Well, the audience's self-regulation abilities are indeed quite strong... Klein murmured under his breath, glanced at the golden retriever on the bicycle seat, and then examined the bike, which differed somewhat from the typical ones on the street, before casually asking, "Is this a newly designed, women-specific bicycle?" "What do you mean, women-specific? If you'd like to ride it, you can certainly do so," Audrey replied with a smile. "I just told the bicycle company to consider the needs of different customer groups. This is one of their latest designs, still in the prototype stage—haven't entered mass production yet—so I'm going to give it a try and offer some feedback." "That's a wonderful idea," Klein said, smiling, then thoughtfully added, "Do you know the owner of the Beckland Bicycle Company?" "Of course," Audrey responded, her eyes slightly crinkled. "I'm actually one of the principal shareholders of the Beckland Bicycle Company." "The main shareholders... I've completely forgotten about this... She managed to succeed after all. Klein seemed to grasp something, slightly lifting the corner of his mouth and shaking his head with a touch of self-mockery: 'Ah, so that's it—my imagination still isn't quite up to par.' 'How was the ride? What did you think?' Audrey held the handlebars of the bicycle, her eyes shifting as she recalled her thoughts: 'Excellent, very suitable for women.' Noble lady, you didn't say that just a moment ago... Klein raised an eyebrow, but didn't interrupt the young woman across from him. Audrey smiled again and continued: "For me, it helps me calm my mind and release stress—just like riding a horse. But riding a horse requires special clothing, and you have to go to a stable or to the countryside. Simply staying at home or walking around the streets isn't enough to let the horses truly gallop; there's a missing sense of movement. With a bicycle, however, there's no such limitation. I can reach narrow alleys that horse-drawn carriages can't access, and thus experience entirely different views. Just now, as I was cycling past a house, I saw a few flowers still in bloom in their garden, and that made me feel especially joyful. As for meeting other cyclists, I'm also genuinely happy to see them. They're living with determination and hope, busy and hurried, yet never feeling numb. Well, don't laugh at me—though I know you're going to say that people who can afford a bicycle are certainly not at the very bottom of society. I'm just genuinely happy to see them." "Hope, hope one day I can ride by every street in Beckland." Klein listened quietly, his mood gradually brightening. As the "Justice" lady described it, he seemed to already see that scene unfolding before him—a small, humble change he had brought to this world. He smiled and said, "No, I don't have any objections. This sounds very promising. This is exactly the image I hope to see in Beckland—more of it, the better. I used to have some doubts about certain things, but now those seem to have faded away." He then pointed to the main entrance of the "Rune Charitable Scholarship Fund" at 22 Pesfeir Street. "Go in. It looks like it's going to rain soon." "Alright, I'll go and park," Audrey said. She dismounted her bicycle, pushed it, and walked with her golden retriever toward the back entrance. There are designated bicycle parking spots indoors, protected from rain—within organizations like the "Lun Charity Scholarship Fund," more and more staff who frequently travel outside are increasingly riding bicycles. Of course, no one dares to rely on this mode of transport to reach the eastern district, where everything could be stolen. As they approached the back door, the golden retriever Suzy jumped off her bicycle and glanced back at the spot where she had just parked, expressing a slight sense of curiosity: "Audrey, when Monsieur Thaunès heard you were one of the principal shareholders of the bicycle company, his tone was somewhat complex. But I can't quite decipher the true meaning behind it." Audrey bit her lower lip and offered a light laugh. "I recall hearing something earlier—Mr. Thaunès was one of the competitors who had bid for shares in the bicycle company alongside Hiber." "I see!" Suzy beamed with clear satisfaction, pleased with the accuracy of her observation. At the "Luon Charitable Scholarship Fund," Sir Klein politely waited for Miss Audrey to return with her remarkable canine companion, and they walked together up to the second floor. At that moment, a staff member approached Miss Audrey and said, "Madam Trustee, Professor Portland Monmote of the Beckland University is awaiting you in the reception room." "Why has Professor Monmote come?" Audrey asked, slightly surprised. The staff member first greeted Mr. Daven Tancé, the Trustee, and then replied, "He didn't say anything specific." Before the staff member had finished speaking, Professor Portland Monmote, tall and with a rosy complexion, stepped out of the reception room, gently brushing his white hair. He bowed, placing a hand to his chest and said, "Madam Audrey, please forgive my sudden visit." In Luon, after one has become