The night sea was illuminated by the galaxy and a dazzling array of stars. Tonight, surprisingly, only a single, unknown star hung high in the sky.
Making tonight's night slightly darker than last night's.
Ahead of them, a gleaming red light guided their direction.
Gazing at the distant red light, Alka said, "Get ready, everyone! We're almost there."
Following the red light, they could already see the towering lighthouse. Atop the tower, a gleaming red cross guided the surrounding ships.
The Red Star Lighthouse, the iconic structure of Southern Cross Island.
The Dawn Voice had now been camouflaged with a simple disguise, and the iconic bird-head figurehead had been modified.
It had become a perfectly normal figurehead, resembling a shark's. Although it was a temporary change, Pororo's wild suggestion convinced everyone to adopt it.
The emblem on their sails also became a shark head, biting a trident-like symbol.
With this disguise, they slowly entered the harbor, then began to move uncontrollably, arriving at the area designated for ghost ships.
"Haven't I seen you before? What are you doing here on Southern Cross Island?" A patrol team near the harbor approached the ship, and the leading captain asked Alka and the others on board.
"We're a treasure hunting group, just passing through here. We'd like to resupply and rest for a few days."
"Treasure hunting group?" The captain glanced at Alka, and they didn't think much about it.
"A golden sail."
Alka nodded without hesitation.
A golden sail appeared in his hand and flicked it into the hands of the captain below. After examining the sail, the captain nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand cheerfully. A red mark was imprinted on the bow of the ship.
"The lockdown is strict these days. Strangers can only stay in the port city. No one can go to the central city unless they have proof."
Arka nodded at this.
Then he watched the patrol leave.
"Alright, let's get moving," Arka said, turning to the others.
Jason nodded first, then jumped off the boat and headed towards the port city in the darkness.
He needed to gather some recent intelligence on Southern Cross Island. After all, it had been several years since they left the island.
Who knew how much it had changed in those years?
Of course, it was also possible that nothing had changed at all.
"I'm getting off too," Arka said, jumping off the boat.
He quietly searched in the darkness.
Looking at his surroundings, he began to compare them with his memories. They had been on Southern Cross Island for quite some time, so they were quite familiar with it. Of course, that only applies to the port. As for the capital beyond the port and within, they knew little about it.
Soon, Alka spotted the street sign and turned onto Mast Street, arriving at what had once been number 28.
The shop was still open, but not many customers were inside, given that it was already night. Alka looked at the sign.
Golden Trout.
It seemed that Balazs, who had risked his life to stay and take a gamble, had survived.
Thinking for a moment, Alka turned and walked into a small alley.
The alley was a little dark, and there were some water stains underfoot. Fortunately, it didn't emit any overly pungent odors.
He crossed the alley and reached a small staircase leading to the second floor. He opened the iron gate outside.
As the gate opened, some kind of spell seemed to be triggered, gently sweeping over Alka. Alka walked straight up the stairs to the second floor.
He left the wooden door.
As the door opened, a crisp bell rang.
Inside, dim lights shone.
People sat in groups of three or four throughout the small tavern on the second floor.
The owner, who was wiping his glass, looked at Alka, frowned slightly, and then studied him for a moment.
"Stranger? But I think I've seen you somewhere before, haven't I?"
Alka smiled and said, "I had the pleasure of coming here a few times a few years ago."
He then ordered two drinks and sat down at a table in the corner. Observing Alka's seat and the two drinks he had ordered, the owner quietly walked behind the bar.
Alka sat there quietly, savoring the wine in front of him. He seemed to be waiting for something.
After more than an hour, a cloaked figure entered the tavern and gently tossed a cloth bag to the owner.
The owner took it and put it away.
The cloaked figure made a beeline for Alka, who was in the far corner. After sitting down across from him, he lifted his cloak.
Balaz's face was revealed.
Balaz's face still bore some scars, a slightly worn appearance.
"Alka, it's been a long time since we last met. Many years, right?"
Alka smiled and nodded, then picked up his glass and clinked it with Balazs's.
"Yes, it's been many years indeed."
Balaz smiled, downed the wine from his glass, and frowned at Alka.
