Chapter 18: Gluttony Talent

"Mr. Buster Johnson, congratulations on passing the test."

Guné once again took out a bag of gold pounds and placed it on the table.

This bag of gold pounds was clearly much larger than the previous 50 gold pounds; it contained 100 gold pounds.

"If you are willing, you can serve as our second mate on the Demon Whale Adventure Group."

"And these 100 gold pounds are your pay for this month, and you will have an income of 100 gold pounds every month."

"Ocean adventure income is separate, and the adventure income from the second mate position will be considerable."

As Guné said this, many people in the corridor not far away looked on with envy.

1200 gold pounds a year—this was the minimum income.

It was possible that a single adventure could yield more than a year's income.

"If it were me, I would definitely agree on the spot." Someone muttered.

"Too bad you don't have the qualifications."

"Drink more; it will come true in your dreams."

The people around burst into laughter.

"The position of second mate is very good." Buster Johnson nodded slightly.

"I am willing to join the Demon Whale Adventure Group."

With that, Buster Johnson reached out to grab the bag of one hundred gold pounds.

But Guné reached out and pressed down on the bag containing 100 gold pounds.

"Since you have agreed, then sign the contract. Once you sign the contract, these 100 gold pounds and the position of second mate are yours."

"Contract? What contract?"

Scanning the table, Buster Johnson saw the high-level soul contract scroll exuding a strong aura of source power.

"Damn, it's a high-level soul contract scroll. Why didn't anyone tell me earlier?"

The corners of Buster Johnson's eyes twitched slightly.

Looking at Buster Johnson standing still, Guné had a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Mr. Buster Johnson, we are a legitimate adventure group, not a pirate merchant ship, let alone a pirate gang of thugs."

"Signing a contract to ensure crew members fulfill their duties and protect their benefits is protected by the Empire's constitution. Moreover, every clause in the contract can be found in the corresponding provisions of the Empire's constitution."

"Don't you want your benefits to be protected?"

Guné asked softly.

This clause was a powerful tool for legitimate superhuman sailors who were enthusiastic about adventure and had no ulterior motives; they would be very willing to sign this high-level soul contract.

But for those vicious pirates disguised as superhuman sailors with crooked intentions,

it was obviously a shackle placed on them.

Once they maliciously attacked their companions or even tried to collude with pirates to plunder the adventure group from within,

the powerful binding force of the soul contract would make them feel the pain of soul tearing.

This kind of subjective will soul contract was indeed quite powerful.

After pondering for a moment, Buster Johnson laughed.

"Of course I want my benefits to be protected."

"You know, good captains like you are rare these days."

With that, Buster Johnson performed the catalyst signing on the soul contract scroll and also wrote his name—Buster Johnson.

"Now, the gold pounds?" Then Buster Johnson looked at Guné.

"Now they are yours."

...

In the afternoon.

Inside a restaurant about fifty meters from the Haimlong Tavern.

Guné ate the "Sea Snake Roast Rice" to his heart's content.

"This roast meat tastes really good. Once we go to sea, we won't have such delicious food."

"Maybe I can buy more and pack them, put them into the system space, and when I take them out, they'll still be hot and freshly made."

Time in the system space is in absolute stasis when not opened.

Whatever state it is when put in, it remains the same when taken out.

The only time that flows slightly is the brief moment when the space is opened.

If the system space is opened frequently, over a long period, the hot food placed inside will slowly turn cold.

Ordinary superhuman storage equipment does not have such a powerful function as the system space; time flows inside them the same as outside.

Then, Guné looked at Martel, who was already wolfing down his third serving of Sea Snake Roast Rice.

"Has this guy not eaten for half a month? Is he following me just to freeload?" Guné mused.

As Guné was thinking, he saw Yason Howell walking in wearing a sailor's jacket and a sailor's hat.

"Over here." Guné waved.

Yason walked straight over.

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Then order something to eat first. We'll talk after you've eaten." Guné said.

