Chương 71: Traitors And Treasure

The room seemed to darken immediately after Cayman finished speaking as if on cue. An uneasy atmosphere hung low, blanketing us with an unsettling, chilling feeling. The tension around the room was palpable as it permeated into our bodies. Suddenly, the ship began rocking up and down, indicating that the waves had picked up speed. We jolted, trying our utmost best not to fall and land on the bones.

"Traitor?" Maya asked as soon as the relentless waves had passed.

"What do you mean by 'traitor'? Please elaborate." I honestly couldn't believe those words once they were said; if there was a traitor among us, then who could it be? Could it be Theo or Ben? Or could it be Maya, whose ecstatic effervescence and joyful jubilation were just a façade? I didn't want to think about it. Just thinking about the concept that one of my friends was working undercover for The Leak made my mind go uneasy and my stomach churn. However, we were about to be rewarded with a sense of relief.

My delusions could finally disappear.

"It is very unlikely that the traitor is one of you guys," Cayman said, his voice laced with deep-seated resentment.

"After all, I know more Hoppers than you, and the traitor is likely to be someone you guys don't know. So don't go thinking that Theo is going to stab you in the back or something." Theo flinched, almost tripping over a wild thigh bone and falling backwards. He pouted imperceptibly.

"Why me?" he asked, pointing at his own chest. However, Cayman wasn't focused on him despite blatantly mentioning his name.

"The traitor is most likely someone I knew back when I was on Planet Zero. You won't know who he is. Also, I know deep down that you guys won't betray me or stab me in the back. In my mind, you guys are still novices who still have a lot to learn about this limitless landscape. The stuff that this traitor is doing goes beyond what you all know." Except for me. There were other characters in Night Hoppers who were originally from Planet Zero, which made me think that it could be one of them.

However, since I didn't have a phone on me, and since I didn't know whether phones manufactured on Planet Earth even work on other planets, there was no way I could clarify this.

"Thank you for believing in us," Maya said cheerfully, tossing back a loose strand of hair to exaggerate her sass.

"Sometimes, I really think you're the best, Cayman." Cayman lowered his head as he let out a subtle smile, providing a stark contrast to his usually ominous and condescending nature.

"I can't believe this," Ben said dreamily.

"We've only been in this business for a month and we already have to deal with a traitor. Life's like this, right?"

"It's just our luck," Theo replied calmly.

"In this world, there are people who benefit from really good luck and there are others who suffer from really bad luck. We're unfortunate to be placed in the latter category." Although Theo's sentiment made no attempt to reproach Ben for his impudence, Ben still shut his mouth and ceased all actions involving his mouth.

"It's just life," Daniel chimed in, his voice lacking any hostility.

"This is just the life we live. Humans can betray others and live as traitors. We have to acknowledge this fact as it is impossible to refute."

"That's true," Cayman added.

"It's all in human nature. Humans have the power to betray others and commit sins. That's a horrible aspect of human life that all humans have to live with. You could be friends with someone, and the next thing you know, they've stabbed you in the back and you're lying on the floor, on the brink of dying. Betrayal is such a glorious concept that so many people revel in, and I find that so disgusting."

"Agreed," Maya said steadfastly.

"Let's think about it this way. Imagine this situation, well, it's a hypothetical situation, but let's say that Jamie Denton, that fool who decided to drop out without a care in the world for Daniel, decided to betray us and stab Daniel in the back to join The Leak. That would be heart-breaking, right? The scary truth is that he could decide to do all of that without telling us, because humans have a conscience and control over their own thoughts. It's harrowing just thinking about it."

Daniel's lip began to quiver as he trembled uncontrollably. The notion of Jamie betraying him to pursue his own ideals was so far-fetched in his brain that he couldn't even think about it; all of those thoughts were repressed in the dungeons of his unconscious mind.

