What's this? This odd radio receiver seems quite interesting… Daniz cleared his throat and said, "You can ask, but I might not answer." Hey, do you think I'm some kind of adventurer or archaeologist who dies from sheer curiosity? Daniz thought, with both caution and satisfaction. The radio remained silent for several seconds before resuming its tapping sounds, the ethereal sheet of paper unfolding section by section, bearing words tinged with a reddish hue: "Are you secretly in love with your captain?" …No! Don't be absurd! Who? Who told you? Daniz's face flushed crimson. His long-held secret, buried deep within, suddenly revealed itself, leaving him flustered, embarrassed, and instinctively eager to deny it. Yet at the same time, he was stunned and puzzled—how could this secret have come to the attention of someone else? He had never shared it with anyone, and had carefully concealed it. Daniz stretched his mouth, forcing a smile and said, "A boring question—I refuse to answer!" The radio receiver clicked steadily, spitting out more sheets of blank paper: "Then let's try a different one. 'If someone doesn't truly like something, how could they endure such monotonous and uninteresting courses for a long time? Is that statement correct or not?' "Incorrect! Because they lack the strength to compete!" Daniz blurted out, his expression slightly distorted. The clicking of the radio grew faster and more lively, and the words appearing on the ethereal sheets gradually multiplied: "Lying. Let's try another question. 'Do you envision your ideal woman as beautiful, powerful, enigmatic, intellectually refined—someone who could easily step on you?'" … Daniz's lips moved, feeling as though a fierce flame had surged within him, black smoke rising from the top of his head. At that moment, his inner state exploded—like having all his clothes stripped off and being laid bare on the bustling, vibrant streets. Involuntarily, he glanced around in a state of慌, both searching for and avoiding the eyes that might be fixed upon him. Then he noticed the bedroom door had opened at some point during the conversation, Germain Spalro standing there in his white shirt, unbuttoned at the waist, and in slightly loose black trousers, as if he had been observing silently for a long time. "You—you, when did you come out?" Daniz asked, his expression blank, his words stammering. Tell me, you just opened the door! He was silently pleading in his heart. Klein stepped toward the radio receiver that had begun to behave strangely, responding calmly: "Right at the beginning." As a seer, how could he fail to sense the odd happenings outside? Even in his dreams, he possessed an intuitive sense of the unseen... Klein murmured to himself. Daniz's face instantly turned pale, and he sharply turned halfway, rushing toward the radio receiver, which seemed to be haunted, to tear up the three phantom sheets of white paper bearing the questions. Yet his hands passed through the words, grasping nothing. The palm of his hand again formed a glowing red orb of fire, ready to blast the cursed radio receiver. At that moment, he was briefly scanned by Gelman Sparrow's intense, icy gaze filled with madness. ...Ah, yes—this was his own item. Danyz remained stiff, watching as Gelman Sparrow passed by him and stopped before the strangely behaving radio receiver. "Arodos," he asked, "how did it connect to this radio receiver? It sensed a unique, familiar presence that was about to fade—was that the 'presence' of the mysterious space above the gray mist?" "This radio receiver had been placed above the mist for several days, though it hadn't undergone any mutation. It had absorbed the ambient presence and, due to its inherent functionality, could briefly receive messages from the spirit realm. Thus, it was noticed by Arodos—the seemingly knowledgeable mirror. "Wait a moment—what's going on behind this? I'm Geremán Sparrow, the cold and mad adventurer, the professional—I can't help but laugh out loud!" Klein pressed a hand to his mouth, took a quiet, deep breath. Daniz glanced at his profile, as though a prisoner waiting for the noose to snap. Seeing Geremán Sparrow remain expressionless, Daniz exhaled gently, relieved that he had just witnessed a madman, not a normal human, someone who wouldn't find such things particularly interesting. If it had been any other pirate, he'd have no face to return to the *Golden Dream*, never mind continuing his sea adventures! With a mixture of resentment and fear, he turned his gaze toward the radio receiver, toward the devil who called himself Arōdes. He heard the steady tapping again, and saw the radio receiver spitting out fresh sheets of white paper, bearing two neat and elegant Runes: "Your most loyal and humble servant, Arōdes, is honored to once again follow at your side, ever ready to serve you."