Chapter 618: Volunteer Work

Second floor of the Sweet Lemon Bar, in the boss's room.

Bilt Brando held a cigar as he stood by the window. He was looking out,

and his eyes were out of focus as he wore a dark and terrifying

expression.

At this moment, a bodyguard entered, bent his back slightly, and

carefully said, "Sir, Sothoth has returned from the east."

"Let him in." Bilt tried hard to correct his expression.

Sothoth Yann was his assistant, an important member of the Adventurer

Association.

In less than a minute, Sothoth, who was dressed in a linen shirt, brown

jacket, and red headscarf, walked in. He looked to be in his thirties

and had bronze skin. He had recessed eye sockets and a black mustache

below and under his lips. He was obviously someone who spent most of his

time at sea.

Sothoth bowed rather informally and sized up Bilt Brando.

"Boss, something happened?"

"Yes, something happened. From the looks of it, it will fail." Bilt

didn't keep the matter from him as he sighed. "I have no idea how I'm

going to answer that important figure."

Without waiting for Sothoth to answer, he asked, "Have there been any

changes at the eastern front?"

"Still the same as usual. The pirates are still after every ship they

can plunder. They even target each other. The navy is only able to guard

the various colonial posts, and they're barely able to maintain smooth

passage through the sea routes while protecting the relatively important

ships. There are often sea battles with both sides obtaining victories

at times," Sothoth said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"The eastern front of the Sonia Sea is a pirate's playground..." Bilt

sighed in agreement.

Sothoth thought for a moment and added, "There has been some recent news

from the islands on the eastern front. Apparently it first originated

from the Black Death."

"Vice Admiral Ailment? What news is it?" Bilt asked, his interest

piqued.

Sothoth said with a solemn and excited tone, "Vice Admiral Ailment

really encountered an assassination attempt and was seriously injured.

And the person who attacked her was the adventurer, Gehrman Sparrow!"

"Gehrman Sparrow?" Bilt blurted out.

"Yes, it's him! He really is a powerhouse at the level of a pirate

admiral! Even if it was a sneak attack, it happened on the Black Death.

There were so many infamous pirates around, but he managed to

successfully escape after dealing a heavy blow to Vice Admiral Ailment.

He later hunted Wormtongue Mithor," Sothoth answered with affirmation

while sighing.

Bilt staggered before sighing.

"That's important news.

"There are very few powerhouses at the pirate admiral level among

adventurers. To be able to deal a heavy blow to a pirate admiral on her

flagship while alone---such an operation can only be done if one is

absolutely confident in themselves or crazy enough. Only a madman will

infiltrate a pirate admiral's flagship in an attempt to assassinate her,

instead of finding another spot!"

Having said that, his expression changed slightly.

"I met an adventurer named Gehrman Sparrow last night."

"For real?" Sothoth's pupils shrank as he asked solemnly.

"I can't be sure since I've never met the real Gehrman Sparrow, or seen

his photograph or portrait." Bilt shook his head.

Sothoth thought for a moment and said, "You can search for the

newspapers from the Rorsted Archipelago to confirm his identity. So many

days have passed. There should be tourists that would've brought over

the corresponding News Report and Sonia Morning Post. Yes, the

government offices, police stations, churches, and charity organizations

will subscribe to the important newspapers of the Rorsted Archipelago."

The Rorsted Archipelago was the biggest colonial grounds of the Loen

Kingdom in the Central Sonia Sea. Its influence radiated outward, so

there was no doubt that Oravi Island, which was within a distance of

three days of travel, was part of its domain of influence. The official

organizations and churches all subscribed to the newspapers and

magazines of the area, so any non-crucial news would be received in

three to four days.

"Alright." Bilt nodded as he probed deeper, "Do you have the exact

details of Gehrman Sparrow's assassination attempt on Vice Admiral

Ailment?"

Sothoth thought for a moment and said, "It's said that Gehrman Sparrow

is able to change into anyone, just like Vice Admiral Hurricane

Qilangos.

"It's with that power that he successfully infiltrated the Black Death

and found an opportunity to carry out the assassination."

"He can change into anyone..." Bilt's eyes lit up.

*No, that won't do. That's a crazy guy who dares to infiltrate the Black

Death to assassinate Vice Admiral Ailment. He causes one to

instinctively fear him and distance themselves from him...* The

light in Bilt's eyes dimmed.

Furthermore, I don't even know if he's the real one or not...

He subconsciously shook his head.

*I wonder when the Nighthawks and Machinery Hivemind will take action

and deal with the abnormality at Williams Street. I hope they do it as

soon as possible...* Amidst his thoughts, Klein left the gray

fog and returned to the real world.

After some consideration, he took out a piece of paper and laid it out

on a brown desk.

He wrote with a dark red fountain pen, asking about Mr. Azik's recent

situation before mentioning how he had discovered that someone had a

parasite in him while he was searching for a mystical item that could

steal the Beyonder powers of others.

Following that, he seemingly asked in passing if there was a way to

avoid the parasite and inform the host.

