Inside the Thunder Church, the dome is lofty and expansive, with arches flowing seamlessly into one another, and frescoes stretching continuously around the walls—no blank spaces in sight. Dominated by gold and blue, the space naturally evokes a sense of sacred solemnity, prompting visitors to instinctively lower their heads. Aljer Wilson, who frequently interacts with hidden entities and regularly gathers in palace-like halls that resemble abodes of the divine, no longer feels the same awe as before. Yet he does not display this shift in demeanor—he, like the other sailors, remains quietly attentive, gazing at the floor, moving with gentle, measured steps, and even holding his breath to keep his breathing subtle. Under the quiet atmosphere, they follow the priest to the residences of the clergy at the back of the church, where each is assigned a room. When the door closes behind them, Aljer is struck by the blood-red moonlight streaming through the windows, casting a cold, eerie ambiance. Countless spectral figures and restless spirits seem to be gazing through the thin veil, watching the world of the living. Every time a "Blood Moon" appears, spiritual energy surges—power from the spiritual realm and the underworld is greatly amplified, and negative emotions among living beings erupt, with higher sequences feeling it most intensely. Faintly, Aljer heard cries, low calls, and whispers—quite different from the solemn atmosphere he had previously experienced in the Thunder Church. Before him, he seemed to see a series of ethereal arms extending outward from the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, like a three-dimensional forest of pale limbs. Aljer knew what to expect during a Blood Moon; without any alarm, he removed his captain's hat and entered the bathroom, washing his face with running water. During this process, he suddenly heard a distant, melodious song. The song was hazy and indistinct, as though emanating from the heart of the island, yet lingering and recurring, as if right beside Aljé. It did not evoke fear—much like a woman who had long been separated from her family, her kin, and her beloved, standing at the edge of a cliff and gazing at the surging tide, softly humming and singing with a deep sense of sorrow. Aljé pulled a towel from his folds, wiped his face, and then leaned in to listen for several seconds. Gradually, his brow furrowed. From the inner pocket of his bishop's robe, he removed a small iron box and held it close to his ear. Inside lay the extraordinary "Song of the Sea" property he had purchased from "the World"—he suspected that the spirit lingering within the item had temporarily intensified under the influence of the Blood Moon. As the box drew nearer, certain parts of the song became clearer, tangible—emotions of melancholy, sadness, longing, and pain now seemed to take form. Yet beyond that, an ethereal, ancient melody continued to drift in, distinct and separate, as though responding in harmony. "Whose song is this? It sounds like a sprite's... something originating from sprites within the church? My own exceptional trait as a 'Sea Singer' comes from a sprite?" Aljer nodded thoughtfully. As both of them follow the 'Seafarer' path, the Storm Church has long been gathering relics from sprites—some transformed into potions, others sealed deep underground as barriers, and others, with less negative effects, awarded to clerics. Thus, when such items interact and trigger anomalies during the 'Blood Moon Night,' it's no surprise. If it's a magical artifact, then everything makes sense. But if it's a sealed object, the song penetrating the isolation suggests it's far from ordinary. Aljer gathered his thoughts, brushed his teeth, and lay down on the bed. He soon fell asleep and entered a dream. After an indeterminate length of time, Aljer suddenly became aware of some clarity, vaguely knowing he was dreaming, yet with a conscious awareness of his surroundings. He found the deep blue sea rippling above, layer upon layer, merging seamlessly so that the sky was entirely out of sight. Before him stood a magnificent, grand, dark, and somber palace seemingly composed entirely of coral. Without thinking, Aljer walked toward it and entered through the open doors. Inside, towering coral columns rose to support an exaggerated dome, while walls and ceilings were adorned with frescoes depicting storms in their most terrifying forms. At the far end, beyond a hundred meters, a seat set upon nine steps, embellished with sapphires, emeralds, and smooth pearls, stood out strikingly. Aljer glanced toward it, and there sat a woman dressed in a rich yet simple, flowing gown. Her hair was dark and lustrous, coiled into a high chignon, with soft, refined contours and delicate features—beauty that had never been diminished by the passage of time. She maintained a composed, distant expression, with slightly pointed ears and deep brown eyes, gazing down upon Aljer with quiet authority. In her hands, she was gently handling a golden wine cup adorned with intricate patterns. As Aljere was about to speak, a surge of silver light erupted in her eyes—so bright it seemed as though lightning had burst forth, piercing through the dream! Huff... Aljere sat up, instinctively drawing a deep breath, feeling the dream both hazy and vivid at the same time. Among the hazy elements—her face, the details of the murals, and the exact appearance of the coral palace—what stood out clearly were her eyes, glowing with lightning-like brilliance, and her slightly pointed ears. Could she be an upper-tier elf? Her relics, resonating with the influence of the Blood Moon, had harmonized with my unique "Sea Singer" trait, thus affecting my dreams? Aljere made these observations while casually considering which specific item might have been responsible. Given his relatively modest status and limited knowledge of seals and magical artifacts, though he possessed some insights others were unaware of, he quickly identified a clear candidate: "Highshinam, the one associated with the 'Great Calamity'?" "The Book of Catastrophes He left behind should have already reached Pasu Island... 