Chapter 387: The Sudden Emergence
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.com
In the physical world, those who once embodied deviant ideologies and terrifying manifestations in the spiritual realm were now reduced to mere relics and ashes. The intense pollution that had plagued the sewage treatment facility had been temporarily mitigated, but it might have only provided a brief glimpse into a darker, more threatening specter that could potentially engulf the entire city-state.
After a swift count and assessment of the current situation, Agatha’s attention was drawn to a manager standing nearby, his thinning hairline evident.
“Is his condition verified?” Agatha asked.
“Yes, definitely a regular human,” one of the guardians affirmed gravely. “But he’s in a state of extreme terror. We can’t dismiss the potential of psychological contamination. He’ll likely require prolonged mental therapy and steady monitoring.”
“Transport him to the local chapel,” Agatha commanded with a nod. “Ensure they’re informed about the grave circumstances here at the sewage treatment facility. The whole establishment needs a comprehensive purification and examination. It should only resume operations when we are certain that all potential threats have been meticulously addressed.”
“I understand, Gatekeeper,” a team member acknowledged, then looked at Agatha with a worried expression. “You didn’t encounter any complications, did you?”
Agatha furrowed her brows. “Hmm? What prompts you to ask that?”
“You remained ‘on the other side’ longer than usual,” the team member elaborated. “Did you discover any clues in the spirit world?”
A thoughtful look crossed Agatha’s face. There was a residual sensation of overlooking something, but despite pondering it, she couldn’t pinpoint anything unusual. Could this be a lingering effect from her extended stay in the spiritual domain? She reached into her coat pocket for her habitual eye drops but hesitated and decided against using them. Her eyes felt surprisingly fine, almost as if she had already applied the drops before returning to the physical world.
“There wasn’t any unpleasant incident,” she assured her team member. “The abrupt emergence of those heretics was unexpected, which is why I took a bit more time to interrogate them.” Unfortunately, she couldn’t extract any useful information from the interrogation. The heretics were obstinate and zealous, and not even the prospect of death seemed to shake their unyielding beliefs.
But what had she overlooked?
A vague sensation of discomfort once again arose in Agatha’s mind, but she managed to maintain her calm and composed demeanor in front of her team.
“Are we prepared to head back to the cathedral next?” a guardian, attired in solemn, dark clothing, inquired.
“Yes, we are indeed journeying back to the cathedral,” Agatha affirmed. “It’s of utmost importance that we rapidly orchestrate an extensive search of all the subterranean facilities throughout the city. The circumstances might be graver than we initially perceived.”
…
As evening began to unfold, the sun started its slow descent towards the horizon. A dual-ringed rune halo cast a brilliant radiance near the surface of the sea, while the structures of the distant city-state were tinted by the setting sun, creating a mesmerizing scene of the entire city melting into the enveloping twilight.
Duncan stood near the slender window at the end of the corridor on the second floor. His substantial figure almost completely obscured the light filtering through the window. His eyes, visible through the small gaps in his bandages, silently observed the twilight horizon stretching out in the distance, his mind entangled in a labyrinth of contemplations.
Suddenly, faint footsteps resonated from one side. Without turning his head, Duncan recognized the approaching presence.
“Have you finished your assigned work?” he asked nonchalantly.
Shirley, who had just gently eased the door open and was on the brink of stealthily descending to the first-floor kitchen for a quick snack, found herself immobilized. From a nearby shadow, Dog’s trembling head materialized, muttering, “I knew we couldn’t remain concealed…”
“I… I have finished my math flashcard exercises,” Shirley ignored Dog’s regret-filled remark, her eyes warily darting to Duncan’s imposing figure. “I still have a set of vocabulary assignments left, but I’m feeling slightly peckish…”
Duncan discerned the mix of trepidation and complaint in the young girl’s voice, prompting a chuckle as he turned to face her. “Have I ever implied that you’re not permitted to eat until you’ve completed your homework?”
Shirley retracted a little, uncertain how to respond.
Exhaling a sigh, Duncan turned back and gently patted Shirley’s head.
“Do you detest studying?” he asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “You give off the impression that you’re undergoing torment.”
“I… I tend to feel drowsy the moment I start reading,” Shirley responded hesitantly, still uneasy in her interactions with Duncan in his current state. To her, his bandages and stern attire appeared more menacing than his former position as the ship’s captain. “I… I’ll return to my room and resume my homework!”
However, Duncan gently grasped Shirley’s shoulder, preventing her from retreating.
“If you’re feeling weary, it’s important to rest,” Duncan advised with gentle firmness. “Don’t exert undue pressure on yourself to study.”
Shirley gazed at Duncan, her eyes wide with surprise, but she quickly nodded, perhaps fearful that he might retract his lenient stance.
After a few moments of silence, she stole a cautious glance at Duncan and felt compelled to ask a question that had been nudging at her mind. “Why are you so persistent about me learning to read and write? I don’t need to attend a university like Nina, and I don’t possess the aptitude to become a scholar like Mr. Morris…”
This was the first time Duncan faced this question from Shirley, but it was clear that it had been burdening her thoughts for a long time. This young girl, who had never been enrolled in school and whose sole companion was a demon dog, clearly struggled to comprehend Duncan’s motives.
