In Trier, within a small villa provided by the golf club for gold card clients.
After offering the Black Knight's Beyonder characteristic to Mr. Fool, Ebner received a roll of yellow-brown parchment.
He didn't open it right away, since the book contained the Beyonder characteristic of Cohinem and was at the angel level. If it made any commotion, it would be difficult to deal with should the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun be drawn over.
After thinking briefly, he extended his spirituality to the gold-rimmed glasses and spent some money in "Alvin's Question Labyrinth" to open a "storage room," placing the Book of Calamity inside.
After that, he tidied up the ritual items and altar in the room. Just as he finished and was putting on his coat with the help of "Chelsia" controlled by the magic mirror, ready to head out, there came a knock at the bedroom door.
Opening it, he unsurprisingly found Fors standing outside.
She was wearing a newly bought pale yellow dress, holding a novel in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Seeing Ebner fully dressed, she asked in surprise, "Ebner, are you going out?"
"Yes. You know, I promised Helene I'd attend the masquerade," Ebner replied with a smile.
"You're not teleporting there directly?" Fors asked in surprise.
Since they had known each other for a long time and were quite familiar, she more or less understood the extent of Ebner's capabilities.
"I'll be staying in Trier for a while, so I need to set up a more stable altar for long-distance teleportation," Ebner said as he stepped outside the small villa with Chelsia.
Fors followed him all the way to the front gate before asking again, "When will we be able to retrieve what Mr. Trun left in the bank's safe deposit box?"
Ebner turned back, recalling the newspaper he saw on the train, and said cautiously, "There's no need to rush with that... If we go to the First Bank rashly, not only might we fail to retrieve it, but we could also draw unnecessary trouble.
"You have to understand, although the First Bank's safe deposit box service is claimed to be the most secure and convenient way to store valuables, it's not without its filth.
"If a tycoon comes to retrieve their belongings, sure, no problem. But for people like us, newcomers to Trier, trying to withdraw an 'inheritance' from the First Bank's safe isn't so easy!
"There are all kinds of procedures starting from just the 'appointment'... and we might get targeted by gangs or other forces trying to seize the legacy.
"One opposition newspaper recently reported a similar case…
"Even if we're not afraid of them, handling the aftermath would still be troublesome!
"So, let me get my assets in order first, then find a lawyer, broker, and business agent. Only then will we go to the First Bank."
Though lazy about certain things, Fors wasn't lacking in worldly experience. She quickly understood and nodded, but couldn't help but grumble, "Trier used to be known as the 'financial capital,' so how did it end up like this? The bank's service is so much worse than in Backlund..."
In fact, Trier's financial industry hadn't always been so chaotic. Back in Roselle the Great's time, it was worthy of being called a "financial capital"...
But now, many of Roselle's regulations had been abolished, and with political strife bleeding into the financial system, the loopholes had only grown worse.
With that in mind, Ebner didn't offer further explanation. After bidding farewell to Fors, he got into the club's carriage with Chelsia and headed for the outskirts of the Semburg District.
Semburg was located on the left bank of the Serence River. Named after the ancient Semburg Castle, it was one of the most expensive areas in all of Trier. Its residents were typically famous artists, opera stars, top executives of major corporations, and newly wealthy individuals.
That ancient castle, standing since the early Fourth Epoch and weathering thousands of years, had recently been purchased by the Dorian family and converted into the Semburg Museum.
The Dorian family's current manor was located just outside the Semburg District, not far from the museum.
But Ebner wasn't heading there for them—he was going to a small estate in the same area, formerly owned by Herta, the "Mirror Apostle" who had "donated" all her assets to him.
Seated in the carriage, Ebner's facial features slowly shifted, eventually transforming into the face of a portly man in his mid-thirties.
This wasn't Herta's face but that of the identity she used in Intis—a disguise under the name "Lucen Semb," a financial tycoon.
The carriage soon stopped before an estate with a vineyard. In the form of Lucen Semb, Ebner entered the main building with Chelsia in tow—it was a four-story Intis-style house.
This place is way smaller than Fragrant Manor… and that so-called fourth floor is barely tall enough to use as storage... Ebner curled his lip inwardly. Still, it was free, so he couldn't complain too much.
Most of the estate's servants were ordinary people. Only the steward and personal valet left behind were Beyonders—one a "Criminal," the other a "Planter," both at Sequence 9—and both were swiftly mind-controlled by the magic mirror.
After a brief interrogation, Ebner learned that the "Criminal" steward was a trusted subordinate trained by Mirror Apostle Herta, tasked with overseeing her properties in Trier.
Despite only being Sequence 9, this man had, over the years, driven more than twenty people to death through coercion and manipulation. He was a complete beast in human clothing.
In Ebner's eyes, that man had already been sentenced to "death." Once Herta's properties had all been gradually transferred under his name, he would deal with him.
