CHAPTER 240: CHAPTER 163: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS_2

The others fell silent at his words. It seemed there was truly no other way.

Just a moment ago, they had considered cutting down the surrounding trees for firewood to melt the ice blocks.

But honestly, there weren’t many trees around, and the islanders needed them as well.

Moreover, these trees were alive and cold-resistant. To burn them, they would first need to be dried, which would take a considerable amount of time.

And the sheer volume they required would definitely disrupt the local ecosystem.

Alka sat by the pit, his gaze casually drifting into the distance. He noticed a few tribal children hiding in the snow, watching them. To these children, Alka and his companions were fascinatingly strange outsiders. As Alka observed the children, an idea sparked in his mind.

"I’ve got an idea!" he exclaimed.

"I’ve got an idea," Lucilia, on his shoulder, echoed at the same instant.

Hearing them suddenly speak up, the others turned their gazes toward them.

Lucilia, perched on his shoulder, patted Alka’s face. "You go first," she said.

Alka didn’t hesitate. Nodding, he said, "Why must we excavate this cave by ourselves? Aren’t there residents from hundreds of tribes on this island? We could enlist their help."

As he spoke, a Silver Snake materialized on the back of his hand, rolling back and forth.

"And all we need to do is offer some compensation."

Hearing Alka’s words, everyone’s eyes lit up.

"Wouldn’t that expose us?" Pororo crossed his arms, frowning as he spoke. He believed their operation to excavate the Treasure should be kept secret.

Hearing Pororo’s concern, the others looked at him.

Jason couldn’t help but interject, "With the commotion we just made, it’s already impossible to hide it from the islanders."

They had been digging pits and trying to excavate the mountainside. Either task took a long time, making it impossible to keep their actions secret from the islanders.

It was an operation bound to be exposed. Besides, almost every ten years, a new group with similar intentions arrived here. Many had even questioned the islanders for information over the past few centuries. Alka found it impossible to believe the islanders knew nothing after all this time.

However, no one would have guessed they were searching for the Treasure buried beneath the island’s center.

Hearing this, Pororo nodded in sudden understanding. Ah, so that’s how it is.

"This approach is certainly feasible, and the compensation is well within our means."

Honestly, hiring the islanders wouldn’t cost much. Besides, these tribes weren’t isolated; they still sailed from the Famine and Cold Triangle Zone to trade with the outside world.

They had boats too; it was just that no merchants were willing to travel to them. The population was too sparse, and resources weren’t abundant.

At this, Alka nudged his shoulder slightly. "And you?" he asked Lucilia.

My idea was pretty much the same—getting others to help, Lucilia thought. Initially, I considered directly informing the Archbishop, since the Treasure’s location is already confirmed. Finding the Treasure itself doesn’t make much difference; the Pope can worry about clearing the ice blocks. The only downside is the reward might be reduced. But after hearing Alka’s plan, I think it’s worth a try. After all, waiting for the Archbishop to receive the news and then hurry over to help would take several months.

Since everyone agreed, Alka nodded. He turned to Jason and said, "I’ll leave the negotiations to you. Alright?"

Hearing Alka’s request, Jason adjusted his furry hat and gave a thumbs-up. "No problem," he assured him.

With that, he walked directly toward where the children had been hiding, intending to have them lead him to their tribe.

The others remained, waiting where they were.

About an hour later, Jason returned, accompanied by several tribal inhabitants.

Leading them was an elder adorned with ivory ornaments, leaning on a massive wooden Scepter. His left leg seemed impaired, and a young man supported him.

Jason walked over and shrugged. "We had agreed on a price," he said, "but he insisted on speaking with you first."

The approaching elder waved his hand, motioning for the young man supporting him to wait by the side. He then hobbled over, leaning on his Scepter.

As he moved, the ornaments on the Scepter jingled with a crisp, clear sound.

The moment he arrived, he fixed his gaze on Alka. He sniffed twice, his nostrils flaring distinctly, and then said to Alka, "You’re a resident of Home Island?"

Hearing this, Alka squinted slightly. This old man is clearly no ordinary person, he thought. He must be some kind of seer. Chadite and the others beside him looked wary.

"Don’t be alarmed," the elder said. "In my youth, I interacted with many Home Island inhabitants; it’s easy to recognize them."

Saying so, he unsteadily made his way to a nearby pile of dirt and sat down.

He extended a withered hand and tapped his knees. "You want to hire our people to help you excavate this ice mountain," the elder stated. "This means you’ve found the source of the cold, correct?"

"No need to be surprised. This place has been frozen for 824 years. Almost every decade, the Church sends a team to search for the cause."