Deep Sea Embers

The Pope's reaction made the Priest of Truth on the side feel a little confused. He spoke cautiously: "...The whole world will not freeze because the sun 'disappears' for a long time. Isn't this good news?"

"From the perspective of the matter itself, this is of course good news," Lu En shook his head slightly, "but what about the power that the sun should have? If we look at it from our knowledge and understanding of the world, engaging in What about the laws that things are supposed to follow?"

The middle-aged priest frowned slightly, suddenly understanding what the Pope was worried about.

"The sun brings light and heat. When the sun rises, the day will gradually become warmer, and when the sun sets, the night will gradually cool down. If the sun is absent for long enough, the boundless sea will be frozen. This is a thing. The law is just like ice melting in fire, it is the simplest truth, but the current situation is... the cooling curve at night seems to have nothing to do with the sun," Lu En said with a solemn expression, "You know this makes What do I remember?"

He did not wait for the middle-aged priest's answer, but paused briefly before continuing: "The evil machine - like the axle that is still rotating after the steam core has cooled, like the gear that is stuck and is still spitting out paper. With the difference engine, the operating process and operating results of things are gradually separated, and some taken-for-granted laws... are failing."

There was an uncomfortable silence in the temple for a while. After a long time, the middle-aged priest broke the silence: "We should contact the other three arks..."

"They are also paying attention to changes in this area, and they shouldn't need our reminder," Luen said. "Compared to this...has our border fleet already set off?"

The middle-aged priest nodded immediately: "Yes, they have entered the range of the curtain an hour ago, and the communication has not been interrupted yet - the fleets of the other three churches have also entered the border from different directions. There have been no casualties yet."

Lu En nodded slowly: "...Where is the sea refuge channel?"

"We have set up twenty-six assembly points at the midway points of the main waterways in various sea areas. Large church ships and supply ships serve as the core of each assembly point. Currently, there are hundreds of ships that cannot return to the city-state in time to respond to the call. They went to various gathering points to take refuge one after another. According to the plan, these refuge ships would then be guided to a 'safe distance' within a three-day voyage from the nearest city-state and stay there until the end of the night.

"But the actual effect of this kind of maritime 'night shelter' has yet to be verified. We still don't know what changes will occur in the night as time goes by. Now we can only make the best possible preparations, and at the same time make the best possible preparations." Plan for bad situations..."

Lu En listened quietly and nodded slightly.

At this moment, a burst of bells suddenly came from not far away, interrupting his conversation with the priest - bells from all over the Ark ship rang one after another, with an unusual urgency.

Lu En was stunned for a moment, and then he seemed to sense something. He listened carefully, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face: "...They are back."

The Lost Home and the Brilliant Star are back - on the distant sea shrouded in night, the blazing green fire of the ghost ship is as eye-catching as a beacon. The two ships directly crossed the cordon established by the church and the city-state fleet in the offshore. , heading straight towards Qingfeng Port, and the patrol fleet that received the order in advance did not dare to stop them at all.

Without any cover or hesitation, the Homeless Ship and the Brilliant Star docked directly on the eastern coastline of Qingfeng Port, and Duncan entered the city in a swaggering manner.

Nina held Shirley's hand and followed Duncan and Morris. She couldn't help but frown as they walked through the empty road inside the port area.

"...It was so lively when I came here last time..."

"Now there are only those who are patrolling and standing guard," Shirley muttered. She covered her eyes with a black cloth strip to block her somewhat scary eyes, but now she suddenly realized that she didn't seem to need it either. So cautious - after entering the city, she saw almost no people outside, "It is said that martial law will last for a month or two."

The city-state is still under martial law at this moment. Although it should be early morning, except for those who maintain city functions and other special positions, most of the citizens of Qingfeng Port are staying at home in accordance with the order—— The pale golden "sunshine" shining from the offshore direction quietly fills the empty streets, making it look like a ghost town at dusk.

In the other half of the city where the "sunlight" released by the luminous geometric objects cannot shine, there is only a depressing and suffocating night.

However, after leaving the outer edge area and entering the urban area with relatively dense residents, there were still sparse and hurried pedestrians on the streets, as well as some shops that were open for business.

