Chapter 617 - 527: Dividing the Spoils

Chapter 617: Chapter 527: Dividing the Spoils

He paused for a moment, recalling Holland’s earlier description of that stretch of sea as looking like "boiling toad soup," and added.

"It’s truly dangerous there. The Chaos is far worse than in Gray Rock City. You don’t have to follow me into danger."

"Hey! What’re you talking about, man!"

Holland immediately shook his head vigorously. His usual playful smirk faded, and his brown eyes showed a rare seriousness.

"We’re members of the Dawn Embers now! You’re the leader. Wherever you decide to go, we go! Since you think there’s something for us in the Broken Star Sea, then let’s go check it out! So what if it’s a little chaotic? Have we had a single day on this journey where we *weren’t* neck-deep in Chaos?"

He thumped his chest, his tone carrying the devil-may-care attitude of someone who’d clawed his way up from the bottom.

"Besides, our newly formed crew needs a proper ’adventure’ to make a name for itself! And what better way than cracking a tough nut like the Broken Star Sea?"

As he spoke, he deliberately turned to look at Ellis, who was still sipping water, his complexion having eased slightly. Holland raised an eyebrow.

"Right, Master Mage? We’re all in the same boat now."

Ellis had just lowered his waterskin, wiping the drops from his chin with the back of his hand.

He was truly exhausted, not even mustering the energy to bicker with Holland.

So when he heard the question, he just lifted his gray-blue eyes, glanced first at the calm-faced Roland, then at Holland, whose expression screamed ’I’m waiting for your answer’. Finally, he gave a small but distinct nod, his voice still a little hoarse.

"...I’ll follow the leader’s decision. I’ve already... given my word."

The words were as much a response to Holland as they were a reaffirmation of his own stance.

’Since I’ve joined, there’s no backing out halfway. At least, that’s how it works in my logic concerning ’promises’.’

Roland looked at the two of them, a complex emotion stirring within him.

He really didn’t want to drag these two new companions, whose potential was still unknown, into a perilous land that even Holland feared.

He tried again to dissuade them, earnestly explaining the dangers and unpredictability of the Broken Star Sea. He suggested they could operate out of the relatively safe Gray Rock City first, and wait until he’d scouted things out before deciding.

However, Holland just grinned and invoked "team honor" and the "leader’s authority," while Ellis silently persisted with his "argument of responsibility."

Though their methods of expression were vastly different, their "we’re-in-this-with-you" attitude was surprisingly identical.

Seeing that his persuasion was having no effect, Roland didn’t insist any further.

He had a decisive side to his personality. Since his companions had made their choice, he would respect it.

"In that case, we’ll go and see it together."

He finally nodded, officially setting their course.

Next, it was time to sort through the loot.

The items plundered from those "big shots" were mostly glittering gold coins and various magnificent pieces of jewelry that might carry troublesome insignia.

Roland had little interest in money or material possessions, so he simply handed everything over to Holland, making the former Priest responsible for safekeeping, exchanges, and covering any necessary expenses.

Holland happily accepted the job of "Financial Officer," his eyes gleaming as he began to take inventory.

The only things that earned a second look from Roland were a thick leather notebook fastened with a silver clasp, and a flat metal box taken from the goblin Grom that couldn’t be opened.

The notebook’s leather cover was tough to the touch and bore the marks of age. The silver lock’s mechanism was intricate, clearly an extraordinary item.

The metal box was even more mysterious. It was smooth and had no visible lock, with only a recessed insignia in the center hinting at its extraordinary nature.

However, when Roland tried to examine them or cautiously test their structure with brute force, both items emanated distinct and complex fluctuations of a Magic Restriction.

They had clearly been placed under a sophisticated protection. Forcing them open would not only risk destroying the contents but could also trigger unknown countermeasures.

Roland knew his own limits when it came to the principles of Magic and how to break enchantments.

His proficiency with Magic stemmed more from Duadeng’s cram-style, combat-focused teaching and limited book knowledge; he could cast a few spells he had learned.

But his theoretical foundation and practical experience were both quite shallow, let alone sufficient to break a Magic Restriction that was so obviously and carefully crafted.

After a moment of thought, he handed both the notebook and the metal box to Ellis, who had recovered his breath.

"I can’t make heads or tails of the Magic Restrictions on these two items."

Roland admitted frankly.

"You’re from a Spell Academy, so you should be more capable in this area. See if you can open them safely, or at least determine their value and potential uses."

Ellis took the two items, a little surprised. His fingers unconsciously stroked the notebook’s cold silver lock and the box’s smooth surface. His voice had returned to its usual clarity.

"I will do my best to analyze them, Mr. Rudolph."

After dealing with that windfall, Roland’s gaze fell to the relatively plain leather pouch at his waist.

Inside were the cold Scroll that sealed the three Heartstealer corpses, as well as the "gifts" of various forms that the Plundering Trait had stripped from the three High Tier Heartstealers during the recent battle.

A phantom-blue Spiritual Energy Crystal, a dark-purple Natural Spiritual Short Spike, and...

...that most mysterious item of all: the Obsidian Thin Slice, within which swirled a nebula-like, silvery luminescence.