Keifer found the information intriguing. It was almost certain that the heretic burned at the stake was this woman.

She seemed to have undergone some changes after completing the penance, gaining an affinity with metal and metalwork, inching closer to whatever god the Iron Brotherhood worships. This was evident from the fact that she was losing faith in the Lord of crafts. He mulled over his thoughts for a moment.

Glancing at his unwilling guest, he asked, "What do you know about the Iron Brotherhood?"

The question was a test. He needed to be sure he could trust the contents of the book. He wasn't some naive beginner easily deceived.

Clarice peered at him with a spiteful gaze, hesitating before finally caving. "They first appeared in Port Santa, but back then, they were simply a group of killers with no actual goal. So, they were easily killed off by the port's inquisition. But rumors say they came to Canen. At least the surviving ones."

"Hmm," Keifer exhaled softly. "Why did you not speak about the effects of completing the penances?" His eyes narrowed into a piercing gaze.

Clarice's eyes twitched, and her lips quivered. "You didn't ask."

Keifer nodded and leaned towards her, leaving significant space between them. "Do you seriously want to be found in the backwaters? I'm sure I asked you not to stall my questions. Please answer me now." His voice was calm and cold, almost sinister.

Biting down on her lips, Clarice responded, "It is the trait of the spirit creatures."

"What's tha—"

"Hey, Keifer! The food's done!" Anissa's voice interrupted his words.

Sighing, Keifer glanced at Clarice and said, "We will continue this once I come back."

He stood up, placed the journal back into the box, and closed it. He then proceeded to hide the box in the drawer of his desk. Afterward, he undressed and freshened up.

Emerging from his room, Keifer was dressed in a sleek black shirt, matching trousers, and an Inverness cloak. A silver brooch gleamed, connecting from his pocket to his buttons.

The door to the kitchen opened, and Anissa stepped out, carrying an iron plate with a muffin glove. "It's done," she announced.

Keifer smiled and made his way to the sofa in the living room.

Anissa placed the bowl on the round glass table, her smile warm and inviting. "Dig in."

Keifer glanced at her, noting the netted bonnet she still wore, even in the kitchen.

Maybe it's a cultural or traditional thing, he mused.

Taking up the spoon, he scooped up the porridge and ate. His face grimaced as the salty taste spread through his mouth.

He glanced at Anissa, who stood beside him with a smile. She asked, "How is it?"

It isn't very good. Too salty. Keifer mused in his thoughts but dared not speak them out.

He looked at her and said, "It's good."

Her face seemed to flicker with a sparkle as a smile spread across her face, "That's good."

She walked a few steps before turning around, saying, "You just be quick; we're going to be late."

Keifer nodded in response. He then stared at the brownish porridge with molds of beans, his tongue marking that apart from the saltiness, the dish was alright. Somehow, she had reduced the staleness.

Luckily, she also seemed not to have heard the knocking, perhaps she was focused on the food and somehow lost track. Keifer has such a thought as to why Anissa had not asked about who was at the door.

After a couple of minutes, Keifer was done. He patted himself and he and Anissa left the apartment.

....

Sailing through the calm, pale sea, the golden sun cast its radiant glow across the endless expanse. The sky above was a flawless canvas of blue, unmarred by clouds. It was a peaceful day, with no sight of pirates to disrupt the tranquility of the voyage.

Inside the VIP room, luxurious and tastefully decorated, Melina sat on a plush sofa facing a large window. She wore a white ruffled dress that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair. Her gaze occasionally wandered to the serene waters outside, reflecting the tranquility of the scene.

The room was adorned with elegant red floral wallpaper, and the floor was covered with rich, blood-red carpets, adding a touch of opulence. The furnishings spoke of wealth and taste, creating an atmosphere of refined luxury.

"What do you think of the ship?" Melina asked, her voice directed to no one in particular.

From the slightly darkened corner, a figure stepped out of the shadows—Ace. He moved with a calm, unhurried grace before responding, "It's fine, at least there are no constant shouts about who should be raising the sails."

Melina chuckled softly. "Yes, yes." She closed the book she had been reading and stood up, her steps measured and graceful as she approached Ace.

Now standing just a few inches away, she whispered, "I haven't bathed. Draw me one okay?"

Ace remained silent for a moment before sighing. "Alright. But I won't be staying with you this time. You have to bathe yourself."

Melina's eyes narrowed, and her cheeks puffed up in a pout. "Come on, the water can turn cold. You know I don't like cold water."

"Yes, you do," Ace replied without hesitation.

"Oh, right, I do." Melina twirled around and walked towards the window, her gaze drifting over the vast sea. "You know we will first make a stop at the Shire Archipelago, at Habeth Island."

"Yes, I know," Ace confirmed.

"Are you prepared to go to that place again?" Melina asked, a note of concern in her voice.

"It's ancient history. It may be my origin, but it is also yours. I should ask you that question. After all, it was the last place you saw your parents alive." Ace clenched his fist as he spoke those words, the memory still raw.

Sighing, Melina changed the topic. "What set would fit me well if I'm to become a Penitent?"

