Early in the morning, at No. 160 Berkland Street. Caine rose, brushed his teeth, and didn't immediately open the door to go out. Instead, he stepped backward four paces, entering the gray mist. He then manifested the figure of "World" Germain Spalro, and had the dummy kneel in solemn prayer: "Sir, the Great Fool, please convey to Daniz two messages: 'I need him to provide information about Sibarant, preferably with accompanying network connections. And, ask him to remain vigilant regarding the Night Church's people.' ... On the 'Golden Dream,' Daniz, who had seen the sun earlier than any in Beckettland, sat in the shade, holding a mug of barley beer, shielding himself from the intense sunlight. Another fifteen minutes, and class would begin again, the captain said—'a qualified treasure hunter must master sufficient mathematical knowledge...' Oh, that's a pain, yet somehow also exciting. Dog-dung! Daniz rested one hand on his knee and took a slow, contented sip of beer. At that moment, a hazy figure loomed above everything, gazing down upon the world, while the voice of Germain Spalro echoed in his ears. Regarding Xibialan's records? Though we did venture there in search of the lost ancient treasures and met several indigenous tribes, that's about all we know—there's not much more to say... Truly troublesome, Germain Spalro has so many things going on! Daniz silently complained, then scanned the surroundings with cautious vigilance, fearing the madman might suddenly leap out. Taking a deep breath, resolved to grow stronger so as not to merely stand helplessly behind when the captain faced danger, Daniz struck his own face several times with the palm of his hand still holding the wine cup, then suddenly sprang to his feet. He immediately stepped out of the shadow, locating his companions—the "tin man," the "bucket man," and others—and asked who he should approach to learn more about Sibylan. The response was nearly unanimous: "Captain Edwina Edwards, or Anderson Hood, someone who previously attended the ship's evening fireside gatherings." Directly approaching the captain might raise suspicion—make her wonder if I had secrets, if I was secretly working for someone else. Yet Anderson had vanished without a trace! Good heavens! Danyz found himself at a loss, and involuntarily shifted his focus to the reminder from Germán Sparrow that followed: "Be careful of the people from the Night Church!" Danyz wasn't foolish—he knew that anything a passionate adventurer would highlight wasn't ordinary. Therefore, he believed it was likely that he would soon become a prime target for the Night Church, pursued relentlessly by the "Red Glove." Besides the Church of Night, the Church of the Storm, and the military forces are also targeting me, with each reportedly sending an entire team... Daniz's heart trembled as he thought of it. He soon settled into a mixture of bewilderment and bitterness, murmuring softly, "Yet I've done nothing at all..." Moreover, this effectively washes away certain suspicions, since it's hard to imagine that the "criminal" who had infiltrated behind the Charnes Gate not only failed to flee but instead returned grandly to the church, as if nothing had ever happened... Thanks to Emperor Rousel, thanks to him for not drawing from criminal psychology, for not pointing out that many high-IQ criminals tend to return to the scene of their crimes to admire their masterpieces and observe the helpless reactions of others... Underneath, Caine muttered a few comments to himself, lifted the cup of tea prepared by Richardson, and took a gentle sip. After moistening his throat, he glanced at his personal servant and asked casually, "What is your deepest impression of East Baryn and West Baryn?" Richardson, seated beside him, didn't ask for an explanation and thought for a moment before responding, "East Baryn is more stable, while West Baryn is more chaotic." "That's all for now," Richardson turned his head toward his employer and noticed that Daven Tancé had half-closed his eyes, clearly indicating he was ready to listen. He scratched behind his ear, carefully choosing his words: "Also, poverty, hunger, and beatings—well, originally, the people of Dong and Xi Bailang had worshipped the God of Death. Later, due to the favor shown by the goddesses, the 'Lord of Storms,' and the 'Eternal Sun,' those who converted to these major deities gained status and protection from the churches, leading to a widespread shift in faith. "However, as more and more people converted, that special status quickly faded, and many in the lower ranks began quietly revering the God of Death once again. "This phenomenon was especially evident in Xi Bailang, where the descendants of the God of Death consistently enjoyed strong support. "These are things my father would occasionally mention when he was drunk." Crayen listened quietly, neither interrupting Richardson's narrative nor asking further questions. Soon, the carriage arrived outside Saint Samuel's Church. Caine first admired the flock of white doves dancing across the square before entering the great chapel, where he removed his hat and, together with his cane, handed them