Tap.
Audrey landed lightly, her wizard robes fluttering slightly as she touched the ground. She waved cheerfully at the shocked Xio and Fors.
"Miss Xio, Miss Fors, long time no see!"
Then, turning to another familiar face, she smiled.
"And…Viscount Glaint, what a coincidence."
"Audrey?!"
Viscount Glaint was beginning to feel like he no longer understood this world. It was shocking enough that Danitz—the big shot he had placed his hopes on—had been defeated so easily, but that was still somewhat acceptable.
However, why was Audrey here?!
"Wait a minute!"
Fors couldn't hold back her question. "Miss Audrey, when did you sneak into the carriage?"
Audrey smiled. "I was here the whole time."
In truth, the 'Edward' who had been bound and stuffed into the sack from the very beginning had been a fake, created using Transfiguration. Edward had long since cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself and Audrey before boarding the carriage.
While this kind of invisibility spell wasn't as good as the one used by Witches, it was still more than enough to fool someone without enhanced spiritual vision.
By this point, Danitz had started to grasp the situation. His expression turned sullen as he muttered in frustration, "So you all know each other? Was this entire thing a setup just to get me?"
During his time in Backlund, Danitz had indeed let his guard down. Here, as long as you didn't actively stir up trouble or wander into the gang-controlled dock areas, money was all you needed to live comfortably—though the air was much worse than at sea.
Not long after arriving in Backlund, he had coincidentally saved Viscount Glaint. Upon learning of the man's strong desire to become a Beyonder, Danitz, not wanting to expose his own identity too much, had instructed Glaint to put up a bounty. In exchange, he had promised him an Apothecary potion formula and its corresponding ingredients.
For a while, it seemed like the bounty had completely vanished without a trace, and Danitz had gradually given up hope. But just when he was about to leave Backlund, good news suddenly arrived.
Although he had been somewhat lax during his time in the city, years of adventuring had kept him from completely letting his guard down. Ever since the two carriages crossed paths, he had been tracking them. Once he confirmed that there were only two inexperienced Beyonders involved, he had confidently revealed himself—going as far as to proudly state his name and title.
"I, Blazing Danitz, will make sure Backlund remembers my name!"
And yet, in less than a minute, he had been utterly crushed.
Frustration. Unwillingness. Rage.
If it weren't for their underhanded tricks, he would have been the last one standing!
"So this is why Glaint put up a bounty on Edward?"
After listening to Viscount Glaint's explanation, Audrey sighed in relief. Before meeting Edward, the viscount had actually been one of her closest friends.
"Wait a second! You're…that Edward? The one who asked me to help rent a house?"
Glaint's face was full of shock. "But…you didn't look like this before!"
"Isn't it normal for Beyonders to be able to change their appearance?"
Glaint opened his mouth, but the words got stuck in his throat. I…I didn't know that!
Wait a minute.
What exactly was the relationship between Edward and Audrey?
Why were they sneaking out together so late at night?
…Could his previous guess actually be true?!
Oh, poor Earl Hall…
———
"Blazing Danitz, was it?"
Edward lightly ran his fingers along his wand, his tone casual as he asked:
"Question time. Why would a pirate who has spent years sailing the seas come all the way to Backlund just to put a bounty on me? I don't know you, I don't know your captain, and I've never even been to sea. We have zero connections—so why?"
Danitz visibly froze for a moment. Then, his voice returned to normal as he answered,
"I saw your portrait in the captain's quarters. Your name is Edward, right? Funny thing—my captain's last name is Edwards. Only a single letter difference…Maybe you're even related to her."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "And this is how you treat your captain's possible relative?"
Danitz shrugged. "Hey, it's my first time in Backlund. I don't know my way around. This method was just…convenient, right?"
Edward twirled his wand in his fingers, then smiled faintly.
"That actually makes a lot of sense. In that case…"
The spinning wand suddenly stilled.
"Imperio."
After a brief struggle, a peculiar smile surfaced on Danitz's face.
Under the Imperius Curse, a person would feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment. In this state, they would follow any command without question.
Previously, when dealing with Christine, Edward had refrained from using this spell—after all, he still needed to negotiate with the Abraham family for potion formulas. But for a pirate like Danitz? He had no such concerns.
"Tell me the real reason you were looking for me."
Still smiling in bliss, Danitz answered without hesitation.
"One night, I saw my captain staring at a portrait for a long time. I started wondering if she had some kind of connection with the boy in the picture. Then, when I found out that the background of the portrait was in Backlund, I immediately requested leave to come here and investigate."
His expression grew slightly fiercer as he continued.
"I was determined to find this bastard, teach him a lesson, and make sure he never had any improper thoughts about our captain!"
"…"
…Danitz, what exactly is going on in that head of yours?
Audrey covered her mouth in shock.
