Chapter 500 - 205: Only Two Legendaries... That’s All

Based on her observations, Christa was clearly a Wizard of high birth, exuding an annoying arrogance in her interactions with them.

"I suppose so," Christa said with a simple nod. She then ignored Oshana and turned to Teresa. "What do we need to do next?"

"Yes, Teresa," Adolph said, waving his tentacles. "Should I go get some materials from my advisor?"

"Not right now. We’ll discuss it after I’ve met with Dean Josue. However,"

Teresa pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, pondered for a few seconds, and continued, "Given the importance of this research project, I’ve decided that for the foreseeable future, none of us should leave the institute unless it’s absolutely necessary. What do you all think?"

"Of course. With an institute this nice, you couldn’t drag me away," Oshana said, chuckling and covering her mouth. She shot Christa a suspicious glance, sensing that something about her was off.

"Agreed..."

"Good. For now, just wait here for my good news."

Seeing no objections, Teresa smiled and clapped her hands. "Camilla, take them to the rest area."

"As you command!"

As another Extraordinary appeared from behind Teresa, Oshana and the others sized her up for a moment before asking curiously, "Teresa, just how many guards are stationed here? Are they all legendary-grade?"

"Only two are legendary-grade..." Teresa said with an embarrassed smile. "It was my family’s arrangement. I couldn’t refuse."

With that, she quickly hurried out of the lab, as if afraid they would ask her anything else.

"..."

Escobar and the others exchanged glances, then obediently followed the legendary Camilla, who was also clad in full plate armor, toward the upper floors of the castle.

’A family background like Silvira’s... Beyond envy...’

Meanwhile, Wei’en also let out a long sigh.

But unlike the pressure felt by Escobar and the others, he was relieved that he had managed to bluff his way through.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for the interruption with Benoy, he had planned on asserting his authority like a newly appointed leader lighting his "three fires."

He just hadn’t expected that before he could even light his fires, someone would run out and spontaneously combust—allowing him to display the director’s authority!

It saved him the trouble of acting too deliberately and letting the Wizards see through him.

Fortunately, the whole process went rather smoothly. The research proposal, which he had been most worried about, didn’t raise any questions from the experienced researchers. All he had to do now was follow the steps outlined in the plan.

’Of course, it’s impossible for a research project to proceed without any failures...’

’But isn’t that completely normal?’

’Even good old Professor Edison said it, failure is the mother of success.’

’How could research ever be smooth sailing?’

With that thought, Wei’en watched as Unit Zero worked on a Mechanical Puppet. Seeing no errors, he patted its shoulder, signaling it to continue, then left the workshop.

After a full day’s work, he was hungry too.

Outside, in the area across from the workshop, Wei’en saw only Shawa and Tina, still studying Gonzalez from their parchments. Noticing the "Maid" was gone, he asked casually, "Where’s Pavla?"

"Tina, knows. Over there."

The white-haired girl set down her parchment, leaped into Wei’en’s arms, hugged his neck, and pointed toward a room in the rest area.

Miss Zombie stood up as well. "She said she was going to pray."

"Pray?"

Holding Tina, Wei’en walked thoughtfully to the dining table and sat down. "Then we’ll leave her be for now. Could you get me something to eat?"

’Praying... Is she asking the Lord of Dawn for something?’

Seeing the empty dining table, Shawa hurried toward the small kitchen nearby. "Just a moment."

With the blonde girl having taken over her duties for the past two days, she hadn’t had a chance to touch any of the cookware. Now, she finally had an opportunity to make a delicious dinner for Wei’en again.

"Let’s see what words you learned today..." While Miss Zombie prepared dinner, Wei’en kept busy. He picked up the parchment Tina had left on the table, adding, "We can’t rely on Mr. Leonard forever."

"Tina, knows. Learned. Ten!"

Tina pointed to several spots on the parchment, reciting Gonzalez words in her detached tone, "Yoli, Yu..."

"This one means..."

While Wei’en and the others were enjoying a quiet moment, a different scene was unfolding in a room in the rest area.

Pavla had bathed and put on a new Golden Robe. On her head, she wore the coronet that symbolized her station as a Priest of Dawn.

