"Gulp."
Roy King swallowed, forcefully suppressing the panic in his heart.
He adjusted his glasses and looked at the mysterious lady shrouded in shadow, whose specific appearance was unclear.
"Lady, do you... have anything you'd like to ask?"
He didn't directly refuse or resist. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, just from the spirituality she exuded, he could distinctly feel that this uninvited guest was extraordinarily powerful.
This was definitely a Demigod! And, most likely, even more formidable than his elusive teacher!
Seeing that Roy King had no extreme reactions, Bernadette asked in a calm tone, "Do you know a man named 'Flaming' Danitz?"
"I do," Roy King replied without hesitation. "He's Iceberg Admiral Edwina Edwards's first mate, and he has some reputation in Bayam's Beyonder circles."
"Have you met him?"
Roy King pondered for a moment before saying, "I have. I've had a few encounters and made a few transactions with him at some unofficial Beyonder gatherings."
Bernadette nodded, then extended her hand and conjured a strangely shaped gold coin out of thin air.
"Look at this."
Roy King turned his gaze and stared at the gold coin. He could distinctly feel a flow of 'fate' from it. This was definitely something related to the Monster Pathway.
Just as Roy King was curiously examining the gold coin and rapidly pondering the mysterious lady's true intentions in his mind...
Bernadette suddenly asked a critical question:
"Do you know the adventurer named Monqi Brando who has been with Danitz recently?"
"What? It's him again?" A hint of shock flashed in Roy King's eyes.
He had just made up his mind to quickly run away and avoid that jinx. Yet, in the blink of an eye, that damned Brando had landed him in such enormous trouble!
He quickly calmed himself, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to subtly gloss over this critical topic. However, Bernadette seemed to see through his thoughts and said in an undeniable tone, "It seems you know a lot about Monqi Brando.
Tell me everything you know."
"Lady..." Roy King's expression turned somewhat grim. "Is this a threat?"
Bernadette didn't speak.
But Roy King could distinctly feel that the aura on her, which had been somewhat restrained, was becoming increasingly powerful. The air in the entire room seemed to have solidified.
What should I do?
If I don't speak, this Demigod in front of me won't let me go.
But if I do... with Brando's bizarre 'luck,' will it backfire on me?
Roy King was in a dilemma, his Adam's apple bobbing:
"After accompanying the energetic Katarina through several districts of Bayam, Luo En finally concluded this special 'date'."
He escorted Katarina to the entrance of the luxurious hotel where she was currently staying, a hotel whose golden, magnificent entrance and doormen in crisp uniforms immediately indicated its absolute exorbitant price.
"Do you want to... come up for a sit?" At the hotel entrance, Katarina stopped, turned around, and looked at Luo En with an inviting gaze.
Luo En shook his head.
Although he did want to experience what a luxury hotel of this era was like, seeing Katarina's eager eyes, he decisively chose to refuse.
Forget it. Curiosity killed the cat.
Just as he was about to bid farewell and leave, Katarina suddenly sighed.
"Sigh..." she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice, "We've talked for so long, and you... haven't once asked for my name."
"It was the same those few times before. Aren't you curious about my name at all?"
"Hmph... So troublesome."
Hearing this, Luo En could only stop and ask in an emotionless tone, "Then, Lady, what is your name?"
Katarina looked at him, then smiled slyly and shook her head, saying, "I won't tell you."
"After all, you haven't told me your name, have you?"
Before Luo En could speak, she added, "But, I don't want to know now either."
"Just continuing to call you 'Gentleman' is quite nice."
With that, she turned and walked towards the hotel entrance.
As she was about to enter, she turned back and said to Luo En in a sweet, cloying voice that could make any man's bones tingle:
"That's a term of endearment, you know."
Luo En looked at Katarina's retreating figure, then lowered his head to look at the Silent Ring in his hand, and couldn't help but sigh.
"She's really good at flirting!"
The next day, Luo En visited Vitz Antique Shop again.
He first found Ceasar and purchased an additional "Blazing Sun" charm, just in case.
Actually, he had originally wanted to leave Steel Maveti's Beyonder characteristic here for Ceasar to sell on his behalf. But after careful consideration, he gave up on the idea.
Maveti had only recently died, and this characteristic was definitely still too hot to handle. Moreover, even if Ceasar was willing to sell it, it might not sell quickly. And since he was in a hurry to leave, he might not get the money.
Then, he put on the white mask again and, led by Ceasar, went to the study from last time, where he once again met the mysterious lady also wearing a white mask.
"Hmm..."
When Cattelya saw Luo En arrive, she didn't waste any words. She directly took out a long, rectangular wooden box from under the table and handed it to Luo En.
Luo En took the box and opened it. Inside lay a dagger, entirely black, but with strange red patterns like blood vessels engraved on its blade.
He took the dagger in his hand, felt it, then infused it with spirituality and briefly experimented with it, confirming that there were no issues with what the other party had described.
He looked up and said to Cattelya, "Lady, I think we can make a deal."
Cattelya nodded upon hearing this.
After completing the transaction, Luo En hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to speak, "Lady, when I spoke with you last time, I heard that you have extensive connections at sea. Perhaps... you have a way to safely take someone out of Bayam?"
Cattelya nodded and replied in a calm tone, "Yes, I can."
"Lady, I'll be frank," Luo En took a deep breath. "I have a friend who has recently offended some people in Bayam and wants to leave here as soon as possible. If you can safely take both me and my friend out of Bayam, how much would it cost?"
