The Berserk Sea.
A vast ocean teeming with natural disasters and treacherous currents.
Sailing through its waters was a ship with white sails—Alger's Azure Avenger.
In the Berserk Sea, even the most experienced navigators would lose their way without an accurate nautical chart.
Losing one's way in the Sonia Sea might just mean getting lost; in the Berserk Sea, it often meant death.
Therefore, even if pursuers were hot on their trail, even if they knew the Azure Avenger was heading into the Berserk Sea, they would still hesitate. Faced with its raging, dangerous waters, those who were unprepared could only keep their distance.
However, this detour meant that their original ten-day journey to Port Prize would now take nearly an extra week.
As a result, it wasn't until the final day of September—the 30th—that the Azure Avengerfinally emerged from the turbulent Berserk Sea after a five-day voyage and arrived at Mid-Range Island.
But just before entering the port of Mid-Range Island, the Azure Avenger abruptly turned north.
After all, they were only taking a detour; they weren't actually going to Mid-Range Island.
The only reason they had approached the island was to ensure they remained on a safe shipping route and didn't drift off course.
"We have two choices now."
Inside the captain's cabin, Alger spread the map on the table and explained, "One option is to head northwest to Dixie Bay, which should take about two days. Once we arrive, continuing north for another two days will bring us to Connaught. From there, you can take a steam train to Backlund."
"The other option is to keep sailing north. We'll reach Damir Island in about four days. Although it's also a colony of the Kingdom of Loen, it's different from the Rothschild Islands. Damir Island is already within the traditional sphere of influence of the Loen Navy, with a large number of warships patrolling the area."
"Even a Pirate Admiral wouldn't dare challenge the Kingdom of Loen in a place like this."
"However, after arriving at Damir Island, it will still take three days to sail north to Port Prize."
"In terms of time alone, the two options are actually quite similar."
"Let's go to Damir Island," Ember said after a moment's thought.
His intuition told him that if they went to Dixie Bay now, this journey would likely encounter even greater complications and accidents. That would only further delay his return to Backlund.
So, it was better to go to Damir Island. After all, once they reached Damir Island, they would be within the traditional sphere of influence of the Kingdom of Loen. Surely the pirates wouldn't dare pursue them this far?
"Very well."
Alger nodded slightly. Since Ash had already made his decision, he naturally had nothing more to say.
...
In the Sonia Sea, near Damir Island.
A sailing ship, dozens of meters long and gleaming with a golden hue in the sunlight, was cutting through the waves.
However, compared to before, the number of sailors on deck had visibly dwindled.
"Those bastards were useless," Danitz complained, leaning against the gunwale. He turned to Daniels, whose waist was as thick as a bucket. "Abandoning the Captain over such a trivial matter... It's only because she's merciful. Anyone else would have thrown them overboard to feed the fish long ago."
"You're right," Daniels agreed. "The Captain shouldn't have let them off the ship. There could have been spies from other factions among them. Letting them go only risks selling us out. And then there's Flower Tie—always looking so proper and put-together, but the moment things got critical, he ran."
When the Captain announced her decision to sail west a few days ago, chaos had erupted on the ship almost immediately.
And when she offered them the choice to stay or leave, nearly half the crew chose to depart.
Among them was even Yodson, the Third Mate, known as "Flower Tie"!
"Pah!"
Danitz spat into the sea and sneered, "I knew this bastard was unreliable from the start! All that talk about winning the Captain's heart, huh? See? He showed his true colors the moment things got critical. I'm the only one you can count on!"
"Pah! You bastard, you're just a toad lusting after a swan!"
"Enough, both of you."
Bru, the First Mate, frowned as he walked past, offering a sharp warning.
But he didn't scold them further, turning away immediately to head toward the Captain's Cabin.
"Captain."
Inside the cabin, Orpheus, the Second Mate, tried to reason with her earnestly. "Don't you think we've gone far enough? This is Damir Island, the closest colony to the Kingdom of lone."
"If we actually head for Port Pritz, the Kingdom of lone might mistake us for planning a raid on Backlund."
