Chapter 221: A Thank-You Gift

Chapter 221: A Thank-You Gift

Seeing Edwina’s gaze soften, Anderson curled the corners of his mouth, shook his head, and sighed.

“You’re always so rigid. That’s why you’ll never become an artist in your life.”

After making that casual remark, he looked toward the remains on the floor and chair.

“We can’t keep staring like this forever. We have to do something. Didn’t Siatas want to search for her people? Then bury her near the elven ruins on Sonia Island. Mobet looked like he wanted to stay with Siatas, so put him in the same grave.

“Didn’t Longzel want to return to Backlund? Cremate him, place his ashes in a box, and take him to that metropolis while it’s on the way. If there’s time, we can even look for his descendants. As for Snowman, whether he believed in the ancient Sun God, the original Creator, or whether the two are equivalent, heh, it’s all the same to us. We definitely won’t be able to find a corresponding church or altar, so we can only bury him beside Groselle.

“Groselle… He probably wanted to return to the Giant King’s Court. But that is a city that exists only in myth and legend. There’s no way to find it in reality. Still, there are some giant ruins in both the Northern and Southern Continents. He can be buried in one of those places, so he may truly rest.”

The Giant King’s Court… Backlund… Klein listened in silence. After considering for a few seconds, he said, “Give me the ashes of Groselle, Snowman, and Longzel.”

He believed that after a period of time that would not be short, yet would not be too long either, the City of Silver would likely explore the Giant King’s Court. At that time, he could hand Groselle’s and Snowman’s ashes to Little Sun and have him bury those two ancient figures along the way. As for Backlund, it was where Klein himself intended to return. It was the final destination of this journey, and he could conveniently bring Longzel, who had left his hometown for more than 165 years, back there.

Edwina then said, “The Golden Dream often goes to Sonia Island. I will take responsibility for Siatas’s and Mobet’s remains.”

“Good. You’ll be in charge of cremation later.” Anderson turned his head toward Danitz and, with a half-smile and half-sigh, said, “See? Everyone has their own role to play. There’s no need to feel inferior.”

He had expected Danitz not to understand his attempt at comfort and glare at him angrily instead. Who would have thought that this famous great pirate’s expression would only dim sharply before he nodded in silence.

“Cough. As companions who faced the King of the North together, let’s each choose one portion. Consider it inheriting their wills.” Anderson gestured with his chin toward the faintly glowing objects on the floor. “Heh. These Beyonder characteristics definitely contain small remnants of their spirits. Who knows what special effects they’ll bring. Whether they’re mixed into potions or refined into items by an artisan, they should have certain peculiarities. With the former, those effects can still be digested through the acting method. With the latter, there isn’t much of a solution. Ah, you don’t seem to understand the acting method. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

That final sentence was aimed at Danitz.

Klein was in no mood to lampoon Anderson. He looked over the four Beyonder characteristics and said, “Siatas’s for me.”

This was precisely the main ingredient for Ocean Songster!

Edwina thought for a moment and said, “I’ll take Snowman’s.”

That corresponded to Priest of Light. Klein already had one, so he had not chosen it.

Anderson swept a glance over the two remaining Beyonder characteristics. His gaze stopped on the bizarre object that resembled an infant’s palm.

“I said this fellow was very interesting. Perhaps it can be turned into a mystical item that can chat with me. That way, no one will be lonely anymore.”

Now, only the giant’s heart remained unclaimed. Klein looked at Danitz and said indifferently, “Yours.”

“Me? I didn’t do anything. I didn’t join the fight…” Danitz was extremely surprised.

Klein replied succinctly, “You scouted the way and took the risk.”

To Klein, this was actually a form of compensation. Danitz had recited The Fool’s honorific name and learned Gehrman Sparrow’s secret, so he had to be forcibly made into a believer of The Fool. Otherwise, an enormous hidden danger would remain.

Although this counted as one of the risks Danitz had voluntarily taken, Klein still wanted to compensate him a little. Of course, he hoped Danitz would view this as a bestowment from The Fool.

Whether Danitz exchanged Groselle’s Beyonder characteristic for money to buy the corresponding formula and ingredients, or had it made into a defensive mystical item, it would be very useful to him.

“Accept it,” Edwina said, also looking at Danitz.

“…All right.” After several seconds of silence, Danitz nodded heavily.

After the distribution was settled, Klein took a few steps forward, bent down, and picked up the Beyonder characteristic Siatas had left behind. He saw the azure seawater swaying gently inside the transparent membrane, and in his ears, he seemed to once again hear the elf’s beautiful singing.

He had only just straightened when he saw Danitz nod once, as if responding to someone’s question. But no one had spoken just now!

Klein’s gaze immediately swept over Edwina’s expressionless face. He suspected that this Mysticologist was communicating with Danitz using a voice others could not hear.

