Danzig, unable to bear the scene any longer, decided to do something. He cleared his throat and addressed Captain Edwena Edwards, the "Iceberg Admiral": "Captain, Mr. Germán Sparrow has a few questions for you?" Huff... Kline exhaled quietly, relieved. If the standoff continued, he'd lose his credibility. Edwena nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on Kline. "Mr. Sparrow, have you received any formal education?" What on earth? Kline maintained his composed expression, responding with detached calm: "I graduated from university." Ah? Danzig stared at Germán Sparrow, stunned—unable to believe that this wildly adventurous, renowned bounty hunter had actually attended university and graduated! He simply couldn't reconcile the image of a university, a bastion of knowledge, with Germán Sparrow. Unless it was the "Hunter's University," the "Assassin's Academy"—or some institution only imagined by madmen or the mentally ill. Danzig found himself muttering under his breath. Edwenna showed no signs of concern and asked, "Which languages are you proficient in?" ...Cline held back the urge to furrow his brow and replied, "Giant, Elven, Dragon, Ancient Hermes, Hermes, Ancient Fyrsak, and Ruun." Edwenna hummed, "Do you have any knowledge of other areas of mysticism?" In a dazed state, Cline seemed to have returned to the time when he first entered elementary school, when, due to his age, he had been questioned by the teacher about various topics—how many Chinese characters he knew, whether he had mastered basic arithmetic, if he recognized English letters, and how many Tang poems he could recite... Remain calm. Right now, you are Germain Sparrow. Cline responded evenly, "I am proficient." Edwenna paused for two seconds, then explained at a steady, unhurried pace, "I need to tailor my responses to your current level of understanding so that you can grasp them more easily." "Wow," Caine was genuinely stunned. He couldn't help but notice that the beautiful woman before him bore no resemblance to a part-time pirate adventurer—he was certain she was simply a composed, gentle, and patient teacher. After reflecting on the vampire who made his daily rounds at the Earth Mother's Church, he regained his composure. "This is the first pirate general I've formally met—indeed, quite distinctive," he murmured to himself, then said, "My first question: where on the sea do extraordinary, non-traditional creatures appear? Specifically, not just mermaids." He deliberately avoided mentioning anything about mermaids, not wanting the "Ice Mountain Admiral" to suspect his true intentions and thus create any unforeseen complications. Edwenna thought for a moment, then casually wiped off the board's "Spirit Summoning Rite," drawing and writing as she went: "From Sunya Island, sail 1,200 nautical miles, and you'll enter uncharted human territory." "There was a serpent tribe active there, dedicated to seeking the legendary sunken city said to be sealed by powerful monsters—this city being their object of faith..." Edwenna recounted, weaving in details she had personally discovered during her own quest, as well as knowledge and tales exchanged through her travels. It took her a while to finish her account, yet it left Caine frustrated—aside from the eastern waters of the Galgas Islands, there were no tales of merfolk in the other regions. He quickly adjusted his tone and shifted to: "My second question: do you know how to eliminate the mental pollution caused by the extraordinary traits?" He did not conceal his awareness of the extraordinary traits. Edwenna's eyes briefly brightened, as if she were seeing Gelman Sparrow anew. She shook her head: "I'm not aware of such a method." "But I once had a vision: by harnessing an external, powerful force, we could completely shatter and reduce the corrupted extraordinary traits down to the smallest points of light. In that way, both the pollution and the curse—lacking a carrier—would dissipate, either swiftly or gradually. The shattered extraordinary traits, in turn, would gradually coalesce and re-form, based on their inherent qualities." "Unfortunately, only the gods can achieve such a feat. If you secure the favor of any deity, strive to please them, offer sufficient sacrifices, and pray for a response." The Law of Coalescence of Extraordinary Traits... Klein mentally completed the point that Edwena had deliberately omitted. At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at this 'ice-camp commander,' the captain of the *Golden Dream*, whose mastery of esoteric knowledge was no less profound than his own—having read countless Roselle diaries, endured numerous trials, and accumulated a wealth of hidden lore. It’s said that the “Admiral of the Ice Mountain” can replicate or simulate the extraordinary abilities her opponents have demonstrated before her… much like Mr. Esgaroth Stanton’s “2–081” ring… As soon as Caine’s thoughts began to drift, he pulled them back forcefully, nodding thoughtfully as if considering a point: “I agree with this assumption.” “Unfortunately, I’ve never put it into practice—only imagined it,” said Edwenna, rarely using emotional vocabulary. Danyz, who had been listening attentively, now stood utterly stunned, completely lost in the flow. What are they saying? What are they discussing? Why do I recognize