The maid's explanation was thorough, but it couldn't hide her impulsive choice because of Ronald.

To this, Ronald had nothing to say.

Beside them, Catherine seized the opportunity, pulling a cloth bag from behind her and reaching inside.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak—"

The Dust Beast's cub was caught in her hand like this:

"I say—if you two are okay, perhaps we should deal with this thing first?"

The maid could tell this creature was extraordinary, but didn't know the specifics:

"A strange structure, it looks a bit like a jellyfish, but also has the makings of a magical creature. Sir, what exactly is this?"

Ronald candidly explained:

"A Dust Beast cub, it's a specimen we caught."

"Costate, can you find a way to sever its soul, and control it like with Il?"

The small jellyfish and the huge Dust Beast didn't seem related, especially since Costate had actually encountered a Dust Beast. The maid blinked in surprise, but soon trust in Ronald prevailed.

So, the maid decisively nodded without asking further questions.

She quickly adjusted her state, and then reached out to grab at the Dust Beast cub.

Swish—

Costate's movements were understated, yet the effect was remarkable.

Perhaps because the Dust Beast cub was naturally weak, or because Costate's current power was different from the past. In any case, with this simple action, a fragment of the Dust Beast cub's soul was extracted.

In Ronald's soul-ability perspective.

This wisp of a fragment appeared as a faint milky white, shaped like a wisp of smoke, elusive and unpredictable, just being guided by Costate's fingertips as it flowed in the air.

"Sir, just like with Il." Costate prompted.

Ronald complied smoothly, readily accepting the Dust Beast cub's soul fragment.

"Chirp!"

At that moment, the Dust Beast suddenly straightened its body.

But it quickly lost strength, collapsing limp in Catherine's hand.

Though just a juvenile and not very intelligent, realizing its soul was in someone else's hands, it understood its predicament.

Seeing this situation, Catherine toyed with it a bit, amused.

But she soon lost interest, tossing the Dust Beast cub into Ronald's hands:

"Here, you take it."

Ronald handed it over to Costate for safekeeping.

At this time, the maid opened her suitcase; the Extinct Sea Lantern and Ronald's personal items, including the manuscripts he wrote on the ship, were neatly placed by Costate inside.

Ronald felt somewhat touched but remained rational, beginning to inquire about other matters:

"Costate, tell me about the fleet's situation now; I've already been briefed about the King of the South Sea."

Costate resumed a narrative state:

"After making contact here, Miss Claudia chose to throw herself into it, helping the northern cities restore order and normal social systems. The King of the South Sea you mentioned is her main target…"

The maid introduced the recent status of the [Graded] fleet. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Though it sounded good, scrutinizing further, the King of the South Sea was indeed of pirate origin, disrupting the previously stable order nearby. And Claudia, representing a power like [Graded], naturally became the opposing force.

So, currently, the fleet is basically stationed on the northern shore.

Some of the most elite Casters assist allied cities in defense, while others are at sea chasing and battling enemies, with some scattering to gather information.

When this area stabilizes…

Or rather, when it's stabilized for [Graded].

Claudia will then lead the original personnel, along with the subsequently organized forces, to launch the final attack on the [Nine Commandments Assembly].

After listening, Ronald was naturally quite puzzled by such a plan:

"So the original raid plan was canceled, turning instead into a growth strategy here? Moreover, what about the [Nine Commandments Assembly]? Are they just watching Claudia do this without making a move? The two sides are just this close to each other!"

Costate continued to explain:

"Sir, according to the fleet's latest information, the [Nine Commandments Assembly] has already established a fairly mature power, not something the original raid plan could handle."

"As for your second question — it seems that due to the current leader's decision, the [Nine Commandments Assembly] has no intention of interfering in areas outside their own power."

"..."

Just having heard the news, Ronald was bewildered.

But at that moment, he suddenly recalled Harmono's ordeal and the news brought by Demon Rame.

An intuition immediately emerged.

Perhaps the current state of the [Nine Commandments Assembly] is somehow greatly related to that emerging young force!

This led Ronald to immerse in contemplation, while Costate quietly waited for his master.

However, on the hillside, there was another restless person.

"Ronald, why are you agonizing over this!" Catherine directly interrupted Ronald's thoughts, then boldly made an invitation, "No matter the situation, shouldn't we just go and see for ourselves?"

Ronald instinctively wanted to refuse such behavior:

"That's too reckless, what if there are things we don't yet understand…"

Catherine interrupted Ronald's words, offering the simplest solution:

"So what? Just kill all the enemies, isn't that it?"

"Or do you, Ronald, believe that those who only schemed in the dark have now truly awakened and become righteous guardians of the world?"

Ronald was rendered speechless by these words.

Seeing this, Catherine seized victory, moving forward to pat Ronald's shoulder actively:

"Ronald, being cautious and careful is certainly right."

"But if we ignore the enemy, becoming caught in timid thoughts, it will only give the enemy more time to prepare. Now that we've overcome obstacles and appeared here, we're certainly an unexpected variable for everyone."

"Taking this chance to annihilate the enemy with a thunderous assault is the best choice!"

Ronald remained silent.

He was not surprised to hear such words from Catherine and admitted there was some truth to them.

However, before making a decision, he glanced at Costate next to him.

Seeing the maid's gaze, Ronald spoke up:

"Starting from the earth and sky's relationship, we will begin to form our cognition."

After chanting the incantation, the three of them took off from the hillside.

The direction they headed toward, of course, was where the [Nine Commandments Assembly] was located in the south, rather than where the [Graded] fleet was stationed in the north.