At sea, pirates share three common passions: strong liquor, women, and gambling. All Algier Wilson needed was to pull out his silver watch, open it, and glance at the time—to know exactly where he should begin his inquiries. It was just past eleven, and the brothels and taverns had yet to open; only the casino had surely gathered a crowd of hopefuls eager to get rich without much effort. Algier knew the port city of Bayou better than his hometown, and with scarcely any hesitation, he smoothly navigated through seven turns and eight bends, arriving at the entrance of a casino tucked away in a quiet alley, unmarked by a sign. As far as he knew, the owner of the "Coin Casino" was a well-connected mob boss with an unspoken, yet evident, link to the governor’s office—making him the preferred destination for many pirates who wished to sell off their plunder and purchase supplies. Thus, pirates are frequently seen here—perhaps they've just exchanged their plunder for thick stacks of gold pounds in the morning, only to be pushed out in the evening, defeated. Aljera pulled at her brown, thick coat, adjusted the cap that had been passed down from the continent, pushed open the half-closed door, and entered the casino, under the watchful eyes of her bodyguards. —Within the Kingdom of Roon, casinos are not permitted at all and must exist only as separate rooms within taverns. However, across the kingdom's vast overseas colonies, they are not only legal but essential industries, with Bayam on the Rosth Island and Alerse in Eastern Baylant being particularly renowned. Many wealthy families in Beckland and along the Inland Sea regularly travel there to place large, high-stakes bets. Surveying the room, Aljera noticed a variety of card games and roulette-style wagers derived from dice. As it was still early, the number of guests was modest, and Aljera quickly went through them all. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he keenly recognized the person who had been cosmetically transformed. He removed his hat, walked to a table where a game of Texas Hold'em was being played, gave the target a firm pat on the shoulder, bent low, and whispered into the other man's ear, "Flame." Daniuz, who was using his right hand to unfold a corner of his hand cards, was so startled by the sudden pat and call that he nearly jumped up, sending a burst of flame straight to the man behind him. After being attacked by "Steel" Mavith, he had realized he should not reveal his true identity when seeking information—otherwise, each greedy pirate would keep a sharp eye on him. Though most pirates were not particularly strong and didn't command his attention, he still didn't want to expose himself, as that might disrupt the pursuit of "Steel" Mavith. What he hadn't expected was that his careful disguise had already been uncovered just one hour after leaving. Daniuz remained highly alert, quickly turning his head and glancing with his peripheral vision to see who had approached. Seeing the signature sea-grass-like deep blue hair, Daniz eased his breath slightly and turned to observe whether his fellow players had heard him. Each gambler was intently studying their hands, laying cards down or covering them, completely oblivious to what was happening here. "How did you end up here?" Daniz asked casually. He had met Aljaz at the previous pirate's gathering and knew he owned a ghost ship with about a dozen sailors—solid, though not particularly well known. According to the "Commander of the Ice Mountain," such a modest yet not particularly strong pirate fleet being able to preserve an ancient ghost ship suggests the presence of a powerful backing—perhaps affiliated with the Church of the Storm, or linked to a renowned pirate king or secret organization. They operate as ordinary pirates, gathering intelligence on key targets for the true loyalists, enabling precise eliminations. At times, they even carry out tasks that the hidden powers find inconvenient—such as eliminating key figures or seizing specific valuable items. Similar pirate fleets are not rare; no one dedicates themselves specifically to such matters. "If you're willing and if you've paid enough, we'll definitely sell! How about it? Would you like to consider this deal?" Aljé said casually. "Maybe it holds some other secret, or perhaps someone wants to undermine your captain." "Who knows? Doggone it!" Daniz was furious after being dealt another round of cards, shouting out loud. Then, lowering his voice, he added: "That thing doesn't seem like something made by humans—it might belong to giants, or even demons." "Made by humans? Is your captain still insisting on teaching you about letters?" Aljé asked, somewhat amused. It's said that the 'Commander of the Ice Mountain' is a woman with a strict regard for knowledge and cannot tolerate a crew of illiterates. Therefore, on the 'Golden Dream,' daily general education and reading classes are held, and crew members are required to rotate through them. Daniz gave a look as though he'd rather avoid recalling the past: "This is harder than fighting people!" "Exactly because of that, we always struggle to recruit enough crew, and every time we dock for supplies, people keep resigning..." He paused, looking