Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

”Circle around,” Alka couldn’t help but say.

Chadite controlled the Swallow, circling around to avoid the corpse.

Alka, however, kept his eyes open, carefully observing the corpse from a distance.

”Knife wounds... ropes tied around the body,” he murmured. ”Probably been dead for two days. Almost eaten clean.”

It’s not easy for a corpse to last long enough to stink in a place like this. But this one wouldn’t last much longer. Alka could already see a swarm of fish below, tearing at the rotting, stinking flesh. Most of its skeleton was exposed. Soon, this foul-smelling corpse will be nothing but a skeleton.

”’Be careful,’ Alka said. With that, the group continued forward.

They hadn’t advanced for more than a few hours when Simon spotted a village in the water from afar—a genuine village this time. It looked quite small, more like a simple manor built on the water.

The village wall was formed from various branches and wooden poles. The entire village was constructed on the sea’s surface from lightweight, bamboo-like wood. On this platform of wooden poles and bamboo stood houses with thatched roofs.

Simon looked from afar. From their position, they had a side view of what appeared to be the village gate. Several corpses hung from the gate, swaying slightly in the breeze. Not far from the gate, several wooden poles jutted out of the water, adorned with various skulls. From top to bottom, the place radiated an unwelcoming aura.

”This place kind of stinks,” Pororo said, covering his nose as he climbed out of the water. He had the most sensitive sense of smell in the group and couldn’t stand it. The stench from the earlier corpse had dissipated with distance, but this new location continually emitted a strange, foul odor.

The water here also looked murky. As their vessel moved across the surface, numerous small fish darted around them. Unlike fish in other areas, large schools of them were trailing directly beneath their boat.

”Are they used to it?” Jason couldn’t help but ask, watching the scene.

The Crystal Dragon, which had been sleeping on the rear thruster, stirred and opened its eyes. With Ulu Liwus’s awakening, the surrounding fish immediately scattered, clearing the area in an instant.

”Should we go over?” Chadite asked.

”No, let’s circle around to avoid trouble,” Alka replied. This eerie place was obviously unfriendly. It was better to circle around and avoid trouble; they had other tasks to attend to. Hopefully, this unwelcoming settlement wouldn’t bother them either.

”I think we want to avoid them, but they don’t feel the same way,” Simon said, floating in the sky.

The village’s wooden stockade gate creaked open, and one narrow paddle boat after another shot out, rushing swiftly towards their position. The boats were filled with people. Judging by their fierce expressions, bulging muscles, numerous scars, and tattoos, their hostile intentions were clear.

Simon peered through his glasses. ”Not good,” he muttered. ”Only one at Third Stage. Too weak.”

”’Get the Puppet Legion moving,’ Alka ordered directly. The enemy’s numbers are perfect for the Puppet Legion.”

Lucilia nodded and slipped into the shadows.

The Puppet Girls, who had been playing around on the boat and its thruster, immediately sprang into action upon hearing Alka’s command. They seemed accustomed to the squads formed earlier in the Fragrant Place and continued to operate as those same teams.

”’Boss, something’s approaching!’ a man at the bow, holding a crude telescope, called out, turning to the burly man behind him.

”’Something? What the hell could be approaching? Are they looking to die?’ the burly man snarled.

However, before the lookout could reply, he froze. Blood gushed from his mouth. His eyes, wide and bloodshot, quickly lost their luster.

”’Uh... there is—’”

Before he could finish, he collapsed. A gaping, bloody hole had appeared on the back of his head, from which a thick, white, blood-streaked fluid oozed.

Witnessing this, a thin Energy Shield immediately enveloped the burly man. As the Shield materialized, his hand was already gripping his weapon—a Sailor’s Short Saber, the length of his forearm. He scanned his surroundings vigilantly. He hadn’t seen the attacker.

”ARGH!”

Screams erupted from the surrounding boats.

A diminutive girl, about forty centimeters tall and clad in Soft Armor, lunged at a ruffian’s back. She knocked him down, bent over, and her Bloody Blade swung directly downwards. His head slid cleanly off, and a torrent of blood sprayed into the air. The Puppet Girl, drenched in fresh blood, showed no concern.

”’Hehe, die!’ she giggled, stepping on the corpse and quickly rushing towards the next unfortunate soul.

”’ARGH! Don’t come near!’”

”’Monsters! These are all monsters!’”

Some men, terrified, slipped and fell into the water, trying to escape. With loud SPLASHES, some of the Puppet Girls dove straight into the water after them.

”’Spare me! Spare my life!’”

Deaf to their pleas for mercy, the Puppet Girls merely giggled, offering no reply. They continued to swing their blades with ruthless efficiency.

Among them, the strongest, the burly man they called ’Boss,’ had reached the peak of Third Stage Perfection. He desperately maintained his Shield. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he warily scanned his surroundings. He knew he’d run into a real monster this time. Why would such powerful people be on a tiny boat like that? Wouldn’t a sea carriage be more fitting?

Suddenly, his eyes widened in disbelief. A crimson spike had already pierced through his neck from behind. His bloodshot eyes bulged, and his rigid head struggled to turn.

The blood-slicked blade slid across. A scarlet line, followed by a gush of blood, traced its path.

The light faded from his bloodshot eyes. He died without ever seeing his killer.

One retracted her dagger and melted back into the shadows.

The Puppet Girls’ slaughter was exceptionally efficient.