Borrowing Iceberg Admiral's chemistry equipment, Sifa successfully collected several bottles of hydrogen and stored them in the Pressure Bottles Melissa had designed.
Although the bottles used to store the hydrogen were metal, the gas still could not be kept for very long. If he left it unused for a while, he would have to collect it again.
Sifa had barely sat down after returning to his room when a knock came at the door.
The knocks did not sound quite real. They seemed to come from far away, with a distinctly illusory quality.
Could it be the old fox's messenger?
Sifa cleared his throat and said softly, "Come in."
He activated his Spirit Vision at the same time and saw the Headless Messenger, dressed in a black formal suit, emerge through the door.
As polite as ever, the messenger bowed slightly to Sifa, then took an envelope from inside his suit. He placed it on the desk and smoothed it down several times before stepping back.
Sifa picked it up, slit the envelope open, and took out the letter inside.
The letter was, of course, from Oswald. It read in an elegant, ornate hand:
"My dear Duke, I hope you are still at sea. I have a job for you."
"Please travel to Sonia Island soon, no later than the middle of the month. I need you to find someone on the island. His name is Cyril, and he is a spice merchant."
"Of course, that is only his public identity, though he does indeed own a plantation and run a company, doing business with merchants from Loen, Intis, and other countries."
"In fact, however, he is one of our 'employees.' He recently discovered a treasure map. I need you to retrieve it and have my messenger bring it back."