"Hunt them?" Danitz asked subconsciously.
When he truly understood the aning behind Gehrman Sparrow's words, he instantly beca excited. He changed his seating posture and suppressed his voice.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
As a qualified, part-ti pirate, he had nothing to do with beautiful words such as tolerance, compassion, and love. Since he had nearly died at the hands of Steel Maveti and now had the chance to take revenge, he definitely wouldn't miss it!
He believed that he could survive in the pirate industry by relying on an accurate grasp of the situation: knowing when to resist, when to fight for his life, when to feign ignorance when seeing his enemies, and when to settle old scores.
And now, this was an opportunity!
Danitz still couldn't make an accurate judgnt on how powerful Gehrman Sparrow was, but judging from how he had taken care of the fallen Bishop Millet within ten seconds, it was unlikely that it would be too difficult for him to deal with Steel Maveti. Even if he encountered the Admiral of Blood, Senor, it wasn't impossible for him to win.
Of course, this is in a one-on-one situation, and pirates never talk about chivalry...Danitz thought to himself.
Klein leaned forward a little, placed his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands.
"I've told you."
Ah? What? Danitz felt that he was often unable to keep up with Gehrman Sparrow's train of thought.
With regards to this, he could only console himself that a normal person and a madman were different.
Seeing that the other party had stopped talking, he thought for a while and finally rembered what he had to do.
Write down everything that Admiral of Blood and his pirate crew had done!
Hmm... Gehrman Sparrow definitely wants to know how many things they've plundered... Danitz quickly gathered his thoughts, rummaged around the room for a pen and paper, and scribbled a chunk of text.
During this process, he was exceptionally glad that it was his left arm that was injured.
When he was done writing, Klein reached out for it, read it carefully, and confird from the undetailed parts of Danitz's description that Admiral of Blood was the most typical and vile of pirates. Not only did they plunder, but they also abducted people, slaughtered crew mbers, and abused won.
A pirate like Danitz actually knows how to write Ancient Feysac... He's also been educated... After muttering to himself, Klein took out a copper penny and used divination to confirm the authenticity of the material.
Then he said in a tone as though he was giving instructions on what was to be eaten tomorrow morning, "Tell about the Admiral of Blood and his n."
He needs more detailed information... Is he preparing to hunt them? Danitz was delighted, hating himself for not knowing enough.
"Admiral of Blood Senor is suspected to be an evil spirit. Anyone who has encountered him has died a bizarre death. Either they strangle themselves to death, blow their mouths up, hug bombs, or slaughter their companions. Captain said that it's the possession of an evil spirit."
It's very similar to Miss Sharron's Beyonder powers... Wraith? Klein didn't speak as he listened to Danitz go on, in silence.
"Senor can make a terrible shriek. The last ti I fought them, I was nearly knocked unconscious and fell off the deck and into the sea. Heh heh, I returned the favor and set one of their boats on fire.
"Senor knows a lot of undead magic. Cruel, bloodthirsty, and full of desire. His targets can be either male or female, and even humanoid creatures."
Consistent with the unrestrained nature of the Rose School of Thought. Yes, accurately speaking, it's a trait of the Prisoner pathway... The highest probability is that he's a Wraith... Klein nodded thoughtfully.
In response, Danitz beca more active and spoke a little faster.
"Our Captain thinks that Senor has a very powerful mystical item on him, one that makes him very lucky. He always seems to gain the favor of the gods. For example, at a critical mont, his opponent would suddenly slip or have their powers fail. Another example is winning 21 bets in a row."
A mystical item that can make soone lucky? This is very rare... It's from the Monster pathway? Or is it connected to so other evil spirit? Klein guessed based on his own knowledge of mysticism.
"I've never directly fought Senor, so that's all I know." Danitz wanted to throw his hands up, but he was stopped by the pain in his left arm. "He has about seven or eight ships. His flagship is the Tree of Flesh and Blood. Heh heh, that's different from us. We mainly seek out treasure and wouldn't take in anyone. Therefore, we only have the Golden Dream."
It's no wonder the Admiral of Blood's bounty is much higher than Vice Admiral Iceberg, reaching 42,000 pounds... In terms of strength, he should be a bit stronger...Klein imdiately gained an understanding.
He maintained the sa posture as before, seemingly unaffected by the intelligence regarding the Admiral of Blood.
"What about his subordinates?"
Danitz was long prepared as he imdiately said, "Senor has ten of his strongest n under his command; the first, second, third mates of the flagship; and the captain of each ship...
"Steel Maveti is the second mate of the flagship. We think that he's a Sequence 6. His body is like steel and is able to withstand bullets and cannonballs. He isn't afraid of fire, drowning, and various magic. He's strong and fast. He can rip his opponent apart, and he grasps a certain level of undead-related spells. He can summon zombies and rear puppets..."
Zombie? Klein imdiately thought of Maric who played cards with zombies.
Based on the Wraith traits of Admiral of Blood Senor, can it be assud that these pirates are actually part of the outer circle of the Rose School of Thought, or perhaps they're from an organization used to make money? It's a pity that I don't have a ssenger, nor did I ask Miss Sharron if she had one. Otherwise, I could contact her and confirm the Admiral of Blood's identity... Klein guessed with so regret.
He didn't give up just because this matter might involve the Rose School of Thought. In any case, he could change his face and identity afterwards. In addition, he had involved himself with the Aurora Order, the Demoness Sect, Rose Redemption, and Twilight Hermit Order, so he wasn't afraid of offending another entity. @@@@
Actually, it's not like I've never fought against the Rose School of Thought. I've already killed a Wraith, a Zombie, and a Wraith, and I've robbed the Scarlet Lunar Corona and Biological Poison Bottle... Klein suddenly realized how much trouble he had been involved in.
"It's unlikely that Maveti has any particularly powerful mystical items; otherwise, I might not have been able to escape before," Danitz said, feeling sowhat relieved at his luck. "He has a bunch of puppets and zombies by his side, as well as several subordinates at Sequence 7 or 8. As the second mate of the flagship, he should be the leader of the crew in the vicinity since he's here. We can consider hunting him first."
Below the high Sequences, once the number of Beyonders reaches a certain amount, a qualitative change will occur. With the combination of different abilities, it's possible for a group to defeat a Beyonder stronger than themselves. It's just like how a Nighthawks team can definitely take down a Sequence 6, or even a Sequence 5...Klein didn't underestimate Steel Maveti and his n just because he was stronger with Creeping Hunger. He was still as cautious as before.
I have to plan and prepare well. Well, the frequency bands and passcodes I received from White Shark will co in handy, and once Miss Magician's radio transceiver is delivered, I'll get Danitz to frequently monitor the frequency and see if we can glean any information, allowing to go in quickly to reap the harvest... And I can take advantage of this period to explore the possibility of true acting... Soon, Klein formulated a plan as he continued to listen to Danitz tell him about the rest of Admiral of Blood's subordinates.
After a while, when Danitz was finally done, he summarized enthusiastically, "If Steel Maveti can be killed, leaving my na behind, this matter will definitely go on the papers. Once it's spread, I no longer need to worry about informing Captain!"
