Chapter 532: Pirates Suffering Heavy Losses

Ke Lai En was momentarily at a loss for how to answer, hesitated, and then, controlling the World, spoke:

"Umbral Demon Wolf? It could also be considered an angel, right? You want to hunt it?"

Lei Kedun shrugged and said, "I only mentioned it offhand; I'm not confident I can defeat it, and even if I could, I couldn't kill it. An angel of the Diviner path is hard to locate in its true form—it's too well hidden."

"Once you reach a higher sequence, you could try. The one who knows the Diviner best must be another Diviner."

Ke Lai En, expressionless, glanced at Lei Kedun, suspecting he was twisting his words to call him a coward.

After a moment of silence, Ke Lai En, still controlling the World, spoke hoarsely:

"Let's return to the sea. Recently there's a matter worth noting: the Mad Captain Kangnas Weituoke's One-Eyed Skull was destroyed in a storm, leaving only wreckage and pirate corpses washed back near the dock, including the Mad Captain himself."

"A storm that directly destroyed a pirate ship? That's a bit exaggerated—was it sniped by a powerful extraordinary being in the tempest?" Justice Ao Daili asked curiously.

The Hanged Man A'erjie, somewhat surprised, turned his head to glance at the lowest seat of the World. The World also paid attention to this matter; does that mean Mr. Fool's gaze is also on it? There must be a significant secret behind it! His eyes flickered, and after a brief thought he said:

"The Storm Church is very interested in this; that Mad Captain is linked to the population disappearance case of the sea colony I previously investigated."

"Mad Captain Kangnas Weituoke handled seaborne population transport and trade; he possesses a powerful Keeper of Secrets, and the Storm Church hasn't obtained much information about him."

While speaking, he directed his gaze toward the lowest seat of the World, hoping the other would add something, provide clues he lacked, so he could also fulfill the Storm Church's mission.

World's demeanor barely changed, but his voice carried a hint of sarcasm as he said:

"On the Mad Captain's One-Eyed Skull hides a demigod, a demigod of the Black Emperor path. More interestingly, that demigod belongs to the Luen Military and holds the rank of Major General."

"But as far as I know, the Luen Military only possesses part of the Black Emperor path's elixir formulas, and that does not include the fourth sequence and above."

"The Luen Military's Major General?" The Hanged Man A'erjie and Justice Ao Daili simultaneously voiced their surprise.

"Did that military Major General betray Luen?" That was the first thought that flashed through Ao Daili's mind; she was reluctant to accept that fleeting possibility.

"Betrayal? Huh. It's more like cooperation," World replied in a hoarse, low voice.

"Where is that Major General now? Has he already left the sea?" Magician Fo Si followed with the question everyone was concerned about.

World looked up toward Lei Kedun's direction, and the others turned their heads curiously.

Sensing the gazes, Lei Kedun lightly nodded and said, "In my case, in the form of an extraordinary attribute, it is now a magical item."

"Aren't you in the Abandoned Divine Land?" Chariot Anderson asked, puzzled.

"Obviously, I still have a clone out in the world; it usually handles affairs for me on the Southern Continent," Lei Kedun explained with a light laugh.

"Clone!" The members of the Tarot Meeting exchanged looks but weren't too surprised; they already knew the Thief path can create clones in later stages, and other paths might have similar means.

"Justice" lady is a Luen aristocrat; her emotions and stance naturally favor the nobility and royalty, as do those who have always lived in Luen such as Moon, Magician, and others. Their positions will inevitably be somewhat biased. Considering future developments, I need to give them some warnings first.

Thinking of this, Ke Lai En immediately, while controlling the World, continued:

【7】 "In January, I saw in Beckland the Baron that The Hanged Man A'erjie was investigating; he was meeting with someone from Military Intelligence Section Nine."

【8】 "Also, the biggest human trafficker in Beckland is guarded by more than one extraordinary being of the Arbiter Path, and their sequence isn't low either."

【9】 "Heh, I've always suspected that all this is just a tiny piece on the puppeteer's board."

【10】 "A tiny piece? Then what is the real conspiracy hidden behind all this? The Beckland great smog incident is far more complex than World initially claimed; perhaps it's a divine power struggle. Did World come from Beckland to the sea to investigate this? And the White Tower—World is Mr. Fool's devotee; what, then, is his own identity given his close ties to World?" The Hanged Man A'erjie's thoughts began to drift.

【11】 The Luen Military has seized Black Emperor path high-sequence elixir formulas that they shouldn't have; is Solomon still of the Telunsost family? Or perhaps a vampire? The Recluse Jiadelia's peripheral glance fell on Moon Ai Mulin by the side wall, quickly dismissing that possibility.

【12】 Justice Ao Daili was silent for a moment, then her gaze suddenly landed on the lowest seat of World: Kapin was killed by the rogue thief Black Emperor, and Black Emperor is Mr. Fool's devotee. World can know such details about Kapin so clearly, yet he and Mr. White Tower have never submitted Emperor Rosell's diary.

