"Do you know anything about the Rose School of Thought?" Luo En proactively asked Cattelya, who was beside him, about another question that had been on his mind.
"The Rose School of Thought?"
"Mhm." Luo En nodded, explaining, "I once encountered a Beyonder from the Rose School of Thought. The Señor just now gave me a similar feeling. I suspect he might also be from the Rose School of Thought."
"I know a little about the Rose School of Thought," Cattelya replied. "The Rose School of Thought originated in the Southern Continent, and it is internally divided into the Hedonists and the Ascetics."
"The Ascetics?"
"Mhm." Cattelya nodded. "Their philosophy is suppression and temperance. In fact, the Rose School of Thought was originally entirely composed of Ascetics. The Hedonists, who advocate gaining strength through desire, were a later branch."
Subsequently, Cattelya briefly recounted the history of the Rose School of Thought to Luo En.
According to this, those who attacked me in Bayam before must have been the so-called Hedonists, Luo En thought to himself.
Although I did kill a few of their members, was it necessary to incur such deep hatred? They keep hounding me.
I have a feeling I'll run into them again.
I hope they aren't those grotesque types again.
Luo En sighed and turned his gaze back to Cattelya beside him.
However, this Admiral of the Stars is truly knowledgeable. Although her strength is more widely known at sea than her academic prowess.
The two chatted for a while longer about some rumors and intelligence from the sea.
As the two bathed in the sunset and conversed happily, a golden-yellow sailboat, dozens of meters long, slowly appeared on the horizon.
Before Cattelya could examine it closely, a hint of surprise flashed in Luo En's eyes.
"The Golden Dream!"
The Iceberg Admiral's Golden Dream—Cattelya immediately recalled the relevant intelligence from her mind.
"Iceberg Admiral Edwina Edwards is an adventurer and rarely engages in active plundering. So, we don't need to worry."
"I know—" Before Cattelya could finish, Luo En interrupted her.
"I didn't expect to meet the Captain here," Luo En muttered softly, looking at the approaching sailboat.
Captain. Cattelya keenly picked up on that address.
"You seem to be quite familiar with the Iceberg Admiral?"
"More or less." Luo En no longer concealed it. "I stayed on the Golden Dream for a while before."
"I see, you were her Sailor then," Cattelya said thoughtfully.
"No." Luo En shook his head. "I just spent some time on the Golden Dream, learning knowledge from the Captain."
"Learning?"
"Mhm." Luo En explained, "The Captain is the most knowledgeable scholar on the sea."
Most knowledgeable. Hearing Luo En's assessment, Cattelya's cool eyebrows subtly furrowed.
That's not necessarily true, she muttered to herself.
"So, the unconscious fellow in the cabin is 'Blazing' Danitz," Cattelya stated in a declarative tone.
Luo En shrugged, tacitly agreeing.
"Do you plan to board the Golden Dream?" Cattelya asked.
"What are your thoughts?" Luo En countered.
"Me?"
"Mhm." Luo En looked at her, his tone sincere: "I'm not as experienced at sea as you. And, considering your identity, to avoid any unnecessary conflicts, I'd like to hear your opinion."
Hearing this, Cattelya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your words seem to imply that you consider me a bad person who would actively stir up trouble."
Huh? Did my words imply that? Luo En silently questioned himself.
Seeing Luo En remain silent, Cattelya continued, "Considering our current environment and sailing risks, requesting aid from the Iceberg Admiral is indeed a reasonable suggestion."
"Don't worry, I won't have any conflicts with them."
Hearing that, Luo En breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. I also happen to have an academic question I wanted to discuss with the Captain."
Academic question. Cattelya glanced at Luo En thoughtfully, then subtly turned her head away.
Somehow, she felt inexplicably annoyed.
On the Golden Dream.
Edwina was in the Captain's cabin, contemplating the next route while looking at the sea chart.
Danitz's previous message had told them not to go to Bayam.
But clearly, after learning that both Danitz and Brando were in danger, she was not the kind of person who would choose to remain indifferent.
