"Thank you."
In the end, he accepted the briefcase and couldn't wait to leave and begin his research.
With a demigod from an orthodox god's church stationed onboard, Edward finally felt at ease.
After taking a short rest, he and Audrey went to find the captain and shared the news with him.
"That's good to hear."
Dunn let out a long sigh of relief. "When I heard the call for everyone to gather just now, I thought that witch had already arrived."
Daly, on the other hand, looked at Edward with curiosity.
"You actually managed to invite the Archbishop of the Church of Steam and Machinery? Are you really a Nighthawk, or are you from the Machinery Hivemind?"
"Uh, actually…His Grace Horamick ca because of Audrey."
"Huh?" Audrey blinked in surprise.
Daly imdiately turned her gaze to her. "This beautiful young lady is…?"
"I'm Audrey Hall. Pleased to et you, Miss."
"Hall...now that's quite a surna."
Daly raised her eyebrows. "If I were a bit younger, I'd probably chase after you. Then again, even if I were, I don't think I'd stand a chance."
"Ahem!"
Dunn coughed at that mont.
Daly chuckled. "See you later, little Edward."
Edward shrugged at Audrey. "Miss Daly is rather lively. She tends to mask her true thoughts with behaviour like that."
"I noticed. She kept watching Mr. Dunn's reaction the whole ti she was talking."
Right—Audrey was a Spectator. Of course, she'd notice.
She smiled. "It's just a pity that Mr. Dunn is even better at hiding his emotions than she is."
Sigh, do those two have to interact this way?
As they talked, the two reached the deck of the Erald. At this hour, besides the sailors, there were no other passengers—everyone had gone to the hall to collect their gifts.
Just as they arrived at the railing, Horamick briskly approached again.
Edward's heart tightened. "Your Grace, is sothing the matter?"
"No."
Horamick's expression was a bit hesitant. "That briefcase…could I get another one? The one just now...was destroyed."
Uh.
"Of course, I won't take it for free. I can craft a mystical item for you myself." He quickly added, "Or I can give you one equivalent to a Sequence 5 item."
A Sequence 5-level item? Klein had later acquired that revolver made from a Reaper Beyonder characteristic—it was worth 9,000 pounds.
By comparison, an item handcrafted by a demigod of the Paragon Pathway would far exceed that in value—especially considering this opportunity ca from exchanging an Undetectable-Extension Charm item.
No favours owed!
With that thought, Edward imdiately bead and pulled out another briefcase.
"I'll choose to have you craft sothing for personally, but…" He paused. "I don't have the right materials just yet."
"No problem. Co to anyti once you've got them."
Horamick took the briefcase and was about to study it again, but suddenly frowned and looked into the distance.
A few seconds later—
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed, followed by a large ripple that spread across the sea. The Erald trembled violently as waves surged around her.
Screams of panic erupted from the cabins below, with several ladies letting out sharp cries.
Edward's expression darkened. "A demigod from the Demoness Sect?"
"No."
Horamick shook his head. "There's a fight between Beyonders at the demigod level."
"I'll go take a look."
With a step forward, flas burst out behind him as he turned into a blazing streak of light shooting toward the direction of the explosion.
Edward quickly made for the hall.
"Let's prepare as well—be ready to evacuate everyone at a mont's notice."
After a few hurried steps, he paused.
"A sudden thought ca to ."
"What is it?" Audrey asked.
"Because of the hidden danger posed by Bansy, all the Portkeys I prepared this ti are anchored to Saint Samuel Cathedral in Backlund. If we evacuate everyone using those…it'd look like—"
Audrey's eyes widened. "We're attacking the Church of the Evernight? Is there still ti to go back, fix that, and return?"
———
Seven to eight nautical miles away.
The once-calm sea had beco raging and wild.
Thick white fog blanketed a radius of over a thousand ters. A beautiful woman in a pure white robe stood atop the frozen sea, scanning her surroundings with a solemn expression.
"Why? Why are you stopping ? Everything I've done has been to bring the Lord's descent."
Only the sound of crashing waves responded.
"We've already secured agreents from all sides. This matter is already settled. You cannot change it!" Her expression was tense as she paced aimlessly. With each step she took, the raging waves beneath her feet froze into ice.
"You…cough, cough, cough..."
She suddenly coughed violently, a scorching burn spreading from her throat to her chest. The next mont, she felt a wave of weakness wash over her.
It was an illness!
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Dark blood spurted from her lips with each cough—she could feel the severe internal damage in her organs.
Ever since becoming a demigod, she had only ever spread illness to others. She never imagined she would once again experience the tornt of disease herself.
Frantically, she began expelling the microbes from her body while staying on high alert for attacks from the surrounding fog.
