CHAPTER 489: CHAPTER 246 ENCIRCLEMENT_2

The Magic Power in everyone was boiling and agitated, making it easy to sense their strength through its overt display. Most were between 2-5 Spirals, with just a few at 6 Spirals.

Silently, Alka walked down from the lookout room and returned to the dining hall.

"How is it?"

"An unfamiliar ship, with about 70 crew members aboard," Alka reported. "Their leaders are unclear, but most of them are at the Second Stage, their Magic Power conspicuously visible."

Alka shared this information with everyone. He knew these people were not to be trifled with.

"What’s the plan now?" Chadite asked, looking at him.

Since they had just decided to stay on the Island for a year, they needed to figure out how to avoid contact with these outsiders.

After pondering for a moment, Alka said, "At night, the only safe place on the Island is around the town. Alternatively, we should return to sea and avoid setting foot on the Island at night.

"So today, during daylight, we’ll circle the Island and mark all possible docking spots. Using these marks, we’ll plan our route for excavating the ruins."

Alka then explained his plan.

He stopped hiding the map, took it out, and spread a thin sheet of paper from Chadite over it. Picking up a pen, he began marking various points on it.

"These are places I’ve investigated that might hold Treasure," Alka explained. "The ruins at these locations are what we’ll excavate, so we’ll plan our routes based on them."

Jason tilted his head to look at the marks and couldn’t help but exclaim, "By the Holy Mother, are there really that many on this Island?"

Alka had densely marked countless spots on it, leaving everyone somewhat astonished.

"Yes. I can’t guarantee every single one, but it’s likely eight or nine out of ten," Alka replied.

"What kind of treasure-finding construct is this?"

"This is unbelievable! Why doesn’t the Holy Mother show me such favor?"

They had completely underestimated the Island’s Treasures. It was no wonder Alka was willing to stay here and enhance his strength. Doing so was truly killing two birds with one stone.

Various exclamations and comments filled the air, but they all signified agreement with Alka’s plan.

Steering the Sound of Dawn, they began navigating around the Island’s perimeter at maximum speed, recording every potential docking site and safe anchoring point.

Indeed, surveying the Island from a map and experiencing it by sailing around its entirety were completely different. By personally circumnavigating it, they discovered that many spots that had seemed suitable on the map were actually riddled with hidden reefs below.

This discovery led them to abandon many docking spots previously considered viable. However, after circling the entire Island, they eventually found a few good locations.

They then began connecting the Treasure locations Alka had marked, strategically planning their approach for each area to secure these Treasures with maximum efficiency.

"Here’s the problem," Simon said, staring at the map. "How can we ensure we won’t encounter those strangers while excavating?"

Hearing this, Alka smiled. "Don’t worry," he replied, "I have a way."

"Right, our first stop is here." Alka drew a small cross on a golden-marked spot on the map. "I have a hunch there’s a big Treasure here."

"A big Treasure?" Chadite asked, turning her head towards him, her expression a mix of surprise and delight.

For Alka, something he deemed a "big Treasure" was essentially guaranteed to be a significant find.

Alka understood her unspoken question and nodded, confirming her thoughts.

***

By the next day, they had anchored the Sound of Dawn at a spot on the northeastern corner of the Island—if such a cardinal direction could be definitively assigned there. This location was the closest anchoring point to the golden-marked spot.

"All set? Let’s head out," Alka declared. With preparations complete, he led the group towards the golden spot.

Soon, they stepped into the vicinity of the marked area.

Chadite quietly remarked, "Looks like we’re surrounded."

As her words fell, giant, brown-furred wolves emerged one after another from the bushes. They resembled normal wolves but were much larger, and their fur seemed to shine with an oily luster.

Over twenty of these giant wolves emerged, materializing from the surrounding undergrowth and from right in front of them, completely encircling the group. They had clearly been marked as prey.

The ruins of the Great Temple, where the Golden Treasure was supposedly hidden, were less than 800 meters away.

"They seem capable of evading my detection," Chadite said. "Even now, standing right before us, they don’t show up on my scans."

That explained why she hadn’t warned them sooner. This pack of wolves was also remarkably patient. They had likely smelled the group’s approach and set an ambush along their anticipated route; otherwise, the group wouldn’t have walked right into the encirclement before realizing the wolves’ presence.

Evidently, these giant wolves were the Second Stage Hunters, and the group had just intruded upon their territory.

Listening to Chadite, Akka smiled.

This indicated that the wolves possessed some material that could evade detection and conceal their forms—materials Alka had long coveted.

"Don’t anyone make a move," Simon suddenly said. "Let me try." He was eager to test the new constructs he had just acquired.