That would be no different from delivering themselves to their deaths!
Edwina didn't reply, staring silently at the map on the table.
She knew exactly how dangerous her actions were. It was like dancing on the edge of a blade.
Yet, though the situation seemed perilous, it was not utterly hopeless.
The Kingdom of lone knew all too well that each Pirate Admiral had their own backers, and usually, they would turn a blind eye.
Operating only in the waters around Damir Island was one thing, but if she truly dared to approach Port Pritz...
Then even the name of the Church of Knowledge would not be enough to protect her.
But she had a reason she must do this.
"Bru."
Edwina lifted her head, her deep blue eyes fixing on the First Mate who had just pushed open the door. "Send men to Damir Island to gather intelligence," she said softly. "Ask at the port if anyone wearing ten rings has appeared recently."
"Yes, ma'am."
Bru nodded gravely and quickly left the room to order the sailors on deck to begin.
Soon, a small boat carrying several sailors set off for Damir Island.
However, before long, the boat abruptly turned back.
As the men stepped off the boat and onto the ship, Bru immediately frowned.
"Danitz, why are you back so soon?"
"I've received word."
Danitz didn't dare delay. He swallowed hard and spoke quickly, "Blood Admiral Senior is looking for the person wearing the ten rings."
"I'll go inform the Captain."
Bru's expression changed drastically. He immediately prepared to head to the Captain's Cabin to notify Edwina.
"No need. I already know."
A lady's crisp voice came from behind.
Bru turned around and realized that Edwina had appeared on the deck at some unknown point.
"Do you know why they are looking for this person?" Edwina asked, her gaze fixed on Danitz.
"I don't know."
Danitz shook his head and explained, "It's not just on Damir Island. The Blood Admiral's men have recently been offering bounties to find the person wearing the ten rings on all the islands in the surrounding seas. But from the current situation, he probably hasn't found them yet."
"Where is Senior's ship?"
Edwina remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking.
The surrounding sailors' faces changed slightly. Bru couldn't help but ask, "Captain, you're not thinking of going to war with the Blood Admiral, are you?"
"No," Edwina said calmly. "I just want to take them back."
But if the Blood Admiral chose to stand in her way, she would have no other choice.
...
Backlund, Crag Club.
Klein donned his double-breasted frock coat and picked up his half-top silk hat.
Having accepted the commission from journalist Mike Joseph, he was about to accompany him on the investigation.
But just as he reached the door, he suddenly heard a series of illusory, echoing pleas.
Someone is praying to me.
Klein immediately sensed it. He turned to Mike with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I need to use the restroom first."
"Go ahead."
Mike shrugged and turned back to sit on the sofa.
Klein promptly stood up and walked toward the restroom at a steady pace.
Closing the door, he skillfully walked backward four steps and entered the space Above the Gray Fog.
The prayer came from Miss Judgment.
The petite young woman sat on the sofa, her head bowed in pious prayer.
"I have gathered the information on the fallen noble. I request to perform the sacrifice ritual. Please forward this to Mr. World."
"A few days slower than Miss Justice, but still very fast."
Although he already had the information provided by Miss Justice, Klein was still somewhat surprised.
He already knew Miss Justice's channel—
She had gone directly to the royal archives. With her Sequence 8 Mind Reader's memory, she could memorize all the information after reading it just once.
Miss Judgment clearly didn't have a channel as convenient as Miss Justice's. She had relied entirely on her own intelligence network to gather information.
Still, completing the commission within a week was already quite impressive.
Soon.
Xio performed her first-ever sacrifice ritual with some awkwardness, tossing the compiled materials she had collected into the illusory gate.
"I will pass this on to The World," Klein said, his tone detached as he severed the connection.
He didn't look through the materials right away, but quickly returned to reality.
First, he had already read the information Miss Justice had provided and obtained the details he needed. This left him temporarily uninterested in the intelligence Miss Judgment had gathered. He could read it before bed.
