Chapter 537: Reunion After Many Years
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.com
As Lucretia took the delicate hairpin from Duncan’s hand, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It was a sensation rooted deep within his soul, an indescribable feeling as though a long-awaited mission had finally been accomplished. Even if his mind had forgotten the mission, his spirit sighed in relief.
“I hope you like it,” Duncan said softly after a moment’s pause. “I may have forgotten many things, but I remember that this hairpin was meant for you.”
“I heard from Tyrian,” Lucretia nodded, feeling the hesitation and anxiety that had weighed on her for days melt away. Although she had communicated with her father through a crystal ball before, only this face-to-face meeting could truly alleviate her worries. “It’s good that you’ve returned ‘to this side.'”
Duncan nodded in agreement and then turned his attention to the elven scholar who had been trying to keep a low profile.
“Master Taran El,” Duncan said with a gentle smile, “It’s good to meet you again in person. I’m glad to see you safe and sound. There’s much we need to discuss.”
“No need for formalities,” Taran El replied hurriedly, waving his hands. “Just call me Taran El. I’ve admired you for a long time, Captain Duncan. I mean, back when you were… alive… and still human…”
As Taran El fumbled over his words, Duncan observed him silently. Lucretia, meanwhile, pulled out a wand that resembled a magician’s stick and pointed it directly at Taran El’s nose.
“Frog or snake?” she asked calmly, though her tone held a menacing undertone.
Taran El raised his hands in surrender, looking pleadingly at Duncan. “What I meant was, a century ago, I began to admire your reputation, but we never had the chance to meet.”
Duncan couldn’t help but laugh at the elven scholar’s antics. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely,” Taran El said earnestly. “As a scholar fascinated by the frontier, I’ve always wanted to connect with genuine explorers, to learn about the world beyond our civilization. I’ve even dreamed of embarking on a journey to explore the great veil barrier myself. Unfortunately, such an adventure is beyond my reach…”
“It’s alright. Now you have a chance to get to know me better,” Duncan replied with a nod. As if suddenly recalling something, he turned to Lucretia. “Oh, I have something else for you.”
Lucretia looked momentarily confused. Duncan raised his hand in a summoning gesture, and the flaming portal that had appeared earlier on the deck expanded rapidly. Within the swirling flames, a cavity formed, and after a brief eruption, a large wooden crate appeared on the deck. Perched atop the crate was a fluffy, white-feathered dove.
The dove, named Ai, tilted its head, one eye looking at Lucretia while the other seemed to glance elsewhere. “Hey, please accept your delivery and give a five-star rating, okay?”
Lucretia stared at the talking dove in puzzlement, her eyes drifting to a metal plaque on the side of the crate.
“This is the spirit lens Tyrian prepared for you—of the highest quality,” Duncan pointed to the crate. “You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“No, I haven’t,” Lucretia’s eyes shifted slightly, hinting at her embarrassment. She quickly changed the subject, pointing at the dove. “Is this ‘Ai’ my brother mentioned? And what did she mean by ‘five-star rating’?”
“Don’t mind that. Most people can’t understand the dove’s way of speaking,” Duncan waved it off, gesturing for Ai to land on his shoulder. He signaled for Lucretia to lead the way. “Leave the lens on the deck for now. We’ll handle it later. Let’s find a place to discuss matters.”
“Alright.”
Led by Lucretia, Duncan and Taran El made their way to a reception room located mid-ship. It was a spacious upper cabin with large windows overlooking the ship’s side power structure and its ethereal tail section, which always seemed cloaked in mist.
Approaching the window, Duncan curiously examined the exterior view, studying the unique characteristics of the ship. Though different from the design of the Vanished, it bore an equally eerie vibe, especially its ghostly tail end. After a while, he remarked, “This ship looks nothing like the Sea Mist.”
Lucretia’s expression became slightly uneasy at Duncan’s casual comment. “It’s been a long time, and both the Sea Mist and the Bright Star have evolved considerably from your original designs. To survive in the ‘borderlands,’ I’ve made many bold modifications to this ship. I hope you’re not upset about that.”
