I'm a Stingray?

Chapter 135: Task 11

It was difficult to wake up, especially since yesterday's travel was completely tiresome and almost soul consuming. But thankfully there was no shrimp trying to murder the little man on his sleep. They would probably have a large struggle if such an attempt was made because now it was twice as difficult to damage him.

With a peek upon the surroundings once slipping out of the coral crack, he noticed that the entire community was lively and working - equal in comparison to when he first saw them in their tunnel encrusted home.

It was difficult to make up which route they were following, as there was no exact destination. Everyone was walking around everywhere like panicked sheep, but the difference here was that these shrimp were far more organized although the eye did not say so.

Tim did not notice it, but an elder shrimp was sitting behind him and most likely had awaited for the little king to wake up. The red coral was rather wide, about 7 feet across so it could fit quite a few shrimp inside or above it.

The same elder spoke, "Looks good doesn't it?"

The sea pancake leaped away from his spot, most definitely frightened and felt as if the water was scared of his fins. The amount of power he gave in just to leap upwards was mild, but yet double as effective compared to what he was used of in life-and-death battles.

He noticed this major difference but didn't want to talk out loud about it and instead faced the elder, "The hell did you yell like that for?"

"I didn't yell, you're just still drowsy." The elder excused himself and continued the topic he wanted to talk about. "Everyone's working like they're supposed to. Great view, right?"

"I guess." The little man answered, trying to pretend like his clear vision didn't stop beyond 20 meters.

"My presidency is great, this community has gathered 500 kilos of food already." The elder puffed his chest in pride and here it became transparent what this talk was about.

A pile of food like that seemed tremendously large, the king was admittedly impressed but right now he portrayed weak memory. "Oh right, you're the president."

And then shifted to another topic, "I need to go check on the lobsters and see how they settled in. After that I will be handling other business, having to do with bringing more fish to this reef."

To such a plan, the elder couldn't say much as such actions only led to him benefiting personally. "Interesting."

After stretching his fins with a little circling swim, he laid out. "Yes so I need to ask you. Under the king, who is the strongest in position through this community?"

"That would be the grand president." The elder immediately answered, loving where this was going.

With a bit more pride, he spoke slower so the king could hear out properly. "And then I'm the third most important, when it comes to giving out commands."

"You cheated me there didn't you? A president doesn't seem to be too small compared to what you told me about it yesterday." It was easier to figure this out now, he was well rested and the IQ had met a proper upgrade yesterday.

"With all due respect your highness, it was your lack of knowledge that led to such a decision." The elder specified and wanted to escape a scolding by adding, "But I see where you're going with this and there is nothing to worry about, we can handle everything while you're not here."

Timothy expected a big debate here but the elder had pretty much done the opposite. But things going this smooth was never a good sign, so he had to remind. "I will be gone for a while. So remember, you can't start a war with anyone in this reef and you can't use the reef's inhabitants for food."

"Yes yes, we are well aware of your bizarre commands." The shrimp answered as he urged to end this conversation quicker to enjoy his own position that would be even more respected now, with the king being away. "I'll let the grand president know of your absence, so we can decide which tasks could use more attention while you're away."

It was certain that these shrimp don't love him and he doesn't love these shrimp either, but the position of the king can not be forfeited for the sake of saving this reef. The moment he would surrender the position, a war against the western rock lobsters would break which would only reduce the population here.

So with everything settled here, he swam up and began swimming towards the west for the sake of checking out how they were faring. The new and permanent inbuilt map he had bought from earlier, had a compass on one edge of the screen which was a great aid for someone who didn't pay attention of their surroundings, before sleeping.

It was only after he had left this community, when the system announced. [You are ready to follow and complete tasks that give 2 system point bonuses upon completion.]

[Task 11 = Find and kill an European Squid]

"Squid? Aren't those things as big as a bus?" The little hero's preview on squid was accurate but he was only thinking of the biggest species.

[This one is small enough to only give you a couple of system points. So it will be easy to kill, especially for you.]

This made him happy, but the main problem shone now as he realised. "I never saw a squid in this new life, where the hell am I supposed to find them?"

[That's up to you]

Within a few minutes he had pondered over possibilities of just where he could find a squid of any sort, if not the exact same one that the task demanded. He couldn't help but remember that squids could be associated with someone he already knew.

That was difficult to patch together until a thought slapped the pea-sized noggin, "The great-white shark, of course! I need to visit the hidden tribe after checking the second settlement!"