After a quick inventory, most of the gear Ethan had brought back from the Resident Evil world was packed in bundles and stacked neatly on the ground. Arthur had returned to his room to rest, leaving Ethan alone to sort through his spoils.

  The virus stock solution had been successfully transformed into a mental-strength enhancement liquid. The process wasn't easy, and the limited avaibility of materials meant he couldn't produce much of it for now. Thankfully, he wouldn't need a resupply anytime soon.

  The first batch of cigarettes had been made in significant quantities. As long as he could secure a supply of the specially prepared leaves, he could manufacture more in short order, so there was no pressing concern about running out.

  As for the cigars with physical recovery properties, Ethan had only made a few and stored them in specially designed cigar tubes for emergencies. Since they were life-saving tools, he'd adjusted their effects accordingly. These cigars could be used in two ways:

  The first method involved smoking them, which provided a slower but steadier recovery effect. This method was gentler on the body, making it possible to use another cigar after a short period of rest. It also had a higher "recovery limit," allowing for better overall healing.

  The second method was far more direct, chewing and swallowing the cigar. This delivered an intense burst of recovery in a very short time, forcing the body into rapid regeneration. However, this method put significant strain on the body, effectively ruling out repeated use. After using it once, a person would be unable to handle another for quite some time.

  In summary, the two products functioned like potions: one was akin to a pure mana recovery item, while the other worked as a hybrid that restored both stamina and health. Though not perfect, they were more than sufficient for Ethan's current needs.

  Lighting one of the cigarettes with a lighter he'd taken from the Hive, Ethan turned his attention to the pile of weapons he'd brought back.

  The number wasn't overwhelming, but he'd focused on choosing firearms that used standardized ammunition, like 9mm rounds for pistols. He'd also taken the time to learn basic disassembly, maintenance, and shooting techniques from Alice before leaving the Hive.

  However, firearms were ultimately consumables. Without a way to restock ammunition or maintain the weapons over time, they would inevitably degrade into useless scrap metal.

  "I wonder if they can be modified," Ethan murmured, his thoughts drifting to an idea he'd entertained before.

  He'd always wanted to create a magic-powered firearm, but his ck of knowledge about firearm mechanics had stopped him. Now that he'd learned the basics, he realized he didn't need to design a gun from scratch. He could simply modify an existing firearm, repcing the ammunition system with a magic supply. This would allow the gun to fire magical bullets or even cast preset spells.

  "Magic power… it can be supplied using magic stones. I'll need to create a mechanism to either hold magic stones or absorb and store their energy."

  The second option appealed to Ethan more. Magic stones varied in size and quality, making it impractical to rely on a fixed design. A mechanism that could adapt to different stones or directly absorb their power would be far more versatile and reliable.

  "Well, one step at a time. No need to rush," Ethan said to himself, exhaling a puff of smoke.

  Finishing the cigarette, Ethan stretched out on his bed, reflecting on the spiritual boost it had given him. The growth was imperceptible, it would take time and repeated use to accumute noticeable results. For now, he resigned himself to the fact that he'd be relying on these cigarettes for the foreseeable future.

  "I didn't smoke much in my st life. Guess I'll make up for it in this one."

  For the next few days, life settled into a predictable rhythm. Ethan and Arthur spent their time reading, practicing, and patiently waiting for Keno, their elusive prey.

  Despite the whirlwind adventure in the Resident Evil world, Ethan hadn't forgotten the primary reason he'd stayed on State Isnd. Until the threat posed by Keno was dealt with, he had no intention of venturing out to sea.

  Of course, his prolonged stay on the isnd didn't go unnoticed.

  The adventurer's guild, which provided food and lodging for a limited time, began to grow concerned. Typically, adventurers only stayed a few days, especially after returning from a successful expedition. While the guild was willing to extend Ethan's stay due to the materials he'd brought back, they didn't encourage adventurers to idle on the isnd indefinitely.

  Some guild members started to worry that Ethan, once full of drive and vigor, was becoming compcent. They even began dropping subtle hints, reminding him that it might be time to set out on his next adventure.

  In the end, Ethan had no choice but to expin himself.

  He made his intentions clear, even hiring the guild to keep watch over the docks and notify him the moment Keno appeared.

  Only then did the guild staff understand the real reason for Ethan's prolonged stay. He wasn't scking off, he was waiting for Keno, who had recently earned the title "Hand of Fire."

  For conflicts between adventurers, the guild maintained a policy of strict neutrality. Even if adventurers fought inside the guild hall, the guild wouldn't intervene, so long as no damage was done to guild property.

