Pirate Kingship

A startling transformation ended in the blink of an eye.

Several scouts who heard the screams rushed over from different directions in the jungle, only to find nothing after a look around.

They retreated back into the rainforest, warily watching each other.

The bloody, horrific scene before them made Byron and Violet exchange a glance, both involuntarily shuddering.

Silver devours humans!

This was the power of the rules. Once violated, even High Sequence Supernatural Beings struggled to resist.

"The truth of Rule Two, 'blood turned into gold,' was beyond doubt."

It wasn't blood changing into liquid gold. Rather, the raw material for that Alchemy of Transmutation... had to be human flesh and blood!

Most treasure hunters, lured by fame to seek the Great Pirates' treasure, had become or were about to become part of the island's bounty.

As time passed, the more people were left on Silvergold Island, the more abundant its gold and silver treasures naturally became.

There was a conjecture that Byron kept to himself.

Ever since he realized there was an alchemy on the island capable of turning blood into gold, he'd felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu. That familiar feeling didn't come from anything else. It was precisely from the 'Blood of Transformation' he held in his hand—also crafted from humans, beings filled with infinite potential. It also signified transformation, the renewal of life, symbolizing the one constant in this world: 'change' itself.

Long before he'd formally pledged allegiance to the Swarm, this senior Black Witch of the Bloodthirsty Cult had told everyone: "The ultimate form of the 'Blood of Transformation' is the red elixir capable of granting immortality—Azoth, the Universal Remedy."

Considering the island's delicacies, fine wines, gold, and silver—all of which had also come into being through material changes—Byron had good reason to suspect that the forbidden knowledge Silvergold Island relied upon for its existence was very likely a variant branch of the 'Blood of Transformation,' one more inclined toward material transformations. If described using the knowledge system of Violet, the Artisan, it might be called the celestial stone, the Philosopher's Stone, the raw material for gold and silver, or even... the Stone of the Wise!

With this thought, Byron's Decryption Rate for the mystery of the growing wealth increased from 45% to 58%.

The Decryption Rate had finally surpassed the halfway mark.

Violet, who shared all intelligence with Byron, considered another aspect, speculating carefully, "Looking at the island's geography, it's clear that this island has theoretically existed for quite some time. It only became widely known and earned the name Silvergold Island after the Great Pirate Flint's treasure map emerged and fell into the hands of various powers. Many outsiders came for the pirate's treasure, only to be bewitched and consumed by this sinister island. Moreover, consider the strange behavior of the parrot claiming to be First Mate Thomas. There's likely much more to this place than just a natural safe utilized by a Great Pirate."

Her reminder made Byron realize this was indeed the case.

Great Pirate Flint might have stored his treasure on Silvergold Island, gaining nothing more than a highly secure vault. However, he himself had to abide by the same rules every time he landed on the island. A single slip-up could easily result in his death on this island. Such a death, comparable to that in a ridiculous tale where a tycoon wakes up on an 800-meter bed, gets lost in his walk-in closet, and starves to death in his own vault, would be quite laughable.

There are those who take on beheading deals, but no one goes for something where the risk outweighs the benefits.

Conversely, this Secret Realm could leverage a continuous flow of outsiders to steadily produce 'Philosopher's Stones' of incalculable worth.

Especially as Andrew Lancaster's journal had particularly emphasized: Whenever cicadas chirped from the outside world, Silvergold Island would appear. When cicadas on the island began their chorus, an irresistible crisis would descend.

Byron continued, "If you look at it from another angle and stop seeing Silvergold Island as a pirate's treasure, many things seem to make sense. It's said that once the seven rainbow lights dissipate, the island will submerge again. An experienced adventurer would never make such a rookie mistake as to stay beyond the boundary point. They would have to evacuate by the time the third rainbow light faded, at the latest. The march back, laden with goods, couldn't possibly be faster than the journey there. This means it's very likely the 'cicada's chirping' and the crisis it heralds will arrive before the scheduled submersion time. The safety line adventurers believed in might never have existed from the beginning. This whole process is like a meticulously planned con game, using the 'pig feed'—the pirate's treasure—as bait!"

But even after discovering the anomaly beneath the surface, they both had reasons they couldn't possibly retreat.

They just became more cautious as they continued forward.

After dealing with several waves of various monsters, the sun on the horizon began to set.

As the sun set, the two finally burst out of the outermost tropical rainforest and onto a vast field.

Violet said, "Bizarre creatures become especially active at night. Let's camp here tonight. I'll prepare the shelter."

Byron replied, "Alright, I'll prepare dinner and hot water."

They weren't yet Transcendents who had completed the second forbidden ritual, so they couldn't entirely abandon human physiological needs. They could go a night or two without sleep, but not for long, especially in such a dangerous place where a simple nap could cost them their lives.

Violet approached three tall trees at the edge of the forest. An Alchemy Array at her feet flashed with electric light.

With a loud bang, the top halves of the three tall trees instantaneously twisted into the shape of a treehouse. It had a living room, bedroom, and washroom—all fully equipped.

The plan was a shared bedroom, one person keeping watch while the other rested. Transcendents focused on spiritual power needed only a few hours of sleep to fully recover their energy.

As for the other team members, they had all drunk Byron's Blood Brew, 'Slumber Fantasia,' and fallen into a state of deep sleep. Its ingredients were 5ml of Blood of Transformation, 50ml of Vodka, 10ml of Cherry Brandy, 10ml of Orange Liqueur, and 20ml of Grapefruit Juice. In this deep sleep, their consumption would be reduced to a minimum, with only a 5% decline in physical stamina over a week. They would only awaken when stimulated by an external force.

Since it was still uncertain what they would face inside the treasure cave, they had to conserve resources as much as possible. This would ensure they had sufficient carrying capacity later, so they wouldn't regret being unable to take any loot.

They gathered the rations carried by the fifty-plus people for themselves; it would be more than enough to last them a month. The Miracle 'Warrior's Cup' would solve their drinking water problem, as basic survival wasn't a challenge for them.

Violet looked at her creation with satisfaction, nodding in approval. She was just about to call Byron to rest when she heard him calling out to her, "Miss, come take a look! The gold-digging rodents have found something new."

As Violet turned her head, the sun had just completely set. However, not far away in the field, a forest bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, radiating a brilliant golden light.

It was a large... golden apple orchard!

At the same time, First Mate Thomas, the parrot who had flown across half the island, finally arrived above them. Gasping for breath, he clung to a leaf and observed them carefully.