Seeing Edwina's gaze warm up, Anderson curled the sides of his mouth and shook his head with a sigh.
"You're always so inflexible. That's why you aren't able to become an artist your entire life."
After sighing again, he looked at the corpse on the chair.
"We can't keep watching. We have to do something. Doesn't Siatas wish to find her race? Let's bury her near an elvish ruin in Sonia Island. Mobet looks like he wants to be with Siatas. We should bury them in the same tomb.
"Doesn't Frunziar want to return to Backlund? Burn his remains to ashes, store the ashes in a box, and bring it to the city when possible. If time permits it, then someone can look for his descendants. As for Snowman, it's not known if he believes in the ancient sun god or the original Creator. Who knows if the two are the same. Heh, to us, it's the same. There's definitely no way to find the corresponding cathedrals or altars. Therefore, the only thing we can do is bury him beside Groselle.
"Groselle... He wishes to return to the Giant King's Court, but that's a city in myths and legends. There's no way to find it in the real world. However, there are Giant ruins in the Northern and Southern Continent. We can bury him there and allow him to have a proper burial."
Giant King's Court... Backlund... Klein listened in silence as he deliberated for a few seconds.
"Leave the ashes of Groselle, Snowman, and Frunziar with me."
He believed that in the time to come, the City of Silver would manage to reach the Giant King's Court. When that happened, he could hand Groselle's and Snowman's ashes to Little Sun and allow him to bury the two ancient figures. As for Backlund, Klein needed to return to it, as it was the final destination of his travels. He could then bring back Frunziar, who had left his hometown for more than 165 years.
Edwina added, "The Golden Dream often goes to Sonia Island. I'll handle Sonia Island's and Mobet's remains."
"Alright. You'll be in charge of the cremation later." Anderson turned to look at Danitz as he chuckled and sighed. "Look, everyone plays a part in this. There's no need to feel inferior."
He originally imagined that Danitz wouldn't understand his consoling and would glare at him angrily. To his surprise, this well-known pirate's expression turned heavy as he nodded in silence.
"Ahem. As companions who faced the King of the North together, let's each choose one. Treat it as though we're inheriting their legacy." Anderson gestured at the shimmering items on the floor. "Heh heh, these Beyonder characteristics definitely have remnants of their psyche. I wonder what kind of influence they will bring. Be it concocting it into a potion for consumption or getting an Artisan to craft it into an item, there should be something special about them. The former can be digested with the acting method, but nothing can be done about the latter. Ah, from the looks of it, you don't know the acting method. Treat it as though I didn't say a thing."
The last two lines were said to Danitz.
Klein didn't have the mood to lampoon Anderson. He looked at the four Beyonder characteristics and said, "Give Siatas's to me."
This was the main ingredient of an Ocean Songster!
Edwina thought for a moment before saying, "I'll take Snowman's."
It corresponded to the Priest of Light which Klein already had one of. Hence, he didn't choose it.
Anderson glanced at the remaining two Beyonder characteristics as his gaze paused at the strange item that resembled a baby's palm.
"I have to say that this guy is very interesting. Perhaps it can be made into a mystical item that can talk to me. That way, everyone wouldn't be too lonely."
At that moment, the "giant's heart" didn't have an owner. Klein glanced at Danitz and indifferently said, "It's yours."
"Mine? I didn't do anything. I didn't participate in the battle..." Danitz was extremely surprised.
Klein said simply, "You scouted and took on a risk."
To Klein, this was a form of compensation. This was because Danitz had chanted The Fool's honorific name and knew Gehrman Sparrow's secret. Therefore, he had to force the faith of The Fool on him; otherwise, it would only leave latent risks.
Although this was a risk which Danitz was willing to take, Klein still wished to compensate him. Of course, he hoped that Danitz would view it as a bestowment from The Fool.
And regardless of exchanging Groselle's Beyonder characteristic for money, using it to purchase the corresponding formula and ingredients, or making it into a defensive mystical item, all of them would be very useful for Danitz.
"Take it," Edwina said as she looked at Danitz.
"... Alright." Danitz nodded after a few seconds of silence.
After distributing them, Klein took a few steps forward and bent his back to pick up Siatas's Beyonder characteristic. Looking at the azure-blue seawater sloshing inside the translucent membrane, he could vaguely hear the elf's beautiful singing.
Just as he stood up, he saw Danitz nodding as though he was responding to a question. However, no one had spoken!
Klein's gaze swept past Edwina's expressionless face and suspected if this Mysticism Magister was communicating with Danitz in a way others couldn't hear.
