Ebner continued pondering for quite a while, but due to the sheer lack of clues, he still couldn't grasp the full picture of the "God Casket" incident. If this matter weren't so non-urgent, he might have already considered waiting for the cooldown period to end and doing another "Active Prophecy."
"I still can't control the fate shifts brought about by 'prophecy,' so I should use it as little as possible… Hmm, after attending Dunn and Daly's wedding this weekend, I can conveniently look for Xio or Hazel to summon 'Arrodes' and ask some questions…" Ebner thought as he lit the paper in his hand.
—The ritual to summon "Arrodes" couldn't be performed too far from its main body without a medium. It was best done in Backlund.
"I also need to consider which parts of this I should share with Klein… Thankfully, the 'Purification' I placed on Fors before entering the 'Quiz Maze' wore off, so Mr. Fool wasn't able to see the latter half of the 'live broadcast'… Otherwise, I'd have to head above the gray fog and help Klein 'forget' certain details…
"Hmph, Klein is still maintaining his identity as 'The Fool.' He definitely won't reach out to me directly just yet. After all, I prayed to Mr. Fool for Fors's protection, not to The World.
"He's more likely to ask about this during next Monday's small meeting after the Tarot Club…"
As his thoughts turned, Ebner suddenly heard Fors calling out. Thinking something had gone wrong with the previous hypnosis suggestion, he immediately teleported to the underground hot spring.
Turns out she had just forgotten to bring clean clothes and was asking Ebner to fetch them for her…
Glancing at Fors in her bathrobe, Ebner happily obliged.
…
February 3rd, Thursday.
Aboard the Future, Cattleya stood alone by the window of the captain's cabin, her black hair simply draped over her back. She occasionally glanced outside while reading a freshly delivered intelligence report.
The report detailed how the newly-rising adventurer, Gehrman Sparrow, had hunted down the 7,500-pound bounty target "Hawkeye Banshee" Caro, a commander in Vice Admiral Twilight's sub-fleet, with help from an unknown "Wind's Favored."
But Cattleya's thoughts clearly weren't on the report. She gazed at the sun gradually sinking toward the ocean's horizon and sighed in disappointment.
The Queen ultimately didn't come…
On the deck, the robed mage Jane was pacing back and forth. She suddenly sensed her messenger's arrival and quickly accepted the letter from its hands.
—Noticing since morning that the captain's mood was off, Jane had written to Ebner asking for advice. Now, she finally received his reply.
After reading it, Jane murmured with dawning realization, "So today is the captain's birthday… No wonder she's acting strange… Is it because the Queen didn't show up?"
With that in mind, she immediately went to find Frank, who was conducting experiments, and Nina, who was already dead drunk, to prepare an unforgettable birthday celebration for their captain.
However, during the preparations, Jane couldn't help but feel a little curious:
"How did Ebner know today is the captain's birthday?"
…
At the same time, in the port of Bayam, aboard the White Agate.
Captain Ireland looked in surprise as the door to his cabin was slammed open. "Kent, what happened?"
The man was Us Kent, a liaison from the military who had just met Gehrman the day before through Ireland's introduction.
Now, his expression twisted as he demanded, "Ireland, what kind of monster did you introduce me to?"
"…Gehrman Sparrow?" Ireland asked uncertainly.
Us Kent nodded. "Do you know? He killed the 'Hawkeye Banshee' today! Right after she secretly entered Bayam, he killed her despite being ambushed by several extraordinary pirates, and even retrieved her corpse and brought it to me!"
He found the whole thing insane!
"Caro Ivan?" Ireland half-questioned, half-muttered the name.
Then, he gave a bitter smile and said, "Regardless of her strength, that woman's background isn't simple. I recall Vice Admiral Twilight's surname is also Ivan…"
Us Kent nodded. "Yes. From what I know, Caro is Vice Admiral Twilight's niece.
"There's no way he'll let this slide."
"Looks like we need to report this to the higher-ups." Ireland sighed.
"Exactly!" Us Kent had been waiting for that response.
Later, in a garden house near the Bayam Governor's Mansion…
Ireland and Us Kent sat in an elegantly decorated parlor, awaiting a response from a certain bigshot.
After some time, a middle-aged man with black hair and blue eyes descended the staircase, accompanied by a beautiful woman in loungewear… They were none other than Admiral of the Navy Amyrius Rieveldt and his mistress, Miss Cynthia.
Under normal circumstances, this admiral wouldn't bring his mistress to business meetings, but since he was about to leave Bayam and return to Backlund, he no longer cared for appearances.
After all, a demigod had every right to act "willfully."
As long as he didn't commit treason or serious misconduct, no one would hold his rule-breaking against him.
After casually sitting down on the sofa, Amyrius said to the two, "I'll be stepping down soon. You're better off waiting for orders from the next admiral…
"As for my personal advice… Since that adventurer currently shows no hostility, stick to the agreement and continue cooperating, but keep your guard up.
"As for Vice Admiral Twilight, you don't need to worry about retaliation anytime soon."
"Yes, Admiral." Though he called it advice, neither Ireland nor Us Kent dared defy a demigod's words. They promptly agreed and sighed in relief.
Just as they were about to leave, Amyrius casually asked, "Any updates on the reward for resolving the illnesses caused by the Astral Order's 'corruption'?"
This question was mainly directed at Us.
"None yet… Bayam's pharmacists are either clueless or their solutions are too costly to implement…" Us answered respectfully.
Amyrius glanced at Cynthia and nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Then bring me all the impractical solutions first."
"Yes, sir!"
…
Stone City, capital of East Chester County.
Audrey listened quietly to a noblewoman speak, occasionally responding with encouragement and gentle advice.
"Miss Audrey, you're truly an angel. Talking to you makes me feel so much better." As the conversation ended, the noblewoman gave heartfelt praise.
At that moment, Audrey spotted a female priest from the Church of the Evernight enter. She smiled softly and went over to greet her.
This priest appeared to be an ordinary proselytizer, but was actually a secret member of the Psychology Alchemists.
"Miss Audrey, the Hypnotist potion formula has reached me, but you'll need to offer sufficient contributions to obtain it," the priest said softly when no one was paying attention.
Audrey's eyes sparkled slightly, and she smiled. "No problem.
"Miss Smin, I happen to have an interesting discovery. I wonder if it counts as a contribution?"
Miss Smin looked around, then asked curiously, "What discovery?"
"A high elf's dream," Audrey replied with a smile.
Sorting through a century of folklore was too troublesome for her… so she decided to rely on the Psychology Alchemists.
This had already received Mr. Fool's and Mr. Tower's approval.
…
Trier, Intis. Gutten Manor.
Ebner looked at Vice Admiral of Ailment Tracy, now bound by his sealing powers and beginning to regain use of her extraordinary abilities. He nodded in satisfaction and thought:
"Her recovery is progressing well. Looks like this tailored secret technique is up to the standards for offering to the Bayam authorities… Once successful, I should receive a good reward!"
(End of Chapter)