Chapter 213: A Stark Contrast

Chapter 213: A Stark Contrast

The gale, carrying ice chips and goose-feather snowflakes, slapped Klein’s face and body again and again. As he surveyed the surrounding environment, his body involuntarily tensed. He hunched slightly and began to tremble.

“So… cold…” He nearly let out a curse, confirming that he was in a world of ice and snow with extremely poor visibility.

He had originally thought that Backlund’s damp, bone-chilling winters were the most terrifying. Now, he finally understood that absolute low temperature combined with wind as sharp as knives was the truly lethal combination. Even though he had put on an extra sweater before coming, and his coat was a thick formal frock coat, he still felt as though he could barely withstand it.

This time, he was not wearing the Sun Brooch. The heat it produced existed on the spiritual level. In a short span of time, using it to resist the effects of severe cold and prevent the body from stiffening was effective. But in the face of a persistent environment of ice and snow, it was the same as suicide. Spiritual heat would make a person’s body open its pores and enter a summer state, stripping away the final layer of defense against the low temperature—and even actively welcoming it.

Therefore, Klein had thrown that mystical item above the gray fog, planning to bring it down only when some specific situation required it.

The dreadful environment did not allow him to delay. After making an initial observation of the surroundings, he immediately burned the blood on the copper knife, placed the knife into his pocket, and then took out his Adventurer’s Harmonica and tried blowing it.

Amid the howling gale, with Spirit Vision quietly activated, he did not see his messenger, Reinette Tinekerr, appear.

As expected, this place is not connected to the spirit world. Or rather, it may have its own unique spirit world… Mm. From this, praying to Sea God won’t work. Only incantations pointing toward the mysterious space above the gray fog can pierce the barrier…

Then the question is: as a believer of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, Edwina knows the honorific name of this true god. Why didn’t she try praying for help? Or did she try, only for it to have no effect?

Mm… Not every deity personally responds to Their believers. Often, from what I can tell, the corresponding feedback is given according to certain rules. There probably isn’t a second “hidden existence” like me, personally taking every request… Klein smiled self-mockingly and formed an initial judgment.

He then put away the harmonica, took out the paper stained with Danitz’s fresh blood, and wrapped it around the top of his cane.

“Danitz’s location.”

Klein spoke in a low voice, using the Dowsing Rod Person-Finding method.

Afterward, following the result, he stepped through the thick snow beneath the dim sky, moving swiftly through the raging wind. From time to time, he divined again and adjusted his direction. After all, Danitz would not remain in one place and wait. If he did, he would become an ice sculpture.

After roughly ten minutes, Klein discovered a smear of crimson firelight.

Phew… He exhaled, took several more steps, and clearly saw the target.

It was indeed Danitz. This famous great pirate was dressed rather thinly and was walking forward in a daze, arms wrapped around himself.

However, he did not seem especially cold, because one scarlet fire raven after another circled around him. They evaporated the white snow, blocked the gale, and brought with them a warmth like spring.

At times like this, Klein was especially envious of Pyromaniacs. Although Magicians could likewise summon streams of flame, that was an offensive ability that could not be maintained. It could only take effect for an instant. If he wanted to rely on it for warmth, he would have to constantly summon them, and he would soon become exhausted. As for the ability to manipulate flames, it depended on preexisting flames or materials that could be ignited; both were extremely scarce in this world of ice and snow.

Looking at the flying flame ravens, Klein quickened his pace and moved closer.

Danitz noticed someone approaching and jumped in fright. Once he pierced through the wind and snow and saw who it was, he immediately let out a breath of relief. Then, with a somewhat strange expression, he forced on a smile.

“Haha. You can’t even see the stars here. Getting lost is inevitable.”

Klein ignored his words and asked directly, “Did you burn it?”

“I burned it!” Danitz hurriedly nodded, his entire body radiating an indescribable sense of fear.

Klein stared at Danitz for several seconds and confirmed that he was not lying. Then he tugged out Gehrman Sparrow’s polite smile.

“Remember.

“Once you have recited His honorific name, you are His believer.”

“…” Danitz’s expression instantly twisted. Then he forced out a smile uglier than crying.

I don’t want to convert! I don’t want to believe in some unknown existence of unclear origin at all! he screamed wildly in his heart, but not a single word left his mouth.

He suspected that if he objected, Gehrman Sparrow, that madman, would bury him in the snow on the spot.

With a smile containing hints of madness, Klein added in an ordinary tone, “Remember to keep it secret.

“If this is leaked, you and your captain will both die.”

“What does that have to do with the Captain?” Danitz blurted out.

Klein maintained the same expression as before, smiling as he looked at Danitz.

“What do you think?”

Danitz opened his mouth. He already knew the reason. He could only laugh dryly.

“Do I look like the kind of person who can’t keep a secret?”

Klein nodded. While taking out the note with Anderson’s blood on it, he gave a low chuckle and said to Danitz, “Believe in Him and serve Him. Perhaps one day, you will become a Blessed like me.

