There was no reason for Klein to decline Cattleya's request. He thought for two seconds and said, "700 pounds.
"Very fair." Cattleya didn't haggle.
Sequence 8 Beyonder characteristics typically cost 600 to 700 pounds, but there was often a premium if someone was in desperate need for it. After all, such items seldom appeared at Beyonder gatherings.
Klein didn't immediately complete the transaction. He raised his suitcase and said without a change in expression, "I'll give it to you tomorrow."
He didn't bring the Pugilist Beyonder characteristic with him, as most items of value had been thrown above the gray fog.
Cattleya wasn't surprised by Gehrman Sparrow's response. She nodded.
"That wouldn't be an issue."
She had encountered many similar cases. It usually meant that the Pugilist Beyonder characteristic was stored with items which wasn't meant to be known by others. Therefore, it was impossible for Gehrman Sparrow to open his suitcase in front of her to complete the transaction on the spot.
A crazy adventurer definitely had his secrets!
Cattleya paused for a second before adding, "There won't be any surveillance placed in your room."
Whatever she could see had already been seen by her.
"It's fine." Klein curled the corners of his lips and coldly smiled.
His previous considerations was to place down items like Azik's copper whistle and Will Auceptin's paper crane before holding a ritual or going above the gray fog. It was to resist any spying in the sense of mysticism. Then, he could use the washroom as a way to avoid physical surveillance.
Of course, he wasn't too worried that Admiral of Stars would go overboard. He didn't believe that she was afraid of the crazy adventurer, Gehrman Sparrow, but that Cattleya had no reason to do so. She definitely had milder and more concealed means of observing.
For example, getting the help of a Beyonder from the Spectator pathway... Klein took off his hat, bowed, and followed Poison Expert Frank Lee to return to his own room.
Seeing him walk off at an adequate speed, Cattleya turned into the captain's cabin, picked up a heavy pair of glasses and wore it.
...
Backlund, at the Harvest Church south of the Bridge.
In the eyes of an ordinary person, Bishop Utravsky, whose height was that of a half-giant, put down the bible in his hand. He prayed once around the hall and smiled.
"The number of believers is increasing."
"Is that so?" Emlyn White, who was in a brown priest robe, was wiping the candle racks as he said without even looking up.
He knew that the number of believers of Mother Earth had indeed increased significantly. It would've been a miracle in the past to have a handful of people be in attendance for praying on weekdays or in the daytime. Now, there was often close to ten.
Father Utravsky looked down at the busy vampire priest and chuckled.
"Anyone can tell if they aren't blind.
"You have contributed greatly to this. If not for your concocting of the medicine and treating the plague, and your willingness and sincerity in teaching people about medicine, our faith wouldn't have been that easily accepted by the residents of this borough.
Emlyn held a cloth and straightened his back. He tipped his chin slightly.
"I was only acting."
What, what do you mean by "our faith?" Don't lump me with you! Emlyn's expression twisted before he said with a smile,
"Speaking of the blind, it reminds me of a joke. It's said that the demand for blind people in Backlund far exceeds supply. This is because they are widely believed to be most suitable to be jurors."
Father Utravsky ignored the joke and benevolently said, "Regardless of the goal, you have contributed greatly to the spread of the faith of Mother Earth.
"Besides, this also proves that you have a kind heart."
Pui! I said so back then, but why didn't you believe me? Emlyn looked up at the priest's massive body before retracting his gaze in silence.
After busying himself at the cathedral, he changed into his normal clothes and wore a silk top hat that sheltered him from the sun. He then walked onto Rose Street.
He stealthily sized up his surroundings and didn't notice any signs of monitoring.
The Red Glove named Leonard from before really hasn't appeared again... I thought my act of exposing his secrets and buying Tinder would result in me being constantly investigated in secret... Emlyn White shook his head indiscernibly as he felt puzzled. @@novelbin@@
In the earliest stages, he had planned on taking in The Hanged Man's theory to incur the investigations of the Red Gloves so as to disrupt the monitoring from the upper echelons of the Sanguine. He could then achieve a perfect equilibrium by using the Church of Mother Earth's Blessed, Utravsky.
But things didn't develop as he had expected. Leonard Mitchell had apparently left Backlund very quickly.
At the end of February, Emlyn had made a detour to 7 Pinster Street while he was out once, only to discover that it was uninhabited.
Without thinking about this matter any further, he walked to the end of the street, got onto a rental carriage and headed straight for the Odora villa.
He was left to a study on the first floor by an attendant where he saw many Sanguine who had recently come of age. Among them was a Sanguine who had already become a Baron.
I'm not the only one? he thought before closing the door. He then said to the owner, Cosmi Odora, "My lord, Was I not called here because of a summoning from Lord Nibbs?"
He had said "my lord" rather indifferently as though he was calling him by name. This was because he was also a Sanguine Baron; the difference was that he hadn't publicized it.
Cosmi was a very refined middle-aged gentleman. He smiled and said, "All of you are outstanding young Sanguine. My grandfather has entrusted all of you with some tests."
Another Sanguine Baron, Rus Báthory, who was lucky to receive an inheritance, asked, "What tests are they?"
Cosmi drank a mouthful of dark red blood which was concocted with grape wine as he scanned the area.
"Perhaps you might not know, but the Snake of Fate from the Life School of Thought has disappeared for quite some time."
As Emlyn White and the other Sanguine looked puzzled, Cosmi continued, "But I believe all of you should know that the Life School of Thought is a coalition which was barely formed thanks to their belief in fate. They allied under the massive pressure placed by the seven orthodox Churches in the beginning of the Fifth Epoch and are formed by Beyonders who think of themselves as absolutely rational and aloof, those that worship the Primordial Moon, and those that seek the essence of life and spirituality.
"Due to the existence of the Snake of Fate, there hadn't been many serious problems internally. Their worship of the Primordial Moon was ultimately restricted to a fixed symbolic meaning. Furthermore, the process of formula exchange was melded with a master-apprentice heritage system.
"Unfortunately, heh, with the disappearance of the Snake of Fate, this process has been disrupted. The Primordial Moon's believers rapidly turned passionate, producing a fracture in the faction that represents fate. An intense conflict ensued as a result.
"This matter was used by the Rose School of Thought. It dealt quite a sizable amount of damage to them."
Emlyn White, Rus Báthory, and other Sanguine remained perplexed. After sharing the background information, Cosmi dived into the details.
"Worshipers of the Primordial Moon are our eternal enemies. They have always been hunting us, concocting us into potions to achieve strength!
"Now, we will not let go of such an opportunity.
"Here's a list of Primordial Moon worshipers and their situations. Whoever finds them and kills them will be the victor of this test. My grandfather, as well as various important figures would reward you generously.
"If you complete a portion of the list, we will determine this by numbers.
"Of course, these people were selected, and all of you are capable of dealing with them. The rest will be tracked down by the important figures."
