As the fading light of dusk casts a warm glow over the ocean, the water shimmers and shimmers, like a vast expanse of liquid gold. The horizon is ablaze with the colors of the setting sun - deep reds, fiery oranges, and shimmering yellows. The clouds above are painted with the same vibrant hues, and they stretch out across the sky like brushstrokes on a canvas. The air is filled with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, and the salty scent of the sea is strong in the air.

Lynn had been adrift at sea for almost a day. Despite his reservations, he still chose to keep the cumbersome sword he had borrowed from Aubrey, spending two hours learning to backstroke and dog paddle in the water with the guidance of his auxiliary intelligence.

"huff...huff...071," Lynn panted as he swam, trying to avoid hitting the protruding rocks ahead, "if we find...huff ourselves in this situation again...huff...remind me to get rid of this damn...huff... sword."

[According to orders given 17 hours, 23 minutes, and 50 seconds ago, the warning sound has been turned off...]

"Well, turn it on now!"

Lynn said without thinking, immediately regretting it.

[You have an unresolved criminal record. Do you wish to make an online defense statement?]

Sighing in frustration, Lynn - who had come close to being face to face with a deity - hoped that the federal police would come to his rescue and whisk him away from this wicked inter-century world in a spaceship.

Perhaps he could even be rewarded for being the first to discover an extraterrestrial life planet. Alas, such a fantasy was doomed to remain unfulfilled. At the time before he transmigrated, the range of travel for federal ships was limited to the solar system and they lacked the ability to travel to other galaxies.

Furthermore, he couldn't even pick up a signal. It was as if he were in the realm of the supernatural.

With a good understanding of the operation logic of the AI, Lynn thought for a moment before speaking. "071, based on the available information, locate the current planet."

[Detected that the planet has an unknown energy called magic and is outside the coverage of the Uranus signal tower. It is predicted that the current location is in an unknown galaxy outside the Orion's belt in the Milky Way-Solar System. It is uncertain whether it is in the same universe.]

"Then describe the definition of protecting extraterrestrial life forms in the "Intelligent Management Law." Lynn contemplated before speaking out again.

[The "Intelligent Management Law" has no provisions for the protection of extraterrestrial life forms...]

071's answer was concise. As the federation had yet to discover extraterrestrial civilizations in its exploration of the universe, it naturally did not include any provisions for the protection of extraterrestrial life forms in the "Intelligent Management Law."

"So extraterrestrial beings have no human rights, right? In fact, I haven't committed any crime!" Lynn said seriously.

The high-speed running 071 seemed to freeze for a moment. After consuming one thousandth of its energy for calculation, it gave the answer. [Logical chain established, criminal record eliminated!]

Upon learning this, Lynn finally relaxed and exhaled. He realized that he could move forward without worrying about encountering bothersome notifications again. After all, federal laws were inapplicable beyond the confines of this world.

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With this realization, Lynn made a mental vow to research how he might alter this artificial intelligence once he became an adept magician with the ability to wield magic at will.

Just as Lynn was ruminating, a constellation of flickering flames emerged on the seemingly boundless watery expanse. As it drew nearer, a towering city wall materialized in his sight. The previous sparks he had seen were simply campfires used to light up the citadel.

After a day of drifting on the aquatic surface, Lynn was somewhat stirred upon glimpsing something novel. However, he refrained from impulsively approaching and decided to disembark in the nearby area and wait until the next day to determine where he was.

The commotion caused by the recent battle outside Uer Town was not insignificant, and it was likely that the news had spread far and wide. Lynn was confident that the entire Nordland was now on high alert. His hair color, age, and physique were all distinctive characteristics, and if he did not disguise himself, he could be apprehended upon entering the city.

Upon realizing the potential danger, Lynn switched to an awkward doggy paddle and made for the shore, intent on finding shelter. In that moment, something heavy fell from the towering city walls, causing a loud thud and a splash. The ripples on the water's surface spread outward, as if something beneath was struggling.

"A person?"

Lynn's eyes narrowed as he hesitated before swimming over at breakneck speed. While the scene resembled a murder scene, he needed answers and saw this as an opportunity. The water was splattered with droplets blood and the once-clear lake was now dyed red. Lynn was convinced that his suspicions were correct. As he drew closer, he could hear struggling and gurgling cries, then he saw a hand emerging from the lakebed, frantically pulling him down. It was a common response from drowning victims, sometimes even dragging their rescuers under. Fortunately, Lynn did not need to worry about oxygen and pulled the person's collar towards the shore as he swam.

.....

Half an hour later, within a natural cave outside the city, the fire's flickering light gradually grew, banishing the night's chill and providing illumination. The walls of the cave are rough and jagged, made of ancient, worn stone. The fire burns brightly, casting a warm orange glow that dances and flickers against the walls. The heat from the flames feels comforting and inviting, and one can feel the tension melting from their body as they stand in its presence.

The light from the fire illuminates small pockets and crevices in the walls, making the cave feel alive and full of mystery. The sound of the fire and the darkness beyond its reach creates a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. Lynn stood there for a moment, mesmerized by the beauty of the cave and the fire burning within it, waiting for his garments to dry.

After a while, Lynn turned his attention to the young man he had "rescued." The youth, who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, had an ordinary countenance and hair the same color as his own. What caught Lynn's eye, however, was the deep gash on the teenager's chest, likely inflicted by a blade that had penetrated his heart. Had he known this, he would have left the body be and not wasted his energy attempting to rescue a corpse.

Sighing, Lynn shook his head, but still went through the routine of rifling through the deceased's belongings, as the young man was obviously of noble birth and might yield some valuable items. To Lynn's surprise, he found only three gold coins, more than ten silver coins, a few finely crafted pendants, and a book with a wet cover bearing no name.

While this was a paltry amount for a noble, it was a small fortune to Lynn. In the Sika Empire, a single copper coin could buy a black bread, and with water, provide a meal's sustenance. The exchange rate between copper and silver fluctuated around 1:80, while the exchange rate between gold and silver was over 100, and could be higher in times of war. After all, gold was a rare element in the universe with limited reserves.

However, since these things were still here, it was basically possible to exclude the possibility of murder for ordinary money. Lynn flipped the coins in his hand. He was not a professional detective, but after examining the wound on the corpse's chest, he suddenly hesitated and then made a fist with his right hand, simulating a grip on a dagger and trying to stab himself in the chest at a similar angle.

The angle of the wound was exactly the same.

'Was this... a suicide?'

Lynn immediately realized this possibility and, after thinking for a moment, picked up the book he had overlooked and lightly flipped through the wet pages with his fingernail. The writing was sloppy but deep, as if carved into the page.

[Maybe without me, everything would be better...]