“At that time, your name will spread across the Five Seas, no less famous than the pirate admirals.”

As he spoke, he originally wanted to pair the words with a gesture used by believers of The Fool. Unfortunately, he discovered that no such thing existed, so he could only console himself with a few lines inwardly:

A secret organization should remain secret. Those surface-level details are meaningless… Mr. Hanged Man was right…

No less famous than the pirate admirals… Danitz’s eyes abruptly lit up.

In any case, I already recited the honorific name of a hidden existence. From a mysticism perspective, it really will be hard to get away. I might as well take this chance… In an instant, he thought of many, many things, and even decided on the names of his future children.

Heh. If not for Gehrman Sparrow’s persona, I would directly tell him: by then, you will possess fame and strength worthy of Vice Admiral Iceberg. Of course, whether she likes you would be another matter. Based on my observations, your chances are probably nonexistent. The partner Edwina wants should be someone who can study and progress with her and discuss all kinds of knowledge together… Klein muttered a few lines inwardly and once again used the Dowsing Rod Person-Finding method.

“Anderson Hood’s location.”

“…He came in too?” Danitz first froze, then asked in obvious surprise.

Klein finished reciting the statement, released his cane, and confirmed the direction in which it fell. Then he nodded.

“I was not at ease leaving him outside.”

So you’re wary of that fellow Anderson Hood too… Danitz immediately could not hide his smile as he echoed, “Exactly! He’s the type who smiles at you on the surface and can stab you in the back the moment he turns around!

“His reputation in the Misty Sea is terrible. All pirates hate him!

“Just now, he even deliberately slandered you, trying to make us guard against you and become hostile toward you!”

If pirates liked him, that would only prove the title Strongest Hunter was inflated… I heard Anderson’s provocation… Klein did not respond further. He picked up his cane and trudged forward through the blizzard.

Danitz followed close behind, using the flying fire ravens to disperse snowflakes and resist the cold, preventing the two of them from freezing stiff.

Not bad. Very self-aware… At that moment, Klein once again felt the benefits of having a servant. In rain, someone held the umbrella; in a blizzard, someone provided warmth!

Amid the vast white world, the two were like black dots, crunching step by step across the snow. After nearly twenty minutes, they finally reached the location indicated by the dowsing rod.

“There’s no one here…” Danitz looked around but failed to find any trace of Anderson Hood.

He did not doubt Gehrman Sparrow’s Dowsing Rod Person-Finding at all, because he himself had been the previous person found.

Klein frowned slightly, activated Spirit Vision, and strengthened his spiritual intuition.

Suddenly, he sensed something. He merely thrust his cane forward, and the snow covering the ground collapsed with a crash.

The collapsed area revealed a hole. Inside were dark-black rocks reflecting firelight.

Klein crouched down and peered inside. He discovered that the pit extended into a narrow path. At the end of the path, atop a pile of red stones, strange underground plants were slowly burning. Anderson Hood sat beside them, leisurely roasting a creature that resembled a rabbit. The warm scent of sizzling fat wafted out and burrowed into Klein and Danitz’s noses.

“You’re here? Want to try some? This place actually has strange rabbits that can survive in ice and snow.” Anderson lowered his body and poked his head toward the entrance of the pit, as if greeting companions on a picnic.

Although he hadn’t said a single provocative word, at this moment I really want to beat him up… Klein expressionlessly jumped into the pit, arrived beside the fire, and felt a long-lost loveliness.

Danitz followed him inside. He looked at the flames roasting the rabbit, then at the fire ravens beside himself, and silently dispelled them all.

“How—how did you find this pit?” Danitz asked as though unwilling to lose, even as his body honestly moved closer to the fire.

Anderson flipped the rabbit skewered on his pitch-black short sword and glanced at Danitz.

“First lesson for Hunters: observe the environment, familiarize yourself with the environment, and make use of the environment.”

Danitz’s expression instantly froze on his face.

Anderson then looked toward Gehrman Sparrow and chuckled.

“I blasted this hole out. How is it? Not bad, right? I controlled the force very well.”

As he spoke, he sniffed the scent in the air.

“Smells great. Looks like it’s done. Want some? I didn’t bring seasoning, but there’s rock salt here. It’s just a little astringent.”

“Are you sure it’s edible? If this is a Beyonder creature, you might lose control on the spot after one bite,” Danitz clicked his tongue and said.

Anderson glanced at him again.

“Second lesson for Hunters: distinguish which things in the wilderness can be eaten and which cannot.”

He carefully reached out, tore off a leg, stuffed it into his mouth, and ate with relish.

Klein was about to speak when he suddenly sensed an aura of madness and brutality approaching from outside, moving from far to near. The pressure from a high-level creature seemed almost tangible, making Danitz’s body tremble uncontrollably.

That aura swept across the sky. It did not notice anything strange about the pit below and swiftly moved away.

King of the North… The title instantly flashed through Klein’s mind.