CHAPTER 207: CHAPTER 152 EXHILARATING REVENGE_2

The funds required would be astronomical. Without re-collecting all these Treasures, it simply wouldn’t be enough.

"Let’s make this quick," Alka said. "We’ll collect these Treasures, catch up with the Church’s team, and then I never want to set foot in this godforsaken place again."

Upon hearing this, Chadite nodded in complete understanding.

This was their chance to wrap things up and never return to this godforsaken place.

After speaking, Alka took out a harmonica and played a summoning tune. The captivating sound drifted out over the sea.

Then Akka took out the blood-red flag he had been holding. Jack’s Treasure.

He roughly understood the function of this Treasure. Just as his father had said, it allowed those who became Touchers by means of the flag to become members of an army. The army totaled 73 individuals: 1 deputy leader, 12 Squad Leaders, and 60 members. And the Banner Holder was the captain. When others became Touchers, they would be boosted to different levels of strength based on the Banner Holder’s own power. Furthermore, they would be enhanced when operating in a group. The magnitude of this enhancement varied with the size of the group. If all 73, plus the Banner Holder, making 74, were together, the amplification would reach its peak, providing an enormous advantage in group combat. Moreover, the captain could alter various military regulations, restrict the actions of subordinate members, and establish various punishments. Violating military regulations would automatically incur punishment, the most severe being death. Furthermore, the captain could temporarily draw upon the strength of all team members, concentrating it within himself. This allowed his strength to experience a massive, instantaneous surge. However, the extraction could injure other team members, and if taken too far, could drain them of everything, converting it all into power for himself. Though called the captain, the Banner Holder was more akin to a slave master. But it had to be said, for a faction, this Treasure was far more potent than other Treasures. For Alka to obtain this Treasure was a stroke of immense luck. Logically, he shouldn’t have had ownership of this Treasure. However, the Church hadn’t pressed the issue, nor had they demanded he surrender the Treasure for equitable distribution. After all, the Church had contributed the most effort, while Alka had only played a crucial role at a critical moment. No matter how much his contribution was magnified, it wasn’t enough to justify his claim to this Treasure. If the spoils of war were divided into ten shares, this Treasure alone would be worth at least eight. Yet, the Church hadn’t pressed the matter, which meant they had done him a significant favor.

However, what Alka found strange was that his Dream Catcher seemed to somewhat reject the flag. Both Treasures were incredibly powerful, both at the [Holy Grail] level. It was precisely due to the immense power of such Treasures that Akka found himself unable to master both simultaneously. He wondered if there was any way to circumvent this issue. After all, with the Treasure Hunting System, he had an easier time finding Treasures than others. He could also acquire more Treasures than others. If he could only master one at a time, it would be a significant disadvantage for him. Perhaps he could ask Lucilia later if there was a solution. For now, he needed to focus on those Treasures and then get out of this godforsaken place.

...

Following their planned route and using a nautical chart, it took them over half a month to secure all the Treasures. They sailed out of the Realm of Pitch Darkness, the dilapidated Music Ship trailing behind them. In the final few days, they caught up with the Church’s ship.

Andre and Vanessa, now looking much better, boarded Alka’s Spell Ship.

Andre looked at the paintwork on the Spell Ship beneath his feet and the color of its sails, and couldn’t help but frown.

"This ship looks so familiar. Let me think... Isn’t this Hillks’s ship?"

"I remember their Treasure Hunting Team is called... Aika... Aika Erlanlos Treasure Hunting Team."

Upon hearing Andre’s words, Alka nodded. So that was it. So that’s what the Treasure Hunting Team was called, and he even learned the leader’s name now. He’d been using their ship for so long and only just found out.

"How did this ship come into your hands?" Andre asked.

Upon hearing this, Chadite went over to his father and recounted how they had acquired the ship.

After listening, Andre nodded. "So that’s how it was. That’s pretty good then."

Following that, Andre looked at Alka and patted his shoulder with his right hand.

"Parker Kqi was right. You truly are a natural-born Treasure Hunter. I’m very glad I decided to take you in back then."

"Right? Hahaha, I think so too," Alka replied.

"Haha, you brat," Andre laughed, shaking his head with a helpless smile. "But thank you. Really, thank you very much."

Alka just smiled and gestured for him not to dwell on it.

"Alas..." Andre sighed. He walked to the edge of the ship, gazing at the pitch-black surface of the sea and the sunlight that occasionally pierced through large rifts in the sky.

The few people behind him watched Andre’s actions and sighed helplessly. They knew what Andre was lamenting.

Andre recalled his experiences. He’d been captured and lost an arm. One moment he was being tortured and interrogated, the next he was inexplicably healed and allowed to recuperate in peace. The most absurd part was when the pirates tormenting him were killed right before his eyes. This meant that later, when new orders came to torture and interrogate him, those pirates were hesitant and didn’t dare to be too harsh.