I understand the reasoning, but I'm not entirely comfortable with you guiding Melissa into the world of the supernatural...
Recalling rumors he'd heard from Captain Elland of the White Agate, Klein maintained a polite smile and asked, "Are you planning to teach her personally?"
Though his "Clown" abilities prevented Ebner from "reading" his thoughts, it wasn't hard to guess what "The Fool" was thinking—after all, while his conduct was technically "aboveboard," his reputation did have... minor blemishes.
Still kinda irritating, though! Suppressing his annoyance, Ebner replied with a smile, "I'll be leaving Backlund next week—where would I find the time? I intend to introduce her to Miss 'Magician' and a friend of mine. They'll serve as Melissa's guides on this path."
That's better... Though Miss Magician's laziness might clash with Melissa's personality... Then again, if Melissa can learn some of her better traits, I won't have to worry as much about her safety.
As for Ebner's other friend... Miss Hazel? Miss Jane? Or those I've only heard of—Miss Fanny, Miss Emma? Too many possibilities... Hard to guess.
It's a shame Sharon's in a unique state, still hunted by the Rose School of Thought—too dangerous around her... Otherwise, she'd be the perfect teacher for Melissa...
His thoughts racing, Klein was about to thank "The Tower" on "Klein's" behalf in Gehrman's usual tone when the young gentleman across from him smiled and added, "Since Klein cares so much about Melissa, perhaps he could contribute as well."
Klein swallowed his prepared words, frowning slightly at Ebner while staying in character. "What do you want him to do? I can relay the message."
Whether I actually do it depends on your request... and my divination results above the gray fog.
"I don't have the starting-sequence 'Savant' potion formula Melissa needs... Let her brother handle that." Ebner kept his expression solemn, though his eyes gleamed with barely concealed amusement.
He'd originally planned to acquire the formula himself, but since Klein clearly distrusted his character, it was only fair to let the overprotective brother take responsibility.
This is a "necessary sacrifice"!
Klein froze like a statue for several seconds before replying stiffly, "Fine. I'll pass that along... I'm sure he'll agree."
"Preferably before next Tuesday." Ebner added—he planned to depart for Intis that day.
Klein gave a curt nod without further comment, then stood to take his leave.
Just as he reached the door, Ebner called out a final warning: "Be careful if you pass by Bansy Harbor. Don't dig too deeply into its secrets."
Klein paused, half-turning with a frown. "Why?"
"Three or four centuries ago, Bansy was called 'Binsi Town.' Over time, pronunciation shifts transformed it into 'Bansy'... And 'Binsi'—you know what that implies." Ebner's tone was meaningful.
He wasn't worried this warning would stop Klein from saving future passengers in distress there—if a little foreknowledge could deter him, he wouldn't be "The Fool."
Binsi... The place Medici, the Red Angel, mentioned as home to his descendants? Well, Medici's evil spirit is still trapped in Backlund—just descendants shouldn't be too dangerous. Plus, the Church of Storms has a presence there, with Mandated Punishers stationed for centuries... As Ebner said, as long as I don't pry, it should be fine.
Besides, the White Agate's next stop is Tiana Port. After that, it sails straight to Bayam, capital of the Rorsted Archipelago—no planned docking at Bansy.
Reassured, Klein nodded again before exiting.
Scanning the hallway, he headed for the school's public washroom—first to request "Savant" formula trades from Miss Magician and Miss Temperance, then to divine whether his upcoming voyage held hidden perils.
Minutes later, seated on "The Fool's" throne, Klein studied the clockwise-swinging pendulum in his hand and mused:
Some danger, but within acceptable limits... So the White Agate might encounter pirates?
Thinking that, Klein felt a bit eager and ready to act, but since he hadn't fully developed Gehrman's persona yet, he wasn't quite sure how to handle things if they actually did encounter pirates...
...
