Under Kanna's suppression, Dahlia quickly approached Ifrit.
Then, intense water vapor, accompanied by a "sizzling" sound, began to spread outwards from their center, only dissipating after nearly ten minutes.
Everyone watched Kanna emerge from the steam, clapping her small hands. Behind her, a water orb enveloped Ifrit, who appeared unharmed.
However, Kaltsit noticed something amiss with Ifrit; the exaggerated Originium crystals that had been exposed on her skin were gone.
For someone working in oripathy treatment, Kaltsit knew without thinking what it meant for a severely Infected patient to have their external Originium crystals disappear. She knew the immense stir this news would cause for Rhodes Island and Ifrit if it got out.
It is well known that oripathy has always been a severe infectious disease that restricts the lifelines of all nations. Everything in Terra is inseparable from Originium, yet they fear it. If the problem of oripathy infection were solved, the entire Terra would experience terrifyingly rapid development.
"I apologize, Mr. Carmen, but our companion appears to be unwell. I need to provide her with urgent medical attention, so we must part ways here!" Kaltsit said, and without waiting for Carmen or the Inquisitors who had followed him to react, she slammed the door shut.
The Inquisitors following Carmen had some complaints about Kaltsit's "impolite" behavior, but since Carmen, their leader, did not object, they could not overstep their bounds.
"The people of Rhodes Island, from Stonebay Town to Saltywind City and now to Gran Faro, have helped us thwart several Seaborn conspiracies. A small impulsive act should be within our tolerance. Everyone, please rest... We can discuss anything tomorrow."
After Saint Carmen spoke, everyone dispersed and went inside to rest.
Not far away, the three Abyssal Hunters stood at the entrance of a room.
"It's a bit strange. Based on my understanding of Kaltsit during this time, she isn't someone who would behave so impolitely..." Gladiia looked at Rhodes Island's courtyard with some curiosity.
"That child named Ifrit, from what I understand, is a very important asset to Rhodes Island. That should have been an Originium Arts outburst. Tsk, even from this distance, I can still feel that scorching power in the air. Children nowadays are truly terrifying... It's understandable that Kaltsit would be so anxious... Let's sleep. Honestly, today's battle was quite enjoyable." Specter stretched, but her graceful figure went unnoticed by the two people beside her.
Gladiia frowned slightly, recalling the scene from earlier and pondering Specter's words. She felt as if something was right in front of her, but she couldn't grasp it.
"Hoo hoo..." Just then, a sound of deep sleep came from beside her. She turned to find Skadi leaning on a nearby chair, already deep in slumber.
Gladiia shook her head, casting her doubts aside. Now that the matter in Gran Faro was temporarily resolved, what did the schemes and deceptions of the land dwellers have to do with her?
At The Inquisition's outpost, Irene recounted in detail to Dario and Carmen all the situations her group encountered after setting sail.
"I never expected that Captain Alfonso of the Fools Ship would have survived sixty years at sea..." Dario, knowing how terrifying Seaborn erosion was, marveled that Alfonso could resist Seaborn erosion through his sheer will. Alfonso truly lived up to his name as a hero of Iberia.
"Yes, Captain Alfonso also had a very special Seaborn companion with him. It should still retain human consciousness... He called it his First Mate... I also heard him mention its name—Garcia."
Irene recalled events from the ship while describing the only two "people" on board.
She didn't notice the shock and sadness in the eyes of the respected old man nearby when she mentioned "First Mate Garcia."
Dario next to her subtly glanced at Carmen, who had fallen silent. He had seen the Fools Ship's records from back then and knew how close Saint Carmen had been to everyone on the Fools Ship. Irene's unintentional words would be a great blow to him.
He immediately changed the subject of his apprentice's conversation, "What do you think of Kanna?"
Upon hearing this question, a female Grand Inquisitor standing nearby, who had been listening intently, cast a similarly curious gaze.
"Kanna? She gives me a very strange feeling... Since we set sail, her actions, though seemingly chaotic, have been extremely purposeful. Moreover, her understanding of the Seaborn is no less than that of the Abyssal Hunters who claim to have fought the Seaborn for many years.
I have a feeling she knows many things, such as the lighthouses, and the Stultifera Navis. And she stands behind the scenes, pushing everything in one direction."
To be an Inquisitor, and to be taken under the wing of the Grand Inquisitor as his successor, Irene's intelligence and insight were undoubtedly top-notch.
Although her current strength was still lacking, strength could always be slowly trained, while her vision and thinking represented her potential.
Carmen stood up from his seat, "At least we don't have to worry about Kanna siding with the Seaborn, nor will she favor the Aegir. That is the best news. On the way back, I observed her; she always wanted to tell me something but held back. In any case, I believe we will get an answer tomorrow."
In the courtyard of Rhodes Island's outpost,
"What exactly happened? Why did Ifrit become like this? And where is Misery?" Kaltsit reached out and touched Ifrit's skin. She was still unconscious, and her body temperature was terrifyingly high; even with Dahlia's buffering, it still scalded Kaltsit's fingers.
With just a second of contact, Kaltsit realized that Ifrit was no longer the Ifrit she knew. At least, her current self had probably transformed into something else.
"Let me explain. After you set sail, we assisted The Inquisition that arrived in Gran Faro to clear out the cultists hidden among the populace.
But in one oversight, a cultist disguised as a child approached Ifrit. You know Ifrit has always lived in a laboratory; she doesn't understand schemes at all. By the time I noticed, she had already drunk the water the cultist handed her.
That water was an extract from the Seaborn, used by these cultists to transform themselves into Seaborn. Ifrit was right in front of us..." Saria's expression showed regret as she spoke, realizing that a moment of carelessness had almost made her lose Ifrit.
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