[Bayam—A desolate stretch of coastline]
The air twisted and warped, and a cloud of black, humanoid smoke suddenly appeared. It stumbled a few steps before collapsing to the ground. Then, the smoke swiftly condensed, reforming into a flesh-and-blood body.
A few seconds later, Edward reappeared.
"Hah—hah—hah—"
He lay on the ground, gasping for breath. "That was insane! I actually…actually attacked a Sequence 3 Saint head-on!"
Forcing strength into his legs, Edward staggered to his feet. "I never would've guessed that my Animagus form would end up being an Obscurus."
Normally, Animagi could only transform into ordinary animals. For him to break that 'law', there could be only two possible explanations:
Either a dormant Obscurus had long existed within this body, and the Animagus transformation rely awakened it.
Or the anomaly was caused by the effects of the potion itself.
Regardless, being able to transform into an Obscurus ant he now possessed both flight and terrifying destructive power—far superior to any ordinary creature. However...once transford, his emotions beca volatile and erratic, with an overwhelming urge to destroy everything in sight.
"Thankfully, that destructive impulse isn't completely uncontrollable. It'll just take ti to adapt to it. Hmm...maybe so sessions with a therapist could help too."
Still, this unexpected gain had been a pleasant surprise tonight. After all, his original plan was simply to use a series of 'events' to digest the potion.
At that thought, he imdiately cald his mind and focused inward. A mont later, joy flashed across his face.
At this point, he had already digested most of the Madman potion!
Reckless behaviour truly was one of the best ways to digest potions in this world.
Edward exhaled deeply and looked out over the sea.
"So, how should I digest the rest?"
———
That day would later be known as the 'Day of Disaster' for the pirates of Bayam.
Last night, over a hundred pirates suddenly went berserk and launched an assault on the governor's mansion. Although they didn't manage to take it, the mansion was reduced to rubble in the chaos.
At the sa ti, a warship docked at the naval base was hijacked by another group of pirates. Although Sea King Jahn Kottman later caught up to them, the ironclad warship was sunk in the ensuing battle—by the very pirates he pursued—resulting in heavy losses for the Loen Sea Command.
Thus, early the next morning, the cleansing operation began.
The Loen military, working in tandem with the Church of the Lord of Storm, launched a thunderous crackdown, raiding several major pirate hubs—taverns, inns, and casinos—and issued a final ultimatum:
All pirates must leave Bayam within three days, or face the full wrath of the military.
Though such ultimatums had occurred occasionally in the past—usually during changes in governorship—this ti, everyone could tell the demigod admiral was dead serious.
After all, the governor's mansion and a warship had both been destroyed. His reputation was in tatters. How could he not be seething with hatred for the pirates?
And the culprit behind it all?
The previously unknown, unpredictable madman—Gehrman Sparrow.
His bounty now stood at 250,000 pounds, while his subordinate "Fire Fist Ace" had also been bumped up to 20,000 pounds.
"Damn it!"
Danitz, back in his original form, cursed the mont he saw the bounty.
"Dogsh*t! Why the hell is mine not even a tenth of his?!"
But as he read through everything Gehrman Sparrow had done the night before…he silently closed his mouth.
You absolute lunatic.
I swear, as soon as I secure a ticket, I'm heading back to the Golden Dream and never getting involved with him again!
Slap!
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. Danitz instinctively drew his revolver in one smooth motion and aid it—but froze the mont he saw who it was.
"You… you're back."
Edward pushed aside the gun barrel and smiled. "What are you afraid of? I'm Edward now."
"I don't see how that makes a difference," Danitz muttered as he put the gun away. "You're the crazy one, not your na." He glanced around nervously. "You've heard about the ultimatum, right? Bayam's going to be a pirate no-go zone for a while. I've already asked soone to buy my ship ticket—I'm leaving tonight. You...what about you?"
"I need to ask you sothing."
"What is it?"
"Do you know where the Pirate Admirals or the Four Kings are holding their next gathering?"
"I have no idea."
"Alright. But if you do get any leads, let my ssenger know."
