Deep Sea Embers

The leaders and bishops of the Four Gods Church will gather on a ghost ship returning from the subspace to hold a meeting. This kind of thing seems too explosive no matter what time it is. It is the kind of person who yells like this in a city-state. Listen to it. Everyone who arrived had to consider for a long time whether to report the matter to the inquisitor or to the mental hospital.

But now it's really happening.

The Lost Home arrived at the agreed place at the appointed time - off the coast of Breeze Port, in the calm waters near the Cathedral of Storms. It stopped here, and then "visitors" from the four patrol arks arrived one after another in small boats. .

Shirley was lying behind a railing on the stern deck of the ship, peering around at the priests on the middle deck who were looking around nervously or trying to calm themselves down. While observing, she muttered to the shadows beside her: " They really dare to come... Have you seen that bald man? His forehead is so bright and he is sweating..."

Agou's voice came muffled from the shadows: "It's too scary... In the past, let alone meeting people of this level in the city-state, we had to hide away when we met a few guards..."

"Things are different now... is that the word?" Shirley said proudly, "Now they want to avoid us - at least that's how it is on the boat. Hey, do you want to jump out and scare them? ? This opportunity is rare..."

"I can jump out, but you might get beaten by the captain if you look back - did I really jump?"

"No, no, no, I'm just kidding..."

On the deck, the doll Luni, who had followed the hostess to the Lost Home, was methodically guiding the "visitors" through the central deck to the door leading to the cabin. The clockwork doll looked back at the stern of the ship. In the direction of the deck, he turned around and explained to a deep-sea priest wearing a bishop's robe beside him: "That's Miss Shirley. She is the 'student' of the old master. You don't have to be nervous."

"But I feel the aura of the deep devil..." The nervous Deep Sea Bishop couldn't help but say, "Right next to that 'Miss Shirley'..."

"That's Mr. Agou, Miss Shirley's guardian dog," Luni explained calmly, "He's also the old master's student, so you don't have to be nervous."

Deep Sea Bishop: "...?"

Luni didn't pay attention to the sudden strange look in her eyes. She clapped her hands and raised her head to introduce to the surrounding priests who had just boarded the boat: "I would like to emphasize some common precautions——

"The ropes on the boat sometimes move suddenly. Don't worry if you are tied up. They are tied for fun and will loosen after a little greeting. Don't worry if you encounter buckets rolling around. They are probably just transporting things. ; If you pick up a silver-haired doll head and the doll's body cannot be seen nearby, please take the head to the mainmast and give it to a talking pigeon, and the pigeon will help return the head;

"In addition, do not go to unopened areas casually. If you get lost, stay where you are immediately. Praying to the gods is not prohibited on the ship, but the gods cannot help you escape from the blocked cabin, so you still need to keep in mind what I mentioned before. A few 'rules'; if you see individuals suspected of being descendants of the deep sea in some places on the boat, stay calm and leave, they are fish; don't pay attention to the sudden appearance of strange shadows in the mirror or in dark corners, they are taking a walk. Lady Agatha - she will not enter the visitor's lounge...

"Always remember that the ship is safe and friendly. If you feel like you are dying, repeat this in your mind: the ship is safe and friendly. Reflect on whether your actions violate the code rather than questioning the environment. question……

"Finally, I wish everyone a fulfilling day aboard the great Lost Home - meals will be provided after the meeting. Please be assured that they are all edible substances for humans."

The clockwork doll smiles and bends towards the visitors.

"Please follow me next, let's go to the hall."

The priests who boarded the ship were either nervous, doubtful, or cautiously observing this ghost ship that was haunted by countless strange legends and dangerous atmospheres. A clockwork puppet gave them "safety tips" on the deck. " did not reduce the tension in the hearts of these people with normal views, but instead increased the weird atmosphere they felt here - but driven by their mission and responsibility, they could only put aside their concerns, and the old man He honestly followed the guidance of the strange clockwork doll and walked towards the cabin.

Vanna stood far away under a mast, looking at Luni who was busy in the distance with a little worry, and couldn't help but whisper in a low voice: "I don't think Miss Lucretia should arrange for Luni to do this. 'Reception'—it's better to let Mr. Morris and I go..."

"But I think this is good," Helena's voice sounded from the side. This elegant female pope stood next to Vanna with an inexplicable smile on her face. Her eyes fell on the deck in the distance. "This can make them realize in the shortest possible time why I emphasized to them 'don't make a fuss' before boarding the ship, so that they can take everything on the Lost Home for granted."