Upon hearing the first few sentences, Emlyn White had no intention of participating, despite having hatred for those "artificial" vampires. He found the matter troublesome, laborious, and tiresome. He'd rather stay at home in silence to chat with his dolls.
By the time he realized that it was a competition, as well as sensing the gazes of Rus Báthory and the other Sanguine which were cast on him, Emlyn suddenly straightened his back and tipped his chin.
"No problem."
His red eyes slowly swept across the other creatures in the room.
...
On the Future, inside a spacious room with an attached bathroom.
Klein stood in front of the window, looking out into the undulating blue ocean. In a good mood, he breathed in the cold winds that came from the north.
The flagship of the Admiral of Stars had already separated from the other ships in the fleet as it began to cruise alone.
After an unknown period of time, two whaling ships appeared ahead. Once they noticed the flag containing the stars and eye flying from the Future, they immediately responded nervously.
They quickly adjusted their positions, aiming their starboards over, their cannons ready to shoot at any moment.
At the same time, spears and harpoons, which were shot using explosives, were directed in the same direction. The blond and large fishermen from the Gargas Archipelago held tridents and guns as they braced for an attack, either by standing or crouching.
Klein also noticed that there were a number of women with figures similar to the Hulk. It was obvious at a glance that they were heavy and good at fighting.
The Future didn't mind their "welcome." It continued cruising past them, heading deeper into the whaling route.
After cruising for a while, Klein saw more pirate ships ahead. They were clustered around the sea route's periphery, their motives unknown.
The Future came close without standing on ceremony. Immediately, the pirate ships reacted like startled birds as they quickly retreated.
Sensing the Future slowing down, Klein left his room in puzzlement.
Just as he approached the captain's cabin, he discovered Cattleya walking out. This woman wore a thick pair of glasses on her nose bridge, hiding her mysterious purple eyes.
She glanced at Klein and said succinctly, "Someone discovered a ruin which is said to be from the Fourth Epoch at the bottom of the sea in the waters around here.
"We plan on taking a look while on the way."
Bottom of the sea? Ruin from the Fourth Epoch? Klein instantly recalled the rumor he had heard from the Lærdal Bar.
So this piece of news has already spread? I was wondering why I got to learn it so easily... he said inwardly in enlightenment.
-x-X-x-
Klein had a certain degree of curiosity towards the outcome of the exploration. He didn't ask further as he walked past the captain's cabin and walked down the stairwell.
After a few seconds, he felt his throat itch. He couldn't help but raise his fist to his mouth and cough.
Klein wasn't surprised by such a development, as it was inevitable. He had carried the Biological Poison Bottle for more than two hours last night. Only when it was late at night and his confirmation that Admiral of Stars and crew didn't have any intention of attacking him did he move the mystical item into a black suitcase. Sadly, he ended up falling sick.
Of course, the amount of time he brought the Biological Poison Bottle with him wasn't considered long. His body wasn't in a weakened state, so his resulting illness wasn't anything serious. He just felt his tonsils swell in pain.
Cattleya, who was walking slowly behind, saw this scene, but she didn't find it a problem. Instead, she found it normal.
It was common knowledge for knowledgeable Beyonders that mystical items were bound to have negative side effects. Furthermore, they would learn from the seven orthodox Churches and categorize those with serious side effects which made them impossible to possess or use for prolonged time as Sealed Artifacts.
The reason why Cattleya had sold or exchanged many of her low- and mid-level mystical items was firstly because she wanted to better strengthen her survivability. Secondly, the various negative effects from multiple items were troubling. Often, one could avoid one but not the other. Some negative effects might even stack and synergize into something worse. Therefore, to most Beyonders, the disadvantages surpassed the advantages.
She discovered that Gehrman Sparrow had used mystical items, Beyonder weapons, and spirituality charms to arm himself to the teeth. While being amazed, she was already guessing at the type of negative effects he was facing. From what she saw today, it was a temporary simple illness.
With steady steps, Klein arrived on the deck and saw Frank Lee. He was still dressed in a white shirt and dungarees. His arm was stained with dirt as though he wasn't afraid of the cold winds that blew down at him.
"Good morning, Gehrman." Frank warmly waved his hand and said, "Here, try my latest product. This is definitely the most welcomed item at sea!"
As he said, he raised his other hand. In it was a wide and fat fish of an unknown breed.
No, I don't want to know what "monster" you have cooked up this time... Klein paused in his footsteps as he looked at him with a cold expression.
Frank Lee didn't discover any problems with his attitude. He pulled out a dagger from his waist and stabbed the fish before slicing a hole open.
Blood flowed out and accurately landed in a large beer cup on the deck. It didn't emit any fishy smell.
"Smell that? It's such an intoxicating alcoholic fragrance!" Frank Lee half-closed his eyes as he fervently said, "This is a fish who has red wine replacing its blood. As such, the wine contains lots of nutrients!"
"..."
Klein realized he was at a loss for words.
Frank looked at the surroundings sailors in excitement before saying to Gehrman Sparrow, "Do you know what's the most troubling matter out at sea? That's when we run out of alcohol without being anywhere close to shore! As long as this kind of fish can rapidly reproduce and become the sea's primary produce, then we won't be lacking any alcohol no matter where we are. By the way, they can be categorized by species. Some will produce Lanti Proof, others Nepos, red wine, and beer. The beer needs to come from sharks or whales; otherwise, there won't be enough!"
Isn't the most troubling matter the lack of water? Of course, all of you can use beer to replace water most of the time because it doesn't easily spoil... Those poor fishes... Klein was pondering over a response to Frank when Cattleya came on deck. She walked past him and questioned her first mate.
"Is Nina done with her preparations?"
"Yes, she has already finished a bottle of Nepos!" Frank pointed at a shadow formed by the sails.
The so-called preparations are to drink a bottle of Nepos, a specialty of Feysac? The Nepos which can light a fire? Klein suddenly felt that Nina, the lady mentioned by the first mate, was likely someone with Feysac blood.
"Captain, I want a bottle of Sonia blood wine more!" In the dark, a female figure slowly stood up and walked over.
She was more than 1.8 meters tall. Her blonde hair was casually tied up into a high pigtail. Her facial features weren't anything outstanding, but she had the striking traits of someone from Feysac. Her skin was fair and her eyes were dull.
This lady named Nina wore a black tight suit made of fish skin. The top and bottom seemed to be a one-piece, fully accentuating her stunning figure.
Such a style was rather sexy to begin with. Nina's breasts were also far above what was normal. It was obvious what the surrounding pirates were looking at.
Klein felt a little embarrassed and wished to move his gaze away. However, on second thought, Gehrman Sparrow was definitely not such an untried person. All he could do was empty his gaze and look straight at Nina's face.
"Gehrman, this is our boatswain, Nina! She's also the navigator's assistant. Haha, her Sequence's name is Seafarer!" Frank Lee still didn't hold back in his introductions.
