【"I have already told you, I am one of the Seven Sages of the Grove of Epiphany. If that answer isn't crisp enough, here's a bonus: I am actually the head of the Seven Sages," Calypso said leisurely. "There, little Goddess of Death, it's your turn."】

【"Question: Is every word of your previous answer true, with nothing hidden?"】

【Calypso shrugged: "There's no point in being cryptic."】

【Castorice held her ground: "I return those words to you. But we bear no hostility; everything is only to protect ourselves from potential malicious damage. For better cooperation, Excellency Calypso, it's best to answer our questions directly."】

【"Hehe... Fine. Every word I just spoke is true, I do not lie—not about the past, nor the future."】

【Castorice said coldly: "Pardon my bluntness, but editing the facts can also be considered a lie."】

【"Is that so? Even so, I won't change my previous answer, you know?"】

【Castorice took the initiative to step aside and clear the path: "...Then please lead the way. 'Facts speak louder than words'—once we reach the Throne of Enlightenment, right and wrong will naturally become clear."】

【"Good, good." Calypso looked at Castorice in a new light. "I thought you were a flower bud sown in the mortal world by that Hand of Gloom... now you look more like a huffy poisonous mushroom."】

【Castorice turned around without changing her expression: "I'll take that as a compliment."】

【A slight upward curve appeared at the corner of Calypso's mouth: "Indeed, I am praising your charming naivety."】

——

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

"Eh... I've noticed this Calypso seems to know a lot about the Death Nautilus. Is this the intelligence network of the head of the Seven Sages?"

Zane looked at Calypso's leisurely expression, feeling that Castorice's threat to her was like child's play, without a hint of pressure. This couldn't help but make him feel very strange: Could it be that the Lotus-Eating School are all this type of weirdo? Each one feels unfathomable.

If they could get more information from this woman when the time comes, perhaps Castorice could learn about the whereabouts and location of the Death Nautilus.

"Lady Frieren, is this Calypso a Chrysos Heir? If she is, why doesn't Lady Aglaea take the initiative to seek her help?" Fern was puzzled.

Given Aglaea's personality, there should be no reason not to have close contact with this head of the Arbor Court's Sages, but why had she never heard her mention it before? Although the Anaxa she was concerned about was indeed brilliant, in terms of understanding Nautiluss, he shouldn't be as knowledgeable as this Ms. Calypso.

"I think we can refer to those people in the Genius Society." Frieren reached her hand toward the campfire, feeling the warmth from her palm. "These Sages are all Geniuses in their respective fields. Most have eccentric personalities, are confident and proud, and are probably unwilling to easily join forces with others, right?"

"But now that the Black Tide is approaching, if they don't put aside their differences and mobilize all resources to support the Flame-Chase Journey, I'm afraid it's only a matter of a few months before Amphoreus is completely swallowed by the Black Tide."

——

【The three of them took the waterwheel all the way up and soon arrived outdoors, only to find Tribbie already waiting for them there.】

【"Wow, Little Gray, Little Butterfly, and a pink puppy!"】

【Mimi was fuming: "I... sigh, forget it, puppy it is. Tolerance—tolerance!"】

【Castorice crouched down and asked with concern: "Lady Trianne! Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"】

【Trianne stood with her hands on her hips proudly: "No, Trianne flies very high, the monsters can't reach Trianne at all."】

【"Air superiority secured!"】

【"'Air superiority secured!'... So cool, but what does that mean?" Trianne pulled out the spindle previously entrusted to her from behind her and said happily: "But, back to business! The spindle Aglaia gave me is amazing. Trianne seems to have found little Anaxa—he's near the tree canopy! Although the sensation is very weak, it's different from those Dryads just now."】

【"However, because Trianne was alone and afraid of danger, I didn't fly down to look."】

【Castorice smiled with relief: "It seems Lady Trianne remembered our agreement well. Teacher Anaxa is indeed still alive and is on the Throne of Enlightenment... At least on this matter, Excellency Calypso did not lie."】

【"Eh? Ca-lyp-so... who's that?"】

【Mimi was about to introduce Calypso behind them, but found that she had disappeared entirely; the space behind them was empty.】

【"Coming and going without a trace... what a weirdo."】

【"Um, actually, Trianne also found this—could it be related to that person you were talking about?" Trianne pulled out a piece of black fabric from her person and handed it to Castorice.】

【"Is this... a piece of charred fabric?" Castorice took it curiously and examined it closely under the light source. Aside from a ring of scorch marks around the edges, there was nothing noteworthy.】

【"Yeah! Trianne found it on a branch not long ago. Trianne also followed the golden thread to look around and found similar scents all over the Arbor Court."】

——

One-Punch Man.

"What's so interesting about a scrap of cloth?" Atomic Samurai crossed his arms, speaking with some displeasure. "It's wasting too much time. Anaxa is still up there waiting for their rescue... aren't charred scraps of cloth like this all over the Arbor Court?"

"Indeed." Tanktop Master sat on a chair at the association, curiously eyeing the piece of cloth in Castorice's hand: "This should just be a relic left by some scholar during the Black Tide disaster; the person themselves might have already been twisted into a Black Tide creation."

A glint suddenly flashed in the Master's eyes, with a hint of faint expectation: "Or... is it actually a fragment of a tank top? If so, this fragment might give Castorice the power of the tank top."

"Ahaha... Master, I don't think modern clothing like tank tops has been born in Amphoreus yet." Child Emperor awkwardly interrupted the Master's unrealistic fantasy. "This shouldn't be the victim's clothing. The key is in Tribbie's last sentence... since the scent of this scrap of cloth is spread throughout the Arbor Court, it means its owner has walked up and down the entire Arbor Court."

"But what does that prove?" Atomic Samurai asked.

"It proves the owner of this fragment is one of those Black Tide creations," Child Emperor said seriously. "Do you still remember the Remembrance of that dead Dryad? Black robes, a cloak, a long sword... doesn't the black robe match this fragment?"

"The tracks of Black Tide monsters can be found throughout the Arbor Court, rather than aimlessly wandering in one area. There must be some kind of 'consciousness' behind them directing these monsters. Either they are searching for any possible survivors in the Arbor Court to kill them, or they are searching for something... In short, the Black Tide is by no means an aimless natural disaster, but an 'invasion' that is organized and planned, much like Monster."