“Because knowledge equates to power,” Duncan responded after a momentary pause, his gaze fixed on Shirley. “The very concepts that you perceive as tedious and burdensome are the pillars that support our modern, civilized world. Have you never pondered how the cars on the streets, the machines in factories, and the expansive ocean beyond our city operate? Or what existence is like in distant cities across the world?”
Shirley mulled over his words. It seemed she had a vague notion of the “correct answer,” but eventually, she shook her head. “No, I’ve always believed that having enough food was enough. I didn’t dedicate much thought to matters beyond that.”
“But now, merely appeasing your hunger isn’t sufficient, Shirley,” Duncan said, bending down to align with her eye level. “You might not grasp the full significance now, but my aim is for you to experience a more fulfilling life. You’ve missed out on many opportunities, but now that you’re part of our ship’s crew, we’ll make up for all the experiences you’ve been deprived of.”
Shirley observed Duncan with a slightly stupefied expression. She couldn’t fully comprehend what he was conveying, but his sincere tone transmitted a feeling of warmth.
This warmth felt oddly familiar, the same type that only her parents showed during her youth.
She partially understood and responded slowly, “Oh…”
“Good,” Duncan acknowledged, a smile gradually unfurling on his face as he rose to his feet. “Now that you’ve grasped the concept, feel free to grab something to eat and resume your homework. I…”
He abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
Shirley, who had been eagerly anticipating his further directives, looked up in confusion. “Huh? What’s the matter?”
Duncan didn’t respond immediately, instead lifting his hand and directing his focus toward the distance. His gaze seemed to traverse the length of the corridor, but his deep-set eyes hinted at a faraway meditation as if pondering matters not present within the confines of the house.
He blinked, one eye reflecting the architectural elements of the corridor and the lofty ceilings of the residence, while the other seemed to perceive a spectral ship enveloped in a haunting green fire, aimlessly adrift in a fog-infused, shadowy expanse.
Onboard the Vanished, gracefully slicing through the boundless waters of Frost’s ocean, Duncan abruptly redirected his attention from the nautical chart sprawled on his desk.
His sudden shift in movement instantly captivated the attention of the goat head perched at the corner of the table. It swiveled around with an audible creak. “Ah, Captain, how may I be of service? Is it mealtime already? Despite our crew’s currently depleted state, I am fully prepared to extend dining services to the best of my abilities. What cuisine might you prefer? We could start with southern delicacies: deep-fried meat rolls, savory pork chops, exquisite fish cakes, a variety of delectable egg dishes including grilled, steamed, boiled, stewed, pickled, and smoked eggs…”
“Silence, I didn’t divert my attention to hear you catalog an exhaustive culinary roster,” Duncan cast a fleeting glance at the excessively talkative goat head, his expression cloaked in solemnity. His gaze drifted toward the window of the captain’s cabin, peering in the direction of Frost as he pondered aloud. “The White Oak?”
“The White Oak?” The goat head paused momentarily before recognition dawned. “Ah, the steamship Alice once journeyed on? What provoked its mention? Do you desire to claim it as spoils of victory? I can devise a comprehensive strategy for acquisition. Are you contemplating augmenting the crew? We could likely persuade the captain to…”
“It’s in close proximity,” Duncan interjected, curtailing the goat head’s ceaseless ramblings. He slowly rose from his seat behind the desk, his eyebrows furrowing as he tuned in to that faint yet unmistakably tangible link. “Close to… Frost?”
“The White Oak is near Frost?” The goat head halted its discourse, its voice resonating with disbelief. “That’s an absurd claim… Isn’t Frost currently under siege? Tyrian’s naval fleet has imposed a blockade on the surrounding sea routes. If a foreign vessel were in the vicinity, he would certainly inform you, wouldn’t he?”
“…There’s something unusual. I can indeed perceive the White Oak’s presence,” Duncan said reflectively. “But its location… it’s nebulous and seems to oscillate intermittently…”
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the distant sight of Frost, striving to pinpoint the sudden vivid presence that had come to his awareness.
The emergence of the White Oak had abruptly surfaced and exponentially intensified, like a beacon spontaneously igniting in pitch blackness, irresistibly drawing his attention. It was an entirely novel sensation, one he hadn’t encountered before.
In addition to that, whether it was a figment of his imagination or a tangible reality, Duncan also perceived multiple considerable fluctuations in the ship’s energy, reminiscent of a lantern sputtering capriciously in a gusty breeze.
Deep in thought, he cast a contemplative glance toward the meticulously chiseled goat head on the table. “Do you have any inkling of what might be unfolding?”
The goat head pondered for a moment before shaking its head. “Would you prefer that I propose some dish suggestions instead…”
“Absolutely useless when it truly counts,” Duncan grimaced as he rose from his chair, circumvented the navigation table, and commenced his approach toward the exit of the captain’s cabin.
Well that is your fleet now