Lex's smile instantly froze.
What's going on?
This formula wasn't supposed to have any problems, so why can't it allow me to advance to Sequence 5?
What aspect went wrong?
Re-examining his divination statement from earlier, Lex quickly found the problem: "I only divined whether these two formulas had any problems, which was too vague and not precise enough."
"I should modify the divination statement."
He took out the Seer coin again to divine, this time changing the divination statement to: "The formula I have is incomplete."
Lex divined both the Conspirer and Reaper formulas, and both times the result was the number-side up, meaning Raditz had provided complete formulas.
Next, Lex held the Conspirer formula: "This formula can allow me to advance to Conspirer."
He tossed the Seer coin and saw the side with the wizard's hat pattern facing up, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
But when he performed the same divination on the Reaper formula, he got a completely opposite result.
This happened three times in a row.
"Strange, the divination result shows that the Reaper formula is complete, but why can't this formula allow me to advance to Sequence 5?"
Lex frowned, and after some thought, he considered some possibilities.
"Reaper is already a Sequence 5 Beyonder, and the 'Seer coin' I have is too low in rank, so it can't divine the result?"
"No, if that were the case, it shouldn't give a negative revelation; instead, it should stand upright, indicating that a result cannot be obtained."
"Then, is it because I haven't become a Conspirer yet, and there are too many variables between Pyromaniac and Reaper for it to divine?"
"No, that's not right either, for the same reason."
"Hmm."
"I remember the Watcher said that every Beyonder Sequence in the Late Stage requires a ritual to advance. Could it be that rituals are needed starting from Sequence 5?"
"Raditz only gave me the formula but didn't mention the ritual, so simply with this formula, I still can't advance?"
Lex stood up: "That must be it. If not, there's no other explanation for why the formula is correct and complete, yet I can't advance."
"Ritual..."
"Did Raditz intentionally not give the ritual, or did he not even know it himself?"
"Also, the Captain confirmed the formula and didn't tell me about the ritual. They are official personnel, they definitely know more about Beyonder Sequences than I do, and they must know about the existence of rituals."
"But he also didn't plan to detain Raditz, still letting me release him. Why? Does the 'Black Sail' already possess the Reaper's advancement ritual, so they don't need it? Or is it that the Captain doesn't want to alert the enemy, intentionally letting Raditz go so he will still go to Bayam, allowing 'Black Sail' to secretly monitor him and thus monitor the 'Iron and Blood Cross Order'...?"
"Compared to monitoring the 'Iron and Blood Cross Order', the Captain considers a ritual not that important. True, as long as Raditz is monitored, even if 'Black Sail' doesn't possess the Reaper's advancement ritual, there will be plenty of opportunities to obtain it."
"For example, through Spirit Mediumship."
"Hmm, these are all my guesses; I need to find an opportunity to confirm them. If a ritual is indeed required, then I'll have to find Mr. Raditz again for a chat."
"Finally, divination is not omnipotent; the results of divination can only be used as a reference. I cannot rely too much on divination; more often, I need to find the answers myself!"
Putting away the formula, Lex then set up an altar to make an offering to Fool.
After establishing the Wall of Spirituality, Lex first prayed to Fool, asking him to inform Mr. World that he had already obtained the Conspirer formula. However, he could first hand over the misty treant's true roots and the corresponding juice, two materials, to Mr. World.
In exchange, Lex hoped Mr. World could find the Beyonder materials in the Conspirer formula for exchange, and if there was a premium, he would make up the difference.
Of course, Lex added other materials to the Conspirer formula to make himself appear less 'trusting' of Mr. World.
After receiving a response, Lex busily performed the offering, and by the time he finished all of this, it was already dusk.
Above the Gray Mist.
Klein looked at the two Beyonder materials on the long bronze table.
The misty treant's true roots were heart-shaped, brown, and palm-sized. The front was wrinkled, like the skin of an eighty-year-old, but the back was smooth, like a young girl's pink back. It subtly expanded and contracted on the long bronze table, as if alive.
Its juice was light green and crystal clear, even carrying a hint of mint, looking like some kind of delicious drink.
