Deep Sea Embers

Was Helena genuinely expressing her true thoughts? Did the Storm Church’s true objective involve establishing communication with the Vanished? Did the so-called “Spokesperson of God” genuinely trust in the humanity and rationality of “Captain Duncan,” as she claimed?

Duncan hesitated to trust her fully, even though the female Pope’s demeanor appeared sincere. He was quite calculating, aware of the Vanished’s notorious reputation and formidable record. Such a reputation meant that a powerful leader like Helena couldn’t engage with him without taking precautions – she must have had some reservations.

However, exercising caution wasn’t necessarily negative. Choosing to collaborate despite caution indicated that she had a reason to cooperate, whether due to divine will or the interests of the church. Regardless of the reason, the olive branch she extended was authentic.

“Since we’ve reached an agreement, we should discuss the specific personnel handover and registration process,” Duncan contemplated for a moment before addressing the Pope reasonably. “I believe we need some formal documents.”

Helena was momentarily taken aback. Although she had initiated the matter, she hadn’t considered this step, and her expression revealed surprise: “Registration… process, what do you mean?”

“Enlisting crew members and handling work handovers are serious matters,” Duncan stated earnestly. “Vanished is an exploration ship with strict personnel management, and your Storm Church is a formal organization. Don’t you plan to prepare an introductory letter for the emissaries you send? Moreover, regarding living expenses or personal equipment procurement for Vanna on the ship, which party should cover the costs? I personally think you should be responsible for at least part of it…”

Helena suddenly understood what Vanna meant when she mentioned in her reports that “Captain Duncan is a man of unexpected actions” multiple times. Helena hadn’t considered this aspect in her numerous pre-planned negotiation scenarios with the Vanished!

“…The Storm Church will, naturally, take responsibility for this part of the… ‘budget’,” Helena finally agreed after a few seconds of hesitation. “If you need formal documents, we can provide them, or you can provide them – do you have a template on your side?”

“Certainly, I can send a messenger to you later,” Duncan affirmed solemnly. “Vanished is not some third-rate evil god lair where you light two braziers, mumble a few words, and push someone in to call it a successful sacrifice. We are a very formal employer. Personnel recruitment, rules and regulations, and team building are all top-notch in subspace…”

Helena had been listening without expression since the beginning, and at this point, she could only nod subconsciously. For some reason, she suddenly felt that the twisting starlight in the mirror, which continuously swelled and writhed, was no longer as disorienting and nauseating as before.

She even found the rotating light and shadows somewhat familiar.

In such a slightly dazed state, she finally concluded her conversation with the enigmatic captain.

Accompanied by the soft crackling of flames, the flickering green fire in front of the mirror slowly vanished. The bright yellow-white flames reemerged on the candlestick, and the floating light and shadows on the mirror’s edge and the pervasive black cracks in the room gradually faded from her view.

A stable reality reappeared before Helena. Yet, she didn’t dare look away from the mirror, only watching it until her image own reappeared.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the trembling lines around the image finally stabilized, and Helena took a deep breath, her tense muscles gradually relaxing.

Only then did she realize her clothes were drenched in sweat, her heart pounding, and a dull, numb pain throbbed in her head.

“…I’d better remind Vanna to control her curiosity at her ‘new post’,” Helena rubbed her forehead, battling the headache as she whispered, “Facing subspace… this sensation is awful.”

A crackling sound suddenly reached her ears, accompanied by a glimpse of green light.

Startled, Helena only managed to catch a flicker of green flame near the windowsill. She hurried towards the fading firelight and discovered an ancient parchment lying quietly on the windowsill.

It was Vanna’s registration document for the Vanished.

“…It really came.” The female Pope murmured, somewhat bewildered.

…

The next morning.

“We will be welcoming a new member.”

In the Vanished’s dining room, Duncan gathered all the members on board, including Shirley, who had been helping out in the antique shop, and Mr. Morris, who had been conducting research in the city-state library, and then formally announced the news.