to his personal servant, Richard. He took a seat at random and gazed into the dim light at the altar, at the scattered "stars" and the dark sigil of the saint, suddenly feeling uneasy, embarrassed, and uncertain. ——If his intuition was correct, since coming into contact with the Holy Sword and making his vow, he should have been under the watchful gaze of the goddess, each time entering the church and performing his ceremonial prayers, feeling as though he were parading in a new imperial gown. He didn't know quite what the goddess's attitude was, nor the Church's stance... Well, he would first test the waters. Caine clasped his hands together and placed them before his mouth and nose, appearing earnestly to pray. After seven or eight minutes, he rose slowly, walked toward the offering box, withdrew a fifty-guinea banknote, and solemnly deposited it inside. After completing all this, Caine turned toward the side chapel and pushed open the door. Unlike the earliest confession rooms, which were simply large wooden boxes with two doors, the modern chapel stood as an independent room, offering more space. The penitent and the listening bishop were separated by a wooden panel with seats assigned to each. Caine, using the faint light, sat down in the chair. Then, a rich, resonant voice from behind the panel spoke: "Would you like to share anything? The goddess watches over each of her faithful." Caine raised his right hand and, in a clockwise motion, tapped his chest four times. "Praise the goddess. I wish to confess. Two days ago, military officials came to me, hoping to sell a batch of rifles and artillery to Xibian, to add some fuel to the fires of unrest there." After he finished speaking, the bishop behind the panel remained silent for a moment, clearly startled by the news of the military arms being smuggled, momentarily at a loss for words. In the confessional room, an awkward silence immediately settled. Could this have startled you? Have you never encountered a confessor so frank and direct? If I told you I was plotting the murder of a half-god, and that I was actively avoiding the gaze of the "Tree of Desire" and the "True Maker," wouldn't you leap up? Klein muttered a few thoughts to himself and continued: "Back in my youth, I truly relished an adventurous life—seeking wealth in iron, blood, and fire. But now I find myself weary of such a life, and I long for a quiet, peaceful future. I should have declined, yet I could not overcome my inner greed. This opportunity was simply too appealing, and it would also help me establish my place in the upper echelons of Beckland society. I confess—I ultimately chose noise and chaos." Finally, the bishop behind the wooden panel responded, his voice soft: "Do not fear. Do not hesitate. A certain degree of greed is not sinful, as long as you do not harm the innocent or commit offenses recorded in the sacred texts. 'Act. Follow your heart, and make the choice you most desire. Only then will you gradually come to truly understand the doctrine and grasp the true meaning of those words. 'Do not hesitate. Remember this: at any time, sincere repentance and confession are worthy of praise and forgiveness. 'May the goddess protect you.' 'Hail the goddess!' Klein traced the crimson moon clockwise over his chest once more. This visit to Saint Samuel's Church was precisely to seek confession and inform the church of his intention to enter the arms trade. He wished to observe their reaction and thus gain insight into the goddess's stance toward himself. Without saying much more, Crane rose slowly, left the confessional, and walked down the corridor toward his personal servant, Richardstone. At that moment, he noticed a woman seated in the corner of the great chapel, dressed in a long black robe with a hood, her eyes painted blue and her cheeks rouged, possessing an otherworldly grace—precisely the former seer, Delys Simonne. Delys lifted her head and immediately recognized Doun. Thaddeus, her expression momentarily hazy, as though she had dozed off during prayer and entered a dream. Crane nodded slightly, with barely perceptible grace, offering a polite greeting, then took the hat and cane offered by Richardstone, walking out of the great chapel at a steady, unhurried pace. Delys lowered her gaze, fixed her eyes on the back of the chair before her, and slowly closed her eyes again. Upon stepping out of St. Samuel's Church, Crane paused at the edge of the steps, standing there for two seconds. All the doves on the grand plaza took off at once, shading the spectators from view. .................................. Within less than two hours, Leonard beneath the earth learned that Dowen Tangtes—previously investigated—was now set to become a merchant collaborating with the official authorities, smuggling military supplies to Xibayan. What exactly did he intend to do? Leonard furrowed his brows again, completely unable to grasp the intentions of this immortal being. ps: Thank you, loyal servant Wangcai, for your golden alliance contribution—this truly was a generous gesture. I'll return from my travels, adjust a bit, and then add an extra chapter as a token of appreciation.