Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

Back in the flower house, Alka sat on a flower bench, deep in thought.

It seems I need to find an excuse to visit the local Church and ask some questions.

It wouldn’t be a good idea for Jason to go directly and ask at the Church, so Alka decided to take action himself.

”You’ll need to come up with a reason for yourself,” Julia reminded him from the side.

”What reason should I choose?” Alka mused aloud.

Chadite pondered for a moment and said from the side, ”You don’t need a particularly good reason. Just say we’re here to explore, isn’t that enough? After all, countless predecessors have done just that. I believe most people here already view us this way.”

Alka nodded. That did seem to be the case. The Church and local powers here had almost come to expect that outsiders visiting the Sea of Moisture were various observation and exploration teams, having grown accustomed to this over the years. Trying to come up with an elaborate reason might even make them suspect deception.

”Alright, let’s do it that way,” Alka decided.

And if they have any requirements, we need to find out what those are.

「...」

”So, to gather intelligence, we really have to make a trip to the tavern?” Simon remarked, surveying their surroundings.

They were currently inside a tavern, seated at a table with Jason and Juanlu. They looked just like any other patrons there to drink and unwind, eating the somewhat greasy bar snacks and drinking a liquor clearly brewed from some kind of flower. It had a rather unique flavor.

Jason, looking like a regular with a slightly disheveled appearance, blended perfectly with the tavern’s atmosphere as he casually ate the snacks and sipped his drink.

”Of course,” Jason replied. ”This is the best place. You might not obtain crucial intelligence, but you’ll definitely gather some interesting information.”

Simon glanced at Juanlu beside him. Juanlu also appeared exceptionally at ease, even having the presence of mind to keenly eavesdrop on the conversation at the next table. After all, this wasn’t the first or second time he’d accompanied Jason on a mission; he was long familiar with the process and had even learned a lot from him.

”More outsiders have arrived recently, and they seem to be important figures,” a tavern patron mumbled indistinctly.

”Who told you that?”

”My brother. He’s a soldier, isn’t he? He found out a few days ago. And I heard they’re staying in the Flower Forest.”

”They’re that wealthy?”

”Hmph, that’s our money they’re spending.”

”For real? That’s disgusting! Why should our money be spent on letting these outsiders live in such good places?”

As they spoke, more people around them joined the idle chatter. After all, with the tables in the tavern so close to each other, you couldn’t expect much separation.

Overhearing this chatter, Jason also chimed in, seamlessly joining their group. ”I heard they might be from the Holy Mother Church.”

”Yes, yes, I’ve heard that too! Apparently, they saved a lot of people at Jade Fortress before.”

”Really? You don’t think it’s just a rumor, do you?”

”It’s true. The fellow who sells fruit just got back from there yesterday.”

”Well, alright. There are always some good people out there.”

”If everyone were like those madmen, it would be intolerable.”

Simon watched as Jason quickly integrated himself into that group, even joining them in their griping. In no time, Jason had managed to shift their perception of Alka’s group. Then, somehow, he steered the conversation towards the Church’s political system, then to diplomatic relations with neighboring powers, and eventually to the servers moving about and even some of the female patrons.

How on earth...? Simon wondered. How did he even do that?

Simon, who wasn’t nearly as thick-skinned, found it incomprehensible.

Then he realized Juanlu had disappeared from his side at some point. Scanning the tavern, he spotted Juanlu at the bar, chatting amicably with a woman who was also drinking. Judging by their animated laughter and conversation, they were clearly getting along very well, perhaps even discussing things in depth.

Seriously?! Simon was baffled once more. How in the world did they manage it?

There’s a good reason these two are often chosen for intelligence gathering, Simon could only conclude.

Sitting alone at his table, Simon quietly sipped his drink. As a scholar and researcher, he found it difficult to adapt to the tavern’s atmosphere.

”Drinking alone, friend? Is something troubling you?”

A woman, her face slightly flushed and carrying a strong scent of alcohol, sat down beside Simon. Since the liquor was brewed from flowers, she also exuded a heavy floral fragrance.

”No, I just prefer to be alone,” Simon replied.

He glanced at this bewilderingly forward stranger. By conventional standards, she could be considered quite attractive, though she looked too thin and frail.

”Is that so? You’re an outsider, aren’t you?” the woman slurred, reaching for Simon’s exposed right hand. His right hand reflected a distinct metallic sheen; a normal Flower Child wouldn’t have a metal arm.

”It’s so hard,” she murmured.

A drop of liquor clung to the woman’s slender finger, glistening under the light as she lightly tapped the steel hand.

Watching this, Simon frowned slightly.

The woman’s hand began to caress the back of his steel hand, feeling the coldness of the metal. ”Does it have feeling? Just like a normal hand?”

Seeing her hand begin to trace upwards from the back of his hand towards his wrist, Simon’s frown deepened.

He stood up, pushed her hand away, then raised his own right hand to examine it. He picked up a nearby napkin and meticulously wiped off the liquor. The look of utter disgust on his face was entirely genuine. He even sniffed his hand.