Chapter 155: Future

Chapter 155: Future

“Are you ready?” Colin asked with his back to the window, his tone betraying nothing unusual.

Derrick, with the Axe of Hurricane at his side, lowered his head slightly.

“I’m ready.”

Over the past two months and more, through repeated patrol missions and painstaking practice, he had fully mastered the various Beyonder abilities of a Solar High Priest. He was no longer far from digesting the potion.

What he hoped for most now was to obtain the Sequence 6 potion formula of the Sun pathway within the next two or three Tarot Gatherings, laying the foundation for further advancement.

The release of “Shepherd” Lovia had given him an intense sense of danger. He believed that only by reaching the same Sequence 5 could he effectively restrain her and eliminate the hidden danger within the City of Silver. Of course, in a place that understood the acting method and was not particularly lacking in Beyonder ingredients, Sequence 6 was absolutely an attainable goal—provided he survived patrols and exploration missions again and again, accumulating enough merits. Sequence 5, however, which required a specific ritual, was far more difficult.

Colin, his gray-streaked hair in disarray, gave a faint nod.

“In two days, I will lead an exploration team to the vicinity of the Giant King’s Court and carry out a second cleansing of the Afternoon Town we previously discovered. Your abilities are very suitable for such a task.”

“Afternoon Town…” In recent months, Derrick had been frantically catching up on mythological knowledge, so this name was no longer unfamiliar to him. It had once been an unavoidable point along the road from the Silver Nation to the Giant King’s Court. There, humans and giants had lived together in a town clustered around the ancient god’s dwelling, where dusk was eternally frozen in place—as though it were the final gate between the real world and myth.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Derrick replied, finding no reason to refuse.

…

Nas, the White City. Inside a certain hotel.

Klein sat behind a desk, watching clouds outside the window shift endlessly in shape while quietly waiting for evening to arrive.

At eight o’clock, he would board the flagship of the Star Pirates at Pier Six—the Future—and head for the easternmost reaches of the Sonia Sea. No matter what happened in the Gargas Islands or in these waters known as a pirate paradise, it would no longer have anything to do with him.

That was why he had been so tolerant toward the few pirates with bounties who wandered the streets and lanes or mingled in bars and casinos. He had made no attempt to hunt them, lest he disrupt his own plan to search for mermaids.

My spiritual intuition tells me that “Slaughterer” Gilchies from noon seems to have set his sights on me… If he really wants to deliver himself to my door, I wouldn’t mind too much. Mm, strategically I can look down on him, but tactically I have to take him seriously. Without using the Sea God Scepter or the Fire Seed glove, I’m only a little stronger than him at most—my advantage lies in being comprehensive and bizarre… Klein half-closed his eyes and imagined countless balls of light gathered together, using that to enter a meditative state and keep his spirituality sharp.

After some unknown length of time, his spiritual perception was suddenly touched, and his eyes snapped open.

By then, the sun had already sunk toward the west. Fiery red light scorched the sea, and the shadow of the curtain stretched long across the room.

That shadow seemed to come alive. At first, it swayed and rustled, then twisted upright, projecting itself onto the wall.

It was pitch black and deep, as though formed from the thick, viscous malice hidden at the bottom of the human heart.

Expressionless, Klein watched this unfold. He lifted his left palm and slowly unfurled his five fingers before him.

The dark shadow, its voice rough as if a piece of sandpaper were lodged in its throat, said while facing Klein,

“Gehrman Sparrow!

“Do not interfere in what happened at noon.

“This is the will of the Undying King.”

With that, the shadow slid downward like flowing water, scattered into the darkness, and returned to its original state.

Klein paid no attention to the shadow’s change. Instead, he cast his gaze outside.

He could sense that the person manipulating the shadow was somewhere across the street. For that reason, he had no intention of striking at a phantom thing.

“As expected, ‘Slaughterer’ Gilchies recognized me as Gehrman Sparrow, the crazy adventurer who loves hunting pirates. That’s why he turned and left without hesitation at noon. He may not necessarily fear me; there were just other fairly strong adventurers present at the time…

“The ability he just displayed is somewhat similar to that Apostle of Desire from Backlund. He’s looking more and more like a Beyonder of the Devil pathway…

“Heh. Using the Undying King to scare me, thinking that will make me submit? I never intended to get involved in the first place! Now you’ve actually made me a little curious… Forget it, forget it. Finding mermaids is the most important matter right now. I can’t go creating accidents for myself…” Klein withdrew his gaze, lampooning inwardly.

He had originally considered whether to inform Nas’s Church of the God of Combat about the matter in passing. But after thinking seriously, he found that it would have little significance.

The Church of the God of Combat was the only legal religion in the Feysac Empire. It did have slightly more High-Sequence Beyonders than the Church of the Evernight Goddess—but only slightly more. Even with the demigods belonging to the Feysac royal family and military included, their manpower was similarly strained, considering their vast territory and many colonies, as well as the many key locations that required protection. The Gargas Islands, far from the Empire, ordinary in geographic position, and currently prosperous only in whaling-related industries, was undoubtedly relegated to a secondary tier. It had no Saint stationed here.