【13】 Thus, Mr. World is that rogue thief Black Emperor of Beckland, and he is Mr. Fool's devotee! Beckland feels so dangerous; I want to leave immediately, but Xiu surely won't agree, and I have no reason to persuade her—so I must become stronger. As long as I can become a Traveler, I can come and go from Beckland at will. Fo Si sighed inwardly, gaining another reason to ascend to Traveler. It feels like I and World do not live in the same Beckland. Moon muttered internally, though he wasn't overly fearful; there are multiple vampire counts in Beckland, including Marquis Nibais Odela.

【14】 With the topic of the Mad Captain concluded, the Recluse Jiadelia glanced at World, then at Lei Kedun, and calmly said:

【15】 "Last week at sea, some events occurred: the reckless adventurer Ge Erman Si Pa Luo hunted the Undying King A Jialitu's second-in-command, the Butcher Ji Erxi Aisi, who is a Sequence Five Desire Apostle."

【16】 "Regarding the Undying King, another matter: he and the Death Notice will no longer appear at sea; even if they do, it can only be in the form of a Raving One's characteristic."

【17】 "The Undying King was hunted?" The Hanged Man A'erjie couldn't control his emotions and exclaimed in astonishment.

【18】 "Chariot" Anderson lounged back in his high-backed chair, his voice full of sighs as he said:

【19】 "Oh dear, pirates have suffered heavy losses lately—within less than half a year, several Pirate Generals and Pirate Kings have disappeared one after another."

【20】 Ke Lai En subconsciously glanced at the unresponsive Lei Kedun, thinking that some people could earn the title 'Pirate Bane', unlike me, who hunted a Disease Vice Admiral once without success.

【21】 "Um, which Pirate Generals and Pirate Kings have disappeared?" Magician Fo Si asked curiously.

【22】 Anderson, as if suddenly interested, shifted his posture, leaning forward with elbows on the table edge, and chuckled:

【23】 "Within the past year, the first slain Pirate General was 'Hurricane Vice Admiral' Qi Lin Ges, then 'Blood Upper Admiral' Senior, and also 'Deep Sea Vice Admiral' Hal Konstantin, who hasn't been seen for a long time. According to the information I gathered, he and his flagship 'Newins' were sunk into the deep sea, becoming one of many underwater treasures."

【24】 "Besides these, there is also the Disease Vice Admiral Tracy, who was boarded by Ge Erman Si Pa Luo on the Black Death and failed to be assassinated."

【25】 "Now there's another Undying King; piracy has become too dangerous, but luckily I'm just a treasure hunter."

【26】 The Hanged Man A'erjie's expression was somewhat complex. 'Chariot'—if you hadn't said it, I wouldn't have thought of it—within less than a year at sea, three Pirate Generals and one Pirate King have died; it's getting crazier and crazier.

He paused, then, looking thoughtfully at World, said in a flat tone: "Investigating Ge Erman Si Pa Luo's background and the demigod active in the Roseth Islands under the guise of Sea God Ka Weituwa has become a major current task for all major organizations."

"What does that mean? I'm the one being investigated? Clearly A'erjie is the one causing trouble, yet I'm taking the blame," Ke Lai En muttered silently, feeling speechless.

"Rather than wait to be investigated, I'd rather proactively provide some half-truths," he thought, then immediately controlled World to look at The Hanged Man, smiling lowly: "I have some knowledge about Ge Erman Si Pa Luo; I don't know where to claim this task, but I want to obtain some gold by offering unimportant information."

A'erjie looked thoughtfully at World. He has some understanding of Ge Erman Si Pa Luo? If my guess is correct, World is Ge Erman Si Pa Luo, meaning he doesn't mind me submitting some seemingly important but actually meaningless intel to exchange for the Church's reward and trust? The free exchange segment continued for a while, everyone was interested in the many pirate deaths in a short time, until the top seat of the mottled long table, Mr. Fool, announced the end of today's Tarot Meeting, and the participants rose to bow.

Amid a surge of deep crimson light, the figures of the participants gradually faded, disappearing with the glow into the gray mist above.

On the Roseth Islands, in a private harbor belonging to the local resistance, the 'Midnight Blue Avenger' was quietly moored.

So, Mr. "World" is that rogue Black Emperor of Beckland, and is the follower of Mr. "Fool"! I always feel Beckland is so dangerous, I really want to leave immediately, but Xiu certainly won't agree, and I have no reason to persuade her; I still have to get stronger. As long as I can become a "Traveler", I can come and go from Beckland at will. Foersi let out a sigh in his heart, adding another reason to want to ascend to "Traveler". I always feel that I and "World" live in different Becklands. Moon sighed in his heart, but he didn't feel overly afraid or panicked; the blood clan in Beckland has more than one count, and also the marquis Ni Baisi·Ao Dela.

"The ritual opportunity of the 'Ocean Singer' cannot bypass the Church; going through the Church's channels, I don't know when it'll be my turn."

