Chapter 600 - 519: Uninvited Guest

Chapter 600: Chapter 519: Uninvited Guest

’If that were true, then at this moment, in the year 487 of the Crystal Era, this Shell Ship should still be buried deep beneath some unknown stratum, waiting for the Duraga of the distant future to discover it.’

’His return to the "past" might have triggered a "butterfly effect," but he had only been here for a little over a month, and he hadn’t even left this border region.’

’How could he, in such a short time, have directly caused a creation buried deep underground for countless ages to be unearthed "ahead of time" and appear at this auction?’

’The logic had a chasm that was impossible to bridge.’

At this thought, Roland tuned out the surrounding whispers, a mixture of greed, wariness, and appraisal.

He turned slightly, his gaze landing on Holland, who was craning his neck and staring at the Shell Ship in utter amazement.

"Holland."

Roland’s calm voice cut through his thoughts.

"Where is the Broken Star Sea?"

Holland heard him and reluctantly tore his gaze away. As he turned to Roland, his face was still etched with awe for the strange creation.

He quickly collected his thoughts, and his usual shrewdness and geographical expertise returned to his brown eyes.

"The Broken Star Sea? It’s straight north from here."

He gestured vaguely north with his finger.

"First, you head to Gray Rock City, then veer northwest. Ride hard for another seven or eight days, and you’ll see that godforsaken place. Generally speaking, it’s still within the bounds of this lawless land."

He paused, his tone taking on a cautionary note.

"But Rudolph, that place is nothing like Lin Ye Town, or even Gray Rock City."

"Lin Ye Town at least has a local boss like Ogre and some basic guild rules holding it together. Gray Rock City has a proper Guard Team and an Adventurer Guild to maintain general Order. But the Broken Star Sea... Hmph. The name might sound romantic, but it’s actually about as chaotic as a pot of boiling toad soup!"

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

"Legend says a star fell there in ancient times... Of course, the Master Mages say it was some kind of giant meteorite that smashed out a bay and a cluster of islands with an incredibly complex and bizarre terrain."

"The Magic Power there is chaotic, and space itself is occasionally unstable. It’s spawned countless strange and dangerous Demons. But danger also means opportunity. It’s said you can find ancient Relics, rare minerals, and even things that don’t belong to this world—stuff brought by the meteorite—on those islands and beneath the sea."

"That’s why it attracts outlaws, prospectors, Mercenary Corps, and overconfident Adventurers from all over the continent, all flocking there in droves."

"There’s no single Lord, no effective laws, just factions large and small dug in on different islands or coastal strongholds, fighting to the death for resources, territory, and legendary treasures. Compared to here..."

He jutted his chin toward the surrounding attendees, who were still maintaining a veneer of etiquette.

"...it’s at least ten times more chaotic, primitive, and dangerous."

"I understand..."

After hearing Holland’s description, Roland instantly made his decision.

’Regardless of why this Shell Ship has appeared here, since it was claimed to have been recovered near the Broken Star Sea, that chaotic land is very likely where the key clue lies.’

’Traces of Duraga, or his other companions, might be somewhere near that sea of danger and opportunity.’

His gaze once again swept over the gray ship floating silently on the platform, his eyes showing little desire for ownership.

’He had indeed forced the general method for piloting the Shell Ship out of that captured Heartstealer, but doing so required specific Spiritual Energy techniques and, most critically, something akin to an "authorization" or a "key."’

’Duraga had been able to pilot it by relying on the Iron Glove, which contained a portion of the Gray Dwarven Deity Durag’s Authority and had been "marked" by the Mind Flayer’s Spiritual Energy network due to long-term enslavement.’

’Roland had no such item.’

’As for any other clues that might remain on the ship?’

’The gray figure on the stage had already made it clear: its contents had been emptied.’

’For Roland, at this moment, the practical value of this precious vessel capable of traversing the Star Realm was greatly diminished.’

’Of course, if he could take control of it, it would undoubtedly be a massive asset.’

But...

Roland’s gaze discreetly swept across the hall.

With the appearance of the Shell Ship, the presence of the Guards, who had been hidden in the shadows, had become more numerous and had drawn closer to the display area.

A silent deterrence enveloped the entire Dark Moon Hall like an invisible spiderweb, forcing him to suppress his own schemes.

’Right now, the trauma left on his soul from forcefully activating [Fate Deviation] was still throbbing faintly, severely limiting his Casting Ability.’

’His customary weapon, Bright Moon, was also missing. Though a strong hand-to-hand combatant, he ultimately lacked a familiar weapon.’

’At this moment, he was far from his peak condition.’

’To start a direct conflict here with a secret organization that was clearly well-established and bound by strict rules, all for an item that wasn’t essential to him right now and could attract even more unknown trouble...’

’...was by no means a wise move.’

With that thought, Roland prepared to speak, to call over his other two companions, whose faces also bore complex expressions at the sight of the Shell Ship, so they could leave this place.

However, just as his lips parted but before he could make a sound...

A strangely familiar, bone-chilling coldness shot up without warning from the depths of his heart, like a viper rearing its head.

It was not a drop in temperature, but a more fundamental corrosion and freezing that targeted one’s Spirit and soul.

The horrifying sensation of being locked in place by invisible, malicious gazes from all directions seized him instantly.

VMMM!

A bizarre hum, so low it was nearly subsonic yet vibrating directly in the depths of the mind, swept through the entire Dark Moon Hall without warning.

The sound did not travel through the air but acted directly on the consciousness, as if countless icy tentacles were trying to pry open everyone’s Spiritual Defense.

The glow of the constant Silver Moon on the ceiling suddenly began to flicker violently, its light wavering erratically.

The illuminating Crystal Balls embedded around the hall dimmed as if startled, their light instantly turning a ghastly white and wavering, casting frantic, menacing shadows on the walls and floor.

The elegant scent of incense in the air was violently dispelled and overwhelmed by a bizarre odor that appeared from nowhere, one carrying the salty tang of the Deep Sea and the musty, damp chill of a cavern.

"Urgh!"

"What... What’s happening?"

Several short groans and startled cries, filled with obvious pain and horror, came from different seats and private boxes.

Some of the attendees with weaker Spiritual Power or inadequate protections clutched their heads, their faces twisted in agony.

Roland snapped his head up, and for a fleeting moment, gilded, vertical pupils flashed deep within his eyes.

The protections from [Sanctuary of Indomitable] and [Master of Shadows] activated instantly, dispelling the cold ripples trying to invade his consciousness in a flash.

His gaze then shot like the sharpest of blades toward the source of the bizarre disturbance.

Behind and to the side of the display platform, in an area of shadow that had previously been empty save for a rock wall and decorative curtains, space was beginning to warp in a deeply unsettling manner.

It was not the gentle, water-like ripple that had heralded the gray figure’s arrival, but something far cruder, a more... "viscous" writhing.

Five figures, like eerie phantoms slowly rising from the Deep Sea, emerged from within that writhing, stretching shadow of space.

They solidified from illusory to substantial in a heartbeat.