Chapter 60: Chapter 42: Treasure Hunter (Part 2)
"Sakamaru Saito! Report the progress of your Warrior Corps."
"Reporting to Young Master, the Northern Corps has successfully reached the North Village Fishing Port and is preparing to reach level 25 to attack the Fishman Tribe. The Western Corps encountered ogres blocking the road, which is very difficult, but fortunately, the NPC caravan from Western Fortress passes by every five hours to clear the way for us. The Southern Corps is trapped by a goblin army in the Southern Canyon, but we have the advantage of terrain defense..."
The Young Master is pleased: "Proceed steadily according to plan! Be sure to conquer these three villages!"
"Understood!"
...
April 3rd, 3 AM, game world time is 3 PM.
Chun was rowing all the way, having finished all the Stamina Potions and snacking on water and food. Finally, what was supposed to come arrived—System prompt: Congratulations! Your wisdom is outstanding, lucky blessing, Sea Soul assistance, resilience in the weakness of plague. Sailing Technique has advanced to Advanced Level 1, achievement reward: Load +1, Physical Strength +1, extra reward Spirit +1. You have received the "Three Days of Newcomer’s Discount Blessing" achievement reward: Wisdom +1.
...
After upgrading to Advanced, the boat speed increased again. However, proficiency no longer rises, which the public test veteran mentioned; evidently, the small boat limits skill growth.
Chun looked back at the Treasure Hunting Ship, but his vision was blurry, unable to see clearly, and the radar didn’t extend that far, probably shaken off.
Yet Chun dared not be complacent. The other party chased a small boat for almost three hours, which was clearly abnormal. Even if they didn’t discover Magic Gold, seeing his miraculous "Boat Technique" they would certainly feel they’ve found treasure. Would they give up so easily?
Finally, Plague Island was visible in the distance, suddenly looking more pleasing to Chun. Who would have thought it became a safe refuge?
But are treasure hunters not the kind who don’t care for their lives? Is it really safe? Is it possible they thought if a newcomer could enter and exit Plague Island and row quickly, maybe Plague Island isn’t that scary as the legends say?
Thinking of this possibility, Chun felt uneasy: "Aileen, do you think the Treasure Hunting Ship might sneak ashore while I’m not paying attention?"
Aileen was stunned: "You mean they might doubt Plague Island’s reputation? Isn’t that great, you hide in the mine, my radar in such narrow terrain is more effective, they definitely can’t touch you, either they get poisoned or die from the plague, you just picked up a big ship, maybe there are treasures on board."
No wonder she’s an Evil Spirit!
Chun also took a chance: "Okay! If they dare to come ashore, let them."
Went back to the dock, tied the boat, retracted Sea Soul, four progress bars appeared:
—System prompt: Unloading Sea Soul recovery in progress, please wait.
Holy Shit, still have to wait for it to unload?
Okay, even summoning a pet takes time.
Fortunately, the boat isn’t big, just a few seconds to finish recovery.
Then saw the water and food covered with a shabby box were still there.
Honestly, Chun would rather hope this water and food suddenly disappear, eaten by some unknown presence. This kind of empty world is really unbearably unsettling.
Taking some water and food with him, Chun returned to the blacksmith shop on the street, although during the public test there was no time to practice Forging, frequently repairing pickaxes made him a regular at the blacksmith shop, knowing how to use all kinds of tools and molds.
After cleaning and preparing a rough setup, he lit the charcoal fire, the furnace flames roared.
Chun instructed Aileen: "I’m going to smelt Magic Gold, I can’t see clearly, help me watch."
Aileen seemed clearly excited: "If necessary, let me do it!"
Alright, one must admit Magic Gold has a magical allure over women! Not to mention it’s Magic Gold. But for a newcomer practicing, spoil a little, better save two gold grains for big use after skill mastery.
As the few gold grains melted into a lump in the mold, what should come soon will come:
—System prompt: Congratulations! You smelted ultra-rare Magic Gold, successfully comprehended Basic Forging Technique Level 1, gained achievement: Load +1, Physical Strength +1, additional Spirit +1.
With smelting progress advancing, proficiency skyrocketed, skill levels jumped swiftly:
—System prompt: Congratulations!...You comprehended Basic Forging Technique Level 6...
—System prompt: Congratulations!...You comprehended Intermediate Forging Technique Level 1...Spirit +1.
—System prompt: Congratulations!...You comprehended Intermediate Forging Technique Level 2...
...
Holy Shit Holy Shit this is Magic Gold! This exaggerated level-up is second only to running directly from Intermediate to Expert!
—System prompt: Magic Gold melting complete!
Once melted, poured the gold liquid into another cooling mold, soaked the mold in the basin to cool.
Once cooled, poured out a small gold ingot, then started hammering with a small hammer, this is the huge advantage of gold—soft and highly malleable suitable for newcomers to practice.
As proficiency soared again, a ring-like-not-a-ring, circle-like-not-a-circle item was forged.
—System prompt: You forged an unequipable item, forging failed. Forging proficiency greatly improved.
Chun checked item attributes: Magic Attack +30, Mana Value +30, Weight 3.
Holy Shit, though unequipable, it can be thrown! A mining pickaxe’s physical attack is only 10 points, this little bit of Magic Gold already 30, and just a failed practice work by a novice!
If an entire Magic Gold mine... it’d definitely start a world war!
Anyway, melt it down again.
Melt-down process wildly boosted proficiency again, after repeating Intermediate Forging Technique Level 10! This momentum simply unstoppable!
No suspense, what should arrive came easily:
—System prompt: Congratulations! Your wisdom is outstanding, lucky blessing, resilience in the weakness of plague smelting rare Magic Gold, Forging Technique advanced to Advanced Level 1, achievement reward: Load +1, Physical Strength +1, extra reward Spirit +1, you received the "Three Days of Newcomer’s Discount Blessing" achievement reward: Wisdom +1.
So easy, probably no problem soaring to Expert?
Advanced Level 2!
Advanced Level 3...
Just as Chun was enthusiastically crafting, strange sounds of a crowd of crows came from the street.
Chun was suddenly startled, I’m hammering in the blacksmith shop noisily even without alarming the crows!
Aileen immediately activated Sound Wave Radar, beneath the infrared vision, a tall rounded figure resembling a mecha appeared at the dock, carrying a large tank on its back!
This clearly a fully enclosed pressure-resistant Steel Diving Suit for deep diving?
Holy Shit! Even using this to land and avoid plague! Why doesn’t he go to the moon? But this thing is more cumbersome than the heaviest heavy armor, how strong of an expert must one be to chase me wearing this? Then come chase in the mine, I’ll find a pit to bury the gold and see how badass this Treasure Hunter is finding it before air runs out!
Just as Chun grabbed the gold ready to run out the door, Aileen discovered another anomaly: "Right in the blacksmith shop! On the windowsill!"
Chun found a vague small shadow on the radar, startled throwing a fire tong over.
The small shadow swiftly jumped down, a voice sounded outside the wall: "Don’t panic, let’s talk!"
It can talk, could this be the legendary treasure hunting magical pet every Thief Guild member has? Like a remote-controlled camera dog-like existence, and this one can also go invisible, is this the high-end of Treasure Hunters?