He was afraid that a traitor was among their ranks and that all the points of contact in the Rorsted Archipelago were under the enemy's control. Therefore, he didn't dare to rashly make contact. He was still vexed over the problem of alerting his captain.
He actually has a brain... Klein nodded and said, "You're in charge of gathering information on all aspects of Steel."
"Alright!" Danitz replied with a grim smile, thinking of the punch that had nearly pierced his heart in the evening.
Klein slowly stood up and walked towards the window. It was dark outside with howling winds and pouring rain. It looked as if the end of the world had arrived.
Thinking of what he was going to do next, he couldn't help but feel like he was acting in a certain sense. Smiling, he muttered to himself in a low voice, "Tonight, Gehrman joins the hunt."
...
City of Generosity, Bayam, in the Cathedral of Waves.
Alger Wilson, who had received the Sanguine's anesthetic gas, was about to sail out to sea for another of the Wind-blessed's main ingredients, when he was summoned by the local diocese bishop.
"There have been rumors recently that Vice Admiral Iceberg received Death's Key. All the pirates in the Sonia Sea are roused by this," the bishop said in a heavy voice. "Investigate this matter."
He was an old man with a head full of white hair, but he was still as energetic as ever. His speech was even faster than a young man's, as though he could charge out at any mont and personally resolve all problems.
His body was strong, his muscles bulging with his bishop's robe. The wind howled around him as he breathed, and the air was moist.
There are similar rumors every year, but they all end up being fake... Such rumors are commonly spread across the sea... Even if it's true, I don't have the right to be involved. There's no need to take the risk. I'll just go through the motions and skirt the edge of this matter... Alger muttered inwardly.
He solemnly clenched his fist and struck his left breast.
"Yes, Your Excellency!
"May the Storm be with you!"
Diocese Bishop Chogo was very pleased with Alger's attitude and returned the sa salute.
"May the Storm be with you!"
The encouraged Alger Wilson quickly left the cathedral and returned to the square outside.
The storm last night had subsided, and only the scattered leaves and water puddles on the ground remained as evidence of its coming.
After taking a breath of after-rain fresh air, Alger decided to visit the few places where pirates road. He planned to put on a show of working hard by trying to seek out information.
If he were to et a fellow with a bounty of a few hundred pounds, he wouldn't mind apprehending the poor bastard. In his opinion, they were liquid cash flow that could be added to his savings.
-x-X-x-
On the ocean, pirates had three iconic common interests—liquor, won, and gambling. Alger Wilson rely took out his silver pocket watch, flipped it open, and knew where he should go first.
At quarter past eleven, the brothels and bars hadn't opened. Only the gambling dens would have easily gathered a bunch of people who wanted to make a fortune. @@@@
Alger was more familiar with this port city than his tiny hotown. He proceeded without stopping at all while he navigated his way, smoothly turning at every corner until he arrived outside a casino that was located in a secluded alley.
According to what he knew, the owner of this casino was a gang leader with a deep background. He had an inexplicable but indistinct connection with the important figure at the governor-general's office. It was the first choice for many pirates to purchase and sell their stolen goods.
Because of this, pirates often appeared here. They might exchange their loot for gold pounds in the morning, but they would lose everything at night and get thrown out.
Alger pulled on his thick brown coat; pressed down his cap, a piece of fashion wear that ca from the mainland; and pushed open the half-closed door. Under the watchful gaze of the bouncers, he entered the casino.
Casinos were prohibited within the Loen Kingdom. They could only be attached to bars as rooms, but in the kingdom's vast overseas colonies, not only were they legal, but they were also a mainstay industry. Among them, Bayam of the Rorsted Archipelago and Alethe of East Balam were the most famous in the area. Many tycoons would specially visit them from Backlund or Midseashire's coast for a big day of gambling.
Surveying the area, Alger saw a variety of card gas, as well as dice-derived turntable gas.
As it was still early, there weren't many gamblers, and Alger quickly "scanned" them all.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he instantly recognized the identity of a disguised person.
He took off his hat, walked up to a Texas Poker table, and patted his target's shoulder. He bent down and whispered into the man's ear, "Blazing."
Danitz happened to be flipping the corner of his card with his right hand, so he almost jumped out of his skin from the slap and nearly sent a fireball towards the guy behind him.
After he had been attacked by Steel Maveti, he knew that he shouldn't seek out information with his true appearance, as he could be targeted by greedy pirates.
Although most pirates weren't strong and didn't register as a threat to Danitz, he still didn't want to reveal himself, lest it set back the plan of hunting Steel Maveti.
However, to his surprise, the disguise he took great effort to don was exposed just an hour after he left ho.
He turned his head quickly to the side and glanced through the corner of his eye at the person who had "greeted" him.
When he saw the signature seaweed-like dark blue hair, Danitz relaxed a little and turned to observe if the other players had heard the greeting.
The gamblers were all carefully studying their hidden card, either folding or continuing, with none of them paying attention to what was happening over at his side.
"Why are you here?" Danitz asked casually.
He and Alger had t at the previous private et, and he knew that the other party had a ghost ship and a dozen sailors. He was quite a powerful but unknown fellow.
According to Vice Admiral Iceberg's judgnt, if such a small and weak pirate crew was able to retain an ancient ghost ship, it ant that they were backed by a powerful faction. Perhaps they were mbers of the Church of Storms, or perhaps they were related to a particular Pirate King or secret organization. They usually disguised themselves as ordinary pirates and gathered information for who they were really loyal to. It was easy to wipe any traces of themselves clean at scheduled tis, and at tis, do things inconvenient for the power backing them. For example, silencing others or plundering certain special items.
There were quite a few pirate crews like this, and no one would particularly be bothered about such matters.
Alger pulled over a nearby chair and sat down. He tilted his head and asked in a low voice, "I heard that your captain obtained Death's Key?"
Danitz snorted with a laugh.
"I thought you had a brain, but you've disappointed .
"How can such a thing be so easily obtainable?
"We'll definitely sell it if you want it and offer a decent price!
"How about it? Do you want to consider this deal?"
Alger casually said, "Perhaps it has other secrets. Maybe soone wants to deal with your captain."
"Who knows? Dogshit!" Annoyed by his new hand, Danitz cursed out loud.
Then, he suppressed his voice and said, "That thing doesn't seem like a creation made by humans. It might belong to the giants or devils."
"Creation? Your captain still insists on teaching language to all of you?" Alger asked with amusent.
The rumor was that Vice Admiral Iceberg was a woman who was very strict when it ca to knowledge. She couldn't stand the sight of a bunch of illiterates under her command, so every day on the Golden Dream, there was a class of general knowledge and reading, and every day she forced the crew to take turns participating.
Wishing he could forget it, Danitz said, "It's much more difficult than fighting!
"Because of this, we're usually unable to recruit enough crew mbers. Every ti we dock at the port to resupply, there will be people who resign..."
He didn't continue with the topic. Looking at the dealer, he said to himself, "Help keep an eye out for Steel's whereabouts."