Apart from his research of crossbreeding, this Poison Expert is rather simple... I now recall that this lady named Nina has a bounty of 3,600 pounds. Her nickname is Seabed Murderer. Sigh, after seeing so many bounty notices, there are some I can't immediately recall... Klein looked at Nina's eyes and nodded calmly.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Nina held back her smile and sized up Klein.
"Good morning, Mr. Sparrow.
"I'm very curious if Vice Admiral Ailment is really as charming as the rumors say?"
As a female pirate who had mixed with low- and mid-class people for extended periods of time, she was always very frank and direct towards both men and women. She didn't show any coyness. She had originally planned on asking Gehrman Sparrow if she was lacking in charm, or ask if he was the cold type which resulted in her being completely ignored or him showing any reaction. But considering how the man standing before her was a powerful guy, an adventurer who nearly successfully hunted Vice Admiral Ailment, or a lunatic who could draw his gun and shoot at any moment, she rationally held back her jesting words. She switched to asking about Vice Admiral Ailment.
... How am I to answer you? Klein gloomily said, "Her bounty is extremely charming."
Nina was taken aback, somewhat at a loss for a response to continue the conversation. Hence, she turned to look at Admiral of Stars.
"Captain, do we begin now?" @@novelbin@@
Cattleya, who felt her bounty flash through her mind for some baffling reason, nodded.
"Begin."
Just as she said that, Nina took large strides to the side of the ship. With her right hand supporting herself, she leaped into the sea, swimming downwards like a gigantic black fish.
At the same time, there were a few splashes. A few sailors had jumped down as well to provide her aid.
This... She begins at the mention of it. She didn't need any additional time to prepare... This lady has the temperament of the Church of Storms. As expected of a Beyonder from the Sailor pathway... Klein looked out the ship as he couldn't help but cough.
"You're sick?" Frank Lee asked directly.
Klein nodded slightly and said, "A little."
Frank thought for a moment. He didn't say a word as he rushed back into the cabin; his destination unknown.
By the side, Cattleya nudged her heavy glasses and smiled.
"Frank is a Poison Expert, but he's also an outstanding doctor."
As expected of someone from the Planter pathway... Klein didn't ask further as he stood there, awaiting Nina's preliminary exploration.
Seeing the sudden silence that became somewhat awkward, Cattleya took a few steps forward and said, seemingly in passing, "In another day, we will be leaving the whaling sea route."
"But we're at least a week from those waters?" Klein thought before asking.
"That is if we follow the whaling sea route. In fact, this will lead further north and be more roundabout. I know of a secret sea route that can allow us to reach the waters you wish to go to in two to three days." Cattleya's gaze looked at Klein's eyes through her thick glasses, as though she wanted to tell how much he knew of the extremely dangerous waters.
Klein considered and simply said, "Very good. That's exactly what I want.
"In addition, those waters are more illusory than real."
Cattleya retracted her gaze in thought as she looked at the entrance to the cabin.
Frank Lee ran over and held a green apple in his hand.
"This is the outcome of another one of my projects. It's a cross-breed of medicine and fruits. It makes the consumption of medicine more enjoyable!" He beamed as he handed Klein the apple.
... I'm afraid I'll end up even sicker after eating it... Klein glanced at Admiral of Stars and saw her nod gently. Only then did he inwardly force himself to accept the apple while appearing calm on the outside. He then bit down at the apple.
It had the taste of a normal apple. It just had a lot more juice, and the insides were softer.
After a few bites, Klein discovered that his throat suddenly wasn't hurting. He didn't realize when he stopped coughing.
I have to say that it's rather magical... As long as it doesn't involve animals and humans, Frank Lee is really a genius that should be taken seriously in the Church of Mother Earth. Unfortunately, he ultimately became a devil-like person ... Klein looked at the Poison Expert and said frankly, "It's healed."
"Very good." Frank didn't praise himself as he began casually introducing the pirates on the deck.
After a while, Nina and the other supporting sailors swam up to the surface and returned to the ship.
She held a metallic piece that had been rotten into an identifiable state and a piece of black hardened mud that was filled with honeycombed holes. She grumbled to Cattleya, "Captain, there's no deep-sea well!
"That well's mouth isn't even bigger than my breasts!
"Of course, it's very deep and dark. It's unknown what's hidden in it."
She gestured using her hands.
"Exaggeration is a common trait of pirates and adventurers." Cattleya nodded without using the term "bragging."
The diameter of the well's mouth is that small? Klein puzzledly looked at the item in Nina's hand as he politely diverted his gaze from her body which had streams of water flowing down.
Cattleya's gaze moved in sync with his as she said, "Go into the details."
-x-X-x-
Nina was a pirate who had risen up the ranks. Often, she might be easily irritated, but she was very experienced at handling matters. She was a rather reliable person. After some thought, she gave a description in a serious manner.
"The well's mouth is at a rather deep depth along the seabed. I need enough time to adjust myself before I can acclimatize to the temperature and pressure of the area. That's why I took so much time to get there.
"It isn't easily discovered, but the remnant iron buildings are indeed rather obvious. I found them once I got acclimatized.
"They've already completely collapsed or rotted. There's no way to imagine what they originally looked like. However, I could tell that they definitely spanned across a great distance in the past. It's just shrunken by a great deal now."
When Nina said this, she chuckled and scanned all the men around her.
A real female pirate is indeed different... Klein sighed from the bottom of his heart.
From his point of view, be it Admiral of Stars Cattleya, Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina, or Vice Admiral Ailment Tracy, none of them could be considered a pure female pirate. All of them hailed from major factions or secret organizations. When they were Low-Sequence Beyonders, they were either not at sea, or they were following important figures, so what they did were relatively safe matters. Otherwise, they were independent adventurers who had never been tainted by the characters and atmosphere of low- or mid-level pirates.
After Nina finished laughing, Cattleya pointed her finger to the rusted item that could hardly be described as a metal beam.
"This is a portion of the iron building?"
"Yes, Captain. As you know, I don't know much about history or mysticism. I could only bring some back for your inspection. You're an expert on this." Nina smiled as she handed the "metal beam" over.
Then, she pointed at the black piece of hardened mud which was filled with holes on its surface.
"Not far from the iron ruins, I found a well. It's not very big. If it's to be described with the word 'huge,' then I've definitely seen plenty of huge cannons.
"Those drunken adventurers are better at bragging than us pirates!
"This is the mud from the inner layer of the well. I can't imagine how such patterns could be formed!"
Nina's finger repeatedly struck the honeycombed dots on the black mud.
Klein originally believed that they were marks left behind by dense shots with very tiny projectiles, but after a careful inspection, he suspected that they were remnant "patterns" after something had rotted. Each spot was very shallow as its edges spread outwards in an irregular pattern.
Nina handed the black mud to Cattleya as she continued describing, "The well's mouth is really small. Even a child from Nas wouldn't be able to enter.
"It's very deep. I even felt that it was bottomless. In that environment, the interior was completely dark as though something was slowly summoning me, yes—slowly.
"I found a few rocks nearby and threw them in, but there wasn't any response. In short, it's filled with water."