at the dealer, and then continued on his own: "Keep an eye on the 'Steel'." "The Steel," he meant, the second-in-command of the "Blood Commander"? Aljé glanced at Daniz's left arm, slightly propped up by a splint, and asked with a touch of realization: "Was he attacked?" "For that key?" "His mind has been completely devoured by the undead!" Daniz emphasized. "Would you like to take revenge on him?" Aljé deduced from the tone and the request. "Hmm." Daniz smiled, remaining silent, seemingly focused on the new cards. Aljé recalled: "Your captain last appeared seven days ago, near Sunya Island—this was confirmed by a telegram. The 'Golden Dream' didn't arrive at Bayam that quickly." "You've got a new ally, haven't you? If you rely solely on yourself, even with just one person named 'Steel,' you wouldn't stand a chance against him. And you know that—he's always been surrounded by supporters." In response to Aljé's question, Daniz tossed in a chip: "Call!" "Who?" Aljé assumed Daniz's stance was one of default, so he asked with the mindset that it wouldn't cost him anything to inquire. Daniz stared at the community cards and replied simply: "You don't know him." I don't know him? Someone with the strength to challenge 'Steel' Mavetti—whether a pirate or an adventurer—should have some name recognition across the oceanic routes... Unless they belong to a secret organization, or are just making their first voyage. Of course, it's also possible that Daniz simply doesn't want to reveal something confidential—this is the most likely scenario. Belonging to an organization, making their first voyage, someone with the strength to challenge 'Steel' Mavetti... Aljé raised his eyelid slightly, forming a bold speculation. He lightly tapped the edge of the table, asking in the casual tone of chatting about the weather, "Have you enjoyed your time at Banxi Port?" He emphasized the word "enjoyed." Danzis turned surprised, asking immediately, "How do you know?" He believed, given the style of the Church of the Storm, that such a scandal would not surface spontaneously—after all, the passengers of the White Agate had only arrived last night, and all those who had witnessed the events had signed confidentiality agreements. How could the news have spread so quickly? Aljé smiled, but said nothing. At that moment, he deeply appreciated the value of the words of Emperor Roser: "Boldly assume, carefully verify!" Danzis set aside this winning card, murmuring, "It's not exactly a major event—there are some ancient customs resurfacing, which have led to the fall of one of the Storm's bishops." Indeed... Aljé chuckled softly and said, "I'll keep an eye on the 'Steel'’s movements. But how shall I reach you?" "Um... No. 15 Maple Avenue is an unoccupied house—you just write the message on a piece of paper and toss it in." Danyez hesitated in his response. Alger nodded, rose to his feet, and gave Danyez's shoulder a gentle pat. "Don't forget the payment." He turned and headed toward the door. As he watched the ghost-ship captain walk away, Danyez murmured under his breath, "That guy's pretty good. "But I'll have to leave here too." He didn't fully trust Alger, afraid that in just a few minutes, the man would lead the crew of 'Iron' McVitt straight in to kill him. After leaving the gold casino, Alger, dressed in local wide-legged pants, strolled slowly down the street, entered a department store, and found the right counter. With a smile, he produced a copper-colored penny and said, "Give me a set of Tarot cards." While waiting, he thought calmly of a question that had arisen: At this very moment, what was 'The Fool' doing? ……… Inside the old John's restaurant. Crayon watched the waiter place the plate of roasted fish before him, wrapped in grass-like strands, layered with spices—some familiar, others unfamiliar. The rich aroma poured into Crayon's nose, triggering a generous flow of saliva. Indeed, the Spice Islands—no wonder. As Crayon reached for his knife and fork, he noticed the waiter placing two twig-like items on the plate. Forks? Crayon was momentarily surprised. Then he quickly identified the culprit: Rousseau Gustave! "When eating roasted comb-crested fish, use these utensils—supposedly inspired by the elves' customs," the waiter explained. Elven customs? Indeed, a people with a deep appreciation for cuisine and gastronomy—though perhaps merely an excuse concocted by Rousseau. Crayon, knowing the man's character, suspected as much. He visited several church hospitals in the morning, hoping to provide end-of-life care for some near-dead patients, help them fulfill their last wishes, and immerse himself deeply into their stories—yet he never found a suitable candidate. It wasn't that no one was dying in the hospitals; rather, everyone had family members present, either accompanying them or having already witnessed the moment of death. Any attempt to feign it would only result in a startling, jarring effect. He then wandered over to the bar where adventurers gather, a place filled with strangers who have come to the sea in pursuit of wealth, only to die unnoticed, like stray dogs in some dim corner, while their families remain completely unaware. Meanwhile, Caine settled his mind and focused on the food.