"It's been a while, but it seems a little too soon, doesn't it?" He looked at Alka, his eyes questioning.
If he remembered correctly, Alka had only just passed the third stage.
And now, it had only been less than a few years—so short a time.
Alka, with his eyes wide open, looked at Balazs before him. "You're already in the middle of the third stage! You're growing quite fast."
If he remembered correctly, Balazs had only reached the second stage when he left, perhaps not yet the third.
But since Balazs had his own treasure, this growth in strength was not unusual.
Balazs looked up at Alka. "I still can't fathom your strength, but since you've returned, you've clearly gained confidence."
Alka nodded. "Of course, I won't come back to die."
Balazs nodded. Since Alka had said so, there was no need to ask further questions.
"It seems your bet was right. Have you been doing okay these past few years?" Alka asked, looking at Balazs.
"When I came here, I saw that your guild had reopened."
Balaz smiled bitterly, then shook his head. "To outsiders, I'm just one of Kriel's dogs now, and this guild isn't mine."
Alka nodded, understanding. Although Balazs' bet was right, Kriel clearly wouldn't trust him so easily, or perhaps never in her entire life.
She simply felt he was still useful, so she unceremoniously made him her subordinate.
She didn't need his loyalty.
Balaz then reached out and tapped the tabletop. A faint soundproofing spell flickered, blocking out the sounds from their table.
Balaz then looked at Alka and spoke. "This time, you're definitely going to kill Kriel, right?"
Alka nodded. "Yes, I'm a bit of a vengeful person."
If they hadn't had some tricks up their sleeves back then, they would have been completely wiped out by Kriel.
Although they ultimately escaped and even turned a disaster into a blessing, Alka wouldn't thank their enemy for that.
This man must be killed by their own hands.
Balaz nodded, confirming Alka's exact target.
He then said, "I don't know how long you've been here, but I must tell you now that the capital is in turmoil."
Alka nodded. "We were told when we docked that we couldn't leave the port city and head for the capital."
"Yes, the specific reason is that Kriel killed his father, his brother, and anyone who would stand in his way."
Hearing this, Alka looked at him in bewilderment. "Huh? Why would he do this?"
If he remembered correctly, Kriel was the general of this country, commanding all its military power.
In short, the king at the time could be described as a mascot, posing no threat to him.
And Kriel was the true ruler of this country.
Why kill these people under such circumstances? There was no point in eliminating one's own family for no reason.
You would only bear the stigma.
Although they say royals lack kinship, meaningless investment would obviously only create hidden dangers.
"There are several reasons. For example, the king has sometimes begun to object to some of Kriel's ideas about governance," Balazs said, pointing to his head.
"This king isn't very smart."
Hearing this, Alka probably understood. The king, who had been pushed to this throne, had clearly been bewitched by someone.
He truly believed he was the king, in control of the country.
"Also, Kriel successfully advanced to Stage 5 last year. He seems to have some ambitions and is actively engaging in diplomacy.
And those royal family members, unwilling to be controlled by him, have been causing trouble within the clan for years. He's simply frustrated, and he doesn't have the time to deal with these internal rats, so..."
After listening to Balazs's explanation, Alka nodded.
"So are you sure you can take down a Stage 5 king? He's surrounded by guards and the like."
"Are you sure he only advanced to Stage 5 last year?" Alka asked.
"I can guarantee that. He only reached the fifth stage last year, and only then did he begin to formally demonstrate his abilities."
Hearing this, Alka nodded. "That's fine. Of course, we can't do it openly."
In short, Alka was confident he could defeat Kriel, even with his guards.
But he obviously couldn't just barge into the palace and fight his way in; that would be a bit of an exaggeration.
Balaz nodded after hearing this. After a moment's reflection, he said, "I suggest we wait a little longer. Now isn't the right time."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because, as much as I hate to admit it, Kriel does possess formidable governing abilities.
The more we understand, the more we must acknowledge this. He's already eliminated nearly every member of the royal family who might interfere with him. If he dies, the country could be thrown into chaos."
Hearing this, Alka frowned, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Balazs. "I will kill him. Even if he's important to this country, he must die."