"He could have no qualms about betraying Daniel. He might not think he's committing a sin. He might think it's all acceptable because-""Just shut up about it!" Daniel shouted, cutting Cayman off. His voice was trembling as he mustered all of his remaining strength to speak those devastating words.

"Jamie would never betray me. I know it's just a hypothetical situation, but still, it's an unrealistic one. It's uncomfortable for me to think about. And don't call him a fool. He's actually quite a nice guy." Cayman sighed and muttered, "OK. It's just a 'what if' situation. Jamie doesn't seem like the type to bully and betray others anyway. Saying 'fool' was just for effect." Soon, just like always, we were bathed in a seemingly never-ending, sinister silence which forcefully zipped our mouths shut.

Nobody could let out even a short peep.

"Anyways," Cayman mumbled as soon as he scanned the room, realising that nobody was willing to break the silence and speak.

"This whole traitor thing shouldn't concern you guys. I'll keep you all out of it since it really should only concern me and Ellie." He then turned to face Devon, who had been smirking as if Cayman had deliberately left him out of this situation. However, he then opened his mouth and said, "And you too, Devon." Devon seemed poised to tear all his hair out. I could tell from his absurd facial expressions that he had just gotten the response that he definitely didn't want.

However, the words that escaped from his mouth showed more defeat than anger.

"Leave me out of this," he said coherently in a grim voice. Soon, the rattling of the boat was the most prominent feature of our surroundings; nobody wanted to talk and nobody could muster up any strength to talk. Truth be told, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to call us statues. The torches had returned to emitting bright light again, easing the unbearable tension that hung around the room. The cold atmosphere dispersed.

It took a while, but eventually, someone broke the eternal silence that seemed to encapsulate us and keep us quiet for a million years, filling me with relief. The fact that the room was too quiet filled me with profound unease.

"So where are the mana crystals?" Maya asked.

"The system said that the reward for us defeating the beasts was mana crystals, but I don't see any."

"Relax, Maya," Theo replied gently.

"This is just wave one. We still have wave two and the boss to defeat. We might get a whole room of riches once we defeat the boss."

"But all the beasts we have to defeat are skeleton pirates! They're not gonna drop mana crystals since their bodies are see-through and we can't see any crystals!" Maya's rebuttal hit hard. The cruel reality that we might not get any mana crystals filled our bodies with disdain.

"It's probably just an auto-generated description," Daniel said.

"If there are no mana crystals, you can go and complain to the system about it. It's not my problem whether we get mana crystals or not. After all, there are still so many crystals on other planets that we haven't mined yet."

"Hmph!" Maya turned around so sharply that some of her hair went into Theo's eyes. I knew instantly that she was going to sulk just like she did when she found out the portal room was under a desert island. However, just as she was about to burst into tears, something seemingly magical happened. Behind where the gateway used to stand, where we expected there to just be a dull wooden wall, we saw something that we didn't expect there to be.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Seamlessly blending in with the wood which made up the walls was a chest which screamed for someone to open it. This chest didn't seem too old nor did it seem too new; there were some scratches in some places, but it wasn't extremely dusty nor rusty. Theo, Ben, Maya, Daniel and I all got a good glimpse of it.

This chest, which just looked like an ordinary chest, piqued our interest, and all we were thinking about at that point were rewards. Lots and lots and lots of shiny, valuable rewards. That was all that went through our minds as we stared at the treasure chest in a daze. The mood instantly flipped; initially, when Cayman talked about the traitor among us and the premonition that we might be facing even stronger adversaries in The Leak, the mood was sour, showing no signs of improving.

But seeing the treasure chest in the flesh instantly lightened up the room, brightening the mood.

"I want to open it!" Ben shouted.

"No, I want to open it!" Theo challenged, pushing Ben and trying to be the first to reach the chest.

"Actually, it should be me who opens the chest," Maya said in a regal manner, emphasising the presence of the crown on her head.

"Since I was the one who was about to sulk whilst sitting on the chest, naturally, I should be the one opening it."

