Ho! Hoo! A deep, steady breath echoed into Caine’s ears, sending a shiver down his spine and filling him with an unaccountable sense of fear—yet no immediate sense of danger. Not only he—Gardelis, the Star Above, Frank Lee, the Toxin Specialist, and every other pirate—had heard it. They turned their heads, looked out toward the sea, raised their weapons, or stood on high alert, each gesture reflecting their seasoned experience. With a moment’s observation, Caine discerned that the powerful breath came from the ruins to his side and slightly ahead, rising between the stacked stones and stone pillars above the water. At that very moment, Hes Dore, the Bloodless One, emerged from the shadows, cupping his hands to his head and murmuring in pain: “There’s a body… There’s a body!” A body? A body emitting such a deep, resonant breath? In the span of a thought, Caine unconsciously removed his heavy glasses and glanced at Gauthier's face—now suddenly serious. Turning to the pirates in the dining hall, she said, "Quick! Accelerate and pass by there—don't come near!" Her voice carried a subtle magnetism, instantly rousing the crowd. The sailors immediately rushed out of the dining hall, heading to where assistance was needed. Under the command of Captain Otolov and First Mate Nina, they adjusted the sails, altered their course, and passed the ruin from a distance. Only when the peak formed by stacked stones and columns vanished beneath the horizon did Hes Dool, the "Bloodless One," finally relax his hands, his expression no longer so strained. Caine narrowed his eyes at this scene, sensing that this "Bishop of Roses," the second-in-command of the *Future*, might well prove to be a significant challenge throughout the voyage. This is not a discrimination against the exceptional members of the "Seer" path, but a judgment drawn by combining the description of the "Star General" with His. Dole's recent performance: everyone had heard the profound breathing, yet only His. Dole had visibly suffered, instinctively believing that a corpse lay buried within the ruins—his assertion was indirectly confirmed by Gardelia's subsequent evaluation. Thus, even if His. Dole does not actively listen to the voice of the "True Creator," as a bearer of the "Listener" ability, he naturally hears more than ordinary individuals and the majority of mid-to-lower-tier exceptional beings under normal circumstances. When he encounters that breath, when the sound source is close enough, he will be affected more profoundly, receiving more critical information about danger. Here, merely avoiding similar ruins or remnants is not sufficient to resolve the issue, as per Gardeleia, the "Star Above," who states that this sea is saturated with sounds—unheard, yet powerful—capable of unmaking even demi-gods. Should Hisdor's condition be suboptimal or exceptionally good at any given time, he might hear that "fatal whisper." Similarly, even the "Rose Bishop" of Sequence 6, though not as adept at listening as other demi-gods, would only show a modest difference. In terms of probability, it would only require a roll of two on the "die of chance"—a roll of one would be sufficient to cause Hisdor to go mad or lose control within those unheard sounds. It would be wise to remind the "Keeper" lady, though she likely anticipated this and has already made preparations. Caine withdraws his gaze and hears a faint, barely noticeable gurgle from his own stomach. He hadn't even had breakfast yet. At this moment, the light lager had spilled all over the floor, the cream was scattered everywhere underfoot, and the grilled fish, toast, white bread, and other dishes lay either flat or dangling, now quite messy. The outer layer could be peeled off and eaten—Klein looked at a piece of bread leaning against the table leg, hesitating whether to take action. This contradicted Germain Spalro's established persona! When he decided to wait for lunch, the "Star Above the Stars," Gauthier, instructed the chef: "Prepare breakfast again for the others. Give it to Frank—perhaps he'll find use for it." "Fostering monsters?" Klein muttered to himself. Eventually, he managed to have a breakfast less rich than the one he'd just had: a smoked pork sausage, two crispy-browned toast slices, and a light lager, served without any added sedatives, simply as plain water. Because the sea was extremely hazardous and unpredictable, Klein, drawing on his university habit of clearing the cafeteria breakfast quickly, finished his meal in just a few minutes. After leaving the pirate restaurant, he stepped onto the deck, half strolling, half observing his surroundings. At that moment, the sea still bore the golden hue of midday sunlight, faintly tinged with gold. Klein paused and gazed out, and soon spotted a spot growing larger in the distance ahead. Under the sunlight, that spot shimmered with a radiant, dreamlike glow, displaying a rich, multicolored brilliance—like a massive, translucent gemstone. As the "Future" continued its voyage forward, the spot gradually revealed its true form. It first split and then became clearly defined: four immense pillars, carved from pure diamond, rose upward, standing firmly like mythical sea-supporting towers, supporting a substantial floating island. On the island, the soil was blackened, devoid of any green. Deep within, the light was exceptionally bright, outshining the noonday sky. Suddenly, a long, resonant cry issued forth from that place. The sound was powerful and full-bodied, yet lacked the sense of imminent danger that would make one's hair stand on end. Not long