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Count Mistral chuckled as Louise remained sullen.
"During my few days in Damel Harbor, I also gathered a lot of Sea news, learning that recently someone named Covaro has been selling a Sanguine Baron's residual Beyonder characteristic in pirate circles."
"I previously sent someone to contact his informant in Damel Harbor, and we agreed to trade that Sanguine Baron's residual Beyonder characteristic tomorrow in Bansy Harbor."
"If you are interested, how about you handle the transaction tomorrow?"
Louise, who had been lowering her head sullenly, instantly lifted her head and blurted out:
"Bansy, the one known as the Weather Museum?"
"But shouldn't pirates who kill our compatriots and sell their Beyonder characteristic be completely eliminated?"
Count Mistral shook his head, correcting her statement:
"That Baron died in a sudden conflict and had no time to find a successor.
Covaro only obtained this inheritance later and has been unable to sell it because he doesn't know which Sequence and which potion it corresponds to."
"Moreover, that fellow is a pirate captain who once served as a Sailor on the 'Black Emperor,' so he's considered an outer force of the Five Seas King Nast."
"We should try to avoid creating new problems and attracting unnecessary trouble with this operation.
Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem."
"Furthermore, this Sea area is the easiest place for naval fleets and Church ships to blockade.
Even when the Four Kings and Seven Admirals pass through nearby Sea areas, they try to keep a low profile."
Louise then nodded, intending to go to the 'Moon Shadow's' library later to read about Bansy Harbor.
…
The sky was dim, clouds rolled in, and deep blue waves rose and fell.
According to the normal plan, the 'Moon Shadow's' next stop would be Bansy Harbor.
It had been sailing for a whole day and was expected to arrive around 4 PM.
After leaving Bansy Harbor, it would head directly to the capital of the Rorsted Archipelago, City of Generosity Bayam.
After resting in Bayam for a period, they would follow the border of the Berserk Sea and Sonia Sea directly to their final destination—East Balam, Southern Continent, the northernmost city of the Loen colony—Gula City.
The 'Moon Shadow' rocked up and down in this pre-storm scene, like a toy in a giant's hand.
"This is the Sea.
No matter how powerful a force, it appears insignificant before it."
Louise stood by the window, admiring the scene outside, looking at the distant, faintly visible outline of the island, and the introduction to Bansy she had read yesterday flashed through her mind.
"Mysteriously disappearing in the great fog… bones appearing on the Sea shore and in the mountains… natives seemingly having a tradition of cannibalism."
"And precisely because of these legends, Bansy Harbor developed two unique customs: one is to keep doors tightly shut on nights with heavy fog and drastic weather changes, not to go out, and not to answer knocks."
"The other is that they are fond of the fresh blood of various animals and have learned from migrating elves to add salt to it, causing the blood to solidify into peculiar blocks, which, when combined with several local spicy seasonings, are tender and fragrant."
"Hmm, what an interesting place.
After the transaction is complete, I must take a good tour of Bansy and try their local delicacies."
Louise closed the book in her hand, looked at the overcast sky, and her thoughts gradually drifted.
After leaving Damel Harbor, the 'Moon Shadow's' voyage had been quite smooth.
With the help of the wind, its speed remained steady at 15 knots, so it arrived at Bansy Harbor much earlier than scheduled.
Louise followed Baron Cosmi off the 'Moon Shadow.'
Even if they decided to solve the problem with money, they couldn't be treated as lambs to the slaughter.
Therefore, having an experienced elder accompany them was quite necessary.
Just then, the weather at the harbor suddenly changed.
Gale-force winds whipped up, making the trees sway violently.
As expected of "Weather Museum" Bansy Harbor… Louise used her spirituality to erect an invisible barrier to block the strong winds, examining the surrounding scenery with interest.
Pedestrians on the street, whether Gentlemen in formal tailcoats or ladies in beautiful dresses, were all in a hurry, ignoring their hats blown away by the wind and their skirts fluttering.
Doors slammed shut, accompanied by dim yellow lights illuminating inside the houses.
Louise was somewhat surprised by their reaction, but not all doors were closed.
A bar not far from the harbor was still brightly lit, its clamor carried by the strong winds.
That was also the agreed-upon transaction location.
Louise followed Baron Cosmi into the bar, pushing through the bustling, diverse-skinned drunkards, and arrived at the innermost private room.