"What bullshit," Daniel said, a snide remark which stabbed Maya in the heart like a dagger.

"My sister always spews nonsense."

"What are you talking about! I was the one who found it first! If I never started sulking in that corner, none of you would have seen the chest, and we would've gone back to our own ship! You've got me to thank! Me!!!!!" I smiled lightly, watching as my friends engaged in boxing matches to decide who opens the chest. Turning back, I saw Cayman and Devon watching with wry smiles on their faces and Ellie beaming and grinning at me for no apparent reason.

"Actually," Theo said, releasing his grip on Ben, "let's let Cayman open the chest. He's been through the most, and I think he would benefit the most from this. I think it would significantly improve his mood." Immediately afterwards, Maya turned around so swiftly to the point where her crown actually fell off her head, making a deep rumbling sound akin to the sound of thunder. Maya panicked and rushed to pick up her crown, unconsciously making way for Cayman to take meaningful strides towards the chest.

I could only imagine the tantrum she would throw if that thing broke because of such a trifling manner.

"You guys really are good friends," he murmured as he made his way towards the chest.

"You guys might be annoying as hell, but you all know when someone's feeling down and how to cheer them up." Ben grinned, emphasising Cayman's point. After all, despite his mouth being the source of a multitude of exasperating remarks, he has said many meaningful things in the past, like the 'speeches' he had given in front of Cayman when he opened up. Cayman knelt down slowly in front of the treasure chest, which all but increased the tension inside the room yet again.

It made my heart beat like a drum as sweat trickled down my back. Soon, however- Click! Without even needing a special key, the treasure chest opened, and light the colour of rubies emanated from inside. In an instant, my friends burst into conversation as their curiosity got the better of them.

"What do you think is inside?"

"I don't know. I want mana crystals or maybe some shiny gold coins."

"I want to see jewellery in that chest. I want to decorate my body with so much lavish jewellery and show it all off on the red carpet."

"Then you'll just be a walking talking Christmas tree. You might as well replace that crown on your head with a star-""Shut your trap, Ben!" I couldn't get a good view of the treasure since I was standing behind Cayman when he opened the chest. However, just from the light radiating brightly from the chest, I could tell there were advanced mana crystals inside. But was that all that was in the chest? I couldn't tell.

"Oh my gosh…" Cayman couldn't finish his sentence. Even from where I was standing, I could tell that his mouth was open wide in shock, which could only highlight the significance of this treasure.

"I can't believe this has been behind a gateway this whole time." I moved over to the side where I could catch a better glimpse of the treasure. And I couldn't believe my eyes. There, right in front of me, was a gigantic pile consisting of a combination of advanced and legendary-level mana crystals, though most of them were at the advanced level. They were all glistening and emitting light, turning this dim cabin into a spectacle of light.

To think that somebody had amassed such a fortune but just left it for others to take. I was entranced; I could finally see why Cayman had been pacified by the treasure. Although there weren't that many legendary crystals, there were still a good few in there, and it was enough for each of us to have at least one.

"No way…" Theo was about to open his mouth and speak, but he couldn't finish his sentence. I could tell that he was truly grateful for this monumental event bestowed upon him by the skill user world, a world so elusive and magical that in my eyes, it still didn't feel real.

"This is our reward?" Maya's eyes were wide open; her mouth dropped, revealing her pearly white teeth. Just seeing mere crystals in front of her was enough to put her in an ineffable trance.

"This is why we became Hoppers."

"I can't believe I ever doubted you, system," Ben said, clasping his hands together and offering his supplications to the system.

"I can't believe we said that you were misleading. This is even better than what I could ever ask for. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"Looks like Ben is having fun," Daniel said to Devon, who seemed unfazed, his face portraying Ellie's usual stoic demeanour. Maya was the first to reach her hand into the pile of riches and take out a few crystals. The crystals glowed in her hand and dyed her hands an ominous, threatening crimson colour.

"I need these so badly," Maya said dramatically, reaching into the treasure chest again despite already clutching a handful of crystals.

