"Speaking of The Fool…"
Edward took a sip of his unsweetened black tea. "I met one of "His" Blessed yesterday."
"The Fool's Blessed?"
As expected, Audrey's eyes lit up. She hastily set down her coffee cup and leaned forward. "Who is he? Is he a demigod or an angel?"
"Mm, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. This Blessed has only just advanced to Sequence 8."
Edward recounted the events of the previous day.
After listening, Audrey's expression turned strange. "So…you beat up the Nighthawks from Tingen City…and then joined their team?"
Edward made the sign of the crimson moon over his chest, his face full of devotion. "It was all the will of the Goddess."
Audrey rolled her eyes—quite unladylike. "You're being deliberately mysterious."
"Alright, then let's talk about something interesting. If all goes as planned, I'll be working with Miss Xio this afternoon or evening to meet Viscount Glaint, the one who put a bounty on me. Want to come along?"
"Of course."
Edward leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Here's the plan…"
Audrey raised her hand. "I have a question."
"Hm?"
"There's only the two of us here. Why are you whispering?"
"Uh…I just thought secret plans were always discussed like this in movies."
———
By the time Xio arrived at 88 Minsk Street to find Edward, it was already 7 p.m.
She held a bundle of rope, her eager expression making it clear she had been planning this for a while. Fors, with an unlit lady's cigarette between her lips, looked quite pleased—after all, she had been cooped up for nearly a week.
"Everything's arranged. We'll first take a carriage to the Bridge District, then switch to the one provided by Viscount Glaint, which will take us straight to the meeting location."
"Did they mention where the destination is?"
Xio shrugged. "Even the contact I spoke to didn't know."
"Alright, let's get you tied up now."
"…You're enjoying this a little too much."
"Absolutely not!"
——
Ten minutes later, the three of them set out under the cover of night.
The carriage rocked gently as it made its way toward Backlund Bridge. The main streets were illuminated by streetlights, bustling with pedestrians and activity.
As they neared the bridge, another carriage pulled up alongside them. In a brief moment of synchronization, both doors opened, and the switch was executed swiftly.
"Huh?"
The moment they got into the new carriage, Xio noticed something off—it was completely sealed except for the doors, with no windows at all. That meant there was no way to see the outside environment or determine their final destination.
Both Xio and Fors immediately became alert—one ready to strike at any moment, the other preparing to flee if necessary.
About twenty minutes later, the carriage slowed down. A heavy clang echoed as a door somewhere was shut, and then the vehicle came to a full stop. After a brief wait, the carriage door creaked open, revealing a man in a black robe and mask standing outside.
"Get out."
Xio was the first to step out, quickly scanning her surroundings. They were inside a massive abandoned building, empty and covered in years of dust—likely a warehouse.
About ten meters away, three masked figures in black robes stood waiting. The one in the middle visibly flinched upon seeing Xio, his pupils contracting slightly before he hurriedly looked away, guilt written all over his body language.
That must be Viscount Glaint.
"No issues here," Xio said after confirming there were no immediate threats.
She signaled for Fors to get out, then used both hands to lift the sack containing Edward and tossed it unceremoniously onto the ground.
"I've brought the target. Would you like to verify?"
Glaint suppressed his voice, speaking in a deliberately disguised tone. "Check him."
One of the masked figures quickly stepped forward, opened the sack to reveal Edward's head, then took out a portrait and compared the two. After a brief moment, he turned back to Glaint and nodded. "It's him."
"Good." Glaint's voice carried a hint of relief. "Give them the 200-pound bounty."
"Wait!"
Xio's gaze landed firmly on Glaint. "I am an Arbiter. I make my living by resolving disputes and taking on commissions, but I have a professional responsibility to ensure…"
She nudged Edward with her foot. "…that the person I'm delivering is truly guilty of a crime."
Glaint nervously rubbed his fingers together. "I…I was just posting a request for someone else. I don't know the full details either. I'll give you an extra 100 pounds—just take the money and leave."
"No."
Xio's face turned serious. "That would violate my professional ethics."
As she spoke, Xio crouched down, once again wrapping Edward up in the sack, making a show of lifting him back onto the carriage. "That's enough for today."
"Wait!"
Viscount Glaint instinctively took a few steps forward, but then he suddenly remembered—this short woman in front of him was someone who could cripple a person with a single strike. Advancing any further or retreating both seemed like terrible options. Gritting his teeth, he finally said, "I'll add another 100 pounds…No, 150!"