'After completing my duties and leaving here, I'll seek out the 'Fool' to inquire whether anything from the just-occurred events might have been overlooked or negatively affected...'—Aljer dared not utter the尊name of 'Fool' even once in the headquarters of the Storm Church. After dawn, he showed no signs of disturbance, and under the guidance of his servants, entered a room furnished with a long table to receive questions from three 'Deputy Penitents' serving as officers. Among these three officers, only one had deep blue hair. This was not a change that necessarily occurred upon consuming the 'Seafarer's' magical potion, though it tended to be strongly inherited—much like the elves, who traditionally had black hair, but in modern times, most mixed-blood descendants of elves now have blue hair." Aljer sat at the head of the long table and methodically answered the clerks' questions, recounting in detail what he had done at sea, what he planned to do, and both his successes and failures. This would be compared with the accounts of the other crew members to ensure no one was fabricating stories. Toward the end of his report, the clerk with the deep blue hair glanced at Aljer and, in a thick, resonant voice, asked, "Have you met Cadrya, the 'Star Admiral'?" Not just met—Aljer was nearly startled. After a moment's thought, he replied, "I've seen her at the pirate assembly." The clerk didn't press further on that point but simply stated, "Make it your priority to meet her and investigate Germain Spalro's situation with her." So that was it—because Germain had hunted the 'Blood Admiral'? Aljer feigned confusion and asked, "What exactly has Germain Spalro done?" "The bearded steward, clearly exasperated, said, 'We almost destroyed Bayam! Well, that's not something you're supposed to know—just remember this: Germán Sparo is an extremely dangerous man, backed by a secret, sinister organization that includes half-gods and is in direct opposition to the Rose School!' Almost destroyed Bayam? An organization with half-gods? Opposing the Rose School? Aljé deliberately displayed his surprise. He had assumed Germán's elevated status stemmed solely from his hunt of the 'Champion of Blood,' Senyor—yet the situation was far more complex and dramatic than he had imagined! What exactly had Germán Sparo done? I should stop by Bayam and examine the scene firsthand. Also, isn't our arch-rival the Aurora Society? Isn't Master 'The Fool' consistently targeting 'The True Creator'? How has this evolved—no, how has it grown—to include yet another rival, the Rose School? Aljé murmured these thoughts to himself." As for the fact that Tarot has half-divine qualities, he found it entirely natural—even logical: how could a servant of an ancient being lack half-divine status? Moreover, the mysterious, silent death of "Storm Commander" Zhilinges had already convinced him that the "Fool" possessed a high-ranking companion. Fortunately, my meeting with Germain was discreet; otherwise, things would have become complicated... Aljere listened quietly without asking questions, as usual, accepted the assignment, and then rose to leave the room. She is in her early forties, her hair neatly pinned, with ordinary features but a polished, composed air. Wearing a long dress in a blend of black and white—distinct from a typical maid's attire—she sports a pair of gold-framed glasses. From records and personal interviews, Klein learned that she was born in the East District and a devoted follower of the Night Goddess. At age fifteen, she enrolled in a charitable training program sponsored by the church and became a competent maid. Over more than a decade of steady effort, bolstered by free courses at the evening school, she rose from the lowest rank of maid to head maid in a wealthy household, and then, following the household's daughter into marriage, assumed the role of housekeeper until financial difficulties arose, at which point she had to leave. She thus brings extensive experience in household management. Immediately after signing the contract and receiving a cash payment of 1,000 pounds from Dowson Thénardier at the beginning of this month, she began to argue with the butler, Walter, over whether to purchase or rent the carriage. In her view, since Mr. Thénardier's goal was to enter high society, move to the West End, or even the Queen's District, his carriage absolutely needed to be specially customized to maintain his dignity. Renting a premium carriage for a year beforehand—before things settled into promise—and then customizing it later would be a more sensible choice: neither wasteful nor unkind. She convinced Walter, and of course also convinced Klein, as the annual rental for a premium carriage including horses amounted to just 88 pounds, and for a two-wheeled carriage only 42 pounds. Indeed, someone who strictly managed household expenses must surely be skilled at comparison and calculation. Klein was deeply moved, smiled warmly at Tatyana, and stepped through the grand doors of the three-story building. This would be the stage for the wealthy Dowager Thénardier's next chapter.