Cattleya held up the "metallic beam" and black mud. Through the thick glasses, she observed them seriously.
"Since the mouth is very small and humans can't enter them, there's no need for us to begin the exploration immediately. It will be very dangerous.
"Let's wait until I figure out the secrets hidden within these items and whether the ancient well is worth us taking the risk before we return to make an attempt."
"Aye aye, Captain!" The wet Nina was trembling as a result of the cold winds. The way she wavered made all the surrounding pirates stare straight at her.
Cattleya nudged her glasses and said to Nina, "You can drink a bottle of Sonia blood wine. There's no limit for the rest."
"... Long live the captain!" Nina cried out in joy.
An underwater well that humans can't enter... Klein, who had no desire to explore it, summarized Nina's description.
Suddenly, he had a strange idea.
Humans are unable to enter the well, but that doesn't mean that non-humans can't do it!
Many deep-sea fishes aren't necessarily that huge. There's a significant chance that they can pass through the well.
As the "Sea God," he had the means to make marine creatures do his bidding while wielding the scepter!
There's no rush. Let's see if Ma'am Hermit is able to figure out anything from these two objects. I'll consider whether I'll explore it on the return trip; otherwise, I might attract some exaggerated danger... There's still not enough information regarding this. There's no way to do any divination... As his thoughts wandered, Klein's expression remained deadpan.
At that moment, Cattleya shot him a glance out of curiosity. Then, she retracted her gaze without leaving any traces.
Why did she suddenly look at me? She was seeing what I was doing? It's impossible for her to know that I possess the Sea God Scepter and can make marine creatures do my bidding. That's not right. She knows, but she only knows that Mr. Fool wields Kalvetua's godhood scepter, not The World... Unless she has figured out that The World is The Fool... But that's even more impossible. Even Mr. Hanged Man is still stuck at the concept that The World is a Blessed. She hasn't even realized this point...
Viewing this from a different point of view, I'll consider it from Admiral of Stars's angle... She's someone being pursued by knowledge, and she's a follower of Queen Mystic. She's loyal to the Moses Ascetic Order, and she has roamed the sea for years. She has plenty of knowledge and experience, so it wouldn't be odd that she knows that the Sea God domain possesses the Beyonder power to control marine creatures.
Therefore, after realizing that humans are unable to pass through the ancient well, she naturally made the connection with the scepter in Mr. Fool's hand. Does she plan on requesting for help in the future? She looked at me to figure out if The World has also grasped the corresponding information or have similar ideas?
Many ideas went through Klein's mind. With the powers of Clown, he forcefully maintained his indifferent expression. He didn't react abnormally in any way.
As Nina was about to draw the Sonia blood wine, Klein pressed down his hat and returned to the cabin.
Just as he was about to approach the door, a figure surfaced in his mind suddenly.
In a room in the cabin's upper level, the windows were tightly shut and the curtains were drawn. There were a pair of blurry eyes hidden behind them, silently watching the crowd on the deck, as well as Gehrman Sparrow.
Who is it? Klein didn't stop. His body didn't show any hesitation as he entered the cabin normally as though nothing had happened.
...
At three in the afternoon, the bright but not scorching sunlight shone into the garden adjacent to Stoen University. @@novelbin@@
Michele Deuth was already a Senior Associate Professor by forty. He was wearing a long tailcoat and a beautiful bow tie as he waited by the door.
Yesterday evening, he received a letter. The sender was from the attendant of the richest aristocratic family in East Chester County, the Hall family. The person who wrote the letter was the daughter of a Member of Parliament from the House of Lords who wielded immense influence. She was Miss Audrey Hall, who was deemed to be the most stunning gem in Backlund.
This noble lady had mentioned in the letter that she had learned from a gathering that Mr. Michele Deuth was an outstanding collector and an aficionado of this domain. She had a great desire in paying a visit.
Michele Deuth didn't have any reason to refuse.
Soon, a classic carriage with a family emblem arrived at the door.
Two servants, who had been instructed to open the outer gates made of iron railings, led the carriage around the garden and arrived in front of the house.
A housekeeper was the first to alight, followed by guards and maidservants.
Following that, a hand wearing a long white-gauzed glove was extended outside.
With the help of the maidservants, Audrey elegantly stepped onto the carpet which Michele had paved.
Michele was first taken aback before his eyes lit up. He felt as though the flowers in the garden had instantly faded.
He took two steps forward and took off his hat to bow.
"Welcome, my honorable lady.
"Your visit is an honor for me and my family."
Audrey took off the veiled hat and passed it to her maidservant before exchanging a few pleasantries. Then, she followed Michele Deuth into the living room and entered the collector's room on the first floor.
Here, Michele finally found his confidence as the master of the house. He began pointing at his collection and providing an introduction from the left.
"This is a helmet that appeared in the White Rose War. After lots of research, it can be determined that the owner is a member of the Sauron family. Back then, they were still considered royalty."
The golden helmet had an intricate design. There were avian and flying wings that adorned it, and the visor was formed from pieces of golden scales.
"My ancestor obtained his first aristocratic title in that war," Audrey replied with piqued interest.
She had already adjusted her mental state ahead of time—she was to appear as though she was really here to tour the collections.
"The failure of the Twenty Year War had caused the kingdom to suffer years of humiliation, but it also carved out several heroes." Michele resorted to flattery.
The White Rose War happened after the Twenty Year War and before the Battle of the Violated Oath. There, Loen defeated Intis and became strong again.
Michele continued introducing his collection as Audrey solemnly listened, raising questions from time to time as she conversed with him.
Finally, Michele's finger pointed towards a notebook with a black cover.
"This belonged to a knight stationed on Sonia Island in the Twenty Year War.
"This knight's name has already vanished in the long rivers of history. This notebook is the only proof of his existence. He once stood fast until the very last moment on Sonia Island.
"This notebook is not only a first-hand account for the research of that portion of history, but it also hides certain problems. The knight's grammar has many uncommon habits. This might be a clue to aid us in determining his exact identity."
Audrey instinctively believed that the notebook was her target. Hence, she only leaned in a little. Indeed, the black cover had unobvious patterns. Together, they outlined an abstract image of a dragon.
From Michele's tone and minute expressions, his interest is focused on the content and not the item itself. He doesn't particularly treasure it... I have a high chance of purchasing it... Audrey calmly made a judgment as she turned her head. She then smiled at Michele Deuth and said, "What are the uncommon habits exactly?"
"Enjoys using short sentences—very simple and short ones..." Michele described in a flaunting tone.
Audrey was always a good listener. She looked at him with a smile as she listened with focused attention. This made Michele speak more.
As she listened, she suddenly felt that the knight's grammatical habits were somewhat familiar.
That is... Audrey's eyes darted around slightly as she quickly remembered the source of the familiarity.
This was a grammatical habit of Dragonese which she had diligently mastered!