"Steel Maveti? Admiral of Blood's second mate?" Alger looked down at Blazing's left arm, which was slightly propped up with a splint, and asked, "Were you attacked?
"For the key?"
"His brain has already been eaten by his zombies!" Danitz stressed.
"You want to seek revenge on him?" Alger guessed from the other's tone and request.
"Hehe." Danitz smiled without a reply, looking as though he was concentrating on his new hidden card.
Alger thought for a mont before saying, "The last ti your captain appeared was seven days ago, near Sonia Island. This was confird by a telegram. The Golden Dream wouldn't arrive in Bayam that quickly.
"Do you have a new helper? If it's just you alone, then you aren't a match for Steel even if he were alone. And as you know, he's always attended to by a crowd."
Towards Alger's question, Danitz's response was to throw out a chip.
"Call!"
"Who is it?" Alger first assud that Danitz's attitude was a tacit agreent. He pinned his hopes by asking since it was a riskless endeavor.
Danitz stared at the exposed cards and answered simply, "You wouldn't know."
I wouldn't know? Soone who has the strength to deal with Steel Maveti should be soone with a little fa at sea regardless of if they're a pirate or an adventurer... Unless they belong to a specific secret organization, or it's their first ti traveling the seas. Of course, it's also possible that Danitz doesn't wish to answer, for fear of exposing a secret. That's most probable... Soone belonging to a particular organization, first ti traveling the seas, with the strength to deal with Steel Maveti... Alger looked up slightly as he suddenly had a bold guess.
He tapped on the edge of the table and asked, as if he were chatting about the weather, "Was Bansy Harbor fun?"
He emphasized the word "fun."
Danitz turned his head in surprise and blurted out, "How did you know?"
He believed that with the Church of Storms's style, it was impossible for it to air dirty linen. Furthermore, the passengers of the White Agate had just arrived last night. The people who had witnessed the developnts had all signed confidentiality agreents, so how could the news spread so quickly?
Alger smiled without answering.
At this mont, he understood the value of Emperor Roselle's words: Boldly hypothesize and carefully verify!
Danitz put away his winnings and muttered, "It's no big deal. There was a revival of so ancient customs that led to the fall of a Storm bishop."
As expected... Alger chuckled and said, "I'll help you keep an eye out for Steel.
"But how can I contact you?"
"Hmm... 15 Amyris Avenue is an unoccupied house. Write the information on a piece of paper and throw it in," Danitz answered hesitantly.
Alger nodded and stood up while patting Blazing Danitz on the shoulder.
"Don't forget my paynt."
He turned around and walked towards the door.
Watching the captain of the ghost ship depart, Danitz couldn't help but grumble.
"This fellow isn't bad.
"However, I have to leave this place too."
He couldn't quite trust Alger. Perhaps in a few minutes, he might lead Steel Maveti and his pirates to rush over.
After leaving the casino, Alger, who was wearing a pair of local baggy pantaloons, strolled down the street. He entered a departnt store and found a counter. He smiled and took out a handful of bronze pennies.
"Give a deck of tarot cards."
While he was waiting, he leisurely thought of a question:
What is the adorer of Mr. The Fool doing at this ti?
...
In Old John's Restaurant.
Klein watched as the waiter placed a plate of grilled fish in front of him. It was wrapped with sothing that looked like straw and covered with all sorts of spices, so of which he didn't recognize.
The strong aroma seeped into Klein's nose and greatly enhanced his salivation.
As expected of the Spice Archipelago... Klein was about to pick up his knife and fork when he saw the waiter place two things resembling tree branches on his plate.
Chopsticks? Klein was shocked.
Then he quickly locked on to the suspect: Roselle Gustav!
"This is the kind of cutlery you have to use when eating grilled stickleback. It's said that Emperor Roselle gained inspiration from the customs of the elves," the waiter introduced.
The customs of the elves? They are indeed a race that likes cooking and eating delicacies... Or rather, it's purely an excuse Roselle ca up with... Klein guessed, largely as a result of his understanding of that particular person's character.
In the morning, he had gone to a few church hospitals in Bayam to provide hospice care for so dying people, to help them fulfill their wishes, and to engage in a deeper level of acting, but he had failed to find a suitable target.
This wasn't to say that no one died in the hospital, but rather it was that they all had relatives who either accompanied them or had witnessed their deaths. There was no possibility of disguising himself as the deceased apart from giving people a fright.
I'll head to the bar where adventurers gather. There should be many foreigners who might die in a dark corner like stray dogs in order to pursue wealth at sea, while their families might never hear of them again... Klein suppressed his thoughts and focused on his delicious food.
-x-X-x-
The quality of sickleback's at was certainly not as good as that of murloc at, but the spices synergized to form clear layered flavors which Klein was rather delighted to have tasted. He just couldn't stop himself from eating after the first bite.
Actually, there are so local Beyonders who wish to leave this dangerous circle and lead a normal life. It's completely possible for them to head to Backlund and open a Rorsted-cuisine restaurant, selling grilled fish as their specialty. With the city's acceptance for many things, their business definitely wouldn't be bad. The only problem is that many spices aren't as cheap as they are here. The cost will be very high, and a location has to be chosen to cater to the target group… Klein put down his rather crude chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin, letting his mind wander.
In his view, commoners were unable to find the ans to get rich, mostly because they didn't have enough vision. However, one's vision was also limited by the education they received and their daily experiences. Bound by social class, it was really hard to escape from it and break through this limitation. The most effective way was to strive for a higher level of education, and the second was to take risks and head out on an adventure. Of course, the risk was huge, and many people vanished silently while taking this path.
Klein spent 2 soli and 5 pence for this al, which wasn't cheap, but he had always been willing to spend money on good food. Besides, his main expenses had been paid for by Danitz recently.
Pulling at his collar, putting on his hat, and holding his black cane, he walked out of Old John's Restaurant, just in ti to see a police officer driving a tramp out of the street.
The natives of the Rorsted Archipelago had darker skin than the people of the Southern Continent. It was close to the kind of bronze which was often a result of exposure to the sun. Their hair was mostly dark and naturally curled ever so slightly. They were quite different from the colonists from the Loen Kingdom.
It had been less than fifty years since the place had been completely colonized. At first, Loen had worked with the local kings and chieftains, under the na of the Central Sonia Company to extract economic benefits, but later, the managent of the company quickly fell into corruption as they fought for power, even provoking the enemy for personal gain by starting a war. Even what was even more absurd was that they would report each other, claiming that their competitors had received bribes. With regards to this, they would find a mber of Parliant backing them. During parliantary hearings, they would attack each other, sothing that nearly resulted in suits.
The natives would never have imagined that the powerful figures, who could make their kings and chieftains bend over, kiss the soles of their shoes, and deliver carts and carts of gifts, were actually unimportant people who weren't even mbers of Parliant in Backlund. Although most of them ca from noble families, they were at the end of the line of any inheritance rights.
After that dispute, the King and the Pri Minister agreed to redeem the stock, shut down the Central Sonia Company, and to send their fleet and troops to take over the Rorsted Archipelago in full force, bringing them under true colonial rule.
