Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

Chapter 553: Chapter 267 Perfect Information_3

This solid layer blocked him, preventing him from leaving his Dream Bubble. Alka could feel that the entire bubble had not the slightest gap. As he sensed his bubble was under attack, some Dream Energy began leaking outwards. Sitting in the center of the bubble, Alka frowned. He could feel his bubble had been breached, but there was no further harm. The attacker outside had merely opened a thin slit in the Dream Bubble, causing the Dream Energy inside to drift slowly out, like water from a tiny drain in a pool. This kind of leak wouldn’t wake the master of the dream, because the damage was minimal. But if it continued until he awakened, the consequences would be more severe.

A sudden rupture of the bubble would lead to a significant, instantaneous loss of Dream Energy. It would also cause him to awaken, but the bubble itself would disappear. Thus, the Dream Energy lost, when calculated carefully, wasn’t actually that much. However, a slow, ongoing leak like this would make the awakened person feel slightly fatigued, as if they hadn’t rested well. The amount of missing Dream Energy would be greater. If one were subjected to this for a long time, their mental state would gradually worsen, eventually affecting their physical body.

So what exactly had gone wrong with the Dream Realm where they were?

Outside, there must be a massive dream creature, one that understood a slow drain rather than reckless destruction. It was likely not a shadow creature.

Materialized creatures didn’t harm Dream Bubbles; even the giant mist serpent on Southern Cross Island was an example of this.

Then that only left creatures of light and shadow.

Alka was quite intrigued to know what this dream creature looked like, but he couldn’t leave his Dream Bubble now.

Apparently, after he had fallen asleep, his location was within the hunting grounds of some unknown monster.

Since he couldn’t get out, it was naturally impossible to go and gather any information.

Helpless, Alka maintained the Dream Bubble, switching his true self with the dream substitute. Suddenly, a wave of fear washed over him.

”Thank goodness I was dreaming.”

If he had rashly switched with the dream substitute, his true self would have sunk into the Dream Realm. And as it happened, this Dream Realm hosted a powerful monster. Without the protection of the Dream Bubble, his true self would also be attacked within the Dream Realm.

Thankfully, he had actually fallen asleep.

He could control and maintain the Dream Bubble, then make the switch, leaving his true self within the bubble. Although this would mean continually suffering the loss of Dream Energy, making his spirit weary. But compared to his true body being injured, this small loss was entirely acceptable.

In the outside world, Alka opened his eyes. Lucilia, who had been residing within Alka’s spiritual form, was forcibly expelled and returned to her own physical body. As for the surrounding situation, Lucilia’s soul, now back in her body, didn’t react much; she simply turned over and glanced at Alka.

The night slowly passed. The general kept his eyes closed, periodically turning the Hourglass in his hand that he used for timing. Only when the Hourglass gave a final gentle shake did the general open his eyes.

「The curtain of night was lifted from the sky.」

A bright sun and blue sky instantly appeared. Everyone else had already woken up.

”Now that it’s daylight, let’s move; lead the way,” the general said, rising and looking at Alka.

Alka nodded and led the group towards the source of the golden light, with the others following behind. The general had his men form a semicircle behind Alka’s group, guarding against any rash moves.

”The Treasure is hidden here,” Alka said, pointing to the room from which the golden light emanated.

Since there were too many people to enter at once, the general left two soldiers outside, and Alka also left some of his Puppet Girls outside.

”According to my deductions, this must have been Klian’s home,” Alka stated.

Upon hearing Alka’s words, General Kriel glanced around the house. Then, seeming to spot something, he said, ”Your deduction is sound. It’s highly probable they lived here.”

What he appeared to have seen was something akin to a family crest or a similar insignia. Finished speaking, he turned to Alka.

”So, where might the Treasure be hidden? I recall you searched this area yesterday,” the general asked.

Alka had indeed searched this place yesterday, even digging up some of the surrounding patches of earth. Traces of his search were still scattered about. He had meticulously checked the floorboards inside the room as well, but hadn’t found any signs of a hidden compartment or false bottom.

Hearing this, Alka smiled. ”It’s quite simple. He wouldn’t have hidden the Treasure in such an easily accessible place.”

”After all, he couldn’t guarantee his former residence would remain undiscovered, could he? Hiding it here would be far too foolish.”

As he spoke, Alka looked at the general and suddenly asked, ”How much do you know about Broken Island?”

”A dangerous island,” the general replied succinctly.

”It is indeed a dangerous island, filled with ferocious beasts, perilous spatial rifts, and ruins that can be mysteriously activated. That’s because Vastva was very fond of using command words as triggers for various things.”

”Alright, enough chatter,” the general interjected. ”I want to see this Treasure.”

Alka nodded. ”Of course. I was just explaining the reasoning behind my discovery. After all, I am a Treasure Hunter, am I not? It would be a shame not to share the thrill of the hunt.”

He then clapped his hands.

”Linette Vassaf.”

As Alka softly intoned the name, the surrounding Magic Power surged. This familiar sensation immediately told Jason and the others where the Treasure was hidden. As the Magic Power intensified, the general also seemed to realize something, and a Shield instantly materialized around him.

However, it wasn’t an attack.

A ripple of energy swept rapidly through the room. In an instant, everyone inside the room vanished. Only those inside the room vanished; the two soldiers guarding the entrance and the Puppet Girls Alka had left outside remained.

The moment the group vanished, the Puppet Girls stationed outside immediately scattered and fled. It was as if they had anticipated this, like they had rehearsed it. In an instant, they were gone without a trace.

The two soldiers instinctively moved to give chase, but the disappearance of the general and the others inside made them halt. For a moment, they were unsure what to do. By the time they had collected their thoughts, the Puppet Girls were nowhere to be seen.

Faced with this situation, the two soldiers exchanged a look and could only remain where they were. All they could do was begin searching the room.