Corresponding to the northern side of the Celestial Orbital Belt, those seven islands obviously resembled the shape of the Southern Constellation.

However, in the astrology of this world, all six stars of the Southern Constellation are part of the Sagittarius constellation. Thus, adventurers naturally named them the Centaur Archipelago, echoing the Great Bear Archipelago on the other side.

It is well known that a maritime power can control a vast sea by constructing a maritime Great Wall through a series of supply points and ports on long-distance sailing routes.

These six islands also held the same significance. Only by defending them could one secure this whaling field and usher in the era of the Whale Oil Industry.

The largest of them, Island No. 1, spanned about 300 square kilometers, slightly larger than the combined area of Byron and Catherine’s starting point, the Grenville Earldom in the Tayman Archipelago.

The island had water sources, forests, and even a small town along the coast in the style of the Mythological Era, complete with a ready-made dock and a Whale Oil workshop.

Clearly, these were the land bases of those Rift Monastery devotees from before.

Given the average three-meter stature of the whalemen, these buildings were naturally constructed to be exceptionally tall and sturdy, resembling a grand palace of giants.

After circling the archipelago, the Colonial Fleet intended to dock here for the pre-battle agreed-upon distribution of spoils.

The highlight was the division of these six islands, tantamount to oil fields of Whale Oil.

Getting a piece of land on any of these islands would make one rich overnight, whether by developing it oneself or selling it to other major powers.

To say that every inch of these six islands was worth its weight in gold was no exaggeration.

Everyone was raring to go, secretly calculating their own contributions in this war, to see if they were enough to earn them a share on any of the islands.

As for the three main contributors to this war, they were clear as day: the Fifth-tier Pirate King, the Ocean Throne; the Fifth-order Legend, the Sailboat Collector; and the emerging powerhouse, The Sea Hunter, who could reverse the tide of battle.

It was only natural for each of them to get one island, and for the others to divide the remaining ones.

However, the accompanying Naturalists and Navigators, after inspecting the Secret Realm, brought bad news to the Pirate King,

"Your Majesty, the Chasm Trench is 300 kilometers long, its deepest part reaches 9,219 meters, and there are several large and small World Rifts on its floor, likely connected to Echidna’s Sea of Monsters.

We infer that the group of Leviathan Whales here originates from those rifts.

They jointly constitute a vast underwater Secret Realm that periodically expands and contracts.

And Island No. 1 is the best whaling base among them; unfortunately, it is not suitable for human habitation."

For Adventurers, keen observation was more crucial than strength, and the unusual conditions they could detect naturally couldn’t be kept secret from others.

The leaders of various factions had already congregated on the Pirate King’s flagship.

A Fourth Order Adventurer frowned deeply,

"During the full moon, at least half of Island No. 1 will be engulfed within the expanding range of the Secret Realm, essentially making it a gateway to the Secret Realm, the Chasm Trench.

And behind that gateway is very likely the corpse of the Old God, Rift Whale Leviathan.

Even if we invest heavily in building the highest-grade lighthouse here, we would still be subject to the influence of the Secret Realm’s lethal rules. This would be true at all times.

We are not like those Deep Sea Clan members; we lack the capability to interfere with the rifts. To dare to live here would be like living on a powder keg, joking with one’s own life.

Unless..."

Clearly, no matter how good the Whale Oil was, one had to be alive to claim it.

All of these people had just experienced the terror of the Old Gods through the Nightmare’s projecting tentacles. Who would dare to provoke another Old God?

The others all understood the unspoken "unless" too well.

Unless... a [Lantern Carrier] was willing to make a sacrifice and guard the rift right here. This would greatly enhance the safety of these islands and waters, allowing humanity’s whaling ships to come and go freely.

Otherwise, not only would this island be difficult to claim, but the Whale Oil Industry would also face many additional complications.

Now, others might not know what tragic figures the [Lantern Carriers] of the Lighthouse Union were, but how could these Adventurers, who roamed the borders of the unknown world every day, not know?

It’s well known that the trick to raising fish is frequent changes, and the trick to guarding World Rifts is frequent changes of [Lantern Carriers]!

And that was the corpse of an Old God; ordinary Mid-Sequences Transcendents didn’t even have the qualification to glance at it.

Although there were many Transcendents of the Lighthouse Sequence among this group, not a single one possessed the noble sentiment to sacrifice the individual for the greater good.

Except for... Holy Mr. Byron, whose face bore an expression of pity.

Seeing the somber atmosphere at the meeting, he stepped forward without hesitation, nodded to everyone, and said,

"Since no one wants this island, then give it to me.

The significance of Whale Oil technology to the world is just too great. In this world, someone always has to make sacrifices, so why can’t that person be me?

Unfortunately, I’m already a [Lantern Carrier] for a Second-level World Rift. I’m not sure how long I can uphold this duty for everyone, taking on two jobs at once. Alas—!"

He showed everyone the mark of the [Lantern Carrier] on the back of his hand. As he spoke, not only did he not seem to boast of his achievements, but he even looked self-reproachful and sighed deeply.

"No! Since someone always has to sacrifice, why should we be the ones to sacrifice time and time again?"

Then Violet suddenly stood up, her face filled with urgency as she grabbed Byron’s hand, trying to pull him back, and pleaded earnestly,