Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 245 “There’s a big problem”

Duncan fell silent as he pondered.

This was the first time Goathead had shared so much about the secrets of subspace with him, and it was also the most candid conversation they had ever had.

Before today, the wooden gargoyle sculpture had always shown great reluctance towards the topic and always diverted the subject over his indirect inquiries. The main reason was related to the Vanished’s stability and the stability of “Captain Duncan.” Yet, things changed today – the attitude had softened after he entered the other side and returned unharmed.

After pondering for a long time, Duncan looked up and thoughtfully stared into Goathead’s eyes: “…You knew so much.”

“I knew a little… but I never meant to hide it from you,” Goathead’s voice sounded a bit tense. “When it comes to subspace, the less you know, the better because sometimes knowledge itself is pollution. But it seems that the great Captain Duncan doesn’t have to worry about this…”

“Let’s just assume you’re sincerely praising me,” Duncan said casually, then looked Goathead up and down, unwilling to give up, “Is that really all you know? Are there more details, like the identity of that pale, one-eyed giant…?”

“You’re really putting me on the spot,” Goathead seemed helpless. “To be honest, my memory… has had some issues. I’ve forgotten many things ‘over there,’ and all I have left are these vague impressions.”

Duncan silently stared into those obsidian black eyes, and after a long while, he looked away.

Though unintentional, Goathead had indirectly admitted to another thing—it wasn’t an original “passenger” on the ship but came from “the other side,” from subspace! Was it something the Vanished had “brought” with it when it escaped from subspace, which then transformed into Goathead? Or did Goathead consciously hitch a ride to escape from subspace? Was this some kind of trade?

For some reason, Duncan couldn’t forget the image of the pale giant who had died at the edge of the celestial debris.

Subspace was filled with the wreckage left after the old world shattered, but those pieces seemed to be more than just debris… Goathead seemed to come from subspace, and it was intelligent, capable of thinking and even communicating. Were there more things like it in subspace? Or would Goathead change into something else if returned to the other side, into something… similar to that pale giant? Was that why it was so resistant to “going back”?

Many theories arose in Duncan’s mind, but in the end, he didn’t ask them directly because he knew Goathead would never answer questions that directly pointed to itself or to “Captain Duncan”—this involved the stability of the Vanished in the real dimension.

So he sighed gently, stood up, and signaled a temporary end to this topic.

Bright sunlight poured through the window, casting a hazy glow on the simple yet elegant furnishings in the captain’s quarters.

“I missed the sunrise today,” Duncan suddenly said. “Did Vision 001 rise as usual today?”

“Yes, the sun rose on time as usual,” Goathead immediately replied. “It seems that the previous delayed sunrise was just an accident, and Vision 001 is still operating normally.”

“…For an existence like Vision 001, as long as there is one problem, fear will forever be etched in people’s hearts. Those who noticed the ’15 minutes’ will probably never greet the sunrise as easily as before,” Duncan shook his head gently, then seemed to suddenly remember something, “Wait, do you remember when the sunset occurred yesterday?”

“Sunset?” Goathead recalled for a moment, then spoke uncertainly, “The sunset time should have been on schedule, without any impact. Is there any question… Ah!”

“You’ve realized it,” Duncan took his gaze away from the window. “Yesterday, the sun rose 15 minutes late, but it set on time. This indicates one thing.”

“…It traveled across the sky faster than usual yesterday,” Goathead realized belatedly. “Vision 001… can consciously adjust its operating mode?”

Duncan spoke solemnly: “At least it consciously accelerated yesterday to ensure that ‘sunset’ occurred at the correct timing.”

Goathead’s tone grew hesitant: “Is this… a good thing? This shows that Vision 001 has a certain self-repairing capability, and even if there is a small problem, it is consciously ensuring that the world runs smoothly…”

Duncan, however, did not comment after that. Unlike Goathead’s optimistic view, he felt even tenser than before after confirming the acceleration.

There’s a truth he knew—when a vast, ancient, and unguarded system suddenly begins to use its reserve resources for self-repair, it often means the accumulated problems have reached a dangerously critical point!

Duncan couldn’t help but come to the window, push it open completely, and look up at the enormous light source illuminating the world.

The light emitted by Vision 001 was very bright but not dazzling, and Duncan could barely look at it directly.

But suddenly, Duncan’s gaze became fixed.

He stared intently at the sun, at the runes on the edge of the ancient vision, and he finally confirmed he wasn’t seeing things after careful observation.

On the outer ring of the double runes, hidden beneath the brilliance, there was a slightly dim spot. Upon closer inspection, it seemed like there was a faint… gap.

……

In Pland’s antique shop, Duncan, who was sitting behind the counter supervising Shirley, Alice, and Dog copying letters, suddenly raised his head. He then quickly walked out of the shop under the astonished gazes of the three “students” and looked up at the sky outside the antique shop.

After a while, when his fragile human body began to feel a little dizzy, Duncan closed his eyes and lowered his head.

“Uncle Duncan, what’s wrong?” Nina, who had been helping Shirley and the others learn to read, came out and asked worriedly.

Duncan raised his hand and gently tousled Nina’s hair: “It’s nothing, I just came out to check the weather.”

“Check the weather?” Nina looked up at the clear sky with confusion, “You could just look out the window from inside the shop. It’s such a sunny day… Ah, is something going to happen again?”

As she spoke, Nina suddenly lowered her voice and approached Duncan nervously. Grabbing his sleeve, “Did you think of something on the ship? Are we going on an adventure?”

“…Adventures, adventures, are there so many dangers to face?” Duncan looked helplessly at the girl, who had constantly been thinking about a “thrilling and exciting new life” since learning about the Vanished. “Don’t create chaos. Isn’t world peace good enough?”

Nina stuck her tongue out sheepishly when Shirley, who had come to the door out of curiosity, seemed a bit stunned after hearing Duncan’s words. She stared blankly for a while before turning to whisper to Dog, who was hiding in the shadows, “The captain said he likes world peace.”

Dog had no reaction.

Shirley frowned and repeated her words, then pulled the chain fused to her arm at an angle blocked by the door frame, “Dog, didn’t you hear me?”

Dog’s voice finally came from the shadows, “I’m learning the alphabet, don’t disturb my studies.”

Shirley: “…You’re really into it, huh?!”

“Of course, Mr. Duncan will check our homework later… Miss Alice is taking this more serious than you!”

Shirley was taken aback, “Homework? What homework?”

However, Dog did not answer her because Duncan had already returned to the door with Nina in tow.

“Homework is something that if you don’t do, I’ll get upset,” Duncan said with a smile, looking at the suddenly stiff Shirley, “Go and copy the alphabet ten times.”

Shirley almost burst into tears, “Then… why don’t you hit me instead…”

“Really?”

Shirley immediately shuddered, “No, no, no, I’ll go copy the alphabet right now!”

Duncan shook his head, then temporarily arranged for Shirley, Dog, and Alice to study on their own, leaving Nina to supervise them. He took one last look at the sky outside before standing in front of the display window and sinking into deep thought.

Vision 001… was really in big trouble.