Lanerwus is most likely Sequence 8 "Fraudster," which happens to be on the "Thief" pathway. Having an "entrance ticket" to the corresponding gathering is not too hard to understand and accept; on the contrary, it's very logical... Trying to purchase a mystical item that can steal another's supernatural powers at the "Hermits of Fate" gathering is definitely much easier than in other circles... So this must be the clue that "Snake of Fate" Will Auceptin mentioned... Klein sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly enlightened.
He quickly set up a ritual to summon himself, ascended to the Gray Fog, and brought that eye-sized badge back to the real world.
On the front of the badge was engraved the symbolic emblem corresponding to "Fate" and "Concealment," while on the back was a tiny ancient Hermes inscription: "He who holds this may join."
Klein was about to infuse spirituality, activate the badge, send out the "message," and simultaneously obtain the latest time and location of the gathering, but then he hesitated.
"...I got careless. I forgot to divine if this was dangerous! If that gathering has a demigod-level elder of Lanerwus's who uses this to lock onto my location, then the trouble would be huge, just like last time when 'Disease Admiral' Tracy found an 'Immortal Witch' to help her in such a short time—I have to be wary. As a person, I need to be bold when boldness is needed, and cautious when caution is needed!" Klein slapped his forehead and cautiously re-entered the mysterious space above the Gray Fog to perform a divination using the "pendulum method."
After receiving the revelation that there was no danger, he sighed in relief, left the Gray Fog, and sat back in the rocking chair in his hotel room.
As he poured in his spirituality, the surface of the badge emitted a layer of hazy, clear brilliance. It quickly condensed into an inconspicuous beam of light and shot into the air.
Not long after, a similar beam of light returned, spreading out into a palm-sized illusory parchment, on which a line of words was written in ancient Feysac script:
"June 6, 1350, 9 p.m., the mouth of the Tassok River."
More than four months away... In that time, I could even gather the main ingredients for "Marionettist" again without issue. The only obstacle is not having enough money, but that's not a problem—I now have 6,945 pounds, and selling one or two more Beyonders' characteristics will be more than enough. Also, there are many moving bounties on the sea. No, I can't be so arrogant; I have to exclude the Four Kings and Seven Admirals... What kind of clue is this? Klein leaned forward, hunched his back slightly, and began to think hard again.
Following the thread of the "Hermits of Fate" gathering, he suddenly thought of someone:
Leonard Mitchell!
His poet classmate had participated in that "Hermits of Fate" gathering in Babel Valley. Whatever his purpose—official business or personal—it was possible he had obtained a mystical item that could steal others' supernatural abilities. Could he borrow or buy it from him? Was this the real clue? Klein's spirits lifted, and he quickly formed a rough plan:
"First step: put the radio receiver in the Gray Fog to accumulate aura.
"Second step: a few days later, use that radio receiver to contact the magic mirror Arodus.
"Third step: ask where I can relatively easily obtain a mystical item that steals others' supernatural abilities.
"If the answer is clear, then the fourth step is to follow the lead and simply achieve the goal. If the answer is ambiguous or full of danger, the fourth step is to ask the poet classmate's current location.
"Fifth step: have that guy Emlyn White take the badge to find the poet classmate and see if he has the relevant item and whether a trade can be made. I won't show myself directly; if I'm recognized by accident, it would be just as much trouble. And Emlyn is now considered a man of the Church of the Earth Mother—no, a vampire of the Church of the Earth Mother. If he goes to contact him, even if the poet classmate reports him or catches him on the spot, he won't be tied to the stake."
With a plan for what to do next and how to do it, Klein's mind felt clear and his mood lifted. He decided to go out and eat a Bayam-style grilled fish.
................ On the deep blue sea, the "Golden Dream" sailed quietly, its golden glow painted by the setting sun.
Danitz, with the captain's permission, entered her room, sometimes shrinking back and sometimes puffing out his chest amid envious gazes.
Inside, most of the space was filled with bookshelves, above which were placed volumes of books.
"Vice Admiral Iceberg" Edwina stood at her desk, holding a black fountain pen and quickly writing words:
"...I don't have a similar item, and Yodeson also doesn't. He said he will keep an eye out for you, but that will require sufficient luck."
Edwina raised her head and looked at Danitz with clear, spring-water-like light blue eyes:
"You will set up the ritual to summon Gehrman Sparrow's messenger."
"Me?" Danitz, who was just thinking about whether he would receive special treatment from the captain, pointed at himself in surprise.
"Yes." Edwina folded the letter, straightened up, and nodded. "This will help you become familiar with similar rituals; I will test you on this content later."
"Alright..." Danitz suppressed his disappointment, racked his memory, and slowly set up the ritual with only a single candle.
Finally, under Edwina's gaze, he took out a shiny Loen gold coin and placed it on the altar.
Taking the letter, Danitz rehearsed the process in his mind twice before daring to proceed with the ritual.
He stepped back and said in ancient Hermes:
"I!
"I summon in my name:
"The spirit wandering in the illusory, a friendly being available to serve, the messenger solely belonging to Gehrman Sparrow."
Woo!
Wind howled within the wall of spirituality, blowing Danitz's yellow hair wildly upward.
The flame expanded rapidly, seemingly the size of a human head, as pale as the letter in Danitz's hand.
Soon, Danitz saw a head with long, light-golden hair, blood-red eyes, and bright features emerge.
Sigh, Gehrman Sparrow's messenger is really special. How can a creature from the Spirit World look completely human, and such a beautiful lady, only slightly inferior to the captain? Huh... Danitz's thoughts suddenly choked, because he noticed that the head was not attached to a neck but was being held by a hand gripping the ends of its hair.