Chapter 156: Toxin Expert

Chapter 156: Toxin Expert

As Klein bowed, Cattleya, whose black hair fell simply around her shoulders, drew the purple within her eyes inward. They seemed to become a deep abyss capable of devouring souls, and the mysterious aura she naturally possessed grew even more pronounced.

She saw that, deep within Gehrman Sparrow’s ether body, on the surface of his astral body, there was pure, lightless darkness. In its subtleties, hidden currents surged and changed without end.

She saw that Gehrman Sparrow’s left hand shone with brilliant colors, yet was stained with a thick blood-red that would not dissolve.

She saw an azure brilliance at Gehrman Sparrow’s cuff; in his left pocket, silver-white flowed vividly, as though connected to the layered, illusory spirit world. Around it gathered many objects that seemed accompanied by phantom tides and faint winds.

She saw green and black interweaving in Gehrman Sparrow’s right pocket. Beneath his arm were two points each of gold, silver, and copper. At his chest, a gray-white depth lay heavy, like death already rotting away.

Four mystical items, and Beyonder objects or spiritual charms numbering by the tens… Admiral of Stars Cattleya’s eyes almost dazzled from the sight, and she could not help closing them briefly.

Using the motion to nod, she said, “Good evening, Mr. Sparrow.”

Even as a powerhouse long famous across the sea, and as one of the senior, more outstanding members of the seven pirate admirals, she rarely encountered someone who armed himself to the teeth with extraordinary items like this.

Of course, it was not that she had never seen or owned more mystical items, Beyonder objects, and spiritual charms than this. But she stood behind a secret organization, commanded several ships and more than a thousand pirates. Many things had to be turned in, distributed, or sold in order to maintain and expand her force. What could remain in her own hands was not particularly abundant.

That “not abundant” was only relative. It could almost rival what Gehrman Sparrow carried now, but through various exchanges, Cattleya had consolidated them down to two items—two pieces powerful enough, wondrous enough, and sufficiently suited to the status of a pirate admiral.

Apart from the lights representing different items, Cattleya’s black eyes, touched faintly with deep purple, also vaguely saw that Gehrman Sparrow was not entirely real. It was as though he were hidden behind a thick curtain of shadow.

Is… is this why he gives me the impression of not being alive at the Tarot Gathering? His secrets are not small. At the very least, they involve a Sequence 3 Saint, perhaps even an angel of higher status… Cattleya did not dare look any longer, and her gaze ceased to be so deep and dark.

At the same time, she laughed at herself inwardly, feeling that some of her guesses about The World, about Gehrman Sparrow, were almost absurd:

Involving a Sequence 3 Saint, or even an angel of higher status—heh, there is nothing wrong with that statement at all. Like me, he is a member of the Tarot Club, so of course he is connected to Mr. Fool, who is suspected to be a revived ancient god.

After they exchanged greetings, Cattleya made no small talk and wasted no words. She led Klein directly toward the entrance to the cabins.

At that moment, the Future, which had been stopped, set sail once more. It drew a long arc across the sea and headed east along the whaling route. The tense atmosphere in Nas Harbor dissipated with its departure.

Gazes from the sailors fell upon him one after another. Klein showed not the slightest unease. Instead, he looked around and said in the casual tone of someone returning home, “Fewer people than I imagined.”

Admiral of Stars Cattleya glanced sideways at him and replied simply, “Going east of the whaling route is extremely dangerous. Only Ludwell often heads there, as though searching for something.

“Apart from the Future, none of the other ships in the pirate crew will go. Likewise, I have assigned most of the sailors to the other ships, leaving only the minimum number needed to maintain navigation here.”

A very rational measure… Ludwell. That would be Admiral of Hell Ludwell? When Mr. Hanged Man first mentioned him, he said Ludwell had again begun a voyage exploring the eastern end of the Sonia Sea… Klein gave a slight nod and said nothing more.

This was Gehrman Sparrow’s temperament.

Silently, he observed his surroundings. He discovered that the deck, cabin walls, masts, and many other places on the Future were covered in mysterious, abstract symbols. As a whole, they seemed to overlap into a gigantic ritual magic.

Like the Golden Dream, it’s a mystical-type sailing ship, though not quite at the level of a ghost ship… Compared with Admiral of Stars and Vice Admiral Iceberg, Tracy, who only became a pirate admiral a few months ago, is clearly somewhat inferior. The Black Death has nothing especially unique about it… Klein withdrew his gaze and followed Cattleya to the entrance of the cabin.

Waiting there was a man in suspenders and a white shirt. He looked around thirty, with a sturdy build and thick body hair, such that his exposed forearms seemed to be covered in a brown sweater.

He wore a round-brimmed hat with a dent in the center, revealed a bright smile, and extended his right hand.

“First mate of the Future, Frank Lee.

“Good evening, Mr. Sparrow.”

Frank Lee, the “Toxin Expert” with a bounty of 7,000 pounds… Klein immediately recognized him.

Considering that Gehrman Sparrow did not have the habit of shaking hands, he bent slightly at the waist.

