Chapter 170: A Clue to the Mermaids

Chapter 170: A Clue to the Mermaids

The Strongest Hunter… Klein was momentarily shaken by the title. After thinking carefully, he realized that Anderson had no bounty.

In other words, Anderson Hood’s self-description in the dream world had been true and reliable. He was more of a treasure hunter!

What a pity. Gehrman Sparrow still hasn’t killed any pirate admiral. Otherwise, I’d be the strongest hunter… Klein did not relax his guard. His cold gaze remained fixed on the man before him.

The moment Anderson Hood showed the slightest abnormality, Klein would immediately throw out the handful of charms in his grasp. Their activation word was the same, and for his present Sequence, infusing them with spirituality at the same time was possible.

Hearing Admiral of Stars’ introduction, Anderson shook his head seriously.

“No, no. Not the Strongest Hunter.”

Oh, he’s actually modest… Klein sighed inwardly.

Anderson chuckled and added, “If Admiral of Stars still insists on that title, it would be best to add a qualifier in front.

“Below demigod level.

“Mm. The strongest hunter below demigod level.”

…I take back what I just said… The corner of Klein’s mouth shifted almost imperceptibly.

Seeing that Admiral of Stars did not respond, Anderson let his arms hang naturally by his sides and said, “This sea is very dangerous, but it also holds many treasures. I believe both of you understand that as well.

“Many adventurers have come here before—more precisely, treasure hunters—seeking encounters and opportunities. Most of them never left alive. Heh, I said most, which means there were naturally some lucky ones who obtained items and materials and still managed to leave safely.

“This treasure-hunting team was organized by two treasure hunters with such experience. They claimed to have more or less figured out the first half of the safe route: which ruins could not be explored, which relics could be attempted, which monsters should be hunted by which methods, and which out-of-control evil creatures had to be avoided in what way.

“I had always been curious about this place, so they successfully persuaded me, and I joined their treasure-hunting team.”

“And then?” Admiral of Stars Cattleya asked, his figure reflected in the faint purple depths of her black eyes.

Anderson sighed.

“At first, things went smoothly. Very smoothly, truly. We avoided danger, collected quite a few relics left behind by earlier explorers, and hunted some monsters, obtaining several materials.

“The turning point came when we discovered a strange temple on a submerged island. There were many well-preserved murals there. This gentleman also saw them in the dream world.”

He pointed at Klein with his chin.

“That isn’t the important part,” Klein replied calmly.

Anderson shook his head with a bitter smile.

“One of the murals was extremely strange. It depicted a pilgrimage procession walking through parted seawater.

“The leader of the procession was depicted as an angel, with silver hair reaching down to his back and very gentle features.

“I was the first to arrive before that mural. I stretched out my right hand and, purely out of habit, traced the various lines in the air. Truly, I did not touch it. I was at least five centimeters away. Yet somehow, the angel in the painting seemed to open his eyes at that moment.”

…You must have earned the title of Strongest Hunter by provoking so many things that you were forced to become that strong… Klein sneered inwardly with no sympathy whatsoever.

“An angel with silver hair?” Cattleya asked in return.

“Yes. But I don’t know which angel it was. At the very least, he has never appeared in any of the various paintings of the seven great Churches. Of course, perhaps the mural artist added him arbitrarily. He may not be real,” Anderson said, about to raise a hand to smooth his hair, when he suddenly realized that the man across from him—wearing a round-neck shirt, brown jacket, and flat cap—was staring at him with an…