On the Ship

As she was about to board the ship, Xio glanced back at the small coastal town on the island with a twinge of reluctance and melancholy. This had been her first adventure at sea, and every moment had been filled with excitement and thrill—truly unforgettable.

"The Dream Labyrinth Tower, fighting off various monsters together, exploring that island cave... any one of these stories would be enough to spark Fors' inspiration," Xio thought, feeling like she'd just lived through a childhood dream.

"What are you thinking about?" Ebner asked with a smile, noticing her lost in thought.

"That since I met you, I seem to be encountering all sorts of extraordinary things. My life hardly feels real anymore," Xio replied, not in complaint, but as she reflected on how this exhilarating life stood in stark contrast to her once-mundane work in arbitration.

Just wait... Once you join the Tarot Club as 'Judgment'—no, it won't even take that long. Once you and Fors meet Miss Justice, then things will really get exciting, Ebner thought wryly to himself. Suddenly investigating the descendants of evil gods, casually dealing with angelic kings, hunting demigods… by comparison, these adventures are child's play!

Outwardly, however, he simply smiled and asked, "Do you dislike the adventure?"

"Of course not..." Xio shook her head, her expression turning serious. "But in the end, I need to return to my former life... and investigate... the truth!"

"Don't push yourself too hard," Ebner advised. "Our journey isn't over yet. Who knows, you may even find all the ingredients for the Sheriff potion before we return to Backlund!"

The truth really isn't as important as strength, Ebner mused. If your enemy were a demigod, I'd have laid out the whole story for you without hesitation.

Xio, however, rallied her spirits a bit and replied, "I know Enmat Harbor well. I hardly think it qualifies as an adventure."

"Look at the ticket in your hand and read out the name of the ship we're taking. Then you'll see our adventure is far from over!" Ebner suggested with a meaningful smile, waving his ticket.

"'White Agate'... Captain Elland?" Xio's eyes widened at the name. In the Dream Labyrinth Tower, the main character in the biography she had read eventually became the captain of a ship called the White Agate.

"This is... Did that tower really affect people's fates? How else could there be such a coincidence?" Xio asked in disbelief.

"Most likely, when the tower gave you information that resonated with your aspirations, it did so by interpreting threads already connected to you. It wouldn't give you the biography of someone with no relation to you whatsoever," Ebner guessed. This theory aligned well with high-level powers of the White Tower pathway.

"That's why you said Miss Sherman and I might meet one day? You already had your suspicions then," Xio realized.

I didn't need to guess at all because you've already met her… Ebner replied inwardly but refrained from saying it aloud.

Xio pondered a moment before asking, "So what do you think I might gain from Captain Elland?"

"Perhaps clues to another ingredient you need, or... possibly information related to your father's case?" Ebner replied uncertainly. Captain Elland was likely an MI9 agent, though only a peripheral one, so he probably wouldn't be privy to high-level intelligence. Still, one could never be sure.

Xio's gaze brightened as she realized how close she was to uncovering something significant. "You really do know about my background, don't you?"

"Teacher called you 'Miss Dere' outright. How could I not have found out?" Ebner shrugged.

"I always had the feeling you knew all along!" Xio paused, then asked, "The injustice my father suffered... it's tied to the military, isn't it?"

While that wasn't entirely accurate, it was close enough… Ebner hesitated a moment, then responded with a question: "Why do you think that?"

"You've actually hinted at it several times," Xio explained, "but I didn't catch on because you were so indirect. Captain Elland's only affiliation is with the military, yet you suspect he may know something about my father's case!"

Seeing that Ebner didn't answer, she bit her lip and guessed, "Did my father discover the military's collusion with cultists in trafficking people, and that's why he was framed?"

Ebner, unwilling to deceive her, chose to stay silent in response.

Xio sighed in disappointment. "Looks like I guessed wrong... The truth must be more shocking than I thought if you can't even talk about it."

"It's because we're still too weak," Ebner finally said, adding after a pause, "Become a demigod. Only then will we have the power to make a difference."

"A demigod… only then will I be able to get involved?" Xio murmured, her face turning resolute.

