When he heard the layered, overlapping requests, it was due to the time difference that Caine was attending a dinner party at his friend Monette's home in Portland. The evening began at 5:30 PM and could last until 7:30 or even 8:00 PM, as there were over a dozen courses—appetizers, soup, side dishes, main courses, starches, vegetables, fruits, and desserts—served sequentially by the maids, who would present them one after another, then remove and replace them without ever leaving the table unattended. Between each course, guests were encouraged to chat, and gentlemen were expected to engage in conversation with the woman seated to their right. The event was quite elaborate and exhausting—every detail, including which course to pair with which wine, had to be carefully managed. Nevertheless, the flavors were quite good. While the roasted lamb was being removed and replaced, Caine excused himself to the woman on his right, Wilhelmina, and said, "I'm sorry, I'll go to the restroom." He then stood up, placed his right hand gently over his chest, slightly bent forward, and bowed to the other guests before stepping away from the table and heading up to Step inside, lock the door behind them, and immediately take four paces backward, arriving upon the gray mist. "...The Brother of the Inverted Man has prayed that I secure the goodwill of the Obunis sea monster, either by gathering fifteen pages from the Roxel diary or by assisting him with a task of equal value. His progress is quite steady..." Klein sat in the position of the Fool, radiating spiritual presence, and reached out to touch the deep crimson star that expanded and contracted continuously. After a moment's thought, he said: "Investigate all Fasak colonels who participated in the naval battle of Konotero in 1338." As a specialist in historical matters, upon learning from the spirit of the 'Interrogator' that he died in 1338 at sea, slain by Fasak forces, Klein immediately identified the specific naval engagement. Throughout the year 1338, relations between Roon and Fasak were strained, with frequent tensions, yet only one battle resulted in the death of a colonel—namely, the naval engagement that took place in eastern Baylant, Konotero." And surely, among a Fasak fleet, the number of colonels wouldn't be very large! ........ In the deep, dark waters, Algier Wilson saw an endless expanse of gray-white mist and heard the response from the "Tradesman." Investigate all the colonels of the Fasak Empire who participated in the Konoto Sea Battle in the year 1338... Why is the "Tradesman" so interested in these minor figures? Is there some vast secret hidden within this? Algier was struck by this thought and immediately agreed without hesitation: "Your will is my will." Though this task was challenging and complex, it was not particularly dangerous—it fell squarely within the range of what he could currently endure. After responding, Algier once again heard the low, resonant voice of the "Tradesman": "You may now return to the vicinity of your destination." So simple? Indeed, the "Tradesman" is no less remarkable! Once wielding authority, He has surpassed even Kavituvwa in resemblance to a sea deity, his power now extending far beyond the Roshde Islands. Alger was delighted, offered his sincere thanks, then bent his back and spread his legs, turning downward and diving once more. Just a few minutes later, he returned to the side of the underwater volcano, where he observed the turbulent waters swirling around the vast, dark cavern, the tentacles waving vigorously and still not settling. Though Alger believed Mr. The Fool to be powerful and terrifying—a once-dormant ancient deity now awakening—he instinctively grew cautious upon seeing this scene, approaching with careful deliberation. He initially suspected that the countless tentacles waving above were welcoming him. At that moment, however, on the gray mist above, holding the "Rod of the Sea God," Caine furrowed his brows. "To reject communication with the Sea God, even to detest this sensation, unwilling to draw near…" he murmured, slightly struggling. His attempt to establish connection through the influence of the priest had failed! For some reason, the Obunis sea monster strongly resists its exceptional ability to approach and connect with marine life. Through the vigorous, writhing movements of its massive tentacles in the prayer scene, Kline faintly sensed the creature's anger—it desired to tear apart any living being that dared to draw near. "Mr. The Hangman has passed, passed..." Kline's lips moved slightly, deciding to try a different approach. He raised the "Staff of the Sea God" slightly, causing the jade-blue gemstones on its surface to glow one after another, emitting a bright, radiant light! Then, he transmitted the fierce intensity of "The Lightning Storm" to the Obunis sea monster, applying it directly to its form. The massive tentacles that had previously stirred the seabed suddenly froze and then dropped down, settling firmly to the ground. Within the dark, cavernous mountain chamber, countless green light spots began to appear. From the gurgling sounds that made one's teeth ache, a terrifying creature emerged—its massive, sinuous black body twisted and sprawling, bearing three heads, each adorned with dozens of eyes that glowed a vibrant green on their own. The creature then lowered itself, behaving with docility, as if a well-trained hunting dog. "Indeed, communication requires finesse," Klein nodded in satisfaction, once again employing his ability to connect with marine life through spiritual exchange, prompting all three of the sea monster's heads to open their mouths simultaneously. This instantly created three deep, cavernous openings before Aljere's eyes—each wide enough to accommodate a full sailing vessel. Praising the "Fool"… Aljere, gazing up at the magnificent scene, murmured to himself. He wasted no time, selecting the central head and swiftly swimming into it. Rapidly unfolding before Aljer's eyes was a winding, curving