-x-X-x-
A knight who knows Dragonese and even used it in the critical stage of his growth... It's no wonder that the Psychology Alchemists wish to obtain the notebook he left behind... Audrey was enlightened as she stopped her wandering thoughts. She happily and seriously discussed the problem that stemmed from such grammatical habits with Michele Deuth.
Soon, they concluded the discussion over the notebook as Michele began introducing the other items.
Time passed as the tour slowly came to an end. Audrey had planned on raising her request of purchasing the notebook to their next meeting in order to make her goal less obvious. However, in a friendly atmosphere and with the naturalness of their conversation, she sharply sensed that it was an opportunity. Hence, with the powers of Lie, she made her cheeks blush red.
"Mr. Deuth, that helmet from the Sauron royalty that originates from the White Rose War is a keepsake of my ancestors. Pardon my presumptuous, but can I buy it from you? Also, the notebook of the Twenty Year War. I'm very impressed by the knight that stood firm for Sonia Island and also wish to have it.
"I know it's not a polite request, but I wish that you can understand how I feel. Of course, you have the right to decline."
Her eyes moved as she obviously darted them around, partially deliberate and truthful to express her lack of confidence and embarrassment.
Michele subconsciously moved his gaze away as he said with a hoarse and slow voice, "I'm a collector. I won't sell my collection."
His tone and the words he used aren't firm enough... In the intel I previously gathered, he's a gentleman who values his reputation greatly. Using cash to purchase his collection is probably unacceptable... The reason why the Psychology Alchemists didn't get someone else to complete the mission is firstly because I have a way of earning contribution points, and secondly, it probably took the Associate Professor's attitude towards such matters in mind... I have to change my approach. Before the visit, Audrey had already carefully decided of different tests according to the intel she received. After some thought, she changed topics.
"Mr. Deuth, I heard that you're requesting Stoen University to build an ancient relic research center?"
"Yes, that has been my goal for the past few years," Michele looked at Audrey and answered frankly.
Audrey smiled faintly and said, "I'm very interested in the research in this area. I also feel a deep respect for you and hope to see your wish fulfilled.
"Well, I'm planning on donating 1,000 pounds, a nearby piece of land spanning 2,000 ares 1 , and a manor with rather good returns to the faculty you are from at Stoen University. I hope to have a non-profit basic relic search and preservation foundation set up. I know it's not a lot, but I will drum up support from the ladies and gentlemen I know in order to get them to make a certain amount of contributions.
"Mr. Deuth, I think you're the most professional relic collector and researcher I know. I'm wondering if you're willing to be the person-in-charge of this non-profit foundation?"
2,000 ares of land near the university. That's worth about 6,000 pounds. Together with the manor and the cash, Miss Audrey would be donating nearly 10,000 pounds... With such a non-profit relic search and preservation foundation, the difficulties I would encounter to get my research grants approved would be drastically lowered... Michele paused for a few seconds before revealing a sincere smile. He bowed solemnly and said, "My honorable lady, the importance you place on academia has left me touched. Its glow is enough to match your beauty and upbringing. I believe I have no reason to reject your invitation.
"I've already recorded the contents of the notebook. I will send it and the helmet to your residence tonight. Treat it as a gift from a sincere friend."
Success! Audrey was delighted as she wished to praise herself. However, she appeared reserved and indifferent. She didn't do anything that was improper.
"It's my honor," she said earnestly.
Although the two items were definitely not worth 10,000 pounds, it wouldn't result in any loss on her part.
In her plans, this suggestion contained three important goals which yielded three returns!
The first goal was naturally to obtain the item and complete the mission. She would then successfully obtain the Hypnotist potion formula from the Psychology Alchemists.
The second goal was to enhance her prestige, standing, and image via donating to academic research and the preservation of ancient relics. This was something most nobles and tycoons needed to do. Even if the donation wasn't today, Audrey would have to donate 3,000 pounds or more to the various charitable organizations. Therefore, she believed that her father, Earl Hall, wouldn't stop her from doing this with a few of her properties.
The third goal was that by having a foundation that focused on the search and preservation of ancient relics, it made it easier for her to come into contact with historical records or mysterious items of value. Audrey didn't need to personally do anything. All she needed to do was sit at home to receive items that might be beneficial to her. It was equivalent to using 10,000 pounds to produce even more money to establish her own "faction."
Of course, if Michele Deuth hadn't accepted this exchange, then she had other plans. The kingdom's Higher Education Commission had someone from the Hall family, as well as noble friends she knew. As long as the Associate Professor had anything he needed, she was certain that she had the means to satisfy him.
However, Audrey didn't like such methods. She had a nagging feeling that it was shady and would harm the public interest.
After discussing the matter, Audrey stayed for a little longer and chatted idly for about fifteen minutes. It made the wrapping up process not as sharp and abrupt.
Following that, she first left Michele's house and rode her carriage back to the Hall family's villa in Stoen City.
Past eight in the evening, she received the Sauron royalty's helmet and the notebook from the Twenty Year War.
Audrey wore a pair of white-silk gloves and sat before her desk with piqued interest. She placed the helmet to the side as she began flipping through the content in the notebook.
She discovered that the records were sparse. The early records indicated how the knight who was stationed in the ancient elvish island had learned how to brew Sonia blood wine, how he chased after women, how he spent the boring days. In the later records, it entered the period of the Twenty Year War. It mainly included his cursing of the people of Feysac, his grumbling about his companions, and the consideration towards his plans to stand fast. It also included the end of how the Sonia Island was first lost.
Apart from the grammatical habits being similar to Dragonese, there aren't any serious problems. Nor can I find any hidden clues... Audrey frowned as she closed the notebook.
She had used methods derived from mysticism to do her checks, but they were to no avail.
This made her unwilling to waste time as she planned to turn it in to the Psychology Alchemists.
As her thoughts raced, she suddenly had a new idea.
Mr. World and Mr. Hanged Man will often consider problems from different angles to provide suggestions. Should I learn from them?
Well... Viewing it from a different point of view, if the content of the notebook isn't problematic, would the physical item actually be what the Psychology Alchemists are after?
What's so special about it? I didn't discover anything... It belongs to a knight who's accustomed to using Dragonese. That knight must've experienced something... Divination! Yes, divination! Perhaps I can find the knight's final location using divination with the help of the notebook. And this might be related to a dragon!
Since it's a dragon, there's a high chance that it's a mind dragon, a representative of the Spectator pathway. Clues involving it would indeed be something the Psychology Alchemists will pay close attention to...
Audrey, that's some nice thinking!
Audrey's eyes turned crystal clear as it seemed to hide a clear resplendence.
She couldn't help but turn her head and looked at the golden retriever sitting by the side.
Susie glanced at her owner and barked.
"Audrey, do you want me to praise you?"
"No, there's no need..." Audrey turned her head back, feeling a little embarrassed.
Then, she discovered an important question. She wasn't able to divine things herself, or it could be said that the revelation that she received from divination would be highly inaccurate!