"I already told you, this isn't about money."
Xio effortlessly tossed Edward back onto the carriage. "Alright, take us back."
"No, you…I…"
Viscount Glaint was so flustered that he couldn't even form a complete sentence.
Suddenly, a slow clapping sound echoed from the shadows.
"Hahaha! I like people with principles. If we were in a different place, I'd definitely try to recruit you onto my ship."
A man draped in a black cloak stepped out. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with slightly burnt-yellow eyebrows and deep blue, bright eyes. His skin was rough, as if it had been exposed to the sun for years, but his facial features remained somewhat soft.
The moment Xio saw him, her nerves immediately tensed. Her spirituality twitched, sending her a strong warning—this man was dangerous!
Fors instinctively grabbed Xio's hand, ready to use her bracelet to open a door and escape at any moment.
The cloaked man raised his hands in a calming gesture, smiling. "Relax, I'm the one who had Viscount Glaint put up that bounty. As for why I wanted him…"
He shrugged. "Well, he's a ruthless pirate who's been terrorizing the seas—pillaging, burning, murdering, committing all kinds of atrocities." Then, he added casually, "Of course, that has nothing to do with me. The bounty exists simply because he offended our captain."
The seas? A captain?
Who exactly was this man?
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself."
He placed a hand over his chest and gave a slight bow, a self-satisfied smile on his face.
"I am Danitz, Fourth Boatswain of the Golden Dream, under Vice Admiral Iceberg."
Blazing Danni…no, Danitz.
For a moment, Edward wondered if he had misheard.
Shouldn't this infamous pirate be out sailing the seas or lounging on some remote island? What was he doing in Backlund, posting a bounty on him, of all people? And now he was confidently declaring Edward a ruthless pirate who had somehow offended Vice-admiral of Iceberg?
This made absolutely no sense!
Danitz strolled forward in a lazy, casual gait.
"Alright, hand him over. You guys are lucky—if you'd delayed a few more days, I would have been back at sea, and this whole bounty would have been canceled."
At this moment, Viscount Glaint whispered cautiously, "Mr. Danitz, what about the item I requested…?"
"Relax, it's ready."
Danitz casually flicked a piece of paper backward. It spun neatly through the air and landed precisely in Glaint's hands.
"I really don't get why you're so obsessed with an Apothecary formula. A Hunter would be a way better profession!"
As he spoke, Danitz reached the carriage.
Xio and Fors immediately stepped aside, clearing the path. Danitz smiled and snapped his fingers. "I like dealing with smart people."
With one foot stepping onto the carriage's frame, he leaned forward and reached in to grab Edward.
But just as his fingers were about to make contact—
Two figures suddenly appeared inside the carriage.
"Hello there."
"Stupefy!"
"!!!"
Danitz's expression completely changed.
"I've been tricked!"
In the very next second, a force sent him flying several meters backward, slamming him into the ground. He lost consciousness on impact.
Edward leaped from the carriage, grabbing the 'Edward' inside and hurling it toward Danitz.
Just as the fake 'Edward' made contact, it morphed into an iron chain!
But even unconscious, Danitz instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the chain. When he got back on his feet, a vintage revolver had appeared in his hand.
"Expelliarmus!"
Before he could fire, a streak of red light shot out, striking him directly.
The revolver flew out of his grasp and landed smoothly in Edward's waiting hand.
"Hmm, nice gun."
Edward casually turned the pitch-black barrel toward the half-kneeling Danitz.
Meanwhile, Xio had already shielded Fors and moved toward the wall, prepared to open a door and escape—only to realize the fight was already over.
A brief silence filled the air.
Danitz, sensing the situation, dismissed the flames flickering in his right hand and raised both arms in surrender, giving a military salute.
"I surrender. Please…just point that gun somewhere else. Accidents happen, you know?"
He took a deep breath before adding, "I am the Fourth Boatswain of the Golden Dream, under Vice Admiral Iceberg. I request a ransom negotiation."
A few seconds of stunned silence followed.
Viscount Glaint, who had just been excited about obtaining his formula, was now frozen in shock. He swallowed hard, then hesitantly lifted both hands as well.
"I…I am Viscount Glaint…I also request a ransom negotiation."
———
[Note]: Here's the promised Extra Chapter. Enjoy~ I'll post another Extra Chapter if we reach 400 Powerstones by tomorrow. Go, VOTE!
P.S-I'll be launching advanced chapters on P@tre(o)n next week! Stay tuned~