In the blink of an eye, the fourth day of Silvergold Island's appearance had arrived.
In the very center of Silvergold Island lay a place marked on the map as "Mount Ziry," which translated to the "Mountain of Absurdity."
Fat Dragon (Byron) chewed on a greasy octopus tentacle, looking up at the sky. There, the original seven-colored radiance had dwindled to just six bands.
As he gazed skyward, another band of light began to flicker, entering its countdown to dissipation. This ant the fourth day was about to end.
On the surface, it seed there were still over ten days until Silvergold Island sank, but in reality, the ti left for treasure hunters was already scarce.
The map says that when two bands of rainbow light vanish and you arrive at Mount Ziry, you can recite the incantation to enter the treasure cave beneath the mountain. According to Uncle Andrew, it's actually a complex underground labyrinth. The Great Pirates' treasure is scattered, potentially hidden in any chest within the maze. In theory, the disappearance of three bands of light marks the safe critical point for retreat, allowing treasure hunters two days to search for their desired treasures. But before that, the cicada song, and the entity behind it, will probably show up for a feast. If we were to abandon the main group and flee now, we might be able to avoid the danger to the greatest extent and escape this calamity. But that also ans returning empty-handed, having wasted all that effort. Now that we know Flint left behind a *Faustian Pact* as a safety asure, it's worth taking the risk.
Beside Fat Dragon (Byron) stood the one-ard Blue Hair, the octopus man Eight, and a pirate crew that now numbered only about thirty.
Clearly, their journey to this point had inflicted severe losses on what was once a formidable group of over a hundred.
Even with a powerful Fourth Order Beast Tar shielding them from external threats, he couldn't protect them from the myriad desires exploding within their hearts.
At this mont, though Blue Hair Barbarossa Halding's hairstyle remained impeccable, it was unknown how many dangers he had shielded Fat Dragon from. As expected of a Fourth Order Transcendent, he was far more resilient than Byron's previous bosses.
The octopus warrior Eight, who aspired to create an Eight-Sword Style and beco a Sword Saint, found his wounds healing only to be injured anew, ti and ti again. His *Rapid Regeneration* ability activated repeatedly, leaving him looking considerably thinner.
Conversely, Fat Dragon hadn't lost any weight; in fact, Eight had managed to fatten him up by several pounds. His als had clearly been excellent during this ti.
The four or five "living dead" in the group, led by Flower Sword Schneider, had paradoxically benefited from their misfortune, all surviving thanks to their sage-like state (Chapter 210).
Looking down from the sky, one would see other treasure-hunting teams gradually taking their positions at the foot of Mount Ziry from various directions.
Although several thousand people had initially landed on the island, only a scattered few hundred remained.
The decryption experts assigned by the major mariti powers were skilled enough to decipher the rules about the physical burden limit, much like Byron had. By staunchly resisting the eruption of "possessiveness" without wavering, perhaps two or three out of ten could ultimately survive to reach this treasure site.
Many smaller factions, however, perished in confusion on their way back due to insufficient decryption capabilities.
After four days, those capable of reaching this place had done so. Those without the capability had mostly been eliminated; even more ti wouldn't have helped them.
Of course, among them were so lucky few who, ignorant of the specific rules, had stumbled here purely because they were tough enough. This was especially true for the "living dead," many of whom were fixated on the Aztec Cursed Gold Coins.
However, even having reached this point, the internal strife among the teams, fueled by "possessiveness," had not stopped.
Not far from the Barbary Pirates, from the Remit People's camp, a plea drifted over with the breeze, "Father, I truly didn't an to profane Sister Teresa! My hands were completely beyond my control. Besides, we Remit People are descendants of the Creator; no one in this world is qualified to judge us. Everything we do will be forgiven by the Creator, even you Clergy..."
BANG!
A gunshot imdiately followed.
Ard Priest Brendan from the Holy Ard Forces Cathedral blew the smoke from his gun's muzzle and said coldly to the corpse on the ground, "Forgiving you is the Creator's business. My duty is to send you to et Him."
He turned to look at the now ager remnants of the Remit People's team. The faces of the three Third Order Transcendents in the pursuit squad were all grim. They had accepted an investnt from Stiel Blake, the "Banker," and had promised to look after the Remit People's adventure team. Who would have thought that for the Remit People, obsessed with wealth as they were—especially those of the Gold Sequence—this place would be an utter deathtrap? No matter how strong their self-control, they found it difficult to resist the escalating desires: Arrogance, Jealousy, Fury, sloth, greed, Gluttony, and Lust. When desire erupted, if they couldn't destroy others, they could only destroy themselves.
By the ti they arrived here, all the Gold Sequence Transcendents among the Remit People had been wiped out. Only Marlin Bishop, the Third Order Knight Commander holding the *Universal Travelogue*, and a few ordinary soldiers were left.
Seeing the Barbary Pirates across the way looking over with schadenfreude, the priest imdiately shot back a fierce glare. His gaze lingered particularly long on Blue Hair, who was marked as an "Enemy of the Holy Cross." If they were from the direct line of the Religious Tribunal, they probably would have already charged over recklessly to capture this enemy of the Church. However, their survival to this point indicated they possessed at least adequate self-control. Despite the palpable tension, the two groups ultimately did not clash.
"Hmph, the Church!"
Blue Hair Barbarossa Halding retracted his gaze, the desire for the 882 cursed Gold Coins burning ever stronger within him. If he could obtain those cursed Gold Coins, not only could he lift the "living dead" curse from his subordinates while preserving their Gold, but he could also use the powerful curse to counteract his "Enemy of the Holy Cross" designation. That way, he wouldn't be targeted by the Church every ti he stepped out, risking suicidal attacks on the street by those desperate fanatics.
