Cherreads

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Seeking Treasure

[Captain's Safe]

[Difficulty: Skilled Diver]

[Fame: 536]

[Treasure Information: The site of the merchant ship "Fragrant Wood Tree" shipwreck.]

It had a specific name and Treasure Information. This shows I know something about this treasure. And this treasure was quite well-known.

Thinking about this, I can't help but remember...

Alka scanned through his memory and found the information he wanted. About thirty years ago, a merchant ship had sunk near the island, an event that had been quite a hot topic at the time. Back then, many sailors or fishermen who were good divers had attempted to explore the shipwreck site, trying to find any valuable items left on the merchant ship. However, they only found ordinary goods without much value. Those who still remembered it were some of the older or middle-aged people on the island. And as someone who once fancied himself a Treasure Hunter, Alka undoubtedly had some understanding of such information.

Alka looked at the name of this treasure. This means this sunken merchant ship wasn't without valuables; it's just that the valuable safe wasn't found. Moreover, the difficulty description was also very vivid.

"Skilled Diver." This directly implies what kind of person is needed to get this treasure. This could help me avoid many dangers while searching for treasure.

This golden finger is much more useful than I imagined, he couldn't help but sigh internally. The entire treasure point entry conveys valuable information. And information means opportunity, means wealth.

Although this body's swimming skills are quite good, I don't plan to go for this treasure yet. I'll deal with it after I resolve the Curse on myself. The current priority is to explore Jack's Magic Treasure and get rid of this Curse, which is like a ticking time bomb. That's what's most important.

He looked out at the already darkened sky. It's too dangerous to explore now. To prove whether this golden finger is useful, I wasted too much energy digging during the day, and now my whole body is sore. And moving around at night... the risk is too high. I need a good night's rest to regain my energy.

There are three days left. The difficulty of the blue treasure is 'Adult.' Perhaps it's not as high as the shipwreck treasure I just checked. Thinking of this, I feel much more at ease. The treasure's Level doesn't represent the difficulty of obtaining it.

Taking advantage of the remaining twilight, he washed up and lay in bed, ready to rest.

「The next day at noon.」

The summer sun hung high in the sky, radiating its astonishing heat.

Alka, carrying the Treasure Hunting Tool Bag he had found under the bed, walked towards the island's port.

Golden Wheat Island was a very typical grain-exporting island. The island's soil could grow a special kind of high-grade wheat, superior to regular wheat, called Golden Wheat. This was also the origin of the island's name. And the vast majority of farmland on the island was planted with this crop.

Alka, using his memory and the map, knew that to reach the blue treasure point, he needed to pass the port's beach and walk along the edge of the sandy shore to the island's 'waist'.

"Little Alka, going treasure hunting again?"

A rough voice sounded from the side. The speaker was a shirtless uncle selling fish.

Alka paused slightly, then remembered the man was calling him. My name is Alka now.

Turning his head to look at the rough-looking uncle, he nodded. "Yes, Uncle Chick, I have a feeling I can dig up a big treasure today."

"HAHAHA, does 'big treasure' mean a Silver Snake?"

"But a Silver Snake, for you, is indeed a big treasure, isn't it?" An old man with somewhat graying hair passed by, patted Alka's shoulder, and said with a laugh. While speaking, he didn't forget to take a swig of rum.

Alka rolled his eyes and brushed the man's hand off his shoulder.

Pretending to be annoyed, he quickly walked forward. After a few meters, he didn't forget to turn his head and shout loudly, "Ha! Just you wait! This time it'll definitely be a big treasure!"

Then he quickened his pace again, running along the main road in the middle of the town towards the port area. Behind him came the laughter of the island's residents.

This scene would play out every few days. Especially after Alka had loudly declared he'd found a Silver Coin last time, this teasing had escalated.

After putting some distance between them, Alka slowed his steps, his expression changing from slightly annoyed to calm. I was just acting. Acting as the former Alka.

The town wasn't big; a few steps plus a quick run had already brought him to the port. The port was very small. Besides some small fishing boats, only two slightly larger ships were docked there. Both were two-masted square-riggers.

Alka didn't look closely and prepared to walk directly down the adjacent slope.

"Alka?" Just then, a strong voice called out from afar.

Who is it now?

Turning his head to look, he saw a completely shirtless young man, exceptionally muscular, with slightly dark skin. When he saw Alka, he quickly walked over. Looking closer, Alka saw that numerous scars, large and small, covered his body.

"Alka, we're sending Golden Wheat to Keksi Island in a few days. Do you want to come along?" After speaking, he turned slightly and said in a hushed voice, "Mother insisted that I must bring you. You wouldn't want to make her angry, right? Besides, you used to really want to go."

Alka remembered him. This young man was Siegert Pitt, Aunt Macy's son. Usually, he went out fishing with his father. When the Golden Wheat matured, he would follow the island's fleet to escort it out to sea.

After a moment's thought, Alka nodded.

"Okay, let me know ahead of time."

Hearing Alka agree, Siegert Pitt showed a happy smile, then turned and ran off. Looking back and waving to Alka, he said, "Alright, I'll let you know then! Also, enjoy your treasure hunt this time, Treasure Hunter! HAHA!"

Alka watched him leave. Then, Alka turned and continued along the beach, walking beside the cliff face.

It seems the original Alka was really famous on this island. Almost everyone knows him quite well, and they all tease him about treasure hunting.

After a considerable amount of time, he finally reached the island's 'waist'. He threw the heavy Treasure Hunting Tool Bag aside. Sitting on a nearby rock, he took out the Treasure Hunting Manual and opened it to the map page.

The map wasn't precise. Alka looked at it; he could only rely on intuition and his memory from drawing it to determine that the treasure was roughly in this area. Although the map was sketchy, more than half of the cliff surrounding the island was simply outlined. The surrounding beach was also briefly drawn with a few strokes. The blue dot's position was near the cliff with a beach. Further on, there was no beach, only a sheer sea cliff.

This treasure's difficulty is just 'Adult'; the previous excavation's difficulty was 'Juvenile.' The marked spot is by the cliff again.

He couldn't help but look at the map and begin to deduce in his mind. He looked at the surrounding situation.

There are probably only two possibilities: either it's buried in the ground, or it's in some cave.

Thinking of this, he prepared to start searching.

I'm already prepared. If I can't find it today, I'll meticulously record the surrounding terrain. Then I'll just draw this area, relying on the simple techniques in my mind to create a more detailed map. I hope it's useful.

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