"With this, my Magician materials are complete, and I can try to advance immediately!"
"Speaking of which, The Chariot is quite generous, not at all worried that I wouldn't, or rather, not worried that Mr. World would abscond with the Beyonder materials. Is he trusting me, Fool?"
"Hmm, if only Hanged Man was half as trusting as he is..."
"The Chariot needs quite a few materials. There should be a Conspirer formula hidden within, but to prevent Mr. World from seeing through it, other materials were intentionally added."
"Compound eyes of a hunting black spider, brain of a Human-faced Lion... These all seem like materials that aren't easy to obtain. When Mr. Eye of Wisdom holds another gathering, I'll try my luck there."
"Miss Bodyguard is also a channel; I can try to inquire when I see her. In short, I should repay The Chariot's favor as soon as possible."
Windmill Island.
After finishing the offering, Lex rested for a while, then left his room and went to the ground floor of the inn, planning to have dinner in the inn's small dining room.
In the small dining room, there were only a few people. From their attire, Lex easily judged that these people were all Sea Island residents.
Two tables had different foods laid out, and people were silently eating.
The other two tables only had wine and dried small fish as snacks, no main course, and people were chatting idly.
When Lex entered, the few guests in the restaurant all looked at him. Their gazes were not exactly friendly, but they didn't reach the point of hatred either.
He found a corner by the window and sat down. In the afterglow of the setting sun, Lex opened the menu placed on the table.
The menu was simple, with only a few main dishes, mostly seafood.
"What would you like, Mr. Rayleigh?"
Midiya's voice rang out. The girl was still dressed like a tomboy, holding a notepad, acting as the restaurant's server.
She's really busy.
Lex put down the menu and smiled: "Perhaps you could give me some suggestions?"
Midiya smiled: "No problem. I suggest you have a main course; our house specialty grilled fish is quite good. Also, you might consider a clam and mushroom soup, and potato bread. I think the portion should be just right."
"Oh, and I heard my dad say you gave us a barrel of wine. Perhaps you'd like a glass?"
Lex nodded in satisfaction: "I'll have what you suggested."
"Alright, please wait a moment."
The girl quickly wrote down Lex's order and then walked towards the kitchen. As she passed by a man, the man reached out to grab the girl's perky bottom.
Midiya seemed to have been prepared. She quickly jumped away, then, with a stern face, snorted at the man and turned to enter the kitchen.
The man chuckled twice, then glanced at Lex and muttered: "Outsiders are always more popular, but these foolish girls will never understand that these outsiders won't take them away; they'll only take the girls to bed."
A man next to him, whose face was covered in sunburn marks, chuckled: "Even so, they won't make it easy for you, will they, Jon?"
"Shut up."
Lex looked out the window, pretending not to hear their conversation, while his mind wandered.
Do the girls on this island all wish to leave?
That's right, Midiya just asked about things outside the Sea Island, about the Loen Kingdom. I could feel that she yearned for the outside world.
Who would want to stay on a small island their whole life?
But that guy named Jon wasn't wrong either; outsiders won't take them away. There's a strong anti-female sentiment on the Sea; some even believe that taking women out to Sea will bring disaster.
So, nine out of ten guys who say 'I'll take you away' just want to trick girls into their beds.
I hope Midiya doesn't make a similar request to me. I don't want to deceive her, but telling her directly seems too cruel.
Besides, I have a mission...
Soon, the aroma of food drew Lex's gaze back from the window. Looking at the grilled fish, the fragrant mushroom soup, the surprisingly large portion of potato bread, and a glass of enticing red wine on the table, Lex's stomach rumbled.
"Please enjoy your meal." Midiya offered a smile and then left to light the gas lamps and candles in the restaurant.
After dinner, Lex walked around the streets near the inn, taking it as a stroll. He didn't go far and soon returned to the inn.
During this process, he noticed that he was being watched by the locals. Many people watched him enter the inn before looking away.
Back in his room, Lex opened the window and looked down at the street lit by streetlights.