"I need them like it's water!!"

"Let us have our share as well," Theo reprimanded, although he didn't intend for it to offend Maya. He also dug his hand into the pile of crystals, stuffing some of them into his pocket.

"To think that a gateway could hide treasure as valuable as this," Ben said while in a daze, hurriedly grabbing a pile of crystals to squirrel away.

"Now I'm thankful for Cayman slashing the gateway like it was a basic-level mana beast."

"Yeah, you finally know." Cayman smirked at Ben while digging his hands into the riches. He seemed ready to shower the entire room in riches, letting the crystals blend in with the accumulation of bones and shedding light on a previously dark cabin.

"You better be grateful to have someone this experienced by your side. Otherwise you'll all be mice in the middle of a field of foxes." Ben smiled, thoroughly entertained by Cayman's strange remarks. As soon as I knelt down to pick up some of the mana crystals for myself, I saw Ellie and Devon silently doing the same, not caring about how many others took.

The ones who took the most were undoubtedly Ben and Maya; Ben's pockets were already bulging with crystals, and his trousers were on the verge of sagging, whereas Maya was trying to stick some of her crystals on her crown, but she wasn't bearing any of the fruits of her hard work. I soon realised that I had traits to upgrade which I needed to upgrade badly. I stuffed some of the crystals in my pockets and then broke the remaining ones in my hands with all the strength that I could muster. Smash!

You have chosen to use an 'Advanced Mana Crystal'. What will you be using it for? 1) Strength +5 2) Agility +5 3) Stamina +5 4) Intelligence +5 5) Perception +5 6) Upgrade skill Option 1. Trait, 'Strength', has been upgraded by 5 points. Strength: 51 → 56 You have chosen to use an 'Advanced Mana Crystal'. What will you be using it for? 1) Strength +5 2) Agility +5 3) Stamina +5 4) Intelligence +5 5) Perception +5 6) Upgrade skill Option 2. Trait, 'Agility', has been upgraded by 5 points.

Agility: 40 → 45 You have chosen to use an 'Advanced Mana Crystal'. What will you be using it for? 1) Strength +5 2) Agility +5 3) Stamina +5 4) Intelligence +5 5) Perception +5 6) Upgrade skill Option 3. Trait, 'Stamina', has been upgraded by 5 points. Stamina: 34 → 39 That should do for now. I smashed a few more mana crystals, which allowed me to improve my intelligence and perception traits, which were the two traits that I had neglected the most due to my battle strategy of charging in without a second thought.

Maybe I should start improving my intelligence and perception to prepare for fights in the future. After a while, once most of the mana crystals were looted and stuffed into our pockets, Cayman took the whole chest and stuffed it into his inventory. That was when he started speaking again.

"What a day," he said, moving some of the bones that were nearest to him and standing up.

"The night is getting old." Theo let out a loud yawn, and Maya's head was on the brink of dropping. Once she realised, she jolted back to life, shaking her head from side to side.

"Let's go to sleep," Cayman continued.

"You guys all need energy to fight the upcoming mana beasts. You can't fight mana beasts while yawning and on the brink of drifting off to sleep. That's not happening, otherwise you're toast ready to be placed on the toaster."

"But our ship smells like vomit," Ben replied simply, trying his best to rebuke those words.

"I can't sleep in an area that smells like shit." Cayman's face hardened.

"Would you rather clean up all of the bones here and go to sleep? That might take another hour or so." Surprisingly, Ben nodded, which made Cayman's face scrunch up in even more anger.

"Just throw them off the deck," Ben muttered.

"Throw them all into the sea. With the eight of us, it shouldn't take too long." Cayman sighed and let his head drop. When he raised his head again, his mouth opened, and a booming voice erupted from his mouth like a volcano.

"All of you! We need your help. Gather all of the bones in the cabin and throw them off the deck. Once you're done, you'll all be rewarded with a nice comforting sleep."