Chapter 24: The Weather Museum

Chapter 24: The Weather Museum

Klein had already gained a preliminary understanding of Danitz’s personality. He did not take the initiative to ask what legends there were, but continued sitting in his chair, calmly looking at him.

Without being interrupted, Danitz shook his head.

“Legend has it that more than three hundred years ago, when Loen’s army first occupied this island, over five hundred soldiers mysteriously disappeared after a heavy fog. Not long afterward, many bones appeared on the shore and in the mountains. Similar incidents happened several times, until the Church of Storms built a church here and sent a bishop.”

Although historians attributed the formal beginning of the colonial era to Roselle sending fleets to discover a safe route to the Southern Continent, in truth, long before that, the countries of the Northern Continent had been exploring the surrounding waters and colonizing some islands one after another. Those activities simply had not yet reached scale and had not become a true climate.

Mysteriously disappearing in heavy fog… Bones appearing on the shore and in the mountains… Klein inexplicably thought of the Land Abandoned by the Gods. According to Little Sun’s description, that place had no sun, only lightning and night. And when humans were “wrapped” by darkness without the slightest bit of light, they would encounter strange or terrifying events.

Danitz looked toward the lighthouse, which stood out unusually in the sunset, and continued, “According to the tombs and murals excavated on the island, the indigenous people here seem to have had a tradition of cannibalism.

“This island lies in a region of violent climate change. Earthquakes, storms, and heavy fog often strike, bringing disaster again and again to the natives. To survive, they began worshiping a self-created ‘Weather God’ and held rituals four times a year. Heh. The content of the ritual was to kill the chosen Blessed, share his blood and flesh, and bury his head beneath the altar.

“However, that tradition was long ago replaced by storm rituals, and the original language of the local natives has already vanished.”

Weather God… A conquered island that once preserved a tradition of live sacrifice… Klein made a preliminary judgment.

Danitz withdrew his gaze and casually said, “Because of these legends, Bansy Harbor has two unique customs. One is that on nights with heavy fog or violent weather changes, people shut their doors tightly, do not go outside, and do not respond to knocking.

“The other is that they love the blood of all kinds of animals. They learned from migrating elves to add salt to it, letting the blood congeal into strange blocks. Paired with several local spicy seasonings, it is tender and fragrant.”

Isn’t that blood curd? Klein froze for a second, transforming his doubt into a frown.

“Elves?”

Based on the stereotypes formed in his previous life, elves should be elegant vegetarians. Why would they study the proper way to eat blood and one hundred methods of preparing blood curd?

“Yes. Rumor says that many elves enjoy coagulated blood.” Danitz spread his hands as he answered. “Unfortunately, it is now very hard to encounter such creatures skilled at cooking.”

…Little Sun mentioned that the ancient god Soniathrym, the Elven King, held the authority of Storms. That means the elven race should be similar to Beyonders of the Sailor pathway… Mm, looking at it that way, it is not impossible to understand why elves love blood-based foods… Perhaps they also generally possess the trait of being irritable… That image is rather beautiful… Klein’s thoughts rapidly turned, and his attention gradually shifted toward the “blood curd.”

It has been so long since I last ate it… He developed the idea of disembarking to sample the local food.

At this moment, Danitz took the initiative to suggest, “There is a famous restaurant here called Lime. Their pig’s blood is especially delicious. Do you—do you want to try it?”

He always felt that being alone in the same room as Gehrman Sparrow was dangerous. He worried that this monster in human skin might suddenly go mad.

In a crowded place, he should restrain himself more… Storms above, may this journey end soon! Danitz prayed without much confidence.

As a pirate, he likewise believed in the Lord of Storms, but lacked sufficient respect for the Church.

Upon hearing Blazing’s proposal, Klein, who had already been interested, felt his heart stir.

However, the legends and customs the other man had mentioned always gave him a somewhat bad feeling. Thus, he took out a gold coin and performed a divination in front of Danitz.

The result was that, for him, Bansy Harbor contained no hidden danger.

Mm… Klein looked at the gold coin in his palm and did not move his eyes away for several seconds, still feeling insufficiently reassured.

Danitz saw this and suddenly understood that the monster before him was skilled at divination.

This… Even if I sneak away, I will easily be found… Blazing felt dejected, a faint sorrow rising in his heart.

He had only just adjusted his emotions when Klein suddenly stood and walked toward the washroom.

Before closing the door, Klein turned back expressionlessly and said, “You can take this chance to run.”

After saying that, Klein shut the washroom door with a bang.

Danitz opened and clenched his hands. He moved two steps toward the main door, then finally stopped.

The unknown was what was truly terrifying. Before he understood what Beyonder powers Gehrman Sparrow possessed, he did not dare risk intensifying the conflict.

At least—at least he is still fairly kind. He has not truly harmed me… Once we reach Bayam, he should let me go… A fluke-filled thought occupied Danitz’s mind.

Inside the washroom.

Klein took out a paper figurine, disguised it, then took four steps counterclockwise and entered the world above the gray fog.

He sat at the seat of honor at the long bronze table, removed the pendulum from his left wrist, and wrote down the corresponding divination statement:

“Bansy Harbor has hidden danger.”

