Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer
Chapter 71: Preparation

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Preparation

Another huge, yellow-and-black ship sailed past not far away. Its exaggerated three-layer cannon deck looked menacing. The waves it cut through were several meters high.

Alka, resting on the open deck, watched this scene and couldn’t help but frown. He asked aloud, "What’s going on? This is the third giant sail-powered warship I’ve seen, right? Which fleet is it from?"

Over the last few days of sailing, this was the third time Alka had seen such large sail-powered warships patrolling, not to mention the few smaller vessels trailing behind them. Fleets like this rarely sailed in this region; they were usually found around the territories of the Blood Gold Alliance.

In response to Alka’s question, Jason directly took out a newspaper and handed it to him.

"Take a look."

Alka unfolded the newspaper and glanced at it. After a quick scan, he understood what Jason wanted to tell him. It read: "Prayer for the Dead Pirate Gang is on a major plundering mission! This time, their target might be the Bok Ocean."

The Bok Ocean? Alka recalled. The waters around the Blood Gold Alliance and its surrounding areas were collectively known as the Bok Ocean. If one were to look at a map, it occupied a large area slightly above the bottom right corner.

"Is this pirate gang really that formidable?" Alka couldn’t quite understand. After all, a pirate gang was just a bunch of pirates.

I’ve briefly seen some ships from the Blood Gold Alliance’s fleets, Alka thought. Those large sail-powered warships are basically floating fortresses. It’s not that I’m underestimating these pirates, but ships like that aren’t something small factions can deploy. The construction of each one is a testament to the strength of an entire power. How much manpower, resources, and finances would it take to build one? A mere pirate gang, at its peak, is still just that. How could they make the entire Blood Gold Alliance treat them so seriously?

"Hels Siver is quite a notorious pirate," Jason explained. "He might not have been a threat two years ago, but since that incident, he’s become a real headache for many powers."

"What do you mean?" Alka was still largely unaware of these matters.

"Two years ago, in the Bibertes Islands Kingdom, an entire important port island was bloodily sacked by the Prayer for the Dead. Hels Siver looted almost all of the island’s riches." Jason frowned as he continued, "According to Touchers who survived that incident, Hels Siver, the captain of the Prayer for the Dead, possesses a Treasure."

Upon hearing this, Alka immediately understood and nodded.

So that’s how it is, he thought. Perhaps the pirate gang itself isn’t extremely powerful, but if their captain possesses a Treasure, then the entire situation changes. A Treasure brings not only mighty combat capabilities but also numerous troops with extraordinary physical qualities and mystical powers—Touchers. As far as I know, even the lowest grade of Treasure, a Holy Grail-level one, can empower at least a hundred Touchers. Given this, their Pirate Ship is definitely not ordinary either. Sometimes, you just have to admit that these Spell Ships, engraved with Spells, outshine ordinary battleships in many aspects. Their firepower might not always be superior, but their sailing capabilities and various other functions are exceptionally comfortable.

This came from Alka’s personal experience. Sailing on an ordinary sailboat feels a bit like being in a slum. The living conditions are barely tolerable, especially for someone like me, with a modern soul. But this Spell Ship beneath my feet, the Sea Fist, provides such a wonderfully comfortable experience. At least, it’s comparable to an ordinary hotel. Fundamentally, I don’t have to worry too much about meals, thanks to its advanced food storage technology.

As they conversed and night began to fall, the Sea Fist accelerated once again, heading towards an uninhabited island. In the darkness, the faint, glimmering lights of the island were visible.

Andre stood at the bow, rubbing his fingers. A blue Flying Bird, formed from shimmering lines, took shape and flew towards the island.

Soon after, an ordinary sailboat emerged from the darkness, docking beside the Sea Fist. A tall man jumped aboard.

Thanks to the lanterns hanging from the rigging, Alka could see the man clearly. He stood nearly two meters tall, dressed in an oil-stained, dirty, and worn black leather coat. His long, black, greasy hair was tangled and matted, hanging down disheveledly. He wore a classic captain’s hat adorned with an unidentifiable skull. The man walked over with a pronounced limp. It was then Alka noticed that his left leg was a wooden peg.

His scarred, fierce face was fixed on Andre.

"Andre," the man rasped, his voice hoarse, "what are you hypocrites doing coming to find scum like us?" He asked bluntly.

Andre didn’t seem to mind his tone and said directly, "I want you to attack Meister Island at the agreed-upon time. You don’t need to actually conquer it, just draw their forces away."

"Heh, haha! You really are a bunch of hypocrites," the pirate captain sneered. "But you should know, evading the patrols at sea these days isn’t easy."

"Fifteen Golden Sails!" Andre immediately stated his offer.

This price not only shocked the pirate captain before him but also stunned Alka, Chadite, and the others nearby.

"Deal!" The pirate, who had been dragging his feet and speaking insolently just moments before, agreed instantly. He thrust out a grimy hand, and Andre, unperturbed, shook it firmly.

"Haha! Although I despise you hypocrites, you lot are certainly generous with your money," the pirate captain chuckled. "Makes me almost want to rob you blind." As he spoke, he pulled a finger bone from inside his coat and tossed it to Andre.

Andre caught it deftly.

"You know how to use it," the pirate said, giving Andre a faintly amused look. Then, without hesitation, he turned and leaped back onto his own ship.

The Pirate Ship sailed back into the darkness.

"Dad, isn’t that price too high?" Chadite couldn’t help but ask from the side.

Hearing this, a flicker of pain crossed Andre’s face, but he sighed. "There’s no choice. In the past, I’d give them ten Golden Sails at most. But now, you know how strict the patrols are." He couldn’t help but thump his chest lightly.

"Enough talk. Let’s set sail quickly," Andre declared, his tone urgent. "Time is short, and there’s something else waiting for us to retrieve." With that, he went straight to the bow and took the helm himself, guiding the Sea Fist towards an unknown direction.

Are there even more preparations? Alka couldn’t help but wonder.

A short while later, the sea surface nearby began to gurgle and bubble under the moonlight. Then, a sailboat erupted from beneath the waves, water cascading off it and shimmering in the moon’s glow.