"Cough, cough…I don't understand. You should be the last person to oppose ."
"Don't tell …don't tell the rumours are true. You really are—"
BOOM!!!
A deafening roar rang out.
Amidst searing flas, a figure streaked toward her at high speed.
"A Church of Steam's Saint? What is he doing here?!"
Lady Despair Panatiya's expression changed dramatically.
At that mont, the fog dispersed. On the vast sea, there was no one else—only Panatia standing atop the ice.
Without a second thought, she vanished into stealth, silently retreating.
Ten seconds later, Horamick arrived. Suspended in the air, he frowned in confusion.
"The ones who were fighting just now…were they both from the Demoness Sect? That's odd, I haven't heard any rumours of internal conflict among them..."
———
Most of the passengers aboard the Erald had gathered in the grand hall by now. The crew mbers, holding the prepared gifts—gold coins—distributed them one by one.
In just a short while, the amount of gold given out probably equalled a decent portion of what Klein had earned over the entire novel.
But to the Hall family, this amount of money was little more than the cost of so fine liquor.
Fifteen minutes later, Horamick returned.
"How did it go, Lord Horamick?"
Horamick frowned slightly. "It seems like there was infighting within the Demoness Sect. I only recognised one of them—Lady Despair, Panatiya. I'd never seen the other one before."
So it was the Lady Despair behind the heavy fog!
But why would the Demoness Sect have internal conflict?
Could it be due to the reversed outco caused by Madman to the Right?
"What was the result?"
"Lady of Despair was injured and fled. The other witch also left."
Edward quickly asked, "Was she badly injured?"
Horamick looked a bit surprised. "You seem quite concerned about that."
Of course!
If Lady Despair was severely injured—or better yet, killed—then wouldn't that an the smog crisis was resolved entirely?
No, wait. She stirred up the smog in an attempt to ascend, but the one truly intending to cause massive death was the royal family—George III!
So, even without the fog, sothing else might have been used instead.
Tch. I was being too optimistic.
"To be safe, I'll remain on the ship tonight. Contact if anything happens."
"Thank you very much, my lord."
He smiled. "There are quite a few believers of my Lord aboard this ship. Protecting them is my duty."
"Oh, right." He seed to recall sothing. "Ikanser must've told you—if possible, we hope you can visit the headquarters of our Church in Intis."
"…Uh, I'll definitely go next ti."
After seeing Horamick off, both Edward and Audrey finally exhaled, a bit dazed. So after all the fuss this morning—running to Backlund for reinforcents, informing Dunn and Hibbert, gathering everyone in the hall—this whole incident ended up being resolved by internal strife within the Demoness Sect?
Maybe this was the charm of Madman to the Right?
Thinking this, Edward pulled out the green crystal and recited the divination phrase: "The Erald will be safe from now on."
"The Erald will be safe from now on."
"The Erald will be safe from now on."
——
After seven repetitions, the green crystal slowly began spinning clockwise.
Only then did Edward truly relax.
Audrey giggled. "So our journey can continue now?"
"Ah, let's eat first!"
Edward rubbed his growling stomach. "I'm really starving."
Lilith stumbled over at that mont, dazed and swaying. She shook her head and looked at Edward. "Edward…you…have to eat mice! Miss Lilith is seasick."
Susie nodded beside her. "I'm dizzy too."
"…."
———
Back in the hall, the atmosphere was lively. n and won swayed gently to the rhythm of the music on the dance floor. The dining area was packed with people enjoying a free banquet.
Completely unaware that they had just brushed past death.
"There's nowhere to sit here."
Audrey thought for a mont. "Let's go to Hibbert's suite."
"Huh? Would that be okay?"
"What's not okay about it? You basically just saved his life—he should be treating you to a al!"
"And they say blood is thicker than water..."
Edward said it in English with a dramatic sigh.
"Teehee!"
———
The two of them, along with the dog and cat, walked through the bustling hall and headed upstairs toward the top-deck suites.
"Hmm?"
Audrey suddenly paused and looked down at the dance floor.
"What is it?"
"Look, Mr. Dunn and Miss Daly."
They saw Daly reach out a hand toward a dazed-looking Dunn.
Dunn quickly shook his head and stepped back, but Daly grabbed his wrist and pulled him onto the dance floor. Like the other guests around them, she held him close and began dancing.
At first, Dunn's expression was stiff. Then it grew frantic, then gradually softened—until finally, a smile appeared on his face.
"They look great together."
Audrey leaned on the staircase railing, resting her chin on her hand with a bright smile.
Yes.
This ti, Daly no longer needed Klein to make it happen—she could finally dance with Dunn on her own.
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps motivated.
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