Holding the slender blood crystal, and inhaling its faint sulfur scent, Caine subtly sensed the latent corrosive power within. "It's said that the Abyss is the most polluting place—even angels fall there, losing control, eventually being absorbed and transformed by the Abyss itself. The characteristics displayed by the 'Ship of the Final Death' seem to align remarkably well with this. Hmm, perhaps a deeper connection to the 'Apostle of Desire'?" Caine allowed his thoughts to wander. Soon, he noticed a detail: Gilshias had sworn allegiance to the 'Ship of the Final Death,' not to the 'King of Immortality,' Agarit. "Does this mean that the true 'King of Immortality' is actually the 'Ship of the Final Death,' with Agarit merely serving as its representative—or, more precisely, as the manager of the pollution's impact?" Ah, it's said that Agarith isn't a half-god, hasn't reached Sequence 4, and relies entirely on the "Death's Herald" to become one of the Four Kings. If that's truly the case, then his actual situation might be worse than I anticipated—he might have absolutely no autonomy at all. "Of course, it's also possible that he *is* at Sequence 4, and merely collaborates with the 'Death's Herald.' After all, the Devil is always cunning, fond of misleading people..." Kline mused for a few seconds, then tried the divination once more, hoping to gain further insights from the slender blood crystal. He wasn't worried about this causing major trouble—indeed, he had already prepared himself for such upheaval. Even if this led to a confrontation with the Demon King deep within the 'Deepness,' it would amount to no more than a reversal akin to the 'True Creator' or the 'Eternal Scorching Sun.' Kline believed his gray mist could still withstand and contain it. This is the first time it's not locked in place—no serious issues... And just now, I've consulted its origin and there's no danger at all. So, "The Ship of Death" definitely isn't a Sequence 0-tier demon... Hm, isn't that obvious? If it truly were a Sequence 0-tier demon—or even a seal of the Archangel Amun—then it wouldn't need to avoid our combined efforts with me, the "Mysterious Queen," the "Star General," and Anderson. Suddenly, Caine realizes he's been panicking all along, and now he begins to seriously engage in dream divination. The gray, hazy world shattered, and Caine slowly opened his eyes, sitting up straight. His fingers lightly tapped the weathered edge of the long table, murmuring silently: "Does 'The Whisperer' refer to a 'Whisperer' who was originally from the Deep before the 'Dying Ship' became a seal, or does it mean that the 'Dying Ship'—a colossal creature composed of dark lumps—was slain by 'The Whisperer' and thus transformed into the seal? 'Hmm. Either way, a ship must have been involved at the end, otherwise it wouldn't have solidified into this current form. 'Ah... Given that massive, almost uncontrollable laughter, the 'Dying Ship' aligning with 'The Whisperer' seems more likely. So, it's not a Level 0 seal—otherwise, the 'Immortal King' would have been the leading figure among the Four Kings. Probably Level 3?" Moreover, Agarit and its pairing seemed clearly mismatched, underperforming—no more than a sequence four... "That altar, evoking impurity and cries, symbolizing the blood crystal's ability to summon high-ranking demons? For instance, a 'Whisperer'?" Completely unfamiliar with summoning high-ranking demons, nor did he intend to—Caine casually tossed the slender blood crystal, along with the luminous stone left by the "Priest of Light"—endowed with an exceptional trait—into the pile of miscellaneous items, simply naming it with a cursory touch: "The essence of a Whisperer!" Having completed this, Caine carefully attempted another divination: to ascertain whether he would face any danger tonight, specifically from Agarit, the "King of the Immortals." In fact, he already anticipated the outcome of the divination: Agarit would not come to the island. This is because Toskata has a hidden half-god, ordinary extraordinary beings are often unaware of him, though the "Four Kings" generally have a good understanding. Agaritua, on the other hand, rarely engages in direct conflicts with other half-gods and would never willingly enter another's territory—such a move is not his style. Secondly, based on Caine's earlier speculation, a clear conclusion emerges: Agaritua is fundamentally afraid to leave the "Ship of Finality," and the "Ship of Finality" simply cannot make landfall! Indeed, Caine received a very secure revelation tonight. This means he does not need to change his appearance or relocate to another hotel. ........ Early in the morning of the second day, as Caine was just walking down to the first-floor restaurant and finding a seat, he noticed Anderson Hood unexpectedly appearing from somewhere, settling firmly across the table. The top hunter, running his fingers through his golden short hair to restore the perfect three-to-seven ratio, smiled appreciatively at Germaine Sparrow. "Impressive! You managed to defeat Gilsheias despite being outnumbered three to one. The way you carried the demon's corpse down the stairs has already become a well-known tale throughout Port Toscana. And hey, it's said that all the pirates with bounty rewards have decided to step away from your sight—none of them appear within five kilometers of you!" "Gelman Sparrow looked up at him, his gaze cold and enigmatic, and Anderson's smile froze. 