"We've already waited a day and still seen nothing."

Across from the serpent-man stood a young man in cloth garments. Facing the Overlord serpent before him, he said, "It should be real. Though that treasure map passed down from the Kong Emperor era has been destroyed, the pirate factions that fought over it at the time all clearly determined that the site of the treasure ruins was right here."

"And the timing for the ruins' opening recorded on it is also very soon."

"Most importantly, the rumors say the Pirate King did indeed die here."

"I'll believe you this once." The Overlord-level serpent-man picked up a piece of fruit beside him, opened his mouth wide, and with a gulp swallowed it whole.

Elsewhere, a black giant ape six or seven meters tall sat atop a boulder like an Overlord, boredly listening to the reports of the two burly men before it.

"An Undying Ginseng that can boost evolution aptitude and extend lifespan?"

"Sounds decent enough, but are you sure such a thing really exists?"

"Master, we're not certain either — it's information that's been circulating among the pirates…"

"Then what are you spouting nonsense for? Where's my gem!!"

By now, quite a few people had been tormented half to death by the news of the legendary gem and the legendary Undying Ginseng.

As for Jia Qi, who had spread part of the information, he was strolling leisurely about Hot Summer Island, sightseeing.

From what Shi Che knew, there were currently six factions of considerable strength on the island.

The serpent-folk Overlord and the black ape Overlord from the Totem Nation made two of them; they served under the Yamata Totem and the Golden Ape Totem respectively.

It was all too common for a totem to gather beneath its banner a host of Overlord-level lifeforms, great and small.

Apart from the two Overlords from the Totem Nation, the other four powers were all great pirates of the Chaotic Seas who had top-tier masters presiding over them and records of standing off against Overlords.

Under such circumstances, Shi Jin felt they were reasonably safe on the island — after all, the Gem Cat was one of the mere three Overlords on the island, and it also possessed the rare space-type divine skill, Instant Teleportation.

At this very moment, in fact, it was not only the many pirates who were searching for traces of the Pirate King's ruins; even Shi Jin had begun to move.

"It's all on you, A Yu." The Gem Cat had cosplayed itself into a pirate cat, donning a pirate hat and an eyepatch, swaggering along at Shi Jin's side.

"Even if you say that..."

Shi Jin sighed.

"Believe in yourself, you can do it!"

The Gem Cat had utter faith.

In its view, Shi Jin, a genius of the Eleventh Bureau, was surely more reliable than this pack of pirates.

"Fine, I'll give it a try."

"It might not work, though."

Shi Jin sat down silently and patted the ground.

He closed his eyes, activated his Listening talent, and began to sense the entire island, listening to the voice of the island.

Of course, as usual, he heard nothing at all.

But Shi Jin had a killer move.

"Having been a Pirate King half your life, plundering so much treasure, and in the end leaving behind only a single legendary gem — how poor can you get."

"No, maybe not even one gem — after all, there isn't even a shadow of the ruins. Surely you weren't just bragging about yourself."

"Besides, after all those murders, burnings, and plunderings, I find it hard to believe you'd be kind enough to hand over a gem."

Shi Jin, through telepathy with the island's ground, expressed what was on his mind.

By ordinary reason, he did not think this would do any good, nor did he think it was a good job.

But strangely enough, in a daze, Shi Jin really did hear something — some odd, peculiar sound.

"Heh heh heh heh..."

Like the wicked chuckle of a nasty old man!

Beyond that, there was nothing else to be found.

"Eh heh heh heh heh..."

"Holy crap." The chilling laughter reached his ears; Shi Jin's mind roared, and he sprang to his feet, his face stricken with fright.

He could tell that what he had just heard was a voice of history.

A sound left behind by certain lifeforms in some historical time-segment existing on this island.

But this kind of eerie laughter, laughter of unclear meaning — it was the first time he had encountered such a thing.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Shi Jin suddenly jump like that, the Gem Cat asked tensely at once.

"I can't shake the feeling that something's off." Shi Jin's face was grim.

"This island really is no simple place — it hides certain secrets. But they're certainly nothing good."

"Let's bolt! Trust me — trust an archaeologist's intuition." Shi Jin said.

"Ah!" The Gem Cat was startled, but it did not hesitate either; considering the Eleventh Bureau's casualty rate, it wrapped Shi Jin in an instant teleportation and returned to the tavern from before, rejoining Xiao Qin and the others, intending to leave first and talk later.

Inside the tavern.

Sister Shi was chatting with Xiao Qin and the others, her face full of surprise.

Shi Jin's identity — Xiao Qin and the others had kept it hidden.

But some professional details could not be concealed.

After all, just before Shi Jin had gone out, he himself had said he was going to do some surveying.

"Your new boss is actually an archaeologist?" Sister Shi looked astonished.

Archaeology and ruins — they did seem to go rather well together.

Only, who knew what good news Xiao Qin's new superior might bring back.

"I'm back."

As they were talking, a flash of white light suddenly appeared, and the Gem Cat and Shi Yan materialized before them.

"That fast?" Shi Jin had been gone less than an hour, and he was already back, which startled Xiao Qin and the others.

But at that moment, they noticed that Shi Yan's expression seemed less than happy.

"What's wrong?"

Shi Li: "This island may be hiding some unknown danger. We should pull back a bit first, get everyone back to the sea, and see how things look."

"Sister Shi, gather your people too. Everyone regroup."

Sister Shi was momentarily at a loss.

But Xiao Qin's expression turned grave, and she chose to trust Shi Jin at once.

"Do as he says."

Shi Jin drew a long breath. That laughter — what exactly did it mean?

Never mind. Once reinforcements from Shenyuan City arrive, he would come meet this island again.

By then, whatever tricks it had in store could be ignored.

Shi Jin's plan was sound, but accidents always arrived a step sooner.

With a tremendous roar, Shi Jin and the others, just about to set off and leave the island, suddenly shuddered.

Boom!

On the island, heavy with oppressive atmosphere, a vast thunderous tremor suddenly rang out overhead, and the taut string in everyone's heart snapped with a crisp crack.

The pirates in the tavern were instantly jolted to their feet, flinging their wine aside.

"Holy crap, a ruin has descended."

"It's definitely a ruin descending."

The enormous upheaval instantly drew the attention of everyone on the island.

It also made Shi Jin, Sister Shi, Xiao Qin, and the Gem Cat stare wide-eyed with astonishment.

"Get out first."

Along with the air tremor came an earthquake.

The ground split open, the buildings on the island collapsing in an instant, forcing everyone out into the open.

Boom!

Once outside, under the astonishing aerial tremor, the sky seemed to spawn a deep-blue vortex.

And space itself seemed to have been torn, enormous cracks appearing.

The great pirates scattered across the island — and two Overlord-level alien races — all showed expressions of wild joy at the sight.

"It really is a ruin!!!"

"The Pirate King's ruin truly exists!"

"Wahaha, legendary gem, legendary undying ginseng — whatever treasure it is, it's all mine!"

Across the island, every faction's vigilance shot to its peak.

After all, if there really were treasure, then what followed on this island would inevitably be a storm of blood.