Chapter 58 A Unique Figure

Towering ocean waves crashed down less than ten meters away from the vessel, sending up plumes of spray. Under the faint, warm glow of the hurricane lantern, these splashes dissolved into streams of golden light. Amidst the surrounding howling winds, driving rain, and terrified crowds, only Su Wen stood alone in his black trench coat, looking calmly ahead into the depths of the dark canopy of the sky.

This scene was captured not only by the traveler Nelson, but also by a journalist from California. Later on, it would become one of the iconic world masterpieces of the fifth year of the Civilized Era, on par with 'The Burning Bavarian Banquet' and 'Racing Car No. 25 Soaring in the Skies of Detroit':
[The Traveler Facing the Storm]

The next second, the majestic and boundless might of the ocean began to surge upward. It propelled the massive cruise ship forward at incredible speed toward its destination. Thus, riding out the relentless, undulating waves, the hull did not capsize; instead, the deep-sea tide pushed it straight toward the Samoan Islands.

The guests gradually realized they were out of danger. Some wept tears of joy, while others even fell to their knees on the deck to give thanks for divine protection. Adrian rose from the sofa in the captain's quarters and righted a toppled flowerpot. "Now I can truly comprehend how Spring-Faar felt."

Phyllis Elinor also murmured, "Father, is this the miracle you've always hoped for?"

An hour later, as the black storm clouds gradually dissipated from the passengers' view, Su Wen confirmed that the danger had officially passed. Naturally, most of the people present had also witnessed the brilliant golden protective aura he had released. They understood that had this Detective Kevin not stepped forward and paid the price with his life to cast some form of "divine protection," the entire cruise ship would surely have sunk to the bottom of the sea by now.

Yet Su Wen paid little attention to the gazes of others. He merely adjusted his lapel with quiet elegance and said with gentlemanly composure, "Mr. Paul, could you arrange a dinner for me? I recall that is included in the price of the ticket."

The head of security had not expected that, immediately after the danger was averted, Su Wen's first words would be as casual as if no disaster had just occurred. Such poise utterly captivated the vast majority of the guests present.

***

At the same time, Su Wen's calm tone further elevated his aura of mystery and the attention he commanded in the hearts of all the distinguished guests who had witnessed the scene firsthand. The head of security asked respectfully, "Mr. Kevin, do you have any specific preferences for dinner?"

"I heard that the first half-year itinerary of the *Colin* was along the northeastern coast of the Atlantic. Perhaps the goose-barnacles from the Iberian Peninsula would be a fine choice."

Su Wen made a request that was exorbitantly expensive, yet entirely reasonable given that he had just saved the entire cruise ship.

Forty minutes later, as the setting sun cast a shimmering, sparkling glow across the still-moist deck, the ocean surface seemed tinged with a flushed, rosy hue. Influenced by the Abyss frontier, the sunset-lit sea after the passage of the dark tidal storm possessed an otherworldly beauty. Su Wen sat by the deck railing, savoring the French-style goose-barnacles personally prepared by the sous-chef.

Not far away, Nelson was holding his camera, snapping photos while saying excitedly, "Detective Kevin, today is undoubtedly the most memorable moment of my entire year."

The Pacific Ocean at this moment reflected the setting sun, resembling a distant sky washed clear by the weather, where gentle sunlight caressed the Aegean Sea of Europe. Travelers yearned to bathe in the sea breeze and sunlight along the shores of the Aegean. Moreover, that place bore a remarkably romantic moniker: [The Wine-Dark Sea].

During the summer and autumn seasons, under the illumination of sunlight, the waters of the Aegean assumed a crystal-clear hue, shimmering with a brilliant wine-like tint. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sea transformed into a deep purple, resembling a glass of wine, reflecting a tipsy radiance across the ripples beneath the late-summer and early-autumn skies.

At this moment, propelled by the North Atlantic global ocean currents, the Pacific waters presented that exact same breathtaking vista. Before the Age of Genesis, this would have been an unimaginable sight.

Meanwhile, with the tempestuous disaster now over, the silhouette of the Samoan Islands gradually grew distinct under the brush of the setting sun. Looking into the distance, Su Wen remarked, "We are about to reach our destination."

He knew that the ritual aboard the *Colin* this time was merely a rehearsal for a sacrifice by the 'Surge' Cult. If those cultists were truly allowed to complete the ritual, he would never be able to find a second [Lost Sigil of Hecate], nor would he have a second life to shuttle back and forth between the 'Waking World', the 'Silver Sea', and the 'Abyss Frontier'.

[Stage Quest: Discover the location of the 'Surge' Cult's sacrifice before danger arrives]
[Time is running out]
[Upon disembarking at the Samoan Islands, you are advised to immediately commence investigative work]

Regarding this, Su Wen had already formulated a plan. He had passed the intelligence regarding the Abyss Apostle, Vance-Constance, to Sydney precisely to lower his own threat profile, conceal his subsequent actions, and draw the 'Surge' Cult's focus toward the Lawrence-Azrael Academy, which posed a more direct threat to them.

At this moment, a target of pursuit had already been marked within Su Wen's field of vision. It was none other than the first witness at the crime scene.

[Appraisal: Daniel Beard, shipping merchant, previously came into contact with Bourne, supernatural trait (negative): (Imbalanced Spiritual Contamination), carrier of trace Abyssal toxicity]

Likewise, as a patient 'detective', Su Wen already understood that the fish was about to take the bait.

Just then, the young maiden Phyllis Elinor mustered her courage and walked up to him. "Mr. Detective, I want to thank you for what happened earlier. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"If you truly wish to thank me," Su Wen gestured gracefully, inviting her to take the seat opposite him, before speaking in a leisurely tone, "would you allow me to visit your father's research institute?"

[Triggered D-Grade Quest Chain: Marine Research Log 1]
[Quest Progress: Initial contact, completed]
[Quest Description: The Elinor family are the coastal wardens of this generation of the Samoan Islands, and within Phyllis's father's research, there may lie hidden something the 'Surge' Cult desires to obtain]

Indeed, it was this low-priority D-grade hidden quest prompt that had cleared her of suspicion while simultaneously arousing Su Wen's scholarly interest in her father's experiments.