Chapter 170: A Clue to the Mermaids

Chapter 170: A Clue to the Mermaids

The Strongest Hunter… Klein was momentarily shaken by the title. After thinking carefully, he realized that Anderson had no bounty.

In other words, Anderson Hood’s self-description in the dream world had been true and reliable. He was more of a treasure hunter!

What a pity. Gehrman Sparrow still hasn’t killed any pirate admiral. Otherwise, I’d be the strongest hunter… Klein did not relax his guard. His cold gaze remained fixed on the man before him.

The moment Anderson Hood showed the slightest abnormality, Klein would immediately throw out the handful of charms in his grasp. Their activation word was the same, and for his present Sequence, infusing them with spirituality at the same time was possible.

Hearing Admiral of Stars’ introduction, Anderson shook his head seriously.

“No, no. Not the Strongest Hunter.”

Oh, he’s actually modest… Klein sighed inwardly.

Anderson chuckled and added, “If Admiral of Stars still insists on that title, it would be best to add a qualifier in front.

“Below demigod level.

“Mm. The strongest hunter below demigod level.”

…I take back what I just said… The corner of Klein’s mouth shifted almost imperceptibly.

Seeing that Admiral of Stars did not respond, Anderson let his arms hang naturally by his sides and said, “This sea is very dangerous, but it also holds many treasures. I believe both of you understand that as well.

“Many adventurers have come here before—more precisely, treasure hunters—seeking encounters and opportunities. Most of them never left alive. Heh, I said most, which means there were naturally some lucky ones who obtained items and materials and still managed to leave safely.

“This treasure-hunting team was organized by two treasure hunters with such experience. They claimed to have more or less figured out the first half of the safe route: which ruins could not be explored, which relics could be attempted, which monsters should be hunted by which methods, and which out-of-control evil creatures had to be avoided in what way.

“I had always been curious about this place, so they successfully persuaded me, and I joined their treasure-hunting team.”

“And then?” Admiral of Stars Cattleya asked, his figure reflected in the faint purple depths of her black eyes.

Anderson sighed.

“At first, things went smoothly. Very smoothly, truly. We avoided danger, collected quite a few relics left behind by earlier explorers, and hunted some monsters, obtaining several materials.

“The turning point came when we discovered a strange temple on a submerged island. There were many well-preserved murals there. This gentleman also saw them in the dream world.”

He pointed at Klein with his chin.

“That isn’t the important part,” Klein replied calmly.

Anderson shook his head with a bitter smile.

“One of the murals was extremely strange. It depicted a pilgrimage procession walking through parted seawater.

“The leader of the procession was depicted as an angel, with silver hair reaching down to his back and very gentle features.

“I was the first to arrive before that mural. I stretched out my right hand and, purely out of habit, traced the various lines in the air. Truly, I did not touch it. I was at least five centimeters away. Yet somehow, the angel in the painting seemed to open his eyes at that moment.”

…You must have earned the title of Strongest Hunter by provoking so many things that you were forced to become that strong… Klein sneered inwardly with no sympathy whatsoever.

“An angel with silver hair?” Cattleya asked in return.

“Yes. But I don’t know which angel it was. At the very least, he has never appeared in any of the various paintings of the seven great Churches. Of course, perhaps the mural artist added him arbitrarily. He may not be real,” Anderson said, about to raise a hand to smooth his hair, when he suddenly realized that the man across from him—wearing a round-neck shirt, brown jacket, and flat cap—was staring at him with an icy gaze, as though any slight movement would make him launch an attack without hesitation.

At that moment, Klein was thinking about something else entirely:

“This fellow is rather professional when it comes to art. At the very least, an ordinary person wouldn’t be familiar with that many religious paintings.”

Having received no effective answer, Cattleya turned her head toward Klein, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

She had heard Anderson Hood say that Gehrman Sparrow had seen the mural.

Perhaps this member of the organization blessed by the Lord could recognize which angel it was… For some reason, Admiral of Stars Cattleya felt that Gehrman Sparrow might truly know the answer.

Thinking that Madam Hermit could ask about it casually at the next Tarot Gathering and still obtain the answer, Klein did not conceal it. He said simply, “The Tail Devourer, Ouroboros.”

The Tail Devourer, Ouroboros? That Angel of Fate? That King of Angels? Cattleya’s lips unconsciously pressed together, and the purple within her eyes seemed to become a little more obvious.

The last time she had heard that name was at the Tarot Gathering, thanks to information from Miss Justice.

It had been the first time she learned of the existence of the Kings of Angels, yet only a few months later she had now encountered a clue in the real world!

“The Tail Devourer, Ouroboros?” Anderson chewed over the name in confusion.

Klein did not speak again, presenting the air of someone who had no interest in explaining.

Seeing that Admiral of Stars also did not speak, Anderson could only laugh once and continue, “At the time, I thought it was an illusion, because afterward the mural showed no further abnormalities.

“Then our team split into two groups. Most people were frightened by my description and believed we should not explore the temple. The remaining third were eager for more treasure and set off toward the depths of the temple. We waited an entire day—three alternations of noon and night—but none of them returned.

