Infinite Cosmic Cafeteria Chapter 34: Bait Fishing

Translator: Stellar Novels Editor: Stellar Novels

Although they had an extra person joining them, the hunting process didn’t seem any different from before.

Bocchi was still the one fighting up front, with one more spectator watching from behind.

Mai Mai stood beside Ma Lu, carrying a large backpack that made her look like a penguin, waddling as she walked.

“By the way, what’s your Psychic ability?” Ma Lu asked.

“I can control electric fields.”
“Electric feels?”
“No, fields,” Mai Mai said, tracing the word on Ma Lu’s palm, but Ma Lu still didn’t get it.

“Captain Li used to like calling me ‘Join the Fun.’ Vice Captain, you can call me that too.”

“Join the Fun? Why such a nickname?”

“Because my Psychic ability usually requires three or four days of rest after each use, so most of the time I’m just joining in on the fun,” Mai Mai said.

“I see,” Ma Lu glanced over at Bocchi, who was battling a Cross-Banded Sand Boa not far away, and lowered his voice. “I’m not usually one to gossip, but is there some history between you and the Captain? He seems to be… how should I put it… a bit strict with you?”

Mai Mai blinked. “Maybe it’s because I once betrayed him.”

“Huh?” Ma Lu was surprised to hear such a juicy tidbit and eagerly asked, “Tell me more.”

But the truth wasn’t quite what he expected. Mai Mai’s face took on a reminiscent look.

“After… that incident, the Harpist’s situation became really bad. Bocchi was trying hard to keep his father’s group afloat, but he was still in school at the time and couldn’t do much. He just hoped the remaining members would give him some time.

“But I chose that moment to announce my departure from the group, setting a bad example. After that, many veterans left too, and it probably… hurt him.”

Mai Mai smiled wryly. “But I didn’t leave because I didn’t trust him.”

“I know, you just wanted to fulfill your childhood dream of opening a perfume shop.”

“That was part of it, but there were other reasons as well. The situation back then was chaotic, with all kinds of rumors flying around. I was young and impulsive, so I made the final decision, and by the time I regretted it, it was too late.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect Bocchi to agree to let me join his new hunting group. But he’s always been like this, putting the group’s interests first. Even if he hates me, he still brought me to meet you.”

“I don’t think he really hates you.”

“What?”

Mai Mai’s heart skipped a beat, but Ma Lu didn’t say more. Bocchi had finished his battle and was walking over with the Cross-Banded Sand Boa in hand.

The Traveler's Bracelet also popped up with a notification.

Ma Lu opened it and saw three blessing options:

【Intermediate Healing: Provide a specified teammate with a special healing effect】

【Aerobic Master: Increases the entire team’s stamina by 10%】

【Too Deceptive: 15% chance for earth-element Psychic Ability users in the team to create a quicksand pit nearby when using their abilities】

All of them were blue blessings.

Ma Lu originally intended to choose 【Aerobic Master】, but then 【Intermediate Healing】 flickered a few times, glowed purple, and was replaced by a new blessing.

【Water Conducts Electricity: There’s a 33% chance that water-based Psychic Ability in the team will carry an electrical charge.】

【Water Conducts Electricity】 had a similar effect to the white blessing 【This Water is Electrified】, but the trigger rate increased from 3% to 33%.

All that can be said is that purple blessings are indeed something special, and this particular purple blessing was acquired for free thanks to the effect of Heartbeat Lottery, which greatly boosted Ma Lu's spirits. He waved his hand enthusiastically and said, “Let’s keep going.”

The three of them then continued to hunt some 1-star and 2-star ingredients, but no second purple blessing appeared.

In fact, compared to other hunting groups, their haul was already quite good.

Hunting is like this; both skill and luck are indispensable. If luck isn’t on your side, returning empty-handed isn’t unusual, even for the top-tier hunting groups who can’t guarantee great finds every time.

Ma Lu had the scanning function, which at least ensured a minimum yield, but ever since hunting the Giant Claw King, he had grown unimpressed with these lower-star ingredients.

Moreover, he had spent a fortune upgrading the 【Collection Bag】 before this trip, precisely to bring back better goods.

Seeing Ma Lu constantly looking around, Bocchi thought for a moment and unfastened a package from his motorcycle.

As soon as it was opened, a foul stench wafted out, causing Ma Lu to step back and cover his nose in shock.

“What… what is this?!”

“Giant Claw King’s organs,” Bocchi replied. “I brought them back last time and stored them in a big barrel.”

Mai Mai’s face lit up with understanding. “Oh, you want to use bait fishing to lure prey to us?”

“Yes,” Bocchi nodded. “Organs are the best material for bait fishing, especially from a big creature like the Giant Claw King. While we can’t eat them, they’re irresistibly attractive to many types of prey.”

Mai Mai continued, “However, if the organs are fresh, the scent they emit is limited and might only draw in nearby creatures. But once they’ve fermented and decayed, the smell can spread much farther.”

Ma Lu understood too—this was basically setting up a bait trap.

“However, there’s no control over what might be drawn in by the bait, and prey tends to gather in clusters, crowding in and potentially blocking our escape routes. Compared to normal hunting, the risks are higher, especially since we’re currently in a level-2 hunting zone,” Mai Mai cautioned. “Are you confident?”

She directed the question at Bocchi, but noticed that Bocchi was looking at Ma Lu.

“Let’s do it.”

Ma Lu only thought for a moment before making the decision.

Bait fishing might be dangerous for others, but for the Double Sunflower Hunting Group, boosted by the Roguelike system, it was perfectly suited.

The more prey that shows up, the greater the potential gains. As long as they didn’t immediately attract something overwhelmingly powerful, the battles would actually become easier as they progressed.

Bocchi then found a small sand dune and tossed the bag of decayed organs beneath it. He stood guard nearby, holding his mechanical spear, to prevent any creature from swallowing the bait.

Ma Lu and Mai Mai lay on top of the sand dune, a spot less likely to be attacked with a clear view of the surroundings. This allowed them to keep watch and alert Bocchi if anything went wrong so they could retreat in time.

Seeing that the Captain and Vice Leader had made their decision, Mai Mai, still in her probationary period as a newcomer, naturally didn’t say much more. However, a faint trace of worry lingered in her eyes.

Bait fishing… three people seemed a bit too few.

So far, Ma Lu had only been capturing Flame Geckos and hadn’t really fought. Her own situation was unique, allowing her to act only once, which essentially left Bocchi as the sole active hunter.

Mai Mai was deeply concerned about whether Bocchi’s small frame could withstand the intense battles that were about to come.

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