When "Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea" Hal Constantine recited the honorific name of the "Land of the Unknown," Ebner, who was resting in his bedroom, instantly received the relevant information from the "Pure White Eye."
Just the name, without using the secret technique I taught? Testing me?
Ebner quickly guessed what the other was thinking. After a moment of consideration, he simulated the Nightmare's ability, forcibly pulling Hal into a dream, while commanding his avatar Owen to change into the appearance of the "Professor" and silently enter the dream.
On the other side, Hal, who had just finished reciting the honorific, felt a brief daze. But he quickly regained clarity and, based on past experiences, knew that he was now inside a dream.
—That "Segust" sea monster was also a master at creating dreams. Every time it issued a mission, it dragged him into a massive dream palace.
Glancing warily around, Hal realized that unlike previous lucid dreams, this time he was standing in his childhood town—the town where everyone bullied him and his mother, leaving only endless humiliation and hatred in his heart…
The very town he had sacrificed to the sea monster in exchange for the power of a "Favored of the Sea"!
"Why create this scene?" Hal guessed the existence who pulled him into the dream was nearby, and he asked with a touch of dissatisfaction.
Ebner strolled leisurely out of a house and answered with a smile, "This wasn't created by me. It's simply the place most deeply imprinted in your mind."
"Is that so?" Hal was silent for a few seconds, then said, "The being behind you was able to bypass the sea monster's spiritual brand and invade my mind… Now I believe He truly can help me get rid of it."
If not for your prayer to the Land of the Unknown, I wouldn't have been able to leverage its power to descend into your psyche at all…
Though this was his true thought, Ebner only gave a slight, inscrutable smile, wearing the look of my Lord's normal operation.
Seeing that the other party wasn't going to reveal much, Hal felt regret but also knew his counterpart was a seasoned player. He didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "That 'talisman' and the secret technique you gave me—I've studied them.
"The secret technique is simple in structure. Its main effect seems to rely on the existence I pray to… But the talisman, with its complicated patterns, I couldn't make sense of."
Because there is no meaning. That talisman is merely a 'key,' just like the pendant Roselle left Miss Gwen that could be used for 'transformation.' Stained with the aura of the Pure White Eye, it allows me to locate you and project power.
The essence of the secret technique I hastily created is still you using that card resembling the "Fortune Stealer" talisman, connecting to the Land of the Unknown through ritual and incantation. Then the Land of the Unknown relays to you the power I pried from Klein's "Sefirah Castle" using the genuine Fortune Stealer talisman. With it, your "controlled" fate is temporarily shifted to someone else… or rather, shifted to Owen, making him the sea monster's "favored" in your stead, and in its weakest moment, delivering a fatal strike.
As for whether Owen would also be controlled by the sea monster, I had my concerns. But since the Land of the Unknown's power could so easily bypass the sea monster's use of "primordial residue" to control minds and invade your psyche as Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea, it shows the Land's authority far surpasses the sea monster's dominion. And it's far more domineering.
His thoughts turned rapidly, but Ebner didn't explain any of this to Hal. He only replied flatly, "That talisman—or rather, card—is a token of my Lord.
"With it, the ritual succeeds.
"But the timing of activation is up to my Lord."
Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea Hal Constantine had clearly anticipated this and nodded. "I'm willing to be this chess piece…" He paused, then asked, "Aside from this, what else must I pay?"
"I need all the intelligence you have on the sea monster and the 'Deep Sea Sacrament.'" Ebner smiled as he stated his request.
"That's all?" Hal frowned in disbelief. "You don't need me to do anything else?"
What could a Sequence 5 even do? Ebner sneered inwardly, then said with a half-smile, "I've no intention of deceiving you. Once you've uttered His name, you're under His gaze. You cannot betray Him."
"I know… But is it only the gaze?" Hal stared seriously at Ebner.
"Just the gaze. Even if there's a task, my Lord won't force anyone. 'All is voluntary, and all effort shall be rewarded'—that is my Lord's creed." Ebner knew Hal feared falling from one swamp into another, so he casually spoke words of reassurance.
And indeed, this wasn't a lie… for that was his own principle of conduct.
Hal studied him for a long while before finally nodding. "I believe you… And if it's only like this, I can accept!"