Alger Wilson, with deep features and a rugged outline, sat in a very humble posture on a chair, looking at the great pirate Covaro, who was reclining on the sofa, drinking sonia blood wine, and respectfully said:
"Respected Captain Covaro, I wonder if you are interested in my conditions just now?
Can we obtain the information we desire from you?"
Covaro drained the sonia blood wine in his cup and responded lightly:
"Heh heh, as long as there's money, of course."
"For 500 pounds, I can tell you all the information about the 'Blue Avenger.'
I really don't like that ghost ship's captain, and I actually think highly of you."
Alger Wilson paused slightly, his heart immediately conflicted.
This was 200 pounds more expensive than the condition he had just proposed.
After exchanging a glance with Sains, whose expression was a bit stiff, he finally gritted his teeth and took out all the bonus he received from his last debriefing, placing it on the table.
Covaro scanned the gold pounds on the table with satisfaction.
The first mate, who stood by, quickly collected the gold pounds from the table and pushed a wooden box to Alger and Sains.
Alger quickly took the box, opened it for a look, then bowed his head respectfully.
Sains's face twitched a bit.
As a Church of the Lord of Storms pastor, bowing to a pirate made him feel like he was blaspheming his faith.
Just as the atmosphere became somewhat tense, the private room door suddenly opened, and two handsome young people with black hair and red eyes walked in.
It was Louise and Baron Cosmi.
The atmosphere in the private room immediately relaxed.
Alger quickly grabbed Sains and left the private room after a low farewell.
As the private room door closed, Louise withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and casually asked:
"Who were those two just now?"
Covaro felt the aura emanating from the two newcomers and their characteristic red eyes, instantly understanding.
His previous indifference gone, he chuckled and said:
"You must be the ones here to trade for that Sanguine Baron's residual Beyonder characteristic, welcome, welcome."
"As for those two just now…" He paused, recalling Sains's various abnormal reactions just now, and a slight smile played on his lips.
"They might be from the Church of the Lord of Storms, or perhaps connected to a Pirate King or a secret organization."
"They usually disguise themselves as ordinary pirates, collecting intelligence on targets for their true loyalists, making it easier for targeted purges."
"Sometimes, they act on behalf of the forces behind them to do things they find inconvenient, such as silencing witnesses or robbing specific special items."
Louise immediately understood, and Baron Cosmi, who had experienced many storms, clearly knew about this.
He didn't pick up on that topic, but instead asked directly:
"Where is that Sanguine Baron's residual Beyonder characteristic?"
Covaro's smile grew even wider.
He took a wooden box from his Pregnant and opened it, revealing a completely crimson heart that was subtly expanding and contracting, its surface semi-transparent, with liquid faintly flowing within.
"I want 4,000 gold pounds.
You are not weak, so you should know that this price is not expensive; it's a very sincere price."
"Of course, if you have the Sequence 5 Reaper potion formula and are willing to exchange it, I can give you this residual Beyonder characteristic directly and compensate you with an additional 1,000 gold pounds."
Baron Cosmi was silent for two seconds before taking out 4,000 gold pounds from his Pregnant and placing them on the table.
At the same time, he took the wooden box handed to him by the first mate.
After both parties inspected the items, the transaction officially concluded.
Louise watched from the side, feeling somewhat bored.
There was no verbal struggle as she had imagined, nor did she get a chance to show off.
Just as she was following Baron Cosmi, intending to leave, a voice came from behind:
"Respected guests, to celebrate our successful transaction, I'll give you a piece of advice: do not wander around the streets.
Either leave Bansy as soon as possible, or find a place to stay."
"Remember not to answer knocks on the door."
Covaro's smile had long vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
He pointed his finger out the window.
Only then did Louise realize that in just a short while, the strong winds had weakened, but strangely, a faint mist was gradually appearing.
On the Sea side mountains outside Bansy Harbor, towering rock walls formed a natural, hidden altar.
The altar was inscribed with bizarre patterns, designs, and symbols.
A seemingly ordinary wooden Door was embedded in a giant rock, with a brass-colored keyhole and handle.
Six figures appeared as the mist drifted, standing around the giant rock.
They were all draped in black cloaks, headless, with blood still gushing from their necks, and only swirling breezes propped up their hoods.
Six headless bodies, with dangling esophagi, and strange smiles on their faces, hovered in mid-air.
At the base of the giant rock, where it met the soil, a spot of fresh red seeped out.
That fresh red gradually expanded, like gushing blood spreading out.