At present, the archipelago was governed by the governor-general's office, Parliant, and the Courts. The upper echelons were all Loenese, and so of the middle-ranking personnel were mbers of Parliant and court magistrates who were descendants of the original kings and chieftains. As for the low-ranking positions, they were opened to the educated natives of the region. This included police officers below that of superintendents.
It was a native policeman who was driving off the tramp with a baton, and his target similarly was of distinct Rorsted descent.
As soon as the policeman saw Klein in his double-breasted frock coat, half top hat, and black, civilized cane, he imdiately put away his baton, straightened up, held his feet together, and saluted.
"Good afternoon, sir.
"How may I help you?"
Klein felt mixed emotions as he gently nodded.
"Are there no carriages here?"
"According to the regulations of the governor-general's office, carriages aren't allowed to enter this street. You'll have to walk to the street ahead," the policeman explained with both fear and enthusiasm.
"Thank you." Klein casually praised him, "You speak good Loenese."
The policeman was so pleasantly surprised that he beca excited.
"I think—I think that this is an essential quality that a good policeman should possess."
He originally wanted to say that he felt that he too was Loenese, but he was afraid the gentleman across him would end up angry.
Klein secretly sighed and slowly walked to the corner of the street.
Along the way, he saw that the local style of clothing was very different from that of mainland cities such as Backlund and Tingen. It was even different from ports such as Damir and Bansy, which had been colonized for more than two hundred years.
A decent man from Loen, dressed in a formal suit, wearing a top hat and a tie, and holding onto a civilized cane. This made the people around him subservient, afraid to look him in the eye or touch him. The rest of the natives or mixed-bloods liked matching a thick jacket with baggy pants, along with a cap from the mainland. They didn't like black, and they preferred the colors: brown, tawny, and light gray. To Klein, this was indeed a little strange, but it also gave him a feeling of coming to a foreign country.
Of course, the natives of higher standing and those of mixed-blood also mimicked the dressing style of Loen, believing that this was a sign of civilization.
…
2 p.m., Swordfish Bar, an accepted gathering spot for adventurers.
There weren't many custors, so Klein easily made his way through the tables to the bar.
He discovered that what was different from the other places was that there were three blackboards on the side of the bar that were supported by wooden shelves. Sitting on them were yellowing notices in white, with a variety of content, strange and varied. So were hiring bodyguards, so were seeking help in finding people, so were investigating the situation on a particular island, and so were offering a high reward for the head of a particular pirate, while others claid that they had obtained a treasure map and wanted to form a team. In short, the affairs that had been divided up between the private detectives and security companies in the Loen Kingdom still belonged to the adventurers here.
"A glass of Zarhar." Klein tapped the surface of the bar counter.
It was a local malt beer, cheap and tasty, with a unique taste. It was loved by adventurers, sothing Klein had learned from Blazing Danitz.
"Three pence." The bartender casually glanced at the custor, not showing any change in his attitude because of the stranger's unfamiliar face.
With a beer in hand, Klein sat in a high chair in front of the bar, sipping bit by bit as he quietly listened to the drinkers around him. Through their conversations, he searched for a worthy target.
After nearly an hour, when the number of people in the bar increased, Klein finally heard sothing that might be useful.
His spirit was jolted and he beca increasingly focused.
There were four people sitting at the table less than three ters away from him. They were feeling sorry for a man nad Wendt.
"I always thought Wendt was out at sea. I didn't expect him to be at ho. He's very sick."
"Sigh, if I had knocked on his door two days earlier, he wouldn't have died. You don't know how terrifying the room was. Mushrooms were growing on his body in huge swaths of white."
"Dogshit!" Stop it! Can't you see I'm eating sausages?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Wendt's room was filled with bugs, moths, flies, butterflies, bees, and cockroaches. Holy Lord of Storms, I couldn't believe this was a place where a human can live. Even the police who ca later were stunned!"
…
As the conversation passed into his ears, Klein slightly frowned, feeling that Wendt's death wasn't normal. Within a few days of his death, his corpse was already filled with mushrooms, and insects were crawling all over the room.
Sothing Beyonder related? With such an anomaly, the police would definitely report the matter to the Mandated Punisher team… It sounds like it happened three or four days ago. The things that needed to be taken care of should've been dealt with already… Klein seriously considered whether he should pay a visit to take a look. At the very least, the man called Wendt was a lone adventurer in Bayam. None of his peers wished to help him transmit the news of his death.
After listening for a long ti, he gained a rough idea of where the place Wendt rented was. It was at the nearby 47 Blackhorn Street.
Having finished drinking the last drop of the Zarhar beer, Klein put on his hat, left the bar, and headed for the apartnt.
After entering the door, he half-closed his eyes and murmured to himself, "The room that recently had soone die in."
He repeated the statent seven tis in a row, used his cane to quickly and easily arrive outside the room where Wendt used to live.
It hadn't been rented out yet, and the anomaly inside had already been dealt with. There seed to be nothing wrong with it.
Klein put away the note he had used to open the door, locked the door behind him, and walked around carefully.
After confirming the situation, he took out extract, essential oils, herbs, powders, and special candles, and he quickly set up a spirit channeling ritual in front of the bed.
Although it had been several days, making it only possible for him to obtain the most superficial, disjointed, and remnant bits of information, Klein thought that it was better to have so than nothing.
Without a doubt, he prayed to himself and entered the space above the gray fog. He responded and gave himself the power to channel the spirit. @@@@
The fla of the candle suddenly soared, tinged with a ghostly blue as it swayed.
Klein only felt everything fall silent, as if he had entered a realm that didn't belong to reality.
His pupils were completely black, and even the whites of his eyes had been expelled.
He no longer needed to use the technique of dream divination. Having advanced to Faceless, with the help of the gray fog that made an initial entry into the real world, he was able to directly see the lingering spirituality of Wendt, a will that refused to dissipate.
There were three scenes. One was of a tall, thin, dark, curly-haired, sharp-featured Wendt coming to the body of a discarded corpse, astonished to see a glimr from it before it condensed into a green gem filled with an aura of vitality. The second scene was of Wendt lying on his bed with his eyes closed, his mouth slightly open. His skin was covered with mushrooms of all kinds, the surrounding cockroaches and moths piled on top of each other, and on his chest, a silver necklace embedded with the sa green gem from before. The third scene was of a pretty girl with flaxen-colored hair sitting at the edge of the sea with her eyes slightly moist. Lingering around her was Wendt's reluctant voice.
"Raine, I'm about to die. I'm really regretful, regretful that I never told you that I love you. I want you to marry …"
The picture shattered, and the spirit channeling ca to an end. Klein looked around and saw that the house was still dark and gloomy.
This fellow is truly unlucky… Klein shook his head and sighed.
He already had a rough idea of the cause of Wendt's death—his random act of picking up sothing.
