On the sixth day since Silvergold Island appeared in the Material World, as evening approached, the third rainbow light quietly shattered.
The twilight sky was blood-red, lighting up the whole of Silvergold Island, making every golden leaf, every golden apple, every silver coin... all shimr with a blinding crimson hue.
"CHIRP! CHIRP!"
The clamorous chorus of cicadas had enveloped the entire island, while human voices beca increasingly rare.
Around the island’s waters, only a scant seven or eight sailboats were able to successfully lift anchor and set sail, carrying their treasure further and further away.
Many more sailboats moored at the shore were destined to be wholly consud by the tenfold increase in the speed of ti as Silvergold Island vanished from the Material World.
"We’ve finally made it out alive."
"HUZZAH! Long live the Captain!"
Aboard the Golden Deer, pirates draped in gold jewelry and adorned with antiques (not a single silver coin among them) cheered and waved their arms.
Most of the ti, Byron’s elite Marines stayed within the "Overseas Developnt Order," so they suffered minimal losses on this treasure hunt.
By now, each person had been awarded an Azkek’s Cursed Coin by Byron, becoming a core mber of the Guardsn [Wings of Death].
They were also promised a share of the treasure weighing a fifth of their body weight—practically a windfall.
Especially when compared to other teams that landed at the sa ti and mostly t tragic ends, their reverence for Byron was off the charts.
Of course, they weren’t the only team to survive and find treasure in the end.
About five or six Third Order teams also survived. These were the ones who weren’t overly greedy or rash, and whose character could withstand scrutiny.
Even they, however, could not withstand the relentless attacks of the Low Sequence cicada beings.
They wouldn’t even need to wait for the island to sink; if they couldn’t get out before nightfall today, they would never be able to leave.
With the new Lantern Carriers in office and the God-Human Covenant established, there was no need to worry. The cicada people would not be chasing humans beyond the island’s borders for the next ten days.
In reality, even if not a single person had died on the island, all the survivors combined had not earned as much as Byron alone.
Aside from Violet, who was in charge of packing, and Byron himself, no one else had any idea just how wealthy he had beco.
The best part was that all treasure hunters who had reached the third level with them, learning part of the truth, had subsequently either been killed or had beco one of their own.
No outsider knew the true identity of The Mad Hunt or the existence of the "Faustian Contract." Much less did they know what the Alchemy of Transmutation actually looked like.
As for other matters not involving core secrets, they couldn’t have been kept hidden from others anyway.
For instance: After returning from Silvergold Island, Sea Hunter Byron Tudor completed the "Pirate’s Chest," acquired the "Key Item" Azkek’s Cursed Coin, and was successfully promoted to Great Pirate.
The legendary status of the title [The Sea Hunter] had quietly reached 18 points, not far from 20.
Once this news fernted a bit in the Banta’an Archipelago, it would naturally enable him to acquire a new title power.
This was the essence of inheriting the legendary status of a Great Pirate.
Every ti a more famous Great Pirate’s na ca up, people would naturally think of the upstart who had conquered his treasure trove.
By now, The Sea Hunter had undoubtedly surpassed his forr superior, Bill, becoming the most deserved first among the seven Pirate Generals of Hightins!
The conditions for further advancent were ripe.
"Byron, the [Fla Rose] and the [Cavalier] have already arrived nearby," Violet said as she approached Byron, her voice gentle yet her words cold.
"Do we still proceed with the original plan to ambush those survivors along the way? Most of them can barely muster their sailors and are simply no match for us."
Byron looked toward the other sailboats moving away in the distance, hesitated for a mont, then rejected her suggestion.
"No, we need to look at the bigger picture."
I’m worried that if the major powers suffer heavy losses this ti, they won’t co back when Silvergold Island reappears in two years. If spending a little can accomplish much and resolve key issues, then why not?
Though the hills of gold and silver on Silvergold Island are tempting, if treasure hunters co away empty-handed once, twice, or thrice, they might truly stop coming after a while.
Only when treasure hunters who return fully laden occasionally share their stories can the passion of others for treasure-hunting be continuously kindled.
This way, the gold and silver on the island... will grow ever more abundant!
It’s the sa principle as the lottery: gathering many people’s money into a jackpot to enrich one individual.
Only, while buying lottery tickets costs money, they pay with their lives.
In the end, only a few participants need to taste a bit of the reward, while I, Lord Byron, will at least... claim seventy percent!
Oh, right, I can also use the Artificial Star Project—deliberately have a few of our own people claim the prize.
Then, I’ll spend money to buy a couple of pages in the Lighthouse Weekly.
It doesn’t matter if no one can really get the treasure, as long as others believe it’s possible to get the money.
I really am a little genius.
That’s what I’ll do next ti!
In truth, conditions aboard the other ships were exactly as Byron had envisioned.
The mont the other few ships set sail, the unanimous action of their captains was to record the voyage in their Sailing Logbooks.
"Write it down, write everything down. If by chance we get to land on this island again, my haul will definitely far exceed that of this trip."
Their quill pens furiously scribbled.
Starting with, "Rule one: Every person must bribe the Gold-devouring Ants guarding the beach with two Gold Coins to set foot on the island..."
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