Seeing Danitz give an affirmative answer, Edwina reached out to pick up Groselle's Travels from the desk and closed it. She then handed it to Klein.
"This is a token of my gratitude."
"Without me, all of you would've defeated the frost dragon." Klein didn't reach out his hand as he looked at the book comprised of yellowish-brown goatskin.
"No, we definitely would've died. We had no way to defend against the King of the North's final frenzy. Besides, you were taking a huge risk entering the book." Edwina was like a teacher, explaining to him the reasons in a serious manner. "My only request is that you will tell me the answers if you figure out its origins and principles."
Klein was very curious about the secrets hidden in Groselle's Travels. He couldn't reject the offer as he reached out to take the magical book.
"Okay."
At this moment, the importance of the Giant King's Court became more obvious. He even thought of buying the black iron key belonging to the giants and was worth 5,000 pounds while he was at it. However, he didn't immediately make the request, to prevent Edwina from thinking that he was trying to fleece her.
He prepared to wait a few more hours, or perhaps tomorrow, before borrowing the key from Vice Admiral Iceberg. He would head above the gray fog to divine its worth before offering to purchase it.
Seeing Anderson and Danitz pick up their Beyonder characteristics, Edwina glanced at the darkening sky and said to Klein, "Where are you heading to next?"
"Bayam," Klein replied frankly.
Edwina nodded.
"You can head there on the Golden Dream. We have plenty of rooms."
Klein nodded indiscernibly as he agreed.
Who wouldn't want a free ride?
After dealing with the remains and cleaning up the captain's cabin, Edwina walked to the door and opened it.
There were gasps of pleasant surprise as the mood in the corridor turned jubilant.
"Alright, it's fine now." Edwina looked around as a smile formed from her cold expression.
The crew cheered loudly, making Anderson stroke his chin and frown.
"It's more exaggerated than I imagined..." Without a doubt, his words were drowned by the ebullient cheers.
After everything came to an end, Klein and Anderson left the captain's cabin under Danitzs lead and headed for other rooms on the same level.
Half-turning his body to look where they were, Anderson suddenly sighed.
"Is that it?
"Although we didn't get to know each other for more than half an hour, people who fought alongside you often leave a deep impression. But to think they suddenly died in a baffling manner. All of them..."
Klein was silent for two seconds before saying, "This world is filled with baffling deaths to begin with."
"... That's right." Anderson immediately smiled. "That's why optimism is needed to enjoy life. If I were to face death one day, I'll definitely be composed and cool, not losing my elegance at all. I would face it in the most handsome manner possible."
Don't raise flags for yourself... Klein didn't say a word as he entered the room Danitz opened for him. Anderson took the room beside him.
In the room, Klein stood at the window as he silently watched the darkening sea for nearly ten minutes. Then, he entered the bathroom, took four steps counterclockwise, recited the incantation, and went above the gray fog.
Sitting at the high-back chair of The Fool, he conjured The World's figure and made him make a praying pose.
"Honorable Mr. Fool, please inform The Sun that I've obtained the Sequence 6 Notary potion formula he wants. I also have clues to the Priest of Light formula and main ingredients. He can delay payment by putting it on credit and pay for it in the future."
Klein was doing this to prepare for his advancement to Sequence 4. The City of Silver had rich resources, so it was possible that particular main ingredients or difficult supplementary ingredients that were hard to come across would exist over there. Therefore, with him in no rush to get anything, he planned on letting Little Sun owe him.
The reason why he didn't say that he had obtained the main ingredients and potion formula for Priest of Light, was because he felt that it was too exaggerated. He planned on telling him once Little Sun was more or less done digesting the potion.
After checking the conjured scene twice, he transmitted it into the crimson star representing The Sun as a stream of light.
...
Afternoon Town.
Having just finished patrolling the periphery of the newly established camp, Derrick's vision suddenly blurred, and he saw an endless gray fog and an indistinct figure praying inside a dark red glow.
Immediately following that, he heard The World's voice and learned that his Notary potion formula had been acquired.
Mr. World's efficiency is really high. It's the exact number of days that he promised. Furthermore, he even got clues to the Priest of Light potion formula and main ingredients! Derrick felt joy after a moment of alarm.
He couldn't help but admire The World, wishing that he would possess similar strength and styles in the future.
Above the gray fog, the busy The World made another prayer after Mr. Fool confirmed that there weren't any problems with the Ocean Songster potion formula.
"Honorable Mr. Fool, please inform Mr. Hanged Man that I've already obtained the Ocean Songster's potion formula and the corresponding main ingredient. I'll give it to him during the next Tarot Gathering. Please get him to consider what he would like to provide in exchange."
