Trace

Locke looked at Carmen like that, utterly speechless, but he still said what he had been about to say.

"But if there really are zombies or something, wouldn't you be in even more danger staying on the ship by yourself?"

"I..." Carmen did not know what to say after hearing Locke's words.

After thinking for a while, Carmen returned to her room and rummaged through it. Before long, she appeared before Locke again.

"Let's go!" Carmen said as she came over to Locke.

Carmen's appearance had changed drastically. Although she was still wearing the same clothes, she now had a great many extra things on her.

She was covered in garlic, holding a bag of salt in one hand and a cross in the other, staring nervously at the island before them.

Seeing Carmen like this, Locke said helplessly, "If you think it's too much, you don't actually have to go!"

"What? You're abandoning me?" Carmen looked at him with a deeply wronged expression, tears already welling up in her eyes, as if she were saying that if he did not take her with him, she would cry for him to see.

"Fine! Fine! We'll go together." Locke said helplessly. Still, he sighed inwardly. Sigh! Women!

"We're setting off!" Locke said again after Yun Zhinnan, who had supposedly gone back to get equipment, came out.

Only after getting off the ship did Locke discover that Yun Zhinnan's so-called equipment was actually a dagger made of peachwood. It left Locke speechless. Was it really that terrifying?

Just then, a gust of wind swept over them, carrying a trace of chill.

Locke felt that he should not be afraid of such things at all. He had the twenty-four-character mantra protecting him; no demons, monsters, or ghosts could get near him. At the same time, he silently began reciting, "Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony..."

After arriving on the island, Locke and the others followed the route marked on the treasure map. After walking for some time, the three discovered that apart from its terrifying appearance, the island did not seem to hold any danger.

However, after they continued for a while longer, they noticed something was wrong. The gravestones ahead had been shattered one after another, the earth had been dug up, and there were traces of frost and flames. Those traces were fresh. It seemed that someone else had been on the island before them and had fought something.

"Zhinnan, you're fast. Go take a look ahead!" After determining that someone was on the island and not far from them, Locke said to Yun Zhinnan.

Yun Zhinnan nodded. With a movement of his legs, he vanished from Locke and Carmen's sight. Looking ahead, they could only see some dust kicked up by his sprinting.

Back on Chrisby Island, Locke had spoken with Yun Zhinnan about the patterned fruit he had eaten as a child. Based on Locke's analysis, it should have been a Devil Fruit.

According to Yun Zhinnan, after eating the fruit, his speed had continued to increase. If his body had not been too weak, there would have been no upper limit to his speed.

Locke guessed that he had eaten the Speed Fruit, a branch of the Time-type Fruit. If its power awakened, it should be able to stop time briefly. It was an exceptionally good fruit.

Locke and Carmen did not have to wait long before Yun Zhinnan returned.

"How was it? Is there anyone ahead?"

"There are indeed people ahead, and they're not far from here. But so they wouldn't notice me, I only observed them from a distance. I can't tell what they're here for."

"Were they heading in this direction?" After hearing Yun Zhinnan's words, Locke took out the treasure map and pointed at the location of the treasure.

"Judging by the direction they're traveling, that should be where they're going."

"Looks like we have rivals!" Locke nodded and put away the treasure map.

"Since someone got there first, how about we go back?" Carmen, who had been afraid ever since coming ashore, said.

"Don't you want to see what the treasure actually is?" Locke asked.

"No!" Carmen replied firmly.

"..."

Seeing Carmen like this, Locke could only shake his head. Leaving her aside for the moment, he said to Yun Zhinnan, "Come on, lead the way. Let's see what kind of people our fellow treasure hunters are, and take a look at what the treasure is while we're at it."

Yun Zhinnan nodded and led Locke along the route he had just returned from.

Carmen looked at the two of them, stomped her foot, and could only follow them helplessly.

Before they had gone much farther, Locke and the other two saw a group of people ahead. At the front of the group, Locke spotted three bound people being shoved forward by those behind them. Their bodies were covered in wounds, and blood was still flowing from them.

However, they were too far away for Locke to hear what those people were doing.

Locke exchanged a glance with Carmen and Yun Zhinnan, then used his ability. The three vanished from where they stood and slowly approached the group.

This ability allowed Locke to create an illusion around himself, so that when others looked over, they would see what was behind them. However, when the sunlight was strong, the ability could be seen through at a glance. After all, Locke was not a machine and could not perfectly replicate everything.

But because the island was constantly covered by dark clouds, it was always dim. As long as they did not get too close, Locke's ability would generally not be discovered.

Thus, Locke and the others slowly drew nearer. Once they could hear the group's conversation, Locke signaled Carmen and Yun Zhinnan to stop and listen to what they were talking about.

"Damn it, how are you leading the way? We've been walking for so long, so why aren't we there yet?" One of the men at the front kicked the oldest-looking of the three bound people.

"Don't hit my big brother!" The other two ignored the ropes around them and immediately stepped in front of the man who had just struck him.

"You clueless fools." Looking at the two blocking his way, the man drew the blade at his waist, intending to deal with them.

"Enough, stop messing around!" Just as the man drew his sword, a man wearing a red cloak in the middle of the group spoke up to stop him.

"Coby, brat, what are you doing? Don't you know they're our property?" the man continued.

"Captain, I was only scaring them! So they'll lead the way properly."

"You brat sure make a lot of trouble." The man addressed as captain continued.

The man walked over to the three bound people and said, "Don't try any tricks with me. I won't kill you, but if I find out you dared to deceive me, I'll make you understand what it means to be better off dead."

"Hmph!" The eldest brother, who had just gotten back to his feet, snorted coldly.

"You still dare act tough with us!" Hearing that cold snort, Coby, who had just been stopped, stepped forward and began viciously beating the three of them. This time, the captain did not stop him.