Seeing the complicated emotions on Xio's face, Ebner remembered the "Loen-style" subtlety from the original story. Without answering directly, he just chuckled and said:
"No need to envy me. You'll soon catch up with my footsteps too."
Just a few days earlier, Xio's ritual application report had finally been approved by the military high command. They opened a Berot Mountain ape nest under their control to her, and she successfully used the chaotic and lawless rules within to resist the "self-punishment" impulse after consuming her potion, becoming a Sequence 5 "Disciplinary Paladin."
Ebner really has become a demigod… In a daze, Xio recalled the promise they had made during their travels about "demigods." Back then, she had felt that such lofty beings were impossibly distant, forever out of reach…
But how long had it really been? Barely ten months, and Ebner had already pushed open the doors of a Saint, obtained divinity… and I myself am already a Sequence 5 Beyonder…
Maybe within a few years, I'll truly be able to uncover the truth behind Father's unjust case!
Regarding her father's misfortune, although Xio had used her convenience as a formal member of MI9 to secretly investigate and uncover some scraps of information and vague suspicions, her intuition told her the truth was still far away. After all, if even Ebner and Princess Vera had chosen silence, it was clearly not a simple matter.
"I'm not confident I can keep up with your pace… After all, even Her Highness had to personally collect a demigod characteristic. It's nearly impossible for me to obtain materials from MI9, no matter how great the merit I render…" Xio first mocked herself, then adjusted her mood and teased with a smile: "Congratulations, Ebner… And since you've succeeded, shouldn't you be treating us to a celebration?"
"Of course I'll treat everyone—I've already made preparations. After all, quite a few people helped with my ritual…"
But it'll have to be split into groups. If I invite everyone at once, I have a premonition something bad will happen.
After grumbling in his heart, Ebner shifted the subject with meaning: "Actually, the materials for your demigod promotion aren't entirely without a source."
Xio froze at first, then realized something and asked in return: "You mean the 'Ghost Empire'?"
"That's right. Less than two months remain before the 'Ghost Empire' makes its next 'port call.' If you digest your Disciplinary Paladin in time, you might have the chance to ascend to demigod then." Ebner nodded with a smile.
"No one knows what lies hidden within the 'Ghost Empire'…" Xio shook her head, unwilling to fantasize about uncertain matters. "Besides, the ritual for 'Imperative Mage' is not so easily completed."
Though I don't know what treasures lie deep within the Ghost Empire, 'Giuseppe Castilla' did die there. His… well, my… 'Imperative Mage' characteristic must still remain…
Ebner silently added in his heart, but outwardly he recalled the "Judgment" card he had once seen, and said thoughtfully: "The promotion ritual for Imperative Mage requires one to establish laws and decrees in a town of at least ten thousand people, and for every person there to sincerely recognize and obey them, right?"
"Yes… Without official cooperation, this ritual is nearly impossible to complete," Xio sighed.
"It's not that difficult… You know, I'm about to be ennobled as Viscount Belden. That city has plenty of subordinate towns. With a bit of planning, it shouldn't be hard." Several schemes instantly flashed through Ebner's mind. He continued: "And if you don't want to attract the authorities' notice, I also hold a hereditary barony in Segar with its own territory… though its population might not reach ten thousand."
That Segar barony came from "Apostle of Light" Balu, whose greatest legacy to Ebner had been that title he had bought with money.
Of course, if necessary, Ebner could also use Giuseppe Castilla's identity to return to Feynapotter and inherit the title of Count Sevia… though that would be troublesome. Even with Giuseppe's full memories, he would need to maneuver carefully, since according to Closfia, the title had long been passed to Giuseppe's younger brother.
"Let's wait until I actually obtain the demigod characteristic before talking about it," Xio said, waving her hand. Outwardly she looked unconcerned, but Ebner's earnestness on the matter made the corners of her lips curl upward uncontrollably.
The two chatted for a while longer, until a staff member knocked to announce the banquet's beginning.
Speaking of which, the film Finding the Laurel had a tremendous impact on audiences. Unlike Roselle Gustav, which, though finely produced, was only on par with stage plays and operas of the same genre—just more realistic—this one was completely different.
It was the very first adventure film of this era!
For those who had never glimpsed the vastness of the world or the ferocity of the sea, the visual impact was incomparable!
And at the film's climax, when Ebner used "Knowledge" to calculate the escape velocity and angle, and successfully guided the Laurel out of the "Maelstrom," the scene became an eternal classic, unforgettable to all who saw it.
After all, the news of Ebner Bryan being granted nobility thanks to the treasure made everyone believe the story told in the film was entirely true.
Of course, only Ebner and Closfia, who had filmed the footage, knew that while the formulas in the calculation were sound, the Laurel had actually been lightened by the mutated Tudor Emblem Ebner wielded, and then hauled out by Miss "Sloth" in her dragon form…
And the Maelstrom's depths weren't simple either—there lay a castle beneath the sea!
