Chapter 499

Chapter 499: Calm and Quiet Days.

In Frostholm, in the domed office of the city-state’s Governor, Tyrian stood in front of a mirror, carefully straightening the medals and sash on his chest.

His one-eyed face still looked cold and stern, even a little frightening. But the brand-new Governor’s uniform and those shining medals turned that sternness, at least in part, into a trustworthy authority. At this moment, the city needed a Governor with that kind of authority.

Tyrian let out a quiet breath and turned his head to look at the other side of the domed office.

Two Undying sailors were hanging the new city-state flag on the wall. Beside the flag, a line of strong words was carved deep into the wall by the door, just as it had been half a century ago:

“Let as many people as possible survive”

Tyrian looked quietly at those words. After a long time, he gave a small nod and walked toward the large desk not far away. There was still a little time before the official event began. He could use it to go over the steps he would soon have to follow, or to calm his emotions.

The Complex Lens Array on the desk started to move on its own. Light shimmered on the surface of the scrying crystal at the center of the lenses. Lucretia’s figure appeared in the glow, looking Tyrian up and down.

“This outfit suits you very well,” the “Sea Witch” in a black dress said. “It goes nicely with the eyepatch.”

Tyrian tugged at the button near his collar and gave his younger sister in the scrying crystal a sideways look: “You came just to make fun of me?”

“I’m seriously complimenting you,” Lucretia said with a straight face. “You haven’t taken such good care of your appearance in many years. That rough and scary Pirate look really didn’t suit you at all.”

“I might have to keep this image for a very long time, until there is a more suitable Governor, or Father has other plans,” Tyrian said, then paused. “One day, I’ll miss those free and easy days.”

“At least that day isn’t today,” Lucretia said with a faint smile. “So, how do you feel, about to swear the oath and become the Governor of a city-state? I heard you also have to ride in a carriage afterward, touring the streets to show yourself to the citizens?”

“The parade is to calm people’s hearts,” Tyrian said. “It lets them believe that order has been restored and that someone in the city’s upper ranks is still taking responsibility. I don’t like this part very much, but it is necessary. As for how it feels to become Governor…”

He stopped for a moment, then shook his head and went on: “I don’t feel much. The handover in the government hall and the building of the team have already been done. I’ve been working as Governor up to now. Today’s so-called ‘inauguration’ ritual is just a public ‘procedure’.”

“Is that so? Then I wish you a smooth procedure, big brother,” Lucretia laughed, using the old way she had called him many years ago when they were children. After a brief pause, her expression turned serious. “How are you doing with what Father told you to do?”

“I’ve drafted a few secret letters to send to other city-states, but the details still need work,” Tyrian said. “I have to deliver the warning and make them realize how serious the situation is, but I also need to avoid misunderstandings and keep other city-states from overreacting. Honestly, this kind of paperwork is harder than taking a fleet to fight Deep Sea Spawn or other Pirates.”

“If you ask me, you should just state things clearly and make them sound serious,” Lucretia said lightly. “Anyone who can become a Governor is smart, and at least their staff should be. They know what to do. You’re just giving them a reminder, not teaching them like a nanny how to build a ‘warning system’. I’m already getting ready to contact the Explorer Association—ha, I wonder how they’ll react.”

“A warning from the Vanished Fleet to the entire civilized world,” Tyrian said with a sigh. “The last time something like this happened was a century ago.”

“…Yes. When Father first discovered that the Border Collapse phenomenon had appeared in the ‘inner regions’,” Lucretia said softly. “I still remember how the Cathedral’s bells rang then. Every city-state’s newspapers were discussing the warning from Great Adventurer Duncan Abnomar.”

“So many years have passed, and once again he casts his gaze on the ‘border’ of this world,” Tyrian said quietly. “History seems to have returned to its starting point. Maybe, in some sense, the Vanished never went astray at all. Its century in Subspace was just a voyage in some wider dimension we can’t yet understand. Now it has returned, bringing the light of a new route, just like the lines the mad poet Pullman left behind: ‘They once could sail straight in one direction, until they rounded the world’s far side and, at an astounding angle, returned to the Mortal Realm’…”

Tyrian recited that famous absurd poem from history in a low voice, then slowly stood up from behind the desk. From outside the domed office, the faint sound of a band could already be heard. Footsteps were coming from the corridor. The time had come. It was time for the city to meet its new Governor.

“Good luck, big brother—and don’t forget my Spirit Realm lens.”

“Don’t worry. I remembered it this time.”

