Chapter 102 “Goathead’s Nemesis”
This translation is hosted on bcatranslation.com.
Alice had experienced the transformation of her wooden box into a part of the Vanished with remarkable composure. She seemed completely untroubled by what this might imply about the Frost Queen, Ray Nora. Her ability to dismiss any potential concerns with such ease impressed Duncan as exceptionally open-minded.
“I’ve settled into life aboard this ship and have no plans to leave. So, if my box is now part of the ‘Vanished,’ I’m fine with that,” Alice explained, reclining comfortably against the lid of the very same box. She offered a bright smile as she continued, “Regarding the Frost Queen, Ray Nora, the matter is quite simple. I have no ties to her. Whatever occurred fifty years ago is history, and I believe it should remain that way.”
Duncan found himself admiring the clarity in Alice’s light purple eyes. After a moment, he nodded gently, acknowledging, “If you’re at peace with all this, then that’s what matters most.”
He decided not to delve into the troubling details that lingered in his mind or to recount the disturbing words the Frost Queen had whispered to him just before her execution. To Duncan, Alice seemed more like a living doll, oblivious to such matters. Her carefree and joyful demeanor provided him some comfort.
“Alright then,” Duncan eventually conceded, exhaling softly. “We’ve clarified the nature of your ‘coffin.’ The control of its ‘decapitating effect,’ however, requires further investigation. For now, I will leave you to settle in.”
“Take care, Captain,” Alice warmly wished him goodbye.
Leaving Alice’s quarters, Duncan made his way back to the ship’s deck, heading toward his own cabin. His mind was a maze of unresolved issues and questions. Originally, his mission was to determine if the dangerous “decapitation power” of Anomaly 099 could be managed. Instead, he found himself caught up in unresolved mysteries from decades ago, including unverified claims of a conspiracy between the executed the Frost Queen and the Vanished. Additionally, the cryptic “Abyss Project” lingered in his thoughts, refusing to be ignored or forgotten.
And there was something else bothering him.
Reaching into his pocket, Duncan retrieved a small, intricately crafted item: a hairpin shaped like a silver feather embraced by waves. It felt oddly out of place for someone like him—a rugged, seasoned sailor.
He studied the hairpin, enveloped by a faint sense of nostalgia. The hairpin seemed to be a relic from the time of the real “Captain Duncan.”
Despite his numerous questions and the burden of his concerns, Duncan knew he couldn’t seek answers from the mysterious goat head sculpture. All he could do was to move forward, hoping to unravel the accumulating mysteries.
Duncan carefully placed the delicate silver hairpin back into his pocket and continued to his cabin, weighed down by a growing list of mysteries and unanswered questions. To his surprise, Goathead, his first mate and the entity responsible for steering the ship, was not alone. Ai, his pet dove, who was supposed to be sequestered in her own quarters awaiting further instructions, was there too.
Ai defiantly perched atop one of Goathead’s horns, vigorously rubbing its beak against Goathead’s forehead as if claiming the spot as its own.
Startled by the scene, Duncan couldn’t resist asking, “When did you two become so friendly?”
Ai ruffled her feathers and flapped her wings, remaining noticeably silent. Goathead, however, turned its head toward Duncan with a wooden creak, its obsidian eyes locking onto Duncan’s. “Ca-Captain… next time you venture into the spirit realm, could you perhaps bring back some fries?”
Duncan paused, amused. “You’re craving fries now too?”
Goathead’s voice trembled slightly. “Please, secure some fries… if only to appease this insistent dove.”
Duncan glanced between the mischievous bird and the visibly distressed Goathead. He chuckled, musing, “Ah, so you’ve finally met your intellectual match, have you?”
Goathead sounded exasperated, teetering on the edge of emotional collapse. “I’ve tried seventy-six different topics of conversation! Seventy-six! I’ve drawn on a millennium of accumulated wisdom, spanning poetry, songs, culinary techniques, rituals, deities, and even pig farming! And all I get in response is ‘make some fries’! How do you usually manage this uncommunicative bird?”
Duncan shrugged, grinning at the irony. “It’s simple—talk less. Ai usually quiets down if you don’t engage her in conversation.”
Goathead seemed to consider this, then let out a resigned sigh. “In that case, do us both a favor and bring back some fries.”
Duncan made no promises but signaled for Ai to come to him. The dove promptly obeyed, alighting on his shoulder. Duncan then turned his attention back to Goathead. “Tell me, do you know anything about Queen Ray Nora, the ruler of Frost from fifty years ago?”
Goathead paused for a moment. “The Frost Queen, who was overthrown and executed by rebels half a century ago? Yes, I’ve heard of her. Our ship even skirmished with her forces back then in that region. But our interactions were minimal. Why the sudden interest?”
Duncan peered into the depths of Goathead’s obsidian eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. Finding none, he realized Goathead genuinely had no information about Queen Ray Nora or the city-state of Frost. It seemed their ship had no specific history or dealings with that city-state.
If Goathead’s recollection was accurate, and there had never been an alliance between the Vanished and the city-state of Frost, then the accusations of collusion leveled against Queen Ray Nora by the rebels fifty years ago might have been completely baseless.
Duncan knew he should be cautious about jumping to conclusions, especially with events so far in the past. History often distorts truths, and the complexities buried within it rarely yield simple explanations. Moreover, his understanding was based solely on Goathead’s account—while his first mate seemed honest, that didn’t guarantee a comprehensive knowledge of all past events. However, Duncan wasn’t overly concerned with these nuances at that moment because he was not focused on exonerating a queen long dead. His primary concern was the current situation involving the Vanished and Alice.