There's no way to confirm it... No, I can seek Mr. Fool's help! A secret deed ritual? It can only be performed on my body and not towards an external object... Artificial sleepwalking? It's similar to secret deed rituals, so it wouldn't do as well... Sacrifice it to Mr. Fool and get "Him" to do the divination before bestowing it back to me? No, that won't work. It will appear rather disrespectful. "He" isn't my father or teacher, but a real god. Using such a method is way too casual and somewhat sacrilegious... Audrey's thoughts slowly went from Mr. Fool to divination.
Although she was rather incapable of divination, she had a certain level of understanding in the corresponding knowledge. She soon locked onto a particular method of divination.
It was to seek the help of a third party's strength—an unknown or mysterious existence—via a certain ritual. The most classic example of such a method was magic mirror divination!
Yes... It's indeed very dangerous, but the danger stems from the possibility that the target is filled with malice or one that can cause a person to break down immediately. But I don't have such worries. I can seek Mr. Fool's help! Audrey blinked and held down her agitation as she said to the golden retriever, "Susie, guard the door outside. I will use a mysticism method to study this notebook."
"Didn't you use them before?" Susie asked, puzzled.
She's getting harder to fool... Audrey's eyes darted around as she said confidently, "I plan on using magic mirror divination.
"Don't worry. I'll make the plea to a safe existence."
"Alright." Susie determined that Audrey was speaking the truth.
She took a few steps before turning around to exhort her.
"Audrey, you need to be careful about being possessed by a mysterious existence."
"I know," Audrey replied without feeling worried at all.
From her point of view, if Mr. Fool really wanted to do something to her, he had countless opportunities in the past. There was no reason for him to wait until this day.
After Susie opened and closed the door by herself and went out, Audrey sat in front of her desk and recited the honorific name of The Fool to request the use of magic mirror divination.
After a while, Klein, who was on the Future, went to the bathroom and headed above the gray fog. There, he heard Miss Justice's prayer.
That can be done? That's right. As a mysterious and unknown existence, I can be the third force in a magic mirror divination... Klein allowed it while feeling amused.
Audrey immediately picked up the notebook, sat in front of the dresser, and lit a candle while facing the mirror.
-x-X-x-
With the curtains drawn tightly and all the lights extinguished in the room, Audrey followed the requirements of magic mirror divination and completed the corresponding preparations.
Of course, she didn't specially choose a specific time, as there wasn't any need to be that troublesome when getting Mr. Fool's help.
Looking at the candles and reflected light in front of her, as well as her reflection, Audrey picked up a bottle of extract in excitement and some unease. She then dripped a few droplets onto the dim flame.
As the mild and refreshing fragrances filled her nose, for some baffling reason, Audrey recalled the times when she was still a mysticism enthusiast.
In the beginning, she would also commit all kinds of mistakes. She would realize that she had forgotten to prepare the essential oils and extracts that would please the deity at a critical moment during the ritual. All she could do was make do with perfume, and her attempts no doubt failed.
In fact, according to the information which Mr. Fool shared, "He" would similarly respond even if I had used my perfume... Audrey exhaled slightly and, using Cogitation, calmed herself down.
She knew that her uncontrolled thoughts weren't ordinary behavior coming from her. The tiny bit of anticipation and nervousness had been magnified by Lie!
After making sure she was in an optimal state of mind, Audrey clasped her hands and pressed them to her mouth and nose as if in prayer. She sincerely chanted softly, "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era.
"The mysterious ruler above the gray fog.
"The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
...
The secret incantation gently echoed seven times as Audrey felt the surrounding darkness had the inclusion of something which was somewhat indescribable. It was like an undercurrent hidden beneath the water surface.
Looking up, Audrey reached out her right hand and passed it through the still candle flame and stroked the mirror's surface from top to bottom.
At this point, the magic mirror divination was basically done. If the mysterious and unknown existence's interest was piqued, it would respond through the mirror.
Above the gray fog, in the ancient and magnificent palace, Klein looked at the crimson star representing Miss Justice expand and contract as it rippled with an illusory glow. Finally, it was tainted with a nearly black feeling of serenity. It condensed into a circular halo the size of a mirror that appeared to lead to the outer world.
It's different from past rituals. Interesting... Klein leaned back into his chair and extended his spirituality to make contact with the black circular hole.
Silently, his vision changed. The long bronze table and the crimson star overlapped with the spacious room which was illuminated with candlelight, becoming distinct once again.
At this moment, Klein felt that a mirror had become an extension of his body or eye. It allowed him to clearly see and interfere with the real world despite being above the gray fog.
Yes, clearly!
All the objects in Klein's vision no longer looked blurry as they appeared distinctly in his eyes!
His gaze suddenly froze for two seconds.
In front of him was a golden-laced, white-dressed lady. Her long blonde hair was casually tied up as they smoothly and luxuriantly flowed down. Her emerald eyes reflected a somewhat palish flame, looking as deep as the ocean and also as pure as a gemstone. Her facial features and the shape of her face were matched with a stunning beauty. Her bearing and elegance were clear and pure.
Klein shifted his gaze away as he felt guilty for some baffling reason.
I nearly imagined her to be a Demoness of quite a high Sequence. Thankfully, I recalled in time that Miss Justice is a Beyonder of the Spectator pathway. It's impossible for her to become a Demoness... The smell of this extract isn't bad. Very unique... It has a very subtle feeling. The mystical item created from that Faceless Beyonder characteristic? Miss Justice made it into a necklace... Klein's gaze landed on the mystical item which was disguised as a diamond necklace.
Then, he heard Miss Justice say with utmost anticipation, "Mirror, Mirror, please tell me the location of the owner of this notebook."
Audrey knew that she was asking Mr. Fool, but "Mirror, Mirror" were words she had always wanted to recite from the stories she had heard from a young age. She finally had a chance to use it in practice.
The failures in the past don't count! Yes! Audrey nodded inwardly.
Klein instantly looked at the black notebook placed between Miss Justice and the candle. He discovered that his spirituality could easily spread out with the help of the mirror. He could "hold" the divination medium as though he was using his hand.
Above the gray fog, he quickly wrote the corresponding divination statement.
"The location of the original owner of the notebook."
With one "hand" holding the notebook and another hand holding the piece of paper, Klein recited as he leaned back in his chair. With the help of Cogitation, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Audrey looked at the mirror intently with her emerald eyes, awaiting Mr. Fool's reply.
After a few seconds, she saw ripples being produced on the mirror's surface.
It's a success! Magic mirror divination really works! Audrey's eyes widened as they reflected the scenes flashing inside the mirror.
It was a view of a village from above!
The scene zoomed in as the dragon drawings on the various buildings gradually turned clear.
A cathedral quickly occupied the mirror in its entirety before being replaced by the cemetery attached by it. @@novelbin@@
Finally, the scene was fixed on a tombstone in a corner. On it were words that had turned blurry as a result of the elements. The only thing that could still be discerned was the name, "Lindelira."
At this moment, the mirror suddenly darkened before restoring to normal. It reflected Audrey and the candle in front of her once again.