Just as she was pondering how to enter Bayam without alarming the Storm Church, a Sailor came to knock on the door.
"Enter."
"Captain, a strange small boat has been spotted ahead."
"Small boat?"
"Yes, it seems to be signaling us."
Hearing this, Edwina immediately went to the deck and saw the "small fishing boat" drifting on the sea.
She picked up her monocular telescope and looked towards it.
That's—Admiral of the Stars Cattelya? And is that Danitz hanging on the mast?
Edwina clearly saw the three people on the boat. Apart from an unfamiliar young man, the other was her colleague, and the one hanging on the mast was her long-missing First Mate.
Are they asking for help? Edwina immediately analyzed their purpose.
To better convey the message to the Golden Dream, Luo En specifically removed the white mask from Danitz's face and hung him in the most conspicuous spot.
I'm sorry, Danitz, please sacrifice yourself one more time. Luo En apologized to him in his heart.
Before long, there was a response to the signal, and the Golden Dream slowly began to approach them.
Soon after, a rope ladder was lowered from the massive hull.
Luo En first tucked Lachi into his backpack, then, carrying the still unconscious Danitz, he said to Cattelya, "You go up first, I'll follow—"
However, Cattelya merely glanced at him, then gently waved her hand.
The next second, Luo En and she were lifted by an invisible force, floating in mid-air, and finally landed steadily on the spacious deck of the Golden Dream.
What a convenient ability, Luo En sighed.
Shortly after they landed, a large group of armed Sailors surrounded the three of them, vigilantly eyeing the two uninvited guests.
Edwina quickly arrived from behind the crowd. She first nodded politely to Cattelya, greeting her.
"Madam, welcome to the Golden Dream."
Then, she turned her gaze to the unfamiliar young man carrying Danitz, asking with concern, "Danitz, how is he?"
"He's just unconscious, nothing serious."
After entrusting Danitz to the other Sailors who had rushed over upon hearing the news, Edwina came to Luo En's side and said directly, "Brando, let's talk in the Captain's cabin."
This—because she knew I was with Danitz, she immediately recognized me even though I changed my appearance?
Luo En nodded.
Subsequently, Edwina turned to Cattelya, extending an invitation: "Madam, please also come to the Captain's cabin for a detailed discussion."
Under the puzzled gazes of the surrounding Sailors, Luo En and Cattelya walked together towards the Captain's cabin.
Inside the Captain's cabin of the Golden Dream.
Luo En briefly recounted everything that had happened recently to Edwina.
"I see—"
After listening to his narration, Edwina nodded thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, Cattelya, sitting to the side, watched the two conversing happily, her gaze hidden behind her glasses becoming somewhat subtle.
Are they really just simple friends, a scholar and an adventurer—A certain thought uncontrollably surfaced, causing her fingers to unconsciously tighten slightly.
A moment later, Edwina turned her gaze to Cattelya, saying politely, "Madam Cattelya, thank you for helping my friend."
"No, I should be the one thanking him," Cattelya quickly composed herself, replying in her usual cool tone, though her gaze lingered on Luo En for an extra second.
Subsequently, Luo En and Edwina resumed their conversation about recent events and observations in Bayam.
Perhaps because he had narrowly escaped death, Luo En was in a rather good mood, and his tone unconsciously revealed a hint of ease.
Just then, Cattelya, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, interrupting them.
"You seem to have an academic question to ask Madam Edwards?" Her voice seemed a bit deeper, with a hint of subtle tension.
"Ah?" Luo En was taken aback by her sudden remark.
I... I do have a question I want to ask the Captain. But—aren't you still here? Discussing private academic questions in front of you—
Luo En was a little confused. Why had this Admiral of the Stars suddenly become so insensitive? In his opinion, her emotional intelligence shouldn't be that low.
If only I hadn't said that extra sentence on the deck earlier.
"Academic question?" Edwina was also a bit curious.
"Mhm." Luo En nodded, glancing at Cattelya beside him, who seemed a bit "unhappy."