“We were all outstanding treasure hunters. We knew something had definitely happened. After briefly confirming it, we did not dare remain, nor did we dare wait any longer. We immediately left the temple and took our ship back along the original route. We had already gained enough and did not want to risk more.”

Wait. None of you had any intention of saving your companions? Mm, in a temporarily assembled exploration group like that, once danger appears, everyone will only care about themselves and their closest friends… Based on my experience, those missing companions of yours may very well be eating corpse fingers right now… Klein lampooned inwardly without accusing Anderson.

Anderson sighed again.

“After leaving that temple, we discovered that certain abnormalities had appeared in us. On the one hand, we became extremely unlucky. Nothing went smoothly, no matter what we did. Even if someone simply drank a few mouthfuls of light beer in peace, they might discover that someone had mistaken the barrel for a chamber pot and urinated inside it. Mm, that did not happen to me. It was one of my companions.

“On the other hand, we gained control over ourselves inside the dream. We were no longer muddled, knowing some things yet unable to act. Because of that, some of my companions—roughly one-third of the original group—grew curious and walked deeper into the dream world. Heh. They never came back either.”

Cattleya, who had been quietly listening, asked, “What about their bodies in the real world?”

“They mutated into monsters. They killed quite a few of the remaining companions and most of the sailors,” Anderson said, clearly drawing a deep breath. “Although we successfully killed those monsters, because we lacked enough sailors and then encountered a series of unlucky events, we failed to reach this island before the storm arrived. So, our ship sank. Our gains sank as well. The rest of my companions either drowned, were struck by lightning, or were swallowed by monsters in the water. I didn’t witness all of it personally.

“Only I—because I was a little stronger than them and a little luckier—was tossed away by the waves and managed to swim to this island. I then began trying to make a dugout canoe so I could leave. Heh, you saw it too. My last axe shattered, and that reflected into the dream.”

Anderson’s last sentence was directed at Klein.

What a treasure-hunting team haunted by misfortune… In his heart, Klein drew a crimson moon for them.

He believed Anderson’s account should be true. His experiences did not sound fabricated out of thin air. Whether he had concealed anything, however, was impossible to know.

Perhaps Anderson had truly entered the depths of that temple and eaten a corpse’s finger, only to walk back out thinking he was fine. Perhaps he had already explored quite a few places within the dream world and suffered some inconspicuous corruption inside the dreams of unknown creatures.

After telling his story, Anderson Hood smiled at Admiral of Stars Cattleya and that certain unnamed someone.

“Would I have the honor of taking the Future?

“I will pay the fare.”

His attitude made it look as if they could name any price they liked.

Cattleya turned her head toward Klein again, seemingly asking whether he agreed.

In other words, you’re more inclined to agree? You don’t plan to investigate him first? I would at least divine above the gray fog before giving a definite answer. Why are you so confident? Is this a Sequence 5 ability of the Mystery Pryer pathway? Klein interpreted a few pieces of information from the glance that The Hermit, Cattleya, cast his way.

Just as he hesitated and speculated, Anderson spoke hurriedly. “I’m very familiar with the route ahead!

“I can help you avoid the dangers hidden along the safe route. I can tell you which ruins cannot be explored, and I can help you avoid the mermaids’ singing in time!”

“The mermaids’ singing?” Klein’s eyes almost lit up. He barely managed to maintain Gehrman Sparrow’s persona.

“Yes. From here, after one more day of sailing—I mean one day in the outside world—if you go around a ruin and turn toward…” At this point, Anderson seemed to realize something. He smiled and shut his mouth, no longer saying more.

After thinking for a moment, Klein took out a gold coin in front of Anderson and softly recited, “There is something wrong with Anderson Hood.”

…

He repeated the statement seven times, following the standard process of divination. In truth, however, he was not expecting an answer at all.

He was testing the other party.

If Anderson really had a problem, he would likely show signs of guilt. After all, he could not confirm Gehrman Sparrow’s level of divination, nor could he be certain that any interference would definitely succeed.

Clink!

The gold coin shot up and fell back down. Klein glanced at it, then directly put it back into his pocket.

“No problem.”

I’ll go above the gray fog later and confirm it again… Klein added inwardly.

Cattleya then looked at Anderson and nodded.

“I agree to your request.

“But after you leave this sea, half of the items on you must be given to me. If you have nothing, then I will take nothing.”

Anderson fell silent for several seconds, then revealed a smile once more.

“Deal!”

Having found a way out, he clearly relaxed a little. Immediately afterward, he laughed.

“There is one more thing I must remind you of. Although my misfortune is limited to myself, you still need to be careful, because I may attract monsters. Of course, I believe that with Admiral of Stars, this gentleman, and myself together, safety should still be guaranteed.”

The moment he finished speaking, the entire island suddenly trembled. Smoke and dust rose from the depths of the primitive forest.

“Don’t tell me a monster really came…” Anderson’s mouth fell open instinctively.