The early morning air over Lakemarket City was damp and cool. Thick with the smell of wet timber and river algae.
Mist rolled low off the great lake. Obscuring the floating city's wooden walkways and anchored barges. The expedition members stood assembled on the deck of the Ocean Wanderer, Fully geared and waiting for orders.
Jack didn't bother with a speech. He reached into his [Spatial Belt] and pulled out an ordinary hand mirror. Wordlessly, he activated his [Mythical Mirror Realm] power. And the glass surface of the mirror flickered. Rippling like water under a sudden breeze.
"Get in!" Jack ordered calmly. "All of you. We aren't dragging fifteen people through the city docks at dawn. It draws too much attention."
He looked to the east, across the mist covered lake. "I'll get you all to the eastern shore." He continued.
Baroness Artheim nodded in agreement. Adjusting her practical traveler outfit. The other crew members didn't refuse either.
One by one, the crew stepped toward the glass. As their fingers touched the surface, their bodies were compressed into silver light. Vanishing into the Mirror Dimension. Stepping straight into the spacious, comfortable grand hall of Jack's Mirror Mansion.
When the deck was empty, Jack slid the hand mirror back into his [Spatial Belt]. He walked over the ship's gangplank. Stepping onto the floating wooden pier of Lakemarket City.
He paused briefly to pay the dockmaster's early-shift guard a small coin fee... to ensure the Ocean Wanderer remained undisturbed for a few days. And then, he walked toward the edge of the floating district where the open water began.
Jack quickly tried to find an empty, private-enough space, which was not that hard. It was still very early in the morning after all. And the mist covered a great part of the city.
From his [Spatial Backpack], Jack retrieved his steamrune hoverboard. It was a solid, sleek dark board with glowing runic inscription all over. He laid it flat above the water, stepped onto the foot straps, and activated it...
The hoverboard elevated itself, and Jack, a few meters above the water. Jack shifted his weight. Leaning forward.
The board surged across the lake at high speed. Cutting a clean wake through the low-hanging mist. The cold wind whipped against his face as the floating city shrank behind him.
Within a few minutes, the eastern shore of Bigbanyan Island rose before him. The terrain changed drastically... from open water to massive, tangled mangrove roots and sprawling green jungle.
Jack steered the hoverboard up onto a dry, rocky embankment. He dismounted and stowed the board back into his backpack.
He pulled out the hand mirror once more and activated his [Mythical Mirror Realm] power. Immediately, the entire expedition crew stepped out onto the damp soil.
"We are on the eastern shore." Jack said.
He reached into his [Spatial Backpack] and pulled out some items. First, there were the treasure map and two of its copies. He had spent some time duplicating it the day before. Then, there were fifteen small, brass-cased steamrune communicators. All were shaped like ear cuffs.
He handed two of the maps to Leon and Baroness Artheim. And then he gave the devices to the crew.
"Put these earpieces on." Jack instructed. "They run on low-frequency runic signals. The range is about twenty kilometers. Push the brass button here to talk. Use it only for important matter."
Jack looked at the devices with complex feeling. The steamrune communicators he created weren't as perfect as he had hoped... The range was limited. It couldn't be used for specific, personal call. And its 'battery energy' could only last for three days.
However, the devices were suitable enough for their current situation. He still needed to research and develop them to be more convenient later on. But, for now, they were enough.
"Alright." Jack said. "We split into three groups as planned."
Jack glanced at his own team... Reina, the little Aella, the chef Don, and the surgeon Autumn.
"My group will move toward central-east direction." Jack told them his plan. "Leon's group takes the northern flank. Baroness Artheim's group takes the southern valley ridge. We converge on the mountain valley marked with the 'X'. Move fast, keep your eyes open, and don't cause trouble unless necessary."
"Understood, Captain." Leon Drake replied. Securing his earpiece over his ear. The others nodded and did the same thing too.
Without further delay, the three groups separated. Disappearing into the dense, ancient rainforest.
The jungle was hot, humid, and loud. Massive trees, mostly banyan trees, towered high into the sky. Their sprawling aerial roots dropped down like solid wooden columns to anchor into the dark earth.
Exotic, large, and thick ferns blocked the sun. Leaving the forest floor in dark, natural gloom.
Jack walked in front. Cutting through thick bushes and vines with a short steamrune blade. Beside him, Rune floated silently. She glowed with a faint, steady amber light. Constantly scanning the surrounding atmosphere for dangerous mana currents or spatial anomalies.
Behind them walked Reina. Her long black hair was tied back. And her sharp eyes were scanning the high branches. Her spirit hawk, Moonlight, was scouting from above.
Aella trailed closely. Her hand was resting near the holster of her voidfire handgun. Meanwhile, Don and Autumn kept a steady pace at the rear.
