972 Nasts Memories (1/2)
With the pressure relieved, Klein casually pulled a chair over and placed it by the door, sitting opposite King of the Five Seas Nast with the entire hall separating them.
Although the Pirate King was more than 1.9 meters tall and was sitting on a black platform, allowing him to look down in a domineering manner, Klein didn't play second fiddle in this encounter. He wore his tall top hat again.
After a brief silence, Nast, who had the official title of Earl of White Maple, said with a solemn tone, ”Give me a reason why I should answer your question.”
Klein's thin body casually leaned back as he said, ”You will not need to hear the same request when you have something you need to trade with me in the future.”
The dark red light flickered in Nast's black eyes as he said, ”I basically know all the saints active in this world, but that doesn't include you.”
Klein caressed the feathered mask on his face and laughed. Without answering, he asked in return, ”Have you met Zaratul?”
”I've met 'Him' twice in Emperor Roselle's palace. I'd also interacted with quite a number of Secret Order members,” Nast replied with a calm and direct but extremely domineering tone.
Quite a number of Secret Order members… You should introduce me to them when the opportunity arises… Klein couldn't help but quip.
He then smiled and said, ”I've also met Zaratul.”
Nast raised his hand to stroke his short black beard. His already tall figure seemed to burgeon, making the mood in the captain's cabin even gloomier and repressed.
After a few seconds, he stared at Klein from above and said, ”My impression of Emperor Roselle is very simple:
”No one is more suitable than 'Him' to be the Black Emperor.”
He didn't explain what ”Black Emperor” meant or pointed to, ignoring if the demigod opposite him understood or not.
Is that so… From this King of the Five Seas's words, although the emperor's diary implied that he made up his mind only in his later years to switch to the Black Emperor pathway and make preparations, he had long had such inclinations. He had unconsciously exhibited it and set up the situation ahead of time… Klein thought in enlightenment.
He believed that Nast's impression of Emperor Roselle was limited to that. After all, they had only met a few times. Hence, he switched topics.
”In the emperor's later years, did 'He' get you or your father to do something secret?”
Nast's crown shook a little as he replied, ”Someone had once asked me the same question.”
Klein laughed and asked with a bold guess, ”Bernadette?”
”Yes.” Nast held the two sides of his black throne with his hands. ”Back then, she was very young and immature to ask such a question. With Emperor Roselle's level in his later years, compared to handing something secret to me and my father, what could be kept more secret than doing it 'Himself'?”
This is implying that I'm as immature as Bernadette back then… Klein sighed and said, ”To people who are concerned about this, one wouldn't abandon even the slightest sliver of hope.”
This was also why he wished to meet the King of the Five Seas after concealing the liner.
He was now trying to find clues to the door of light above the gray fog in the real world. Apart from confirming who the third transmigrator was, he had to delve deep into Emperor Roselle's matters. This was a necessary decision!
The dark red glow in Nast's eyes contracted and expanded.
”What's your relationship with Emperor Roselle?”
Klein thought and said with a sigh, ”We can be considered old friends.”
After all, they had been above that mysterious door of light, and the cocoons they were in were neighbors with only a thin obstacle in between them. They had been hanging there for centuries or even millennia.
This was a connection that stemmed from reality, and psychologically, having read so many of the emperor's diaries, Klein had long treated the emperor as a fellow countryman. He shared the same feelings for home and sense of identity with him.
Nast stared at the thin demigod who sat by the door before he retracted his gaze and solemnly said, ”Any more questions?”
Klein was already prepared. He asked in an unhurried tone, ”Do you feel that there was anything abnormal about Emperor Roselle in his later years?”
The slightly wrinkled Nast remained silent for quite a while before saying, ”I don't know enough about 'Him,' so I wasn't able to notice anything abnormal.
”The only thing that made me feel odd was that when me and my father met 'Him,' 'He' would stand at a floor-to-ceiling window facing west. He would stare into the distance. This would happen in the morning, noon, and the evening. And that room wasn't the only one with a floor-to-ceiling window.”
”West… Into the distance… the Fog Sea?” Klein seemed to mutter to himself as though seeking confirmation.
He recalled that the emperor's diary had mentioned of a mysterious primitive island, and he recalled the Abyss that hid somewhere in the Fog Sea.
Nast nodded slightly and said, ”That was my guess as well.”
Phew… Klein silently exhaled. After some consideration, he stood up and said, ”I'm done with my questions. Please pardon me for my intrusion.
”Your Lordship, I wonder if I can help you in a transaction?”
He was fulfilling his promise.
Nast fell silent for two seconds and said, ”Help me find the Card of Blasphemy that corresponds to the Black Emperor.”