Chapter 169: “Stepping into the Veil”
This translation is hosted on bcatranslation
In the early dawn, Duncan was carefully guiding Alice on the art of frying potatoes. Standing in the kitchen, he explained, “Watch closely, Alice. You want to fry the potatoes just like this. It’s simple, but be careful – you don’t want them too crispy or too soggy. And please, don’t get too close to the boiling oil or try to taste it, alright?”
Alice was fully engaged, her eyes fixed on the bubbling oil, anticipation written all over her face. “I’ve got this… I’ve got this,” she muttered, her concentration intense as she gripped a kitchen knife, ready to act at a moment’s notice.
Duncan glanced between the simmering oil and the doll-like figure next to him. Noticing the knife in Alice’s hand, he suggested, “Alice, maybe put the knife down for now? There’s no need to hold it unless you’re going to chop something.”
The scene was almost surreal: a cursed puppet-like figure holding a knife, seemingly prepared to attack the innocent potatoes. Duncan couldn’t shake the eerie feeling, like a scene from a horror movie, just missing creepy background music to complete the atmosphere.
Snapping out of her focused state, Alice quickly hid the knife behind her back. With a cheerful wave, she reassured the concerned sea captain, “It’s alright, Captain! I’ve got it now. You and Ai will be dining in no time!”
Duncan hesitated, his eyes on Alice, debating whether he should really leave her alone with the boiling oil. He imagined potential disasters, like a pot bursting into flames. But, realizing he had to trust her eventually, he sighed, gave a reassuring wave, and headed for the ship’s deck, thinking, “Maybe we’ll finally have a decent meal on this ship.”
Meanwhile, on the second floor of an antique store, Nina watched her uncle Duncan, a cooling medicinal bag pressed to her forehead. Her curiosity piqued, she asked, “Uncle, why do you often look so worried in the mornings? Just a moment ago, you seemed tense, then suddenly, you looked relieved.”
Caught off guard, Duncan replied, “Oh? Was I showing that much emotion? I wasn’t even aware.” He quickly masked his concerns with a smile, reassuring his niece, “It’s nothing major. I was just thinking about some discrepancies in the account books. All sorted now.”
“Ah, I see,” Nina responded, nodding in understanding. “So it was about the accounts.”
Duncan chose not to elaborate further. He was surprised by how perceptive Nina had become and opted for discretion instead of risking further disclosures.
As they stood in the room, Nina’s gaze shifted towards the window, her voice slightly wistful as she said, “Shirley didn’t come by today.”
There was a brief pause before Duncan responded, almost chuckling at Nina’s transparency. “People have their own homes and places to be,” he noted. The underlying message in Nina’s statement was clear to him: she missed Shirley’s company. Trying to divert her attention, he added, “Besides, you have classes today. How would you meet up with friends in between?”
With a hint of regret, Nina said, “I should have asked for her address. That way, I could visit her instead of just waiting for her to come over.”
The idea caught Duncan slightly off guard. Trying to connect, he gently inquired, “You’ve grown quite fond of Shirley in a short time, haven’t you?”
Without hesitation, Nina responded, “Shirley has been really kind. She even saved me at the museum once, and…” she trailed off, searching for the right words.
Duncan prodded gently, “And?”
Taking a deep breath, Nina continued, “I talked to Dog one night about where Shirley lives and her conditions. She’s in a cramped alley in the slums. The streets are dark at night without any lamps, and her house leaks when it rains. I can’t help but feel…”
Duncan interrupted, his tone becoming stern and cautionary, “Nina, we cannot form friendships based on pity, especially with someone like Shirley.”
Nina looked up, startled by his sudden intensity. She pondered his words for a moment, then countered, “Uncle, why have you been so reflective lately?”
Caught off guard, Duncan could only manage a wordless stare.
With her characteristic blend of candor and sensitivity, Nina continued, “I admit, after learning about her circumstances, I did feel sympathy for Shirley. But my wish for her to have a better life isn’t just because of that. Even though she seemed anxious during her stay with us, I sensed her genuine happiness. Is it wrong for me to make such assumptions about her feelings?”
Duncan was momentarily speechless, genuinely surprised by the depth of Nina’s insight and compassion. Collecting his thoughts, he finally responded, “It’s not for us to inquisitor her life. But, the next time Shirley visits, we can ask her more about herself. For now, finish your breakfast. You don’t want to be late for school.”