"Behind the Recluse stands the 'Mysterious Queen'; she might locate some Oganis, and the Mysterious Queen's pirate crew includes a Sequence Five 'Sailor'."

"The Church of the 'Knowledge and Wisdom God' represented by the White Tower may also have some grasp; the 'Reader' and 'Sailor' are interchangeable paths, so it's reasonable they nurture some Oganis."

"But I cannot contact the 'Knowledge and Wisdom God' Church; that would hand over my leverage, and if exposed, I wouldn't even get a chance at trial—so I must try the Recluse's channel instead."

"If that fails, I'll prepare a powerful magical item, then head straight to explore that primordial island, also gathering 'Ocean Singer' materials, though that would rely too much on World."

After a moment of contemplation, he planned to first attend a pirate gathering scheduled in the next two days, then decide whether to contact the Recluse lady.

Having made his decision, he turned and left the captain's cabin to check the ship's supplies.

"Eh, which disappeared pirate admirals and pirate kings are there?" the Magician Forsyth asked curiously.

Anderson seemed to suddenly become interested, changing his posture, leaning forward with his elbows on the table edge, and gave a light chuckle before saying:

"In the past year, the first pirate admiral to be killed was 'Hurricane Admiral' Qilin Ges, then 'Blood Admiral' Seniore, and 'Deep Sea Admiral' Hal Constantine; he hasn't appeared for a long time. According to the rumors I've heard, he and his flagship, the Newins, were sunk together into the deep sea, becoming one of many underwater treasures."

"Besides those, there was also the 'Disease Admiral' Tressi, who was attempted to be assassinated by Gehrman Sparrow boarding the 'Black Death' but failed."

"Now there's also an 'Undying King'; given how dangerous pirates are, I'm glad I'm just a treasure hunter."

"The Hanged Man" A'erjie had a somewhat complex expression; "The Chariot" not saying it, I hadn't even thought in this direction. In less than a year, three pirate admirals and one pirate king have already died at sea—truly getting crazier and crazier.

He paused, then looked thoughtfully at "The World", speaking in a flat tone: "Now investigating Gehrman Sparrow's origins, and that demigod who acts under the identity of the 'Sea God' Cawituva in the waters of the Loen Isles, has become an important task for all major organizations."

What the hell? I'm the one being investigated? Clearly it's A'er who's causing trouble, yet I, Klein, am the one taking the blame—I muttered a couple of complaints in my heart.

Rather than wait to be investigated, I'd rather proactively give some half-true, half-false information. Thinking of this, he immediately took control of "The World", looking toward "The Hanged Man" and said in a low voice: "As for Gehrman Sparrow, I still have some understanding; I don't know where to take this mission, I want to use some unimportant information to obtain some gold pounds."

A'erjie looked thoughtfully at "The World". Does he have some understanding of Gehrman Sparrow? If my guess is correct, "The World" is Gehrman Sparrow, meaning he doesn't mind me submitting some information that looks important but actually meaningless, to exchange for the church's rewards and trust? The free discussion session lasted a while; everyone was very interested in the fact that so many pirate strongmen had died in a short time, until the "Fool" at the head of the mottled long table announced the end of today's tarot meeting, and only then did everyone rise to salute, still reluctant to leave.

In a surge of deep red light like a tide, everyone's silhouettes gradually melted away, disappearing together with the deep red light upon this gray mist.

In the Loen Isles, a private harbor belonging to the local rebels, the "Azure Avenger" is quietly docked here.

In the captain's cabin on the upper deck, A'erjie rose from the chair behind the desk, his gaze sinking as he looked out the bulging window at the sea, murmuring softly:

"The opportunity for the ritual of the Sea Singer cannot bypass the church; going through the church's channels, I don't know when it will be my turn."

"Behind the Hermit stands the Mysterious Queen; she might be able to find some Ogounis, and in the Mysterious Queen's pirate crew there exists a Sequence 5 'Sailor'."

"The Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom represented by the White Tower perhaps also has some grasp; the Reader and the Sailor are inherently interchangeable paths, and it's reasonable that they keep some Ogounis."

"But I cannot contact the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom; that would be handing my leverage to the other side. If exposed, I wouldn't even have the chance to be sent to the trial court—I can only try this channel of the Hermit lady."

"If that doesn't work, prepare a powerful magical item, then directly go explore that primitive island, and incidentally also gather materials for the Sea Singer, but that would be too reliant on 'The World'."

After pondering for a moment, he plans to first attend a pirate gathering that will be convened in the next two days, then decide whether to contact the Hermit lady.

After making his decision, he turned and walked out of the captain's cabin to check the ship's supplies.

As a pawn inserted by the Storm Church among the pirates, he is under considerable restraint and must return to Pasu Island to report duty from time to time.

The Storm Church also worries that these pirate captains who have been drifting at sea for a long time might truly become pirates, which would be not worth the loss.

(End of chapter)