Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

With a beautiful bird-head figurehead, the exquisite three-masted sailing ship once again glided across the azure sea after a long absence.

The boundless ocean shimmered under the sky’s unchanging sunlight.

Golden waves rose and fell on the sea’s surface.

Everything seemed so tranquil.

A long banner bearing the emblem of the Holy Mother and the Holy Machine Church fluttered from the ship’s helm, guiding their way forward.

”What do you see now?” Alka asked Jason, who stood before him.

At this moment, Alka raised his right thumb, plucking at the air as if it were a string, his thumb moving like a wave.

Faint pink mist, like silken threads, drifted out and twined around Jason.

”A... deer? No, it looks like a horse... What is that thing?” Jason’s eyes seemed clear, yet held a hint of bewilderment.

Hearing this, Alka nodded, then looked at Jason. ”Are you trying your best to resist?”

”Yes! I’ve even activated a Spiritual Enhancement Spell.”

”That’s good then. It seems the extent of the influence is quite deep,” Alka said, waving his hand.

Threads of silver mist trailed behind his hand and dispersed.

The trace of bewilderment in Jason’s eyes vanished, and he took in the surrounding scenery.

”Is that your new skill? I have to say, if someone’s unprepared, it’s quite deceptive.”

As the two chatted, Juanlu walked past them, and a crisp crunching sound could be heard.

The two turned to look.

They saw Juanlu constantly chewing something, the crunching sound unusually piercing to the ears.

”What are you eating?” Jason asked, curious.

Just then, Alka noticed the orange-red Magic Power clinging to Juanlu’s mouth as he turned his head.

Clearly, he isn’t eating anything good, Alka thought.

”Ore,” Juanlu said, raising his hand to show them the metallic-looking ore he held.

He then turned and headed towards the kitchen.

The two watched his retreating back.

”I don’t know if it’s just me,” Jason mused, ”but ever since he got that Treasure from the challenge mode, he hasn’t been as strict about his food as before.”

”It’s not your imagination. An experience like that challenge is bound to change someone a bit,” Alka said with a resigned sigh, recalling the event. He couldn’t help but sigh again.

Juanlu ate these ores because his Treasure helped him absorb their Energy, leading to certain characteristic changes, such as making his bones and skin harder. Combined with his activated bloodline, this made it easier for him to digest such materials.

However, ores like these were somewhat difficult to digest; eating them required constantly using Magic Power to break them down. This was a relatively time-consuming process, but acceptable to Juanlu, as it could permanently enhance some of his attributes.

They were just extremely unappetizing. However, Juanlu now possessed a very strong resistance to foul tastes. For him, these ores actually counted as a decent experience now.

The two hadn’t chatted for long when Juanlu approached, a tray in his hand.

Seeing Juanlu approach with the tray, Pororo, who had just leaped out of the sea, silently dove back in, as if it had never surfaced.

Alka, watching this through a nearby Mirror, silently turned his head towards the sea, feigning ignorance.

Only Jason seemed oblivious, still chattering away beside Alka.

Juanlu then turned his head, his gaze locking onto the rather conspicuous Jason, and walked over to him.

Jason, sensing someone approaching him, turned to look.

When he saw it was Juanlu holding the tray, his expression changed instantly.

A bitter look crossed his face, but he forced a smile. ”Wha-what’s wrong? I’m not hungry.”

”No worries. Just try my new experimental dish,” Juanlu said with a slight smile.

Seeing Juanlu had chosen his target, Alka turned his head, smiling warmly at Jason.

Just then, Pororo leaped out of the sea again, landing on deck as if it had only just surfaced.

According to their usual unspoken rule, once someone tasted Juanlu’s cooking and gave feedback, he wouldn’t seek out a second person.

So, Alka and Pororo were now in a relatively safe position.

Jason smiled bitterly as he looked at the... thing on the tray. If it could even be called food.

It was an elongated creature, about a finger’s length, writhing slowly on the tray, coated in some seasoning.

The creature’s skin had rather disgusting markings, and its appearance was utterly unappetizing.

Even though it exuded a faint, pleasant aroma, it was still difficult to accept.

But knowing he couldn’t escape, Jason silently pinched the creature’s tail with his fingers and lifted it.

As he lifted it, the creature wriggled rapidly. The twisting markings on its body created a visual illusion. It was enough to make one feel dizzy.

For Jason, of course, this had no effect. Still, such writhing was exceptionally unsettling.

Pinching his nose, he popped the thing into his mouth and swallowed it whole.

”Hmm... Hmm?” Jason chewed a couple of times, as if savoring it carefully. ”It’s surprisingly not bad? The taste is a bit odd, but it’s not exactly unpalatable.”

Hearing Jason’s assessment, Juanlu nodded.