Has Bayam arrived? Upon hearing this, Caine stood and looked out, spotting the familiar rebel private harbor. He didn't display any surprise, but calmly remarked, "Faster than I expected." At least three hours ahead of my estimate! "Faster than I anticipated," Edwenna agreed with Germain Sparo's words. Nevertheless, these are merely minor details... Caine lowered his head, casually flipping through the remaining pages of *The Book of the Three Worlds*, then handed it to the "Ice Admiral." "Our conversation ends here." Edwenna silently glanced at the book, opened her mouth, then closed it again. Receiving the book, she placed it on the table and then rose to bow. "I look forward to future opportunities to speak with you. Your expertise in ancient history is truly impressive." "If it were his own nature, he would have been humble, praising the 'Iceberg Admiral' for his equally broad knowledge. But now he is the daring adventurer Germain Spauld, and can only offer a slight nod: 'We're partners.' Meaning there will be opportunities ahead. He says no more, leaves the 'Captain's Cabin,' returns to his room, and casually packs his luggage. He waits until the 'Golden Dream' docks, then makes his way down to the deck. By now, the deck is filled with crew members—including the 'Gourmet' Brod Wolfs, the 'Singer' Olphers, and the 'Bow Tie' Jodsen—senior officers of the pirate crew with substantial rewards. They greet him with warm, genuine smiles, waving enthusiastically to him, showing great hospitality. Among them, the 'Water Bucket' and the 'Iron Skin' are especially excited, even singing a song to bid him farewell. When did we become so familiar? Klein muttered under his breath, stepping past the pirates toward the ladder. Anderson Hood stood there, neatly dressed and with a well-kept hairstyle, smiling warmly. "They probably wanted to say, 'Goodbye,' but no—never goodbye again. 'Germán, do you know how dangerous you've been these past weeks? You've nearly become the enemies of all the crew—so much so that they'd love to get the 'Golden Dream' to Bayam in just five minutes." As Klein prepared to respond, he spotted Daniz rushing over in a black cloak. The man truly seemed determined—was he really preparing to leave the 'Golden Dream' and strike out on his own? This doesn't quite align with my expectations. Around the "Ice Mountain General," near the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, it's precisely here—among the "Fool" followers—that his value can be maximized. Still, it doesn't matter much. What truly matters is whether Daniz grows stronger—something more significant than this. Kline habitually assessed the situation, then dismissed the surplus thoughts, calmly observing Daniz, waiting for him to speak. Daniz, serious in expression, opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word, so he managed a dry, forced chuckle and asked Anderson, "Do you have the recipe for the 'Strategist's' potion?" "I do," Anderson replied with a chuckle, "but I don't intend to sell it to you." Daniz's face instantly darkened, while Anderson remained completely unconcerned, continuing, "What good will having the 'Strategist's' potion recipe do you now? With your current efforts to upgrade, you're certain to lose control! "Friend, take on the role of the 'Hunter' once more, then the 'Challenger' and the 'Pyre-Bearer.' Hm, that 'Giant's Heart'—you'd better have the 'Craftsman' transform it into a defensive magical item, or I'm afraid you'll be knocked out at any moment. Once you're certain of your course, go to your captain and request the 'Strategist's' potion recipe—she has it. But, hey, I think that's as far as you'll go, the 'Strategist' has very high expectations." Daniz, his cheeks flushing under the jests, carefully absorbed every word Anderson said, for this was a man hailed as the strongest Hunter, with extensive experience on this path, and he now began to sense that the key lay in 'performing'—a notion that subtly echoed the captain's earlier teachings, though not clearly stated. "There will come a day when I'll show you what a true 'Strategist' truly is!" Daniz said firmly, then turned his gaze to Germaine Sparrow. He cleared his throat, unable to meet the other's gaze, and said, "I've already requested it from the captain. From now on, I'll keep in frequent contact with the rebels and will be appearing in Bayam often." Meaning, he didn't want to leave the "Golden Dream," yet he'd frequently seek opportunities to develop himself? Hm, how very much like a report to his superior officer. Klein chuckled to himself, gave a simple "Hmm." Danzis immediately exhaled in relief, feeling much more at ease. If it weren't for the fact that his companions were still watching behind him, he would have been eager to help Gorman Sparrow with his luggage all the way to the dock. After watching Gorman and Anderson depart, the cautious man decided to begin making daily prayers to "The Fool" from tonight onward, demonstrating his devotion and ensuring no unforeseen mishaps occurred. Within the rebels' private harbor, Anderson noticed Gorman Sparrow simply entering a newly constructed road without hesitation, then walking the shortest possible route through the jungle. "You're quite familiar with this place, aren't you? I remember when I last came here, this road didn't even exist." Anderson remarked casually, half-wistful, half-bored. Of course, every day, many people came to me praying and reporting what they had done, and