Lan'Erus is likely a "con artist" from Sequence 8—precisely the path of the "Thief," and it's quite understandable and logical that he would have the credentials to attend such gatherings. Indeed, securing rare, magical items capable of stealing others' extraordinary abilities at the "Fate Immigrants'" events is far more accessible than in other circles. This is exactly the clue that Wil Anderstine, the "Fate Serpent," has mentioned. Caine sat by the bed, suddenly enlightened. He immediately began setting up the ritual to summon himself, entering the gray mist and bringing the insignia—no larger than a human eye—back into the real world. On the front, the insignia bore the symbolic emblems representing "Fate" and "Concealment"; on the reverse, a delicate ancient Hermes inscription read: "Holding this, one may join." As Caine prepared to infuse the insignia with spirit, activate it, and send out the information—simultaneously receiving the latest meeting time and location—he paused, hesitating. "...all at once, I'd been so careless as to forget to check whether this undertaking carried any risk! Should there be a half-divine elder from Larn-Urus present at the gathering, securing my position through this very act, the situation would become quite serious—much like how, previously, the ailing commander Tracie swiftly summoned the Immortal Woman as an assistant, something that could no longer be ignored. One must know when to act boldly and when to hold back!" Kline tapped his forehead, carefully re-entered the mysterious space above the gray mist, and performed a divination using the "pendulum method." After receiving a favorable sign indicating no significant danger, he exhaled in relief, stepped out of the mist, and settled into the armchair within the hotel room. As he poured his spirit into the badge, a soft, gentle glow emerged on its surface, swiftly coalescing into subtle beams of light that shot upward into the air. Not long after, the same beam returned, spreading out into a shimmering, palm-sized parchment inscribed in ancient Fussak with a single line of words: "Evening 9 o'clock, June 6th, 1350, at the mouth of the Tassok River." There were still four months to go... With that much time, I'm certain I can gather all the primary materials needed for the "Master of the Secret Figures" without any issue. The only obstacle is the lack of funds—yet that's not a serious problem. I currently hold an asset of 6,945 pounds. Selling one or two exceptional traits should be more than sufficient. Moreover, there are plenty of mobile rewards available at sea. No, I shouldn't be so confident—there's still the Four Kings and the Seven Generals to exclude... What kind of clue is this? Caine leaned forward, slightly arching his back, once again deeply pondering. Following the gatherings of the "Fate Immortals," he suddenly remembered someone: Leonard Mitchell! The poet classmate participated in the "Fated Hermit" gathering in the Babur Valley. Regardless of his purpose—whether on official business or private initiative—he may have acquired a magical item capable of stealing others' extraordinary abilities... one could borrow it or purchase it—could that be the real clue? Klein was energized and quickly formed a preliminary plan: "Step one: Place the radio receiver atop the gray mist and gather momentum; Step two: A few days later, use that radio receiver to contact the mirror mage, Arodos; Step three: Ask where one can most easily obtain a magical item capable of stealing others' extraordinary abilities; If the answer is clear, then proceed to the fourth step as indicated—simple and straightforward—and achieve the goal. If the answer is vague or fraught with danger, then step four becomes: inquire about the poet classmate's current location. Step five: Have Emlyn White carry this insignia to the poet classmate and see if he possesses the corresponding item—whether a transaction can be arranged." I won't step in directly—any slip and I'll be recognized, which would create an equally major hassle. After all, Emlyn is now considered part of the Great Mother Goddess Church, if not exactly a member, then at least a problem. It's better that he handles the situation. Even if his poetry class colleague reports him or captures him on the spot, he won't end up being burned at the stake. With a clear plan for both what to do and how to do it, Caine felt instantly refreshed and at ease. He decided to head out for a traditional Bayam-style grilled fish. Adewenna, the Commodore of the Ice Mountain, stood before her desk, holding a black absorbent pen and swiftly writing words: "…I don't have anything similar, nor does Jodsen. He said he would keep an eye out for you, but that will require a certain amount of luck." Adewenna lifted her head, her clear, pale blue eyes gazing steadily at Daniz: "You are to arrange the ceremony, the one to summon the messenger of Garmen Sparo." "Me?" Daniz, who had been wondering whether he would receive special treatment from the captain, pointed at himself in surprise. "Yes," Adewenna folded the letter, straightened up, and nodded. "This will help you become familiar with such