acquainted, one refers to noble ladies by their surname and to young ladies by their given name. "It is my pleasure," Audrey replied with graciousness. Portland. Monmunt, a more academically focused principal, said nothing but sincere praise or small talk, simply smiling directly: "Here's the idea—I'd like to establish a new mechanical laboratory at the technical university, aimed at inventing and promoting various mechanical devices that benefit industry and daily life. Would you be interested in making a donation, or perhaps investing? Hah, Doun, what do you think? Any interest in collaboration? Don't worry—I'll certainly secure funding from the Higher Education Commission." A very sound idea, certainly for Beckland—but what about the rest of the kingdom? The entire realm might soon find itself in turmoil... After hearing Monmunt's words, Cline found himself momentarily stunned. Audrey nodded slightly, smiling and saying: "It sounds very promising, but I'd like to see more detailed materials—this is both my responsibility and your responsibility." "I share that same thought," Cline added. Portland. Monmote smiled warmly. "No problem—I'll go back and sort out a few things for you."... On the Misty Sea, aboard the "Golden Dream." Germán Sparrow had suddenly taken an interest in Anderson—what did that mean? And what exactly did he mean by gathering items related to "The Commander of the Ill"? Many pirates had indeed been wildly pursuing such things, yet none had ever succeeded. Daniz, upon receiving Germán Sparrow's message, was filled with growing confusion. Yet no matter how puzzled he was, he still sincerely and carefully thanked the "Fool." Then he set down his fishing rod, turned, and walked into the cabin, making his way to the room where Anderson was staying. With a smooth motion—knocking and entering—he stood at the doorway, arms folded, facing Anderson, who was painting an oil portrait. "How's the thing in your stomach doing?" Daniz asked. Anderson lowered his brush, glanced at Daniz, and replied in a serious tone: "It's already calling me 'Dad.'" “….” Danyz unconsciously stepped back two paces. Anderson immediately regained his ease, smiling and saying, "Just a joke—quite good. Your captain has both vision and initiative. The only issue is that he keeps failing too often." "Actually, my insides have been isolated. For a long time now, they won't affect me at all." He said while rubbing his abdomen. Danyz raised an eyebrow, curious, asking, "So they used to affect you?" Anderson studied Danyz carefully. "You should have heard of certain exceptional properties or potions—when they come into prolonged contact with objects, they seep into them, transforming them into unusable seals. The human body is merely a slightly more special kind of object. Sometimes, I wonder if you've actually acquired your exceptional abilities not through ingestion, but through prolonged contact with potions—so much so that your mind might even be corroding. "Back in the past, Daniz would have been furious, but now he merely exhaled, "So to put it plainly, if you don't isolate yourself, that thing inside you will gradually seep through and transform you—down to your mind?" Anderson listened with growing admiration, "Excellent. Keep going, don't stop. I think you're ready for a promotion to Tier 6. By the way, you still handle fires quite well." Daniz responded with slight disdain, "I just need a bit more material." Recalling Gelman Sparo's instructions, he hesitated and added, "What about after isolation—how do we handle it?" Anderson stroked the first button of his shirt and chuckled, "Two options: first, enlist the help of semi-gods like the 'Unshadowed' to gradually draw out that substance. Your captain has connections in that regard. The only issue is, as that substance is drawn out, my own exceptional traits might come along with it, potentially causing me to regress in rank—or even revert to being a regular." "The second approach would be to secure the elixir recipe of the 'Iron Knight,' prepare the corresponding rituals and supporting materials, and see if we can find an opportunity to actively embrace and integrate it, leveraging it to become half-divine." "That sounds quite risky," Danius offered a balanced assessment of the latter approach. Anderson's smile grew a bit more evident: "Indeed, it's risky—I'm even uncertain whether it's feasible at all. "But don't you find something fascinating and challenging in something so demanding? At least, this one aligns better with my aesthetic than the first option." Danius shook his head seriously: "I don't find it interesting at all." He then asked, half-challenging, half-exploring: "Didn't you have quite a few bequests, or assets, somewhere? I can arrange for your ashes to be returned to you." Anderson remained unfazed, nodded with earnestness: "You might consider simply eating my ashes when the time comes." "...Why is this man completely unprovoked? Daniz's mouth twitched slightly, and he decided to give up on the matter, heading instead to the captain to find out how he could obtain items related to 'the illness of the journey.' ...