"Danitz, why do you think we're here?" Alaric asked, smiling at Danitz with a hint of pity, like he was looking at a frightened animal.
"Aren't you just tourists?" Danitz's voice trembled, clinging to a last shred of hope.
"As if!" Alaric shot down his optimism without hesitation, his smile bright and cheerful. "Danitz, you know about Bansy Harbor's peculiar customs, right? But do you know what happens if you don't follow the rules?"
Damn it, I thought those were just legends... maybe some high-sequence trick from a local cult at worst… Danitz grumbled inwardly, but his body betrayed him, asking, "What happens?"
"It depends on luck. If you're lucky and don't hit Bansy's special conditions, nothing happens. But if luck's not on your side…" Alaric's smile turned mischievous, his tone like he was telling a ghost story to scare a kid. "You might stumble into another city or run into monsters. As a Hunter, you're likely to crash right into the source of Bansy's anomaly. Now, there are two possibilities. If you're the one-in-a-billion Chosen One, congratulations! You'll skyrocket to the top, and even gods will bow before you."
Alaric was referring to the slim chance Danitz could be chosen by the City of Calamity, becoming its favored or even its master... a vanishingly small probability, but not impossible.
After all, miracles happen. Tudor once contained the Chaos Sea, and the Primordial One's handpicked transmigrators were clearly suited for the Gray Fog. Why couldn't Danitz have a sliver of a chance to pull off a miracle?
Danitz stared at Alaric, dumbfounded. He didn't dare dream that big. After several seconds, he managed, "And the other possibility?"
He couldn't even entertain the first scenario... it was too overwhelming for his worldview.
"Man, you're hopeless. If you can't even dream that big, how'll you ever reach the top?" Alaric didn't answer directly, giving Danitz a disappointed look and shaking his head.
Damn it, who dreams like that? Aren't you afraid of divine punishment? My biggest dream is becoming a pirate admiral, a man worthy of the captain… Danitz muttered inwardly, forcing a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm just not that ambitious. Pretty unimpressive, huh?"
"So, the other possibility?" Danitz pressed.
"What else? You die or turn into a monster," Alaric said bluntly. Failing to adapt to a Sefirot's corruption left only those two outcomes.
Danitz choked, cursing inwardly at the obvious answer, then asked hopefully, "So you're here to fix this problem?"
"No way. This isn't something we can fix. Even a true god couldn't handle it," Alaric replied with a smile, his gaze shifting to the restaurant's depths.
In his perception, the Lemon Restaurant was uniquely significant, likely a nexus between the two Bansy Harbors, possibly even linked to the City of Calamity's leaking power.
"I'm just here to check some things, that's all," Alaric said as a waiter approached, setting down their ordered dishes.
Alaric's eyes scanned the signature dishes. With the two Bansy Harbors overlapping, the food carried a faint supernatural taint... not enough to corrupt, safe even for ordinary people.
This was expected. Though Bansy was in a special state, the City of Calamity's power hadn't fully erupted.
Alaric had no intention of triggering it... there was no benefit in that. He pulled out a Sun God-issued cross, tapping each dish lightly, then said, "Dig in. No sense wasting it. Wait here when you're done. I'm going to explore the unknown. If anything goes wrong…"
He paused, looking at Klein. "Don't worry about me. Run. I've got my own way out. Staying would just slow me down. Call for help instead."
"I understand. I won't hold you back," Klein nodded solemnly. He wouldn't stop Jack from exploring Bansy... not just because it was Mr. Lucifer's task, but because it was necessary. The risks were worth it compared to knowing nothing about the Primordial One's revival and facing an apocalyptic return.
Klein trusted Jack. Though his friend could be deceptively cunning, he was reliable in serious matters.
Noticing Lil' Amon's restless eyes, Klein tugged him back, his tone stern. "Lil' Amon, now's not the time to act up."
"…Fine," Lil' Amon muttered, deflating. He cut a piece of blood-based dish and stuffed it in his mouth, mumbling, "You're so biased, Klein."
"Uh…" Danitz, with no appetite, hesitated before asking, "You'll take me with you if you run, right?"
Klein glanced at him. He wanted to reassure Danitz, but as Gehrman, he said coldly, "If you behave."
"I'll behave! Super well-behaved! No one's more well-behaved than me!" Danitz replied instantly, practically carving "well-behaved" on his face.
As they talked, the sky outside grew darker, thick fog spreading through Bansy Harbor, lending the city an eerie air.
Alaric watched the rapidly changing city, leisurely finishing his dish. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood, and, as an afterthought, pulled a translucent, crystal-like object from his pocket, placing it on the table.
***
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