"Stop! Don't eat!" Byron hurriedly stopped Gus's action.
The ruby crab Alfred had eaten was at least a natural product, but the provenance of this walking roast suckling pig was rather dubious. They hadn't even considered what the raw materials behind these magical foods might be, let alone whether consuming them would leave psychological scars. The mere act of squandering their limited carrying capacity on food was certainly an unfavorable trade-off.
"We can't take anything from the island on our return journey that exceeds the total weight of our own flesh and blood, including food and water?" Upon hearing the rule Byron had just deciphered, the group exchanged perplexed looks.
Gus still had his mouth open wide, but the roasted suckling pig had quietly slipped to the ground. The moment the pig touched the ground, it came to life once more, happily wagging its tail as it scurried into the forest in search of another diner.
Although not as deadly as certain bizarre entities, these magical foods seduced the island's adventurers with their intoxicating aromas and tastes. Who would refuse such deliciousness presented on a platter if unaware of the rules? It was like passing a tantalizing barbecue stand during a night run—utterly irresistible! Unwittingly, the hard-earned results of their training could vanish into thin air!
A quick calculation revealed that they had to stay on the island for at least 15 days. To maintain combat readiness, the Marines' essential daily food and water consumption was six pounds, amounting to 90 pounds over 15 days. This band of elite soldiers, averaging 190 centimeters in height and 90 kilograms in weight, would lose half their carrying capacity just to sustain basic survival. Just a little greed, an extra gold piece or two, would certainly cost them their lives on this island.
Now they finally understood why Rule Two mentioned the need to be selective with their gains.
Someone like Violet, petite and delicate, barely tipped the scales at over 50 kilograms. Even without eating or drinking on the island, her maximum load would be about the same as a gold brick. Jacqueline, though taller than Violet and nearing the stature of the tall and athletic Catherine, was so slender that their weights were not significantly different. Even if they carried nothing but the most valuable gold bricks, they would ultimately end up with nothing but loneliness.
One only needed to think of the "low battery" alert to understand the severity of their weight-related anxiety.
The vast numbers of silver coins littering the ground, of low value yet not light in weight, lost all allure for everyone.
Having understood the cause and effect, Violet couldn't help but say comfortingly to Byron, "Fortunately, we didn't go it alone this time. With 58 of us, the total carrying capacity is rather substantial. If we focus on treasures with greater added value to bring back, it wouldn't be a loss."
Byron waved his hand, indicating he wasn't disappointed. "Our primary goal for this Silvergold Island expedition was never its treasures. It's the 882 Aztec's Cursed Coins and the secrets about your father held by [Blue Hair] Barbarossa Halding. Bringing back some gold and silver would be great, but it's not a big deal if we can't. Besides, have you ever heard of the Alchemy of Transmutation?"
Hearing this news, even more explosive than a fairy tale, everyone was astonished. "The Alchemy of Transmutation?!!"
Violet's eyes shone brightly. As a Third Order Artisan specializing in Alchemy—the transmutation of matter and energy—how could she not have heard of a miracle that stood at the pinnacle of alchemy?
"The fundamental principle of alchemy is 'equivalent exchange.'
"Any transformation from base metal to precious metal requires an additional price.
"Transmuting base metals into gold, creation ex nihilo, and the synthesis of life are three shining pearls of alchemy.
"Are you saying this technology exists on Silvergold Island?"
Byron didn't elaborate further, instead picking up a few silver coins from the ground and handing them to her.
A flash from the alchemy array in her palm was instantaneous, and Violet immediately realized that, apart from pure silver, the coins contained no other impurities.
Her face quickly filled with surprise, which then turned to solemnity.
"In the past few appearances of Silvergold Island, few have had the chance to set foot on it. Even if a handful of explorers discovered this secret, they might have chosen not to disclose it for selfish reasons.
"Ultimately, the secret was buried anew with them on this island.
"But this time is different. Silvergold Island has emerged within the lawless Bantaan Archipelago, and even great figures like the Governor of Havana and the Vice-King of Barbary have personally landed.
"This secret will undoubtedly be impossible to keep.
"No matter what anyone gains this time, by the next appearance of Silvergold Island, even the exalted Fifth-order Legends might fight fiercely to get aboard.
"If the Alchemy of Transmutation could be acquired, the power dynamics among the major forces could undergo a cataclysmic shift."
The implication was clear: if they wanted to acquire the Alchemy of Transmutation, this was the only chance for minor powers like them.