Legends of an undersea city had circulated for over a thousand years, but Ebner, who had actually found it, knew it wasn't sealing some so-called "terrifying monster" as the stories claimed… What it truly sealed was an entrance to the "Sea of Chaos!" Just like the castle at the heart of Delaire Forest that sealed another Chaos Sea entrance.
This was also why, for over a century, many Beyonders had attempted divinations to locate the Laurel but never succeeded. No one knew how Roselle had found it.
In short, judging by the excitement and frenzy of the audience after the premiere, Finding the Laurel was an unprecedented success.
Thus, the banquet was naturally filled with praise and congratulations. The entrepreneurs and socialites who attended all tried to cozy up to Ebner, hoping for cooperation with Loen's new noble.
As glasses clinked, Ebner continued using his ability to "observe" the future fate-streams of those present. Even though such quick, unprepared readings weren't very precise, they still allowed him to distinguish who was worth continued cooperation and who should be gradually distanced.
For example, a wealthy merchant chatting with him now, due to his adventurous nature, was fated to soon encounter a financial crisis. No matter which branch of fate he followed, the outcome was still a loss—only a question of more or less.
Having decided to reduce contact, Ebner discreetly hinted at the risks in some projects, nudging the man toward a fate-stream of lighter losses, and said nothing more.
He did this not merely out of role-playing, nor simple kindness…
But to make a small compensation for the merchant's housekeeper.
This woman, Tanya, had risen from the lowest maid to head maid, then followed the current merchant's wife into her new household, eventually becoming the housekeeper.
According to the original trajectory, after the merchant's bankruptcy and her dismissal, she would have been introduced by Walter to Klein, becoming Dwayne's housekeeper.
But because of Ebner's transmigration, events had already shifted. In the futures he saw, her most likely fate-stream was quite tragic. Thus, by guiding the merchant, he was trying to make up for it.
Even after becoming a Cognizer, Ebner still abided by his principle: if he hadn't encountered it, so be it. But since he had, and had the ability to change it, he would extend a helping hand.
…
Port Jacob, the second-largest city on Sonia Island.
Klein walked out of the theater, feeling both exhilarated and pained.
Exhilarated, naturally, because even as a modern man who had seen countless films, he found this one thrilling. Many of its action scenes looked far too real to be special effects…
Of course, in a world with Beyonder powers, he suspected they really weren't special effects.
What pained him, though, was that 3 million pounds of wealth had been "donated" by Mr. Tower just to exchange for a viscount title that held little practical benefit.
Though he also understood—it was a ritual. One couldn't hoard such fortune silently. Offering it up as a "sacrifice" was actually the wisest choice.
After all, a sum that large would attract endless eyes and schemes. Even if Mr. Tower wasn't afraid, it would be nothing but trouble.
Not to mention, the question of ownership wasn't simple either. The Laurel's original owner, the Loen Oceanic Trading Company, still existed!
There was no international law to declare that salvage on the high seas belonged to the finder—it was only an unspoken rule. If pressed, it could lead to lawsuits.
By donating the fortune in exchange for a title, Mr. Tower had taken the most efficient path. Even the Augustus family, major shareholders of the trading company, wouldn't stoop to suing a newly minted noble.
"But still, it feels like Mr. Tower lost out badly… I risked my life killing so many pirates, and the money I earned isn't even a fraction of that."
Mourning the "squandering" of his fellow transmigrator, Klein turned into a seafood shop to buy a crate of wolffish cans.
His original plan was to sail from the Rossland Islands directly to "White City" Nas, capital of the Gargas Archipelago, and there wait for the Future to take him to the "Divine War Ruins" sea region to search for mermaids, as Ebner had mentioned.
The only reason he had stopped at Sonia Island was because the Gargas Archipelago was too far from the continent to have theaters yet. Wanting to contribute to Mr. Tower's ritual, he had detoured here to watch the film.
Now, having seen it, he needed to hurry to Nas.
It so happened that the "alchemist" recommended by Roy King—Darkwill, the "Fat Apothecary's" teacher—who could upgrade the "Creeping Hunger," also lived in Nas.
According to Roy King, this so-called "Idiot of Nas" loved nothing more than wolffish cans. That was why Klein decided to buy some here.
But when he carried the crate aboard the ship bound for Nas, a sailor doing a routine safety check spotted the label. Instantly, everyone nearby pulled away, keeping at least three meters from him…
Only then did Klein's mouth twitch as he remembered the notorious reputation of this canned food.
"But Miss Temperance once sent some wolffish cans to the Sun… and the people of Silver City didn't seem to mind?"
Puzzled yet curious, that very night Klein secretly opened a can in his first-class cabin…
Then, with immense willpower, the mad adventurer Gehrman Sparrow forced the Creeping Hunger to swallow the entire thing. As for himself, he flung open the window, clamped a hand over his mouth, rushed onto the deck, grabbed the railing, and crouched, dry-heaving silently…
(End of Chapter)