When Alka reached out to touch it, he felt a strong repulsive force, and the Treasure [Mirror Surface] he carried also reacted with repulsion. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
Sensing this repulsive effect, Alka’s eyes widened.
Could this really be a Treasure?
He stood up, feeling slightly dazed.
Could this thing be the missing Treasure?
"What is that?" Jason asked, squatting down.
Everyone looked over. That object had to be the high-energy item Julia mentioned; everyone could feel the Magic Power it was currently emitting.
"That is... a Treasure."
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes widened. They turned to look at Alka, then swiveled their gazes back to the object.
"Again, another Treasure?" Jason was incredulous and pinched his own arm.
Julia, standing nearby and observing the Treasure, quietly asked, "Are Treasures... really so common?"
Alka wasn’t particularly surprised. He simply hadn’t expected that a Treasure he had already given up on finding would appear here.
Judging by the intensity of the repulsion he’d just felt, the Treasure was already under someone’s control. This meant it belonged to Simon, the armless man before them. Moreover, the fact that no new light spot had appeared on the map further confirmed this. It existed, yet it wasn’t marked as a hidden treasure; this indicated it already had an owner.
Seeing their surprised and disbelieving expressions, Alka explained, "It’s normal for this Treasure to be here. In the Dream Realm, I communicated with this man. These two ships were previously at war."
"The leaders of both sides possessed a Treasure. Since both leaders died, their Treasures naturally remained. However, he claimed he wasn’t the leader—a fact I confirmed based on the earlier battles. So, why did this Treasure end up with him?"
Everyone shook their heads; no one could offer an explanation.
However, a choice now lay before them. Everyone present fell silent, as they all understood the implication.
Chadite opened his mouth and asked, "So, what should we do?" As he spoke, he turned to look at Alka.
At this question, everyone turned to Alka, observing him as he pondered. The decision now rested with him. It was bound to be a difficult one, and everyone was eager to see what choice he would make and what it might reveal.
Alka looked at the man frozen in Stagnation before him and shook his head. "This Treasure is his; it doesn’t belong to us. Let’s save him."
As Alka finished speaking, Julia smiled faintly, Chadite nodded, and Jason, touching the egg on his back, also broke into a smile. Pororo hadn’t thought that far ahead. Lucilia was already squatting beside the man, examining something.
But regardless of their outward expressions, everyone inwardly felt a sense of relief.
None of those present could be called truly "good" people, but they wouldn’t deliberately commit evil either. They hadn’t come together purely for profit.
For a Treasure Hunting Team, mutual trust among members was paramount, especially since they faced far greater temptations than other groups. They were constantly battling the allure of wealth, power, and countless other temptations. Having a leader who could resist the temptation of Treasures was an undeniable boon for them. That Alka could resist a Treasure’s allure to keep a promise to a near-stranger meant he was even less likely to betray the trust of his familiar companions. At that moment, the team’s cohesion strengthened.
Alka felt little regret about making such a decision.
This is just a Treasure, he mused. Its allure isn’t strong enough to make me abandon my principles.
He was certainly qualified to feel that way.
After all, it’s just one Treasure. And it’s the sixth I’ve handled personally. Hmph, nothing so extraordinary.
Lucilia, after studying him for some time, said, "How do we save him in this state? If the Spell effect around him is canceled, his current condition will deteriorate rapidly without immediate treatment, and he could easily die." Afterward, her attention became completely focused on the gray, transparent membrane enveloping the man. She had never encountered such a Spell effect in her readings and was intensely curious.
Alka observed the man’s condition. If the Stagnation effect were canceled, the massive wounds on his arms would undoubtedly gush blood. Furthermore, the man was emaciated, his bones pressing against his skin—a clear sign of extreme starvation. With such severe injuries and in his current state, it would be incredibly difficult for him to survive if released from Stagnation. The Stagnation was his last protective layer.
Moreover, their ship lacked a professional doctor. With this in mind, Alka turned to Julia.
Meeting Alka’s gaze, Julia nodded and said, "I can help stop the bleeding from the stumps of his arms, and any other wounds he might have. However, he’s extremely weak right now. Simply stopping the bleeding won’t save his life. Healing his wounds and ensuring his survival aren’t achievable in his current debilitated state."