Only after the pressure had eased did Caine casually pull a chair over and place it by the door, facing the "King of the Five Seas," Nast, across a grand hall. Though Nast, towering over 1.90 meters, sat on a black raised platform in a commanding posture, Caine held his own ground and even resecured his tall hat with a graceful gesture. After a brief silence, Nast, whose title was that of a formal Count of White Maple, spoke with a steady, authoritative tone: "Give me a reason to answer your questions." Caine, his slender frame relaxed against the backrest, replied: "The reason is that, when it comes time for you to trade with me, you won't have to hear anything like that." Nast's deep brown eyes flashed with a subtle red glow before he added: "I know most of the active saints in this world, but you're not among them." Caine stroked the feathers of his mask covering his face, smiled, and instead of answering, asked: "Have you ever seen Chalatu?" "I once saw Him twice in the court of Emperor Roscel and have had the opportunity to meet many members of the Monastic Order." The "King of the Five Seas," Nast, replied in a straightforward yet authoritative tone. Many members of the Monastic Order... I'll have to introduce them all to one another, thought Caine, muttering to himself. He then smiled and said, "I've also met with Chalatu." Nast raised his hand to stroke his short black beard; the already imposing figure seemed to grow more substantial, pressing down on the cabin with a sense of solemnity that dimmed the light and deepened the atmosphere. After a few seconds, he looked down at Caine with the demeanor of one in command. "My impression of Emperor Roscel is simple: 'No one is more suited to be the 'Black Emperor' than He.' " He did not elaborate on the specific meaning or reference of the 'Black Emperor,' nor did he pause to ensure that the half-god across from him understood. So it is... From the "King of the Five Seas'" words, although the Emperor appears in his journal to have only finally resolved, in his later years, to pursue the path of the "Black Emperor" and make corresponding preparations, in reality, he had already developed a certain awareness and inclination long before—gradually manifesting over time, with many strategic moves already laid out in advance. Klein thought this with a sudden clarity. He believed that the "King of the Five Seas," Nastor, must have formed a similar understanding of the Emperor Rosel. After all, they had only met a few times. So he turned to ask: "In his later years, did the Emperor ever assign you or your father any secret tasks?" Nastor's pointed crown atop his head swayed slightly, and he spoke in a low, resonant tone: "Someone once asked me the very same question." Klein smiled and boldly speculated: "Berenadé?" "Yes," Nastor said, placing his hands on either side of the iron-black throne. "At that time, she was still quite young and not yet mature—she had never thought of asking such a question." What secret could be entrusted to me and my father—given the stature and standing of the late Emperor Roscel—than for Him Himself to devise and act upon in secret? This is saying that I, just like Bernadette back then, am still immature. Kline sighed and smiled. "For those who care about such matters, even a small hope is not something they'd want to let go." That is precisely why he used magic to conceal the passenger ship and still came to see the "King of the Five Seas." He sought clues to the gate of light above the gray mist in the real world. To identify the third traveler and to deeply investigate the life of Emperor Roscel—these were inevitable steps. The King of the Five Seas, Nast, had his dark red glow in his eyes contract and then expand again. "What is your relationship with Emperor Roscel?" Kline paused and sighed. "We could say we're old friends. After all, on that mysterious light gate, the silk cocoons corresponding to the two of them—though not necessarily side by side—were only separated by a single obstacle, hanging together for hundreds or even thousands of years. This was a real-world connection, while psychologically, having read so many of the Great Emperors' diaries, Caine had long unconsciously regarded the other as a true native, sharing the same emotional roots and sense of identity. Nastar gazed at the half-god seated by the doorway, slender as a book, then shifted his gaze and spoke softly, "Is there anything else you'd like to ask?" "The only thing that strikes me as odd is that every time I meet with Him, He stands before the large window on the western side, gazing toward the distance—this has happened in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. Yet that room is not the only one with a row of large windows." "West... the distance... the misty sea?" Kline spoke as if to himself, seeking confirmation. He recalled the mysterious primordial island mentioned in the Great Emperor's journal, and the deep hidden somewhere within the misty sea. "Lord Nast, the Five-Sea King, nodded gently. "This is also my speculation." Inhaling deeply, Kline exhaled silently, then stood up and said, "I've finished