At night, on the way back to the White Agate's second-class cabin, Klein received a letter from the messenger. He worked hard to convince Donna and Danton, two children on board, describing the nearly four-meter-tall skeletal messenger as pitiful, weak, and helpless before finally returning to his own cabin.
—The siblings had eaten some of Damir's local cured meat, which carried a bit of spiritual energy, and since their souls were relatively pure, they temporarily activated spiritual sight.
The reason the cured meat on the island had this effect was because of the "devil" aura sealed in the northern jungle.
Still unaware of Damir's hidden secrets, Klein sat on the edge of his low bed, lit the half-used candle, and opened Mr. Azik's reply.
Pulling out the items inside, the first thing that caught his eye was the "Black Emperor" card.
Looking at Roselle's unpleasant face, Klein instinctively relaxed and put down his worries.
He wasn't afraid that Mr. Azik wouldn't return the items—there was still some trust there. After all, the potion formulas and related rituals could be copied, and only the properties formed by combining with high-level materials couldn't be imitated. That was clearly not the path Azik was on, nor something replaceable, and the big shot had no need for it.
What Klein worried about was if the messenger got robbed and lost the Cards of Blasphemy that greatly helped his spiritual state.
"If the 'Black Emperor' card really gets stolen by those weird, robbery-loving creatures in the spirit world, then next time I need to use my spirit form, I'll have to play the demoness with the 'Demoness Card'...
"From a thief 'Black Emperor' to a righteous thief 'Cat Hero' next?"
Muttering a few complaints in his mind, Klein examined the other items and found that along with the "Black Emperor" card, Mr. Azik also returned a copper whistle belonging to that "pathetic" instructor Kopsti.
After putting away these two items, Klein unfolded the thick, quality paper and read Azik's reply.
"Hm... Mr. Azik took part in the Four Emperors War, and actually saw the Blood Emperor and the resurrected Black Emperor...
"And he lost consciousness just from a glance by the Blood Emperor...
"From this description, it sounds like a meeting of the Black Emperor, Blood Emperor, and Nether Emperor... Could the so-called Four Emperors War actually be a three-against-one fight?
"Is the Night Emperor really that powerful?
"The copper whistle's owner might be an evil existence, and blowing it is dangerous... That matches my divination results somewhat.
"But in emergencies, it could also be used to stir up trouble...
"The 'Black Emperor' card might attract powerful enemies and many disasters... a kind of aggregation effect? Mr. Azik also included improved techniques for creating the 'Spiritual Wall'...
"
After finishing the letter, Klein pondered for a moment, then practiced the sealing technique Mr. Azik taught in the letter until he was proficient.
After that, he performed a ritual to bring the "Black Emperor" card and the spirit sect's copper whistle into the mysterious space above the gray fog, eliminating any chance of accidents.
At that moment, Mr. Tower's "Sacrifice" request also arrived via the "Crimson Star." It turned out he had created a single-use item capable of triggering the secret art "Perfect Restoration of Waolite," and requested "Mr. Fool" to deliver it to "the Sun."
Soon, a paper-wrapped package arrived through the "Summoning Gate" into the hall above the gray fog. Klein looked speechlessly at the compact powder with a small round mirror inside the box.
He could tell the "powder" was actually ground skin of some extraordinary creature, making it a pretty good material for carrying a "ritual" or "secret art."
"Isn't it weird to just rub this stuff on your body, or even eat it directly?
"And it comes with a mirror... is that so those deformed by accumulated pollution can immediately see the effect?
"Also... there's no detailed introduction at all..."
After casually manifesting an instruction manual, Klein threw it into the "door" formed by the Sun's blessing ritual.
...
In Silver City, Derick held the powder box that had appeared in his hand, read the instructions that had appeared in his mind, and fell into deep thought.
After a moment, he decided to hand it directly to the Chief so he could decide who should use it.
After all, if Derick himself ate the polluted meat and then treated it with the secret art, the elders wouldn't feel at ease—he and Elder Lovia were both considered special by the high council.
(End of Chapter)