"We meet again."
The old-fashioned gentleman Barros Hopkins said with a smile.
The massive black sailing ship drew extremely close, blocking out the sunlight and casting a vast, heavy shadow over their vessel.
Silas's entire body tensed as he watched the old-fashioned gentleman on the opposite ship with utmost vigilance.
How did the "Black Throne" appear here?
Where's the Queen? Why hasn't she caught up?
Damn it!
After so much hardship, they'd finally reached this island, finally glimpsed hope of advancement, and at this most critical moment, they'd encountered this troublesome fellow again!
Stay calm.
Silas took a deep breath.
"Whoosh..."
He immediately summoned illusory tides to protect his mind.
"Rumble..."
On the black ship, sailors swiftly adjusted the cannons.
Those dark muzzles aimed downward at their vessel from various points along the hull, displaying silent intimidation.
As for Barros himself, he observed them with keen interest.
The next moment, transparent ripples like water patterns appeared around his wheelchair, rapidly spreading outward and merging with the surrounding environment.
Invisibly, something seemed to change.
"Crash!"
Inside Silas's mind, the sound of illusory tides surged dramatically, automatically reacting in response.
Then came a "crack," as if vast sheets of glass shattered around him. He suddenly opened his eyes, awakening from a false dream.
"Ah, ah..."
Beside him, Anderson's eyes were tightly shut, trapped in an extremely terrifying nightmare.
Though his face was filled with intense horror, he couldn't wake up no matter what!
"Heh."
Seeing this, the old-fashioned gentleman at the bow gently shook his head.
"To resist a dream I've woven, you truly are unusual."
This guy just tried to pull me into a dream!
Silas glared coldly at him. His right hand opened, and the blazing lava sword rapidly formed.
Inside his left sleeve, he secretly gripped Agony, ready to strike at any moment.
Behind him, over a dozen blood puppet surged onto the deck, their bodies crimson red, echoing the red robe rippling with waves on his surface, vaguely tending to merge into one.
"Calm down. Don't be so impulsive."
Barros's fingers rubbed against the wheelchair's armrest, his eyes fixed on Silas, his tone mild.
"We can still talk."
Talk about what? About how you attacked me before?
Silas stared coldly at him.
The other party was a high-sequence Beyonder of the Spectator pathway.
How could he possibly chat with him? Before he knew it, his psychological weaknesses would be exploited, his will modified, and he'd become the man's puppet!
"No need to worry. As long as that special quality of yours exists, I can't control you in a short time.
At least during this period, we can still chat."
The Black Throne seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled.
He continued:
"That black key doesn't belong to you, and you have no obligation to safeguard it for the Queen.
Keeping it is only a heavy burden. I hope you can return it to me. I'll pay you a generous reward."
"...If we can resolve this without conflict, that would be best. If possible, I don't want to see you harmed."
Barros's tone was gentle and sincere, subtly laced with suggestions that made one involuntarily feel agreement.
But Silas responded with a cold laugh.
"You've got it backward, haven't you?"
He decisively refuted, "The reason you're not acting isn't because you don't want to harm me, but because you fear me."
This guy is afraid of those tides!
Otherwise, why would a Sequence 3 waste words on a Sequence 5!
"..."
The "Black Throne" paused subtly, then smiled again. This time, his smile became very deep.
The giant ship he was on began to tremble slightly as the expressionless sailors formally loaded ammunition.
"This is already the second time you've refused me."
Barros sighed. "You really won't give it up?"
Like hell...
"Boom!"
Before the crude words could burst from Silas's mouth, he saw an explosion occur on the Black Throne's flagship.
It had been hit by cannon fire!
"Sizzle..."
The flagship's sails were corroded by strange energy, instantly rotting through with large holes.
What struck it wasn't ordinary cannonballs but enchanted projectiles. Following the trajectory back to its source in the distance, the Dawn's silhouette appeared prominently on the sea surface several miles away.
It's the "Queen Mystic" Bernadette!
She'd finally arrived... wait!
Silas's heart initially leapt with joy, but then his expression sharpened as his vigilance rose to its peak.
He quickly looked toward the "Black Throne," Barros.
If just moments ago Barros still had the luxury to maneuver with him, now that the Queen had appeared, he had no time to spare.
He must seize the key by the most aggressive means before the Queen arrived.
Even if he still had misgivings, he'd be willing to take some risks now!
In other words, Silas now faced his greatest crisis!
And just as Silas expected, Barros's eyes narrowed slightly at that moment as invisible fluctuations gathered around him...
"Here, what you want!"
But before Barros could unleash his ability, he heard Silas shout loudly.
A black key had somehow appeared in his right hand, drawing Barros's attention.
The spirituality emanating from that black key was very distinctive. Without a doubt, it was genuine!
The "Black Throne's" gaze involuntarily fell on the key, watching as Silas gripped it, traced an arc through the air, and threw it into the sea?!
"Whoosh!"
At the same instant, Silas's body transformed into a fireball, shooting rapidly toward the fog-shrouded island.
He'd thrown away the key without the slightest hesitation and plunged into the dangerous depths of the mist.
"..."
Barros's gaze lingered briefly on the fading firelight where Silas had vanished.
After seeing him completely swallowed by the fog, he made no attempt to stop him.
Sensing the Queen's rapid approach, he shifted his attention back and began connecting with the minds of fish in the water, having them search for traces where the key had fallen.
This was what mattered most to him!
Unfortunately for the "Black Throne," he was destined for disappointment this time.
---
"Back, as expected."
Silas looked at the black key in his palm and laughed coldly. The key Roselle had crafted wasn't so simple.
Earlier experiments had already revealed that when it was too far from its bound holder, it would return to the holder's hand through peculiar means.
Idiot. Go fish around in the sea. You'll be lucky if you find anything...
Putting the key back inside his body, he raised his head and surveyed his surroundings.
Fog spread quietly and densely, with very low visibility all around.
Though he'd only just entered the edge, sounds from outside could no longer penetrate.
"Crash..."
The sound of tides echoed in Silas's mind. He took a deep breath and walked deeper into the fog.