Inside the room, hearing Billter's sigh, Sotus pressed gently at the edge of his eyes and said in a steady voice, "Boss, the important figure arrives tomorrow." Billter looked back at him with a serious expression: "I know." "We have only two options: either we assign the mission to Germán Sparrow regardless of whether he's trustworthy, hoping for the best outcome, or we immediately abandon our holdings in Orlavi, take our cash and jewels, and leave here to become pirates on the open seas. I'm confident that most of the crew and adventurers aboard the *Hunter of Pirates* will follow us." After a pause, Sotus added, "Boss, when you were an adventurer, leading us to sail and hunt pirates, you were so resolute and decisive. I believe you've already made up your mind—there's no need for me to say any more." "Ha! I don't need any praise from you." "Bilt chuckled softly," "I'm no longer the fearless pirate hunter I used to be. The long years of comfort and stability have gradually eroded my resolve. I hardly feel like pursuing promotions anymore—those comrades who have turned into monsters still linger in my mind." He exhaled a long breath, his expression instantly serious. "Still, you're right—we don't have time to hesitate. We must make a decision right away." With that, Bilt turned his head and nodded toward the window. Sotós was momentarily taken aback, then quickly grasped the captain's meaning. Perhaps due to the series of eerie incidents involving the Antigonus family's notes and the mysterious telegraph office at Bansi Harbor, Caine's first reaction upon visiting Bertold Blancoud was that he had died—suddenly, after Caine had seen him, falling from the upper floor and landing on the ground, eyes wide open. This was exactly like the moment when Caine first opened the door and found Riel Biber's mother already dead in her armchair, her body highly decomposed, her eyes detached from the sockets by an external vibration. The same thought flashed through his mind. But upon clearly seeing the figure that had fallen from the upper floor, Caine realized it was Sotos Yang, not Bertold Blancoud. Moreover, Yang appeared perfectly fine, clearly still alive. Now, trouble had arrived—Caine's heart sank, and his assessment sharpened. If he were truly doing himself, he would certainly feign not seeing Soteros' leap to intercept him, turn around before the other had even opened his mouth, and dash off at full speed, rushing until he completely outdistanced his pursuer—just as the "Star General" had been pursued by knowledge. Unfortunately, now I am Germain Spalro, a mad adventurer, and I cannot possibly retreat from such a minor matter... Ah, gaining a clearer sense of self is an added bonus. Klein paused, watching Soteros—dressed in a linen shirt and a brown jacket—land steadily, place a hand on his chest, and bow formally. "Mr. Germain Spalro, we have an important matter we would like to entrust to you." There it is... Klein responded calmly. "I have not been particularly idle lately." "This won't take up much of your time. You may first hear the details, and then decide whether to accept or decline." Soteros, with a sincere expression and a beard of dark hair, spoke. I was afraid that after hearing this, I'd have to accept it... Well, actually, it's not so bad. If Bill特. Brando and Sotos. Yanco were to threaten me, force me to take on assignments, I wouldn't mind turning them into pounds and exceptional materials. After careful thought, Klein realized that at sea, he didn't need to worry much—his status as a Pirate Admiral was essentially sufficient to command respect almost everywhere. He pulled out the gold-case pocket watch from the inside of his clothing, opened it and glanced at the time. "You have five minutes." "That's more than enough," Sotos indicated toward the entrance of the "Sweet Lemon" bar behind Klein. Back in the previous room, Klein checked the wall clock and said coldly, "There are still three minutes and twelve seconds left." This demeanor unexpectedly brought a sense of calm to Bill特's mind, and he began to truly believe that Germán. Sparrow had the absolute capability to complete the mission. "Mr. Garmen, I heard you can take on the appearance of anyone—much like the former 'Storm Herald' Zilinger." Bilt seized the opportunity to ask. Who had revealed this? Mr. Kline's eyebrows lifted, and the depth of his gaze instantly deepened. If it became known that Mr. Garmen Sparrow could assume the form of anyone, it would pose a moderate inconvenience to Kline. It might evoke associations with "the creeping hunger," recalling Zilinger's death, or be suspected by certain seers holding hidden secrets as a sign of "the Faceless One." The former might draw attention from the "Dusk Monks," while the latter would likely prompt the Church of the Night Goddess to take notice and send