Lucretia walked over to Duncan, carrying a sinister-looking rabbit doll nad Rabbi, which seed almost lifelike. She elegantly sat down on the sofa next to him, placing the doll on the floor with a distinct “plop.”
“I’ve successfully moved the ‘Saint’ to the containnt chamber inside the Bright Star,” Lucretia began, her tone professional. “This facility is outfitted with cutting-edge technology designed to secure entities and substances from otherworldly realms and spiritual dinsions. We have placed the ‘Saint’ in a controlled environnt to recover and prepare for your upcoming plans.”
She then shifted the conversation to the victims. “The individuals designated for sacrifice have been moved to the rescue center of our city-state. I’ve worked with Sara l from Wind Harbor to ensure they receive compassionate care and support. Our focus is on safely sending them ho as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many are severely psychologically affected, unable to rember even their own hos. We have arranged for ntal health professionals to provide them with the necessary therapy.”
Continuing her update, Lucretia ntioned, “As you directed, I left the ‘artificial beacon’ on the abandoned ship. This device enables you to remotely monitor the ship’s status and movents through its signal.”
“Additionally, I’ve conducted a thorough inventory of valuable materials on the ship. There is a significant amount, which offers an opportunity for resource acquisition – consider it a rich war spoil. After all, a ghost ship that sails itself doesn’t need its fuel and chanical spares…”
Lucretia delivered each update clearly and efficiently, demonstrating her adeptness at managing complex situations.
Duncan, attentively listening, nodded in approval, “Well done, Lucretia.”
However, Lucretia appeared troubled by sothing else and hesitated before speaking further.
Duncan noticed and inquired, “Is there sothing else on your mind?”
After a brief pause, Lucretia revealed, “I’ve inford my brother about our recent activities. He asked if we need additional support, suggesting we could deploy the Mist Fleet, especially since we suspect the Annihilators’ ‘Nest’ might be an ancient mariti fortress hidden in the border mists. A full-scale ‘assault’ might be necessary.”
Duncan thought for a mont before responding, “That won’t be necessary at the mont. We’re still unsure about the Nest’s true nature. Rushing into a large-scale operation could pose more risks than benefits. Our first step should be a careful examination of the mist conditions.”
“Understood,” Lucretia nodded in agreent.
Their strategic conversation was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected presence outside. Lucretia frowned, her focus shifting to the entrance, followed by the sound of the doorbell.
In a corner of the living room, Luni had been quietly standing until she hurried to the door. Lucretia quickly instructed her, “Please rember, no newspapers, no insurance sales, definitely no lottery tickets, and absolutely no answering community surveys. And if anyone claims they’re collecting donations for the community, you must turn them away imdiately. Rember the alert we received last month? Those individuals were identified as fraudsters. It’s shocking that they still dare to co here…”
Before Lucretia could finish her instructions, Luni returned to the living room, interrupting, “Madam, it’s the Truth Keeper, His Excellency, at the door.”
Surprised, Lucretia could only exclaim, “…Eh?”
Before she could understand the full implications, a tired but resigned voice ca from the doorway, “I know you’re not fond of visitors, but I’m here under supernatural circumstances. I have an invitation from the Four Divine Churches for your father.”
With these words, Ted Lir, known as the “Truth Keeper,” entered the living room. He looked like soone who had been working non-stop for weeks.
He explained further, “Normally, people avoid your ‘Witch’s Mansion’ as if it were cursed. Today, Taran El is suffering from a severe backache and is bedridden, so the duty of visiting you has fallen to .”
After finishing his explanation, Ted noticed Duncan seated comfortably on the sofa and greeted him with a smile, “Good day, Captain.”
Lucretia casually responded to the news about Taran El, “It seems Taran El finally gets a few days of rest. Honestly, it might be good for him.”
Ted Lir, showing a hint of disappointnt, replied, “It’s not so good for . I lost three soras betting. So of us at the academy had a wager on which part of Taran’s body would fail him next. I bet on hemorrhoids and lost quite badly.”
Lucretia, slightly embarrassed by the turn of the conversation, remarked, “You guys really have too much free ti…”
Ted Lir casually shrugged, “Maybe, but I’ve made so accurate predictions before.”
anwhile, Morris, who was also seated on the sofa, stood up to greet the Truth Keeper, “Ted Lir, are you fully recovered?”
“Just a minor stomach issue,” Ted Lir answered, dismissing the concern, “Nothing compared to the headache caused by so of the poorly written papers from the younger scholars.” As he spoke, Ted Lir’s eyes unintentionally t Morris’s, and he looked at him with a mix of confusion and surprise for a mont before saying thoughtfully, “You know, Morris, last ti we t in a rush, I didn’t get a good look at you, but your…” He suddenly paused, seed to realize sothing, and then sighed softly, “Never mind, you look quite well.”