“You might find this interesting. Alice bears a striking resemblance to Queen Ray Nora from fifty years ago,” Duncan began, gently stroking the dove perched contentedly on his shoulder. “Moreover, the being known as ‘Anomaly 099’ likely originated from a curse tied to the Boundless Sea following Queen Ray Nora’s execution. And what’s most intriguing? The main charge against the Frost Queen was that she colluded with us—the Vanished.”
Goathead looked genuinely surprised, a rare display of emotion for an entity usually so composed.
“Colluding with the Vanished? Do the people in those city-states really need to fabricate such absurd justifications to betray their own leader?” After a few moments of stunned silence, Goathead burst into cynical laughter. “Please forgive my overt display of mockery, but honestly, those humans are so ridiculously weak, they’d probably blame stubbing their toe on a curse from the Vanished! What a preposterous, contrived accusation!”
Regaining its composure, Goathead continued, “But you’re saying Alice strikingly resembles the Frost Queen? That is indeed… quite the twist of fate. If Alice is actually a reincarnation or transformation of Queen Ray Nora, then the irony is almost too thick to cut.”
“Indeed,” Duncan agreed, leaning back comfortably in his chair. “Queen Ray Nora was executed based on a false charge of collaborating with the Vanished. Now, fifty years later, Alice—someone who resembles her—is actually part of our crew. It’s as though the rebels’ invented accusations have, in some warped way, come true retroactively.”
“That explains your urgency to seek out Alice upon your return. You’ve found key clues about Anomaly 099,” Goathead said, reverting to his usual flattering tone. “It’s no wonder you’re called the ‘Great Captain Duncan.’ Every mission you undertake bears fruit. It reminds me of a quote by a legendary sailor that I—”
Before Goathead could digress further, Duncan shot him a stern look, then placed Ai in front of Goathead. “You two should continue your lively conversation.”
Goathead’s obsidian eyes widened in something akin to shock or perhaps dismay. “…!?”
……
Inside the grand central cathedral of the city-state of Pland, Inquisitor Vanna meticulously signed her name on an official-looking document, its parchment bearing the heavy marks of authority. As she handed the document over with a definitive gesture, she addressed her young attendant, dressed in the traditional uniform of a cathedral guardian, “Ensure this reaches the western chapel as soon as possible. It’s the last search warrant we require.”
The young guardian, taking the document with both care and reverence, saluted sharply and responded, “As you command, Inquisitor Vanna.”
Vanna let out a soft sigh and stretched her neck, trying to alleviate the tension from hours of tedious bureaucratic work. She often found the monotony of paperwork more exhausting than the physical demands of battling heretical enemies with a greatsword.
In the corner of her spacious oak desk, an oil lamp cast a gentle glow, its flame flickering steadily in the dimly lit room. Next to it, a brass incense burner released thin streams of blue smoke that spiraled toward the high ceiling. Despite being within the secure confines of the cathedral, these measures of protection were essential during the late hours of the night. “One can never be too careful,” she thought.
“Here’s hoping the rest of the evening remains uneventful,” as she lifted her arms, trying to further ease the stiffness in her muscles.
However, her wish for a quiet night was abruptly shattered by a sudden cascade of sharp, rapid bell tolls cutting through the silence. The sound, emanating from the cathedral’s main building, startled everyone.
The young guardian, poised to leave with the document, stopped in his tracks, his eyes quickly shifting from the window where the bell tolls originated back to his superior. Vanna’s relaxation routine came to an abrupt end as her face transformed from one of calm anticipation to one of immediate concern.
“The night signal bell… what could be happening?” Vanna quickly interpreted the urgency and sequence of the bell tolls, her expression turning grave. “That’s the summoning bell for an emergency hearing,” she declared, her voice heavy with seriousness. “Seven short rings in quick succession, and they’re coming from the ‘Tomb of the Nameless King.’ This can mean only one thing—a new anomaly or vision must have been discovered. We need to act swiftly.”
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, charged with the gravity of the situation. Both Inquisitor Vanna and the young guardian knew that such a bell toll signaled something of significant importance, demanding their immediate response.
thanks for the chapter!
My theory is that Ray Nora is his daughter in law having a relationship with his son. That’s why the masses charge her of colluding with the Vanished as the son of the Ghost Captain is her lover
If that is true and knowing Alice became more peaceful like Nora then she might show feeling for Tyrian or not. Zhou Ming might have wooed his step daughter-in-law
maybe when mc moved inside the illusion, Ray Nora noticed it and realised that this is the past, so she told him to not intervene/pollute history, maybe if he wanted to he could have stopped her death.
Duncan exhaled softly, “I’ll go first.”
“Uhh, captain, you go slowly~~.”
Uhhh what kind of novel did this start to change into, I’m feeling tingly
Edited? I don’t see it anymore.
yep, i redditted the first 200 chapters
the fact she is more peaceful sorta confirms she is. I kinda feel bad about an Alice x Zhou Ming/Duncan Ship since it feels like he could potentially be cucking his son.
In the scene with Vanna, everything is written in past perfect instead of simple past. It’s really uncanny. Can you please fix that?
i just edited it. clear your browser cache if it doesnt update for you