Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability

Jenna then faced a dilemma.

Should I maintain the mysterious and evil image of a Witch or follow my instincts and take the money from their corpses…

…

In a bar in Banamo Port.

Anthony sat on a barstool with a mug of beer, listening to a pirate across from him boast.

His task for the past two days had been to blend in with the pirates, monitor, and guide the “public opinion.”

Although Lumian had analyzed a lot, he wasn’t entirely sure how the pirate community would react. Human nature was unpredictable, and among so many pirates, it was normal for some to act in ways that defied logic.

A Conspirer couldn’t predict events with certainty like a high-ranked Seer, Prophet, or Spectator. They needed to prepare extra measures to ensure things went as planned and not fall apart at the first deviation.

So, Anthony frequented the pirates’ favorite bars, making as many friends as possible to understand their reactions to the unknown adventurer’s provocations. He identified voices that could significantly influence the outcome and used his Hypnotist abilities to quietly guide and change the attitudes of a few influential pirates, ensuring the public opinion matched Lumian’s goals.

This large-scale, covert guidance helped Anthony digest a good portion of his Hypnotist potion.

It involved actual hypnosis and seemed to indirectly guide the collective psyche of the pirates in Banamo Port.

Gulping down golden beer, the pirate beside Anthony admired his new friend.

To him, this new friend was not only amiable but also a good listener among pirates, not interrupting to show off during others’ stories.

Holy Lord of Storms, it’s rare to meet a pirate like this. I finally got to finish my story! The pirate Stilwell praised the god in his heart and asked Anthony, “Interested in joining our crew?”

Anthony smiled and replied, “I don’t think I’m skilled enough to be one of you.”

“Haha.” Stilwell laughed proudly.

Anthony glanced around and lowered his voice, “Have you heard about the unknown adventurer?”

Stilwell’s smile vanished instantly. “Yeah, I heard. There’s so many pirate captains here, but none have taught that adventurer a lesson!

What are they waiting for? This is their chance to gain more fame. They might even become the tenth Pirate Admiral!”

In his rant, Stilwell never mentioned challenging the arrogant adventurer himself.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the bar.

“What’s happening?” Stilwell picked up his beer and mumbled, heading towards the table.

After a while, he returned to the bar, excitedly telling Anthony, “Admiral Deep Sea is in Banamo!”

“Admiral Deep Sea is here?” Anthony looked delighted.

“Yes, someone will teach that bastard a lesson!” Stilwell sat back on his stool, enthusiastically, “That’s a Pirate Admiral! Every Pirate Admiral earned their title through real battles, not just boasting. They could kill all the adventurers here if they wanted to!”

When Stilwell finished, Anthony echoed, “I’m already looking forward to it.”

Gulp. Stilwell picked up his beer mug again and took a sip.

He boasted, “I thought Admiral Deep Sea would come to end the humiliation caused by those so-called notable pirates.”

“Why do you say that?” Anthony asked curiously.

Stilwell glanced at him. “You don’t know?”

Anthony smiled and explained, “Although I’m from Intis, our boss often intercepts ships in the Berserk Sea and rarely comes to the Fog Sea.”

“That explains it.” Stilwell nodded understandingly. He lowered his voice, “We suspect Admiral Deep Sea comes to Banamo Port every year to find that legendary treasure.”

“Treasure? The Lost Newins?” Anthony acted like a genuine pirate.

The Lost Newins was one of the most famous treasure legends on the Five Seas, rumored to be at the bottom of a certain part of the Fog Sea.

It was said to be the site of an ancient civilization of intelligent beings, long destroyed. Strange items often appeared in the area, all pointing to the ancient Newins.

“Yes.” Stilwell nodded emphatically. “Think about it. Admiral Deep Sea’s flagship was found in some ruins and named the Newins. Anyone would suspect those ruins are the Lost Newins! Besides, the area where the Newins supposedly sank isn’t far from here.”