my questions—apologies for my unexpected visit." "Count, in what area of business might I be of assistance?" This was his fulfillment of the promise he had just made. "The King of the Five Seas," Nast, paused for two seconds, said, "Find me the 'Card of Desecration' that corresponds to the 'Black Emperor.'" For a brief moment, Caine suspected that the pirate king was testing him, but then realized it was unlikely that an unknown half-god would be linked to the holder of the 'Card of Desecration,' and thus smiled, saying, "I'll do my best. However, the question I just posed isn't worth a single 'Card of Desecration.' If I obtain it, I'll trade with you item by item using its contents—though I might only be able to offer clues about the card." Nast ran his fingers along the iron-black arms of his throne, responding evenly, "That's settled." Caine removed his hat once more, bowed, and then opened the door, stepping back onto the deck. Under the watchful eyes of Viscount Berd Mastan and others, he raised both arms. His body contracted swiftly, and the feathers on his facial mask unfolded, transforming him into a fully formed red-headed harrier in just a few seconds. The red-headed harrier immediately flapped its wings and soared diagonally into the dim, stormy weather, vanishing from the sight of the pirates aboard the "Black Emperor." That's what a half-god is like... Berd Marstane gazed upward, filled with admiration. Though at Sequence 5, the next step would bring increasing tendencies toward frenzy and instability, making a failed ascension all but likely, the title of "half-god" remained alluring—because once achieved, it would grant divine status, fundamentally altering the essence of life, elevating both lifespan and capabilities far beyond human limits, placing the individual in a realm of distinction. Inside the steam-and-sail hybrid passenger ship, Caine relinquished control of the red-headed harrier, allowing it to sink unnoticed into the sea, becoming food for the fish. At this very moment, the passengers on the passenger ship are highly alert, as the "Black Emperor" is approaching. In fact, this event was due to happen just a few minutes ago, yet for some reason, the "Black Emperor" ignored the passenger ship and moved straight ahead, while the passenger ship failed to break free and instead circled around it, maintaining a distance of several hundred meters. This unusual situation persisted for a while before finally ending, with the two ships now only a few dozen meters apart. The "Black Emperor" then passed the passenger ship from the side and entered the night atmosphere woven by wind and rain, never to return. The passengers and crew stood in stunned silence, only realizing after several minutes that the "Black Emperor" had departed—without attempting to seize or plunder. Some passengers cheered, others wept, some collapsed weakly, surrendering to relief, while only a few remained alert, puzzled by what had just happened, yet unable to reconcile all the details—only able to console themselves: "The *Black Emperor* must have completed a successful raid. After all, this is a passenger ship, not a cargo vessel, so the other side didn't take notice." As waves of relief spread throughout the ship, Dain Tang-Tse, in the form of a man resembling Crane, turned his gaze toward the north. While the "King of Five Seas," Nast, whom he had only met a few times, was more familiar with the Emperor than Nast was, another figure stood out: the "Mysterious Queen," Bernadette! Recently, Bernadette, also a pirate sovereign, had been frequently appearing in Bécarland. "Once we return to Bécarland, I'll have the *Star General* reach out to the *Mysterious Queen* and arrange to see her again soon," Crane said, then turned his gaze away, drew the curtains, and lay back on the bed. ……… The waters around the Rothesdale Islands, aboard the "Future." At last, Gardeleia, the "Star Sovereign," received a reply from the "Mysterious Queen," Bernadette. She had no idea when the invisible messenger had arrived—yet that did not dampen her joy. Unfolding the envelope and spreading the letter, Gardeleia eagerly read the first line beneath the heading: "Indeed, he is a descendant of Charles..." Such a direct descendant of the great King Rosel! He could no longer be allowed to mingle with the followers of the "Primordial Moon"—he must be brought aboard the "Future." Gardeleia thought this over, barely nodding her head. Then, recalling the persistent temperament and character of the artisan Charles-Fou, she felt a sense of duty and responsibility to guide and shape him. After a brief pause, she walked to the window of the captain's cabin and looked out beyond. After a moment of searching, her eyes settled on Frank Lee, seated against the side of the hull and chewing on mushrooms. "Frank," she called out in her usual tone. Frank, who had been lost in thought, immediately snapped back to attention: "Captain, is there something I can do?" Gardelia spoke seriously: "You'll have an experimental assistant assigned to you shortly." Frank paused slightly, then broke into a pure, genuine smile: "Excellent!"