“Good evening.”

Frank Lee withdrew his right hand, glanced at Admiral of Stars Cattleya, and said with his smile unchanged, “You seem to know me? Of course. A photograph I once took was printed on my wanted poster.

“Don’t mind that title, ‘Toxin Expert.’ I’m a very friendly person, as long as I’m not facing those damned fellows! My greatest hobby is studying soil, crops, and hybridization techniques. Believe me, that is the future of humanity.”

“But the Church of the Earth Mother doesn’t believe it,” Cattleya said in a very discreet way, introducing him to Klein.

He was originally from the Church of the Earth Mother? Hybridization is a good thing, isn’t it? Only by raising yields can more people be fed and the lower limit of poverty be lifted… Klein looked at Frank Lee and said calmly, half out of courtesy and half sincerely, “That is a good thing.”

“…As expected, you are an adventurer who doesn’t care about worldly opinion! Excellent, excellent! There are too few people like you in this world!” Obvious delight appeared in Frank Lee’s blue eyes. “All I did was try to hybridize bulls, cows, and wheat, so that calves could grow like grain, and I almost got sent to the tribunal by the people of the Church of the Mother. Merciful Mother, they simply do not truly understand Your will!”

Hybridize bulls, cows, and wheat… You demon… Only then did Klein realize that the hybridization technique he understood and the one this man spoke of were completely different things.

He kept his expression unchanged and offered no explanation. With Frank Lee, whose enthusiasm had sharply risen, leading the way, he walked side by side with Admiral of Stars Cattleya along the corridor.

After stepping onto the stairs and reaching the higher level, Klein’s spiritual perception stirred, and his gaze shifted toward the shadows to one side.

The darkness there distorted and produced a figure: a thin, tall, pale figure.

His cheek skin was almost transparent, his nose bridge jutted out with an unnatural height, and his entire person had a sickly quality.

“This is the second mate of our Future, Heath Doyle,” Frank Lee introduced with a smile.

Heath “Bloodless” Doyle, whose bounty is higher than yours at 7,600 pounds? Klein quickly matched the man to the correct wanted poster.

Heath nodded as a greeting, then silently withdrew back into the shadows.

“He’s a Rose Bishop,” Frank Lee warmly said of Heath Doyle as they turned and headed toward the captain’s cabin.

You’re just directly telling me your own second mate’s Sequence? Klein nearly raised an eyebrow.

He quietly glanced at Admiral of Stars Cattleya and found that she appeared faintly helpless.

“Are you surprised? Worried? Afraid he’s a devout believer of the True Creator, a polluted madman? No, haha. He’s actually a lucky fellow. Because of an accident, he—originally an ordinary person—was splashed with a potion made from the Beyonder ingredients of a Rose Bishop. It permeated him little by little, and he managed to endure it, eventually becoming a rather unique Beyonder. Since he never went through the Listener stage, he wasn’t corrupted and didn’t turn into a madman. As long as he doesn’t actively use the Beyonder ability ‘Listening,’ he remains a normal person,” Frank Lee said almost boastfully.

What an enviable fellow. He jumped straight to Sequence 6 without going insane like the sea serpent Kalvetua… Klein sighed inwardly as he watched Admiral of Stars open the door to the captain’s cabin.

Cattleya gestured inside.

“Your room is diagonally opposite. Frank will take you there. If anything happens, you may come directly here to find me.

“You may eat in the dining room. At any time, you can also have Frank send someone to deliver food to your room. It mainly depends on which way you prefer.”

Admiral of Stars handles matters very cleanly and efficiently. Mm, a mature and wise lady… Klein silently praised her, his expression unchanged as he replied, “All right.”

Taking that opportunity, he glanced at the interior of the captain’s cabin and saw bookcases, a full-length mirror, a desk, and a carpet.

She actually reads? Isn’t she already too busy digesting all the knowledge instilled by the Hidden Sage… Klein thought, somewhat amused.

At that moment, seeing that the conversation between the two had ended, Frank Lee enthusiastically recommended, “Mr. Sparrow, would you like a roasted potato tonight?

“It has the texture of beef and tastes like beef, but it is unquestionably a potato.”

Would eating that make me sick… Klein answered coldly, “I don’t eat late-night snacks.”

“All right.” Frank Lee shrugged and was about to lead Klein to his room.

Just then, Admiral of Stars Cattleya thought for a moment and said, “Mr. Sparrow, you should have hunted quite a few enemies and obtained many spoils.

“I wonder how many Beyonder characteristics you have left? Perhaps they can be used to offset the remaining passage fee.”

Klein considered it, then answered frankly, “Most of them have been sold.

“I still have Interrogator, Pugilist, and Lunatic.”

He did not mention the All-Black Eye, nor did he mention the Nightmare Beyonder characteristic.

He really is the most famous adventurer of recent months… Even after selling most of them, he still has three Beyonder characteristics left… Cattleya sighed inwardly and pondered for a moment.

“I want Pugilist.”

One of her subordinates from the Gargas Islands, a Warrior, had long since accumulated enough merits to apply for advancement.