…

A sharp, chilly wind blew through the sparse trees along the path, over the dark carved fence, past the silent gravestones and the empty corpse platforms on both sides of the path, and finally faded away in the depths of the cemetery.

Two figures were walking slowly along the cemetery path.

One of them was especially tall and broad-shouldered, wrapped in a pure black coat and a matching wide-brimmed hat. Every bit of visible skin outside his clothes was wrapped in layer upon layer of bandages. He looked frightening at a glance.

The other wore a simple Nun’s black dress. Her eyes were covered, and her long brown hair hung loose over her shoulders.

“I thought you would attend Governor Tyrian’s inauguration ritual, even in this avatar form,” Agatha walked at Duncan’s side and spoke in a low voice. “It wouldn’t be hard to arrange a proper seat for you.”

“I’m not showing my face. He’s in a good state right now. If I really showed up, he might get nervous instead,” Duncan said. “Later, when the motorcade passes by here, I’ll just greet him from afar.”

As he spoke, he lifted his head and looked along the rather empty cemetery path and at the bare corpse platforms on both sides.

“…I really do miss this place a bit. In my memory, this path used to be full of spirit coffins.”

“During this special period, we had to change the process of sending off the dead,” Agatha said quietly. “For now, bodies must be sent to the furnaces as soon as possible. The Silent Monks comfort them and bid them farewell right beside the fire. The cemetery has become quieter instead.”

Duncan grunted in reply. Just before they reached the end of the path, he suddenly stopped walking.

The simple warden’s hut appeared before them—and in front of the hut stood a special guest.

A twelve-year-old girl, wrapped in a thick white winter coat and wearing a furry hat, bustled around in front of the warden’s hut like a tightly wrapped snowball. She hugged a broom almost as tall as she was and worked hard to sweep the snow from the doorstep.

“Is that Annie?” Duncan tilted his head slightly and asked in a low voice.

“It’s her,” Agatha replied softly. “Except for the first few days of the lockdown, she’s come here every day at noon during her school break. The old warden is gone, and we haven’t assigned a new one yet. The cemetery is temporarily managed by the nearest Cathedral. There’s no harm in her being here, so the Cathedral has allowed her to come and go as she likes.”

“Do they also have your permission?”

“…Yes.”

The girl in front of the hut finally noticed movement on the path.

She turned her head and stared in surprise at the two figures who had appeared not far away. After a few seconds of staring, she tossed the broom aside and ran over happily.

“Gatekeeper Sister! And Uncle Duncan!”

Annie greeted the two familiar faces with joy. But as soon as she shouted, she suddenly remembered something. She quickly straightened up, looked at Agatha, and said: “Mother said I should call you ‘Your Excellency the Gatekeeper’ or ‘Archbishop’…”

“It’s fine. Just call me whatever you like,” Agatha laughed and reached out to press down Annie’s hat. “Are you cold?”

“I’m not cold,” Annie shook her head. Then she grabbed Agatha’s hand and pointed with her other hand at the little hut not far away. “Your hand is too cold. Come inside and warm up by the fire—I even made herbal tea!”

Agatha instinctively wanted to refuse, but she saw that Duncan had already stepped toward the hut. She froze for a moment in surprise, then could only follow helplessly.

Inside the tidy, simple warden’s hut, the fire in the stove burned hot. Wood cracked and popped in the flames. Steam rose from the samovar beside the stove, carrying the bitter fragrance of herbs.

Annie poured two cups of hot tea and pushed the warm cups into Duncan and Agatha’s hands: “These are for the Guardians from the Cathedral who come to inspect the grounds. They’ll be here later. Even if you don’t drink, you can at least warm your hands.”

Only now did the girl seem to realize that the “Gatekeeper Sister” in front of her was already a corpse.

Agatha did not mind. She thanked her softly and held the cup in both hands as it slowly grew hot.

“Is it warmer?” Annie asked again.

Cold. The whole world was cold. The teacup was cold, and so was the fire.

Agatha smiled gently and said: “Much warmer.”

Then she noticed that Duncan beside her kept glancing around the room from time to time.

“What are you looking at?” she asked in confusion.

“I think this is a good place to ‘settle down’,” Duncan pulled his gaze back and said to Agatha. “If it’s just for ‘settling’ one avatar form, that house on Oak Street is a bit of a waste.”

Agatha blinked, then slowly understood. Surprise appeared on her face: “You… you mean…”

“The Vanished will continue its voyage. The Avatar I leave here in the city also needs a place to stay,” Duncan said calmly. “You don’t need to worry about finding a new warden. This will save you a lot of work.”