The members of the expedition team couldn't help but breathe heavily, their eyes reddening.
"Since that's the case, we'll prepare for both possibilities," Byron said. "We need to both increase revenues and cut expenses, reduce consumption. Everyone first come to the 'territory' within my colonization decree. Use our own provisions, and I'll call you out when it's time to fight." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NovєlFіre.net
Byron tossed an ancient parchment-like colonization decree above his head. A golden divine light spilled down, and everyone in the expedition team instantly vanished, save for Violet, the strongest among them. They had all been collectively transferred into another space adjacent to the real world.
It connected to the Golden Law's [Holy Relic: The First Overseas Colonization Decree of the Great Voyage Era]:
Effect: As far as the eye can see, all men are enemies.
Ability One: Where one stands becomes the Kingdom's territory.
It can construct a mobile, invisible "national boundary" to channel the Golden Law, using it to grant various buffs to soldiers within the national territory: stealth, swift marching, holding the line...
Considering the current strength of the Golden Law is far inferior to that of the Kingdom of Castilia's Oxen City Codex, hoping for overly extravagant enhancements isn't realistic. However, Cortes was originally able to conceal an attack by tens of thousands to ambush the Aztec Royal City, and now they had fewer than one hundred people. Their limited power, when concentrated, would be even more effective than it was in Cortes's hands.
It was like putting the team into his pocket; mobility was maxed out.
Byron then picked up the Gold-digging Mouse by its tail from a pile of silver coins and shook it, causing all the silver coins in its mouth to spill out.
Although he was unsure if a mouse would also be subject to the rules, he was unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
The Gold-digging Mouse is an extremely precious Extraordinary Creature that can instinctively avoid various traps and arrays, and find the most valuable treasures nearby. It is also a coveted contract creature for professions such as Treasure Hunter and Beast Tamer.
In his hands, it was like casting pearls before swine. If there were a Beast Tamer in the team, he would want to immediately dissolve the blood pact and give the mouse away.
"Not only does it eat eight meals a day—more than a pig—but it has also secretly hoarded several stashes of food. The crucial point is that it never works to earn its keep! How intolerable is this? Such a salary thief should be sent straight to a sweatshop to work until the end of time! However, I already have a candidate in mind, one who can play multiple roles and make full use of its abilities. It just depends on the casualties from this Barbary Pirates engagement."
Byron let the Gold-digging Mouse lead the way.
He took Violet's hand, and his [Child of the Storm] ability instantly canceled their gravity. The two of them vanished like wisps of smoke into the jungle.
His current carrying limit with this ability was two people. Once he advanced to Third Order [Storm Admiral], he wouldn't just be able to grant a small squad a haste aura; even summoning Storm Elves to speed up an entire fleet would be no problem at all.
Behind them, the various major powers who were a step late were also landing on the island. Almost all chose to land on shores unoccupied by others. Fools who defied all reason were, after all, few and far between. They came for wealth, and if conflicts with others could be avoided, they preferred it that way.
The Barbary Pirates, with the imposing [Blue Hair] leading the way, naturally took the lead with their two ships. Having already bribed the Gold-devouring Ants, they had ventured deep into the jungle.
[Fat Dragon], an extension of Byron's will, looked at the fiery-red [Octopus Warrior] and Second Order Beast Tamer beside him. He was short and chubby, his entire upper body having transformed into that of an octopus. This was a [Beast Spirit Warrior] whose witchcraft had gone awry. He could no longer return to human form but had, in turn, acquired the abilities [Ultra-fast Regeneration] and [Environmental Camouflage].
"Little Eight, I'm going to have to rely on you from now on. SLURP."
In the eyes of [Fat Dragon], who already knew the fourth rule, all of Octopus Man Little Eight's other abilities were secondary. The singular [Ultra-fast Regeneration] ability meant he was nothing short of the perfect... food reserve!
At that moment, countless golden eggs, taller than a man, suddenly sprouted all around the Barbary Pirates' team, encircling them completely.
Above their heads, a red macaw silently appeared. Observing the scene with a glint of human-like intelligence, it shook its head and spoke in human words: "Every morning, when the sunlight shines, countless eggs appear in the fields and on the grass, so many that no one has ever thought of selling them for money..."
It was a scene straight out of that fairy tale.
[Fat Dragon] (Byron) turned abruptly. This parrot was exactly the same as the one described in Andrew Lancaster's sailing logbook.