"There is danger within the inn," Klein murmured, entering a meditative state and launching the coin upward. Clang! A soft yet clear sound echoed through the quiet room as the coin rolled gently and settled into the palm of Klein's hand. This time, the numeral faced up—indicating negation. No danger... Klein frowned, surveying the surroundings, then withdrew from his coat hanger a bottle of essential oil known for its insect-repelling properties. He sprinkled it around him, quickly stepping backward four paces, ascending into the gray mist to perform a confirming divination. Within just a matter of seconds, he received a clear affirmation—still no danger. Returning to the present, Klein shook his head, placed the coin and bottle back, donned his coat, trousers, and leather boots, and sat at the edge of the bed, leaning gently against the pillow, remaining cautious. He remembered his "Diviner's Precepts," especially the one stating, "Divination is not infallible." Thus, even though the answers were reassuringly safe, he could not allow himself to settle into a relaxed sleep. It doesn't mean he doesn't believe in the gray mist's ability to shield against interference—it's simply that there are so many possibilities, and his own divination statements might not be precise or complete, leading to misinterpretation. He already has a certain sense of what happened earlier: the group of four adventurers in the restaurant had indeed discovered an ancient temple long abandoned and forgotten deep within the original jungle of Ximim Island, gathering wealth or artifacts, but in doing so, they had also disturbed the lingering, barely surviving evil spirits, becoming entangled in malevolent intentions or curses. As time passed, Caine suddenly sensed a subtle spiritual ripple emanating from the nearby rooms, spreading swiftly into the surrounding darkness. The hidden current that had previously been faintly perceptible gradually vanished, and the night's tranquility returned fully. Indeed... he truly possesses extraordinary abilities. Has that finally resolved it? Wait a moment—after all, it's still only another hour or so until dawn… If anything goes wrong, there's the church and the "Penitents" team right here… Caine half-closed his eyes and began meditating. His companion raised his glass, pointing at the dancing women and laughing heartily at what he considered a witty reply. The man who had just spoken gave a sharp clap to his back: "Steel's dead! Killed by Flame!" Nearby, Daniz was momentarily stunned, then sat up straight and slightly inclined his head. He cleared his throat, took a hearty swig of the fiery liquor, appearing composed, though he subtly shifted his position to listen to how others were reacting. The adventurer and pirate who had first brought him into the trade once said that without wine, women, and boasting, life at sea would be utterly meaningless. "Steel? What steel? When I was young, I once defeated a steel pipe!" another drunk interjected. "What exactly did you do to that pipe? Should I say, by the way, that you're quite delicate, aren't you?" The first man smiled with clear understanding. He didn't wait for a reply, speaking on his own: "Mavith the Steel is dead! The second-in-command of the Blood General is dead!" The last part came out in a growl, sending a man who had already lost his balance sliding beneath the table, gasping in terrified murmurs: "It's not me! It's not me!" Dogshit! The bar's always this chaotic! You people get to the point already! I'm waiting for you to praise the great Flame! Daniz, all pretense, wanted to throw his wine glass right onto the crowd's heads. "The newspapers say the Navy and the Church joined forces—Mavith is dead, the Blood Thistle is dead, even the calm Skall is dead, and the villains from John Smith's crew have all been arrested!" A more composed drunk pushed his way in, joining the conversation. "No, no, no—this isn't the truth!" the man who had first raised the topic shook his head with a smile. "I have friends at the paper. They told me they have solid news, but they can't publish it." The navy and the church are merely pawns— the real perpetrators are "Flame" Daniz and a mysterious, seasoned, and powerful adventurer, a bounty hunter. "Impossible! 'Flame' Daniz simply can't defeat 'Steel,' not even in a surprise attack!" Several guests nearby simultaneously voiced similar opinions. "The key player is this powerful adventurer—I suspect someone of nearly pirate admiral caliber!" The man steering the conversation emphasized. "I wonder how Daniz came to know this individual. Hm, he's also made significant contributions—reports say that 'Bloodthorn' was his conquest! Have any of you noticed? The reward for 'Flame' has changed—the bounty has been raised to 4,200 pounds!" "Yes!" "Really?" "'Flame' is no ordinary figure!" "A fierce pirate, no—indeed, a true sea-dweller!" "A sea-dweller? I never saw that when I last met him!" Pfft! You're a damn fool! When have I ever had a drink with you? I don't even know you! Amidst her gasps, Daniz thought to herself: 4,200 pounds! If those guys knew, they'd surely be envious, polishing