In truth, so long as it wasn't as domineering as the sea monster's control, he could tolerate even something like the True Creator forcing believers to listen to its ravings.
And this "Unknown" was offering terms almost too good to be true.
In the past, he would never have believed so easily… But now, he had no choice.
With a sigh, Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea Hal Constantine organized his words and began to recount what he knew.
"The sacrament always starts on April 1st and ends before May 1st. During this time, the island is completely sealed. One can enter but not leave… At least ordinary demigods cannot leave.
"From the 1st to the 10th is when the sea monster accepts sacrifices. All offerings must be delivered before the 10th, or else the sea monster goes mad and destroys the island.
"There was once an incident when there weren't enough sacrifices, and that forced the Delien family to change the ritual location.
"Normally, all the slaves, administrators, the pirates I brought, and the navy soldiers of the Delien family were sacrifices.
"But this time, the Delien family suddenly changed the overseer. And with certain changes in the details of the sea monster's dream… I suspect the Deep Sea Sacrament will end entirely within one or two more iterations. By then, both I and that demigod named Owen may be the final sacrifices.
"Whether it's this time or the next, I don't dare gamble… That's why I took the risk.
"I hope to break free of it completely—or even kill it!
"But even in madness, that sea monster still has powerful divination abilities. Your intervention may alert it.
"Though it won't abandon the Deep Sea Sacrament, it will surely call for aid."
Hearing this, Ebner interjected, "What existences do you think it would call?"
"It doesn't need to call. Once it feels unease, terrifying beings will descend…
"To my knowledge, at least one angel of the Rose School of Thought and one angel of the Nors family. As for demigods, they're impossible to predict." Hal's voice was heavy.
This level of power had once driven him to despair. But thinking of the backgrounds of the three aboard the Black Throne gave him a shred of confidence.
As long as both sides clashed, no matter who won, his plan was to flee as soon as he was free.
Ebner, however, sighed softly and thought:
All subordinates of the Mother Tree of Desire… That makes sense. Aside from the one hidden in the Tenebrous World, only She would care so much about matters of the Shadow World…
The fact that She indirectly controlled the Delien family's cult faction to repeat the ritual was likely just to conceal Her true intent from the orthodox Churches. But now, at this critical step… She'll surely mobilize both the Rose School and the Nors family in full!
With this in mind, Ebner ended the dream meeting with Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea, then had his true body slip out of the ritual zone before the island was fully sealed, going into hiding. Meanwhile, through Mr. Fool and his own demon wolf messenger, he began calling in favors.
…
On the Black Throne in the Sea of Mist.
Cullen looked at Mr. Azik emerging from the void. Unlike his earlier arrogance when lecturing Tran, he now said respectfully, "Ebner Bryan requests your aid. The price is a manuscript concerning the Death God."
The "Saintess of White" was still under Ebner's control. Retrieving the manuscript that Trissy had handed to the Demoness Sect was no difficult matter.
Mr. Azik accepted the manuscript and letter Cullen handed over, remained silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I will be there on time."
…
On Yes Island in the eastern Rorsted Archipelago, Klein blew his harmonica, summoning the messenger lady carrying four heads. He conveyed Ebner's request to her.
"Ebner… request… I will… accept…
"But… need… ten thousand… gold coins…" The four heads answered one after another.
Without hesitation, Klein replied, "Ebner will pay for it!"
…
In the MI9 headquarters office, Princess Vera received a letter passed on by Xio. After pondering a while, she took out the Sealed Artifact capable of "spirit world travel" and teleported directly before Lady Yalolan.
…
In the basement of the Harvest Church, Lilith, who hosted the container of the Goddess of Beauty, smiled at an exquisite puppet. "I need to keep an eye on Seer, so I can't go help him. You, as his angel, go in my stead.
"Don't worry, it won't delay your 'birth.'
"In fact, with all those gazes drawn elsewhere, your 'birth' will even benefit."
The puppet nodded silently, then looked down at its broken finger and decided to "buy" a new one first.
…
In a luxurious house in a city of the Feysac Empire, a young man with a wicked smile was sipping tea.
Suddenly, an ordinary-looking old man appeared before him.
"Hermes, do you bring good news?" The young man didn't seem surprised and asked directly.
The old man smiled. "Duke of Terror, your opportunity has come."
…
(End of Chapter)