"I completely agree, but it'll take some time."
"If you put it that way, you must have a reason," Alka said, looking at Baraz. He needed a reason to convince him.
Baraz nodded. "Of course, although the previous king wasn't very intelligent, he did give birth to a good son.
I had the pleasure of meeting him before. He's talented and charismatic, though not ambitious enough. He also possesses excellent political skills."
"In short, he's a very suitable king."
"Didn't you say that all those who get in the way are dead?"
"But he's not a problem, is he? Besides, he's a follower of the Virgin Mary, currently studying abroad.
After what Kriel did, he'll definitely return quickly."
"A follower of the Virgin Mary..." Hearing this, Alka leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.
"Will he return safely?"
"Yes, Kriel isn't stupid enough to go against the Church of the Virgin Mary. And his nephew is a Saint of the Virgin Mary."
"Why?" Alka was a little confused about some of the politics of this world.
Although he himself didn't understand politics very well,
But this Saint of the Virgin Mary could definitely take Kriel's place under certain circumstances.
Why leave such a powerful hidden danger behind?
Balazs seemed to understand Alka's confusion.
He explained, "You're a follower of the Virgin Mary, so you should know that the Southern Cross Island doesn't accept this. We worship the White Mist Serpent, the one you and I saw earlier."
Alka nodded. The Southern Cross Island worshipped a powerful king from the dream world.
Although Alka had no idea that this dream king would pay any attention to them. "So this young man isn't very popular with the people, nor with the ministers. The islanders see him as an outlier."
Alka nodded, perhaps understanding.
It's possible this young man returns for revenge, but it's clear the Holy Mother Church won't help him.
This kind of internal political struggle isn't what the Church wants.
And he won't have much impact on Kriel's power.
So he's a character who needs to be eliminated, but not if the price is too high.
"So Kriel's plan is probably to have his nephew return for revenge, so he can legitimately eliminate him without offending the Church," Balazs summarized briefly.
"So you want to wait for him to return, kill Kriel, and then have him take over the throne?"
Alka asked, looking at him.
Balazs nodded. "I was born and raised here, and I don't want my hatred to bring this country to ruin.
But I do hate him, so I'm hoping for a better plan. And now that plan is possible, isn't it?"
"And you're a believer in the Virgin Mary, aren't you? We learned in our dreams before that the great serpent worshipped by this nation has ended its pact with the royal family and no longer protects its people.
Although I didn't know much about this vast ocean and hadn't traveled far from it, It's a place that has been increasingly chaotic lately, and the sea conditions are becoming increasingly dangerous.
People seem to be experiencing frequent nightmares, all of which indicates that the Great God of the White Mist has departed.
Baraz frowned and said, "So, if he ascends the throne, it would also allow the Holy Mother Church to legitimately begin its missionary work in this area.
Worshiping a truly powerful god is a good thing. I don't think you'd refuse, would you?"
After listening to Baraz's words, Alka rested his chin on his hand.
Looking at Baraz, he said, "You've successfully convinced me, and you're quite perceptive."
The departure of the White Mist Serpent has resulted in a certain number of mist-like creatures still gathering in the dreams of this gathering place.
But the Black Mist creatures that have been watching from the periphery for so long will undoubtedly be unable to resist wreaking havoc.
Mental decline is inevitable, and it certainly won't last long.
Wait for these Black Mist creatures to
After a period of venting, the population of the fog creatures will naturally reach a balance.
But the people who once lived here with the White Mist Serpent never had nightmares.
Of course, they couldn't accept this.
Furthermore, with such a powerful Dream King in this area, the environment would naturally be very stable.
The departure of a powerful being naturally causes chaos in this area of reality.
Southern Cross Island is simply becoming simpler.
But going from complex to simple is difficult.
This is truly a rare opportunity.
Winning more followers for the Virgin Mary would certainly be a good thing, after all, Alka has always been a recipient of the Virgin Mary and her church's kindness.
To be honest, I haven't provided much useful help.
I hope this time it can be considered a sincere act.
If I can reduce the loss of innocent lives while seeking revenge, why not?
It's just a matter of waiting a little longer.
I can afford to wait.