the deck all night long—hahahaha! Now I can truly claim to be the top mate of the "Golden Dream"! At this very moment, Daniz longed to fly back to the ship, to raise a glass with the "Iron" and the "Bucket" and the others, telling them all about the eerie events in Banxihaven—the way he'd outwitted the fallen bishop, how he'd cleverly escaped the ambush set by the "Steel" and the others, how he'd laid traps that cleared out his enemies once and for all, leaving them unable to play their cards in this game of life. Unfortunately, for the captain, he still had to keep serving as the madman, Germaine Sparrow's servant... Ah, now I'm a pirate worth 4,200 pounds! Daniz sighed, choosing to remain numb from alcohol. ……… As the bell of St. Storm rang, an orange-sun rose in the sky, and the surroundings remained quiet—only the sound of water could be heard. Without any unusual occurrences, Caine exhaled in relief, then removed his clothes, returned to his bed, and slept another two hours. Though his spiritual strength was already considerable, he awoke at the scheduled 8:30, took his time with a slow morning routine, and went downstairs to buy a bread loaf with roasted chestnuts and a cup of "Gurul Tree Juice." He ate while walking toward the dock. Since he had already purchased a return boat ticket for 9:00 in the morning, Caine timed himself carefully, preparing to board. At that moment, he spotted the lady with gray-blue eyes and her team of three male adventurers purchasing boat tickets at the ticket counter. The boat's leaving soon—by nine, they'll definitely miss this one... They don't know what they've taken from the abandoned temple, and somehow that has summoned something like a spirit. Be careful aboard the ship tonight—don't let anything go wrong. Kline used his body to block the adventurers' view, then pulled out coins to make a divination. The revelation was clear: the next boat would be safe. Kline hesitated for two seconds, glanced at the passengers waiting near the ticket counter for the ten-o'clock departure, and with a silent gesture, rubbed his fingers together, lighting the ticket in his hand. He returned to the ticket counter as if nothing had happened, paid four sols for a ticket to the ten-o'clock boat. Then he went to the dock restroom, stepped into the gray mist, and quickly performed another divination to address his concerns. He was certain: if the result showed significant risks, he would not board at all, but instead take steps to prevent the departure—should it be necessary, even quietly sabotaging the vessel to save the innocent from dying. If the divination hint from a moment ago holds true, he will simply proceed normally, with only precaution against unforeseen events. In the end, the answer is clear—there is no issue. Caine exhaled in relief and immediately returned to the real world, adjusting the position of the merfolk bladder to the most convenient spot for easy access. Should an emergency arise, this exceptional material would prove vital on the vast ocean. ——Exceptional materials can be applied in a simple, initial manner, much like the "Eye of Total Blackness" that has been subtly contaminated by the "true craftsman." ………… Exactly at 10 o'clock. Caine, resembling Germán Sparrow, picked up his suitcase and followed the group of adventurers onto the passenger ship. Throughout the journey, he appeared to be dozing or reading the ship's outdated newspapers and magazines, yet he remained continuously attentive to the woman with grayish eyes and her companion. This vigilance persisted all the way to the port of Bayam, with no unexpected incidents occurring. Have they resolved all their concerns? What exactly have they gained? Klein stopped by the roadside, buying the latest newspaper from a newsboy while glancing after the four adventurers until they vanished into the distance. Hmmm. Klein decided to let this matter rest. As long as it didn't threaten the broader environment, he didn't particularly care what those people had done—only slightly curious. He lifted his suitcase, browsed through the newspaper, and walked toward Acid Lemon Street, as if an ordinary passerby. Suddenly, he chuckled to himself. "Danzis' reward has now reached 4,200 pounds..." He found himself beginning to wonder whether he might not, after all, hand the man over to the Governor's office. On his way back to the "Blue Wind" inn, Klein hadn't even produced his key when he heard a rising tide of snoring sounds inside. He hadn't fled, he thought, which came as slightly surprising but not entirely unexpected. He had previously made a few adjustments to the "Shroud of Shadows," enabling him to track Daniz continuously through divination spells as long as Daniz remained away—eventually leading him to the "Admiral of the Ice Mountain." Though timid, he was reasonably cautious... Caine stepped inside, observing Daniz, now fully awakened, and slowly began to smile: "Congratulations, Mr. 4,200 pounds." Daniz instantly snapped to full alertness, eager to offer a dry smile but finding it difficult to do so. At that moment, he felt as though his life might be in jeopardy.