The vast majority of Beyonders didn't know about the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Conservation and Indestructibility, and they had never thought that the deceased of their kind would be able to release a characteristic that could beco an ingredient. As this process was relatively slow, it was easy for them to be missed. Therefore, after killing a Beyonder, they would usually search the corpse and throw it away, making passersby like Wendt to luck out or so other creatures at the bottom of the sea or in the wilderness.
Wendt didn't know that it was a Beyonder characteristic, and he had thought it to be a magical gem; thus, he made a necklace and kept it close to his body. Slowly, he was corrupted by the influence and died in agony.
-x-X-x-
By the ti he left 47 Blackhorn Street, Klein had figured out Wendt's general situation.
He had disguised himself as a police officer and learned from Wendt's neighbors.
Syem Island, the island at the farthest end of the Rorsted Archipelago. From Bayam, it'll take four to five hours to get there by liner, and there are only two trips a day, at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively. Wendt's parents are long dead and he has no relatives. The only person involved is a girl he just can't forget, Raine. She's the perfect target for my first performance of acting as soone else. But just thinking about how I need to confess on Wendt's behalf, it feels so awkward... If the girl agrees... Damn, how am I supposed to wrap things up... Klein thought with a troubled expression.
He tried to recall the novels he had read and the movies and TV dramas he had watched, hoping for the most perfect solution.
Soon, he had a general idea of what to do, stabilizing his mood in the process. His thoughts began to drift towards the matter regarding Steel Maveti.
I hope Miss Magician will get a radio transceiver as soon as possible... Klein sighed silently and got onto a rental carriage.
...
Backlund, Cherwood Borough.
Fors opened a letter Xio had brought back.
It ca from the science fiction novelist, Aville, who was pleased to share with Ma'am Wall the future developnt and applications of radio technology.
Fors directly skipped over the beginning and middle content, her eyes sweeping over to the end.
He introduced three types, with detailed addresses and approximate prices. The most expensive is just twelve pounds. Fors nodded slightly, feeling that this wasn't a very important business transaction.
She suddenly felt her self-esteem was a little inflated. Perhaps because she had seen so many hundreds and thousands of pounds transactions in the Tarot Club, she no longer paid much notice to anything in the range of ten pounds.
Mr. World has the resources and finances. In the future, I might need to buy items from him or sell things I don't need. Yes, I'll just add postage, my transportation costs, and the price of the materials expended for the ritual to the original price...Fors made up her mind quickly, and she subconsciously looked out of the window.
Backlund was still gloomy and dark, with a light drizzle pattering down. However, the fog wasn't as thick as it was before.
I wonder when I'll receive the Spirit Eater's stomach pouch from The Sun... Fors couldn't wait to advance.
...
In the Berg household in the City of Silver.
Having already prepared the Spirit Eater's stomach pouch and the materials Mr. Hanged Man wished to acquire, Derrick was in no hurry to sacrifice them to Mr. Fool.
He planned to wait a little longer, until the Chief was leading an expedition team or was presiding over a particular sacrificial ritual, before making an attempt.
This is the safest and most reliable way... Yes, be careful, be cautious! Derrick reminded himself before flipping open the "Giant King's Court—Book of Blackrock, Hand-copied Edition."
Recently, he had been reading this ancient to. From it, he was able to understand so of the faces of the Giant King's Court from ancient tis.
According to the ancient to, it was a Court of God!!
Ti seed to have frozen there, as though it was suspended in eternal dusk. All the buildings were extrely grand and magnificent, even reaching into the clouds.
Humans who walked inside were exceptionally small, and they revered the owner of this scene from the bottom of their hearts.
...
Backlund, Hillston Borough, Waymandy's house.
After listening to an explanation, Emlyn White combed his hair with his hand and intentionally asked, "Lord Baron, I forgot where I heard it from, but there was a very famous city nad the City of Silver during the Second Epoch or in the early half of the Third Epoch."
Waymandy was a vampire baron whose age exceeded 200 hundred years. He didn't look old, and he instead looked like a mature gentleman in his early thirties.
His black hair was neatly combed back, and he was wearing a dark red cotton shirt with a brown pipe in his hand. As he enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace, he said thoughtfully, "No, at least in my mory, there's no City of Silver before the Cataclysm."
Before Emlyn could even revel in his joy, Waymandy went on to say to himself, "But there was a Kingdom of Silver which was originally ruled by the Giant King's Court and later ca under its jurisdiction."
Kingdom of Silver?
Emlyn White thought for a while and said, "Lord Baron, is there anything more specific?"
Waymandy looked up at him, smiled, and said reminiscently, "The Kingdom of Silver had a rather special position in the Giant King's Court. They didn't directly believe in the Giant King, Aurmir, and instead, they believed in the Giant King's Court's queen, Obella."
...
City of Generosity, Bayam, dock area. Acid Lemon Street, Wind of Azure Inn.
Klein stood at the corner of the street, undid the topaz pendant on his left wrist, and divined to ensure that there was no danger ahead.
With that in mind, he strolled back to the inn, went up to the third floor, and opened the door of the luxurious suite.
He was slightly surprised to find Blazing Danitz already back, slumped in his reclining chair, drinking.
After a mont of consideration, Klein calmly asked, "What ti is it?"
"Isn't there a clock?" Danitz muttered.
He looked at the wall opposite him and read out the ti.
"3:40 p.m...."
Before he finished his sentence, Danitz suddenly ca to his senses, sat up straight, and laughed dryly.
"I've already gone to the places I can get information from and asked the people I can ask. There's no need to stay outside any longer. It will increase the risk of exposure and affect your hunting plan!"
Klein found a chair and sat down, and he expressionlessly said, "Tell what happened."
"What problems could there be? Although I'm mainly an adventurer who hunts treasure, I'm also a qualified part-ti pirate." Danitz felt that his abilities had been insulted.
After being swept by Gehrman Sparrow with a cold glance, he smiled and gave a brief overview of the places he went, the people he t, and the news he had heard from the morning and afternoon.
Hearing Danitz sigh that a captain of a ghost ship nad Alger knew about Bansy Harbor, Klein suddenly wanted to frown.
With Mr. Hanged Man's relationship with the Church of Storms, even before I controlled The World and actively ntioned it, he didn't know about the anomaly at Bansy Harbor, so how could this Alger have known? Is he so powerhouse of higher standing in the Church of Storms who's disguised as a pirate, or soone who has so sort of relationship with the heretics in Bansy Harbor? Hmm... Mr. Hanged Man has been active in the surrounding seas, so there's a possibility that it's him...Klein's heart stirred as he recalled the characteristics of The Hanged Man. @@@@
Above the gray fog, although he couldn't clearly see the other mbers' appearances, it was still obvious as to whether they were n or won and what their hair color was!
Klein raised his hand to stop Danitz from speaking. He said in a low voice, "Very ssy hair, dark blue in color?"
"You know him? That guy isn't simple!" Danitz sighed.
As expected... Heh heh, I really didn't expect to et him so easily... Klein didn't respond; instead, he leaned forward and said, "Continue."
Without thinking too much into it, Danitz gave a general description of what happened afterward and explained himself.