With this as a topic starter, he added how he learned from others about

information regarding the Worm of Time that was related to High-Sequence

Beyonders from the Marauder pathway. He also mentioned that he knew that

such an item could be used as a sacrificial item in important rituals or

as a material in high-level charms. However, he had no idea how to

produce them.

Phew... Klein put down the fountain pen, folded the letter,

and brought the copper whistle to his lips. He blew at it forcefully.

White bones spewed out like a fountain, forming a gigantic skeleton

messenger. But this time, the messenger didn't bore out from downstairs,

and it instead tore through the ceiling like many times before, looking

down at the summoner from above.

Klein knew that this wasn't because the messenger had become impolite

again, but because he was staying on the first floor of an inn...

He flicked his wrist and threw the letter like a dart, making it land

accurately in the messenger's huge bony hand.

The flames in the messenger's eye sockets flickered as though it was

observing Klein, but ultimately, nothing happened.

Its body disintegrated into a waterfall made of bones as they drilled

into the ground.

After everything was done, Klein didn't spread open the paper crane. He

erased what had been written and wrote the same content to seek advice

from the Snake of Mercury, Will Auceptin.

This was because he realized something terrible. The paper crane wasn't

a mystical item or Beyonder weapon. It was an ordinary piece of paper

that had been folded. After repeatedly having its content erased by an

eraser, it was beginning to show signs of its structural integrity

failing. In a few more tries, it might directly tear.

*I'll leave extremely important matters that require contact before

considering it. For example, only when Mr. Azik isn't sure how to bypass

the Grandpa to warn Leonard...* Klein shook his head silently

and rapidly packed up the items on his desk.

In addition, he didn't dare to use the radio transceiver to contact

Arrodes recently. This was because the powerhouse sent by the True

Creator was likely still loitering around the area in search for the

All-Black Eye's aura. The "scent" of the gray fog was also equally able

to attract the True Creator's attention, allowing "Him" to inform his

believers.

*Today, I'll continue being a tourist and relax. Tomorrow, I'll begin

searching for an opportunity to do real acting!* Klein retracted

his thoughts, draped on his coat, and took his top hat before walking

out the inn.

He planned on heading to the mountains outside Oravi Harbor to watch the

sunset!

This thought stemmed from a popular novel. Its author's name was Leeann

Mastaing. This gentleman was born in Odora and had decided to

permanently reside in Backlund after the age of twenty. His books had

introduced the sunset at Mt. Saint Draco with immense feelings,

believing that it was the most beautiful scene he had ever seen.

Klein rode a carriage out the city and walked to the foot of Mt. Saint

Draco. He took an hour before arriving at the peak of the not-so-tall

mountain.

Time passed as the sun slowly set, making the blue sea situated to the

left of the mountain peak appear like a sea of fire. As for the

emerald-green forests and the vast fields on the right, they seemed to

be gilded.

All the colors bloomed with the final touches of radiance in that

instant before darkness gradually approached until it became dark.

Ships entered the harbor as carriages drove into the city. The busy

people began returning home on the roads parallel to the wheat fields

and fruit gardens.

When darkness enveloped the entire land, specks of warm light lit up one

after another inside and outside the city. They were like resplendent

gems that dotted the velvet night sky.

It's really beautiful... Klein admired for a moment until all

the lights from each family were reflected in his eyes.

He turned around in silence and walked down the mountain path.

Accompanied by the dark trees, he returned to the foot of the mountain

before walking for some distance until he hired a carriage along the

periphery of the port city.

The carriage stably proceeded forward as the dim yellow halos from the

iron-black elegant street lamps silently illuminated the ground,

receding backwards into the distance.

After some time, Klein returned to his inn. He took out his key and

opened his door.

There was a bed, a desk, and a chair in the room, silently sitting there

in the rich darkness. They silently reflected some of the crimson

luster.

Klein closed the door very gently and walked to the window. He stood in

the shadows created by the curtains and remained motionless for quite

some time.

The lights outside were still bright.

Early the next morning.

Klein turned on the tap and patted his face with ice-cold water,

rejuvenating his entire body.

He had already thought of a way to engage in true acting.

It was still the hospital where death could occur at any moment!

In the past, Klein had only circled the area without much focus.

Loitering around had made it hard for him to find any suitable targets.

This time, he planned on using some time of volunteer work to stay in

the hospital for prolonged periods of time. He could provide hospice to

the dying patients who temporarily didn't have their family beside them.

By doing so, he could await the targets he needed.

After having breakfast, Klein arrived at 10 Blackforest Street and

entered the Oravi Hospice Foundation.

This was a charity organization of the Church of the Evernight Goddess.

One of its responsibilities was to provide the various hospitals with

trained volunteers.

Klein came to the registration booth and saw the female employee reading

the papers. Hence, he lightly tapped the table to attract her attention.

"Is there something I can help you with?" the lady lowered the papers

and asked.

"I wish to do some volunteer work," Klein said succinctly.

"Name?" The lady looked up at him.

Suddenly, her eyes froze as her right hand trembled. The fountain pen

she had just picked up fell to the ground.

In the papers in front of her was a portrait that looked almost

realistic.

The portrait's owner was that of the crazy and dangerous adventurer,

Gehrman Sparrow!