A secluded island in the Sonia Sea.
After ordering the fleet to anchor in the island's natural harbor, Silas told everyone to get some rest. He then called First Mate Anderson, Boatswain Walter, and the other Beyonders together for a meeting.
"There are just a few things I need to cover."
Silas began, "First, starting today, the Black King will serve as the fleet's flagship. The woman beside me is essentially the ship's spirit. By nature, she is a Sequence 2 Angel."
He gestured toward Antia, who stood beside him with Luna cradled in her arms. She looked perfectly content as she stroked the cat, completely ignoring the stunned looks around her.
"Second, we're expanding the fleet."
The first announcement had already left everyone shaken, but Silas continued without pause. Turning to his boatswain, he said, "Walter, choose a group of sailors who have performed well and kept their heads in battle over the past few weeks. They'll form the core crews assigned to the other ships. As a reward, I'll help them become Beyonders."
"Anderson, from now on, I also need you to continue recruiting people for me. Our standards remain the same. No pirates with criminal histories. We only take people from the lowest levels of society who have clean backgrounds and the courage to fight back."
"As for those of you who are already Beyonders, I intend to help all of you advance as well. Potions, mystical items, ingredients, whatever each of you needs."
Being recognized as a ruler of the seas was certainly an advantage, but it also came with problems of its own. Compared to the other pirate kings, Silas's fleet lacked a solid foundation. It was severely short on Beyonders, both in number and strength. If he wanted to change that quickly, he would have to accelerate everyone's development.
Silas announced one reward after another, leaving the group almost too stunned to react.
Walter, Darkwill, and the others were naturally thrilled. Only Sophia Einhorn raised her head as though she wanted to say something, then stopped herself.
"Third, the fleet's objectives from this point forward."
Silas noticed the princess's unusual reaction but did not ask about it. He simply continued, "Our original goals remain unchanged: resist the colonial governments and free the slaves. But we're adding one more. We're going to eliminate the remaining forces of the King of Immortality."
The Death Announcer and the King of Immortality had already been destroyed, but the latter's fleet had consisted of many ships, and only some of them had attended the pirate conference.
The rest were still scattered across the sea.
Corrupted by the Devil Pathway, they were cruel and bloodthirsty. Allowing them to remain at large would create serious trouble in the future.
Fortunately, all of those pirates had once sworn loyalty to the Death Announcer, and traces of the blood-red crystal still remained within them.
Now that the Death Announcer had become Silas's lamb, Silas should be able to use that connection to locate them and bring them under control.
"And now for the final matter."
Silas swept his gaze across everyone's faces. After a brief pause, he continued, "I'll be leaving the fleet for a while. I have business on the Northern Continent. Until I return, First Mate Anderson will manage the fleet in my place."
Everyone froze. Alarm quickly spread across their faces.
"Captain!"
Anderson looked especially tense. "Everyone follows you. There's no way I can manage the fleet in your place!"
The recent events had already given him more than enough to deal with, and now Silas wanted to pile even more responsibility onto him. He was understandably less than enthusiastic.
"Come on. You handled things just fine during the weeks I wasn't aboard, didn't you?"
As Silas spoke, he casually pulled something from his coat and tossed it over.
Anderson caught it on instinct. In his hand was a charred arm bone wrapped in flames, radiating an intense spiritual glow. It seemed faintly drawn toward the Beyonder characteristic already within him.
There was no doubt about it. This was a Sequence 4 Beyonder characteristic from the Hunter Pathway.
It had been extracted beneath the [Sun] from the mystical item carried by the Intis major general.
"Captain, I can't accept this. It's far too valuable..."
Anderson's eyes widened.
"It's fine. Consider it an advance payment for your work."
Silas cut him off in a calm voice. "I have plenty of other matters to handle, so I can't remain aboard the ship all the time.
You'll take care of the fleet's daily affairs for me. If anything happens, use the talisman I left with you to contact me. Just like during the pirate conference, I'll arrive immediately."
In truth, Silas had planned this long ago.
Most of what needed to be done at sea had already been taken care of.
His next step was to return to Loen, continue hunting down the fanatics of the Aurora Order, and find Ince Zangwill to settle their score. He truly could not remain with the fleet at all times.
Once Anderson successfully advanced to Sequence 4, he would have enough strength to protect himself even against the other pirate kings. That would be sufficient to keep the fleet under control.
"Alright, that covers our general direction from here on. You can all leave now and get started on what I assigned you."
Silas gave them no time to process the matter, quickly dismissing the group.
They trudged back toward the camp, their minds overloaded with information.
By the time they finally gathered their thoughts and decided they wanted to speak with the captain again, he was nowhere to be found.
Deep within the island.
Silas sent Antia away after finding her still absorbed in petting the cat, then summoned M's projection.
It was already Monday, and the afternoon was approaching. The new Tarot Club gathering was about to begin.
"Long time no see."
M's entire figure was wrapped in a pure white robe, amusement glimmering in her golden eyes.
"It always feels as though ages have passed between the times you summon me. Anyway, congratulations on becoming the newest king of the Five Seas."
Don't you already know everything?
"Enough of that."
Silas glanced at her. "Get started."
"What a cold main personality. You only ever call me when you need something."
Despite her words, she did not appear bothered in the slightest.
She stepped in front of Silas and passed both hands through his head, constructing a false personality for him to use when ascending above the Grey Fog and attending the Tarot Club gathering.
Now that he thought about it, M had rarely appeared lately.
Was it because he had not summoned her himself, or because Antia, an Angel, was constantly at his side and M did not want to come out?
As the overlapping layers of consciousness stirred within his mind, Silas saw a wave of deep crimson light suddenly surge from the void before him.
Above the eternal Grey Fog.
Deep crimson rays erupted like fountains as blurred figures appeared in the bronze high-backed chairs.
By the time the light faded, the members of the Tarot Club were already seated around the long bronze table.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"
Justice Audrey's eternally cheerful voice rang out at once.
She rose from her seat and greeted everyone in turn, instinctively observing each person's condition as she did so.
Everyone seemed to be in a decent mood...
Wait. What was wrong with the Hermit?
Not only was she unusually quiet, she looked absolutely terrified.
Before Audrey could determine the reason, she finished greeting the others and prepared to move on to the next part of the gathering.
At that moment, the Fool, seated at the head of the bronze table, spoke.
He turned his gaze toward Hermit Cattelya and said evenly, "This is the second time."