"That's impossible! There's no way you and that captain are related…But then, what's with the portrait?"
"Only Vice-Admiral Iceberg, Edwina Edwards can answer this question for me."
Edward rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He had thought he would finally unravel a mystery tonight, but instead, an even bigger one had appeared.
With his current strength, he had no confidence in defeating Edwina, a Sequence 5 powerhouse from the Reader pathway.
Even if he could defeat her, it wasn't as if he could just set sail and go looking for her, right?
…Wait!
Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina Edwards was from the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, wasn't she? And the deity worshipped by the Church of Knowledge was none other than the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, who possessed the authority of omniscience.
Could it be that before the Evernight Goddess concealed his presence when he arrived in this mysterious world…that deity had already noticed him?!
No…the timeline still didn't match up.
At that moment, Danitz's expression abruptly shifted from dazed bliss to shocked fury. He glared at Edward and roared,
"You…what the hell did you just do to me?!"
Edward frowned slightly. So he broke free that quickly?
The Imperius Curse, though considered an Unforgivable Curse in Harry Potter, wasn't as invincible as it was made out to be. Its effects weakened with repeated use on the same person, and if the target had a strong will, they could resist it—some could even break free instantly.
And in the world of Lord of the Mysteries, how many Beyonders had weak willpower? Every single one of them was constantly resisting madness and the risk of losing control.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! What the hell did you—"
"Obliviate."
Danitz's body went limp, and he collapsed unconscious.
To be extra sure, Edward poured a small vial of the Draught of Living Death down his throat—ensuring he'd sleep soundly until morning.
"Viscount Glaint," Edward turned to him, "do me a favor. Find some random pleasure house and drop him off. Make sure he gets drunk and sleeps it off. By tomorrow, he'll find his way back to the sea on his own."
"O-okay." Glaint let out a relieved sigh. Looks like they're letting me off the hook…
At this moment, Xio raised her hand.
"Mr. Edward, I suggest handing the pirate over to the authorities instead. That way, you can claim the bounty and eliminate a future threat. If you let him go, once he regains his memory, he will come after you for revenge."
"I understand," Edward nodded, "but I still need him for some answers."
With that, he pulled out a piece of parchment, pondered for a moment, and quickly jotted down a few lines before slipping it into Danitz's pocket.
He needed Danitz to serve as his connection to the Vice-Admiral Iceberg.
—
"Oh, right. Mind if I take a look at the Apothecary formula?"
Viscount Glaint immediately handed it over:
Main Ingredients:
—Horn of an adult Flying Unicorn
—3 grams of a Royal Jellyfish's Venom Crystal
Secondary Ingredients:
—4 drops of Hemlock Juice
—50ml of Pure Water
...
One could never have too many potion formulas—who knew when someone at a Beyonder gathering might be willing to pay a fortune for one?
———
Audrey turned to Viscount Glaint, clasping her hands together.
"Glaint, you must keep my little nighttime excursion a secret. Please?"
Viscount Glaint forced a smile. "Understood."
After a brief pause, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Audrey…have you already become a Beyonder?"
"That's right."
She smiled slightly. "I believe your dream will come true soon as well."
Xio and Fors were caught off guard.
They had always assumed Audrey was just a noblewoman interested in the mystical world. But now, she seemed even more experienced than they were.
——
"Found it."
Edward pulled a small pouch from Danitz's coat and opened it. Inside, there were several Beyonder materials, along with some gold coins and cash.
He looked around at the others and grinned.
"Killing monsters and collecting loot—this is how it should be. After working all night, we finally have some gains."
Viscount Glaint, upon seeing the pouch, instinctively shouted,
"Wait!"
That's mine!!
"Hm?" Edward turned to him, puzzled. "You want a cut too?"
"N-no…never mind."
Viscount Glaint looked utterly defeated.
If his guess was right, that pouch contained the exact ingredients needed for the Apothecary formula. But asking for them back now would just make him look pathetic.
——
Edward grinned widely.
"Oh, by the way, I did use some Beyonder materials while casting my abilities earlier. I'm sure that, as a generous nobleman, Viscount Glaint…you wouldn't mind covering the expenses, right?"
"Not a problem! I'll pay for everything! No—double! I'll pay double!"
"Much appreciated."
Audrey giggled at the side.
——
"Ahem."
Xio cleared her throat and added, "Also, Viscount Glaint, don't forget my bounty money."
"…"
Viscount Glaint nearly spat blood in frustration.
You shameless woman!
——
With that, everything finally settled down for the night.
Xio secured her bounty.
Fors regained her freedom.
Audrey experienced an adventure.
Viscount Glaint obtained the Apothecary formula.
Edward walked away with the formula, materials, and compensation.
Even Danitz got a good night's sleep.
Six Wins!
Edward loved situations where nobody lost. A peaceful resolution—how perfect~
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.