"Indeed, having the face of an outsider attracts too much attention. Hmm, tomorrow I'll first walk around as Mr. Rayleigh, using the excuse of selling wine, to get a feel for the town's street layout and prepare for the upcoming actions."
"Or, I could hire a guide, which would make moving around town less conspicuous. Hmm, I could hire Midiya; she should be willing, and I can ask her about local beliefs."
"She's younger, and her thoughts shouldn't be as heavy as those men's. It just feels a bit like I'm using her..."
"No, no, I can pay her, give her a bit more, as an information fee."
After making plans for tomorrow, Lex took out paper and pen and began to write a letter.
A letter to Fors.
"Dear Miss Fors... No, we're not that intimate yet..."
Lex spread out another piece of paper and began to write again.
"Beautiful Miss Fors, I wonder if you still remember me? I have officially joined the navy, and not long ago, I participated in an operation to combat pirates. Unfortunately, due to confidentiality, I cannot disclose information about those pirates to you..."
"Have you heard of the 'Cursed Ship' Celeste? I encountered a destroyed sailboat on the Sea, and according to the captain's description, they seemed to have been attacked by Celeste. That is a very terrifying sailboat; merely coming into contact with it even turned two living humans into monsters..."
"I am writing to you now from Windmill Island. This is a beautiful, mysterious Sea Island..."
After writing a lengthy letter, Lex checked it for errors. Once the ink on the paper dried, he folded it and put it into an envelope. After writing Fors's address in Backlund on the envelope, he took out a metal flute and blew into it.
Invisible ripples spread through the room. A moment later, Lex's spirituality stirred.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
Knock, knock, knock—
The Headless Butler should be in the hallway outside the door right now; the thought of it is quite unsettling. Lex shook his head, then calmly said: "Come in."
First, a pair of shiny leather shoes, then perfectly ironed black trousers, followed by a matching tailcoat and a hand wearing a white glove. Finally, the headless, butler-like messenger walked into the guest room. His hand on his abdomen, he bowed slightly to Lex.
Always so polite, no matter when.
Lex stood up. Regardless of whether Mr. Butler could see him, he returned the bow; it was polite.
Then, he took out the letter for Fors and smiled: "Please help me deliver this letter to the address specified on it."
Lex glanced at Mr. Butler's chest and above, still not entirely at ease, and recited Fors's address.
Mr. Butler took out a small notebook, quickly wrote a line of small text, and presented it to Lex: The delivery fee is 1 gold coin.
"Alright."
Lex took out a Loen gold coin he had prepared earlier and handed it to him.
The Butler took the gold coin along with the letter, carefully hid them, and then retreated steadily, his figure finally disappearing through the guest room door.
Stretching, Lex, having no other matters to attend to, chose to lie down on the bed to sleep. However, being in an unfamiliar place, and with the strange beliefs on this Sea Island, Lex dared not sleep too deeply.
Moreover, he slept in his clothes, without even taking off his shoes, ready to flee at any moment.
He didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly Lex's spirituality stirred, and he instantly woke up.
The room was pitch black. Although he couldn't see anything, Lex could feel that there were subtle spiritual fluctuations moving in the air. They were like undercurrents in the Sea, merging into the darkness, constantly flowing.
Lex dared not rashly release his spirituality to interact with them, fearing it might trigger some unknown danger. He even maintained his original position, not daring to move. Only after those subtle spiritual fluctuations completely disappeared, and he patiently waited on the bed for a moment, confirming there was no abnormality, did Lex throw off the covers and get out of bed.
At this moment, Lex felt something and went to the window. Without pulling back the curtains, he looked out through a gap in the curtain.
He saw island residents, one by one, like ghosts, emerging from their homes onto the crimson-stained street. The streetlights were already out, and they didn't even carry a single candle. Most of them were even still in their pajamas, gathering and moving along the street with a numb, stiff posture, like Zombies.
When the red moon in the night sky was obscured by clouds, when the small town was plunged into darkness, Lex still didn't hear a single sound. The residents of the Sea Island walked in the darkness, heading towards an unknown destination.