---

The White Agate was a steamship but retained its sails. For a human, it was impressively large, with a capacity for several hundred passengers.

Stepping aboard, even before he'd entered the cabin, Ebner caught sight of a figure moving through the crowd toward him.

A familiar voice called out, "Ebner! I thought that was you from a distance! What brings you to Damir? Traveling with your 'shooting instructor' again? I see your odd habits haven't changed!"

That tone could only belong to one person: Aetris, the police officer's son Ebner knew well—though he'd run away from home and was no longer a policeman.

Noting Ebner's reserved reaction, Aetris' face fell, his enthusiasm fading. "If you're going to start lecturing me to go back home, then forget it!"

Ebner studied Aetris' appearance and general condition for a moment before commenting, "I met Miss Gwyn recently. She's doing far better than you!"

Leaving home with a plan and leaving home without one are worlds apart.

Although Aetris frowned at the remark, it somehow reinvigorated him. He scoffed, "One day, I'll be much stronger than her!"

"So, what are you doing now? Adventuring?" Ebner asked, genuinely curious.

"It's not that easy to be an adventurer… You need money for everything, even just buying a ticket!" Aetris grumbled. Then he pointed to a spot on the deck, saying, "Right now, I'm a temporary bodyguard, hired to escort my employer's family to Enmat Harbor."

Ebner looked over and saw eight people gathered together. Leading them was a man in his prime, with a healthy, ruddy face and a sharp gaze. Dressed in a double-breasted coat with a gold watch chain and a gemstone tie pin, he had the air of a gentleman.

Next to him was a lady in a wide-brimmed hat, her face obscured by a deep-blue veil, though her figure was striking.

In front of them stood three children—a ten-year-old boy in a well-fitted tailcoat with a hint of handsomeness despite his young age, and two younger girls, twins of about four or five, whose dimples showed whenever they laughed.

A trio of attendants—two maids with tanned complexions from the Southern Continent and a man carrying luggage—stood around the family, marking them as servants.

"Only you, protecting so many people?" Ebner asked offhandedly.

Aetris shrugged. "It's only a short trip... And there seem to be quite a few adventurers on board, most with decent reputations. Generally, safety shouldn't be an issue, as even common pirates would hesitate to raid this ship."

Ebner, who had also noticed the presence of many passengers dressed in simple yet practical attire, found himself intrigued. They wore crisp white shirts, black waistcoats, dark trousers, and sturdy leather boots, carrying themselves with sharp gazes and steady demeanors. He had initially assumed it was the latest overseas trend, but now it seemed they really were adventurers.

"Are you wondering why there are so many adventurers on this ship?" came a slightly mocking voice from behind Ebner.

Ebner frowned. How many self-inviting people am I going to meet today? Still, he turned to look.

The speaker was a young man with golden-blonde hair parted unevenly and serious, emerald-green eyes.

Once he had Ebner's attention, the young man broke into a warm smile and said, "I know why, but I'm not going to tell you!"

Perfect—a warm smile with the most provoking words… He has to be a Hunter, Ebner thought, feeling his patience grow.

Even Aetris, watching from the side, couldn't help but comment, "Man, you're even better at this than I am! Since setting off on this adventure, my temper's really improved."

"That's because you're still not strong enough... which limits your potential!" the young man replied with a grin.

Something about his appearance and attire struck a familiar note with Ebner, who mulled over the original Lord of the Mysteries novel and asked tentatively, "Anderson Hood?"

"Impressive, you actually recognized me!" Anderson looked slightly surprised, then grinned knowingly. "Well, I suppose it makes sense. After all, I'm the strongest Hunter below demigod level, so being recognized is only natural."

This is too much! If I could take you on, I'd give you a set of riddles to keep you busy for months! Ebner thought. Keeping a straight face, he nodded and replied, "If you're Anderson, then I have an idea of why there are so many adventurers here. Someone's gathering you all, aren't they?"

Analyzing the original storyline, it likely involved the exploration of the sea region where the Gods once waged war… though regrettably, all but Anderson would perish.