"Madam Cattelya is also a very accomplished scholar in the Beyonder domain," Edwina said sincerely. "I think, for academic questions, we might be able to discuss them together."
Although Edwina was speaking up for her, her words, heard by Cattelya, who was secretly brooding over the "most knowledgeable" comment, subtly carried a hint of challenge.
Although she knew Edwina didn't mean it that way, her words, combined with Luo En's earlier reaction, sounded as if her academic level was inferior to the other party's.
"Perfect," Cattelya interjected, her tone flat but undeniable. "I'm also very interested in what kind of difficult problem requires consulting the most knowledgeable scholar on the sea."
This—
Luo En felt an inexplicable pressure. He kept feeling that the atmosphere here was a bit off, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
Never mind, those photos of the murals aren't anything that needs to be particularly hidden anyway.
"These were taken by me in an ancient ruin that has been completely destroyed," Luo En said, speaking half-truths. "Not long after I finished taking them, that ruin was completely destroyed by a collapse."
Edwina took the photos, examining each one carefully, her expression gradually becoming solemn.
Especially when she saw the image related to "partitioning," it gave her some unsettling, blasphemous associations.
This time, Cattelya spoke first: "This is an artistic style from the early Fourth Epoch, and the content of the murals should be related to certain deities."
Luo En nodded, which was similar to his previous conjecture.
Edwina also gradually recovered from her shock: "This shouldn't be a purely religious mural. It's very likely—it records a true history unknown to people."
She looked up at Luo En: "Are you very interested in these?"
Luo En nodded: "I really want to know about the history behind this mural. As for the reason—let's just say it's my personal curiosity."
"Where is that ruin?" Cattelya asked. "Perhaps we can find more clues there."
Edwina's face also showed great interest.
Luo En sighed: "It's already gone. It was a deserted island I discovered by chance, and I'm not entirely sure of its specific coordinates."
Even if I knew the coordinates, it would be useless; that unlucky island has long since been directly blasted to smithereens by lightning, he added in his heart.
Hearing this, Edwina said, "I will help you research these murals. I am also very interested in that submerged history."
For a Reader, knowledge is knowledge, even if it is full of blasphemy.
Cattelya, at his side, immediately stated, "I will also use my channels to help you gather relevant information."
She paused, then added, seemingly casually, "…These murals indeed have great research value."
"Thank you," Luo En said with a smile, expressing his gratitude.
That smile made Cattelya pause.
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing." Cattelya lowered her head.
"Listen… it hurts so much."
In the ship's infirmary, Danitz groggily opened his eyes.
In his vision, the first thing to appear was a familiar black-haired figure wearing a black trench coat.
"Damn it—why do even angels look like Brando?" He subconsciously complained.
Wait, where is this…
Danitz suddenly reacted, abruptly sat up from the bed, and began to look around.
This familiar decor, this familiar smell of moldy wood… "The Golden Dream!" He shouted the name, somewhat incredulously.
These days, he had dreamed of returning to this place. Now, his dream had actually come true!
"Not an angel, I'm sorry about that," a slightly teasing voice came from the side.
"Brando!" Danitz looked at Luo En, who was sitting nearby. "What exactly happened?!"
Luo En chuckled, briefly explaining to him the series of events that had occurred after he fainted.
"Damn it! How could such a coincidence happen?!"
A moment later, Edwina also pushed open the door and walked in.
"Danitz, how are you?"
"Cap—Captain! I'm fine!" Seeing Edwina, Danitz's voice began to stammer, but at the same time, there was a feeling of tearful emotion.
"By the way, Danitz." Edwina looked at him and said in a very calm tone, "You're so tired this time, would you like another long vacation?"
"No! No more!" Danitz decisively refused.
"I—I don't want any more vacations!"
Haha… Luo En chuckled twice. He looked at the sea outside the window—
He had a premonition that he could return smoothly this time.
Those troubles could finally be shaken off.
It's unlikely that anyone in Backlund would still be thinking of him, right?