Yedgar Island.
Tonight, Yedgar Island was hit by a heavy storm. The Sea Island, washed clean by the rain, was filled with the fresh scent of post-rain air.
Alger walked along a small path, stepping through numerous puddles of various sizes, his soles often picking up a leaf or two.
He had been ordered to Yedgar Island to investigate the 'evil' that had appeared on this Sea Island, and it had been many days since he arrived.
This Sea Island was originally controlled by a dictator named Yedgar, hence the Sea Island was named after him. However, the island's owner was now dead.
During his covert investigations these past few days, a hunter appeared in Alger's line of sight.
That hunter was named Rayleigh, and it was said that Yedgar had died by his hand.
From various traces and clues, it appeared that Yedgar had imprisoned many Adventurers and Beyonders in a dungeon beneath his house.
From Yedgar's house, many materials and items used for rituals had also flowed out.
Combining all the intelligence, it seemed Yedgar was preparing to use those people in the dungeon for some kind of ritual, requiring human sacrifices, clearly to appease a malevolent god.
Additionally, Alger found some traces of the Rose School of Thought's activities. It seemed that Yedgar was a dictator supported by the Rose School of Thought.
But all of this had been disrupted by the hunter named 'Rayleigh'.
Alger was not unfamiliar with Rayleigh.
Through internal Church documents, he knew that this hunter, Rayleigh, first appeared in Damir Port, where he hunted the 'Blood Shark'. The 'Blood Shark' seemed to be a member of Blood Admiral's fleet, and thus Blood Admiral had even placed a bounty of 2500 pounds on this hunter.
Afterward, the hunter 'Rayleigh' assisted Bishop Miller of Bansi Port in resolving the curse incident at the underground temple in Damir Port.
After that cooperation, Rayleigh was bestowed a storm emblem by Bishop Miller, becoming one of the Church's 'informants' on the Sea.
However, since the Yedgar Island incident, that hunter seemed to have disappeared and had not re-established contact with the Church. There were rumors that he had joined the 'Golden Dream', but the truth of the matter was unknown.
Alger arrived at a bar, pushed open its heavy door with force, and prepared to gather some intelligence.
Just then, an boundless gray fog suddenly surged from behind the bar's door. Alger suddenly saw an image, and the sound of prayer echoed in his ears.
"Respected Mr. The Fool."
"...Please be sure to inform the members of the Loen Kingdom to respond in time and avoid disaster."
The Feysac Empire is going to launch a surprise attack on Pritz Harbor?
Alger was utterly shocked by this news. At this moment, the gray fog dispersed, and several patrons who wanted to leave were unable to move because he was blocking the doorway, and they couldn't help but complain.
Alger, however, stood there like a stone statue. After a moment, he turned and rushed out of the bar.
He went straight to the island's telegraph office, deciding to report this news. He believed that once this news was confirmed, his name would appear in the sight of some important figures!
This was the motivation for Alger's efforts.
--
Backlund, Cherwood district.
When the blonde Miss, only one meter fifty tall, returned to her residence with tired steps, she had just opened the door when she heard a gasp from her friend's room.
Despite her fatigue, Xio still roused her spirits, pulled down the 'Shadow Gauntlets' on her hand, rushed to Fors's bedroom, and kicked the door open!
Bang.
The wooden door was kicked open by the blonde Miss, revealing Fors, wearing pajamas, with slightly disheveled hair, and holding a cigarette, sitting on the floor.
A chair was overturned beside her; it seemed she had accidentally fallen off herself. Xio looked around, saw that the windows were closed tightly, and there were no signs of intrusion, which put her mind at ease.
"What are you doing?" Xio pulled up her friend, noticing that her pajama strap had slipped down, revealing a smooth, rounded shoulder, and the proud peaks beneath her loose neckline.
Then she looked at herself.
Never mind, best not to look.
Xio scratched her rough blonde hair and looked at the table, where a piece of paper lay, with only a few lines of text on it.
"Are you rushing a manuscript?"
Fors put out her cigarette, slumped onto the sofa, and said, "I wish I was rushing a manuscript, but the truth is, I lack inspiration."
"Then you should get a good night's sleep. Maybe inspiration will strike tomorrow."
Xio walked to the door, wanting to help her close it.
" Xio."
Fors suddenly called out.
Xio turned her head: "What?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Xio glanced at her, then closed the door.
Fors then scratched her slightly curly hair and said, "The Feysac people are going to bomb Backlund next wednesday. I should inform Xio and then leave Backlund, that's the best choice, right?"
"After all, I can't help much by staying. But if I leave, where can I go?"
"Leaving Backlund for other cities in Loen seems pointless. If war really breaks out, other places might not be as safe as Backlund."
"After all, this is the heart of Loen. Even if the Feysac people really bomb here, there will be important figures to handle it."
"And if I leave Backlund, leave Loen, the journey is too far. I'd have to bring so, so many suitcases. Just thinking about it makes me collapse."
"I'll just stay in Backlund. I'll wait and see how the situation develops before deciding. It's not too late."
She always wanted to drag things out until the last minute.
Whether it was rushing a manuscript or other matters, if she didn't have to make a decision immediately, she wouldn't.
"I'm done with today's tasks. I'm going back now."
South Bridge District, in the Harvest Church, the handsome, somewhat effeminate Sanguine Emlyn White, with his hair slicked back, impatiently said to Father Utravsky.
The tall but benevolent-looking Father smiled: "Go back. Recently, you have experienced the spirit of dedication and gratitude. You will reap the pure joy that comes from it."
"I'm not happy at all," Emlyn said reflexively, then hurried out of the church, but habitually closed the door behind him.
He eagerly headed towards the West District. He had an urgent matter that needed to be reported to the higher-ups of the Blood Race.
"Damn it, the Feysac people are actually going to bomb Backlund. If war breaks out, then in the future, I won't be able to buy those life-sized dolls, will I?"
"Damn it, I don't want to leave Backlund. I don't want to stay in the cold underground, sleeping in a coffin visited by spiders and other insects."
"Besides, my dolls won't fit in a coffin!"