Seeing Danitz give an affirmative answer, Edwina reached out and closed Travels of Groselle on the desk, then handed it to Klein.

“This is my thanks.”

“Without me, you still could have defeated the frost dragon.” Klein did not reach out. He looked at the yellow-brown parchment-bound book.

“No. We would have died together. We had no way to withstand the King of the North’s final madness. Besides, you took a very large risk by entering the book.” Like a teacher, Edwina explained the reasons seriously. “My only request is that if you figure out its origins and principles, tell me the answer.”

Klein himself was deeply curious about the secrets hidden within Travels of Groselle. Hearing that, he no longer refused. He extended his hand and accepted the magical book.

“All right.”

At that moment, because the importance of the Giant King’s Court had become increasingly prominent, he also wanted to buy, in passing, the black iron key belonging to a giant that was worth 5,000 pounds. However, he did not immediately raise that request, lest Edwina think he was using his favor to extort her.

He planned to wait a few hours, or until tomorrow, before borrowing that key from Vice Admiral Iceberg. He would first divine its value above the gray fog, then pay to buy it.

Seeing Anderson and Danitz each pick up their own Beyonder characteristics, Edwina glanced at the gradually darkening sky and said to Klein, “Where are you going next?”

“Bayam,” Klein answered frankly.

Edwina nodded.

“You can take the Golden Dream there. We have many empty rooms.”

Klein nodded almost imperceptibly, agreeing.

Who didn’t like a free ship ride?

After they dealt with the remains and tidied up the captain’s cabin, Edwina finally walked to the door and opened it.

Surprised and delighted voices immediately sounded outside. The atmosphere in the corridor quickly began to boil over.

“It’s all right now.” Edwina looked around once. Unknowingly, a hint of a smile had appeared in her cool expression.

With a boom, the crew cheered. The enormous wave of sound made Anderson unable to help pulling down the corners of his mouth and scrunching up his face.

“More exaggerated than I imagined…” His words were undoubtedly swallowed up by the carnival-like commotion.

After everything calmed, Klein and Anderson, led by Danitz, left the captain’s cabin and headed toward rooms on the opposite side of the same deck.

Half-turning to glance at where they had come from, Anderson suddenly sighed.

“So it ended just like that?

“Although I knew them for less than half an hour, people you fight alongside always leave a deep impression. And then, just like that, they died in some baffling way. All of them…”

Klein was silent for two seconds, then said, “This world has always been full of baffling deaths.”

“…That’s true.” Anderson suddenly revealed a smile. “That’s why we should stay optimistic and enjoy life properly. If one day I face death, I will definitely be calm, graceful, and never lose my bearing. I’ll greet it in the most handsome posture.”

Don’t raise a flag for yourself… Klein said nothing. He entered the room Danitz opened for him, while Anderson stayed across from him.

Inside the room, Klein stood by the window and silently stared at the increasingly dark sea for nearly ten minutes. Only then did he head to the washroom, take four steps counterclockwise, recite the incantation, and enter above the gray fog.

Sitting at the high-backed chair belonging to The Fool, he directly conjured The World’s figure and made him assume a praying posture.

“Great Mr. Fool, please inform The Sun that I have already obtained the Sequence 6 Notary potion formula he wanted. I also have clues to the Priest of Light formula and main ingredient. He may withhold payment for now and count it as a debt to be repaid together in the future.”

Klein was making preparations for his advancement to Sequence 4. The City of Silver possessed abundant resources and might have some main ingredient or currently hard-to-find supplementary ingredient. Therefore, since he had no urgent need for anything else at the moment, he planned to have Little Sun owe him first.

The reason he did not say that the Priest of Light potion formula and main ingredient were already in hand was because he felt that would be too exaggerated. He planned to tell Little Sun only when the boy had nearly finished digesting his current potion.

After inspecting the conjured image twice, Klein turned it into streams of light and sent them into the crimson star corresponding to The Sun.

Afternoon Town.

Derrick had just finished patrolling the edge of the newly built camp when his vision suddenly blurred. He saw endless gray-white fog and a blurry figure praying within crimson light.

Immediately afterward, he heard The World’s voice and learned that his Notary potion formula had been obtained.

“Mr. World is so efficient. He promised a number of days, and it was exactly that number of days. He even obtained clues to the Priest of Light potion formula and main ingredient!” Derrick was astonished and delighted.

He could not help feeling a little admiration for The World, hoping that one day he, too, could possess such capability and style.

Above the gray fog, after Mr. Fool confirmed that the Ocean Songster potion formula was correct, the busy World once again began praying.

“Great Mr. Fool, please inform The Hanged Man that I have already obtained the Ocean Songster potion formula and the corresponding main ingredient. I will give them to him at the next Tarot Gathering. Please ask him to consider what he can use in exchange.”