  Of course, if something did get damaged, as long as the offending party paid for repairs, the guild wouldn't press the issue.

  This was why the guild didn't particurly care about Ethan's intent toward Keno. Once they confirmed that Ethan wasn't merely zing about but had a specific goal, they stopped urging him to set out to sea. Instead, they cooperated with his request, providing him with as much information about Keno as they could.

  Over time, more and more adventurers returned to the isnd with bits and pieces of information. From their accounts, Ethan pieced together Keno's situation. The man couldn't remain at sea indefinitely. Even with adequate supplies of food and water, both he and his crew would suffer from prolonged isotion at sea. His ship, the Fme Sovereign, was also growing increasingly damaged from constant battles. If Keno wanted to avoid losing his ship entirely, he would have no choice but to return to Stater Isnd for repairs.

  As expected, it didn't take long. After just four days, news came that Keno's Fme Sovereign had docked at the isnd's pier.

  Ethan, fully prepared and armed, was waiting in a lounge near the guild hall alongside Arthur. Their pn was simple: the moment Keno appeared, they would kill him.

  However, things didn't go as smoothly as expected. Another ship had docked alongside the Fme Sovereign. A middle-aged man, who appeared to be the captain of the second ship, disembarked with Keno and accompanied him to the guild hall.

  "Who's that?" Ethan asked, frowning.

  Also present in the lounge was John, a guild staff member in his mid-twenties who had been assigned to keep Ethan informed. John was unremarkable in appearance—the kind of man you could lose in a crowd without a second thought. However, he was quick-witted and knowledgeable, answering Ethan's question without hesitation.

  "That's Brent, the captain of the Brave. He was once a very famous adventurer in the Sea of Calm."

  "Once famous?" Ethan asked.

  John nodded. "Brent crossed the Sea of Storms five years ago and ventured into the waters beyond. According to some sailors who've been to the far side of the Sea of Storms, Brent made quite a name for himself there. He's doing well—very well, in fact. I'm not sure why he's suddenly returned to the Sea of Calm, though."

  Ethan studied the man named Brent. He looked to be in his early thirties. If he had crossed the Sea of Storms five years ago, then he would've been in his twenties at the time, an age when most adventurers were still rookies. Yet Brent had already stood at the pinnacle of this sea region.

  "How's his reputation?" Ethan asked.

  John's face lit up. "Impeccable. Brent is universally praised as a good man."

  The way John spoke made it clear that he himself admired Brent greatly. He began recounting some of Brent's most celebrated deeds, his tone bordering on reverence.

  For example, Brent was known to rescue anyone in distress at sea, even at the risk of falling into traps. Not only would he save them, but he would also provide them with supplies to ensure their survival and a chance to rebuild their lives.

  Brent also had a reputation for intervening whenever he witnessed injustice, such as bullying or theft among adventurers. He would confront the offenders and attempt to persuade them to change their ways. His reputation was so strong that even some notorious sailors had been swayed to reform after talking with him.

  Some of these former pirates even abandoned their criminal ways entirely, choosing to live as honest adventurers thanks to Brent's influence.

  Hearing this, Arthur couldn't help but show an expression of admiration. He seemed eager to meet Brent, clearly impressed by the man's moral character.

  Ethan, on the other hand, looked distinctly displeased.

  To him, Brent sounded like the textbook definition of an overly idealistic do-gooder, someone who viewed the world through rose-colored gsses and believed that everyone, no matter how evil, deserved a second chance. Brent's approach of trying to reform bad people by encouraging them to "put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha" struck Ethan as na?ve to the point of absurdity.

  And yet, Brent had undoubtedly achieved results. With his reputation for helping everyone equally, regardless of their past actions, it wasn't hard to see why Keno had attached himself to him.

  The pieces fell into pce in Ethan's mind. Keno, unlike the brute-force Sean he had dealt with before, was clearly more cunning. He must have known that Ethan was waiting for him on the isnd. That was likely why Keno had deyed his return until he'd found Brent, a respected figure who was practically worshipped in the Sea of Calm.

  By tching onto Brent, Keno had found the perfect shield. All he had to do was py the victim, cim that he'd been forced into a life of crime and now wanted to change. Someone like Brent, with his bleeding heart, would almost certainly take him at his word and go out of his way to "help" him.

  And the biggest obstacle to Keno's supposed redemption? That would be Ethan.

  "So, Keno's found himself a big backer," Ethan muttered, his voice ced with disdain. "Doesn't matter. No matter who's standing behind him, Keno dies today."