff, how's it going?"

Mo Leina frowned tightly. "The fish thief got away—for now. But with me on the case, I'll catch that damn thief eventually."

"Have you found out who it is?" Wu Chang asked, concerned.

Mo Leina gritted her teeth and spat out three words. "It's Matty."

"No wonder Matty, who always looked forward most to the Divine Grace Ceremony, was unusually absent today—he took advantage of our distraction to catch Golden Flying Fish beneath the water's surface and hoarded all our share of the divine grace!"

Wu Chang said in disbelief: "How could it be Mr. Matty? We just met this afternoon—he was very warm when he signed my recommendation letter."

"Could it be a misunderstanding?"

Mo Leina snorted, pulled out a brown paper bag from her pocket, and revealed it was filled with golden fish scales.

"We found a hidden room in Matty's grocery store—these freshly stripped scales were scattered everywhere. You didn't see the scene: so many scales, at least thirty or forty fish's worth—that damn bitch!"

Wu Chang sighed. "I never expected it to end up like this."

Mo Leina took a deep breath, calming her anger, and said: "Thank you for the fish."

Wu Chang smiled and shook his head. "I didn't care about those."

"That's only because you've never experienced the greatness of divine grace," Mo Leina said, her tone sinking slightly—as if ashamed of having schemed against a noble, pure good man.

Wu Chang: "It's fine. I'll experience it eventually."

Mo Leina tossed the bag of scales to a subordinate, pulled out a towel, and wiped her still-damp hair.

"Thanks to that bastard Matty, tonight's celebration is ruined. Need me to see you home?"

Wu Chang shrugged. "The post office isn't far—I know the way."

"You could let me stay for coffee."

Whoa, drinking coffee at this hour? You planning to stay in combat mode all night?

Wu Chang: "Another time. What I saw tonight feels like a dream—I need time to process it. Besides, you still have a fish to deal with quickly; everyone's watching it."

At the mention of the Golden Flying Fish, Mo Leina's desire shifted instantly. She winked at Wu Chang and said: "I ordered two bottles of premium wine from the capital—they'll arrive in two days. Don't deliver them to the police station. Bring them straight to my house. Same time. Remember."

Wu Chang bowed with gentlemanly grace. "My pleasure."

If, two days from now, Mo Leina's fishy stench is gone, he wouldn't mind a late-night wine party.

But not tonight.

And it's not just Mo Leina who has a fish to eat—many fish are waiting for him too.

After bidding farewell to the other town council members, Wu Chang didn't linger and returned straight to the post office.

Inside the post office, in his private resting room, sat a large wooden crate.

He lifted the lid—the crate was filled with Golden Flying Fish.

Golden Flying Fish whose Oceanic Favored aura had faded.

He rubbed his hands together excitedly. Fortune favors the bold—the ancients were right.

A whole squad of veteran players from Deepwater Society had failed to find this, yet he'd secured forty-four in one go.

He'd not only gathered enough for the Oceanic Favored transformation, but also enough to later lift the "Out-of-Water" state. All he needed to do now was eat. The Golden Flying Fish were streamlined, slender bodies—each under two catties—but even a champion eater would shake his head at the idea of swallowing fifteen at once.

But for the transformation, he'd force them down even if he couldn't.

As a native of Xia Country, his pursuit of food was etched into his bones—he wouldn't devour them raw like the townsfolk.

He cleaned the chimney, pulled out a small grill, lit charcoal, set up the rack, and neatly arranged the Golden Flying Fish upon it.

Under the charcoal's heat, fat sizzled. He sprinkled simple sea salt—the fish's natural freshness surged, mingling with the smoky aroma of charcoal, emitting a scent so comforting it brought instant joy.

Amid the rising smoke and fire, Wu Chang imagined a voiceover with BGM.

The finest ingredients require only the simplest cooking methods.

As the fish skin turned crisp and golden, Wu Chang—who hadn't eaten dinner—grabbed one and devoured it immediately.

The Golden Flying Fish carried an inexplicable sweetness. As soon as it slid down his throat, Wu Chang's vision blurred.

He imagined himself in a white gown, waving a veil, sprinting along a beach bathed in sunset light.

It was bursting, urinating beef balls! No—bursting Golden Flying Fish.

No wonder the townsfolk ate them rapturously—even he couldn't resist.

Though a fish, the Golden Flying Fish quickly dissolved into energy inside him, taking up almost no space—he finished all fifteen in moments.

With a satisfied burp, a prompt popped up before his eyes.

"Consumed 15 Deep Sea Gifts. Acquired Bloodline Talent: Oceanic Favored Transformation."

"Oceanic Favored Transformation currently in: Pending Random State. Proceed with transformation and randomly lock form?"

Wu Chang took two deep breaths, clasped his hands together, and bowed toward the cathedral.

If he had to become a fish-headed creature, he wanted to become an anglerfish.

Use the lantern on his head to lure prey in the dark, then snap his jaws shut and swallow them whole when they drew near.

This kind of sneaky underhanded move was his favorite.

"Initiate transformation."

Hum~ The instant the transformation was confirmed, a buzzing rang by his ears, followed by the gurgling of rising bubbles, and finally everything fell into dead silence.

His consciousness seemed to sink into a pitch-black deep sea, with no light, no sound.

Beneath the endless darkness and void, his consciousness seemed to sink into stillness along with the deep sea.

Thinking became exhausting, and staying awake was exhausting too.

If he just slept like this, it seemed pretty nice.

Something seemed off.

It seemed he couldn't rest yet!

Just as he was about to sink, his will roused him awake; the drowsiness and fatigue in his mind gradually receded, and his consciousness grew clear once more.

As his will recovered, a point of light emerged within the pitch-black deep sea.

Deep sea, point of light — was he really an anglerfish?!

He roused his entire will and sprinted toward the point of light, instinctively shouting:

"Man!"

The next instant, the darkness dispersed, and his consciousness returned to his body.

"You have activated a bloodline of the Ocean Clans compatible with you."

"You have obtained the bloodline transformation effect — Ocean Clans: Sea Serpent."

Wait, what thing, sea serpent?

No way, have I become a black mamba of the sea?

(End of chapter)