Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

The water surface around him rippled and churned.

”It’s fish... there are many fish around him, and they’re all the same species,” Julia, who had already noticed something, said.

Upon hearing this, the others looked over to observe. This person gives the impression that he’s... herding fish, they thought. If he were fishing or simply trying to catch fish, his boat wouldn’t be so pristine, nor would it lack any equipment for storing them.

Alka silently put on a pair of glasses and scanned the surroundings, observing the Magic Power emanating from the old man. Not very strong, Alka mused, probably only Second Stage.

”Should we make contact?” Chadite asked softly.

Alka nodded. ”Yes, go and make contact.”

After speaking, he gently waved his hand. The pink weapon hovering in the air gradually converged, returning to his palm. At that, the group revealed their forms.

The moment they suddenly appeared, the old man in the canoe not far ahead clearly jumped in shock. ”Eh... AH!”

The narrow canoe began to tilt precariously due to his sudden, violent movements. The shock caused him to fall directly into the water. The sudden commotion startled the dense shoals of fish swimming nearby, and the entire sea surface began to churn violently as countless fish leaped from the water.

He quickly scrambled to his feet. Due to his height, only his upper body was visible above the waterline as he grabbed the long pole in his hand and waved it rapidly. The fish below immediately calmed under his ministrations. The strange garment he wore reflected a more noticeable sheen now that it was wet, water droplets sliding effortlessly down its surface. It must be some kind of waterproof material, Alka observed silently.

Only after the fish had completely calmed did he finally sigh in relief. He shifted slightly, peering out from behind his canoe at Alka and the others. ”Who are you people? How did you suddenly appear here?” he asked.

His accent was a bit odd, but Alka understood him perfectly. The language he spoke was the same one Lucilia had used before; it could be considered her mother tongue, the common language originating from the Sea of All Beings. People on their ship might not know other languages, but the common tongues of the four sea regions and the White Crocodile Language, used for inscribing secret information, were mandatory for the crew. Thus, everyone understood him when he spoke.

”Julia, go and communicate with him,” Alka instructed.

Julia nodded in acknowledgment. Since this man uses the common language of the Sea of All Beings, he must have some connection to that sea area, Julia mused. And this place is so vibrant with life; it’s impossible to believe it has no connection to it.

Wagging her fishtail, Julia swam over slowly. She kept her hands open, raising and waving them slightly to show she carried no weapons and bore no ill intent. ”We mean no harm,” she said gently. ”We just stumbled upon this area while sailing at sea and were curious enough to take a look.” Such encounters were not uncommon.

Upon hearing this, the old man seemed to believe her somewhat. He gradually let down his guard and began to stand up. The moment he was fully upright, however, his eyes widened as if he had seen something utterly horrifying. He pointed at Julia, trembling all over, his face a mask of fear. ”You... you’re human! A Merfolk!” he stammered.

As he spoke, his expression shifted from fear to anger. A maelstrom of emotions gripped him as he tightened his hold on the fishing rod-like object in his hands, pointing it at Julia. Then, as if he had made a decision, he suddenly lunged towards her.

Seeing this clearly aggressive action, the others prepared to intervene, but Alka raised a hand, halting them. ”I’ll handle this. Don’t rush,” Alka said.

With that, he leaped from their boat, landing directly beside Julia. He reached out, spreading his fingers towards the charging man. Pink mist sprouted from his fingertips, swiftly swirling around the man’s ears and head. The man’s anger and fear immediately subsided, leaving him standing there, bewildered.

Alka hastily turned to Julia. ”Quick, retract your fishtail!”

Julia nodded, and her fishtail transformed into a pair of pale, slender legs, allowing her to stand in the water.

Alka controlled the mist, making it swirl around the old man’s head as he continuously murmured into his ears, ”It’s all a dream... just a dream. Everything that just happened was false, merely a Nightmare...”

The pink mist enveloped the old man, gently guiding him back behind his canoe and returning him to his previous posture and position. Alka then swiftly returned to his original spot. He gently raised his hand, and the pink mist that had been swirling around the old man’s head immediately dissipated.

The old man’s previously bewildered eyes swiftly regained clarity. He glanced around, still somewhat confused, then unobtrusively rubbed his head as he looked at the group. He then hesitantly stood up again.

Before Julia could speak, Alka waded over from the water. ”Don’t worry,” he said, ”I’m with the Holy Mother Church.”

After saying this, he raised his right hand slightly. A faintly sacred sphere of light appeared in his palm, casting a pure white radiance. This was a rather signature, simple Spell of the Holy Mother Church. Besides dispelling minor surrounding evils, its only other significant attribute was illumination.

As this scene unfolded, the group could distinctly see the old man relax, his wariness fading. He clambered back into his small boat.

”So, you’re from the Holy Mother Church,” the old man said. ”Were you swept into the Sea of Moisture?”

”Yes,” Alka replied. ”When we encountered this area, we grew curious and decided to come take a look, to broaden our horizons a bit.”

Hearing this, the old man nodded, smiled, and waved the fishing rod in his hand. His canoe began to move slowly. ”This place isn’t very safe,” he offered. ”Come with me. I’ll take you to the village.”

The group exchanged glances. At Alka’s signal, they followed.