Crack! Cain extended his hand and just caught the slightly heavy letter. The massive bone messenger didn't pause—it immediately dissolved into a fountain, its individual strands falling onto the deck and vanishing, as though it didn't wish to stay for a single second longer. Holding the letter firmly, Cain didn't immediately look down. Instead, guided by an intuitive spiritual sense, he instinctively turned and faced the wooden staircase leading to the first-class deck. He saw Tanah and the two children, Dan and Danton, their eyes wide open, their mouths slightly agape, as if they had wanted to scream at the scene just witnessed, but hadn't yet managed to utter a sound—only to find the event concluded, and thus began to doubt whether they had imagined it all. The child who had eaten the special cured meat from Damar's port possessed a certain, brief ability of spiritual vision... Cain's brow slightly furrowed. Like when hunting fishmen, he raised his left hand, pointed his index finger to his lips, and silenced the two young ones. Tanah, now quite tall, immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth, nodded with a mixture of fear and excitement, indicating that she understood. She glanced斜ly downward and found her younger brother still standing there, expression呆st and blank. In a hurry, she pulled his arm and pressed his palm against his mouth. Krivis and Cecil noticed their discomfort and paused, turning to look at Cline, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Faced with their gaze, Cline gave a calm, quiet nod and continued on toward his own room. A gold coin had appeared in his hand at some point, now fluttering up and down, drifting left and right, as if it had come alive. Tink! The coin bounced upward and then settled back down, showing the numeral side facing up—indicating a negative. This meant the incident had not harmed Cline in any way. Indeed, this messenger was utterly unpolished now—unlike before, when he would gently pat someone on the shoulder, shift his body slightly to give a subtle warning, or even create a subtle spiritual aura to shield ordinary people from seeing him… Cline muttered under his breath, then produced his key and opened the door. He sat at the edge of the low bed, lit the candle that had only half burned, and opened Azk’s reply. He removed the contents, and first caught sight of the "Black Emperor" cards. Gazing at that unimpressed face, Caine instinctively exhaled, easing his concerns. He wasn’t afraid that Azk wouldn’t return the items—there was still trust there, since the potion recipes and corresponding rituals could be copied, and only the unique properties resulting from high-grade materials’ synergistic effects couldn’t be replicated. Clearly, this wasn’t the path Azk was following, nor was it one that could be substituted, and Azk himself had no need for such materials. What Caine truly worried about was that the courier might have been robbed and the sacrilegious cards—so vital to his spiritual condition—might have been lost. This was far from impossible; the ethereal beings of the spiritual realm were numerous and unpredictable, and it wasn’t unusual to find a few that particularly enjoyed ambushing couriers and had the skill to locate them. Along with the "Black Emperor" card, a copper whistle from a member of the Ling Sect was returned. Temporarily setting aside these two items, Caine unfolded a substantial sheet of paper and began reading Azk's reply: "…The card depicting the 'Black Emperor' brought back vivid memories. There stood a towering figure, like a mountain, clad in a crimson mantle—a Blood Emperor, his eyes wildly intense, nearly devoid of reason, teetering on the brink of chaos. Beside him, the true Black Emperor, having risen from the dead, sat upon a vast throne, surveying all that lay beneath. I gazed upward at them, and when the Blood Emperor looked at me, I lost consciousness. I must have participated in the 'Four Emperors' War in some way, though the precise details still need to be recalled. Perhaps it was the trauma of that encounter that has caused me to repeatedly lose my memories, dying and awakening again and again." "I haven't been deeply moved by the legend of the Dead God's treasure in the Fierce Sea—perhaps only when I sail to the Southern Continent and pass through that ocean will I truly feel its presence, drawn by nature. The owner's journey of the bronze whistle bears a strong resemblance to the rites of the Immortals, yet there are clear differences. I sense an aura of evil and ominous signs, convinced that the owner is currently in a strange and terrifying condition. Do not blow that bronze whistle to summon the messenger—this would bring great danger. Wait until I fully recover my memories and understand what that experience truly signifies before attempting it." "The feather left by the owner of the copper flute, useful in the necromancy domain, is a unique, spirit-infused material. As I recall more details, I'll compile for you some rituals and incantations that will allow you to utilize it. Regarding this matter, I recall your inquiry about methods to cleanse non-human entities of spiritual contamination—this will likely require some more time, at least for now, as I remain currently without specific knowledge in this area. Also, I vaguely remember that on the southern continent, there exists a peculiar creature known as the 'feathered beings.' " "The card should be properly sealed; otherwise, it might attract powerful enemies and numerous misfortunes. I can offer you some techniques—this isn't particularly difficult. First, an enhanced Spiritual Wall..." Indeed, the card, once activated, exhibits a cumulative effect... Fortunately, I had previously left it atop the Gray Mists... Based on Mr. Azk's description, he seems not to be a memory-losing Death God; otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned gazing upon the Blood Emperor and the Black Emperor. He is a descendant of the Death God, having participated in the 'Four Emperors' War under that deity's guidance, and sustained severe injuries—this must be it. While contemplating this, Caine搓d a flame and burned the letter. Next, he practiced the sealing techniques, mastering the knowledge Mr. Azk had taught him in the letter. After completing these steps, he performed a ritual, bringing the 'Black Emperor' card and the Spiritual Order's copper whistle into the mysterious space above the Gray Mists, thereby eliminating any possibility of unforeseen mishaps. Undoubtedly, Caine did not want to suddenly encounter the "King of the Five Seas," Nastor, at sea. ........ The morning sun rose above the horizon, gilding the distant landscape. Caine had a slice of toast with bacon and butter, and a cup of lemon tea at the second-class buffet restaurant, which served modest fare. After eating, he went to the deck, breathed in the fresh air, and enjoyed the early morning view. There, he saw Captain Elran returning, slightly tipsy, his straight sword swaying in his hand. Recalling last night's events, Caine approached him without a smile and said: "Good morning. Did the white shark bother you?" "He should have been able to recognize me as a passenger on the White Marquise." Captain Elran removed his ship-shaped hat, his dark red coat, and chuckled: "That's entirely his own issue." "Actually, he asked you to cover half the bar repair costs, but that's not much—just a few sures. I won six pounds last night, so I gave him a bit of extra tip, and that settled everything." Captain, are you afraid that as a flamboyant adventurer, I might make a fuss over pride and escalate the matter? After a moment of silence, Caine said: "I understand." Then, as he turned around and walked back toward the bow, he left a soft remark: "Thank you." Back at his previous spot, Caine felt the sea breeze rushing over him, exhaled slowly, and realized how difficult it was to maintain his character. After a while, as he was about to return to the cabin, two figures appeared beside him—Talena and her brother, Danton. Cecil, responsible for their protection, hovered a few steps away. Talena had clearly not slept well last night; her eyes were slightly puffy, her complexion dull, yet she was remarkably alert. Though she was trying to mimic Caine's appreciation of the scenery, her eyes were constantly moving with lively energy. Just as Danton, in a similar state, was about to speak, she interjected: "Uncle, last night—last night, who was that?" While speaking, she kept her gaze fixed ahead, never turning her head, yet her body subtly trembled, as though recalling the scene she had witnessed. "That was a messenger—you can think of them as postal carriers," said Caine, neither looking at the two children nor seeming to be addressing them directly, as if simply describing what they had for breakfast today. "A messenger?" Danton nearly lost control of his voice. "The world is vast, and there are always unusual beings. Believe me, though it may look fierce and terrifying, it's actually quite gentle and professionally dedicated. It delivered a letter from a distant friend just now," Caine added, making a conscious effort to portray the nearly four-meter-tall, skeletal messenger as frail, vulnerable, and helpless. After the night of panic passed, and with no personal harm sustained, Tanah had calmed considerably, her eyes naturally shining: "Wonderful! Truly magical!" "It's just like listening to a story!" "Great!" Dan also shared his thoughts. Then, he expressed some confusion: "But why didn't the others see it? They didn't react at all!" "That's because your hearts are pure," said Kline, giving a slight smile. It was a well-intentioned lie—Kline couldn't simply point out the issue with the specially prepared cured meat, or the two curious little ones would be eager to try it. By merely opening their spiritual sight without mentioning the risks of excessive consumption leading to illness, it was already a dangerous act—though Kline could currently sustain the spiritual sight for a while, he wasn't confident in keeping it open continuously. Sometimes, seeing things that shouldn't be seen could cause wild fits, or even death! "Can we also have our own messengers?" asked Tanda, full of curiosity and excitement. "It depends on luck," Kline replied calmly and simply. Yet, in his heart, he couldn't help muttering: "I haven't even got my own messenger yet!" To secure the messenger, one must first design an accurate summoning rite and prepare the appropriate celestial-beings' contracts—knowledge that belongs to a specialized domain. Haphazard efforts often result in summoning undesirable entities, so Klein dared not make a hasty attempt without being certain. "Indeed," Tanah expressed with genuine anticipation. Then, she softly added, "Uncle, we'll keep your secret!" Danett nodded vigorously beside her. At that moment, a new passenger who had just boarded at Damir Port carried her luggage onto the deck. After sending off his telegram, "Flame" Daniz, considering the captain might have some instructions to issue, decided to interrupt his holiday and proceed to the capital of the Rosted Islands to take up duty. Through his personal connections, he secured a ticket, wore a wig, and darkened his eyebrows, making a seamless entry onto the White Garnet, where he now awaited the ship's whistle to signal departure. Well, just as Emperor Roscel said—able people always end up working a bit harder. Daniz walked toward the cabin, leisurely gazing around, when suddenly he spotted a familiar figure. Standing at the bow of the ship, the young adventurer in a black coat, refined in appearance yet fundamentally mad, offered him a polite, gentlemanly smile. Daniz's facial muscles gradually stiffened.