Above the gray mist, Caine sat down and drew forth the "Black Emperor" inscribed with spiritual essence, instantly returning to his original form. That's what one-button outfit changes are all about—he chuckled to himself, reflecting on what had just happened. He was almost certain that the towering figure wearing the spire-crowned regalia was Nastor, the King of the Five Seas, and that the hundred-meter sailing vessel capable of navigating the spiritual realm was the legendary ghost ship *Black Emperor*, crafted by the ancient Kingdom of Solomon! "I always thought ghost ships simply meant vessels that could sail on their own, never sinking—more like rare living creatures. I never imagined that the most powerful, most elite ghost ships could even dissolve into ethereal form and drift freely through the spiritual realm. This is almost equivalent to a demigod, isn't it?" No wonder the "Black Emperor" is the most renowned vessel across the five oceans—though it's not out of the question that a traveler was sacrificed during its construction. "One of the most famed treasures, the ship known as the 'Spirit Empire,' which carries the final legacy of the Trenzostar Empire—does it also possess a similar ability, which is why it has remained elusive?" Klein's thoughts drifted and scattered, and he didn't immediately ponder why he had suddenly encountered the "King of the Five Seas," Nastor. This was entirely obvious: the Law of Aggregation of Exceptional Properties! Although the "Black Emperor" card itself does not inherently carry exceptional properties, during its creation, Rosel either incorporated something or inscribed a mark that enables the holder, upon ascending to a higher tier, to sense a subtle resonance between the card and the exceptional materials required by the individual. This mutual resonance is undoubtedly reciprocal—when one feels the presence of another, that presence is naturally also felt by the other. Until the holder crosses the threshold of the half-divine stage, this manifests as an unconscious tendency to draw closer. Klein has experienced this firsthand, always suspecting that the presence of the gray mist has drawn certain extraordinary individuals or supernatural events toward him. Using the "Black Emperor" card to wander through the Spirit Realm is easier than doing so in the real world, where similar situations are more likely to occur. The real world follows numerous rules—even with the guidance of fate, it must remain logically coherent, unfolding step by step. It's not as if, once I use the "Black Emperor" card in Beckonland, the "Five-Sea King" Nastor immediately boards a ghost ship and appears before me. Even if he senses that pull, he still needs to establish his position, navigate through the Spirit Realm—a process that can take several hours or even days. If he fails to perceive the connection, he simply thinks naturally of sailing toward the Sunia Sea and gradually approaching the border of the Ruin Kingdom. In that case, it might take months or even years before he ever meets me. "Once in the spiritual realm, things become much simpler. Here, there's no distinction of near or far, high or low, up or down—position and distance are all chaotic. Perhaps the Five-Sea King, Nastor, simply intended to make a courtesy visit, only to find me passing by as soon as he entered. This doesn't require adherence to the constraints of real-world geography or spatial orientation." Kline thoughtfully tapped the weathered edge of the long table with his finger. Moreover, he was certain that his constant, unbidden gaze was drawn toward the 'Black Emperor,' toward Nastor—not due to any extraordinary aggregation law. The effects of fate, resonance, and yearning would be more subtle, not so dramatic. Otherwise, all high-tier beings of higher sequence would inevitably be drawn toward this path's uniqueness. Kline sensed that it was an extraordinary force—something that warped and amplified his own intention to move forward, making it impossible for him to stop. This was a straightforward assessment—back then, even when I played my "Black Emperor" card, I couldn't have stopped the momentum. Was this the extraordinary power of the "Lawyer," the power accessed through the "Black Emperor" path? Klein leaned back against the chair, deciding to refrain from using his "Black Emperor" card for the foreseeable future. Klein chuckled and shook his head, deciding to summon a messenger through ritual proceedings as a temporary measure, and address the matter more thoroughly later. He sealed the "Black Emperor" card, and his figure vanished into the enigmatic space above the gray mist. ........ Morning in Bayam. Alder was preparing to leave the city by carriage, taking a detour to the private harbor behind the cliffs—the "Azure Avenger" was moored there, awaiting departure. As a pirate captain posing as such, he could not simply dock his ship at the main port of the "City of Generosity," for that would clearly signal a close relationship with the official authorities. Like other pirates, he would need to plan his docking location in advance—either at smaller coastal ports or at private harbors controlled by influential figures or rebel forces. Finally, with no tasks left, it's time to head out to port... First, I'll fetch a magical item that not only boosts my strength but also settles my accounts. Then, I'll head to that primitive island, hunt the blue shadow falcon, and quickly advance to Sequence 6. Just as Aljere was about to walk toward a rental carriage, he unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure. Relf said with a hearty laugh and winked, "I told you I felt the divine favor—do you believe that?" Believe... Aljer answered without hesitation in his mind. He suppressed his curiosity and asked instead, "What brought you here?" Just as Relf was about to reply, his eyes suddenly brightened. He glanced around, confirming that no one was nearby, then spoke softly, "Didn't you say you also believed in the gods?" Aljer had initially pretended to hold some faith in the sea god to get along with Relf—after all, this was quite normal among pirates, never raising suspicion. In the vast ocean, storms and tempests often proved more terrifying than enemies themselves, so most pirates, adventurers, crew members, and sailors deeply respected deities governing such domains and held some level of belief in them. "Of course," Aljer replied, more firmly than he had ever before. Because he knew that the "Sea God" believed in was none other than the embodiment of the "Knight of Fool." Relf nodded in satisfaction, smiled gently, and whispered: "I received a prophecy yesterday. The god told me to help His young lambs. I intend to establish a charitable fund for this purpose. This is the will of the god. As one of His followers, I believe you will surely be willing to contribute something." He extended his right hand, waiting for the donation. Aljer's expression stiffened momentarily—he was at a loss for words. Though his current wealth had reached 3,245 pounds, that sum was set aside to purchase a magical item, and his financial situation remained quite tight. Still, by cutting back, he could certainly make a meaningful contribution. If the "Sea God" remained Cavitua, and Aljer claimed to be a follower, he would undoubtedly find a reason or excuse to delay. But now, he had to seriously consider what deeper intentions the "Knight of Fool" might hold. Noticing Aljer's reaction, Relf turned his eyes slightly and said: "We're helping those children whose very bloodlines have subjected them to unwarranted discrimination, who live hard lives and struggle to see hope—both pure locals and mixed-blood children." Aljer remained silent for a few seconds, then pulled out a stack of cash from his coat: "Here's one hundred pounds." Relf took it, smiled gently and said: "Your kindness will be rewarded. 'God will protect you.'" ………… The warehouse door leaned slightly, covering the entrance. Kline had prepared the ritual to summon spirits of the otherworld, with a dreamy fragrance of herbal infusions and essential oils filling the air. ——He was concerned about causing unexpected disturbances at the inn, where his own safety might be at risk but that of other guests could be compromised, so he had returned to the abandoned warehouse where he had previously sacrificed to Cavitua. As for Daniz, who had his reward raised to five thousand five hundred pounds, he had proactively requested to remain in the suite, listening to the radio broadcasts. Next, light the candle that symbolizes oneself, and invoke the properly verified incantation to summon a suitable ethereal being as a messenger... In his mind, Caine flowed through Dailie Simonne's three-part description and the additional incantations provided by Mr. Azk. When summoning an ethereal being, the first line must contain phrases such as "wandering among illusions" or "soaring through the upper realms," only then can it clearly point to the ethereal realm. The concluding phrase must explicitly specify whether the being summoned is an immaterial spirit or a more corporeal entity. The second and third lines offer more precise details about the target, yet due to structural constraints, they cannot elaborate further. As a result, the exact nature of the being that ultimately appears remains unpredictable and unforecastable to the ritualist. Under these circumstances, using incantations that have already been validated by others significantly reduces the risk. Once the contract is signed, and the third sentence is revised to specifically designate the messenger as that of whom whom-whom, and the contractual partner as that of whom whom-whom, the three-part description will accurately summon the corresponding messenger. "Ah, my messenger must run very swiftly—otherwise, at some point, perhaps, he might be ambushed or eliminated by other spirits with ill intentions, resulting in the loss of vital messages..." Klein's thoughts raced, and he settled on a clear idea. He stepped back and spoke in ancient Hermes: "I! I summon by my name: The spirit wandering in the realm of illusion, the friendly being at my disposal, the one of astonishing speed." Hoo! A sudden gust of wind stirred, tinting the candles with a deep green hue, and the air instantly grew cold. Klein observed a blurred figure emerge, moving so swiftly that he could hardly make out its form. Then, he could no longer find that figure at all.