Nina, who had been focused on feeding pigeons with a handful of fries, looked up in surprise when she heard Uncle Duncan’s words, “A new member?! Who is it?”

“In a sense, she’s someone you all know,” Duncan said with a smile, his gaze sweeping both sides of the dining table. “You’ve all seen her before. Shirley and Nina even met her not long ago.”

Shirley appeared somewhat dazed, taking several seconds to vaguely realize something, her expression visibly changing, “Could it… could it be that inquisitor…?”

“It is her,” Duncan nodded gently, “Inquisitor Vanna will become a new member of the Vanished within the next day or two.”

“Bang!”

A loud noise suddenly erupted beside the dining table. Duncan calmly glanced in the direction of the sound, seeing Dog lying awkwardly on the floor – he had been sitting on a chair next to Shirley just a moment before.

Shirley, who had almost toppled off her chair herself, glared at Dog and scolded, “Dog, you scared me!”

“I… I… I’m utterly dog-stunned, really, Mr. Duncan, what did you just say – that inquisitor?!” Dog clumsily rose from the ground, ignoring Shirley’s yelling beside him, his two blood-red hollow eye sockets staring at Duncan, “Are you planning to bring that inquisitor here by force? Ah, of course, I’m not questioning your ability, you can definitely restrain her, but it might not be easy to make that inquisitor submit. She has obviously undergone very strict training, and her head is full of faith in the storm goddess. It’s probably difficult to make her become…”

“…Why is your first thought to tie someone to the ship?” Duncan’s eye twitched, “I said Vanna will become our new member. When did I ever say I was going to tie her to the ship?”

“But how could she be brought over without being tied up?” Dog was perplexed, seemingly unable to think of any other reason in his “normal logic” to explain why a city-state inquisitor would suddenly become a new member of the Vanished. “Oh, you planned to detain her ashore first…”

“Can’t it just be a standard crew recruitment and job transfer?” Duncan looked expressionlessly at the other’s unsightly dog head. “For example, the Storm Church writes a recommendation letter, I write a personnel admission notice, and then Vanna becomes a sailor and accompanying priest on the ship through a very ordinary process – don’t you think that’s more reasonable?”

Dog considered it and felt that such “reasonable” matters would be incredibly strange once they occurred on the Vanished. He would rather believe that one day he would wake up on the ship and see the Mysterious Holy Lord than believe in the captain’s series of processes just mentioned. However, after holding back for a long time, he dared not voice his thoughts.

Because this was the Vanished.

What the captain said was right.

“You’re right,” Dog lowered his head in a dull tone, “That’s very reasonable.”

Duncan nodded in satisfaction and then looked at the few people on both sides of the dining table. After some thought, he added an explanation, “This is an agreement between the Storm Church and me. Vanna will board this ship as a secret special envoy and serve me as a crew member until her mission is completed. Her identity is slightly different from yours, but while on the ship, everyone follows the same rules. I hope you can get along with each other.”

“As long as she doesn’t bother me, it’s fine,” Shirley grumbled, “I wouldn’t dare to bother her.”

“I still can’t imagine a city-state inquisitor staying obediently on this ship,” Dog also murmured, “I feel like our days are about to become more exciting.”

“I’m prepared,” Morris, sitting across the table, nodded slightly. The old scholar seemed the most composed (except for Alice, who hadn’t reacted at all from the beginning), and there was even a hint of a strange smile on his face. “But she might be particularly surprised when she sees me… But she’ll adapt; Vanna has always been a child with strong adaptability.”

Nina hadn’t said much since the beginning, just thinking about something. Only now did she suddenly look up, “Uncle, do we have something to do next?”

Duncan lowered his head, “Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“Because you specifically gathered us all on the ship,” Nina thought for a moment, “Miss Vanna hasn’t boarded the ship yet, and you called us ahead of time; there must be other arrangements, right?”

Duncan looked at Nina’s shiny eyes (with a 6000°C depth), and after a long while, he smiled and patted her hair.

“You’re right; there will be some things to do – we’re heading to Frost.”