Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

He started chatting casually about all sorts of things.

”What’s this about the Nafasi treasure?”

”You heard that from so far away? That’s impressive,” the bartender said with a bit of surprise.

However, he still answered, ”It’s a well-known treasure on this island, but I’ve heard this legend since I was a kid. I think it’s fake.”

”Oh? Why do you say that?”

Seeing Jason’s curious gaze, the bartender said, ”It’s just a story to trick outsiders like you. Nafasi was originally a rather powerful family on the island. I heard that because of some conflict, the family was destroyed, but the victorious side didn’t get anything valuable out of it. Ultimately, because they expended too many resources in the conflict and didn’t gain much, they quickly declined and vanished as well.”

At this point, the bartender shrugged. ”So, the rumor spread that this family hid all their valuables, waiting for their descendants to make a comeback.”

”But that family has been extinct for fifty years, and the treasure legend has been around for fifty years as well. People on the island are well used to it.”

”The sea is full of these strange treasure legends. It’s not just here; the neighboring Left Son Island has them too. I haven’t heard of anyone actually finding any treasure. It’s not like everyone is part of the Golden Needle Treasure Hunting Team.”

The bartender seemed to be grumbling sarcastically.

”If you’re really interested in this treasure and want to know something, just ask me. My rates are cheap,” he said, winking at Jason jokingly. ”After all, many people are drawn to this treasure. Almost every few years, someone comes to the island asking about it. When I was growing up, those were my favorite kind of people.”

So, he’s turned this treasure legend into a source of income, Jason thought with amusement.

”This Golden Needle Treasure Hunting Team you mentioned is…?” Jason asked, somewhat curious.

This was the first time he had heard of another Treasure Hunting Team since coming to the Endless Sea. He had spent a long time in the Homeland Sea. Given its relatively small area, the Treasure Hunting Teams there knew each other reasonably well.

In the Endless Sea, although they hadn’t been here long, they frankly hadn’t visited many places. The only one they could specifically name was Southern Cross Island. Judging by the scale of Gemini Island, it was clear the place was quite remote, likely a rather isolated area.

”You don’t know? Then I absolutely have to tell you about them!” At this, the bartender’s eyes visibly lit up. ”The Golden Needle Treasure Hunting Team is arguably one of the most famous Treasure Hunting Teams in the Endless Sea. When I was young, I even knew one of their members!”

”Their captain supposedly comes from the Giant Stone Lighthouse. They’ve found numerous great treasures, many of them legendary. For instance, the Rata Secret City Ruins, the Celestial Kingdom, the Heart of Burning Secret Treasure…”

The bartender reeled off these names as if they were his own prized possessions; he clearly was a fervent admirer.

”And you know what? They’ve also saved many islands from invading malevolent beings and even helped a Divine!”

”Helped a Divine?” This statement surprised Jason.

If they helped a Divine, that would mean…

”Er… I’m not talking about the Four Divines, but a much smaller Divine,” the bartender said, making a tiny gesture with his index finger and thumb. He explained somewhat awkwardly, seeing Jason had clearly misunderstood.

”A smaller Divine?” Jason asked, puzzled.

Aren’t there only the Four Divines? Are there other Divines? Evil Gods? Or have some Divines who departed returned? He was quite unsure.

”The Song Goddess. She’s rumored to have ascended as a new Divine only a few hundred years ago. Well… I don’t know the exact details.”

A newly ascended Divine… This news genuinely surprised Jason. So, someone really became a Divine, huh.

He couldn’t help but think of the formula Alka had given him earlier. Viewed this way, the credibility of that formula increased significantly.

After chatting with the bartender for a while longer, Jason finished the wine in his bottle.

The clear clink of coins sounded on the table, and then he stood up and left.

”WOW!”

After Jason left, the bartender looked at the coin Jason had left on the table and couldn’t help but exclaim. A gleaming Golden Sail was placed under the wine glass.

”So generous! And he seemed quite formidable too. I hope more generous customers like him come for a drink.”

The bartender offered a small prayer for Jason, then chuckled, wiped the coin on his palm, and carefully tucked it into his inner pocket.

「Outside.」

Jason exited the tavern and strolled aimlessly down the street, replaying the information he had just acquired in his mind. He processed this information, pondering which pieces were more authentic, which were useful, and which were merely nonsense. He couldn’t truly rely on this bartender to provide overly credible and secretive information.

While thinking, he passed a two-story blue building. The building’s exaggerated and peculiar sign caught Jason’s attention. This sign was completely out of sync with the surrounding architecture and the prevailing religious atmosphere; it was far too conspicuous. It felt like its art style was from a completely different show.

It depicted a slender, arrow-like fish. Interestingly, it had a pair of transparent, insect-like wings on its back—a peculiar flying fish. The image was primarily cartoonish in style.

Looking down, a special Spell effect had clearly been applied to the placard. Even if one couldn’t recognize the writing, its meaning was understandable.

The sign read: ”Flying Fish Report.”

A newspaper agency?

Jason curiously walked in.

Although the building looked large, the reception area for customers was just a small window. A pane of transparent glass separated them. Inside, various stacks of what appeared to be books and papers were hanging, clearly visible through the glass. An unidentifiable fish-like merman sat inside. When Jason approached, the merman looked up at him.

”Want to buy a newspaper? One Silver Snake per copy?”

One Silver Snake? Jason looked at the items inside: several thin, broad, black-and-white sheets stacked together. This costs a Silver Snake?

Nevertheless, Jason dutifully paid and took the newspaper.

Luckily, he could still recognize the words on it. It was written in the common tongue of the Homeland Sea.

He didn’t know about the language on Left Island of Gemini Island, but Right Island definitely used the common tongue of the Homeland Sea. However, throughout the trip, he had also heard many languages he couldn’t understand at all. Simon had spoken of one such language before. It seemed likely that Left Island used a different tongue.