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 cemetery and the Stone Mother’s statue.
Right at the cemetery’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 moments 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 handsome, 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 immediately 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 me, why did you call me here? What could you possibly need my help with?"
Hearing this, Parish looked at him and spoke slowly, "I want you to help me train a child and let him join your Treasure Hunting Team."
"Huh?" The man was somewhat 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 Home Island too. You must understand, my work isn’t fun and games. 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 treatment 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 plume 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 some 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 Home 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?"
"Interesting. But that treasure should be enough for him to live worry-free for a lifetime, shouldn’t it?"
Hearing this, Parker Kqi shook his head. "The treasure was snatched by someone else before he got there; he didn’t get anything." After saying this, he hesitated for a moment, 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 come of age, interested in treasure hunting, and actually capable of finding something. Most importantly, he’s tasted wondrous power. Endless wealth and wondrous power... how alluring."
Parker Kqi nodded in agreement. 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 name?" Andre asked, his interest growing.
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’."
"That’s the real reason you want me to take him, isn’t it?" Andre continued. "No one is more suitable than me. Alright, don’t look so glum. It’s rare for us to get together. Come on, let’s have a few drinks."
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 metal sheets, shimmering 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 performed a gentlemanly bow, adjusting his top hat.
"My apologies for the display."
Just then, Siegert’s voice came from outside the courtyard.
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 moment, 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 metal 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 metal 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 met his requirements.
"Did you rush over for something?"
"Oh, right, right! Listen to this," Siegert suddenly remembered 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 men mentioned that an unfamiliar middle-aged man in strange clothes went to the cemetery. 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 excitement.
An unfamiliar, expensive ship... a strange man heading to the cemetery... Could it be that the Treasure Hunting Team Parker Kqi mentioned has arrived?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Priest Parker Kqi’s voice came from outside the courtyard.