What happened? The sudden change left the inexperienced Hayuruh startled and momentarily at a loss, standing there for several seconds before finally pushing open the door and rushing inside. When she reached the blackened mouse beside her, the being who claimed to be half-god, half-human had already risen to his feet, speaking calmly: "You forgot to close the door." "Oh..." Hayuruh first looked bewildered, then realized that, in her eagerness to understand what had transpired, she had failed to close the door as she usually did, to keep the housemaid from peering in. Seeing that the mouse seemed unharmed, Hayuruh pressed her lips together and turned around, walking back toward the door. Throughout this, she didn't forget to glance up toward the full-length mirror, where everything appeared normal—no disturbances, no discrepancies—clearly reflecting the room's scene, with no one missing or anything out of place. With a soft click, Hayuruh asked proactively: "Teacher, what exactly happened just now?" The older mouse, its fur blackened, faced her sideways and gazed out the window, saying, "In the world of mysticism, wherever supernatural forces are involved, danger abounds—never to be taken lightly. Just now, I attempted a divination using the mirror, only to draw the attention of some unknown entity. After a fierce struggle, I managed to resolve the issue and prevent the danger from spreading throughout the entire neighborhood." The mouse spoke fluently, without a single hesitation or interruption, as though the lightning strike just moments before had been merely an ordinary occurrence. Ah... Then why didn't you mention this earlier? Sea-Yur couldn't help but furrow her brow, faintly detecting a mingling scent of burnt fur and decomposing oil in the air. Before she could respond, the mouse turned toward the balcony, almost facing away from her, and added, "My physical condition has been affected as a result, and I no longer feel suited to remain here. Otherwise, I'm certain the night would soon discover me." "Hmm. You found an opportunity to send me to your manor in the suburbs." Gazing at the mouse's blackened fur and inhaling the aroma of roasted meat, Hayouer remained silent for a few seconds, suppressing her curiosity before nodding. "Alright." "Are you satisfied with my handling?" The silver lines quickened and coalesced into a question. "Very good," said Cline, nodding gently. Considering the half-god's condition, he paused a moment, then asked cautiously, "Why didn't you simply kill her?" Arodos traced one silver word after another across the mirror's surface: "If we can't guarantee a definitive kill of a half-god, it's better not to push them to the brink. Once they cease to exert pressure and fully abandon themselves, they transform into incomplete, irrational mythic beings. Often, when their condition is off, they struggle to channel their strength—precisely because of their tendency to lose control. I, my true form is not here; I can only offer a minor punishment." As the final words emphasized, the waterlight on the full-length mirror flickered twice, and Cline suddenly felt as though some living creature were watching him intently. He didn't respond to that, merely nodded and said, "That's all for today. If there's anything else, I'll summon you again." "Very good, Master~" The mirror instantly reflected a simple sketch of a wave. After tidying up the room, Caine ended his nap and stepped out of the master bedroom. Not long after, the white-gloved butler Walter arrived at the third floor, entered the semi-open room with a large balcony, and addressed his employer, Daven Tantris: "Mr. Tantris, the church has sent a letter inviting you to serve as a council member of the 'Rune Charitable Scholarship Fund.' You may choose to take up the position directly, which comes with a respectable salary, or simply hold it as an honorary title, participating only in discussions and votes when major matters arise." "The church is running very efficiently—already has the structure in place... After some thought, Cline decided that since he had already donated over ten thousand pounds, it made sense to forgo a salary and commit himself more fully to the work. He carefully remarked, 'I'd like to keep this as a title of honor, but I'd also like to occasionally participate in the fund's actual operations, so that I can contribute additional support to its outreach and help reach even more people.' 'I'll make sure to convey your thoughts to the church,' Walter replied seriously. 'If you have no further questions or matters to discuss, I'd recommend you attend the formal establishment of the fund on Wednesday morning.' Cline lifted his porcelain cup and sipped his红茶. 'Agreed.' ... On the 'Golden Dream,' Daniz stood at the fore of the deck, gazing thoughtfully at the ever-rising blue waves of the sea. Having been urged once again by Gelmann Sparrow, he felt he could no longer delay—otherwise, he might very well become a wanted man at any moment." I absolutely don’t want to fall asleep and turn into a pile of cash… Be suspected, and be suspected! Daniz gritted his teeth, then with courage, stepped through the door and headed straight for the captain’s quarters. With no luck in finding Anderson Hood within a short time, he had to face off against the "Iceberg Admiral," Edwina Edwards. Upon arrival, Daniz took three deep breaths before raising his right hand to knock. Just then, Edwina’s voice came from inside: "Please come in." "...” Daniz paused his hand, managed a smile, and opened the door. He immediately saw his captain seated behind a desk, holding a deep-red absorbent steel pen, writing something down. "Captain, I have something I'd like to ask you," Daniz said, leaning in slightly and smiling. Edwina set down the pen, adjusted the collar of her shirt, whose lace was folded into floral patterns, and glanced at Daniz. "Would you like to know about Sibylan?" “Ah?” Daniz's expression instantly grew呆滞. Has the captain already been informed? Definitely those troublesome scoundrels—the "Iron Skin" and the "Water Bucket"—must have told him! I always knew that on this ship, no secret remained hidden, especially not from the captain! After a mental outburst of frustration, Daniz regained his smile: "Yes, as you know, I've always been deeply interested in history and geography." Edwenna's clear, spring-like eyes slightly shifted, and she looked out the window: "It's international politics." "Before Daniz could stiffen and find another excuse, she continued on her own: 'In Xibaran, there are Ruun-controlled cities, Inthys-owned valleys, indigenous generals supported by Ruun, tribes following Inthys' directives, and autonomous regional powers that maintain a balance between the two great nations—secretly linking with different factions of the Spirit Monastic Order, claiming or vying for descent from the God of Death. Additionally, the Rose School and the Vosak Empire wield strong influence in Xibaran. While no single power appears formally aligned with them, many generals and chieftains actually remain loyal to them.' "Ah?" Daniz stood there again. ... "Westbarr is truly chaotic. Even a moderately significant warlord can often seem to belong to no single faction, supported by no clear patron. The Rose School has strong influence here—this poses a significant risk for me. I took over Daniz's letter from the messenger, Renette Tini科尔, opened it on the spot, and quickly scanned through it. It made me feel that I should not personally visit Westbarr unless I accompanied Mr. Azk. PS: First publish, then revise.