The Presence of the Double Agent and the Duel

After weighing the situation carefully, Ebner decided not to waste any time and went straight to the point with Edwina, noting her reputation as a meticulous teacher:

"Who wants to harm Vice Admiral Pale?"

"Why should I save her?"

"And lastly, what's your real purpose in finding me?"

Edwina seemed to appreciate this direct approach and, after a brief pause to gather her thoughts, answered:

"On a personal level, I've met Maria a few times and admire her ideals. Although I don't think she'll succeed, I don't want to see someone with such noble aspirations fall here."

"From a larger perspective, I believe she's part of a grander scheme, possibly laid by a certain higher entity, and it's not her time to die. I had a particularly clear prophecy confirming this."

"As for who wants her dead… While I can't say definitively, it's not Cattleya. Beyond that, I suspect most on this island wouldn't mind her gone."

Edwina answered each question precisely, her usually impassive face revealing a hint of emotion by the end. It was clear she hadn't activated her "Mechanical Mind" ability.

A grand scheme, perhaps by… a higher power? Better not be disrespectful in front of Edwina; she holds divinity in high regard.

Could this be an operation of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom? They have some presence in the Southern Continent through rebels, but influencing the Order's core would be difficult due to pathway limitations.

Or is it an ally of that God? Perhaps the Goddess? Or is He piggybacking on someone else's plan to set His own in motion?

While Ebner considered the possibilities, Edwina added, "Based on my observations, the one most likely to act is King of Immortality Agalito. My request is simple: intercept one of Agalito's squadrons."

Intercept a squadron—she calls that simple? Ebner couldn't help but balk. Agalito, as a pirate king, commanded squadrons with at least three warships, each carrying numerous Beyonders.

The squadron commander would certainly be close to Ebner's Sequence level, too…

Though Ebner prided himself on being among the strongest at Sequence 6, enough to even contend with some at Sequence 5, taking on an entire squadron was well beyond his usual protocol.

He admired Vice Admiral Pale's dedication to justice, but not enough to throw himself into a potential life-and-death battle.

As he was about to politely decline, Edwina seemed to catch his hesitation and interjected:

"The role of a Polymath requires more than just a reputation for knowledge. It demands respect and authority as well."

"Roselle once said, 'To inspire trust, one must first possess authority and reputation.' While everyone has their own way to play the part, this is a valuable principle to consider."

So you're saying I should make a name for myself by intercepting a squadron?

Ebner wavered, recognizing the truth in her words. If this mission could enhance his role-playing, it warranted serious consideration.

If the task was merely to delay them rather than wipe them out, he could prepare a ritual beforehand, utilizing the knowledge he had gained from the Book of Astrology, to ensure a safe and temporary containment.

He could even appear as "Doctor Strange" and arrange for a bard to witness the event nearby… That would be ideal.

After weighing the decision, Ebner finally nodded. "I'll take on your request, but you'll need to provide me with enemy details at least half a day in advance, the more detailed the better."

"Of course." Edwina readily agreed, then shifted the conversation to compensation. "Since you accepted my request, I'll offer something in return: I'll teach you Edwards' Summoning Ritual."

"Edwards' Summoning Ritual?" Ebner thought back to the original description of her technique, where she could project herself over hundreds of miles.

Naming it after her own surname… Could it be a variation of the original?

With piqued curiosity, Ebner listened to Edwina's explanation, and soon his eyebrows knit together.

It was indeed different from what he expected: the ritual incorporated Roselle's Dream Visitation technique, allowing her to project herself into others' dreams.

This is exactly what I've been envisioning! I had planned to test this concept on Terrance after developing a prototype. It was supposed to be my way of building the reputation of "Doctor Strange," helping solve people's problems in their dreams while maintaining mystique…

The plan was both safe and likely to have a high impact—a method that would be "legendary."

If Doctor Strange became a mythical figure associated with solutions and mysteries across the seas or the Northern Continent, then his Polymath potion would be that much closer to digestion.

The fact that the perfect skill arrived precisely as he conceived it felt like more than a coincidence. Was this "care" from the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, or perhaps a "warning"?

Edwina had answered his first two questions but conspicuously avoided the third… The so-called "compensation" was clearly her real purpose.

The God of Knowledge truly works in mysterious ways. In comparison, the Earth Mother's manner of showing support was much more straightforward…

Shaking his head, Ebner reminded himself not to judge the gods lightly. He turned to Edwina with an insightful look and asked, "So this is the real purpose?"

"Yes… It was also the cost for my prophecy's success." Edwina paused momentarily before responding.

With both understanding the weight of the topic, the conversation naturally came to a close, and Ebner, unable to bear the lingering tension, offered his polite farewell.

—

In the lounge of Vice Admiral Iceberg, Edwina's eyes snapped open after what appeared to be a period of intense contemplation.

Danitz, who had been keeping an eye on her, quickly stepped forward, eagerly asking, "Captain, would you like a coffee?"

He knew his captain liked coffee after her "studies."

"Yes, with extra sugar," Edwina nodded. Her communication with Ebner had been more draining than she'd anticipated, a sign that his "Learning Space" likely held as much knowledge as hers, if not more.

The communication technique they used relied on knowledge as a bridge to break the barriers between them, allowing them to connect with the "White Tower" that each carried. It was a subtle form of mutual "pollution," though harmless as long as neither harbored dangerous knowledge.

As Danitz left to fetch the coffee, "Flowery Bow Tie" Jodeson approached and, after a few trivial comments, casually asked, "Captain, has the person you were waiting for arrived?"

"Yes, he's here. We just had our meeting…" Edwina replied with a faint smile.

Already? Jodeson and Gourmet Bru Walls exchanged a wary glance. Could he be a Nightmare?

—

In the main hall, Danitz took a cup of coffee and reached for the last bit of sugar on the table, only to be preempted by a man with blue, seaweed-like hair.

It was none other than Alger.

"Hold on, could you spare me some sugar?" Danitz asked, unable to hold back.

Blazing Danitz? Alger's gaze narrowed slightly. He enjoyed sweets himself but knew befriending a notorious pirate with a 3,000-pound bounty was worth far more than a few sugar cubes. Smiling, he replied, "Of course."

Danitz's face brightened as he swiftly scooped up the sugar. "I'm Danitz from the Golden Dream. What's your name? Interested in joining us? I could put in a good word with the captain."

"Thanks, but I have my own ship." Alger chuckled, turning down the offer.

"A shame…" Danitz began, but his words were drowned out by a sudden commotion from the direction of the black palace's main hall, which quickly escalated into an uproar.

"What's going on?" Alger and Danitz exchanged a glance before striding over to question a pirate who seemed almost red with excitement.

"It's Bonebreaker Dawak. He… he traded a ghost ship to the King of the Five Seas for a single request…"

"And that request was to duel Vice Admiral Pale, fair and square!"