She knelt on a soft cushion, facing a freshly carved statue in the center of the room. With her head bowed and eyes closed, she began to chant softly.

"Great Dawn, He is the messenger of light, the fount of hope. His radiance illuminates our path; His power dispels our fears..."

"Great Dawn, He grants protection and bestows salvation. He listens to every voice, feels all suffering, and guides the people on their path forward..."

As the chant concluded, Pavla slowly opened her eyes. "Great Dawn, what should I do...?"

Her whisper echoed in the room, but she received no answer.

A flicker of confusion crossed her bright eyes. She recalled what Wei’en had said about the truth of the ’Caster incident.’ ’Could things really be as he described?’

’Would Krimms Cathedral, the West Coast Pearl of the Dawn Church, truly join forces with the Noble Committee to suppress the Secret Investigation Department and disregard the lives of ordinary believers, just as he claimed?’

’If that were true, why would the light of Dawn still shine upon Krimms Cathedral?’

"Sigh..."

...

...

「Meanwhile, at sea」

The light of the red moon spilled across the water.

Flying its jester flag, the *Leonard* drifted on the turbulent sea. A faint golden glow enveloped the ship, making it a beacon in the night, illuminating the surrounding water and driving away the deep-sea abominations that surfaced nearby.

"One, two!"

"One, two!"

"..."

Ronan manned the helm, his eyes on the deck where the "new recruits," recently plundered from the Wester Clan, were being put through their paces.

Under the command of several pirates, the experienced sailors were being forced into a series of postures that looked like something out of a child’s game.

"Forget all that soft-handed sailor nonsense! You’re here to learn how to be real pirates! You will follow the code laid down by the great ’Thunder Giant,’ Ibrahim Delgado!"

"I don’t care what your rank was on your last ship! Here, you’re the lowest-ranking pirates! Pirates, not sailors! Understand?"

"Understood!"

"Swing your weapons like this! Loosen up! Now, charge!"

"Ugh..."

All the "newbie" pirates watched the old salt in front of them with bizarre expressions. ’His movements look like some charlatan on a remote island trying to fool the natives. This is how pirates are supposed to fight? What the hell?’

"Get a move on!"

Berated by the old pirate, the "new recruits" reluctantly followed the so-called Pirate Law.

The lurching of the *Leonard* underfoot, combined with the wide-legged hopping gait, was enough to make them sick. It brought back memories of their first time at sea... like a bunch of greenhorns.

"Second Officer, it’s about time. Should we let them go back and rest?"

Ronan glanced at the nearby clock and nodded. "Tell them to pack it in."

The pirate hurried out, calling for everyone to return to the cabins.

A moment later, the deck was empty once more. Only the figurehead, a symbol of the great god of the Dawn Church, continued to pulse with a faint light.

"The captain hasn’t come out all day. Wonder what he’s busy with."

Two pirates, instead of resting, stood guard by the captain’s quarters, awaiting any potential orders from Ronan.

"The captain’s business is none of yours. With this much free time, you’d be better off thinking about which tavern to hit next time we make landfall..."

"You’ve been thinking about it? HAHA! Bindeta, you didn’t get your fill back on Dakman Island, did you?"

"I was scared to death! How could I have had my fill? Sigh... but speaking of Dakman Island, it reminds me of Captain Velen. What a shame..."

"Don’t say it... If Captain Velen could see us on a new ship like this, he’d probably jump for joy!"

"Praise the son-of-a-bitch red moon!"

"Praise my ass!"

Just then, Ronan, staring at a faint silhouette on the horizon, shouted, "Get the spyglass! Check port side! Is that a ship approaching?"

"Huh?"

Bindeta quickly raised the spyglass to his eye and looked in the direction Ronan indicated. In the distance, a three-masted ship painted a brilliant gold was rising and falling with the waves, slowly heading their way.

"Second Officer! It’s the *Golden Orchid*!"

’The Golden Orchid?’

Ronan’s expression changed. "Go below deck! Inform the captain!"

’The crew of the *Golden Dis*... they’ve found us after all!’