Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Mechanism Activated

It was a ship that appeared entirely black even under the moonlight, as if it eternally existed in darkness and shadows. Only the faint lights on its deck could be seen.

When the ship emerged from the water, the Sea Fist stopped directly on the surface of the sea.

Andre stood at the bow, gave a powerful kick, and leaped straight over. He fell into the darkness and disappeared.

The people on the deck watched without offering any interference.

”That ship is...” Alka couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.

Next to him, Chadite shook her head, indicating she didn’t know either.

After a short while, Andre jumped back from the darkness. He held a cloth bag in his hand. The bag was pale yellow, with silver embroidery along its edges. It looked like no ordinary item. This item was likely the reason Andre had gone to that ship.

After a while more, the shadowy ship in the darkness slowly sank back to the bottom of the sea.

”Alright, it’s time to go to Meister Island,” Andre said.

The ship then began to sail automatically.

Since it was nighttime, Alka and the others returned to their rooms to rest.

...

「After about two days of sailing.」

Alka and the others were once again approaching Meister Island. Nearly two months had passed since their departure, and it was unknown whether Biting Shark had made any other gains in such a short time. Fortunately, they had completed their resupply while still far out. So, as they neared Meister Island, they didn’t stop at any nearby islands, nor did they even sail within visual range of any island. They had deliberately avoided encounters with any other ships along the way, solely to ensure their voyage remained secret.

The Sea Fist stopped gently behind a very narrow reef island.

”We’re not far from Meister Island from here.”

Early in the morning, Andre gathered everyone in the captain’s room to begin the final preparations for the operation. After speaking, Andre looked at Sang Kaka, who was sitting in a corner.

”Sang Kaka, how’s the weather today? Will it be sunny?”

”Sunny. As for whether it will be sunny on the island, I don’t know. We’re still some distance away.”

Hearing Sang Kaka’s reply, Andre nodded. They had to stay put; moving any closer would risk detection, and who knew if Biting Shark and his men had posted lookouts this far out.

A light tap sounded on the table.

Andre looked at everyone. ”Chadite, you’ll come with me to the island. Sang Kaka, you’ll take us there and then provide support in the vicinity.”

Chadite and Sang Kaka stood up and nodded.

Andre had originally intended to bring Alka along. However, considering Alka had only recently become a Toucher, and Andre didn’t know what they might encounter during this first decryption attempt, he decided against taking Alka this time.

After a brief explanation of the plan, Sang Kaka quickly took the two of them and swam swiftly towards Meister Island, disappearing from sight within moments.

「Approaching noon.」

The three of them landed on a cliff on the island’s leeward side.

Chadite surveyed their surroundings and said, ”This is near Praying Insect Valley. It’s a bright, sunny day—perfect.”

The scorching sun had long since dispersed the clouds, bathing the ocean in its light and heat.

”I’ll wait for you here. You two should hurry, time is running short,” Sang Kaka urged, glancing at the sun.

Andre nodded. Holding the cage with the insect in one hand and gripping the rock face with the other, he began to climb. Chadite followed close behind.

It took them only a dozen seconds or so to scale the smooth, steep cliff face.

Once over the top, they saw the mountain peaks ahead and, nestled between them, the valley below.

Andre turned to look at Chadite.

Chadite said nothing more. She crouched, extended her hand, and gently pressed it to the ground. A faint silvery glow gathered in her palm and spread into the ground. Closing her eyes, she began to sense carefully.

”I don’t detect Welt, but there are two Magic Sources—probably his crew members—and sixteen guards patrolling the valley.”

Andre nodded after hearing Chadite’s report. He had been here once before. He led Chadite, both of them hunched low, as they stealthily advanced along the clifftop. Before long, they reached the area above the statue situated deeper in the valley.

He pulled out his pocket watch and examined it closely.

”We go down when there are five minutes left,” he said, then gestured to Chadite.

Chadite nodded in understanding.

Time ticked slowly by. The midday sun continued its journey across the sky. The large horn on the Golden Horn Hammer statue was already tinged with a golden brilliance, which was about to converge fully at its tip.

”Time’s up. Let’s go.” The two of them leaped down from the top of the slope.

Silvery light gathered around Chadite’s legs and wrists. Blue light enveloped Andre’s. Apart from the different colors, their movements were identical. Her silver-gray hair and his bright silver hair fluttered in the air.

They leaped silently into the forest below.

Below, soldiers patrolled the area in pairs. The area around the statue was constantly patrolled and guarded by three teams.

After landing, the two quickly separated, heading towards their pre-assigned targets.

In less than five minutes, all three teams of patrolling soldiers had been knocked unconscious and hidden among the bushes. From their assessment, it would be at least ten-odd minutes before they were discovered.

By this time, the noon sunlight had fully concentrated on the tip of the statue’s horn.

Andre quickly reached the stone pillar beneath the statue and released the beetle from its cage. The newly-released beetle’s back still flickered with spots of light. For some unknown reason, perhaps drawn by an unseen force, it flew directly towards the stone pillar, landing beneath it. It began to tap the stone pillar lightly with its massive horns.

With each tap, a clear, crisp sound spread out.

All the insects in the valley began to shriek frantically.

”What’s going on?” a man with a shark tattoo on his arm asked upon hearing the cacophony.

The middle-aged man beside him, who also bore a shark tattoo, frowned.

”Something’s wrong! Quick, to the statue!”

The two of them began to sprint deeper into the valley.

Meanwhile, Andre, hearing the commotion, quickly put the beetle back into its cage.

”Let’s move,” he said to Chadite, and together they swiftly ascended the slope, making a rapid retreat.