"Mermen," Ace said after careful consideration. He knew her too well. She wasn't as calm and timid as she often portrayed when with him. She was fierce, unpredictable, and chaotic like a calm sea suddenly hungering to sink ships.

"The Mermen..." Melina deliberated for a moment before asking, "So that means a penance that has lightning and sea-related powers. But still, do you want my hair to really end up white? To develop scales and end up looking like a lizard? And the spirit creatures with those powers are very hostile towards women. Chances are that I will experience imbalance at the slightest depletion of spirituality."

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Though she was yet to become a Penitents, she possessed knowledge that most veteran Penitents had never heard of. One such piece of knowledge was the attitude of certain spirit creatures to certain people.

This was because spirit creatures naturally have their own traits and personalities!

Ace stayed quiet for a moment before responding after much thought. "Then if the Storm-born isn't an option, the Djinn are the best one."

Storm Born was an ancient name for the Mermen set.

"But the set is more focused on authority over countless things, wishes, and visionary than actual storm power. I think the—"

"Boom!"

Before she could finish, a sudden explosion sounded in the distance. The yellowish-red flash caused a surge in the seas, rocking the ship slightly but not enough to cause any real problems.

Even Ace was startled, despite his strengths. He immediately dashed to the window to see a nearby uninhabited island ablaze with soaring red flames mingled with black smoke.

With his enhanced constitution as a penitent, he could easily see from a distance. In the flames was a silhouette, about 2.5 meters tall, bulky and muscular like the giants of old. But before he could peer longer, the figure faded from the flames.

Just then, a voice announced through the speakers of the Stormlight Ferry:

"Don't worry, folks." The voice carried an old raspy Port Santa accent. "It was just a mistake, one of the turrets on the ship fired. But don't worry, nobody was harmed, and you folks can carry on with your merry." The voice then cut off.

Stepping back from the window, Ace glanced at Melina, who now held a card in her hand, a frown on her face.

"I didn't get an ace of kings," she said.

....

Upon reaching the well-known Belle Square via a public carriage, which cost Anissa a hefty 5 pence, she and Keifer stepped down from the single horse-drawn carriage, which smelled like liquor.

The former square, once the site where a woman was burned at the stake, had transformed into a bustling metropolis. Carriages moved through the two streets that flanked the two-story building known as Belle Rose. From his conversation with Anissa during the ride, Keifer learned that the building functioned as a mental asylum, where her brother Theo, involved in a troubling event a few years prior, had been confined.

"The place we are going to is Upper Canen," Anissa said with a smile on her face.

They both stood on the pedestrian walkway, with numerous carriages passing through the wet cobblestone street.

Knowing that the Upper Canen area was a different district from these parts, Keifer also knew it was inhabited by the rich and wealthy—not a place for middle-class men like him.

Anissa watched for Keifer's response but got nothing, so she proceeded to explain further, "The man is a talented clothesmith. He will surely have the best clothes for you."

Keifer held back the urge to sigh before saying, "Why would a man with such a reputation even want to meet us? I mean, do I even have the money to pay for the clothes?"

"Don't worry about that," Anissa said, waving dismissively.

"I am the one paying. And once you become a popular detective, you can always pay me back." She smiled as she said that.

Keifer looked at her, and a look of fear washed over his face.

He was afraid that her purity and smile would end up being ruined by him.

He quickly reined in his emotions to avoid letting Anissa catch a glimpse of his expression.

"Okay," he finally said in a muffled, nearly silent tone.

"Alright, now we will first have to catch ourselves a taxi. I don't think we will find one in Belle Square, so maybe we should walk to Furres Road. There might be some taxis there." Anissa gestured at the road on the left before walking on.

Taxi? Keifer found the word strange. He knew this world was slightly more advanced than he had initially thought, but if they had also invented cars, then what else could they have?

Furthermore, Furres Road laid to the left of Belle Rose and was supposedly named after one of the deceased sons of the former queen of Friscia, the kingdom that later became Canen City.

The walk took about 10 minutes, and soon they came upon a vast section of the city. It was strange, as although they had only walked for a few minutes, they seemed to have stumbled into a completely different part of the city.

Countless three-meter-tall locomotives raced around. The colors of these locomotives ranged from gray-black to red, with stripes of gold. It seemed that gold, the color of the empire, was integrated into certain parts of society.

The surroundings were incredibly vast, with the building on the right side of the road still part of the Belle Rose mansion. At that point, Keifer spotted what Anissa possibly regarded as a taxi.

A gray-black car with a round top and a long protrusion on the front streamed through the road, accompanied by carriages and countless people going about their day. Most were dressed in double-breasted coats, while the ladies wore ruffled dresses with unique patterns.

This was truly what Canen City looked like.

Anissa suddenly raised her hand and waved. And as soon as she did that, a taxi parked on the other side of the room quickly made an entry into the road and drove in front of them; making a park at that part of the road.

Keifer looked down at the possibly 1-meter-tall car, the glass on the driving seat winded down; revealing a middle-aged man with black hair and obvious wrinkles and a double eyelid.

The man smiled and said to Anissa, "Good day to you miss. Where in the city will I be taking you?"

Anissa chuckled softly and replied, "We are going to upper canen. Clothes district."

The driver smiled and nodded. "Get in Miss."