occasionally I would respond—like guiding them to build this very road. For a moment, Klein felt a quiet sense of pride, then said with a composed expression, "Where does your friend live?" "Right in a manor just outside of Bayam City." Anderson quickened his pace and began walking ahead. After an hour, he brought Klein to the outer edge of the manor, where the rich, layered aromas of various spices blended into a distinct, exotic atmosphere. After informing the gatekeeper of their purpose, the two didn't have to wait long before a medium-height man—just under 1.75 meters—approached, accompanied by a butler and a male servant. The man had a slightly yellowish complexion, with a sun-kissed tone, and his features were softer overall, though his eye sockets were much more sunken than those of the Ruin people. To Cline, this already provided a clear initial clue about the man's origins—people of the Kingdom of Fennebault with highland ancestry. The man had gained a slight roundness, with a full, approachable face, and as soon as he saw the strongest hunter, he burst into laughter. "Anderson," he exclaimed, "have you not died yet?" "I'm here to attend your funeral," Anderson replied with no hesitation, then turned to Cline and said, "Ockfar Connerkris, my former team physician." He didn't introduce Germán Sparro to Ockfar, but smiled warmly and added, "I've brought you a promising business opportunity." Ockfar immediately grasped Anderson's meaning and, without asking in front of the servant and housekeeper, led the two toward the main house of the estate. Along the way, Kline spotted windmills, bakeries, breweries, and militia training camps—entirely resembling a small kingdom, except for the absence of a blacksmith’s shop, which could fully sustain itself, as most steel goods were more cost-effective to purchase from the market than to produce in-house. "This is truly the life of a pastoral idyll," Kline murmured silently, following Oakfa into the main house and into his study. Oakfa did not invite the housewife or bring his child to meet Anderson and Kline, clearly wishing to keep them as distant as possible from the perilous, mysterious world. Thus, after closing the door, he directly addressed Anderson: "What business do you have?" "You mentioned you wanted to sell that revolver," Anderson indicated Kline. "There's interest from someone." "From whom?" "From Germán Sparrow—the accomplished adventurer who recently defeated the 'Master of Words,' Misol?" "Oakfa expressed surprise yet remained undaunted. Though he had distanced himself from an adventurous life, he was well aware that he could not afford to be careless. Thus, while in Bayam, he would proactively gather essential information to avoid unforeseen misfortunes. Upon hearing this, Anderson chuckled dryly. "Your information is outdated! The man's current record includes successfully hunting down 'The Slayer' Gilsheas—and surviving all the way to today." "Gilsheas? The second-in-command of 'The Immortal King'?" Oakfa's expression shifted instantly—marked by both astonishment and a subtle undercurrent of caution. "Exactly," Anderson said with a self-deprecating smile. "In the pirate's paradise, he is widely regarded as the foremost hunter." Oakfa swallowed, then looked at Caine, offering an uneasy yet composed smile. "I believe you're capable of securing 'The Bell'." "The Bell?" Caine showed genuine interest, though his tone remained composed. "The name 'Revolver'—it's been my steadfast companion for ten years. Honestly, if it hadn't overlapped in function with another magical item I possess, and if it hadn't proven particularly useful given my current situation, I'd never have considered selling it." Oakfa sighed in reply. At that moment, Anderson chuckled beside him, saying, "You used to say that—back then, you preferred farming tools." A 'farmer'... Claine drew a judgment based on Anderson's words and Oakfa's appearance. Simultaneously, the corresponding potion names flashed through his mind: Sequence 9, 'Farmer'; Sequence 8, 'Physician,' also known as 'Healer-Priest'; Sequence 7, 'Harvesting Priest.' It made perfect sense that Anderson had introduced him as the former team physician. Claine then added, "Do you know Frank Lee?" "Ha ha, I don't know him. Though I'm from Fournier-Port, my recipes and ingredients have been gathered bit by bit over time—completely independent of the 'Mother Earth' Church. So, I'm absolutely hesitant to return to Fournier-Port. That said, I've heard of Frank Lee—he's a rather troublesome figure for the Church." Oak responded calmly. "Just a Sequence 6 Biologist, and yet the Church holds him in such high regard. Sometimes, I really wish I could meet him." Not at all—you'll regret that thought... From Oak's response, Kline sensed that he believed in the 'Mother Earth' Church and was likely a Sequence 5 strength. Anderson, standing beside him, visibly drew in his breath as he heard Oakfa's words, speaking with a sense of relief and awe: "That man truly is a headache—on some level, he's like a demon. His abilities and his mindset surpass even Sequence 6. Well, just don't mention him. As soon as I bring him up, I immediately think of the milk that erupted from him." Oakfa glanced thoughtfully between the two across the table, suppressing his curiosity, then walked to the table, opened the drawer, and produced a black iron revolver with a barrel slightly longer than a standard revolver. "This is the 'Solemn Bell,'" he said solemnly.