As for the other "Planter," Hagel, although also trained by Herta, he had only been tasked with managing the vineyard and cultivating some "rare" grape varieties. He hadn't done anything vile.
For this man, Ebner planned to find an opportunity to take him to the Church of the Earth Mother to convert him, then use "Suggestion" to make him forget any favors he had received from Herta and continue working for him.
Since he had to attend a masquerade ball in Tosk that evening, Ebner didn't have time to explore "Ancient Vine Manor" in depth for now. After having Chelsia take control of everyone's minds in the estate, he went to the basement to set up a teleportation altar.
.....
Southern Rorsted Archipelago, Lans Island.
After returning to reality, Klein called over Danitz, who was just about to go drinking, and told him to carry a suitcase and follow him.
Although Danitz had no idea where this lunatic was going, since the captain had instructed him to follow the man for the time being, he resigned himself to the hard work of playing the "manservant."
After leaving the inn, Klein briskly walked through the port town that held no more than a thousand residents, then hiked to the edge of an uninhabited cliff on the other side of the island.
Staring down at the waves crashing endlessly against the rocky wall, Danitz looked around in confusion.
"This is our destination?"
Klein, still keeping up his Gehrman persona, ignored the question.
Instead, he first prayed to himself, then went above the gray fog and used the "Sea God Scepter" to summon a suitable nearby deep-sea creature.
Once he judged that the summoned sea monster was close, Klein pulled out a charm made of white tin and softly chanted the incantation for "Storm," activating powers like "Underwater Breathing" and "Deep Sea Water Membrane."
Half was applied to himself, and the other half to Danitz.
At that moment, a great splash erupted from below the cliff, and a massive creature resembling a whale surfaced from the ocean.
It was black-gray all over, its jaws suddenly gaping open to reveal rows of sharp white teeth and a bloody maw.
Klein stepped to the edge of the cliff, grabbed Danitz by the arm, and jumped down with him.
With the aid of the charm's power, they floated gently into the mouth of the enormous sea creature.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
It wasn't until the monster had completely closed its mouth that Danitz belatedly screamed.
"Shut up!" Klein barked in his Gehrman tone, even as he marveled at how long Danitz's mental reaction took.
In the darkness, Danitz silenced himself, then was about to strike a fire for light—but he immediately remembered they were inside a sea monster's body and gave up. Trying to make conversation instead, he asked, "Where are we going?"
Klein didn't answer directly but countered, "Are you afraid of heights?"
"Who—me? I'm not afraid of heights! Anyone would scream if they fell from that high!" Danitz forgot his own question and snapped back.
"Hmm, so the symptoms aren't obvious..." Klein said solemnly.
This lunatic really can't understand normal conversation! Danitz grumbled internally and chose not to argue further.
What he didn't see was Klein stroking his chin thoughtfully, a look of slight disappointment on his face.
Although there's some effect, this method of constructing an identity and slowly gaining recognition is too slow...
Similarly, truly playing a person for several years until everyone connected to that identity fully accepts it, to the point even I believe I am that person... it's time-consuming, more morally challenging, and even more twisted and maddening...
Sigh... to speed up the process, I'll have to overcome certain barriers—psychological barriers!
The role of "Faceless Man" may look simple on the outside, but the real key lies in the heart!
Who knew how much time had passed before the sea monster rose to the surface again. Ahead was a deserted island.
Using the power of the charm, Klein stepped onto the island, removed his hat, and bowed to the sea creature.
This startled Danitz, who grew increasingly worried about the lunatic's mental state.
After watching the enormous ocean creature leave, Klein led Danitz to a cave on the island.
Via "divine revelation," Klein had already instructed the fishermen who discovered Tracy to leave, leaving only a shovel standing beside the cave.
Gazing at the clearly filled-in soil, Klein pointed at the shovel and said to Danitz:
"Dig it up."
Having hunted for treasure with the captain for years, Danitz was no stranger to this kind of setup. Without any questions, he grabbed the shovel and got to work.
What kind of treasure could it be? This lunatic may be mad, but he's always generous... maybe I'll get a cut of whatever's inside?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the shovel struck something hard—a massive crystal that looked extremely valuable at first glance!
Danitz's spirits lifted, and he dug even faster. Because the fishermen hadn't compacted the soil much, he quickly unearthed the entire chunk of crystal.
And within the crystal was the figure of "Vice Admiral of Ailment" Tracy, wearing nothing but a thin coat.
This... how are we supposed to split this? Danitz was stunned, his mind immediately spiraling into wild speculation:
That's... Tracy?! Did this lunatic bury a pirate admiral here?
What's he trying to do? Plant one Tracy to grow a bunch of Vice Admirals of Ailment?
But since she hasn't sprouted... will he bury me next?
The pit's already been dug for me...
(End of Chapter)