... That can't be the same spirit from earlier, can it? Daniz felt a slight flush of embarrassment, suddenly doubting the authenticity of tonight's events. Clayne, who had struggled to suppress a smile, had keenly noticed a subtle issue from the very beginning: Arōdes itself was not physically present—it must have been transmitting its message remotely, through the special capabilities of the spirit realm and the radio receiver. Therefore, when Daniz refused to answer the first question, Arōdes could only offer a new one, unable to impose any penalty. "Indeed, that's quite interesting. If you place the radio receiver steadily atop the gray mist over the long term, it could become a unique object capable of receiving messages from spirits and the spirit realm?" Alas, the extraordinary properties remain conserved, yet even a simple radio receiver, enhanced merely by a hint of mist, will gradually lose its transcendent functions, eventually returning to the ordinary... "Ah, according to my mystical knowledge, there's another method—one that doesn't rely on extraordinary properties—to sustain the transcendent nature of an ordinary object over the long term: inscribe the divine names, even the true names of angels or gods, using a language capable of moving nature itself. This effectively borrows 'mystery' and 'power' from them, of course, provided they agree. Personally, I still fall short; at least, the 'cipher' I composed in ancient Hermesian has not yet caused the paper to transform. Among the truly divine beings, I know the true name of only one—the Primordial Witch, Chik. If I obtain her divine name and true name, and inscribe both upon this radio receiver in ancient Hermesian, what will happen then?" Will it release the virus? Will it become more industrially elegant? Will it captivate the fetishists? "Hmm, the most likely scenario is that, when I inscribe my full name and true name, the 'Primordial Witch' will unleash her power and drain me right there—this is an exceptionally precise supernatural alignment..."克莱恩一瞬间闪过了一些奇妙的念头，直到阿罗德斯向他致意。 Just right—the mirror is one that can answer questions.克莱恩心中一动，侧头对达尼兹说道： "Go and stand guard at the door." "…Yes!"达尼兹毫不犹豫便奔向了大门。 He was afraid that the devil named Arōdes would ask another question! Only after达尼兹 entered the corridor and closed the door did克莱恩 turn to the radio receiver connected to the mirror, Arōdes, and said in a low tone: "I have a few questions." "It is my privilege, may I address you as 'Lord,' this great presence from beyond the spiritual realm?" The radio receiver began to emit a steady series of tapping sounds on white paper. This is too eager, too forward—there's something off, I feel... Klein paused slightly. "You may call me anything you like." "Yes, Master!" Arordes added a exclamation point. "What's your question?" "Where can I find the mermaids?" Klein asked directly. The radio transmitter responded with a series of clicks: "Head east from the Galgas Islands, sail one full circuit along the route, and you may encounter mermaids—though all of them are devoted followers of the Night Goddess." That's impressive... it makes sense, yet unexpected. Klein realized his earlier assumptions had come true in a way he hadn't anticipated. Arordes continued typing: "If that's a bit of a drawback, you may continue eastward, but it will be very hazardous—there, the ocean itself is no longer real; it has become the ruins of the gods' war. Of course, you won't mind that at all." "Who said that... I was thinking that with the Rod of the Sea God, even the most terrifying seas would be surmountable. Yet here comes an ocean born from the evolution of the divine battlefield—indeed, there must have been divine wars in ancient times." Regarding the moment when the Primordial God reclaimed the ancient divine authority—Klein remained silent, observing Arordes as the radio telegraph continued to emit more words: "Additionally, both the Quiet Church, the headquarters of the Night Goddess Church, and the Sleep Church on the island of Dinos, house sea nymphs." Besides the sanctuaries, do sea nymphs also dwell on the island of Sunia in the Sea of Sunia? The first one is too risky—"Zero"-level seals and even angel-tier bigwigs have that. The second one, however, is worth considering. Perhaps he could become one of the night watchmen or the bishops of the clergy, blending in to listen to the music and take his medicine... Wait, no—the Church's cultivation of mermaids is specifically targeting the Faceless Ones. How could they not be on guard against that? They must think of something else. As Renly prepared to ask his second question, he noticed the radio receiver spitting out a fresh sheet of paper: "My great master, I must adhere to certain rules. You shall answer one of my questions in exchange." Answer a question? Renly raised an eyebrow, waiting for Arados to pose his query, deciding whether or not to recognize this servant based on the circumstances. With the rhythmic tapping, Arados spelled out a question: "What would you like for breakfast today?" A well-posed question indeed. Renly responded calmly: "Whatever the inn offers." "A perfect answer!" Arados almost burst into applause. Before Caine could speak, it continued typing steadily: "The atmosphere above the Spirit Realm is about to fade. I shall await my next opportunity to serve the Great Master." After this page of ethereal paper was emitted, the radio receiver fell silent and lost its deep, dim quality. Would it take several days to throw the radio receiver into the gray mist before being able to contact the Mirror Arōdes again? Then, perhaps, inquire about methods to combat spiritual contamination within the extraordinary essence—ah, this method must be used with care. Arōdes could even establish a special connection through the radio receiver once it has absorbed the atmosphere, but the more powerful and terrifying entities might well manage to do so as well. If this practice were maintained consistently, perhaps one day I would receive telegrams from the 'True Creator' and the 'Primordial Mage-Woman' themselves. Caine's thoughts raced, recognizing the hidden risks.