"Sure."
No sooner had he agreed than Danitz grew nervous again. "Wait—wait! You're not actually planning to go there and stir up trouble, are you?"
"Of course not. Do I look like soone who can't assess a situation? With that many powerhouses gathered, I'm just a mid-sequence Beyonder—it'd be suicide."
Danitz opened his mouth, but the words got stuck: You don't just look like that kind of person—you are that kind of person!
Edward shrugged. "I just want to go there to shop for so materials and mystical items."
"R-right…fine."
"Well then, let's part ways here. Do a favour and tell your captain I really appreciated your help these past few days. Thanks to you, I was able to complete my mission."
"Wh-what mission? Attacking the governor's mansion? Provoking the Sea King? Sinking a warship?"
"Of course not."
Edward grinned. "You've forgotten why I first set out to sea, haven't you? I wanted to beco a pirate hunter. And now, thanks to , the pirates in Bayam are either caught, dead, or fleeing within three days. I'd say your average pirate hunter couldn't hold a candle to ."
Danitz's eyes widened. "Your…understanding of what it ans to be a pirate hunter is certainly…unique."
"Well, I couldn't have done it without you."
"No, no, no!"
Danitz frantically waved his hands. "What you did has nothing to do with ! Anyway, I'm out. Goodbye—No! Not goodbye! Never see you again!"
He fled in a blur.
———
[Cathedral of Waves]
Afternoon.
A disguised Alger strode swiftly into the church. Bishop Jayce was already waiting beneath the sacred radiance symbolising the God of Storm's might.
Alger approached, placed his right hand over his chest, and saluted.
"Your Grace Jayce, you summoned ?"
"That's right," Jayce nodded. "I need you to investigate soone."
"Who?"
"Gehrman Sparrow."
Alger was taken aback. Having been at sea recently, he hadn't yet heard what had happened in Bayam. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "Who is that?"
"Go ask around yourself—you should be able to find news about him soon enough."
"Understood."
"Go, and once you find anything, report back imdiately. Lord Kottmann is quite concerned about this matter."
Kottmann?
That demigod powerhouse, the one called The Sea King—Jahn Kottmann?
Alger's heart trembled with shock. He couldn't fathom what this Gehrman Sparrow could have done to draw the attention of a demigod.
Suppressing his doubts, Alger turned and left the Cathedral of Waves.
He was just about to head to his usual drinking spot to gather intel when a mist of grey suddenly rose before his eyes. At the end of the fog sat The Fool, gazing calmly at him.
The scene shifted again. The Tower appeared.
"Mr. Hanged Man," he said, "you ntioned before that a major Beyonder gathering was going to be held at sea. I happen to need to purchase so items. Can I accompany you?"
Alger's first reaction was suspicion—was The Tower trying to bypass him and sell off the mystical items he'd stored? But he quickly reconsidered. This matter had already been discussed at the Tarot Club; if he went back on his word now, it would leave a poor impression on everyone—including Mr. Fool.
So he nodded, "Of course. But the gathering likely won't happen for a while yet."
Soon, Edward received Alger's ssage. He thought for a mont and replied, "Alright. When you're ready to set out, let know—I'll find a way to rendezvous with you."
When the grey mist dispersed, Edward stretched and leaned back against the sofa. Lilith, sprawled across his lap, arched her back and let out a yawn.
"Edward, I wanna go play with Susie."
"Go ahead. Use the Vanishing Cabinet."
It was his second day back in Backlund, and he was still staying at the sa inn in the Hillston Borough.
He had spent the entire previous day resting in his room, waiting for news from the Twilight Hermit Order—but so far, no one had approached him.
"Is it because they think I'm not worth a Card of Blasphemy, so they're just ignoring ?"
Edward thought back. In the original work, the Twilight Hermit Order had used the Card of Blasphemy as bait in very specific events—both involving assassinations of Duke Negan: one orchestrated by Qilangos and the other by that devil.
Could it be that the tide of the tis Adam was orchestrating was just one step away from being realized—and Duke Negan was the final obstacle?