“Change is natural and often beneficial,” Duncan replied with a smile. “The Vanished has also undergone many alterations. If you were to see it now, you’d be quite surprised by its current state.”
Step aboard the Vanished? For a moment, Lucretia appeared lost in thought, perhaps recalling distant memories or thinking of her brother, who had boarded the Vanished several times and occasionally contacted her, sometimes startling her.
She quickly snapped back to reality and nodded at Duncan. “I’ll visit it.”
She then called out toward the door, “Luni, you can come in now.”
The door opened, and to Duncan’s curious gaze, a clockwork doll resembling Lucretia but made entirely of metal, ceramic, and leather entered, pushing a trolley laden with drinks and snacks.
As the gentle sound of gears turning accompanied her, the clockwork doll approached the table and bowed slightly to Duncan. “It’s a pleasure to see you, old master.”
“You must be Luni?” Duncan examined the intriguing doll closely. “I found your ‘sister’ Nilu in Pland’s doll shop. To be honest, the two of you are quite different.”
“When you first saw me, I was just a simple three-part doll,” Luni replied politely, her internal mechanisms producing soft ticking and clacking sounds. “Back then, I couldn’t think or speak. It was my mistress who gave me life.”
“Incredible technology,” Duncan remarked, looking at Lucretia. “However, I now have a ‘doll’ aboard my ship that can think and speak. Perhaps Luni and she could become friends.”
“I’m aware. My brother told me about Anomaly 099,” Lucretia nodded. “Luni is curious about Miss ‘Alice,’ but… is she truly safe?”
“Perfectly safe,” Duncan assured, waving his hand dismissively. “Of all things aboard the Vanished, she’s the most harmless. Even a bucket could overpower her…”
Lucretia looked puzzled.
The young witch slowly began to grasp what her father meant when he mentioned earlier, “The Vanished has also undergone many changes…”
At this moment, Duncan finally shifted his attention to Taran El. Under the elf scholar’s nervous gaze, Duncan adjusted his posture and asked with a serious expression, “In your elvish legends or traditional beliefs, is there any mention of the term ‘Dream of the Nameless One’?”
Taran El blinked in confusion. “Dream of the Nameless One?”
Realization dawned on him. “Are you referring to the dream I was trapped in before? Are you suggesting… that dream has a name, called the ‘Dream of the Nameless One’?”
“If the information is correct, that’s what it’s called.”
Duncan confidently confirmed this and proceeded to share all the intelligence he had acquired, albeit through some “coercive methods,” from a group of cultists. He laid out everything, including the possible role that the Enders might play in the shadows and even his own speculations. He also shared his prior discussions with Agatha, withholding nothing.
As Duncan narrated, Taran El gradually forgot his initial anxiety and became deeply engrossed. Even Lucretia, sitting beside him, leaned slightly forward, her face occasionally revealing a contemplative expression.
This information, though obtained from heretics, was tantalizing for a scholar passionate about research. It might be closely related to blasphemous heretical teachings, but behind them seemed to hint at certain hidden knowledge and mysteries.
Once Duncan concluded his exposition, an extended silence enveloped the room. The two scholars present were deeply engrossed in their thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, Lucretia finally broke the silence. “Is this information reliable? I’m not doubting you, but these cultists are notoriously cunning. Even church inquisitors, experts in dealing with heretics, often struggle to extract information from such individuals.”
“It’s reliable,” Duncan assured with confidence. “I employed some highly effective interrogation techniques. Would you like a detailed account of the process?”
Both Lucretia and Taran El were taken aback and without hesitation, they simultaneously shook their heads.
“Alright then,” Duncan seemed slightly disappointed. “What are your thoughts now? Mr. Taran El, any speculations on this so-called ‘Dream of the Nameless One’?”
After pondering for a few moments, Taran El carefully responded, “In all of our elvish tales and traditions, there’s no mention of this term. At least, I can assert that this term doesn’t originate from the elvish language. However, if we focus on the concept of ‘dreams’… our race does indeed have numerous tales related to it.”
Duncan immediately showed interest. “Oh?”
“Have you ever heard of… the Great Demon, Saslokha?”
[ highly effective interrogation techniques ]
xD
Lol
Id even say an Amon inspired style of interrogation