Klein: What? Sacrifice a Ship?

Fool?

I've never heard of this being a new guise for some evil god, or some mysterious entity that has recently appeared.

Anderson pondered the title, lost in thought.

Although he remained vigilant, he still wore a smile when facing Luther.

"Friend, are you a follower of the Fool?"

He asked.

"In a way, yes."

"If that's the case, you can hold the Ritual yourself. Why do you insist that I believe in Him?"

Anderson pressed further.

"Because I wanted to take this opportunity to spread the glory of Mr. Fool,"

Luther glanced at him. "I won't save others for free."

"Actually, I gained some rewards during the adventure, and I can pay you more after we return safely," Anderson tried to persuade Luther. "I do have some reputation over in the Fog Sea."

"Unnecessary."

Luther said calmly, "I'll give you two choices: either perform the Ritual, pray to the Fool, and leave this place with me; or I'll abandon you on this island to fend for yourself."

"This"

Anderson hesitated.

He could tell that Luther wasn't joking.

"Um, can I think about it first?"

He asked tentatively.

"Okay, I'll give you ten minutes to think about it."

After saying that, Luther walked away along the beach.

Luna played at his feet, while the black cat seemed interested in the waves crashing against the beach, chasing the receding tide and running away quickly as new waves surged in.

"Only ten minutes."

Anderson shook his head with a wry smile.

He felt like he had entered a deadly maze, where he would either be trapped on the island to die or establish contact with a mysterious entity whose true nature was unknown—both were dangerous. As he thought about it, he couldn't help but feel anxious, and his mouth felt dry.

Anderson thought for a moment, then turned and walked behind a rock.

When he came out again, he was holding a coconut in his arms.

Hey, wanna try some coconut?

He called out to Luther, "This is the last one on the entire island; I've eaten the rest."

You have five minutes left.

Luther's voice came through.

"Well, looks like I'll have to enjoy it myself."

Anderson shrugged, then sat down on the beach with the coconut in his arms. He used a flame to burn a crack in the coconut shell, tilted his head back, and drank the sweet coconut water inside. Then, he opened the coconut shell, scooped out the coconut meat with his hands, and eagerly stuffed it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing with great relish.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

"Click"

Anderson made a hoarse, strange noise, stretched his hands toward his neck, and opened his mouth wide.

"Crack!"

Both halves of the coconut shell fell onto the beach.

"Click-clack."

Anderson's face flushed red, and after a dozen seconds it turned a deep purple, like a pig's liver.

A flicker of fire flickered in the eyes of the Sequence 5 Hunter, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged. He fell backward onto the beach, began to convulse, and looked as if he was about to die from suffocation.

Just then, a figure appeared on him.

--Lu Luther raised his foot and stomped hard on his chest.

"Puff!"

A glistening piece of coconut meat flew out of Anderson's mouth.

Cough cough cough!

Anderson's eyes widened immediately, and he began to cough violently.

"Huff, huff, huff"

He was panting heavily, looking utterly disheveled.

"You're really something, almost choking to death on a piece of coconut meat as a Sequence 5."

Luther looked down at him and said.

"Phew, phew, it's because my luck has run out."

Anderson grinned, revealing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "However, no matter how Misfortune we've had before, it hasn't directly threatened our lives."

"You've been plagued by Misfortune for too long; the Curse won't disappear, it will only deepen."

Luther said matter-of-factly.

This was what the knowledge of the "Secrets Suppliant" Potion within him told him. Anderson must have been Curse by the mural left by Ouroboros, his Fate tainted with severe misfortune.

Anderson took a breath, his breathing gradually becoming even, but a strong sense of unease remained on his face.

After all, he had just escaped from the brink of death.

"No, I have to save myself."

The Hunter muttered to himself, then suddenly looked up at Luther, "You seem to know a lot about these things. Do you know something?"

"I guess so."

Luther said ambiguously, "But why should I help you?"

Anderson thought for a moment, then smiled. "If I pray to the Fool, can you help me?"

"For Mr. Fool's sake, I can," Luther said, "But you'll need to pay him for it."

"No problem."

Now that things had come to this, Anderson no longer cared. The Bad Luck Curse was beginning to threaten his life, and he could only cling to this one last hope, even if it might bring other troubles.

"Let's get acquainted. My name is Anderson Hood."

He got up from the beach and said to Luther, "Over across the Fog Sea, they all call me 'The Strongest Hunter'."

Alexander Gascoigne.

Luther gave himself a pseudonym, "A Missionary."

In a second-class cabin on the Steam "White Agate" on the Sonia Sea Route.

Klein, who was disguised as Gehrman Sparrow, was resting with his eyes closed, waiting for dinner, when he suddenly heard overlapping prayers in his ears.

"Who could be praying to me at this time?"

He opened his eyes, took four steps backward in the cramped guest room, ascended Above the Gray Fog, and then saw that on the high-backed chair belonging to [Temperance], the deep red stars were vibrating and emitting Spirituality ripples.

Is it Luther?

Klein extended his Spirituality, making contact with that star. Soon, images appeared before him.

He saw Luther bowing his head in prayer, "Reverend Mr. Fool, I am currently in some trouble."

At the end of the Sonia Sea, the God War Ruins?

Klein listened to Luther's story and couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

After briefly explaining his situation, Luther continued, "I'm currently stranded on an island and desperately need a boat. Please pass this message on to [World], [Justice], and [The Hanged Man] to see who can buy me one. Thank you very much!"

What?

Buy a boat?

And from what he said, it seems he intends to get the ship to him through me?

Klein was dumbfounded.

He felt a strong sense of absurdity, but upon closer reflection, the method seemed feasible. The only problem was whether the Sacrificial Ritual could actually transport something so large.

Never mind, I'll pass on his message first.

Luther asked me to contact three people because [Justice] has connections, while [The Hanged Man] and I are at sea. Unfortunately, I'm currently en route and can't go to buy them.

With that thought in mind, Klein repackaged the message and threw it toward the star representing [Justice] and [the Hanged Man].