"There are actually shops open here!" Shirley looked at several shops on the roadside with some surprise, "And there are also people going out..."

"You just said that the entire state of martial law will last for one or two months. During this period, the most basic order of life must be maintained." Morris shook his head. "I think each city-state should have prepared a plan based on the long night state. We have developed some kind of 'life schedule' so that everyone can have the opportunity to go shopping or work during the martial law period... Life must go on."

Listening to the conversation between Shirley and Morris, Duncan did not participate. He just raised his head and glanced at the deserted street in front of him, and said casually: "I have seen enough...Ai."

A flame burned out of thin air, and the giant skeletal bird wrapped in the flame appeared in the sky hovering above everyone, making a strange and sharp cry: "Who is calling the fleet?"

"Take us to 99 Crown Street," Duncan said.

A flame flew over the Breeze Harbor like a meteor, passed over the city illuminated by the offshore "sunshine", and flew straight towards the "Witch's Mansion" located in the upper city.

This unsettling flaming meteor has undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention - but for those who actually know what's going on, it's reassuring... good news.

As soon as the flames fell to the ground and the vision in front of her stabilized, Lucrecia saw the uninvited guests standing at the door of her house.

Helena, who has a graceful temperament and is wearing a navy blue robe and skirt, is slightly stout. Rune is wearing a scholar's robe, and a bunch of unknown priests and scholars - they look like entourages or followers brought by the two popes. assistant.

They seem to have been waiting here for a while.

"...Wow," Nina muttered immediately, "There are quite a few people here..."

"It's not too surprising." Duncan's reaction was very indifferent.

Lucretia's first reaction was to frown. She looked at the "visitors" who appeared at her door and walked forward quickly without concealing the impatience in her expression. Before speaking, he said: "I don't like receiving guests - especially so many guests."

Apparently, Miss Witch, who had just returned home from a trip to the border, was unhappy with so many uninvited guests.

However, Lu En didn't mind the unceremonious attitude of this "Sea Witch" at all. He seemed to have known the character and habits of this witch lady for a long time. Hearing this, he waved to the entourage around him: "Then you go back first. Bar."

Helena also dispersed the accompanying priests and guards, and then nodded to Lucretia: "There are only two 'guests' here now."

Lucretia stared at the two popes standing at the door with wide eyes, then sighed helplessly and took two steps away: "...Well, my father is indeed willing to talk to you. Luni, Go open the door."

The clockwork doll Runi immediately passed over everyone, walked up the steps and opened the door. Duncan nodded slightly to Rune and Helena: "Let's go in and talk."

The bright lights dispelled the night, and the warmth of the fireplace dispelled the coldness of the night. The machine dolls and tin attendants who stayed in the mansion had already cleaned the place before the hostess returned home. Now the hot tea is ready. When placed on the table, the freshly baked snacks were still exuding the heat of being freshly baked.

The bright, warm house almost made people forget about the long and unsettling night outside, and the world was falling apart.

Everyone gathered in the living room. Duncan sat on the sofa in a very casual posture and nodded to Helena and Luen opposite: "I didn't expect you would come here to wait in person - I thought it was like you For such a person, every time he leaves the Ark, it is a very serious and prudent matter."

"It is true that we cannot leave the Ark at will without a good enough reason - but meeting you as soon as possible is a 'reason enough' in itself," Helena said, "especially under today's circumstances."

"What do you want to know now?" Duncan said, "Is it the current situation of the world? Or the cause of the end? Or what will happen in the future?"

Rune and Helena exchanged glances subconsciously.

"We all want to know these," Lu En broke the silence first. He adjusted his sitting posture and leaned forward slightly, his expression looking particularly solemn. "But first, we want to know what happened on Holy Land Island, and what happened between you and... Communion among the Creators of the world.”

"We have received some intelligence from the Tide," Helena added on the side, "but I believe that only you know the more truth."

Duncan pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

"So first of all, I announce a conclusion to you - this is the premise of everything."

From Duncan's look and tone, Helena suddenly felt a heavy uneasiness: "Conclusion?"

"Yes, the conclusion - the end of the world is doomed, any form of tinkering has come to an end, and at most... can only have a limited continuation."

Duncan's tone was calm, his voice was not loud, but every word seemed to carry great weight.