They had been trekking through the heavy undergrowth for nearly two hours when a sudden, chaotic noise echoed from the canopy above.
Screech! Kak-kak-kak!
The rustling was violent. Branches snapped. And leaves rained down onto the forest floor. Jack stopped instantly. Raising his hand to halt the group.
Rune's glow had changed into a faint red color. Indicating danger. But not a significant one.
"Above us!" Jack said.
Down from the high branches dropped a dozen medium-sized monkeys. They had dark grey fur, long whip-like tails, and thick foam dripping from their jaws. Their eyes were bloodshot and wide with wild, unbridled fury.
The moment their feet touched the ground, they bared their yellowed fangs. Showing suicidal aggression toward the group.
Jack didn't draw his shotgun. He focused his vision. Activating his [Eyes of Judgement] to analyze the situations. Lines of glowing information immediately flashed across his view. Overlaying the screeching animals...
[Race: Banyan Monkey]
[Karma: Neutral]
[Power Level: Very Low]
[Current Status: Drunken Ferocity - Heavily Intoxicated, Extremely Aggressive, Immune to Fear, Immune to Poison, Immune to Disease, Reduced Pain Perception]
"They're drunk." Jack stated bluntly. "Not diseased or possessed. Just... drunk."
"Drunk?" Don blinked. "These monkeys?"
"Don't waste lethal force on them. They're just normal beasts." Jack said.
As three of the drunken monkeys lunged at Jack's head with claws outstretched, Jack flicked his wrists. The [Chains of Vengeance] bracers on his wrists were activated.
Black, flaming chains erupted. Snaking through the air like living snakes. With precise, practiced motions, the chains wrapped securely around the monkeys' torsos. Pinning their arms to their sides without breaking a single bone. Slamming them rather gently against a nearby root.
The flames on the chains did nothing to the beasts. Not a single trace of burning damage appeared on them. Jack could perfectly control the heat of his chains. Those flame were practically just a visual effect.
Two more monkeys tried to flank from the left. Aiming for Autumn.
But Reina raised her hand and activated his illusion and mist power. A thick, sweet-smelling white mist spread from her fingertips. Swirling into the faces of the oncoming beasts.
The moment the monkeys inhaled the illusion mist, their bloodshot eyes rolled back. Their furious screeching softened into sleepy mutters, and they flopped onto the damp moss. Out cold and snoring heavily.
Within less than thirty seconds, all twelve monkeys were already put to sleep by Reina's mist. Including the ones Jack restrained.
Jack retracted his chains with a metallic clink. "Clean and efficient. Good work, Love."
Reina smiled softly. "Thank you, Dear. But where did normal monkeys find enough alcohol to get this blind-drunk? And, in the middle of a primeval rainforest like this?"
"That is what we find out." Jack said. "Rune, track the origin of the alcohol scent."
Rune brightened. Shifting her light from amber to a brilliant neon blue. She buzzed through the air. Circling a few times before shooting straight up into the dense upper foliage of a nearby, gigantic tree.
It was a colossal banyan tree. The tree was easily ten meter wide at its base. Its massive trunk was hollowed out in several places by age and probably... lightning strikes.
Reina closed her eyes for a brief second and recalled her spirit hawk, Moonlight. A majestic, misty bird dropped down from the sky. Toward the direction where Rune went.
A few moments later, Reina opened her eyes.
"Moonlight found something near the top hollow." Reina said. "Rune was there. It was a heavy concentration of magic and liquid."
"Let's check it out." Jack said.
The group walked over to the giant tree. Using the thick, braided vines hanging from the high branches, Jack, Reina, and the others ascended smoothly into the mid-canopy.
About fifteen meters up, there was a massive natural hollow in the tree's main trunk. Hidden beneath a curtain of thick, broad leaves
Inside the wooden hollow sat a small, crystal-clear pool of glowing, amber-red liquid. It bubbled gently. Releasing a rich, intoxicatingly sweet aroma that smelled of wild cherries, fermented honey, and aged oak.
Jack leaned over the natural basin and used his [Eyes of Judgement] again.
[Object: Wild Wine Spring]
[Nature: Natural Resource]
[Danger Level: Very Low]
[Description: A pool of naturally fermented tree sap enriched with high-density natural ether. Contains potent alcoholic substances that cause drunken ferocity when taken in excess. Consuming or cooking with this substance permanently increases natural immunity to toxins, poisons, and environmental diseases. Greatly nourishes physical vitality.]
"It's a [Wild Wine Spring]." Jack announced. "It's pure, natural alcohol infused with ether. It can cause drunken ferocity, but it can also increase natural immunity to poisons and diseases if ingested correctly."
Don squeezed past Autumn to get a closer look...