Others think I keep to myself because I'm disdainful of others. But who knows that my title's effects and my Class are actually... sigh!
Those cursed Gold Coins—the "living dead" wanted them, the Barbary Pirates wanted them, and so did Velazquez, the Governor of Havana, who was on the other side of Mount Ziry.
Watching the heavily damaged treasure-hunting teams, this scher behind the scenes laughed with particular satisfaction.
A Fourth Order Transcendent on the Ladder of Glory is called a "Hero" and receives a Heroic Battle Banner emblazoned with their personal coat of arms. Using this banner as a foundation, they can channel the power of Heroic Spirits from famous historical legions to create their own unique heroic troop type. This is the embryonic form of a Fifth Order Kingly Title, the "King's Left Hand." And the cursed Gold Coins can achieve a similar effect, comparable to the ten-thousand-strong "Undying Army" of the historical Achaenid Dynasty on the West Coast! They allow the holder to beco a true "living dead," forcibly locked in a state between life and death, immune to all physical attacks. Any external wounds will heal completely under moonlight, and returning the Gold Coin to its chest allows one to revert to normal. Against a powerful Transcendent in single combat, it's not much, but in large-scale warfare, it's undoubtedly a Divine Artifact. This huge quantity of 882 Gold Coins is enough to create a simplified version of the "King's Left Hand," which would remain effective even at the Fifth Order. In the future, this unit will be the sharpest spear and the toughest shield in my hand, helping claim a most venerable Fifth Order Crown as well.
The others were unaware that Flint, just before his death, had specifically left instructions regarding the *Faustian Pact*. The main point of contention was those 882 Aztec Cursed Gold Coins.
As for Byron and Violet, they had been led here three days prior by Thomas the macaw. They had found an inconspicuous spot, built a treehouse, and were recuperating and conserving their strength.
Byron also t his paternal uncle, Andrew Lancaster, who was now rely a skeleton. He was a sowhat stern, traditional Great Noble. Even as a ghastly white skeleton with eerie flas flickering in his eye sockets, he remained a gentleman of aristocratic bearing, and a Third Order Storm Admiral.
Byron was seven when Andrew was trapped on Silvergold Island eleven years ago. As direct descendants of the Lancaster Family, they were certainly not strangers. Even now, separated by life and death, they quickly dispelled the unfamiliarity born from many years apart.
However, Byron thought it would be best if his uncle, upon learning that Byron was the sole remaining male heir after the Lancaster Family's downfall, didn't imdiately switch into a 24/7 matchmaking mode. Especially when Andrew discovered that Violet was an excellent match in terms of looks, Class, and background, he asked her point-blank,
"Beautiful Miss Harold, would you consider my nephew as a marriage candidate?
"I hear that Margaret, the Evernight Queen of the Kalmar Union, also has only one sickly grandson left, who suffers from hemophilia. There aren't many direct descendants of Reinhardt, the Blue Dragon King, remaining.
"Why don't you do us the honor and make do with my nephew?
"Although the Lancasters have fallen on hard tis now, the family still maintains secret accounts in various countries; there's still a little spending money.
"How about this: for every child you bear, I'll personally give you one hundred thousand Gold Pounds to support your Alchemy endeavors?
"The amount will double for each additional child.
"Wait, don't run away! Although this is a bit presumptuous, we can discuss things, can't we?
"You don't like Gold Pounds? My retainers actually control a few gemstone mines. I'll find a way to reclaim them another day..."
Clearly, Andrew's top priority now was the continuation of the Lancaster Family bloodline. If anything happened to the sole heir, then, just as the macaw had said, the family would truly be extinguished. They would all be sinners against the family! Never mind the crisis on Silvergold Island; even if it were the end of the world, procreation couldn't be delayed!
Is that even sothing a human would say? He's even less subtle than Jacqueline the Chaleon. Violet's face is all red; she must be furious. The only reason she didn't hit you with a *Blood and Fire Sing As One* on the spot is because of our good relationship.
Byron felt as uncomfortable as any older, unmarried young man facing relentless matchmaking pressure from relatives during New Year's. He soon vented his frustration on Thomas the macaw, who dared to gloat at his predicant. He didn't do anything too drastic, rely appointing it captain of the treasure-hunting squad. He just called out twice, "Captain Thomas."
And so, the frail bird, while sneaking off to "play" with the mountain goats again, managed to throw out its back.
The chaotic antics within their group only temporarily subsided by the fourth day.
The remaining 56 uninjured mbers of their group were awakened early this morning. Most of them stayed within the territory established by the "Pioneering Command," ready for battle at any mont.
When the second band of rainbow light completely dissipated, Byron, along with everyone else on the island, recited the incantation in unison:
"Mount Ziry, Mount Ziry, open your gates!"
BOOM!
The ground in front of each team rumbled and split open, revealing a narrow passage leading underground. This update is available on NoveI[F]ire
Byron waved his hand grandly and declared, "Uncle Andrew, eleven years ago you died at the exit of the labyrinth. Today, I will conquer the labyrinth beneath this treasure cave and avenge you!"
First Mate Bruh announced, "Captain, my sword is with you."
Sailor Chief Eight Fingers added, "And my axe!"
Skeleton Captain Andrew also patted his chest, his bones rattling noisily, and bood, "And your dead uncle! Let's go, lads!"
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