Morris smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his monocle, “Do I? I think I’m in fine shape these days. My daughter is a psychiatrist, and she says my ntal health is exceptionally good.” His smile conveyed a scholarly warmth.
Only those with supernatural spiritual sensitivity could perceive the subtle signs of madness and unearthly chaos in his smile, eyes, and voice – traits that were beyond normal human comprehension.
Ted Lir’s attention then shifted to Duncan.
It had been decades since he had developed a friendship with Duncan, who was renowned as the greatest explorer of their ti.
For an elf like Ted Lir, choosing to befriend a human wasn’t a decision made lightly; it involved significant emotional consideration due to the brevity of human lives.
However, young Ted Lir could never have predicted that his concerns would be misplaced. His worry shouldn’t have been about the inevitable parting from a mortal human, but rather about the unexpected reunion with an ageless shadow that had returned from subspace.
Fortunately, within this shadowy figure, a spark of humanity still remained, albeit intertwined with unfathomable truths and whispers that Ted Lir dared not probe too deeply.
Breaking the silence, Duncan started a conversation, “I was just discussing the Four Divine Churches with Morris. I knew about the eting, but I didn’t expect the official confirmation so soon.”
Pausing to collect his thoughts, Ted Lir took out a beautifully sealed envelope from his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and slid it towards Duncan. “I’m not sure if an ‘invitation’ ans much to you,” he said, “but the Ark Academy has asked to deliver this. It’s endorsed by the pope of the Four Divine Churches. Consider it a formal and respectful gesture from the Four Divine Churches to the Vanished Fleet.”
Duncan’s gaze focused on the letter, the seal exuding elegance. He carefully opened it, revealing a well-crafted invitation card with exquisite handwriting. The invitation called for a “special closed eting” to be attended by the “Master of the Vanished Fleet,” “Captain Duncan the Great Explorer.” While the contents were routine, the invitation ended with four shimring signatures that caught Duncan’s attention.
These nas – Lahem, Ta Ruijin, Gomona, Bartok – appeared as vivid streaks of lightning against the dark.
Duncan looked at these signatures calmly, showing no surprise.
“So, the eting is set for tomorrow? That’s quite soon,” he remarked casually, putting away the invitation.
“Yes, the consensus, particularly from Lune, is that the sooner this eting happens, the better,” Ted Lir confird with a nod. “By tomorrow noon, the fleets of the Four Divine Churches will begin to converge near Wind Harbor, and all the Arks will make their appearance. It’s set to be a monuntal gathering.”
Duncan seed briefly surprised by this, while Morris, standing next to him, couldn’t help but express his astonishnt, “Ah? So, the eting is actually happening in the physical world, and all four popes are coming here?”
“Yes, I had assud the eting would be held via psychic resonance, like previous etings organized by the popes and saints,” Ted Lir clarified. “The notion of it taking place in the physical realm, and so soon, hadn’t occurred to .”
Duncan reflected on this new information, his thoughts growing more intense. “For such a significant ‘closed-door eting’ to be organized with almost no preparation ti is quite unusual. Not to ntion, the voyage of the Arks isn’t a short one…” He seed to be piecing things together. “It seems likely that the four Arks were already en route, possibly stationed near the southern border, even before today. Maybe even before the Wind Harbor incident. Could it be that the Four Divine Churches had preemptively planned a eting? And that the events at Wind Harbor just provided a convenient reason to quickly arrange the eting here for tomorrow? That seems probable.”
Following his train of thought, Duncan inquired, “…Has there been any recent developnt? Is it related to the church’s increased activities in the border waters or those fleets gathered near the ‘Eternal Veil’?”
Ted Lir recognized the concerns but indicated his limitations, “I’m aware of the developnts you ntioned, but I don’t have detailed insights.”
Duncan expressed slight surprise, “Even you, the Truth Keeper, aren’t inford about these matters?”
“I truly don’t have access to that information,” Ted Lir affird, shaking his head. “Roles like ours – the Truth Keepers, Inquisitors, Gatekeepers, and Flakeepers – though we hold the highest religious authority within the city-states, our authority doesn’t extend to the operations of the four Arks. They operate under the direct command of the four popes, and all ‘secrets’ are confined within the fleet. There’s no overlap with the church’s activities within the city-states, especially concerning… the more perilous secrets.”
Looking earnestly at Duncan, his expression serious, Ted Lir concluded, “It’s a security asure that’s considered necessary.”
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