investigators. Of course, the Church of the Night Goddess currently holds limited influence at sea, so Kline wasn't overly concerned about that. What he did find less appealing was the potential for conflict with the night-watchers. At that moment, he would have to give up the identity of Germán Sparrow—the pivotal point when the image of the adventurous spirit, wildly passionate, powerfully driven, yet tender at heart, was gaining increasing recognition, acclaim, and positive feedback. Bilt sensed the shift in Germán Sparrow's gaze, and instantly felt his body tighten. He chuckled, saying, "This news came from the Black Death." Tracy... she's retaliating against me. One day, I'll finally hunt her down. Klein nodded gently. "He can treat this as true." He didn't feel the need to explain the origin of his ability to transform others, as that would contradict the established persona of Germán Sparrow. Bilt exhaled deeply and settled into a calm demeanor, adding after a brief pause, "We're currently assisting a major figure in finding a stand-in." Under Germán Spáro's enigmatic gaze, he explained in detail: "The distinguished figure needs to act alone on a matter that must remain completely confidential; therefore, he must have a stand-in to handle his daily affairs, meet various guests, manage his affairs with his mistresses, and remain entirely undetected. He will likely return within three to five days." "We had already identified someone very similar to him, spent considerable time refining his manner and accent, and reported this good news to the distinguished figure. Unhappily, however, the itinerant man overindulged in food and drink, and passed away suddenly last night." "The distinguished figure is now preparing to begin his own journey. We don't have sufficient time to find another suitable match, so we must turn to you." Isn't this precisely the authentic opportunity I've been seeking? Klein listened, his heart stirred. But he also keenly noticed one thing: those who could be called significant figures by Bill特, the head of the Adventurers' Mutual Association, were truly significant—events surrounding such figures often weren't ordinary, but carried considerable risks! "One thousand pounds in cash, plus three opportunities to be crafted by a master artisan—hmm, I’ll cover all expenses except for materials," Billter proposed, starting from Germaine Sparlo’s prior commission, a condition he believed was impossible to refuse. Still possible… but most importantly, the genuine opportunity to truly embody the role… Kline glanced at the wall clock and said: "I’ll think about it and get back to you by evening." Regardless, it’s essential to first go to the Grey Mists to assess the level of danger!—Considering Billter and Sotos are extraordinary beings at Sequence 7 or even Sequence 6, Kline didn’t make a direct request to use the restroom, lest the others notice something was amiss. Since Billter didn’t want to reveal the identity of the prominent figure, he felt no concern and nodded: "Very well. I hope we’ll have a pleasant collaboration." …… On Williamms Street, a sturdy, nearly two-meter-tall Fussac man was actively seeking clues. Suddenly, inspiration struck him, and he lifted his head. A dawn-like glow had begun to radiate around him, illuminating the surrounding houses and gas lamps as if in a dream. At the same time, flames erupted along the streets, and various supernatural phenomena began to unfold. Indeed, representatives from the Thorin family had arrived... The Fyrsak man who had previously harbored doubts now turned his gaze toward the street ahead. He saw night-watchmen in either red or black gloves appearing one by one, their deep, intricately patterned gun barrels extending from rooftops and aimed directly at him, while the pedestrians around seemed completely unaware. He saw Bishop Horamik of the Steam and Mechanism Church, the dean of the Bekland district, and Bishop Saint Anthony of the Night Goddess Church. Then, in his peripheral vision, he noticed members of the Thorin family raising their hands high above their heads. ...The powerful Fyrsak spy, too, promptly mirrored the gesture. With decisive action, they chose to surrender! Resistance means certain death on the spot, while surrender still offers the chance of being ransomed! ………… At 6:30 p.m., Cline visited the "Sweet Lemons" bar once again, meeting with Bilt and Sotos. He spoke without expression: "Pay a deposit of 500 pounds. Then tell me who the target needs to become." Bilt could not help but smile, gesturing to Sotos to go retrieve the documents from the safe while speaking in a steady tone: "He is the Kingdom's highest naval commander in the central Suonia Sea. Admiral Emilius Levet! A true half-god!" PS: First update, then revision. From today until February 12, there will be only one update per day at noon.