"When a stranger lifts this holy sword, the gods shall reappear upon the earth." "And what if the sword shatters?" These two sentences echoed in the minds of Karat and Edmund, completely touching upon their knowledge blind spots. For several tense seconds, they stared at the broken sword, expression blank, unable to speak. They could not believe that a sword merely brushed by strangers in the late afternoon had shattered so suddenly! What did it mean? What did it signify? Neither dared to ponder deeply, as though they had returned to the beginning—when a hidden rebel stronghold had been discovered unexpectedly by the Ruin military, swept away without warning, and their parents had all perished in that massacre, their female relatives taken captive and sold to various destinations. Before receiving the news, Karat and Edmund had felt exactly as they did now—still, deeply rooted, unsettled, filled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, pressing down into a profound sense of pressure. "Return to the jungle, find the high priest, and find out the reason—perhaps this is the latest revelation from the gods..." Karat turned in his wheelchair, speaking in a steady, measured tone. Edmundton immediately rose and addressed the remaining staff: "You continue searching for those who have committed sacrilege, but do not stay here. And instruct the lay followers outside—avoid any ceremonies, even prayers, for the time being!" The unexpected turn of events had made him especially vigilant. His original plan had been to hand over the matter of "Poseidon" Kavitova to Mr. The Hangman, who would then remind the Church of Storms. However, considering that the other party still held the secret of Bansi Port—possibly even already shared it—bringing in another significant piece of information so soon would easily raise suspicion. Therefore, he ultimately decided to take on the task himself. As for the method, it was simple: place several notices at the entrance of the "The Accused," so that they would be immediately visible upon the "The Accused"’s appearance. During the execution of this plan, a minor issue arose: Caine could not distinguish which store or company within the vicinity of the Church of the Waves served as the "The Accused"’s public identity. As a result, Daniz had to make a bit of extra effort, placing notices at all prominent locations, including the main entrance of the Church of the Waves. … I should have just fled right away… Why did I think this man had saved my life? Perhaps, if another powerful adventurer had been involved, I would have already become a gold sovereign… No one could have imagined that this madman had so easily broken the curse of the Sea God—fleeing might have been even worse… Daniz sighed internally, unfolded the stack of white paper, and glanced over the contents casually: "Laticia Dorila and others entered the Sea God’s sanctuary on the island of Ximim, then departed, pursued by the rebel forces; meanwhile, the rebels, including Karat, are selling a peculiar bone sword that is slightly bent; the physical form of the Sea God, Cavitua, is rapidly deteriorating, and his mental state is profoundly erratic." … Daniz paused for two seconds, instinctively glancing at Germain Sparo. All of this made sense—except why was there mention of the Sea God Cavitua’s form crumbling and his mental state becoming wildly unstable? How did Germain Sparo know this? As he worked to resolve the "Sea God's" curse, he began to wonder—how exactly had he resolved it? And how powerful and formidable was the organization behind him? Could it be something akin to the "Aurora Society," devoted to a true deity? Darniz grew more and more shaken with each thought. He first learned of the "Aurora Society" during a maritime raid when he first saw the captain's serious expression, and subsequently, he was gradually taught various supposed facts about the mystical world. Klein met Darniz's gaze with a steady, emotionless expression. In that announcement, he omitted his personal speculations, presenting only facts he could confirm, so as not to disrupt the judgment of the Storm Church's leadership. Among these, the details about Laticia and others taking a crucial item were omitted, the lost temple was rephrased into a broader, more inclusive "temple of the Sea God," and the stronghold of Karat and others—clearly at risk of being abandoned due to the unexpected revelation of the Sea God—was subtly omitted. Danyz abruptly turned away, unable to meet the gaze. The captain had said: the more secrets one knows about others, the more dangerous they become. After a moment of thought, he expressed his concern: "Having it placed directly at the main entrance of the church will certainly draw intense attention from the Storm Church. 