Isn't this the village which had the customs of dragon worship? The knight who wrote the notebook is named Lindelira, and is from that village. He returned to his hometown after the loss of the Twenty Year War and stayed there until his death? Or was he sent back to his hometown as a corpse? Hmm... That village is in East Chester County. Stoen City is also part of East Chester County, so it's very understandable that the notebook which Associate Professor Michele obtained stems from there... There's indeed a mind dragon living in the sea of collective subconscious over there... Feeling enlightened, Audrey thanked Mr. Fool and ended the magic mirror divination.
Under the candlelight's illumination, she stared at the notebook for a moment before deciding to hand it over. She wanted to know what the Psychology Alchemists would divine or figure out.
At the very least, the present me lacks the strength to come into contact with that mind dragon. That's all I can do... Besides, even if the Psychology Alchemists really discover anything and benefits from it, once I slowly rise up the ranks in the organization, some of that will belong to me~ Audrey's mood very quickly turned positive once again.
...
Above the gray fog, Klein rapped the corner of the long bronze table. With Miss Justice's description, he made his judgment.
The notebook and the village had something to do with a dragon, and dragons often implied treasure!
What a pity. Miss Justice's strength is lacking; otherwise, I would've encouraged her to explore it and pray to the "Sea God" if something happens while I provide support to her via various means. Yes, it's too dangerous for her. It can only be set aside for now... If the Psychology Alchemists didn't discover anything, perhaps we can attempt it in the future... Klein suppressed his regret as he recalled the experience of the magic mirror divination.
This kind of divination is extremely advantageous for the third party. There's almost no price to be paid to connect to the real world. If I so wished, I could've torn out of the mirror in my Spirit Body form! But to the user, it's indeed dangerous. They will appear under the "sights" of an unknown existence without any protection. From there, they can be possessed, controlled, cursed, and corrupted... Klein sighed from the bottom of his heart.
He wasn't worried that Miss Justice would abuse magic mirror divination, as she had the best and safest target to pray to. There was no need for her to seek anyone else.
And that would be me! Klein retracted his finger and sat at the end of the long bronze table and waited in silence for twenty to thirty seconds.
Soon, he returned to the real world. He didn't stay too long since he was on the Future. There was someone watching him from the dark.
After leaving the bathroom and putting away Azik's copper whistle and Will Auceptin's paper crane, Klein glanced at the crimson moon which had been shrouded by clouds as he pondered silently for a moment.
He put on his half top hat, pulled open the door, and went into the corridor.
After taking a few steps forward, Klein deliberately slowed his footsteps and glanced at the first room on the left through the corner of his eye.
Based on his judgment, the mysterious pair of eyes that were silently observing him and the deck during the day was in that room.
Klein walked slower and slower as he nearly stopped in front of the door.
He didn't hide the extension of his left palm as he reached for the handle when scenes naturally surfaced in his mind.
Not far behind the door was a clothes rack with nothing hanging on it.
Faint starlight scattered across the clean floorboards. There was a sense of solitude and serenity that lacked the aura of humans.
The windows had opened at some point in time as the sea breeze blew in from the outside, lifting the curtains which weren't too heavy.
There's no one there? Klein had planned on probing the area, but he immediately retracted his left palm and walked towards the stairs as though nothing had happened.
When he arrived on the deck and was taking in the cold night breeze, Klein strolled on the starboard with a cold and casual expression as though his main goal was to come out for a stroll.
Suddenly, he saw a man sitting ahead of him. The man was wearing dungarees and a white shirt.
Frank Lee? Klein didn't stop as he approached.
The man sensed something as he turned his body halfway around to look at the person approaching.
He was none other than Poison Expert Frank Lee, but he no longer wore a smile. Streaming down the corner of his mouth was blood-red liquid.
Klein pricked up his brows without saying a word.
Frank Lee suddenly raised his hands and grabbed a silver-scaled fish that wasn't struggling.
He said in depression, "It failed... Their lifespan is shorter than I imagined. It's impossible to breed them, even if they are planted in the ground..."
As he spoke, he raised the silver-scaled fish in his right hand and bit down on it.
That's good... Otherwise, I'm really afraid of the kind of abominations you would create... So, you are drowning your sorrows with alcohol, no—fish? Klein silently heaved a sigh of relief.
-x-X-x-
Klein couldn't go against his own wishes to console Frank Lee, nor could he bring himself to tell Frank Lee that not being able to breed red wine fish was a good thing. All he could do was pretend that this was a trivial problem and not provide a response.
He walked two steps diagonally and circled around the starboard before looking far into the undulating sea.
By then, the clouds high in the sky had thinned. The crimson moon's moonlight brightened up the rather dark night.
In such an environment, Klein could see the nearby scenery. There were dark clouds that hung low, and he discovered a hurricane swishing back and forth, encompassing an unknown swath of sea.
Under the illumination of the silver lightning, fine rain danced amidst the wind, forming a scene that resembled the dawn of the apocalypse.
Such a terrifying disaster was only a few nautical miles or even shorter from the Future, but the Future didn't seem affected. Only the wind had become a little stronger.
This is the meaning of a safe sea route—to advance by the side of a storm... Without a good navigator, just traveling normally might push the ship into a disaster... Klein turned his head to look where the ship was heading. He saw a little illumination and fog being emanated. The visibility was extremely low, and using just the naked eye was very difficult to discern if they were in a dangerous or safe zone.
Such situations weren't obvious west of Oravi Island. But here, it was common once they took the secret sea route.
Klein was just about to retract his gaze when he saw a black, massive object seemingly hiding in the periphery of the storm!
A sea monster? He suddenly recalled some of the rumors he had heard at the different bars he had been to.
After steering away from the safe sea route, it's very easy to encounter all kinds of monsters. Some of them are behemoths and possess intense offensive power. Once they surfaced from the sea, they could finish it in one mouthful.
The Future didn't stop advancing. Before long, it closed the gap between it and the gloomy but massive object.
Klein finally managed to discern the entity's appearance and discovered that it wasn't a sea monster, but a gigantic sailboat which was even larger than the Future.
The sailboat was nearly two hundred meters long. With its bow and stern raised high, it appeared like a crescent.
Its surface was black. The cannons were arranged in three rows in an untidy manner on the side of the ship. There was order from top to bottom. Apart from the mast, the portions that extended out of the deck was similarly tall and massive. It was at least equivalent to a five-story building.
This ship's most odd feature was that it only had one sail and on it was the drawing of a black tomb.
"The Death Announcer..." A heavy voice sounded in Klein's ears. At some point in time, Frank Lee had thrown the silver-scaled fish whose blood had been replaced with red wine away and approached his side.
The first mate who had a bounty of 7,000 pounds held his head heavy as his muscles remained tense. It was as though an attack would be launched anytime from the minute changes of the gigantic sailboat.
Death Announcer? Klein was first taken aback before he recalled what the name represented.
It was one of the most legendary and infamous ships on the Five Seas!
It was the flagship of the King of Immortality Agalito!
