After Nagano Souta finished speaking, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Sun Hang and Candle Dragon.

"If you plan to let the Dubhe Tower take over this matter, I will cooperate fully," Nagano Souta said. "I’m not interested in the treasure hidden there. I just want to know what my father was so obsessed with before he died."

"The Dubhe Tower currently has no intention of taking over this matter," Sun Hang said.

Sun Hang had considered whether to claim the so-called "treasure" for himself, but given that information about it was almost nonexistent, he actually thought it was better to wait a bit longer.

Moreover, the treasure map and the treasure Nagano Souta mentioned were only side quests, something to gain unexpectedly. If they couldn’t get it or if it didn’t even exist, it wouldn’t have much impact on Sun Hang.

He felt that this operation could be used to assess the true capabilities of this group of Free Hunters and lay the groundwork for future recruitment efforts. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

As for Nagano Souta’s claim that "this treasure could change the current state of human civilization," Sun Hang had no particular thoughts—there are too many things that can change the state of human civilization, so many that he couldn’t count them all. In fact, the vast majority of these things can’t play a decisive role in the survival of human civilization.

It’s only when these types of things reach a certain quantity, and a quantitative change leads to a qualitative change, that the fate of human civilization will be significantly affected.

Unless the treasure is something like a tool that can "instantly unconditionally wipe out all humankind"... But then again, if such a thing truly existed, then all the efforts of human civilization would just be a joke.

They are like characters in a video game, thinking they can resist fate. They don’t realize that as long as the person sitting in front of the screen presses the Del key, their lives, along with the entire world, will be completely erased, leaving no trace.

If that’s the case, Sun Hang would only suggest that all of humanity just lie down and give up—since trying hard would be futile, they might as well not try.

Those observers looking down just want to enjoy the struggle of the characters on the screen before they die. Either way, if the outcome is extinction, why satisfy these observers’ morbid curiosity?

Humans need do nothing, just raise a middle finger to "the other side of the screen," and that’s their strongest form of resistance.

"Don’t you need..." A hint of doubt flashed in Nagano Souta’s eyes, "Don’t you need to report this to Dubhe Tower before making a decision?"

"We are the full representatives of Dubhe Tower," Sun Hang said.

"It seems your authority is even higher than I imagined," Nagano Souta nodded, "Alright, I understand..."

"I have only two requirements for this action," Sun Hang said again.

"Please go ahead," Nagano Souta used an honorific when speaking to Sun Hang.

"First, make the treasure map information public to all Free Hunters, Free Espers, and mercenaries in Yumen and Dragon City, allowing everyone to participate in this operation. Second, we will also participate in this operation as ’Observers,’ and we hope you don’t interfere with any of our actions."

"According to the news from Dragon City, your visit this time is to recruit personnel to go to the Surrendered Area in Egypt," Nagano Souta looked at Sun Hang. "So, you intend to treat this operation as an ’assessment.’ I didn’t misunderstand, right?"

"You didn’t misunderstand." Sun Hang smiled, took the bottle of sake from the accountant, and took a sip.

The next second, his expression slightly changed: "Why is it water?"

"The boss has already lost his sense of taste and smell... For the sake of his health, I’ve replaced all alcoholic beverages with plain water," the accountant said.

"Since it’s all water, why not let him drink it?" Sun Hang was somewhat surprised and glanced at Nagano Souta, who returned a helpless smile.

"It’s the boss’s own request. He says he can no longer taste the alcohol, and only by doing this can he remember that flavor."

"I see this is part of your play. No problem," Sun Hang waved his hand, "Let me know when you release the mission, I’ll just wander around here... there shouldn’t be anything to look out for, right?"

"No, feel free to do as you like," the accountant said, "If anyone tries to trouble you, please refrain from killing. Let us handle it."

"Alright." Sun Hang nodded.

...

...

"Spring Breeze" outpost, inside a nameless little bar.

Sun Hang, Candle Dragon, and Xue Yue sat at a table pressed against the wall, on which lay a pot of German-style black beer concentrate worth one hundred and twenty-eight yuans—though it was called a concentrate, Candle Dragon took just one sip and immediately told Sun Hang that at least one-third of the pot was water, another third was diluted alcohol, and only the remaining third might have some connection to the worst beer on the market.

"Nagano Souta sent someone to tell us that he will announce the treasure map information to all of Yumen at midnight," Candle Dragon took a small swig from a flat hip flask drawn from the inside pocket of his coat. "At that point, the entire Yumen will likely descend into madness."

"Aren’t these people really worried that this might be a trap?" Sun Hang took a sip of the watered-down black beer and, truth be told, he couldn’t identify what else was in it; it just tasted sour and astringent, with an alcoholic odor reaching straight up his nasal cavity to the crown of his head. In all, it completely didn’t seem drinkable.