'They all chose you,' he stammered. 'Haha, after all, this is the Sunia Sea, not the Mists Sea.' Why did you add that last sentence? It's so easily liable to be knocked down... Kline asked casually, as though it were a matter of course, 'And anything else?' 'Ah?' Anderson suddenly felt as though his comprehension had faltered. 'Any further information?' Kline repeated more specifically. 'Well...' Anderson suddenly furrowed his brows, 'Mossona from the New Roon Party vanished last night—mysteriously, even with an uncountable number of bodyguards—right in his own room!' The official account states that Mosonar has died, either due to the rites of appeasing a malevolent deity or summoning demons. Now, no one believes that—because the Storm Church has received an anonymous letter detailing Mosonar's crimes and providing solid evidence. He fixed his gaze on Germain Spalro, eager for the mad adventurer to offer further insights. He clearly remembered that Germain Spalro had asked him yesterday afternoon who should be killed, and his answer had been Mosonar of the New Roon faction. Kline merely nodded, saying nothing more. At that moment, a figure burst into the inn, glanced around, and approached Kline with evident delight. He was the very owner of the bar earlier. "Mr. Spalro." "The boss removed his soft cap, slightly concave in the center, and bowed. 'The confirmation has been secured, but we still need to go through another two days of procedures, given the sheer magnitude of the amount,' he said, smiling. 'I know you'll be leaving today, so to avoid any delay in your schedule, I've decided to advance the reward to you. This portion comes from the bar's operating funds, and the rest is a loan I've arranged from a few friends. Please check it over.' He deliberately elaborated in detail, aiming not only to secure the payment but also to demonstrate his goodwill and build a strong rapport with the eccentric adventurer, Germaine Sparrow. As for whether this gesture might provoke a retaliatory response from the 'King of the Undying,' he had no concerns. After all, the Gilshiai often rely on him to collect their rewards—these are simply the spoils of pirate battles. An extra payment, after all, is always welcome, and this is simply part of the unwritten maritime tradition." Caine counted the thick stack of £6,000 banknotes, divided them into several piles, and placed them into different pockets, then nodded. "That's quite good." The tavern owner exhaled in relief, scanned the room with cautious eyes, and lowered his voice. "You must be careful—the King of the Undying has a strong sense of vengeance and may intercept your vessel en route to the outer seas." He didn't dare mention that he had channels to arrange for discreet departures on certain ships, fearing that the King of the Undying would detect his intentions and retaliate. "I'm aware," Caine replied with calm indifference. The tavern owner said nothing further, bowed once more, and exited the hotel restaurant. "Do you have a way out?" Anderson asked curiously of Germán Sparo. "You're going to guess," Caine smiled with polished courtesy. Anderson gave a slight twitch of his lips. "Given your confidence, I'm reassured." "By the way, the ship departs at 1:30 this afternoon." "Wow, I thought earning 1,600 pounds in one night was already remarkable—turns out..." Crane didn't respond; he simply began enjoying his breakfast. Later, he went out to change into a fresh suit, just in case he didn't have any spare clothing. Time passed steadily, and soon it was time to board the ship. Anderson, now holding a newly purchased suitcase, glanced at Germán Sparrow beside him, a touch uneasy. "Are we really just heading on board like this?" "The *Gale* should be out at sea, and the *Future* departed yesterday after refueling," he noted. He felt it would be unwise to leave this way, risking the wrath of the "Immortal King." Sparrow wouldn't go charging in knowing he'd die—would he? Unless this was his trap... Anderson's mind flashed to another possibility. Crane didn't turn to look at him; he simply carried his suitcase and stepped onto the passenger ship. His idea was simple: the "Ship of the Dead" should be able to sense that something was amiss with its aura. By the usual standards of the "King of Immortality," a direct assault was unlikely. If this assumption proved false, then as soon as the "Ship of the Dead" appeared on the horizon, Caine would enter the room, pray to himself, and then ascend to the gray mist, raising his staff to observe—whether the "Whisperers" or the "Sea God" held the upper hand. Originally, Caine had not planned it this way. He intended to leverage the "Sea God's Staff" to summon underwater creatures, find a submersible carriage, and transport himself and Anderson—protected by a series of powerful incantations—out to the open sea, beyond the reach of the "Ship of the Dead," and then quietly board a scheduled passenger liner. However, considering that the sudden disappearance of the target might provoke the "Immortal King" to turn his wrath upon others, resulting in an indiscriminate massacre of the passenger ship—since pirates don't adhere to rules or possess a refined moral compass—Cayne, after divination performed atop the misty realm, ultimately decided to leave openly. PS: Additional chapters uploaded, kindly support with a monthly subscription!