Chapter 38: To Face It

Chapter 38: To Face It

Amid the dark-blue waves of the Berserk Sea, which seemed as though they would never cease, the Future was like a leaf, at times thrown high and at times slapped down.

In these waters, there were still some pirate ships sailing. They were already so accustomed to such conditions that they felt them as natural as the rising of the sun.

After Admiral of Stars Cattleya returned to reality, she pondered for only a moment before spreading out paper and picking up her pen to write a letter.

She wanted to ask the Queen whether anything major had happened recently.

In truth, before Mr. Fool announced that He would enter slumber, Cattleya had already scented the arrival of a great change.

Whether it was the sudden closing of doors and windows, or the meteor shower streaking across the sky and illuminating the world, all of it had caused her, as a Prophet, to receive a certain amount of inspiration and glimpse some blurry scenes.

Of course, limited by her level, status, and identity, she did not understand enough of what had specifically happened. It was difficult for her to grasp what exactly had prompted Mr. Fool to choose slumber. She could only ask the Queen Mystic, Bernadette, who had long since advanced to angelhood, led a mysterious organization, and controlled many powerful Sealed Artifacts.

Cattleya had just summoned her messenger and had the finished letter taken away when she suddenly froze.

At that moment, the purple in her eyes became prominent, turning exceptionally dense and flowing slowly like river water.

She sensed that Mr. Fool had entered slumber.

Uncontrollable confusion, bewilderment, and a touch of sorrow welled up within the heart of this Admiral of Stars.

For some reason, she felt an indescribable throb in her heart, and two tears slid unconsciously from the corners of her eyes.

She seemed to understand something, yet also seemed to understand nothing. She only knew that no one knew how long it would take for Mr. Fool to awaken from this slumber.

Removing the heavy glasses perched on her nose, Cattleya wiped the corners of her eyes and restored her emotions to normal.

She then walked to the window and looked toward the deck.

Frank Lee was warmly inviting the crew to taste his newly brewed “beer,” but not a single pirate dared to try it.

Good thing I sent Sharriff to the Queen in advance. Now I only need to keep watch over Frank… Without Mr. Fool’s gaze, I must be even more cautious and pay more attention. Mm, I have to find something for Frank to do besides research. He’s the first mate. He can’t always neglect his actual duties… Admiral of Stars Cattleya thought with a rather grave expression.

After deciding how to watch Frank, and how to transfer the small number of pirates belonging to the Earth and Moon pathways to other ships so they would not frequently come into contact with Frank, Cattleya shifted the focus of her thoughts to the matter of the Hidden Sage.

Although she was already one of the Ten Pillars of the Moss Ascetic Order, because of her origins and the fact that she had been less affected by the Hidden Sage, she had never been especially trusted by the president or the other high-ranking members. She existed on the organization’s fringes, with her own circle and corresponding forces—a marginalized figure.

In a certain sense, her relationship with the Moss Ascetic Order was closer to that of a collaborator. One side needed a force and a powerful figure to carry out its will across the Five Seas, while the other longed to obtain corresponding knowledge and materials.

But if she wanted to obtain information on the Hidden Sage, the symbolic deity who had suddenly come to life, and confirm His present state, she had to become a core member of the Moss Ascetic Order.

“With my current identity, there is no problem with participating in the Moss Ascetic Order’s internal decision-making. Only by truly taking part in those matters can I come into contact with…