According to the intelligence Klein had gathered beforehand, the Archbishop of the Church of the God of Combat in Gargas was only a Sequence 5 Guardian. Together with an executioner from the court, a baron of the royal family, and a brigadier general from the military, he formed the peak Beyonder combat force here.

Of course, the existence of Sealed Artifacts was the key to guaranteeing control. Klein suspected the Church of the God of Combat in Nas had at least one Grade 1 Sealed Artifact. Only in this way could they cooperate with the fleet and local Beyonders to ensure that the whale-oil refining industry and gray amber foreign trade remained beyond pirate control; ensure that this place did not become a vassal of one of the Four Kings; and ensure that, if suddenly attacked, they could hold out long enough for reinforcements.

Because of that, the official forces of the Gargas Islands had always maintained a contracted, defensive posture. As long as pirates did not cause major trouble, they were allowed to enter and leave freely.

Reporting it won’t do much… No wonder this place is called a pirate paradise. No wonder Bilt organized the Adventurers’ Mutual Aid Society… Klein sighed inwardly and abandoned his earlier idea.

After dinner and a brief rest, Klein took out his gold-cased pocket watch, snapped it open, and checked the time.

Seeing that it was already seven, he began conducting a ritual, summoning himself and responding to himself, carrying different items in and out of the gray fog to adjust his equipment.

Since he would be taking the Future to adventure at sea, the Murloc Cufflink and various charms from the Sea God domain were essential. Therefore, Klein left the Fire Seed glove and the Sun Brooch above the gray fog. He made Creeping Hunger his main weapon, paired with the Biological Poison Bottle and a revolver loaded with various Beyonder bullets—he still had seven Purification Bullets, thirteen Demon Hunting Bullets, and two Exorcism Bullets.

Putting on his coat, Klein tucked the brass-colored Azik whistle on the desk and the wallet containing only fifty pounds in cash into the inner pocket of his clothing. Then he placed the silver-white adventurer’s harmonica together with his charms.

After finishing all that, he touched the revolver beneath his arm, lightly brushed the azure cufflink on his left wrist, buttoned his double-breasted frock coat, put on his half top hat of silk, picked up the black suitcase containing only changes of clothes and a few daily necessities, opened the door, left the hotel, and took a carriage straight to the harbor district.

After waiting at Pier Six for a while, he saw an enormous sailing ship slowly emerge in the distance.

Based on his limited knowledge of ships, Klein knew that a sailing ship of this length was unscientific. Yet that did not prevent it from advancing smoothly across the dark sea, sailing toward the glowing lighthouse.

As the ship drew nearer, its flag gradually became clear. Under the faint crimson moonlight, the people at the harbor saw ten white stars of equal size upon it, surrounding a cold eye without lashes.

“Admiral of Stars!”

“The Future!”

The pirates and sailors watching their vessels cried out in shock. In an instant, every pier across the entire harbor district filled with restless emotion.

A dozen seconds later, the coastal defense cannons on the mountains to either side “nervously” adjusted their aim, pointing at the enormous sailing ship that had made no attempt to conceal itself.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

From the distant church came the long, ethereal tolling of a bell. Time had arrived exactly at eight o’clock.

Just as the tension in the harbor district grew increasingly obvious, the Future stopped.

At some unknown point, a woman in a black classical robe had appeared at the bow. Her clothing was covered in different symbolic signs and magical marks, making her resemble a powerful wizard from ancient legends.

Under the crimson moonlight, the space before her suddenly brightened. Specks of brilliant starlight fell in a shower, condensing into a transparent bridge.

The long bridge continued extending forward until it landed on Pier Six.

What an impressive entrance… As expected of one of the seven pirate admirals—and an admiral slightly above Iceberg and Ailment… Klein sighed inwardly while also feeling the urge to cover his face.

He did not wish for others to know that the crazy adventurer Gehrman Sparrow had cooperated with Admiral of Stars Cattleya.

At this point, I can only maintain the persona for now. Once I finish digesting the potion and return to the Northern Continent, there will be no such person as Gehrman Sparrow… Klein walked out of the shadows, pressed down the half top hat on his head, and stepped steadily onto the long bridge woven from starlight.

His footing was solid, firm as iron. With his back straight, Klein walked toward the Future, which had stopped outside the harbor, under the aim of coastal defense cannons and beneath gazes filled with ambiguous meaning.

Beneath his feet, the bridge was transparent. The deep-blue sea, nearly black, swayed gently below, enough to weaken the knees of anyone afraid of heights.

Fortunately, I became a Clown long ago. I’ve even jumped from a clock tower… Expression cold, Klein covered the last dozen meters and stepped onto the deck of the Future.

Facing Admiral of Stars Cattleya, whose dark eyes were tinged with purple, he showed no nervousness at all. He removed his hat and bowed.

“Good evening, Madam.”