Pirate Kingship.

Chapter 247 How can loved ones and friends be measured by money?

"It's so dazzling! Where is this place?"

The pirate captain [Silver Arm] Marion Rhodes, who was originally on the second floor and was leading his pirates to fight a group of "misers", suddenly found himself in a strange place in the blink of an eye.

From the dim underground maze, I entered a space full of golden light, which was so dazzling that I could hardly open my eyes for a moment.

Fortunately, with the [Pirate]'s blind-fighting instinct, I can make sure there is no danger around even with my eyes closed.

He didn't panic.

When his vision returned to him, Marion was horrified to find that what was glowing before his eyes were actually countless gold, silver and treasures!

Gold and silver coins were piled up like stones into small hills; red, blue, purple, and other colored gems and crystals were thrown away at random;

Knights' armor, each of which was worth a small manor, was hung in disorder on the racks; countless precious swords and knives gleamed with cold light;
A wide variety of handicrafts and antiques were packed into boxes and buried in mountains of gold and silver.
There were so many treasures that the paths for people to walk on were squeezed into crooked paths.

Marion couldn't help but take two steps forward. Just as he was about to pounce forward, he was shocked to find that his second-level power had been completely sealed.

When he saw the denser white lead cicada patterns on the floor, he finally realized that he had accidentally come to the third level of the maze.

And those [Weird Miser] of average level were also suppressed here and could no longer revive and attack him.

He stretched out a gleaming mithril arm carefully crafted by a craftsman, grabbed a handful of gold coins, and watched them slip through his fingers.

[Silver Arm] Marion Rhodes' eyes were filled with surprise:
“I have already arrived at the third floor?

So, the [Cursed Gold Coins of Azik] that I want are hidden in these piles of money.

Just waiting for me to find them?"

The back of the silver arm cracked, revealing a compass with a spinning needle [Guidance of the Wonderful Item: Golden Eye].

Soon the pointer fixed on a position, which represented the most precious thing among these treasures.

[Silver Arm] Marion rushed out immediately.

While searching for treasures, he couldn't help but worry about his companions.

“I don’t know what happened to my crew members who were still fighting hard on the second floor.

I must get what I want as quickly as possible, advance to the third-level pirate, recover my extraordinary strength, and rush back to save them immediately."

The pirate promotion ceremony is essentially a pirate professional skills competition that tests a series of abilities:
The individual combat capability of boarding and landing; the means of plundering against fat sheep; the comprehensive qualities of adventure and treasure hunting.

Although the "Pirate Treasure Chest" requires finding the treasure of a great pirate of level three or above.

But in actual practice, it does not necessarily have to come from a great pirate, as long as it is treasure of the same level, the requirement can be met.

When you get the treasure map, the Silver Law acting as the "referee" will make a judgment on whether it can be used as a promotion ceremony.

Otherwise, if the treasure hunting ceremony can only target this sequence, the number of great pirates in the Lighthouse Sequence will never increase.

The biggest limitation is actually the serial motto: "Force is better than hard work."

Since they make a living by force, if the extraordinary people in other sequences have no output, there will be nothing for them to force.

He was running, and suddenly he slowly stopped.

Because he found that what appeared in front of him was not the cursed gold coins, but a set of gorgeous tables and chairs made of gold and inlaid with countless precious gems.

On the table was a piece of parchment that looked a bit old, a quill pen with a sapphire nib, a bottle of ink, and a silver tinderbox.

Click!

Just as [Silver Arm] Marion looked over in confusion, the tinderbox automatically opened and emitted a blue flame.

A line of six stunningly beautiful girls in black and white maid outfits walked out in a procession, each of them as beautiful and dignified as a princess in a fairy tale.

They all lifted their skirts gracefully and saluted Marion, inviting him with their most perfect smiles:
"Dear guest, please take a seat."

"You are?"

The pirate captain was puzzled, but his body was led by several maids to sit on the golden chair.

Without waiting for the maid to answer, his eyes were attracted by the parchment on the table and he subconsciously read out the name on it.

"Faustian Contract."

And when his gaze continued to move downwards and saw the terms of the contract below, his pupils immediately dilated, then his breathing became heavy, and a thin layer of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.

"Mr. Marion, as the captain, you have the right to dispose of your crew.