Yason had been busy with the demon ship these past few days; coming over now clearly meant he had news.

There were many people and ears in this restaurant; important matters were obviously not suitable for discussion here.

"Mm!"

"This is Mr. Yason Howell, our first mate of the Demon Whale Adventure Group."

"This is my newly recruited crew member, Martel Cole."

"Hello, Mr. Yason Howell." Martel quickly swallowed a large mouthful of food and said.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Martel Cole." Yason smiled lightly in return.

"How is the recruitment going?" Then Yason looked at Guné.

"Very good. We already have fifteen crew members and a second mate."

"Second mate?" Yason's expression shifted slightly.

"Yes, a very strong fourth-stage mid-level superhuman."

Yason thought for a moment, then looked at Guné.

"Could it be..."

"Shh!"

As he began to speak, Guné made a soft shushing gesture, then glanced at Martel.

Martel was currently burying his head, wolfing down the Sea Snake Roast Rice.

This young lad was good, but he had only been with Guné for a short time; it was better not to let him know too many things.

"I know your concerns. I have my own judgment." Guné said softly.

"That's good." Yason nodded lightly.

He had seen Guné's methods and thoughts before; if the other party was really a vicious pirate disguised as a sailor trying to collude from within to devour the Demon Whale Adventure Group, he would probably die a miserable death.

By the time Yason finished his lunch,

Martel had already eaten his sixth serving of Sea Snake Roast Rice.

This young lad had an astonishing appetite.

"Do you have a gluttony-type talent?" Looking at Martel, who was drinking the after-dinner sweet soup, Guné asked the doubt in his mind.

"Uh... yes." A trace of embarrassment appeared on Martel's face.

For an ordinary superhuman, he did eat a bit too much. But this was already restrained; he was only half full.

In the city he was in before, he had been blacklisted by many buffet restaurants.

Having only been at Harutov Port for half a month, he had already been blacklisted by more than five buffet restaurants.

"Does eating more have any benefits?" Guné asked curiously.

"The fuller I eat, the stronger I become. This talent, when in a state of satiety for a long time, can increase my strength limit." Martel replied.

"Unfortunately, my wallet can hardly support me being full for long. I..." Martel stammered, lowering his voice, "I... eat a lot."

Guné raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Satiety state... increases strength limit."

"Seems... I've struck gold!"

Then, Guné patted Martel on the shoulder.

"Making sure my crew is well-fed is a captain's duty and responsibility."

"Martel Cole, as captain, I order you to let your stomach loose and eat to your heart's content, keeping yourself in a state of satiety at all times. The meal money will be covered by me, the captain."

"Yes, Captain!" Martel was stunned for a moment, then nodded very seriously, a full smile on his face.

He had known earlier that his captain was wealthy, but he never expected the captain to be so generous.

"This time, I've really chosen the right captain." Martel thought to himself.

When others said they were joining an adventure to make a living, it was just a polite way of speaking.

But when Martel said he was joining to make a living, it was no joke.

Then Guné waved to the waitress.

"Get me a membership card for your restaurant. Here are two hundred gold pounds; put it all in."

The female waitress was taken aback.

For a meal, two or three silver dragons for three to five people was more than enough.

Half a silver dragon was enough for one person.

Two hundred gold pounds was two thousand silver dragons; that would probably last more than a year.

But since the customer wanted to deposit so much, they naturally had no objections.

Guné stuffed the membership card into Martel's hand.

"In our Demon Whale Adventure Group, there's no such thing as working on an empty stomach." Guné said.

"Mm!"

Martel nodded. When it came to eating, Martel was serious.

Then Guné and Yason walked out of the restaurant.

Watching the departing captain and first mate, Martel was dazed for a long time. Then he sniffed hard and poured the bowl of sweet soup in front of him down his throat in one go, not a drop left.

At the same time, in Martel's mind, a sentence his grandmother often whispered in his ear when he was little echoed.

"If one day someone is willing to take you in and let you eat your fill, you must repay them well, because that person is a good person."