'Will they realize it was me who did it?' " Indeed, no matter what, they'd catch me, pursue me—reward me... Well, that's a problem! Daniz exclaimed, "But my reward will increase!" Klein watched him silently, only slowly lifting the corners of his mouth. In that moment, Daniz felt as though he'd heard a question: wasn't that a good thing? A good thing indeed! Daniz chuckled dryly, holding the stack of notices and, taking advantage of the deep night and strong wind, pinned them prominently along the streets near the Church of the Waves. Truly, just like someone posting a small advertisement—Klein, single-handedly holding his coat in one hand, observed from afar and mentally remarked. He then sighed: having an assistant was excellent—least of all, he no longer had to personally handle such awkward tasks... If it had been during the time of Ting or Beckland, with something similar happening... the scene would have been too beautiful to imagine. Finally, Daniz reached the outer entrance of the Church of the Waves, affixed the notices to the main door, and then, clenched his fists, knocking steadily on the door. After completing all this, he turned and sprinted off, as if ten "Substitutes of Punishment" had burst forth behind him. Kline couldn't afford to delay. As he drew out the paper figures, flicked his wrist to send them into the air, and watched them burn to ash, he hurried toward another street. Through his recent interactions, he had deeply internalized the style of the "Substitutes of Punishment" and could no longer afford to be careless. Only once they had moved well away from the Church of the Sea Waves did they slow down and resume a steady pace. Daniz's constitution was strong, and he remained calm and composed, not out of breath. He asked curiously, "Why not simply send a letter directly to the police department or toss it into the Governor's Office?" Before Kline could respond, Daniz had already understood: "That makes sense. The lower-level police officers and staff at the Governor's Office are all locals, and they're likely to sympathize with the rebels—some may even be hidden 'Believers of the Sea God' themselves." As they spoke, the two turned the corner and spotted a large, red building stretching across a broad expanse, its interior brightly lit, music softly echoing. People flowed in and out at the entrance, carriages passing one another, completely devoid of any nocturnal atmosphere. "Wow, I didn't expect to have made it this far," Daniz paused for a moment, then broke into the smile that every man knows. The Red Theater? With his solid theoretical background, Klein instantly understood. Daniz chuckled and said, "It's one of the most renowned spots in the entire Sunia Sea region—there are the enigmatic Baylan girls, the vibrant and passionate Feneport women, the open and alluring Intis girls, the tall and athletic Vosak ladies, the reserved and composed Runn women, and the gentle, earthy locals..." He clearly knows quite a bit—must be a regular visitor, Klein thought, glancing at "The Flame" without saying a word. Daniz suddenly felt as though he'd been seen through, and thus offered a slightly embarrassed smile, "Actually, all these descriptions are just things the pirates boast about—I've only been here a few times." "Previously, we were quite poor and could only find ordinary ones, mainly on the Mist Sea side. Later, we joined the *Golden Dream*..." It makes sense... Although the crew of the *Ice Mountain Admiral* had good pay and often shared in the treasure, it was still quite difficult to save enough to build several houses in Bayam... Compared to ordinary pirates, this man at least knew moderation and saved money—Klein thought this with growing clarity. Daniz didn't wish to dwell on this topic and changed the subject: "In Bayam, there are many street performers, especially women." "He pointed toward the distance: 'There have been pirates who have made attempts—just knocking on a family's door, offering money, asking the lady to join them for a visit. Out of ten families, three to four have agreed. Now, imagine if you were a typical Lune-looking man—well, you'd hardly find anyone refusing. On the contrary, they'd quietly hide their daughters, not wanting you to discover them. Hah! Every year, the Lune Navy commits numerous cases of murder and assault on young women here—no better than the pirates themselves. Yet, when these incidents occur, they're merely expelled back home, sometimes fined a little, but otherwise treated with little more than a passing remark.' Kaine listened quietly, his mind suddenly flashing back to the group of 'Sea Gods' devotees gathered by the pond in the evening, their faces full of fervor yet utterly numb. "Esteemed Sir Nibais, what brings you to me?" Although Emlyn had rehearsed this scene in his mind dozens of times, he could still not fully dispel the tension and nervousness within him. In this state, he suddenly realized a point from a dramatic perspective—his character at this moment should naturally harbor concerns and fears. No elaborate pretense was needed... I'm doing well! Emlyn suddenly felt much more composed. A deep, resonant voice emerged from within the coffin, adorned with symbols and magical inscriptions: "To recognize your efforts. "To honor the First Founder, you took the risk of approaching the 'Fool' in quest of aid, though you received no response—yet you still bore significant responsibility. This is an act worthy of recognition. "Here is a bill of exchange for 7,000 pounds, as your reward. Previously, due to the great smog event in Bekland, we were unable to deliver it in a timely manner. Now, it is not too late." "Meanwhile, you must constantly keep an eye on yourself, never relax, and immediately inform Cassim of any abnormalities." Really, I'm being given money... Emlin almost forgot to close his mouth.