Cooperation was inevitable. Otherwise, just gathering intelligence would waste a lot of ti for Alka and his companions. It was better to collaborate with Balazs, who had been operating on Southern Cross Island for over a decade.
"How do we distribute the Treasures?" Alka suddenly asked.
Alka’s words signaled his agreent, and a smile appeared on Balazs’s face.
To be honest, if I were to search alone, I truly wouldn’t be capable enough, Balazs thought. Even if the two maps were pieced together, I couldn’t understand what they actually depicted. It’s all lines; there’s no indication of where the Treasure is buried. This map might as well not exist. But Alka and his companions are a Treasure Hunting Team; they’re much more professional than , no matter how you look at it.
"You’re the professionals. Do you have any suggestions?" Balazs asked.
Alka tapped the table. After thinking for a mont, he said, "Both sides will contribute personnel. Distribution will be based on each party’s contributions, with the side making the greater contribution getting first pick."
Upon hearing this proposal, Balazs pondered for a while.
This proposal sounds very fair, Balazs mused. Considering the contributions, my own combat power plus the fact I provided half the map ans my side’s contribution wouldn’t be too low. I admit I probably won’t be much help in the actual treasure hunting. At most, I can act as muscle and provide whatever intelligence I can gather. I’m basically useless for anything else. I’m self-aware enough to know that. But I’m also worried that among the riches, there might be so valuable items I don’t recognize. After all, I’m just a rchant, not an appraiser or an archaeologist. I don’t have that keen an eye, especially when it cos to identifying Treasures. It’s well-known that Treasures are often unassuming. If you don’t channel so Magic Power into an item, you might not even realize it’s a Treasure. I’m afraid of making a misjudgnt. So Treasures can look incredibly plain.
After contemplating for a mont, he said, "Alright. However, neither side is to conceal the known value of any Treasure. We can sign a Divine contract to ensure this."
As expected, trying to pull a fast one is impossible, Alka thought with slight disappointnt. These rchants are all cunning. I was counting on my ability to distinctly see the outlines of Treasures, to know what they are. But clearly, Balazs is no fool.
He nodded. "No problem."
I’m still confident I can make the largest contribution and secure that main Treasure, Alka resolved. Worst case, I’ll just give him all the remaining wealth.
"Alright. Here’s to a successful collaboration," Balazs said.
"To a successful collaboration," Alka replied.
They shook hands, both smiling. Then, they each put their respective map halves into their Pocket Rings.
"I need to take care of so matters on my end first," Balazs said. "So troubleso issues might take five or six days and nights to resolve. We’ll et here again then to discuss the specifics. During this ti, I’ll also organize all the information I have."
Alka nodded. "No problem. As it happens, I’m quite interested in this Island."
Just as they finished their conversation, a bell chid outside.
Hearing the bell, Balazs looked out the window and said, "A bell chis one hour before nightfall, and the sa happens at dawn."
Alka nodded. So, there must be so ability or, perhaps, an artifact that can predict the arrival of night and day, he thought.
The two n left their seats. Balazs picked up the Treasure he had placed on the bar and exchanged a farewell with the owner. They went downstairs together and parted ways at the entrance of Balazs’s shop.
We’ve been drinking for so long. Ti sure flies, Alka thought, watching the pedestrians on the street.
He stretched deeply and then headed back towards the port.
Even though night was approaching, the surroundings hadn’t changed much. However, so figures wearing helts and carrying Vibrating Stone Rifles on their backs had appeared on the street. They wore brownish-gray clothing, and the Cross Star Mark on their chests indicated they belonged to the local forces.
One among them carried no weapon but held a long tal rod, walking along the roadside. He stopped at a streetlamp, lifted the long tal rod, and inserted its tip into a hole beneath the lamp’s shade. A faint stream of Magic Power flowed from his hand into the tal rod. The streetlamp ignited. A pale white fla then flared within the lampshade, which seed to magnify the light.
So that’s how they’re lit? I thought they’d light up automatically. This is quite an interesting sight, Alka mused.
After watching for a mont, Alka quickened his pace.
When he arrived back at the port, it was still bustling with noise. However, following the bell’s toll, the number of laborers working at the port had noticeably decreased, while the tavern at the street corner had beco boisterous. Food stalls on wooden carts were also being rolled out, so setting up near what looked like a square. So hungry laborers began to buy food from them.
Alka tilted his head, observing. The food resembled bread and looked quite appetizing.
It seems food isn’t too hard to co by in the Endless Sea, he thought. I haven’t even seen anyone on this Island who looks sallow, emaciated, or starving.
This scene, however, was exceptionally vibrant with everyday life. He found himself slowing his pace, watching the laborers at their tasks and seeing so homakers delivering als in lunchboxes. During brief breaks in their labor, so workers squatted down to share a fleeting, warm mont with their families.
"Excuse , sir," a voice said from behind Alka. It was a laborer carrying a heavy load on his back.
Alka imdiately stepped aside to make way, saying instinctively, "My apologies."
His apology seed to surprise the laborer, who nonetheless nodded and hurried past.
Before long, the sky seed to be veiled by a dark curtain, and the bright daylight imdiately dimd. However, nurous stars and faintly glowing celestial bodies twinkled in the night sky, preventing the night from being completely dark.
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