Seeing Will Ongst's reminder, Caine's first thought was one of relief. "Good thing I didn't push myself to the point of death, didn't keep exploring..." he breathed out without hesitation. Though he had also noticed the murals related to the "Devourer of Tails," Ulorius, and had encountered Anderson—this man who had somehow transformed into a terrifying monster—he hadn't actually found himself in any real danger. I'm not sure whether next time entering the dream will be random within a certain range, or whether it will begin from the moment this one ends. If it's the latter, the most appropriate course of action is to leave Anderson undisturbed, avoiding any stimulation, and simply return along the same path, leaving the Black Monastery. Caine shifts his gaze and begins reading the remaining instructions: "Beyond the dream, everything else is relatively straightforward—just avoid approaching the ruins and ancient sites, refrain from directly observing the objects that fly across the sky at noon, and don't challenge the stormy weather with clear signs. Then, simply follow the well-verified safe routes. As for the mermaids, you will inevitably encounter them as you continue forward, since at their level, they can only thrive in safer regions, and such areas are not abundant. Finally, wish you all the best—your sincerely developing, sleep-prone friend Will O'Connell, who will likely find frequent naps during this critical growth phase." "The last sentence was a bit cumbersome, but Caine instantly grasped its meaning: 'Before I was born, don't disturb me with anything that isn't particularly important or crucial!' He responded internally, not entirely certain—'I'll do my best...' If he successfully advances this time, he might soon need to ask the other person where to find the Sequence 4 potion recipe for the 'Seer.' With renewed confidence in his quest to find the mermaids, Caine immediately left the dream, put on his hat, and headed to the pirate restaurant. Though the dream had caused some delay and several dishes had grown cold, the pirates were enjoying themselves greatly, since no one had died. With no fatalities and having witnessed so many remarkable events, they naturally felt upbeat and full of stories to tell. 'Would you like a glass of milk?' Frank Lee carried a tray and sat down across from Caine, warmly offering the question. Remembering their conversation in the dream, Caine gave a calm, resolute shake of his head on the surface, though his inner resolve was firm. He was worried that the milk on board was the result of Frank's experiments. Frank sipped it casually, murmuring, "I remember telling you about those little things in my dreams, didn't I?" "Yes." Kline took a piece of bonefish marinated in sauce and chewed it slowly. This fish is known for its few bones—often just a single main spine. In Beckland, it's considered a mid-to-high-end ingredient depending on the variety. But along the eastern coast of Orlavi Island, near the edge of the safe channel, it's frequently caught. Frank chuckled, "My earlier description wasn't quite accurate. Their true function is to enable biological lactation even outside of the nursing period—whether in females or males—so long as they take the supplement, milk production occurs; when stopped, normal physiology resumes. Thus, the dairy cows no longer suffer those indignities. This makes child-rearing more equitable between men and women, and better supports women's participation in the workforce..." Wait—what are you talking about? Clain almost lost his grip on the persona of Germán Sparrow. At that moment, he realized that the very word for 'crazy' no longer applied to Germán Sparrow—it belonged to Frank Lee. "He's actually a staunch advocate of gender equality—though his methods are rather daunting. After all, the Earth Mother Church, much like the Goddess Church, believes women should hold equal social status to men. Yet they place greater emphasis on reproduction and childbirth, viewing them as the most sacred duties. Among the Seven Churches, the Storm Church and the War God Church are most traditionally male-oriented, followed by the Sun Church. The Church of Knowledge and Wisdom stands out in its approach—clearly favoring men, exhibiting what might be called intellectual bias. The Steam Church remains neutral, even actively supporting the Goddess Church's efforts to encourage women to enter the workforce, given the industrial demands for a growing labor force." Klein's mind flashed through the distinctions among the Seven Churches. He looked up at Frank Lee, as if what he had just said was merely a trivial matter. Frank was delighted by this, and couldn't help but take another sip of milk. When the pirates finished their lunch on duty, Gauthier, the "Admiral of the Stars," pushed open the windows of the captain's cabin once more, casting a spell to amplify her voice: "There's an island ahead, 1.5 nautical miles off, where we'll anchor and wait for the storm to pass. In this sea, every time day and night alternate, a terrifying storm may arise. I can't predict exactly when