Chapter 230: Ever-Loyal Alger

Chapter 230: Ever-Loyal Alger

The Golden Dream was outside the storm. Crimson moonlight passed through thin layered clouds, spilling into a dark room with no candlelight.

Danitz stood beside the bed, utterly motionless, as though he had encountered Medusa’s gaze or some petrification-type Beyonder ability.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably. His legs trembled faintly yet irrepressibly. In his mind echoed only the endless gray-white fog, the blurry figure seated high above everything, and the low, dignified voice that had said: “Recite My name in your heart.”

“Th-there really is a response… There really is a response!” Danitz’s lips moved soundlessly. He felt his calves had clearly gone weak.

This was the first time he had ever encountered a prayer receiving a response!

It nearly frightened his soul out of his body.

Although he had long known that The Fool was an unknown existence, the being worshiped by the secret organization behind Gehrman Sparrow, and although reciting the other party’s honorific name had created a connection, meaning he would suddenly and inexplicably die if he ever showed disrespect or betrayed Him, all that understanding came from knowledge taught by Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina. He had never actually encountered a similar matter, nor had he ever imagined that an unknown existence would respond to him.

Only when fog, figure, and voice suddenly appeared before his eyes and beside his ears did he truly learn for the first time that a great existence could directly respond to believers!

Yes. Without realizing it, Danitz had already changed “unknown existence” to “great existence” in his heart.

Once the feeling of shock and terror had slightly subsided, he hurriedly began breathing deeply, then tried pacing back and forth to dissolve the lingering fear in his heart. However, he had only taken one step with his right foot when he discovered that his legs truly had gone soft. He could only fall toward the bed and barely turn to sit down.

“It really is a great existence… It really is…” Danitz muttered, clearly realizing that he had truly gotten himself involved in something huge.

Back when he was in the book world, because he had merely recited the honorific name and had not discovered any other abnormalities, his fear had come only from understanding what the consequences might be. Now, however, what he faced was a hidden danger that had finally shown its outline, along with even more unknown things he could not see clearly at all. How could that not make him sink into extreme fear and be unable to free himself?

After an unknown amount of time, Danitz exhaled and comforted himself inwardly:

“This might not be a bad thing. At least Gehrman Sparrow is not only alive, he’s doing very well!”

Thinking of that, he forced a smile and said soundlessly, “From now on, I’m also a member of a secret organization, someone protected by a great existence…”

As his thoughts turned, Danitz decided that from now on, he would pray once every morning as well. He believed that no existence disliked devout believers.

Of course, he would remember the divine oracle and normally pray only in his heart.

…

The next morning, Klein, who had consumed a great deal, slept until he woke naturally.

He got up unhurriedly and saw that the sky outside was clear blue, the ground damp, the houses still carrying water stains. The entire world seemed to have been washed clean, exceptionally fresh. But scattered leaves, broken branches, and all kinds of trash showed that the previous night had by no means been peaceful.

After washing up, Klein, wearing an ordinary Loenese face, ordered a glass of gulu tree juice from Simim Island and a portion of teya tiwa, a comparatively heavy dish for breakfast, to make up for the previous night’s consumption.

He drank the beverage, which tasted like sweetened milk lemon water, and ate meat mixed from fish and lamb, savory, fragrant, and carrying the sweet-sour note of fruit. Feeling comfortable, he picked up the newspapers provided by the inn and began browsing through them page by page, starting with the Sonia Morning Post and News.

Toward the end of breakfast, he opened the final paper, the Tales of Wonder, which was quite popular among adventurers, and saw a striking report:

“Bloody Infighting Amid the Storm:

“According to valid sources, late last night aboard Mad Captain Connors Victor’s One-Eyed Skull, the pirates erupted in violent internal conflict. They executed Mad Captain, slaughtered one another, and seemingly left no survivors.

“The evil of it all was concealed by the terrifying storm. No one knows the truth. In fact, the matter was only discovered when the One-Eyed Skull drifted near Simim Harbor.”

Below the report was a blurry photograph that seemed to have been taken secretly from the pier.

In the photograph, the One-Eyed Skull’s characteristics were obvious and recognizable at a glance. It was badly damaged, charred in places, with only one mast still relatively intact. At the middle section of that mast, a figure wearing a tricorne hat had been nailed in place.

“That’s Connors Victor… He just died like that?” Klein’s pupils contracted slightly as he thought grimly, “It’s now almost certain there was a demigod aboard that ship last night… Seeing that Mad Captain had already been targeted, or being chased by Sea King to the point of only being able to look after himself and unable to take Connors away, he decisively silenced him and destroyed all evidence?”

Klein, who had originally intended to continue tracking Mad Captain, felt downcast for a while, realizing that although the clue had not yet been completely cut off, very little remained.

At present, the only thing he knew was that the demigod was most likely from the Black Emperor pathway!

