Ren drooled uncontrollably, his hand instinctively reaching toward the gem.  

Bang!  

Morrison’s large hand pressed down on the two stones, and the gem’s radiant glow instantly vanished. He was a bit stunned but quickly recovered and calmly said, “For now, they can only be admired.”  

Everyone present was shaken to their core. These jewels were worlds apart from the ones taken from that treasury. These were truly priceless divine artifacts. There was no need to verify authenticity; just one glance would completely captivate the soul.  

These two stones were genuine, celestial objects embedded in the ancient crown of the Overlord Emperor.  

“Damn, how much could these sell for?”  

Ren was dumbfounded, his eyes shifting to the drunken and collapsed Sven. This guy had guts—he actually stole this.  

“You’re truly brain-dead,” Shadi snapped back, having come to his senses. “These are priceless treasures.”  

The rest of the group sucked in cold breaths. The Thieves’ Guild would surely hunt them to the ends of the world and into the coldest, most merciless realms.  

Li Site said, “Honestly, these two stones can’t be sold. No one dares buy them. Everyone knows they’re Thieves’ Guild goods. No one on the Western Continent’s black market would touch them. If some reckless rich lord is willing to pay an exorbitant price, fine. Otherwise, they must be kept for other uses. Sven stole more than just these—there’s one item that absolutely cannot be exposed to the light; it’s a truly rare treasure.”  

“Another heavyweight?”  

Wolman felt like he was dreaming. This isn’t even the craziest yet?  

“Damn…”  

Micah had originally thought Black Sails had reached their peak, that there would be no surprises and they could keep steady for a few more years or decades. They would have earned enough for their wives, coffins, and a life of luxury, then call it quits. By then, the political landscape of the Western Continent would have reshuffled, the danger passed, and fugitives like them wouldn’t be hunted anymore. They would finally settle down. But now, the deeper they sank, the more impossible it became to turn back.  

Archer stared at the gems and started to weep.  

“Don’t cry yet. You might not understand their value, but it’s necessary to explain briefly.”  

Fen then lifted the bag, but only a small part was exposed, revealing a corner of an unknown material—a black stele. Because of its oppressive aura, he had already started bleeding black blood from his nose. Fen muttered an incantation, and a thick gray mist appeared in his palm, flowing sinuously to envelop the black stele, partially blocking its aura.  

But even so, it felt as if millions of fierce ghosts were trapped inside, emitting agonizing howls. The oil lamps in the room flickered erratically. A chilling cold from the void crept up everyone’s backs, accompanied by an invisible, source-less wind rustling around.  

It wasn’t just Fen—everyone was somewhat affected. They pinched their brows and held their foreheads, slipping into a daze. Their ears echoed with the sharp screech of a speeding train, a maddening noise that drilled into their brains, causing dizziness and nausea.  

Shadi held onto the wall, unable to keep his eyes open.  

Wolman scratched his skin to stay alert.  

The rest of them were worse off one by one.  

Li Site, as captain, was also struggling to hold on. The thing lodged in his left hand began destabilizing, and he urged Fen to put it away quickly.  

But Li Site’s shouted words were erased as if silenced. The room fell utterly silent, with no sound at all—only the wordless howling from the distant void.  

Yet Fen had only uncovered it for two or three seconds.  

He hurriedly tied the bag, filled with seal demon stones, tightly with a rope and wiped his nosebleed away.  

No one present had yet fully reacted or seen what was in the bag—only a patch of darkness was visible.  

As that aura vanished, the hellish whispers faded like a distant memory, and everyone suddenly sobered, gasping for breath.  

Fen explained, “I’ve only seen this in the banned section of the Pedan National Library, in an old illustrated book called ‘Complete Catalogue of Ancient Era Cursed Artifacts.’ It was printed in the last few pages and left a strong impression. This is a fragment of the Underworld Stele. Legend says that if it’s fully assembled, it can open the gates to the netherworld, commanding countless vengeful spirits and all kinds of evil demons from this world’s past. It would make them invincible in battle, easily dominating the Western Continent. As for further descriptions, none exist. This is a lost artifact from the ancient era, one of the most tyrannical devices. Calling it a royal artifact wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”  

The room fell deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.  