As long as you choose to sacrifice them to the owner of Treasure Island, you can arbitrarily specify any treasure on the island.

And no longer subject to the rule of 'equivalent exchange':

The materials a person can take away from Treasure Island, including water, food, treasures, etc., must not exceed his or her own weight.

You can take as much treasure as there is on the island.

Of course, 'Turning Stone into Gold' is also within the scope of your choice.

All you have to do is sign your name.”

This Faustian contract and the devilish text seem to contain a kind of evil magic.

Once people see it, they can't help but believe that the above terms are justified by the world itself and are 100% true.

As long as the name is signed, the contract will be executed. Marion was torn between his conscience and his conscience.

A voice in his heart sternly stopped him:
"Among the crew members are comrades who fought alongside me, brothers who grew up with me, and like-minded friends.

When I lost my hand, they pooled their money to build me this mithril arm.

This time they accompanied me to complete the promotion of 'Pirate Treasure Chest'.

They are all my dearest friends and relatives.

How can it be measured with mere money? "

Another voice loudly retorted:

"How can friends and relatives be as important as money?!
Wake up, human hearts are unreliable. Only money will not betray you. As long as you sign your name, treasures, beauties, rare objects, and supreme power will all be mine.

What are you hesitating about?
As long as I become a great pirate, those rubbish will no longer be worthy of me.

How many excellent crew members will we need by then? "

Marion could tell that both voices were his own.

One comes from morality, the other comes from desire.

The latter's voice was obviously much louder than the former's, and it was also the truest thought in his heart!
He grabbed the feather pen on the table and wrote his name at the bottom of the Faust Contract.

At the same time, he roared:
"My dearest friends and relatives, they are all my dearest friends and relatives. I have paid such a heavy price. You must pay more!

I choose. Midas Touch!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar chuckle sounded in his ears.

Then a piece of paper with forbidden knowledge written on it fell from the sky and landed in his hand.

Marion couldn't wait to memorize the bloody words in his heart, and his face gradually turned red with excitement:
"If you can't complete the 'Pirate Treasure Chest' ritual once, there will be another time.

But if I miss the chance to turn stone into gold, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

And at the moment he made the decision.

The set of golden tables and chairs, the contract, the tinderbox, and the maid around him all disappeared in an instant.

The light of the entire third layer was visibly weakened.

It seemed that his choice was related to something deeper.

At the same time, the treasure hunters who were forcibly pulled into the third floor also made their own choices.

The price they paid may not all be "loved ones and friends", but it must be something precious and of great significance.

Family, love, friendship, freedom, knowledge, and reason.
Perhaps there are very few people who can remain true to their original intentions in the face of such temptation.

The light on the third floor became increasingly dimmer.

At the deepest part of the maze, at the top of the lighthouse standing at the boundary between the Sea of ​​​​Source and the real world.

On a golden table was also placed a contract that was glowing brightly, with names of people quickly appearing on it one after another.

Obviously, this is the essence of "Faust Contract".

All that is presented to the treasure hunters are projections.

And just like the legendary Yin-Yang contract, half of this contract has gold letters on a white background, and the other half has red letters on a black background.

As more and more people succumbed to their desires, the black area began to expand rapidly.

The faint sound of cicadas can be heard between the lines.

Then, an illusory figure wearing a tricorn captain's hat emerged from the contract.

Half was still human, with eyes sparkling with golden divine light, while the other half had turned into an ugly insect, with eyes full of bloody malice.

"Don't even think about it! Greed will not rule mankind. Don't even think about getting out."

The only response he got was the same emotionless words:

"Got it~"

"Faust" tells the story of how the devil and the creator each induce Faust.

But there has never been any devil or creator that fell from the sky.

There is only the "animal side" of spirituality representing chaos and depravity, and the "divine side" representing order and sublimation, competing with each other for the "human self" representing freedom and the right to choose.

The one being fought over back then was Faust, but this time it’s the big pirate Flint!

He was obviously dead, but not completely dead.

All the unsolved mysteries on the island are contained in this Faustian contract.

At this moment, Byron, Violet, and Thomas the Macaw also arrived at the third floor.

They saw the golden table and chairs in front of them and the beautiful maid who was bowing to them gracefully.

"Dear guest, please take a seat."

(End of this chapter)