We actually encountered one of the Four Kings... Klein clicked his tongue silently as he uncontrollably entered a highly-vigilant state.
However, he maintained a superficial level of indifference and calm as he continued looking at the Death Announcer.
Recalling how the second mate of the Death Announcer, Slaughterer Kircheis, who had a bounty of 9,500 pounds, had recently appeared in Nas and warned him, Kircheis came to an understanding. He was no longer puzzled as to why he would bump into the Death Announcer not far from the Gargas Archipelago.
After putting aside this question, he made connections with even more rumors. And among these rumors, there were a number which could be confirmed to be an actual description.
King of Immortality Agalito is a middle-aged man who's so pale that he's on the brink of rotting at any moment.
The bounty placed on him by a single country reached as high as 100,000 pounds.
His former enemies are all dead, regardless if they were pirates, adventurers, or members of a naval fleet. Only the other three members of the Four Kings remained alive.
He has never entered into direct combat with an official demigod. He is extremely restrained in such matters.
No one really knows his exact Sequence. No one knows what his Beyonder powers are.
He's cruel by nature and enjoys killing. He can launch an attack on any person or any ship at random.
He liked to find excuses to rip apart promises. Other than his nickname as the King of Immortality, he was often nicknamed "The Untrustworthy."
Thankfully, I'm on the Future. The King of Immortality will likely give Admiral of Stars a free pass. After all, she's one of the seven pirate admirals... No, the Four Kings and the Pirate Admirals can cooperate or be at odds normally, apart from the pirate convention organized by the King of the Five Seas... With the King of Immortality's character, he might not leave any chance of survival! Just as this thought flashed in Klein's mind, he heard a deep, rumbling horn.
Whoosh!
The sailors who were resting in the cabin jolted awake immediately. Without wearing their clothes, they ran to the different cannons on deck to make preparations to do battle. The Future instantly went from a peaceful state to a combative one.
Klein turned his head and looked up. He saw that the captain's windows were already open. Cattleya wore the usual black dress as she stood there and observed the Death Announcer.
She wasn't wearing the thick glasses, and her pitch-black eyes were tainted with some purple, making them mysterious and deep.
Indeed, she's also worried about a sudden attack from the King of Immortality... Klein retracted his gaze and looked at the Death Announcer which had its tail raised up.
At this moment, the two ships had just passed each other by. The pirates could see their counterparts on the other ship.
Similarly, those pirates were also looking over. They maintained a silence resembling that of a statue as though they had zero emotional fluctuations, brandishing their knives and blowing at the guns. They were being extremely provocative.
At that moment, just a matchstick was enough to trigger the tense nerves and begin a war.
Finally, the Death Announcer didn't take any actions. It continued silently anchored on the spot, "watching" the Future pass it by before it distanced itself.
Phew... At Klein's side, Frank Lee didn't conceal his exhalation.
He produced a smile and said to Klein, "Heh heh, there has always been many rumors about the King of Immortality's strength. Others say that he's really a demigod, while others say that he's only a Sequence 5. He is able to reach the level of a Sequence 4 thanks to the Death Announcer. But regardless, he has lived long enough. Uh... Tell me, do you think crossbreeding him and my fishes would enhance their survivability?"
Frank suddenly had an idea.
First, you need to capture the King of Immortality; otherwise, make him interested in your fish... Klein lampooned before calmly saying, "You can discuss it with him."
Frank Lee was taken aback as he sighed, depressed.
"He won't agree to it. He will plant me into the soil."
Just as he said that, the Death Announcer which had opened a gap with the Future suddenly turned its sails.
A shrill laughter which was filled with malice sounded from several hundred meters away as it blanketed the Future.
"Hahaha!
"Hahaha!"
The laughter resounded constantly. It switched from being hoarse, to chaotic, sounding like ravings or singing at times. The sailors on deck fell to the ground one after another as they tried hard to cover their ears, but all they could do was struggle in pain.
A number of Beyonders began to produce fish scales on their bodies.
Klein was similarly affected. He felt that his brain was instantly injected with all kinds of thoughts. There were the good, the bad, the bright, and the dark.
They were abnormally disordered as they combined with the constantly changing laughter to produce a swelling feeling that could burst one's brain.
Klein's facial expression distorted slightly as inconspicuous flesh tendrils began to start wriggling under his skin.
If he hadn't experienced the True Creator's ravings and Mr. Door's cry for help, or suffer similar torment when he passed the gray fog each time, giving him a certain level of resistance, Klein would definitely be like Poison Expert Frank Lee—pressing his head, kneeling down with a ferocious expression to resist the pain brought from the terrifying laughter.
Klein noticed that some short orange hair was growing from Frank's face, making him seem to transform into a bear.
At that moment, the symbols and magical labels on the Future's walls, deck, and mast lit up. They became like a resplendent sea of stars in a moonless night. @@novelbin@@
The terrifying laughter which was either sharp or hoarse didn't weaken, but everyone was distanced from one another in a second. The sounds that came from a further distance away sounded empty and illusory.
Klein's swelling head instantly received reprieve as he used the rest of his strength to look up.
Behind the opened windows in the captain's cabin, the Admiral of Stars's face had additional traces of gloominess, and they looked like they would crack apart at any moment, producing horrible items.
At that moment, Cattleya's palms pressed down on the window sill as bits of starlight swirled around her, seemingly matching the Future which was on the resplendent sea.
Whoosh!
A squall stirred for no reason as the ship began its own adjustment. Despite the Future having so many of its sailors down, it sped up instead of slowing down. It quickly opened up a gap from the Death Announcer.
Klein looked at the room with the mysterious pair of eyes that observed the deck, and he discovered that the windows were rattling from the strong winds without any signs of abnormalities.
Whoosh!
Amidst the strong winds, starlight descended to form a swath of "floating ice" as they dragged the Future into a "rapid flight."
Finally, the Death Announcer vanished behind it. The terrifying laughter which could make a person lose control or go mad turned more illusory and distant.
Frank Lee lowered his hands and panted before barely recovering. Many of the sailors on the deck were still tumbling about and struggling in extreme pain, but their condition didn't worsen.
This ability of the King of Immortality is truly impressive. There's almost no way to defend against it... It's no wonder he's one of the Four Kings... Klein frowned slightly as he sighed.
Although he was experienced and rather knowledgeable, this was the first time he was being directly attacked by a demigod in the true sense of the word. He discovered that even Agalito, who was ranked last among the Four Kings, similarly made him feel weak as though it was impossible to resist.
With Agalito's character, will he make the Death Announcer pursue us? Although there's a high chance he would wait for Slaughterer Kircheis to return, that possibility cannot be excluded... If he chases up, I'll pray to myself and use the Sea God Scepter to give him a maelstrom and a thunderstorm to wipe him out... After making the decision, he once again looked at Cattleya.
The pirate admiral's expression was already ghastly pale. However, there were no longer any signs of darkness. The starlight that twirled around her slowly extinguished one after another.
-x-X-x-