Fen tossed both bags to Li Site, signaling that these two items now belonged to the entire Black Sails Pirate Crew. The price was that everyone had to stand with Sven against the Thieves’ Guild’s relentless and immortal pursuit.  

“I told you, three great blessings—there’s a big fish caught here, the privateering license is secured, and new strict rules are set in stone. No one can run. So what are we waiting for? Open the champagne!”  

Li Site looked at the utterly stunned group and quickly tried to liven the mood.  

“No…” Shadi hadn’t yet come to terms with it. “The Underworld Stele?”  

“Underworld Stele! Underworld Stele! Underworld Stele!”  

Ren frantically chanted, shaken though he didn’t fully understand.  

Li Site’s forehead twitched as he answered, “Yes, the Underworld Stele. At least, that’s what Fen’s broken book said.”  

“Well, anyone wanting to jump ship now will have to be killed.”  

Wolman said this, his eyes hiding a deep madness. He had thought this life would just end following Li Site in failure. But now… the vast southern wetlands, reclaiming lost lands—it might not be impossible after all.  

Ox still wore a stern expression, lost in thought.  

Micah had long accepted exile as fate and murmured, “The worst is dying violently on the street.”  

“Pfft, it’s just a lousy Thieves’ Guild and a lousy stele. I’m hungry—let’s eat.”  

Morrison spoke matter-of-factly.  

Fen saw the situation stabilize a bit and let down his guard. Fortunately, no one was dead—at least not yet.  

“Micah, go check if Sven is dead. He seems out of it.”  

Shadi said.  

Micah hurried over and checked the pulse. Sven was still kicking. “He’s fine. I’ll get some hangover soup from the pharmacy downstairs.”  

“I’ll come with you.”  

Ox said calmly.  

“Don’t you trust me?”  

Micah was speechless but vaguely guessed Ox’s thoughts—worried he might try to sneak away.  

“Better to be cautious.” Ox turned to the others and said, “Sven has already pledged allegiance, so the ship’s rules have been upheld so far. Since the captain issued new rules, they’re ironclad. If anyone slips up, don’t blame me for turning my back. If you try to run or sell information, you’ll lose your life.”  

Ox didn’t mince words.  

“It’s just a lousy Thieves’ Guild and a lousy stele,” Li Site repeated Morrison’s words. “Everyone’s united, carrying out friendship and striving for victory. We’re a passionate dream team, full of honor and knightly spirit. The rules exist, so don’t bring them up again. If you keep nagging, I’ll punish you for shaking the crew’s morale. As captain, I announce that Ox is stripped of his position as wine commander tonight because he can’t say auspicious words. I will take over as wine commander. Auspicious words! Tonight’s feast requires auspicious words!”  

Ox: “...”  

Li Site raised his cup and began telling classic Scottish drinking jokes, and the crew, led by Ren, began to go wild.  

“We are pirates, pests.”  

“Hoo...”  

“The richest gang of pirates, pests!”  

“Oh!!!”  

“Recently working for noble lords.”  

“Hoo...”  

“Straight up earning five hundred gold dragons!”  

“Oh!!!”  

“Sven didn’t swear allegiance when he first boarded.”  

“Hoo...”  

“Two months brewing a big one!”  

“Oh!!!”  

“The Thieves’ Guild wants to kill me.”  

Li Site said these words, but no one responded. This was indeed the danger they now faced.  

“I’m damn well joining Beima royal descendant!”  

“Oh oh oh!!!!!! Dun dun dun dun dun dun!”  

“Return, soul! Return, soul! The Thieves’ Guild boss Diaz comes from all directions.”  

“Hey, we haven’t toasted Lord Guan Yu yet, let’s toast him all together.”  

“Lord Guan Yu bless that damn Thieves’ Guild be wiped out.”  

“That’s not blessing, that’s cursing. You want Diaz dead?”  

“I got zero score playing the game of finding Diaz’s relatives. You should try it too.”  

Then the navigation room went wild with drunken showing off, frenzied antics, lame jokes, nearly entering full internet forum troll mode. Everyone was acting like Archer and Ren, except Fen who remained completely composed.  

“Hopeless.”  

Ox shook his head and went with Micah to get hangover soup for Sven.