it will come, but I believe it's safer to wait until it has passed before continuing our journey." She had now explained it in greater detail than before, since this was not an emergency but a well-planned development with ample time available. Among the sea-faring people, one of their greatest fears is storms, and thus there was no hesitation—under the command of the navigating captain Otolov and the ship's master Nina, preparations for the anchoring were made with urgency and care. This confirmed for Caine one of the points Wil. O'Ceint had reminded him of: not to challenge a storm that shows clear signs! Not long after, an island covered with towering trees appeared ahead of the "Future" on its starboard side. A sailing vessel over 100 meters long passed by, adjusting its course and mooring itself to the leeward side. Half an hour passed, and then the sky suddenly darkened, with one gray cloud after another rising and overlapping, gradually enveloping the entire surrounding sea. Amid a tremendous roar and brilliant flashes of lightning, a hurricane surged from the distance. Stretching from the cloud layer down to the sea surface, it was far more majestic than any giant described in legend—like a colossal serpent coiled and poised to consume the world. This terrifying vortex brought waves as tall as mountains. The branching lightning continued to strike the sea even as the rain intensified, sending out countless slender electric serpents spreading out in all directions. The steady patter of rain fell upon the "Future's" deck, giving the already sheltered pirates—many of whom had taken refuge in the cabins or under cover—a profound sense of impending doom. The storm did not last long. About a minute later, the waves calmed, the hurricane dissipated, and the midday sun once again dominated the sky. "You may move around on the island, but do not go too far inland—stay within range of the cannon fire," Gadeleia granted the pirates a brief respite. The figure approached steadily, dressed in a white shirt, black jacket, and black trousers—a medium-height young man with golden hair parted at the temples. Anderson! Poor Anderson! Klein recognized him instantly. It was the very Anderson from the dream world—the one who had claimed to be a member of the exploration team, yet whose companions had moved forward and never returned. At that moment, Anderson raised his right hand. Without hesitation, Klein, as a representative of Germain Sparo, drew forth a talisman and uttered an ancient Hermes word: "Storm!" The talisman, made of white tin, instantly became sharp, as though it had grown a multitude of fine blades. With the infusion of spirit, the wind in the air surged powerfully. Klein calmly threw the talisman toward Anderson. Whizz, whizz, whizz! A series of slender, emerald-edged blades shot forth, striking their target in a precise, orderly barrage—like a mass execution. Anderson raised his right hand with a smile, as if about to say something, but suddenly a low, mysterious incantation and a chilling wind rushed through his ears. His gaze sharpened, and he collapsed to the side, rolling with grace, looking utterly clumsy as though the ground ahead were a searing iron plate. *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* The wind blades sliced into the sand, carving distinct grooves, yet still missed their mark. "Stop! Stop!" Anderson shouted, rolling nimbly to avoid the gusts, "I have no ill will! I mean no harm!" "Anderson Hude..." The title of "General of the Stars" suddenly emerged, and she raised her hand, intercepting Germain Sparo, who had already drawn a talisman. Did she recognize this Anderson? Klein hesitated, not rushing to recite the incantation, and spoke calmly, "He has transformed. I have encountered him in my dreams." "He wasn't surprised to meet an unlucky Anderson, since the pirates were all within the same area in their dreams, close to one another, so Anderson, being only a short distance away, must also have been near the 'Aurora.' 'No! No!' Anderson stood up, visibly embarrassed, and raised his hands in surrender. 'I know you! You've asked me so many questions. At the time, I just wanted to make a joke—really, a joke—to lighten the mood. Don't you think it's a wonderful experience to suddenly feel so terrifying in such an atmosphere? Of course, I mean for the other person, not for myself. 'If I also went exploring, how would I still be alive?' That's exactly what I'm worried about... Kline didn't believe Anderson's explanation. Anderson shrugged. "As soon as I spoke, I was already preparing to explain, to tell you that I was just kidding and that I was going to ask for help—asking you to come and take me away—yet at that very moment, the dream ended... Damn, this is just terrible luck!" Klein muttered, fitting the sense of bad fortune. He had intended to pull out a coin right then and there, using divination to test his counterpart, but suddenly heard Gardeleia, the "Starborne Commander," say: "Let him tell you what exactly happened. He's well known in the Mist Sea, renowned as the 'Premier Hunter.'"