"As you know, no one can be sure when they'll get anything when trying to get information. After finding everyone who could be found, the only thing one can do is wait patiently. This will definitely take a while."
"There's another solution that doesn't require waiting," Klein deliberately said in a flat tone.
"What solution?" Danitz asked in surprise.
Klein nudged his gold-rimd glasses, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile.
"Use bait."
Bait? Danitz looked at him, montarily puzzled.
In just a second, he had co to his senses.
Only he could be the bait!
As for fishing for the enemy, no one cared if the bait was actually swallowed or not. One only cared if the prey could be pulled out!
Simply put, "bait" was a highly risky species!
"Haha, that's not a great solution. Yes, that's what my intuition tells . I should be able to gain sothing from the Red Theater. I'll go over there to take a look!" Danitz took his coat as he eagerly rushed out the door.
Klein originally wanted to tail far behind Blazing and see if he could find any clues, but suddenly he heard layers of illusory prayers.
It ca from a man.
Klein paused thoughtfully and turned into the washroom.
Ten seconds later, he appeared above the gray fog. He saw the crimson star that represented The Hanged Man constantly burgeoning and shrinking.
As expected... Klein sat down, leaned back in his chair, and emanated his spirituality.
The voice of The Hanged Man beca clearer:
"Honorable Mr. Fool, I'm currently instigating a key related to Vice Admiral Iceberg. I t Blazing Danitz at a casino and learned that he was a witness at the anomaly in Bansy Harbor. I also learned that he plans to join forces with a powerful figure to deal with Steel Maveti.
"I suspect that Blazing Danitz is working with your adorer, so I've prayed to you.
"If this is indeed the case, and if he wishes to receive a certain degree of assistance, I can be of so help."
Mr. Hanged Man has indeed guessed Gehrman Sparrow's identity... He likely only had his suspicions, but he successfully obtained verification by inquiring about Bansy Harbor from Danitz... This is also good. With the help of an experienced local, the plan to hunt Steel Maveti would be much smoother... Unless it directly affects The Fool, there's no aning for The Hanged Man to entrap an adorer... Judging from his expression and attitude, he doesn't have any suspicions towards The Fool yet... I didn't leave any loopholes... Klein's thoughts raced, and he quickly made his decision.
After making a divination, he conjured The World and covered the dummy with fog. He placed him in a praying stance and answered solemnly, "Honorable Mr. Fool, I am in need of so assistance."
After finishing this scene, Klein threw the voice along with the scene into the crimson star symbolizing The Hanged Man.
-x-X-x-
5 p.m., Olive Tree Avenue, Pam's Divination Lodge.
Alger Wilson pushed open a brown wooden door with panes of glass situated above it, and he entered the cafe that had a mysticism the.
He ordered a cup of Fermo coffee from the Paz Valley on the Star Highlands of the Southern Continent. He took out the tarot cards he had bought earlier and placed it beside him. The top card was The Hanged Man, depicting an angel hanging upside down with his hands tied behind his back.
Unlike this morning, he had changed into a dark, classical robe and wore a clergyman's biretta, like a warlock or magician from folklore.
After taking in a silent breath, Alger slowly sipped his coffee. He didn't show any anxiety from waiting.
After about five or six minutes, the thick brown wooden door opened again, and a young man in a black tweed coat and a half top hat ca in.
The gentleman's appearance wasn't even thirty years of age. His face was thin and angular. He had both a mature and gloomy temperant. It was none other than Klein who had slightly modified his appearance and changed his persona.
He wasn't wearing gold-rimd glasses, but his eyesight was unaffected. With a casual sweep with his eyes, his gaze landed on Alger's dark blue sideburns.
Klein looked down and saw The Hanged Man card placed face up on the deck.
Without a word, he walked over, took off his hat, and sat down opposite Alger. He said with a grim smile, "I'd like to have a divination."
As he spoke, he had already taken in the appearance of the most senior mber of the Tarot Club.
Deep facial features, rough outline, with a clear weathered look. It's obvious he was a person adept at fighting and is often outdoors.
His skin is bronze in color, but it differs from that of the natives. He's like the result of a pure Loenese being battered by the elents for years, but the dark blue hair is more peculiar, sothing that doesn't belong to Loen. It's closer to the colonists of Desi Bay who live in Berserk Sea region.
Mixed blood... Klein made his judgnt.
Alger looked at the gentleman across him, slowly superimposing his image with that of The World. Then, he pushed out the tarot card and said in a low voice, "This requires you to shuffle and cut your own cards."
Klein reached out and picked them up, spreading them fully to take them in. Following that, he gathered them together and did a reshuffle.
He cut the cards continuously, took out three cards, and placed them in an arrangent of past, present, and future.
Klein slowly leaned back, but he turned over the middle tarot card with his right hand. It showed a naked woman wearing only a purple silk scarf, surrounded by a green wreath like a door.
This was The World, numbered 21. Number 22 returned to 0, symbolizing The Fool.
"How should I interpret this?" Klein asked deliberately.
Although The Hanged Man hadn't explicitly ntioned that The World was the adorer of The Fool, Klein didn't think it was necessary to hope otherwise. He felt that being honest about it aided in establishing his image—if Alger hadn't guessed it, then it was an act of being open and confident. If Alger already knew about the matter, it would make The World appear at ease, as if everything was within his grasp.
H-he knows I know? He already believes that I've guessed it before raising the topic above the gray fog? Impressive... Alger's heart skipped a beat as he replied at a moderate pace, "It's inverted. It ans that things will fail due to a lack of preparation."
"What kind of preparations are needed?" Klein thoughtfully nodded and asked.
Alger took back all the tarot cards apart from The World and skillfully reshuffled and cut the cards.
Then, he flipped open the top card.
It was The Hierophant!
Alger's voice remained deep and low.
"You need advice. You need the help of faith and religion to avoid going down the wrong path."
Without waiting for Klein to speak, he followed the sequence and turned over the second card. On it was The Moon which overlooked the land.
"You will be confused, you will be exhausted, and you will be wandering in your dreams, but this is only temporary."
Next, Alger handed over a third tarot card; it was The Sun.
"Everything shall pass, and the light will shine upon the land," he spoke like a charlatan.
Klein remained silent for a few seconds, then seemingly asked for confirmation, "Church, dream, sun?"
A hint of a smile spread across Alger's face. He nodded slightly and said, "That's right."
He had hidden hints for the follow-up plan during the tarot divination.
In fact, in a situation where he had no skin in the matter and wasn't even noticed, there was no need to be so tactful. He could've described things in detail directly, but Alger felt that he still needed to test out an adorer like The World. He wanted to know if he was smart enough, rather than relying on his strength.
If their intelligence were on the sa level, Alger felt that they could cooperate more in the future. There was no need to talk too much between smart people; on the contrary, he would try to not involve The World in his own affairs. He would only ask for help when he needed a helper, unless Mr. Fool had other orders.
Now, The World's response and previous performances had confird that he was sly, vicious, and experienced.
Heh, I'm a tarot card expert... On such matters, Mr. Hanged Man, you're just a rookie... Klein secretly laughed, belittling him inwardly.