after, Caine heard the steady rhythm of galloping horses, and saw two magnificent steeds, as if forged from gold, burst forth from the floating island, drawing behind them a similarly golden, splendid war chariot. At that very moment, the voice of "Star General" Gardeleia was amplified, echoing urgently throughout every corner of the "Future" ship: "Bend low! Do not look!" Caine, never one to boast, instinctively lowered his head and glanced down at his boots. He noticed that the sunlight falling upon the deck grew increasingly bright, then waned, only to swiftly regain its former intensity. "All clear," Gardeleia's voice echoed once more, calm and steady, with no discernible emotion. Only now did Kline lift his head, and found that the two noble steeds, forged of gold, and the magnificent war chariots they drew, had vanished. The colossal diamond pillars stood quietly, supporting the floating island, radiating a brilliant luminescence. How large those diamonds are... How strangely the island floats! If he had not lowered his gaze to watch the golden war chariot emerge, what would have happened? Kline glanced around, his brow furrowing slightly. The pirate who had stood just seven or eight meters away from him moments before had now disappeared, leaving behind two dark, oil-stained footprints where he once stood. Gazing at the ashes drifting through the air, Kline began to piece together the fate of those who had not lowered their heads. Fortunately, the "Star above the Commander" had visited several times before, knowing which paths to avoid and which to bend. If I had hired the "Hanged Man" gentleman, even if he were commanding a ghost ship, we'd likely be wiped out by now... No, if the "Future Ship" hadn't arrived early and left us with a buffer period, I would have already consulted "The Serpent of Fate," Will Aunscite, on several matters. A magician never performs without preparation. Moreover, if I had hired the "Hanged Man," I would certainly have sought information from "The Hermit" lady at the Tarot gathering. Kline first expressed his admiration, then regained his composure. He didn't suggest visiting the floating islands to explore; instead, he allowed the "Future Ship" to pass by on the side and continued ahead. For the following stretch of time, the sea remained as still and open as the outside world—only the undulating surface of the waves, vast, silent, and boundless. Klein occasionally spotted floating fire piles on the sea surface, yet found no trace of marine life, including the merfolk population. Time passed steadily, and lunch was soon ready. As Klein prepared to leave the deck and head to the dining hall, he suddenly noticed the surroundings grow dark! The sky, which had always remained at noon, vanished its sunlight and was now completely enveloped in dense darkness. The change was so swift and unexpected that Klein's first thought was: who turned off the lights? In silence, the "Future" was illuminated by a brilliant starlight, casting clear paths throughout the ship. Gardelica's voice, ever magnetic, resonated once again throughout the gathering: "Return to your rooms or find any corner and allow yourself to sleep. Then, simply wait to wake naturally." "The toxin specialist," Frank Lee asked, with some curiosity, "what if we don't sleep?" At that moment, his voice resonated like a great bear speaking. Gauthery stood behind the window of the captain's cabin and said, "When we wake up, we'll find you gone—completely vanished." How terrifying is the night here? Curious, indeed, yet克莱恩 had no intention of trying to stay awake. He returned to his room, using the lingering starlight from the 'Future' as illumination, unfolded the crane paper, took out his pencil, and quickly wrote: "What precautions should we take when traveling to the most hazardous waters on the easternmost part of the Sunia Sea? Where in that region can we find mermaids?" After setting down the pencil and folding the crane,克莱恩 didn't remove his coat and simply lay down on the bed, swiftly falling into deep sleep with the aid of meditation. In the hazy world, he awoke suddenly, clearly aware that he was dreaming. No one had invaded us... Caine surveyed the scene and found himself on a mountain peak, behind him and to either side, clusters of monastic-style black buildings stretched out. Before him stood a withered tree and a massive outcropping stone. At the summit of the stone, Gardeleia of "The Stars Above" sat alone, her arms folded around her knees, her body slightly forward, gazing intently at the mountain opposite. She still wore her classic, mysterious black robe, her expression filled with an indescribable bewilderment. For now, she remained motionless, as if turned into a statue. How had she come into my dream? Caine took a few steps forward and leapt onto the stone. Before he could ask anything, he was suddenly struck silent by the vast, open vista before him, feeling a deep resonance throughout his body. In front of the stone lay a cliff whose base was invisible, and across the cliff stood a mountain crowned with countless palaces, towering spires, and magnificent city walls. The buildings are grand and magnificent, layered and interwoven, each one exceptionally vast—unlike places where humans would live. Together, they evoke an indescribable sense of epic grandeur, wonder, and myth. The sun hangs far in the distance, casting the hues of dusk over the city, its light as if frozen in place. "This is the dream we all share..." Gauthier still sits with her knees drawn up, her voice soft, as though speaking in a dream.