“With the intensity of last night’s storm, the One-Eyed Skull should have been brought to the pier by Sea King Jahn Kottman for follow-up investigation. I wonder whether they obtained anything extra… Hm. I can have Mr. Hanged Man inquire within the Church of Storms… I don’t need to pass that on. This afternoon is the Tarot Gathering. The World can make the commission directly…” Klein swiftly formed a plan and drank the last of the gulu tree juice in one gulp.

Then he returned to his room, preparing to take out the radio transceiver that had been above the gray fog for a long time in order to contact Magic Mirror Arrodes and see whether it knew any other clues to the Bizarro Sorcerer potion formula.

After leaving the waters east of Olavi—that is, the place where he had earlier been targeted by a demigod from the Aurora Order—Klein already dared to use items carrying the aura of the gray fog. However, he knew very clearly that he could not do so too frequently, and that each time could not last too long, or else there was a possibility of being caught by the True Creator.

For that reason, and because he was wary of Magic Mirror Arrodes, he intended to do everything he could by himself and consult others whenever he could. Only when there truly was no other option would he play the question-and-answer game.

…

At the Resistance’s private harbor, the Blue Avenger came to dock.

Before returning to Pasu Island, Alger intended to restock one final time.

After instructing his crew on what to purchase, he changed into native-style clothing, entered Bayam, circled around several times, and arrived at the Church of Waves, preparing to report his recent activities to Bishop Chogo.

Although he was returning to Pasu Island this time to give a report to the Church higher-ups, Alger clearly knew who his current direct superior was. He knew he had to do everything required and must not make the other party feel that a subordinate intended to bypass him and establish direct contact with those above.

Chogo remained hale and energetic. He was very satisfied with Alger’s initiative in reporting to him. After listening, he spoke rather quickly.

“This is an ordinary performance report. You need not worry. I have already informed His Excellency Kottman that you are devout toward the Lord, loyal to the Church, and one of our most trustworthy captains. His Excellency Kottman will pass that on to the Council of Cardinals.”

He paused, giving Alger no room to respond, then continued, “In addition, there is another mission: investigate those who had close connections with Mad Captain Connors Victor.

“This is a mission personally assigned by His Excellency Kottman. You must take it seriously.”

Investigate those connected to Mad Captain? Alger felt somewhat puzzled, but he did not ask. He directly clenched his right fist and struck his left chest.

“Yes, Your Excellency Chogo.”

The gray-haired Chogo nodded. After thinking for two seconds, he instead asked, “Do you know Gehrman Sparrow?”

That question was like a bolt from clear skies. Alger’s pupils constricted secretly, and he nearly lost control on the spot. Fortunately, his mental quality was excellent, and he barely maintained a normal state.

“I’ve heard of him. His reputation has been quite loud recently. Not only did he hunt Witty Maysoul and severely injure Tracy, he also boarded Cattleya’s Future,” Alger said with somewhat rambling words, concealing the turmoil in his heart.

Chogo gave an “Mm.”

“You are at sea, so your information is somewhat delayed.

“Last week, Gehrman Sparrow killed Gilchies in Toscarter and collected the bounty. Heh, that pirate truly was a demon. A Sequence 5 demon.”

“Gilchies? Agalito’s second mate?” Alger asked back with extremely genuine emotion.

He knew Gilchies was suspected to be Sequence 5, but he did not know the other man belonged to the Demon pathway. And Sequence 5 plus demon meant power; it meant extreme difficulty to encircle and kill. In other words, Gehrman Sparrow had very possibly killed Gilchies after a sudden encounter!

This represented that Gehrman Sparrow already stood near the top among Sequence 5 Beyonders!

If not for the fact that he’s still seeking a Sequence 4 potion formula, I would suspect he had already become a demigod… Alger thought with no calmness whatsoever.

He was stunned to realize that in only a week, The World had obtained the Sequence 5 Ocean Songster potion formula and main ingredient, killed a Sequence 5 demon, and very likely already secured the Sequence 6 Notary potion formula!

How exactly did he do it? Alger discovered that he was actually a little afraid of The World, Gehrman Sparrow.

Of course, it was not impossible for him to accept all this, because he knew that The World was the representative of Mr. Fool’s Blessed. And Mr. Fool clearly could not have only one Blessed. If one was responsible for the Notary formula and another was responsible for matters related to Ocean Songster, then Gehrman Sparrow had merely killed Gilchies.

Although that was still terrifying, at least it would not seem like a fabricated story.

Chogo nodded solemnly.

“Correct. Agalito made no response. That explains certain things.

“Pay attention to collecting information on Gehrman Sparrow.”

“Yes, Your Excellency Chogo.” While bowing respectfully, Alger had already decided to muddle through this mission as much as possible.

…

Inside the inn, Klein placed the radio transceiver on the table.

Before long, rapid tapping sounds rang out.