The ssage hidden in The Hanged Man's interpretation was very simple. The Hierophant ant that he wanted to inform the Church of Storms about Blazing Danitz and Steel Maveti, and then use the power of the Mandated Punishers to divide the enemy and reap the benefits.
This was sothing Klein often used, so there was no difficulty in understanding.
The Moon and The Sun cards which followed were a reminder and warning from The Hanged Man.
Since the Mandated Punishers were involved, a certain amount of caution had to be taken. According to Alger's experience, his colleagues in Bayam would definitely use a Sealed Artifact that could force many people within its range to fall into a dream, when dealing with similar issues. Maveti's characteristic ant that there had to be a specific item in the Sun domain which targeted him.
I'm immune to dreams, so I'm not afraid of the Sun... Klein reached out his hand and half-turned the inverted The World card, turning it into its proper position, aning that this plan was feasible and that he would make preparations.
Alger raised his head and took a deep breath.
"The master here specializes in aromatherapy. She can use the fragrances of different essential oils, extract, incense, and flower essence to treat corresponding emotional problems and pacify the restless mind. Do you want to try it?"
Using the contact point at Amyris Avenue? Klein smiled in response.
"Okay."
The two of them looked at each other as they remained motionless. They stopped talking about the aromatherapy anymore as both of them already had everything laid out.
Klein didn't stay any longer than necessary. He took out his pocket watch, looked at it, and slowly stood up.
Alger wiped away his smile, pressed his hand to his chest, and slightly bowed.
"Let us praise God. All divination outcos co from 'His' revelation."
Oh, you even know how to express your loyalty... Klein tried to hold back his laughter as he replied seriously, imitating Alger, "Let us praise God."
He took two steps away, then suddenly stopped and looked back at Alger, chuckling as he put on his hat.
"Frankly, you aren't suitable for that type of attire."
Ah? Alger couldn't keep up with Mr. World's train of thought.
When Klein had left the thed coffee shop, Alger retracted his gaze and looked at the mirror in the corner and took a good look at himself.
Initially, he didn't think there was anything wrong wearing that. However, after The World's remark, he found it more inconsistent the more he looked at himself. Finally, he understood why he had said that.
A fellow, who looked boorish and hardened, one appearing capable of summoning a hundred sailors at any ti to beat up his opponent or bringing out an axe and chopping them into pieces, really shouldn't be wearing such a mysterious classical warlock robe. It made his bearing sowhat abnormal.
...
Cathedral of Waves.
Alger, who had changed back into his original clothes, kept a low profile and followed the worshipers into the hall. He took advantage of the act of making a confession in order to et the bishop, Chogo, through the priest in charge.
After saluting, he went straight to the point.
"I t Blazing Danitz, who claims that the key that Vice Admiral Iceberg possesses has nothing to do with Death's treasure and that they are even willing to sell it.
"He entrusted with a mission to take note of Steel Maveti's whereabouts. Apparently, he was injured by this second mate of the Admiral of Blood, and is in a rush to escape from his pursuit.
"Your Excellency, I wish to leak this news, making Steel Maveti and his subordinates successful in cornering Blazing Danitz. And I wish to use this opportunity to capture them all or execute them on the spot.
"This will be able to effectively keep the arrogance of the pirates in check." @@@@
Chogo revealed a look of approbation.
"Very good. The way you do things is better than I expected."
Alger replied with a look of humility, "This all stems from the Lord's guidance, and also from your teachings.
"In the evening, I'll find a suitable target to leak this news to. If I co to pray again, it will indicate that Steel Maveti temporarily isn't taking action. If I do not appear, it ans that I might be restrained by him or his subordinates to prevent any news from leaking. This ans that they have fallen for the trap."
After giving details of the location and other matters, Alger returned to the confessional and left as usual.
...
7:15 p.m., Amyris Leaf Bar.
Alger, wearing a pair of baggy pants and a head towel wrapped around his dark blue hair, stood by a boxing ring and held a glass of Lanti Proof in his hand. With a mocking expression on his face, he looked at the two contestants with bruises all over.
Soon, he noticed his target had entered the room and was heading straight for the bar counter.
After a while, he sat down next to the thin man and said with a chuckle, "I heard that Steel has arrived in Bayam."
The man tilted his head in alarm and replied with a fake smile, "Why don't I know about it?"
"Is that so? It looks like Blazing fooled !" Alger smacked the bar counter and drank a mouthful of alcohol.
"Blazing... Danitz?" the man's eyes lit up as he asked hesitantly.
"Yes, that's him!" Alger gritted his teeth. "I t him this morning at the Gold Coin Casino. This damned fellow claid that Steel was in Bayam. Pui! How dare he lie to !"
The swarthy, thin man's eyes darted around without interrupting.
He finished listening quietly, stood up, and chuckled.
"I forgot that I have sothing to do. We should have a ga of cards another ti."
He patted Alger on the shoulder and in a seemingly unhurried manner, left the bar in a hurry.
Alger held a glass of alcohol, half-turning to look at his back. His eyes appeared deep and gloomy, and there were no signs of a smile at the corners of his mouth.
-x-X-x-
Looking up at the wall clock and seeing that it was past eight o'clock, Alger put down his glass mug of alcohol and pushed his way through the drunkards into the street.
As the Rorsted Archipelago was rich in coal, Bayam was like the mainland cities of Backlund and Pritz Harbor. Its streets were lined with tall black lamp posts, and the light of the burning gas effused through the tal grille, illuminating the relatively clean streets.
Alger pulled off his headscarf and slowly turned into a side alley. At a dead-end in the alley, he could sll the scent of urine mixed with alcohol. Although the Amyris Leaf Bar had a bathroom, it clearly wasn't enough for the custors during peak periods. So of the drunks who couldn't hold it in could only find a secluded place to relieve themselves.
The red moonlight penetrated the clouds and shone into the alley. While Alger was still considering whether he should put on a more convincing act, a firm and pervading voice ca from behind him.
"Did you purposely leak the information about Blazing to us?"
He's not stupid... Alger muttered to himself as he slowly turned around, as though preparing for a surprise attack.
Seven or eight steps away, he saw a figure leaning against the wall.
The figure was about 1.78 ters in height, and it wore a boat-shaped hat. Its face was thin and sharp, and it wore a look of aggression.
He had a lock of black hair hanging down, half obscuring the dark green eyes on his left side, which softened his own coldness.
Even though there was often quite a difference between a wanted poster and the person in question, many famous pirates didn't even don disguises as they wandered the city. As an insider of the Church, Alger had seen many almost photographic portraits drawn with rituals and had participated in pirate conventions. He was still able to successfully link the person in front of him to a na on the bounty notices.
He didn't express this point and deliberately hesitated before asking, "Calm Squall?"
He was the chief helper of Steel Maviti, a Beyonder who was good at controlling his emotions and thinking calmly, but he was also inhumane and had a 1,500 pounds reward offered for him. The man pulled at his black windbreaker and revealed an empty smile.
"Can I deny that?
