The Adventurer Who Draws Maps

"I've secured five individuals from the First Legion; you must be one of them, my charming young boy!" 

The abruptness of the question put me on guard. I replied cautiously, "What do you mean by the First Legion? Who are you?" The tall, striking European woman responded with a bright laugh, "Many witnessed your capture of the giant spider creature using the First Legion's rune stone; it's hardly a secret, so you need not worry about me deceiving you for information." 

She opened her palm, revealing a green rune stone that spun enticingly, identical to the one I had acquired from the spider legion. "Your team seems intriguing, but it pales in comparison to ours. How about we collaborate? We have a critical task that lacks personnel." 

Faced with such a blatant invitation, I scoffed and expressed no interest in discussion, merely gesturing toward where the Wolf King sat. I muttered, "If it's you seeking collaboration, I can introduce you to a heavyweight in my team for negotiations. I'm sure you'd find it easier to discuss partnership with him than with me; our sizes are too far apart for any real compatibility." 

"My dear boy, your words are quite amusing, but are you truly uninterested in the Fruit of Wishes? It's a treasure worth a billion dollars!" 

"The Fruit of Wishes? The one that can lead us away from the Demon Island?" I nearly gasped, noticing the piercing sharpness in the tall European woman's gaze. "It seems you understand the value of that treasure. This task is particularly challenging, which is why we need help. Are you and your companions willing to consider collaboration?"

Calming my racing thoughts, I realized I was no longer the naive high school student I once was after everything I had endured. "Such a fortunate opportunity wouldn't simply fall into my lap; there must be other complications that this woman hasn't disclosed," I pondered. 

"If the opportunity arises, I hope we can all discuss this together; just the two of us cannot make any decisions." The tall European woman readily agreed, raising her arm in a gentle wave, summoning three men and two women to stand. I signaled to the Wolf King and his group, and together, we confidently exited the cafeteria. 

"King! Have you found someone else to duel? Just so you know, all the bank cards belong to me! I'm in dire need of funds." 

The eager glint in the Wolf King's eyes irked me, and upon hearing his words, the tall European woman shot me a knowing glance before declaring loudly, "My charming young boy, your companion certainly seems more suited to me than I had imagined." 

The Wolf King then turned to the tall European woman, licking his lips as he spoke to me, "King! You're so thoughtful; she's precisely my type, whether in bed or otherwise..." 

"You'd best keep quiet!" the burly man among the three men and three women, who appeared to be the leader, interjected coldly. "We intend to gather a group to complete a task together. If you don't wish to participate, I won't hesitate to reduce you to pieces and feed you to those accursed giant spiders." 

"Oh? You plan to chop me up? Are you certain of your capabilities?" 

"I am quite certain!" 

Their brief exchange escalated the tension, while Jack stood off to the side, grinning in a rather sinister manner, showing no intent to intervene. Although Eight Tails, who remained expressionless, radiated an immense aura, which I sensed due to my training in feeling the power fields emitted by living beings, indicating he was prepared for battle. 

"These wretched individuals always yearn for a fight!" 

Having just emerged from my training card and battled fiercely against the phantom of Ancient Yali for over three hundred rounds, I had grown to loathe the idea of conflict. I raised my hand to block the two men, softly saying, "Enough! I need the Fruit of Wishes; we all do. If we must fight, let's settle this task first." 

The Wolf King twisted his head with mechanical precision, baring his pristine teeth in a menacing smile. "Are you addressing me, boy? Do you think you're the captain now?" 

"Hmph! Do you wish for proof of my authority in speaking like this?" 

With a sudden surge of mental power, I thrust my hand forward, and the Wolf King was propelled uncontrollably, crashing into a barrack wall twenty meters away before coming to a halt. The metal wall bore the imprint of his body as he fell to the ground. Since unlocking my psychic potential, I had never used such strength before. While I could manipulate objects with mental force, the speed of execution was somewhat delayed without training, and there was always a cooldown after each use. If not for catching the Wolf King off guard today, he would have had ample time to draw his weapon and finish me before I could manifest my ability. 

"Now, tell me about your task. If it doesn't meet my expectations, your fate will surely mirror the Wolf King's." The aftereffects of the Berserk Pill were clouding my thoughts, and I unconsciously emanated an intensely dangerous aura. 

This overwhelming presence not only deterred the rising Wolf King from challenging me but also made the three men and women eye me with caution. However, as seasoned warriors, they quickly regained their composure, shaking off my bloodthirsty intimidation. 

It was the tall European woman who resumed speaking. "We are a team hired by a real-world consortium, and before coming to Demon Island, we acquired a map supposedly drawn by an adventurer who had once been here. He marked the location of a treasure, where it's rumored he concealed twelve Fruits of Wishes." 

"I don't need the Fruit of Wishes; I require the most powerful exorcism techniques!" 

"I don't need that either; I want nothing at all!" Eight Tails and Jack expressed their stances one after the other. After contemplating for a long while, the Wolf King suddenly pointed at the tall European woman, stating, "I don't need the Fruit of Wishes, but I do require money and women. If you can pay three hundred million dollars and provide companionship for a while, I might consider taking action." 

The Wolf King's proposal darkened the faces of the three men and women.