Chapter 608: Aleksey Island

“Understood. I’ll go locate him now.”

The Judgment Knight came to a realization. He quickly bowed before turning and heading back into the cabin.

“With the protection of the Destiny Barrier, you can’t be sure you can pinpoint the people around him, can you?” Kali, having overheard their conversation, asked as she walked over gracefully.

“It’s more reliable than rushing to Avad Island to intercept the Mutated Mage,” Celestia said coolly, glancing at her. “Blasphemous Saintess, your interest in him has grown. Did you hear something in Caster City State?”

“I did learn a few things.”

Kali’s expression remained unchanged, her golden eyes reflecting the Judgement Saintess’s languid posture. “I’m very curious about what happened to him to make him the way he is now.”

Celestia let out a soft chuckle. “I thought you’d be more concerned with the changes in yourself…”

“Lady Celestia!”

Melbel had appeared beside them at some point. His gaze grew cold as he stared at the Judgement Saintess and said, “We are both Authority Inheritors. I hope you will not pry into Her Eminence Kali’s affairs.”

“Oh my,” Celestia said, looking at him with feigned surprise. “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten… Kali, before we left the Holy Sanctuary, the Pope tasked me with teaching you how to fight. What are your thoughts on that?”

Melbel’s gaze grew even colder. He glared at her, looking as if he would risk everything to attack if she made another strange move.

“Is that so?” Kali shifted slightly, blocking Melbel, and said with a brilliant smile, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Lady Celestia.”

“It’s no trouble. It’s just some basic combat experience. With your talent, you’ll be able to fully master the might of your Authority sooner or later.”

“Thank you…”

Just then, the Judgment Knight returned, his tone tinged with excitement. “My Lady, we’ve found the general sea region where the Kenzan Florov is located!”

“Tell me.”

Celestia asked as she stood up, hefting the Two-Handed Greatsword.

“It’s about a ten-day voyage from our position. Based on their heading, they’re on their way to Aleksey Island.”

“Oh? Aleksey? The famous sailing island of this sea region? It seems that Five-Masted Sailing Ship belonging to our Dawn Church has sustained serious damage.”

Celestia walked to the center of the deck, greatsword in one hand, and beckoned to Kali. “Full speed ahead to Aleksey, then! We’ll trap him there before he has a chance to leave the island!”

Seeing her gesture, Kali silently materialized a black greatsword, and a suit of armor glowing with golden light appeared over her platinum-white long dress.

“Yes, Lady Celestia!”

“Also, send a message to the Holy Sanctuary. Ask if they’ve received any special intelligence regarding the Cordo Sea Region.”

CLANG!

The greatswords of Celestia and Kali crashed together, and an invisible shockwave tousled the messy hair of the surrounding Knights.

“Yes, my Lady!”

After the Judgment Knight left, Celestia executed a sword flourish. She watched the serious-looking Kali and chuckled. “You haven’t unleashed the power of your ‘Blasphemy’ Authority. I’m sure you know what that means.”

A deep, dark light flickered around Kali’s body, radiating a silent malevolence that made the spectating Judgment Knights frown.

“I will try my best to control it…”

“You should be trying…”

Meanwhile, in the distant Southern Sea Region, two figures completely shrouded in dim yellow robes appeared silently in the sky not far from Avad Island.

“I’m telling you, Nuriel, are you sure this forbidden item isn’t broken? How have we still not found that Wizard who ruined our Spiritual Mystery School’s plan?”

“Strange, very strange.”

Nuriel, dressed in a yellow robe, looked at the pendulum in his hand. “The general direction is correct, but I just checked. There’s nothing there.”

“If it’s not working, let’s just let him go for now. The Spiritual Mystery School’s plan is more important.”

“Alright, alright… Then let’s continue toward the Eastern Continent. We should still have enough time.”

“Hmph!”

“Don’t be so impatient…”

…

…

「Ten days later.」

“Second Officer, I see Aleksey Island!”

Boatswain Helvin shouted down excitedly from the crow’s nest on the main mast, looking at the faint outline of the island ahead.

“An island?”

“We’ve finally reached land?”

“Aleksey Island?!”

“Woohoo—”

The pirates training on the deck below didn’t even bother to wipe the sweat from their faces. They swarmed to the bow, cheering as they gazed at the island, which was still just a small dot on the horizon.

“Aha! After a whole month, I can finally set foot on land again!”

“Second Officer, Second Officer, come take a look…”

Hearing the shouts, the man with the triangular eyes walked out of the wheelhouse. His enhanced strength allowed him to clearly see the coastline of Aleksey Island in the distance.

He saw that along the edge of the island, which was several times larger than Dakman Island, watchtowers stood amidst the coastal shrubbery. Stone walls blocked the view of the outside world, with only the roofs of a few taller buildings visible from within.

Along the shore, all sorts of ships were docked in the harbor. Vessels of all sizes stretched for a full ten kilometers, including a number of Five-Masted Sailing Ships and large Steamships.

“We’re finally here…”

Ronan grinned, his dark, weathered face creasing into a smile. He yelled down to the deck below, “Alright, you damn bastards, get your gold ready! We’re gonna enjoy ourselves on this island for the next few days!”

“Wooo—”

“Haha…”

After laughing for a moment, Ronan turned and went back into the wheelhouse. He retrieved a trophy-shaped communicator hidden beneath the helm and pressed the activation button.

A moment later, Wei’en’s busy figure appeared in a rising mist. Amidst a series of low roars, he turned to look at the illusory screen. “Have you arrived?”

“Captain, the Leonard is expected to dock at Aleksey Island in two hours!”

“Mm.”

Wei’en nodded and shut off the communicator.

His gaze fell upon the zombie-like creature strapped to the Binding Platform before him. The fusion experiment to advance it from Captain-level to Director-level was nearing its end…