"Well... probably not, just like how you can't deny that you deliberately ntioned Blazing to Oamaru. He's not soone who enjoys using his brain, the complete opposite of ."
"I've never thought of lying. I only wish to obtain so paynt for the news you received from . Between Blazing, who's alone, and Steel, who has so many helpers, anyone with a brain would know which to choose. Of course, I wish that you keep it a secret. I don't want to be pursued by Vice Admiral Iceberg," Alger replied frankly.
Squall nodded his head leisurely and said, "Tell the specifics."
"Just like I ntioned before. I bumped into and recognized Blazing at the Gold Coin Casino. He entrusted to take note of Steel's whereabouts. Heh heh, it seems like he wishes to launch a counterattack," Alger said with a scoff. "We agreed upon a point of contact. I believe this is intelligence worth at least 1,000 pounds."
"1,000 pounds? Look up at the crimson moon. Are you dreaming!?" Squall scoffed. "This might be a trap. Don't you understand that? Blazing might very well have found helpers, which is why he dares to seek us out."
"It's not for to judge whether it's a trap or not. 500 pounds. Less than that, and I'd rather pretend that nothing has happened." Alger attempted to argue on the basis of reason for the reward.
"300 pounds. You have to follow sowhere and stay there for so ti. It's to prevent you from selling this piece of news to others and spoiling our plans. We'll pay you when we capture Blazing with the intelligence you provided or have his spirit channeled. Don't worry. Food, alcohol, and a bed will all be free. Regardless, you lucked out! If there are any accidents that had resulted from you, hehe. I believe you'll know the outco," Squall suggested with a tone which didn't allow for refusal.
Sure enough, just as I expected, with my background being unknown, and with not being too dangerous, the possibility of them choosing temporary detention is much higher than silencing ... However, I've also made preparations for a worst-case scenario. As long as I'm not too careless, escaping isn't a problem... Alger deliberately acted like he was in a dilemma as he said, "No more than two days, or my crew will leave with my ship."
"I'll inform them if it exceeds two days." At so point in ti, a sharp scalpel had appeared in Squall's palm, and he was making it jump and spin like an acrobat.
After Alger described in detail the point of contact at 15 Amyris Avenue and the corresponding communication thods, Squall didn't speak further. He turned around and led Alger as they turned at every corner, and they arrived at an unknown street before entering a nondescript house.
"Long ti no see, blue-haired captain of a ghost ship." The door was opened by an old man with hair that had more white than black. He was dressed as a local and wore a pair of baggy pantaloons.
"Old Quinn. You really are the intelligence officer of the Admiral of Blood..." Alger deliberately said in astonishnt.
Old Quinn chuckled and said, "There's always so truth to rumors. What you imagine to be fake might very well be real."
He didn't switch on the gas wall light, but he carried a silver candle lamp in his hand as he guided Alger and Squall through the dark hall into a spacious, windowless basent.
"You'll stay here for a while. My friends and I will be in charge of watching you and also provide you with alcohol and food," Old Quinn said with a laugh. "To show our sincerity, we're not going to disarm you."
"Alright." Alger took the initiative to walk to the low bed in the basent.
Old Quinn closed the heavy stone door and locked it behind him.
Squall didn't linger on, but hurried away, checking repeatedly to see if he was being followed.
After changing to a rental carriage, he ca to a Loen enclave in Bayam. It was also the residential area of the upper class.
As he entered a garden bungalow, Squall saw Maveti sitting on a sofa in the living room, waiting for him. The others were either lying, standing, or sitting in a semicircle, with puppets and zombies acting as guards around them.
Steel's lips were thick, his skin swarthy. His hair was curled up like steel balls often seen in factories.
"Is the intel reliable?" The muscles on his arms trembled, exuding vibes of trendous strength. However, his entire being emanated a cold and sinister feeling, as if he wasn't a living creature.
Squall nodded.
"He's a pirate captain who serves money. I've already detained him at Old Quinn's place. If there really is a problem, he definitely won't be able to leave that place alive. I think he knows this very well."
At this point, Squall revealed a cold smile.
"However, we still have to be wary of any accidents. This might be a trap set up by Blazing."
"Do you have any ideas?" Maveti asked directly.
The first thing he saw was a pirate lying on a couch. He was wearing a brown local tunic and twirling a yellowish-brown straw hat with his fingers.
This was Maveti's deputy of this round of operations. He was the captain of the sixth ship which was lost in the battle with Vice Admiral Dusk, "Blood Brambles" Hendry. He had a bounty of 3,800 pounds.
"It's clear that Squall has a plan." Hendry used his straw hat to cover his pale face.
Squall chuckled and said, "Didn't that adventurer, John Smith, send Mordor to join us undercover? Let's deliberately leak the news to him, making him think that we're still waiting for help and that we can only take action the day after tomorrow or three days later.
"Those bunch of greedy adventurers definitely wouldn't let Blazing off. They'll definitely fall over themselves for him. When the ti cos, we can find a spot to watch the show. If there are any accidents, they'll be the ones bearing the brunt of things. If everything is successful, we can also cull them!"
"Alright." Steel Maveti's eyeballs slightly moved, radiating intense bloodthirst.
...
In the early hours of the morning, everything was ready.
Blood Brambles Hendry brought a leather suitcase over, took out a peacock-blue carpet, and slowly spread it out in front of him. There were many mysterious patterns on it that had a nonhuman flavor to it.
Maveti, Squall, and two other Beyonders, as well as eight zombies and puppets, took their places on it.
Hendry was the last to step in. Closing his eyes halfway, he recited a single word in Elvish, "Flight!"
The peacock-blue carpet tightened suddenly and floated upwards, lifting everyone up from the ground and into the air as they flew towards Amyris Avenue.
During this process, Hendry pulled out a black handkerchief and shook his wrist, turning it into the night sky which magically covered all their traces under the moonlight.
In about seven to eight minutes, they arrived in the area around 20 Amyris Avenue. Diagonally across them was the targeted house.
They didn't move forward. Instead, they let the Flying Carpet hover silently in front of the crown of a thick tree as they lay prone to observe the situation. @@@@
Ti passed, second by second, as Hendry steadied the mystical item. There were no signs of a lack of spirituality.
The night slowly passed, and the horizon was suffused with a faint red glow. The sun was about to rise, and the gang of pirates led by Steel Maveti began their preparations to find another suitable spot for dayti surveillance.
At this mont, a figure nimbly moved across the rooftops with his back bent, arriving above 15 Amyris Avenue.
He wore a black cloak, his eyebrows yellow, and eyes dark blue. His facial features and contours were relatively soft. It was none other than Blazing Danitz!
Danitz looked around cautiously for a mont, then climbed up the raised chimney, pushed his hand through it, and slid down.
He's really here? Steel Maveti, Blood Brambles Hendry, Squall, and company felt their spirits lift at the sa ti.
At this mont, several figures sprang up from the chimneys and periphery of Units 13, 14, and 17. They rushed over with fast and potent stances, either breaking the windows, kicking open the doors, or using the chimney to rush into Unit 15 from different positions.
-x-X-x-
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