With a bright smile, Nina replied, “Alright!” Her face then lit up with a new idea, “Uncle, can I ride the bike to school today?”
“Out of the question,” Duncan immediately retorted, rubbing his irritated eye for emphasis. “Don’t you remember the nasty spill you took just last evening?”
The memory from the previous day was still fresh in Duncan’s mind. The sheer joy in Nina’s eyes when she first saw the shiny new bicycle was infectious. Without a second thought, she’d hopped on to give it a try. However, within mere seconds, disaster struck right in front of the store: Nina tumbled off the bike and hit the ground hard.
The evidence of that fall was still visible: a medicinal patch gently adhered to a bruised area on her forehead.
“I just… I assumed biking would be second nature,” Nina admitted sheepishly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I’ve watched my classmates do it all the time…”
Duncan released a deep sigh, filled with regret.
He should have realized it earlier. Given that Nina’s social circle was primarily limited to the antique store’s confines, how would she have had the chance to learn such a skill? He recognized this oversight was his responsibility.
“Today, take the bus to school and don’t run. We’re not exactly strapped for cash anymore,” Duncan advised. Taking some coins from his pocket, he placed them on the table before her, adding, “Once I’m back, I promise to teach you how to bike. You’re smart; it won’t take you long to get the hang of it.”
Nina’s initial disappointment quickly turned into elation. She responded with a spirited cheer: “Yay!!”
A short while later, Duncan watched Nina from the upstairs window of the antique shop. He saw her briskly trotting away, soon turning a nearby corner towards the bus stop.
The morning was undeniably beautiful. Despite the secrets and mysteries that often crept in with the night, daylight brought an undeniable vibrancy to the city. The radiant sunlight and the bustling sounds of urban life filled Duncan’s senses, painting a lively picture of a metropolis under a golden canopy. Yet, as Duncan’s gaze drifted further into the distance, it landed on a specific row of houses, causing his expression to stiffen.
“Ai!” Duncan’s call echoed in the quiet room, summoning the spectral bird from the ship. In an instant, a small flare appeared in the air, quickly transforming into the familiar form of the dove.
With a comical hiccup, Ai fluttered in a circle before landing gracefully on Duncan’s shoulder. “Hiccup… Who summoned me… Hiccup… From the Vanished?”
With an amused yet quizzical expression, Duncan raised an eyebrow at his feathered friend: “Just how much did you eat aboard the Vanished?”
Puffing up her chest and fluttering her wings in an exaggerated manner, Ai chirped confidently, “Feasting time has arrived… Hiccup!”
Duncan regarded his avian companion with a mix of amusement and bafflement. His expression clearly conveyed, “Really?” He commented dryly, “It’s starting to make sense why Alice spent so much time in the kitchen. Let me guess, you raided the storage, didn’t you? Well, at least you ensured none of the provisions went to waste. Given your… current state, are you sure you’re up for flying to the Sixth Block?”
The dove, with a comically exaggerated sense of duty, responded with a forceful chirp that was unexpectedly robust for such a small bird. Ensuring she added a salute with her tiny wings, she declared, “The mission will be executed! No task is too daunting!”
In the next moment, a blazing fireball, with the dove at its core, shot out from the tiny window. It zigzagged, somewhat unsteadily, towards the sixth block.
Meanwhile, deep within the sixth block, two sleek, dark gray steam-powered cars cruised along the desolate streets. Leading the convoy was Vanna, a notable figure. She was accompanied by a select group of elite guardians, chosen for this exploratory mission. Vanna had decided against using a steam spider walker for the venture, as it would have been too conspicuous. She had determined that until she signaled otherwise, the main force would stay on the perimeter of the block, awaiting her instructions.
In hindsight, Vanna realized her choice was wise. As soon as she entered the block, an eerie sensation enveloped her. The area felt wrong on many levels: streets unnaturally devoid of the usual hustle and bustle, residents appearing listless and oblivious to their surroundings, and infrastructure visibly decaying, indicating neglect beyond mere oversight.
It was as if this block had been suspended in time, abandoned and forsaken by those who once thrived there.
Hmm, is it me or did they forget about Morris? He had said that he would pay a visit to the antique shop after noticing the broken stone from his daughter’s bracelet, he hasn’t visited yet ?
Maybe he is still busy, or maybe he is still preparing something
I kinda want other people to see how op the mc is like alive when she saw the fish we need more scenes of that