She stopped and looked thoughtfully at the huge silhouettes of the ark ships on the distant sea: "...the bishops have profound knowledge and superb magical attainments, but they are on the 'normal' ark. If you stay here for too long, this 'normal' won't last forever."

Vanna felt that there seemed to be some deep meaning in the words of the female pope, but before she was about to ask a question, Helena spoke first: "Are you still used to being on this ship?"

"Uh... it's pretty good," Fanna was stunned, and quickly replied, "Everyone is very friendly, and I can also come into contact with a lot of unknown knowledge. I am also constantly accumulating experience in fighting against heresy and blasphemy."

"That's good," Helena smiled, and before Vanna could speak, she walked towards the cabin. "Let's talk after the meeting is over - we can't keep the 'captain' waiting for too long. "

Fanna was stunned for a moment, and then she noticed that a line of sight seemed to be falling on her.

She followed this feeling and looked in the direction of her vision, only to see an exceptionally tall and eye-catching figure among the crowd looking towards her from the deck in the distance.

It was a Senjin man wearing a simple short robe, with skin as gray as white rock and deep and steady eyes.

It's Flame, the leader of the Firebearers.

The little giant-like Sen'jin pope nodded to this side from afar, and then left in silence.

Vanna was in a daze. The moment her eyes met those calm eyes, she couldn't help but recall the boundless desert and the old giant who was trekking with her on the desert...

The next second, Fanna suddenly woke up from her trance. After a brief hesitation, she also stepped towards the direction of the cabin.

The captain's call was ringing in her heart - the time had come.

Everyone gathered in the largest cabin in the upper area of ​​the Lost Home.

It is said to be a "meeting hall", but in fact this is just the restaurant on the Lost Home - the servants sent by Lucretia in advance have roughly tidied up the place, rearranged the tables and chairs, and arranged it into a meeting place. look.

Compared to the luxurious sanctuaries and magnificent temples on the Pilgrimage Ark, this "assembly venue" is obviously not that gorgeous.

But the people gathered here obviously dare not pay attention to the so-called "shabby" issue.

This is the Lost Home, a shadow returning from subspace, and the "Fifth Ark" inspired and revealed by the four gods - every inconspicuous corner of this ship is different for this world. meaning.

Just being able to board this ship is enough to become an unforgettable experience for one person...even if they are respected bishops and "inner court priests" on the Pilgrimage Ark.

The irrelevant personnel had already retreated, and the golem servants sent from the Brilliant Star for "support" closed the door when they exited the hall.

Ordinary priests sit on the periphery of the assembly hall. Dozens of bishops are divided into four areas according to the gods they follow. A circle of seats is placed in the center of the hall. Helena, Frame, Banster and Lu En sat on four of the chairs, and opposite them were the real owner of the ship and the owner's "followers".

Duncan deliberately asked Lucretia to decorate the venue like this.

He could notice that all eyes were focused on him - those eyes were complicated.

The tense atmosphere never dissipated from these people from beginning to end.

But he didn't care.

"We meet again," his eyes first fell on Helena opposite - this "deep sea female pope" was the first Orthodox leader he came into contact with in this world, and the first person he came into contact with in the civilized world. One starting point, "Welcome to my ship - I kept my promise and am still on the side of 'civilization'."

Helena responded politely and appropriately, but at the same time her eyes couldn't help but fall on Vanna not far from Duncan.

The female pope's expression was always calm and tranquil, but there was something strange in the depths of her eyes.

Just now, Vanna naturally sat on the side representing the Lost Home...

Neither the Storm Saint nor the Deep Sea Judge hesitated.

But soon, she put away this weird emotion. After briefly adjusting her expression, she opened her mouth to break the somewhat solid atmosphere of the scene.

“This is a closed-door meeting, the nature of which everyone must already understand – so let’s cut through all the red tape and get right to the point.

"Let's discuss what has happened in our world and what is about to happen."

She turned her head and her eyes fell on Lu En beside her.

"The most knowledgeable among us have brought something that may help explain to some of those present who do not yet know the truth what... the Great Annihilation is."

Lu En nodded, and then waved to the side.

A scholar immediately stepped forward and handed something covered in black cloth into his hand.

Duncan watched this scene curiously - he saw Luen opening the black cloth, and what was underneath surprised him for a moment.

That's a birdcage.

There was just an ordinary-looking black bird sitting quietly in the cage.

However, Lu En's expression became serious. He raised the birdcage in his hand and showed it to everyone present.

"This is a black-feathered short-beaked puffin, and it also has a famous name, which is well known in the circle of scholars.

"Crazy Bird - In 1726, the famous "Hippa Incident" gave this little bird this frightening name.

"About the Great Annihilation, I want to start with this little bird."