And that obstacle would soon be removed by that devil?
Afterwards, the grand performances would unfold one by one, leading into war…and Adam, within the tide of the era, would take the potion and beco a god.
But what if the devil's assassination failed? Or…what if the devil was taken out before he could act?
Would the Twilight Hermit Order look for another candidate, or take action themselves?
"Hey! If you won't co to …then I'll create the conditions to make you co to ."
With that decision made, Edward imdiately sprang into action.
Of course, he couldn't go look for the devil himself—that would be far too obvious. So instead…
Report him.
As usual, he first went to Saint Samuel Cathedral, where he 'casually' reported that he'd stumbled upon a suspicious individual—soone from the Beria Demon Family—hiding in Backlund with unknown motives. He claid the recent serial murders were likely committed by this person, and advised the church to either arrest or eliminate him before he caused greater havoc.
Bishop Electra took this extrely seriously and imdiately contacted the Nighthawks and Red Gloves.
Then Edward hurried off to Saint Hierländ Cathedral in St. George Borough—the headquarters of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery in Backlund.
Last ti, Ikanser Bernard of the Machinery Hivemind had sent him the Master Key, extending goodwill and warmly inviting him to visit. But unsure of their true intent, Edward had kept his distance. This ti, he intended to report sothing—and probe their stance while he was at it.
He had just stepped into the cathedral with the crowd when a mber of the Machinery Hivemind hurried over and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Edward, are you here to pray today, or do you have business with us?"
This efficiency surprised Edward. Though he hadn't gone out of his way to hide his identity, he hadn't even sat down yet, and soone was already approaching—clearly, soone had been assigned to keep an eye on him.
He thought for a mont, then drew a triangle over his chest.
"To report soone."
The Machinery Hivemind mber blinked, caught off guard. That wasn't one of the expected answers.
"What…would you like to report?"
"You've heard about the recent serial murders in Backlund, right?"
"Yes. You want to report the killer?"
Edward nodded.
"That's right. I happened to witness one of the killings last night and barely escaped with my life. The culprit is a brutal Beyonder, likely a Sequence 5 on the Devil Pathway."
"Sequence 5?!"
The mber's expression turned serious.
"I'll inform the Deacon imdiately."
A few minutes later, Ikanser Bernard ca rushing over. His hair wasn't as dishevelled as last ti, and there was a sharper glint in his eyes. In truth, the church had already started investigating the murders in recent days, but progress had been limited.
"Mr. Edward, can you tell more about this murderer?"
"Let think."
Edward deliberately paused, pretending to recall.
"Last night…"
He repeated the story he'd made up earlier, then suddenly added as if a mory had just returned to him, "Right! I rember that killer's face—I think I've seen him before at so small bank. His na was…Jason! Yes, that's it."
"Jason. Got it."
"But I don't think that's his real identity. Devils are notoriously cunning and sly—there's no reason he'd commit murder using a face that could be recognised so easily."
Edward gave a helpless shrug.
"Still, I don't know what his true face looks like. Oh, and I've heard Devils can sense danger in advance—so if you try to locate him through divination or similar ans, you might alert him instead."
Ikanser froze, a trace of concern in his eyes.
"Fortunately, our Church possesses a mystical artefact that might be able to locate him without tipping him off."
"Great! I hope you can catch the killer in one fell swoop."
"You have my word."
Ikanser's tone beca solemn.
"If your information proves useful, I'll also apply to have a bounty awarded to you."
"Uh, thank you."
The Machinery Hivemind imdiately launched into action, but they made no further ntion of the previously gifted key or the invitation. This left Edward sowhat confused, wondering if he had read too much into things.
"Well, maybe that's for the best."
———
[Note]: 120 Powerstones for an Extra Chapter tomorrow. Let's do this! Go, VOTE!
Oh, and if you are like and want to read 40 Chapters in advance of the current story right now, you can support on my Patreon. Trust , it's aweso~
Link - (P)atre(o)n.c(o)m/ Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]
Reviews
All reviews (0)