However, it didn't contaminate too much, confined to a very small area.
The entire altar was faintly glowing, and the sounds of wind and thunder could be heard in the distance.
A low, muffled voice, full of seductive and frenzied meaning, rang out, echoing around the altar:
"What are you still hesitating about?"
"What the Church of the Lord of Storms cannot give you, the great 'Weather Warlock' can bestow upon you."
"As long as the great Lord can gradually awaken, let alone Sequence 5, even a demigod, the Lord can fulfill your requests."
"As long as you open that Door, you can truly become a believer of the Lord and listen to the Lord's voice."
Bishop Miller, dressed in a dark blue bishop's robe embroidered with the Storm symbol, walked to the giant rock with his head bowed, his face pale, his breathing rapid, and his steps somewhat unsteady.
Seeing him remain motionless for a long time, the seductive voice sounded again:
"Miller, do you want to stay in that small Church forever?
Do you think you still have a chance to turn back now?"
Bishop Miller trembled all over.
His slightly trembling arm gripped the handle and gently distorted it downwards.
With a slight metallic click, the wooden Door swung open diagonally backward.
A stretch of grey-white mist suddenly appeared before Bishop Miller's eyes.
Within the mist was a flattened mountaintop, on which were intertwined silver-white and crimson patterns, forming a complex design.
In the very center of the design lay a rust-covered coffin.
Looking into the distance, through the mist, one could vaguely see a faintly visible street and rows of terraced houses behind the mountaintop.
As Bishop Miller's pupils dilated, a vague murmur came from within the faintly mist-shrouded, rust-covered coffin:
"Castell Medici… the last hope… disaster…"
Along with the murmuring, bright lights suddenly erupted within the mist, as if countless lightning bolts were intertwined and striking down.
The mist immediately surged out, spreading towards Bansy Harbor with the strong wind.
In a dim room at the deepest part of the 'Moon Shadow,' docked at Bansy Harbor, an ancient coffin was placed.
As if sensing a certain aura, the coffin lid trembled slightly, and Marquis Nibbs-Odra's low voice echoed in Count Mistral's ears, who was standing on the deck, frowning and looking into the distance.
"There's a problem with Bansy.
Leave as soon as possible."
-----------------
Osel, East Tucker Manor Hunting Ground.
It had been over half a month since returning to Osel, and January was nearing its end.
Aaron had carefully selected several Beyonders, and after this period of integration, he could now barely use the ability of "Dominion."
In the process of practice, Aaron also discovered a problem: the power that "Dominion" could borrow could not exceed his own Sequence.
That is to say, if the current Aaron borrowed power from a Sequence 5, the upper limit of the borrowed power would not exceed Sequence 6.
As for the dispersion of damage, facing different attacks, the effect would also vary.
The dispersion effect was best for physical damage, while for conceptual damage such as spiritual bodies, the dispersion effect was very small.
Of course, it might also be due to insufficient team tacit agreement.
Aaron returned to the lounge, holding the "Sword of Judgment," his face somewhat pale, and saw Gusman Weil standing with his hands behind his back, his face stern and old-fashioned.
Before Aaron could ask, Gusman Weil nodded slightly and spoke first:
"Last night, a Iron-Blooded Knight from the Feysac royal family's Einhorn family suddenly made a move in Nikiforus, West Balam, and a Shaman King also secretly made a move."
"With the help of a Class 1 Sealed Artifact from the Church of the Evernight Goddess, Mashiana repelled them, but she was also seriously injured."
"The Ancestor's intention is for me to go to the Southern Continent to jointly stabilize the situation, and at the same time, be wary of Intis intervening in the situation."
He paused, a hint of worry appearing on his face, and continued:
"I originally wanted to accompany you to the Southern Continent and escort you safely there, but now the family's demigods are all tied up with matters there and have no time to look after you.
You must be careful before the situation becomes clear."
Aaron nodded, but more thoughts came to his mind.
"Sequence 3 War Bishop begins to truly involve himself in war, capable of concentrating the power of the army within himself, and also truly integrating the army, making it as easy to command as an arm."
"And the ritual for advancing from Sequence 4 to Sequence 3 is related to this.
Coupled with the previous planning for that 'Weather Warlock's' Beyonder characteristic, it seems Father has already been included in the Ancestor's advancement list."
"Being sent to the Southern Continent this time is both a consideration for the situation and an opportunity to complete the ritual ahead of time."
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