ceremonies, and I will assess your proficiency in this area later." "Very well..." Daniz gathered his disappointment and, after a moment of effort, slowly arranged the simple ceremony with just one candle. Finally, under Adewenna's watchful gaze, he produced a shining Runestone coin and placed it upon the altar. Taking the scroll, Daniz rehearsed the ritual in his mind twice before proceeding. He stepped back and spoke in ancient Hermes: "I! I summon by my name: the spirits wandering in illusion, the friendly beings capable of service, the messenger of Germain Sparo." Hush! The wind within the spiritual wall surged, tossing Daniz's golden hair wildly upward. The flame expanded rapidly, swelling to the size of a human head, pale as the scroll itself in Daniz's hands. Soon, he saw a head emerge—long, pale gold hair, eyes like blood, radiant and beautiful. Ah, the messenger of Germain Sparo is indeed remarkable! How could a spirit-being be so human, so strikingly beautiful—only slightly less so than the captain? Yet—Daniz's admiration suddenly stalled, for he realized the head was not resting on his neck at all, but being held up by a hand grasping its hair at the ends. He stared, dumbfounded, as one after another heads emerged, watching the formless, gloomy figures in elaborate, flowing gowns appear before him. Indeed, they were beings from the spirit realm—his own earlier thoughts now felt shameful. Taking a deep breath, Daniz hurriedly offered the letter, watching as one of the beautiful heads opened its mouth and gently bit down with white teeth. At that moment, another head of Renette Tiniel also secured the gold coins on the altar. Yet she did not immediately depart. The four bright red eyes of the remaining two heads turned simultaneously, fixing their gaze on Edwena Edwards outside the spiritual wall, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Edwena felt as though she were being examined, and the scrutiny stirred in her an uncontrollable fear. Renette Tiniel withdrew her gaze, her form momentarily fading and merging into the pale candlelight. The flame flared again, glowing warmly and diffusing outward, restoring everything to its original state. Danzig had just removed the spiritual barrier when the captain said in a low voice, "This isn't an ordinary spirit being..." Not an ordinary spirit being? Danzig was taken aback. He knew the captain was a professional researcher of spirit beings, so when she said it wasn't ordinary, it truly wasn't—something beyond ordinary! Germain Sparo was indeed a man who held many secrets. Danzig felt this with quiet admiration. Taking a few steps forward, Forse entered a café and sat by the window, sipping the rich, warm liquid while observing the pedestrians and the buildings across the street. "Nothing out of the ordinary here—no fights, no thefts... This is a neighborhood where the wealthy live, and the peace is truly hundreds of times better than in the East District... Hmm, I can still see the Vascians—so tall and sturdy, like bears, with a few companions beside him... Hah, those others—aren't they from Intis? Their attire is so extravagant, as if they're performing a stage play... Indeed, Bakersland lives up to its reputation as the capital of the world, with so many foreigners to encounter..." Forse gradually forgot her original purpose, opening her notebook to jot down observations. After finishing her coffee, she strolled around the street once more, returning without any new discoveries, and decided to come back on Thursday. ... After receiving Edwena's reply from Renette Tynicol, Kline watched his messenger disappear and confirmed that the messenger had not asked for any additional gold. It seems the method of using gold coins as ritual materials still works well... He smiled to himself, unfolded and read the letter. Seeing no immediate results, he decided to continue strolling around the city, seeking genuine opportunities to step into the role, putting into practice the principles he had previously summarized. At that moment, he heard a steady knocking at the door—his visitor was Captain Elran. "I was just looking for you," said Caine calmly as he opened the door. Captain Elran chuckled. "No need—once you register under your own identity, I'll know exactly where you're staying." The governor's office and the military maintain solid control over the hotel... Caine nodded, saying nothing. Elran turned slightly and gestured toward the hallway. "I'll take you to someone. The White Chalcedony is about to return to Port Priz. If you need assistance or have any information to share, you can go to him. As for payment, we've always been generous." This was precisely the matter Caine had previously proposed. "Very well." Klein reached for the coat rack. After dressing neatly, Ailran led him all the way to the Leafy Shade Pub and to a corner table. ... In the underground area of the Leafy Shade Pub. "The Articulator" Misoel Kin looked at his counterpart, "The Powerhouse" Ozer, and said, "Have you gathered up the latest intelligence on 'Flame' Daniz?" "Yes," Ozer smiled. "Last week, 'Blue-Eyed' Mys saw 'Flame' Daniz mingling with an unfamiliar adventurer."