Second, Mike was still waiting for him outside. He couldn't stay in the restroom for too long.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Klein said apologetically to Mike on the sofa as he stepped out of the restroom. "Let's go."
"Sure."
Mike nodded with a smile and stood up to leave.
Clack!
Klein gripped the doorknob and pushed open the club's entrance. Just as he stepped outside...
But the next moment, he stopped abruptly.
Because he heard the overlapping, illusory prayers once again.
"..."
Klein fell silent. He turned back to Mike with a pained expression, clutching his stomach. "Sorry, I think I need to go to the washroom again."
"Go ahead."
Mike looked at Klein with a strange expression. He could tell the other man was faking, but he didn't call him out on it. Instead, he simply walked back to the sofa and sat down in silence.
This time, Klein rushed into the washroom, walked backward four steps, and entered Above the Gray Fog.
The one praying this time was Little Sun.
"Mr. Fool, I have prepared the true root and sap of the Mist Tree Man. Please deliver them to Mr. World."
So soon?
Klein was somewhat surprised.
Last time, Sun had said he would need to wait until he advanced to Sequence 8 to obtain these items. But Sun clearly hadn't advanced yet. Where did these things come from?
Before he could think it through, Sun Derrick offered the items.
The true root of the Mist Tree Man was heart-shaped, brown, and the size of a palm. Its front was wrinkled, like an old man's skin, while the back was smooth and delicate, like a gemstone.
The Mist Tree's true root was heart-shaped, brown, and about the size of a palm.
Its front was wrinkled, like an old man's skin, while its back was smooth and delicate, like a gemstone.
It was gently expanding and contracting, as if it still possessed a certain amount of vitality.
Its sap was a translucent light green, looking quite delicious.
Klein stared at them, feeling a surge of ambition.
After all, in the modern era, Sequence 7 was the threshold to the mid-sequences!
This meant that beyonder would finally move beyond being just slightly stronger than ordinary people in a few aspects, and would instead possess a relatively rich array of supernatural abilities!
For a moment, Klein hesitated.
He had already obtained all the Beyonder Materials required for his advancement to Sequence 7, and he was tempted to brew the potion right now.
But he had promised Mike he would accompany him on the investigation.
I'll wait until tonight, he thought.
After a moment's hesitation, Klein decided to complete the commission first.
He quickly returned to reality and saw Mike waiting in the living room as he stepped out of the restroom.
"Sorry," Klein apologized again. "There shouldn't be any more interruptions this time. Let's go."
"Mr. Sherlock," Mike said, not getting up. He hesitated. "You don't seem to be yourself today. Perhaps we should postpone this for a while?"
He paused before explaining, "The truth is, while I do hope to proceed with the investigation as soon as possible, it's not that urgent. Don't worry, I won't look for anyone else."
In Mike's eyes, Klein's two trips to the restroom in such a short time most likely meant he was unwell.
He certainly wouldn't want the other man to have to visit the restroom again while they were on a mission.
Not only would that waste time, but the man probably wouldn't be able to properly fulfill his duty of protecting him.
Mr. Mike is a good man!
Klein was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Faced with Mike's generosity, Klein didn't refuse, but simply smiled wryly. "You've seen me at my worst. I must have eaten something expired to end up like this."
"No, it's fine."
Mike smiled sympathetically. "Accidents happen to everyone. How about we meet here tomorrow at noon and then continue the investigation?"
"Noon?"
Klein said helplessly, "I have other matters to attend to tomorrow afternoon. How about tonight?"
Tomorrow was Monday, October 1st.
He had to hold the Tarot Club meeting in the afternoon, so he definitely wouldn't have enough time.
"The evening is better, of course."
Mike hesitated. "But your health..."
"Don't worry, an afternoon is enough time for me to recover," Klein said immediately.
He was already quite experienced in concocting potions. An afternoon would be enough for him to prepare one and complete the initial digestion.
"Then the evening it is."
Mike nodded and immediately finalized the time with Klein. After a pause, he added, "Mr. Sherlock, I know a friend who has some experience in treating kidney deficiency."
End of chapter