each word individually, yet when they come together, I can’t make sense of what they mean? What are these extraordinary traits? What does shattering refer to? And what does aggregation mean? Danyz looked back and forth, his eyes filled with bewilderment. At that moment, Caine posed his third carefully considered question: “Where can one find ancient wraiths?” He only mentioned this creature, since the corresponding materials could clearly also be applied to the necromancy domain without revealing his own sequence secrets. Edwenna glanced at Daniz and said, "I'll keep an eye out for you. If you'd like to attend Bayam's gathering of extraordinary beings, he knows a few people who can take you there." That's quite nice—speaking with intelligent people really makes things easier... Klein added, "Do you know anyone who can craft magical items using extraordinary materials or properties?" "I've met him at the gathering, but he hasn't shown up since." Edwenna replied calmly. "I possess the relevant knowledge and can attempt to simulate the process, though I can't guarantee success." Hmm... Then I'll just wait a while. Klein let the topic drop and asked instead, "What do you know about 'The Key of Death'?" "I'm not familiar with it." Suddenly, a dark iron key materialized in Edwena's hands—large enough to match a seven-stringed harp, ancient in form, with a deep, muted luster. The pirate general half-held, half-supported this relic from the sunken ship, saying, "If you're referring to this key, I can assure you it belongs to the Giants." Cain glanced at Daniz, "Your chief told me it might also belong to dragons or magical wolves." "This was the earliest speculation," Edwena replied, calm and patient, though her expression remained cool. "Recently, I've uncovered historical documents, combined with other artifacts on board, and now I have a more certain answer." Daniz finally regained a sense of the dreamer's presence, curious to ask, "Captain, truly the Giants?" "Yes," Edwena confirmed. "The documents indicate that during the Quaternary period, many Giants remained active—some embraced the war gods, others scattered across lands, becoming targets for human hunters." "One of the tribes built ships and set out to sea in search of the lost court of the Giants—their king—never to return again. The sunken vessels we've found, along with some of the artifacts inside, bear a striking resemblance to the ancient relics left behind at their original settlement. Therefore, we have strong grounds to believe that this key belongs to the Giants and likely points to the royal court that they lost before the great catastrophe." The Giant Court? Little "Sun" mentioned it was not far from their Silver City... Kline remained silent, listening attentively to the "Ice Mountain Admiral's" account. To be honest, "The Silver City" and "The God-Abandoned Lands" are areas where I outshine all other extraordinary beings in my knowledge... Indeed, even the seven principal gods currently struggle to grasp what's going on there—something I surpass them in. Kline thought this over, half proud, half self-deprecating, and spoke with a steady voice: "If I pay a sufficient price, would you be willing to sell me this key?" "Of course, unless I receive further clues from the King's Court of the Giants." Edwenna spoke with her usual steady pace. That would be a good time to purchase this key—should the Tarot Society ever organize an expedition team to the King's Court of the Giants. Klein had intended to ask his final question, but suddenly remembered the four adventurers he had met earlier. Using the power of the "Dream Sigil," he materialized a woman with gray-blue eyes wearing a man's shirt, along with her three companions. "Do you know them?" Edwenna glanced at them and replied without hesitation: "Latricia Dorila, an archaeologist and adventurer. It's said she is a member of either the 'Moss Monastery' or the 'Elemental Dawn.'" "The Order of the Moth..."—the ancient organization devoted to the faith of the "Hidden Sage"—indeed wasn't driven by money; their objective was surely something within the abandoned temple. Caine casually asked, "What do you know about 'The Dawn of Elements'?" This enigmatic order bears a resemblance to the "Psychological Alchemists," having emerged only a few centuries ago, synthesizing elements from various mystical traditions and possessing its own distinct theoretical framework. Its members are all skilled in spellcasting and proficient in numerous ancient sorceries. Edwena pressed her lips together and replied, "They have been continuously opposing the Order of the Moth." "Legend holds that it was founded by Princess Bernadette Gustave, the eldest daughter of Emperor Roselle." Is Bernadette the leader of 'The Dawn of Elements'? Chalatu's prophecy truly proved accurate—she is indeed a towering figure in the extraordinary world. Caine felt a sense of clarity and quiet admiration. He held back the urge to sigh, turned to the "Ice Commander" Edwenna, and spoke calmly: "My last question." As the beautiful lady and "Flame" Daniz fully focused their attention on him, he gradually spread his lips into a smile: "Interested in a partnership?" "What kind of partnership?" Edwenna asked. Clay's smile grew brighter, almost reaching a state of frenzy: "Hunting—the 'Blood Commander.'"