tunnel whose walls were composed of flesh, spacious enough to match the foredeck of the "Azure Avenger." Gurgling, the current surged forward, carrying Aljer into the depths. Seizing the moment, he plunged in. Suddenly, he felt as though he had returned to the very beginning of his days as a seafarer, tossed about by waves, dizzy and struggling to maintain his balance. Once Aljer employed his extraordinary ability and stabilized himself, he found himself no longer within the flesh tunnel, but in a vast, dark, lightless expanse. Beneath his feet, a viscous sensation lingered, and a strong, briny odor filled the air around him. Just one second later, Aljer realized that the liquid was beginning to corrode him, so he quickly formed a layer of water film around himself, allowing it to expand and swell into a transparent sphere. Knowing he had entered deep within Obunis's body, he immediately drew forth the bottles and jars he had prepared in advance, beginning to concoct his magical remedies. One after another, supplementary materials were carefully dropped into the wide-mouthed metal bottle, where they stirred and blended into a deep blue liquid. Then, with gentle care, Aljé placed inside a translucent "jellyfish" resembling a sea of azure waters. Suddenly, the distant, flowing song intensified, then settled again, and the liquid within the bottle remained perfectly still—free of ripples or bubbles—deep and serene, like the ocean just before a storm. Aljé calmed his mind, practiced meditation, and only then picked up the bottle, sipping the "Ocean Singer" elixir. The cool, numbing liquid slid down his esophagus, into his stomach, and in an astonishing manner, instantly diffused throughout every cell of his body. At that moment, Aljé faintly heard countless voices—coming from every living being across the entire sea—but many were dampened by the body of the Obunis sea monster, leaving only somewhat blurred echoes. Thump. Thump. Thump. Aljer felt his heart pounding violently, spilling blood, spirit, and sound waves that transformed his vocal cords and soul-body. He could not help but open his mouth, emitting a deep, resonant sigh. Within that sigh, he sensed his spiritual essence being slightly torn apart, spreading outward as sound waves—first forming patchy scales on his skin, then pulling out long strips of flesh that became flexible, waving appendages. The sound waves carried the fragments of his spirit further, reaching the mucous inside the Obunis sea monster’s abdomen, where they unexpectedly bounced back and re-entered Aljer’s body. For a moment, his near-collapse stabilized, and seizing the opportunity, he sang with confidence, even if it meant facing some embarrassment, to release all the invisible sound waves pressing against his internal limits. Raw, chaotic, off-key, the vocal tones carried a heavy-metal quality, spreading out in concentric waves, interwoven with numerous fragments of spiritual essence—only to be bounced back inwards by the viscous fluid inside Obunis' sea monster's belly. During this process, Aljer was much like the raw materials within a sonic furnace, gradually shaped and refined. Finally, he regained full control over his body, initially calming the surging spiritual energy radiating outward. At last, Aljer closed his eyes, a smile spreading across his face that could not be contained. He had achieved his long-anticipated initial goal—he had been elevated to the rank of "Sea Singer"! A more profound grasp of lightning, a stronger, more comprehensive, and enduring talent for underwater activities, and the ability to influence targets through song—all of which manifest in various ways depending on the individual's unique traits. Some use their beautiful singing to disrupt an enemy's spirit, inducing dizziness or mental confusion, or enhancing their own explosive power; others mimic thunder, creating a sense of awe and awe-struck astonishment in their listeners; while still others rely on dissonant, unappealing melodies to drive enemies into frustration and mental instability. Aljer observed his own condition and found his expression slightly odd. He soon set aside these thoughts, gathered his belongings, and swam against the current to the mouth of Obunis the sea monster, gently tapping the already closed jaws. The mouth slowly opened and then roared, expelling everything within it. Instantly, Aljer felt as though he had been lifted into the air, nearly colliding with a shark. After a flurry of activity, he broke the surface and swam toward the location of the "Blue Avenger." Only when he saw the ghostly ship come into view did he truly breathe easier. —— One of Algren's earlier concerns had been that, when he went on his promotion, the "Blue Avenger" suddenly developed an anomaly. While a few hours would have been manageable, the world was always full of surprises. ………… Returning to the real world, thanked once again by Mr. The Hanging Man, Caine washed his hands, dried them, and left the bathroom, heading toward the dining room. As the aroma of the food once again reached his nose, he took a slow, steady breath, smiled, and sat down at his usual place, offering a polite greeting as he settled in. The banquet had now reached the dessert course. It seems I’ve been lingering a bit in the restroom… I hope there’s no lingering reputation about Doane Thénardier’s constipation from today… Klein murmured softly to himself, then smiled warmly at the Mrs. Willis on his right. “When I was younger, I tried many unusual dishes on the Southern Continent. One of them was a fruit called Tenet tree marmalade—it tasted very much like light cream, just like the desserts we enjoy now.” He gently explained the reason for his delayed return: that his digestive system had been weakened during his youth. ps: Double period, please—request a guaranteed monthly pass! ps: Recommend a book—*A Journey Through Classics*. When world classics are infused with web novel DNA, will you still be able to escape the invitation to relive the cycle?