Gathering on the Ship

"Is this... the meeting place or something?"

At midnight three days later, at an empty warehouse somewhere in Koester, several people suddenly appeared at the entrance. They poked their heads around and looked in every direction, only cautiously peering inside after confirming there were no patrolling guards nearby.

Judging by their clothes, they were all ordinary people. Some looked like carpenters, others like hunters... If they had one thing in common, it was that each of them held an identical invitation.

The warehouse doors stood open. They looked inside, only to find it completely empty.

"I told you it was fake. Some Black Nightmare Society... It sounded unreliable the moment you heard it." Seeing this, a middle-aged woman who looked like a housekeeper spoke up. "We should leave quickly. Who knows if this might be a trap set by The Church?"

The companions beside her peered around a few more times and nodded as well.

However, at that moment, a mysterious figure emerged from the darkness at the street corner. Wrapped from head to toe in a cloak, he appeared behind them with startling suddenness.

"...Are you all here to attend the Black Nightmare Society gathering as well?"

The group jumped in fright and spun around, staring at the mysterious figure with alarm and suspicion. The housekeeper woman asked warily, "Y-you... who are you?"

"I am the founder of the Black Nightmare Society. You are here for the gathering, aren't you?" The other person seemed to notice the invitations in their hands and said slowly, "Please follow me. Don't worry, I won't harm you."

With that, he turned around as though preparing to leave.

"G-go where?"

The group was uncertain and still somewhat unable to make sense of the situation.

"To the real gathering place," the mysterious figure replied. "The