Letting the pendulum hang and assuming the proper posture, Klein recited the sentence several times in a low voice before opening his eyes. He saw the citrine pendant turning clockwise, with an extremely large arc and extremely fast speed!

This meant that, for Klein, Bansy Harbor concealed very great danger!

How can this be? This place has been colonized by the kingdom for more than three hundred years, and has been an important harbor along the main trade route for over a century. There has never been any rumor of danger spreading from here… Could several powerful pirate factions be working together, planning to plunder this harbor? No, those coastal defense cannons are not just there to look pretty… Klein frowned in puzzlement and divined again whether he would recently encounter misfortune related to pirates. The answer was no.

Mm… He was silent for a few seconds. Then, wrapped in spirituality, he fell into the gray fog.

Returning to the real world, Klein pressed the mechanical button of the toilet, put away the substitute paper figurine, came to the nearby washstand, and turned on the water to wet his hands.

In this brief span, he swiftly sorted out his thoughts and decided that if he could hide, he would hide; if he could avoid it, he would avoid it; stability came first.

After pulling out a paper towel to wipe his hands, Klein opened the door and walked out, seeing that Danitz still remained in the center of the sitting room.

A pirate cautious to the point of being a little cowardly… In a certain sense, Vice Admiral Iceberg’s subordinates are adventurers who work part-time as pirates… Klein looked at him and said calmly, “Go to the first-class dining room.”

“…Alright.” Danitz did not understand why Gehrman Sparrow had suddenly changed his mind, but in the end, he chose not to argue.

…

After following the gangway down from the ship, Cleeves suddenly said to Donna and the others, “You go to Lime Restaurant first.

“I have something to discuss with Captain Elland. I will catch up soon.”

“Alright.” Although Urdi Branch felt surprised, he did not find it too strange.

Cleeves boarded the ship again. Halfway, he encountered Elland, who wore a straight sword at his waist.

“I am going to visit Gehrman Sparrow.” Cleeves left behind these words, then turned and headed for the first-class cabin area.

Elland was briefly at a loss, not understanding why the other man had suddenly come over.

You do not need to inform me if you are visiting Gehrman Sparrow… Elland stood stunned for two seconds, then vaguely grasped Cleeves’s true intention.

He is telling me that if—if something happens to him, it must be because he visited Gehrman Sparrow… But if nothing happens to him, that means his suspicions are wrong, and there is no need to disturb Gehrman Sparrow further… Elland stopped and said to the first mate beside him, “Wait fifteen minutes.”

…

Knock, knock, knock!

Klein and Danitz, who had been preparing to leave, heard a rhythmic knock at the door.

Receiving a reminder from Klein’s eyes, Danitz quickly walked over and opened the door.

Outside was Cleeves. He gazed at Danitz, who had once again put on makeup and a disguise, for a few seconds, then turned to Klein.

“Blazing Danitz?”

During lunch, he had felt that Gehrman Sparrow’s friend was a little odd and somewhat familiar, but he had not connected the man with a photograph on a certain bounty poster. After Donna deliberately mentioned Danitz, inspiration had suddenly come to him, and he realized the two were quite similar.

As expected… Klein was just about to nod and answer when Danitz beat him to it with a smile.

“Friend, you have mistaken me for someone else. Although I do resemble that famous pirate worth three thousand pounds, I truly am not him. People have always misunderstood me this way, causing me great trouble.”

Klein lifted a hand and covered his mouth, almost laughing aloud and breaking character.

He reined in his expression and answered calmly, “Yes.”

Sigh… My reputation… Danitz raised his neck and looked at the ceiling.

“What are you two doing?” Cleeves inhaled silently and asked directly.

Klein moved his chin slightly, pointing at Danitz.

“Watching him.”

“Watching?” Cleeves could not understand Gehrman Sparrow’s words.

Sir, you must learn to associate things for yourself, to infer for yourself. I cannot give detailed explanations. That does not fit my persona! Facing Cleeves’s doubtful eyes, Klein said lightly, “He boarded at Damir Harbor. I recognized him and decided to watch him to prevent accidents.”

After staring at Klein for several seconds, Cleeves nodded.

“Any problems?

“Do you need help?”

“No,” Klein replied calmly.

Cleeves glanced at the depressed Danitz and stepped back.

“Then I will take my leave.”

He was just about to go when Gehrman Sparrow suddenly called out to him. He heard the somewhat mysterious young adventurer say with a touch of solemnity, “Return to the ship as soon as possible.

“Bansy Harbor has hidden danger.”

…

Inside Lime Restaurant, Donna had only just laid out her napkin when, through the window, she saw Uncle Cleeves arrive downstairs.

At that moment, the weather of the harbor suddenly changed. Violent winds rose, shaking the trees back and forth.

As expected of Bansy Harbor, the “Weather Museum”… Donna examined the scenery outside with great interest.

She saw a person wearing a black cloak, carrying a lantern, struggling forward through the wind.

As though sensing that he was being watched, the person turned his body, lifted his head, and looked toward the second floor of the restaurant.

Donna then clearly saw his appearance. Beneath the black cloak, the place where his head should have been was completely empty. Only a bare neck remained, fresh red blood surging upward from it.

The person lowered his body again, tugged at his cloak, and continued forward.