A robust middle-aged man was walking from the port towards the small town.
Despite the scorching season, he wore a black trench coat and a cowboy hat. He strode down the street in brown short boots, carrying a cloth bag that looked quite heavy. As he walked, he could be heard humming an unknown tune, seemingly in a good mood. The passing townsfolk occasionally cast curious glances at this middle-aged man, whom they had never seen before, until he disappeared into the town.
He kept walking along the path, his target being the center of the island—the location of the island’s cetery and the Stone Mother’s statue.
Right at the cetery’s entrance, Priest Parker Kqi was already standing there, waiting quietly. Seeing the figure approaching from afar, he couldn’t help but smile.
Soon, the figure arrived before him. It was the stranger who had appeared in town just monts ago.
"Andre, you’re here."
At this, the figure lifted his head and took off his cowboy hat. He had short, slightly dull silver hair. His revealed face was ruggedly handso, with a mature air. A conspicuous X-shaped scar marked his left eye, though it hadn’t damaged his sight. A cigarette dangled from his lips; he habitually spat it onto the ground and stomped it out with his foot.
Parish imdiately frowned at this.
"Alright, alright," the man said helplessly, bending down, picking up the extinguished cigarette, and casually stuffing it into his coat pocket. Then he said, "So, tell , why did you call here? What could you possibly need my help with?"
Hearing this, Parish looked at him and spoke slowly, "I want you to help train a child and let him join your Treasure Hunting Team."
"Huh?" The man was sowhat surprised. "Did I hear you correctly, Parish? You want to send a kid into my Treasure Hunting Team?"
Looking at the man’s surprised expression, Parish said, "Andre, the boy is already sixteen years old."
"Sixteen? That’s barely an adult. If that’s the case, he must be from Ho Island too. You must understand, my work isn’t fun and gas. Battles and death are constant companions." Saying this, Andre couldn’t help but pull another brand-new cigarette from his pocket. "I can’t give him special treatnt just because of you."
After speaking, he put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it by snapping his thumb and forefinger together. He took a deep drag and exhaled a plu of smoke.
"Moreover, the main point is that not just anyone can join the Treasure Hunting Team. It requires sufficient knowledge and experience."
"He has so knowledge, experience, and talent too."
Hearing Parker Kqi’s words, Andre glanced at him disdainfully, clearly skeptical. After all, he was just a sixteen-year-old boy, and from Ho Island at that—too sheltered, too protected.
"I’m not lying. Just a week or two ago, he found the treasure Jack had hidden on the island, all by himself."
Hearing this, "Oh?" Andre asked, his interest piqued.
"That Magician Jack?"
"Yes."
"Interesting. But that treasure should be enough for him to live worry-free for a lifeti, shouldn’t it?"
Hearing this, Parker Kqi shook his head. "The treasure was snatched by soone else before he got there; he didn’t get anything." After saying this, he hesitated for a mont, then rephrased, "But... he should have received Jack’s legacy and experienced its wondrous power."
"TSK, TSK, TSK. I think I understand now," Andre said, smacking his lips after listening to Parker Kqi. "A young man, just co of age, interested in treasure hunting, and actually capable of finding sothing. Most importantly, he’s tasted wondrous power. Endless wealth and wondrous power... how alluring."
Parker Kqi nodded in agreent. Such temptation was incredibly alluring for a sixteen-year-old. They too had been like that once and knew well that any attempt to stop him would only backfire.
"What’s his na?" Andre asked, his interest growing.
"Alka, Alka Ragu."
"Alka?!"
Hearing the change in Andre’s voice, Parker Kqi looked at him. "You know him?"
"Even more interesting. Alright, no problem. I agree. I’ll take him. As long as he demonstrates the necessary potential, I’ll take him to ’touch’."
Parish was silent.
"That’s the real reason you want to take him, isn’t it?" Andre continued. "No one is more suitable than . Alright, don’t look so glum. It’s rare for us to get together. Co on, let’s have a few drinks."
"Alright."
「Later...」
Alka stood in his small courtyard. Beside the large tree in front of him, a humanoid target, one that hadn’t been there before, now stood. It was stuffed with straw and covered in various markings.
With a swing of his arm, two streaks of silver light arced through the air, embedding themselves in the target’s forehead and neck. These streaks of silver light were, in fact, two cards made of thin tal sheets, shimring with a sharp glint.
A few more silver lights flashed. They flew from various angles, embedding themselves in its stomach and thighs. One even executed a spin to lodge in its back.
Then, Alka extended his right hand and snapped his fingers. A card reappeared in his hand, and he threw it. The card flew in a straight line and lodged in the target’s forehead. This card bore a red heart. It was styled like a playing card.
Alka then perford a gentlemanly bow, adjusting his top hat.
"My apologies for the display."
Just then, Siegert’s voice ca from outside the courtyard.
"Alka, Alka!"
Hearing the voice, Alka hurriedly straightened up, quickly undid the tie at his collar, then took off his top hat and tossed it to the side of the house. He then walked towards the target in front of him, feigning nonchalance.
Siegert pushed open the courtyard gate and rushed in. Seeing Alka’s attire, Siegert paused for a mont, slightly taken aback.
"Uh... aren’t you hot?"
Alka was wearing a white undershirt with a black vest over it. He also wore straight, neat trousers and a pair of clean boots. A corner of a white handkerchief peeked from the vest’s breast pocket.
"AHEM," Alka coughed, his expression unchanging. He retrieved the cards from the target and pocketed them, then walked towards Siegert, and, as he passed the side of the house, kicked the top hat further out of sight.
Siegert looked at the tal cards in Alka’s hand with a smile and said, "How are they? Nice craftsmanship, right?"
"Very good, I like them a lot."
Alka had a total of twelve such tal cards. He had commissioned Siegert to have them custom-made during Siegert’s trip to Tulan Island. The twelve cards had cost him two whole Silver Snakes. But they were indeed worth the price. They perfectly t his requirents.
"Did you rush over for sothing?"
"Oh, right, right! Listen to this," Siegert suddenly rembered and said hurriedly. "There’s a new ship at the port! I’m telling you, that ship is gorgeous! It looks incredibly expensive. One of the older n ntioned that an unfamiliar middle-aged man in strange clothes went to the cetery. How about it, want to go to the port to see that ship? It’s really beautiful."
Hearing Siegert’s words, Alka couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitent.
An unfamiliar, expensive ship... a strange man heading to the cetery... Could it be that the Treasure Hunting Team Parker Kqi ntioned has arrived?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Priest Parker Kqi’s voice ca from outside the courtyard.
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