Upon hearing this, Cattelya's eyes, hidden behind her mask, subtly shifted. She pondered for a moment and then asked, "Who is your friend?"
"He is also an adventurer," Luo En replied. "As for his specific name, I'm afraid it's inconvenient for me to disclose."
"Who did he offend?" Cattelya asked again.
"A group of pirates..." Luo En chose his words carefully. "It's said to be... a certain Pirate General.
"But... we only need to reach Damir Port," Luo En added.
Pirate General...
Cattelya weighed the pros and cons in her mind.
The investigation task about rosell's diary that the Queen had given her was already considered complete. The Queen had also informed her through special channels that she would personally investigate the subsequent matters. She no longer needed to concern herself with it.
Moreover, the rumors in Bayam had indeed not been good recently, and as a Pirate General, she didn't want to stay here much longer.
Making another deal on the way out wouldn't be bad.
She could sense that Luo En's words just now contained some concealment, but largely, they should be true.
As a "Star Admiral," she didn't even care about ordinary pirate forces. Even against Pirate Generals of the same rank, she was confident that she wouldn't lose to anyone.
Furthermore, Bayam wasn't too far from Damir Port; a simple transfer was feasible. "I can agree to your request." Cattelya made her decision after a moment of contemplation and stated her price.
"But, I want 3,000 pounds."
"3,000 pounds... That's too expensive!" Luo En complained inwardly, but outwardly, he remained unfazed.
"Can you guarantee our safety?" Luo En asked cautiously.
Cattelya said, "I will take you out of Bayam discreetly and ensure your safety as much as possible." Her voice was steady and calm.
"As much as possible..." Luo En noticed the reservation in that phrasing and subtly frowned.
"We can sign an agreement." Cattelya seemed to see through his concerns and added:
"But, I must state beforehand that although I am confident in taking you out safely, I will still prioritize my own safety."
Seeing Luo En's apparent hesitation, she stood up and said, "You can consider it further. For the next three days, if you decide to leave, you can come here to find me anytime."
Back at the hidden inn, Luo En informed Danitz about the meeting.
"Damn it! Three thousand pounds? Why doesn't she just rob us?!" Upon hearing the figure, Danitz immediately jumped out of his chair, even accidentally pulling at his wound.
Danitz clutched his wound, gritting his teeth and thinking to himself.
Damn it! One thousand five hundred pounds per person. I've been wanted and hunted, fighting for my life, and only earned one thousand five hundred pounds!
If I spend all the money on escaping, wouldn't I have worked for nothing? And I've gotten myself into a ton of trouble!
This isn't just a loss; it's a terrible loss!
When he returned to the ship, he would be laughed to death by "Iron Skin" and "Bucket."
Unlike Danitz's excitement, Luo En appeared unusually calm. "I feel that lady is very powerful." Luo En paused, then whispered, "About the same as the Captain, maybe even stronger."
"What? On the same level as the Captain?" Danitz was somewhat surprised.
She has some influence at sea, and she's powerful.
Could she also be a pirate? And a woman... Besides the Captain and Vice Admiral of Disease Tracy, it could only be Star Admiral Cattelya.
"Damn it! Could she be the Star Admiral?" Danitz gasped.
"Star Admiral..." Luo En fell into thought, recalling information about the Star Admiral.
"She didn't ask our identities, and I didn't ask hers. And even if it's true, I heard the Star Admiral has a pretty good reputation."
"Tch, her reputation is far worse than the Captain's!" Danitz sneered dismissively, but his tone was no longer as resolute as before.
"At least we have no animosity with her, and she herself is a pirate, so she wouldn't sell us to the Storm Church." Luo En turned and looked at Danitz seriously. "Try to contact the Captain again. If it really doesn't work, we'll have no choice but to go with this plan."
Danitz sighed deeply and slumped back into his chair: "Alright, I'll try."
Early the next morning, Luo En went out again to gather information. This time, he walked towards the luxurious hotel.
Honestly, although Katarina was suspicious, if she really had a channel that could help, Luo En wasn't entirely averse to contacting her.
After all, the 3,000-pound asking price was simply too high.
However, halfway there, that familiar figure reappeared in his sight. Today, Katarina was wearing a light blue long dress, standing at the street corner, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.
"Oh, we meet again." She turned around with a slight smile. "By your looks, are you here for me, Gentleman?"
Luo En subconsciously wanted to deny it: "Just passing by." "Oh, is that so?" Katarina tilted her head slightly.
"Are you really not here for me?"
"Hmph..."
Luo En sighed and said, "If we meet, taking a stroll with you isn't out of the question."
"Excellent!" Katarina immediately stepped forward and linked her arm through Luo En's, her movements practiced.
Feeling the softness against his arm, Luo En's mouth twitched slightly.
Seeing Luo En's somewhat awkward expression, Katarina secretly rejoiced. She believed that her carefully designed persona and storyline had successfully captivated this young man.
Indeed, no matter how pure a person is, they cannot escape the taste of love.
Young people so ignorant of the world would ultimately be no match for a Demoness.
Little Tracy, I'm sorry. She expressed her "apologies" to her daughter in her heart.
The two walked side by side on the streets of Bayam, chatting idly.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Bernadette appeared near the inn where Luo En and Danitz were hiding. She stood in the shadows of the street corner, surveying the surroundings.
'Flaming' Danitz is nearby, then..." she murmured softly, taking out the ancient gold coin from her pocket.
The gold coin reflected a faint light in the sun. Bernadette closed her eyes.
A moment later, she opened her eyes and looked thoughtfully in a certain direction.
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