The Pirate Gathering

The content of Stuart's Memoirs came to an abrupt halt, leaving Ebner with a newfound understanding of what Xio had felt after reading Elland's Biography.

"The most valuable part of this book is definitely that 'Mysticism Magister' incomplete formula at the end. Although it only contains one main ingredient, two auxiliary ingredients, and lacks the ritual, it's still incredibly valuable. At the very least, it lets me start gathering some of the materials ahead of time.

"Beyond that, Stuart's actions at the 'Polymath' level provide useful insights for my own 'acting'... I should continue to move toward 'solving problems with knowledge, gaining followers, and spreading the reputation of my scholarship so that more people come to me with their needs.'"

After mentally recording the book's contents, Ebner set it aside and picked up the ancient tome written on parchment.

Opening it, he saw a line of words in Intisian inscribed on the inside cover: Roselle's Dream Projection Ritual.

"Roselle's Dream Projection Ritual? Isn't that the secret technique that 'Admiral of Iceberg' mastered?" Ebner recalled that, in the original, Edwina used this technique to teach Danitz remotely from hundreds of nautical miles away.

"Hmm, it seems useful—not only for long-distance communication but also for teaching in the privacy of dreams...

"If I can master this, combining it with a 'spirit channeling ritual' and entering people's dreams as 'Doctor Strange' could create an effective 'acting' opportunity."

Gently stroking the pages of Roselle's Dream Projection Ritual, Ebner's mind buzzed with creative ideas, though he knew they'd need refinement.

There's no rush for now… Ebner activated his Pure White Eye and began recording the structure and principles of the ritual within the book.

Though a 'Polymath' without the ability to create or utilize true mystical techniques, his Pure White Eye allowed him to experience it in a preliminary way.

Half an hour later, after fully recording Roselle's Dream Projection Ritual, Ebner stood up, ready to leave the Dream Labyrinth Tower.

It wasn't that he lacked the motivation to continue, but he needed to reset after being in the tower for days. Secondly, the fifth level was sure to be more challenging, so he intended to wait until he learned a Sequence 5 offensive ability for maximum preparedness.

And lastly, he didn't want to attend the Tarot Gathering while inside the Dream Labyrinth Tower.

Although the tower likely couldn't block a call from the Sefirah Castle, with its depths sealing terrifying things, it was better to avoid any direct contact with the castle just to be safe.

If Mr. Fool were already a Miracle Invoker or even just a Marionettist, Ebner wouldn't be so concerned. But currently, Mr. Fool was far too vulnerable, and any unforeseen incident could have serious consequences.

Exiting the Dream Labyrinth Tower, Ebner returned to his room, washed up briefly, and slept until Monday morning, waking up refreshed.

While enjoying a local breakfast, the impeccably-dressed new "Artisan" Mr. Gaston came to visit. After brief pleasantries, he asked curiously:

"Did you pass the sixth level?"

"Yes." Ebner replied through a mouthful of the island's special grilled fish.

"Really?" Gaston looked surprised, but given the impressive feats this young man had achieved on the ninth, eighth, and seventh floors, it didn't seem impossible. After a pause, he asked, "Could you tell me about it?"

Ebner thought briefly; aside from Roselle's final words, the rest was mostly outdated information. So he nodded and shared his experience. Naturally, he didn't mention his foreknowledge of Roselle's exploits from the diaries, instead claiming he deduced the existence of a 'protagonist' and unraveled clues bit by bit to track him down.

After hearing the story, Gaston sighed deeply. "I see... it's the 'protagonist' who holds the key. But with the vast scenes beyond the sixth level, finding a supposed 'protagonist' won't be easy!"

After a moment of contemplation, he continued, "You mentioned earlier that you passed the test of a vampire viscount under Roselle… although he must not have gone all out, I'd say your combat abilities are quite solid for a Sequence 7?"

Unaware of Ebner's advancement, Gaston still assumed he was a 'Detective.'

"If I'm in the real world, I have quite a few Sequence 5-level abilities," Ebner replied, catching on to Gaston's implication, then asked with a smile after a sip of coffee, "It sounds like you have a job in mind that involves fighting?"

"Your observation and deduction skills are sharp as ever..." Gaston laughed self-deprecatingly before nodding. "Indeed, I do have a request."

"What is it?" Ebner asked, dabbing his mouth with a napkin.

"Not far from Damir, along a relatively hidden route, lies an island with an extinct volcano where a grand pirate gathering is soon to take place. The fleets of the four Pirate Kings and seven Pirate Generals are likely to attend... and as an 'Appraiser,' I've been invited.

"Ha, they don't yet know I've become a 'Machinery Specialist,' or 'Artisan'… and I intend to keep it that way, only discreetly informing trustworthy pirates like 'Admiral of the Iceberg' and 'Admiral of Stars.' A humble 'Appraiser' attracts less attention, while an 'Artisan' is a tempting target for the powerful pirate groups backed by organizations.

"So, back to the point, I'd like to hire you to ensure my safety during the pirate gathering. Rest assured, I'll pay a worthy reward."

With that, Mr. Gaston pulled out two mystical items, one a brooch, the other a bracelet, both shimmering with mysterious light.

"This is the Azure Brooch. When worn, it brings the user into close harmony with the sea, sensing changes in weather and allowing underwater movement for over half an hour. The only side effect is a worsening temper, but this quickly disappears once you remove it. It'll last about eighteen more months.

"The other is the Spirit Communion Bracelet. Wearing it allows you to see natural and dead spirits in the real world and communicate with them… it also lets you easily identify their weaknesses. Its side effect is fairly mild, giving the wearer a somewhat cold aura. It'll be effective for about two years.

"You can choose one as payment... and if a battle actually breaks out during the gathering, the other item will be yours as well."

Ebner covertly examined both items with his Pure White Eye, suppressing an inward chuckle. Neither was bad—comparable to something like "Confession"—and both were worth around four to five hundred pounds. It was quite generous for two or three days' work, especially considering that Sharon's daily rate was only three hundred pounds.

But Ebner didn't need these powers since he could mimic them himself.

The upcoming pirate gathering was likely the same one where Alger met Cattleya and where Mr. Fool obtained the Bone Marrow Crystals of the Elven Spring and Spine of the Jagged Leopard. With such high-profile attendees, it was possible that some of the ingredients on the Mysticism Magister formula list might appear...

Moreover, nothing major happened at the gathering in the original storyline. As long as the "Four Kings" remained peaceful, he'd be able to handle any threat, even if "Admiral of Blood" showed up in person.

With these thoughts in mind, Ebner carefully crafted his response. "I can accept this commission, but in addition to the mystical item, I have another request."

"What is it?" Gaston's brow furrowed slightly. He thought he'd already made a generous offer.

"I'd like to observe next time you create a mystical item," Ebner replied with a smile.

"That's all?" Gaston looked at him, surprised, and then nodded without hesitation. "No problem."

The two finalized their agreement with a "certified contract," after which Mr. Gaston nudged the two mystical items toward Ebner and said, "Take your pick. Consider it a prepayment."

Ebner chose the Spirit Communion Bracelet, as it was something he could easily sell to lower-Sequence Beyonders who lacked spiritual vision.

The more funds he had before the pirate gathering, the better.

...

In a basement room beneath Saint Samuel's Cathedral, Ms. Daly had just finished venting her frustration at Sejima for not including her in the hunt for Lanevus. Picking up the report, she quickly skimmed it and then paused, her gaze lingering on an image of a man with the face of a "young Robert Downey Jr."

Tracing her fingers over the eyes in the portrait, she murmured with a strange tone, "Who… is he?"

(End of Chapter)