Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

Chapter 518: Chapter 256 Southern Cross Island

Ships came and went at the harbor.

Aside from houses visible in the distance, the entire harbor frontage was lined with various platforms and plazas for stacking goods, as well as warehouses for storing them. Tracks for towing ships into the shipyard for maintenance were also present. One could even see many ships pulled ashore.

Even from a distance, the people moving to and fro on the harbor resembled ants. The entire harbor was a hive of activity, and the cacophony seemed audible even from their current position.

Ships, painted light gray with earthen yellow accents, patrolled the surrounding waters. They appeared to be the Southern Cross Island’s patrol forces. A red Cross Star Mark, the emblem of Southern Cross Island, was visible on their sails. They had seen it before in the book Balazs had given them.

Even at the harbor, the pinnacle of the tall lighthouse constructed on the coast displayed a red Cross Star Mark.

”This place is huge!” Jason exclaimed, momentarily at a loss for words, lamenting his lack of eloquence.

They anchored the Sound of Dawn in the waters outside the harbor, awaiting inspection by the local authorities’ vessels.

Before long, a gray ship, approximately 40 meters in length and bearing a red cross emblem, approached their vessel. This ship was noticeably shorter than Alka’s Sound of Dawn.

A soldier in a white and blue naval uniform, with a red cross emblem on his chest, looked up at Alka and the others. Beside him floated an object resembling a notepad and a quill.

He spoke, ”New faces? What’s your business here?”

He spoke in the tongue of the Homeland Sea.

It was peculiar; why was the common tongue of this sea region the same as that of the Homeland Sea?

However, not dwelling on it, Alka replied directly, ”This is our first time here. We’re a Treasure Hunting Team.”

”Treasure Hunting Team?” The officer looked up, glancing curiously at Alka and his companions.

”Alright. But remember, no unauthorized digging on the island. All property on the island belongs to the Lafsus Royal Family, and any indiscriminate excavation is considered theft.”

Clearly, this wasn’t his first encounter with a Treasure Hunting Team; he spoke with practiced ease.

”Of course,” Alka nodded.

As for whether we’ll actually break the law, well, I’ll have to see the map first before I can guarantee anything, Alka thought to himself.

”Now for the mandatory registration. Please answer carefully.”

As he finished speaking, the notepad floated before him. He took the quill hovering above it and began his inquiries. Perhaps because it was Alka’s group’s first visit, the procedure was somewhat involved.

”Team name?”

”Compass Eye.”

”How many people?”

”Hmm...”

”Is that a difficult question to answer?” the naval officer asked, frowning and looking at Alka with suspicion.

”Alright, nine people.” Alka paused for a moment, deciding not to include the Puppet Legion.

”Type of vessel? That is, is it a Ghost Ship or a Spell Ship?”

Hearing this, Alka frowned slightly. The question clearly touched upon a matter of privacy.

”Since you’re new, I’ll explain,” the officer said, seemingly accustomed to this, and proceeded with his explanation. ”The harbor standards differ. Ghost Ships, being sentient, must be berthed in a specific port area. Naturally, that incurs an additional fee.”

”Ghost Ship.”

He nodded. Even learning it was a Ghost Ship didn’t seem to surprise him much.

After jotting it down, he tore the sheet from the notepad, infused it with Magic Power, and then flung it outwards. The paper folded itself in mid-air into a Cross Star Mark, turned red, and affixed itself to the starboard side of the bow.

”That’s your entry permit. Alright, you can proceed now. Remember to have your payment ready.”

With that, he waved dismissively without waiting for a reply from Alka or the others, and steered his ship towards other vessels waiting further back.

The few of them on deck exchanged glances.

”Seems quite official,” Jason remarked.

”Alright, Sound of Dawn, let’s move in,” Alka instructed.

The ship then began to move slowly, its sails already furled, propelled by the Spells inscribed on its hull. Moving slowly forward, they glided over a white marker on the sea’s surface.

Faint music drifted towards them.

”You said the ship is out of control?” Hearing this, Alka frowned and looked down towards the hull.

Just then, he saw the sea currents shifting; the surge of the water was lifting the entire ship’s hull slightly, guiding the ship and angling it towards a specific zone in the harbor ahead. The Cross Star Mark on the bow pulsed faintly with red light.

”Some kind of Spell construct?” Simon remarked, watching the currents buoying the ship. ”I have to say, it’s quite advanced.”

It wasn’t just their vessel; other ships entering the harbor alongside them were experiencing the same phenomenon. This was evidently a normal occurrence for this harbor. This system likely prevented congestion, as one couldn’t always expect mariners to adhere to rules or yield courteously.

Perhaps because theirs was a Ghost Ship, the area they were guided to was noticeably further from the Spell Ships. As they moved towards that zone, the facilities there also appeared to be of a higher grade. The group also spotted other vessels in that section of the harbor.

As they drew nearer, they could feel a surge of potent Magic Power washing over them.

It was a Demon Gathering Area.

”That area has been artificially modified,” Julia observed, sensing the difference. ”The Magic Power density there is a tier higher than in the surroundings.”