Ashes Of Deep Sea Chapter 493

Chapter 493: Chapter 494: Followers' Gathering Chapter 493: Chapter 494: Followers' Gathering Accompanied by a wave and rippling water, the submersible surged out of the sea.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly on the ocean, its rays giving the submersible's thick hull an icy glow. Then, the disposable smoke device on the top of the hull activated, flashing with firelight, followed by a faint explosion, and an orange smoke pillar rose straight into the blue sky.

After a period of posture and power adjustment, the submersible stabilized in its floating state. With creaking sounds, the locking mechanism on the side of the hull opened, and Duncan turned the handle from inside to open the hatch of the submersible.

Fresh air rushed in–even for two “corpses” that did not need to breathe, the fresh, cool breeze above the sea seemed quite comforting and pleasant.

The illusion of being constantly chased, entangled, and delayed by indescribable beings in the deep sea finally gradually receded from their minds. Agatha clutched the handrail and climbed out of the hatch with Duncan, pulling herself up onto the outer shell atop the submersible, gazing over the vast expanse of sea at a distance.

Duncan turned his head slightly and looked at the gatekeeper beside him, “How does it feel to be back in the sunlight?”

“Like returning once again from the gates of the realm of death,” Agatha said softly, “I never thought sunlight and air could bring such a nearly reborn shock–after I've become unable to feel the warmth of the sun or enjoy effortless breathing.”

“What about 'her'?” Duncan asked again, “Throughout the submarine journey, the other Agatha never appeared, but she must have been watching, right?”

“We share similar feelings, but she said she has some matters to ponder over for a while and is currently silent–Would you like to speak with her? I can call her forth…”
“No need to bother her. Let her think. The deep dive will be a reshaping and baptism of worldview for everyone involved. There's a lot we need to consider,” Duncan waved his hand gently and then looked up towards the distant horizon, “Oh, the 'recovery ship' sent by Tyrion has spotted us. Looks like we won't need to make our own way to the City-State.”

A silhouette of a steam-powered cutter appeared on the surface of the water, heading rapidly towards the direction where the smoke signal rose from the submersible…

The submersible returned successfully, and her father, along with the “gatekeeper” lady, were unharmed and on their way back–When this “swift message” arrived via the pneumatic tube on her desk, Tyrion, who had been waiting anxiously in the South Harbor for news, involuntarily let out a sigh of relief.

But immediately afterward, a strange feeling emerged from the bottom of his heart.

He rose from behind his office desk and slowly strolled to the window, somewhat distractedly staring at the gradually setting sun outside, when during the silence, the voice of Lucrece suddenly came from the Crystal Ball not far away, “Is there news from father?”

Tyrion turned to glance at the glowing Crystal Ball on the desk, his tone slightly odd, “You could tell… Was it that obvious?”

Lucrece, in the Crystal Ball with a piece of bread in her mouth, was writing calculations rapidly on a floating draft paper beside her while fiddling with the experimental apparatus on the desk. She glanced up briefly at her brother while muttering vaguely, “Three parts nervousness, three parts hesitation, three parts comfort, and one part fear and confusion–that must mean father is back.”

“…Do all scholars talk to people like this? I sound like a pie chart to you…” Tyrion frowned, then couldn't help but sigh, “I'm just a bit emotional. Not so long ago, I couldn't imagine feeling comforted by father's safe return–My mood wasn't like this the first time I learned of his 'return'.”

“Yes, you almost got a leg cramp back then, after commanding Sea Mist to battle with dad, you didn't sleep for three days, woke me up in the middle of the night to describe your nightmares, insisting I tremble with you…”
“Stop! Don't fabricate such non-existent details!” Tyrion quickly interrupted his sister on the other side of the Crystal Ball, “And that's not what I wanted to contemplate with you!”

Lucrece quieted down. She finally set aside her seemingly endless research work and the unfinished bread, looked up earnestly at Tyrion's eyes.

When her gaze almost gave Tyrion goosebumps, she finally broke the silence, “As kids, father would often leave home for a very long time. Whenever there was the sound of a bell from the direction of the docks, we'd climb onto the roof of our house to see if it was the flag of Homeloss. You always told me to behave more ladylike and composed, then you'd seize the chance to take the highest spot.”

“…It's been many years,” Tyrion fell silent for a few seconds, murmuring softly as if talking to himself, “I still remember that the roof was blue. When the sea breeze blew, the weathervane at the corner of the house would whistle. You tied a pinwheel next to it and said you wanted to show it off to father–that's how we got caught sneaking onto the roof.”

“Now we've reached a place even higher than that roof from before. We've seen the vistas that father once saw,” Lucrece spoke with a gentle tone, “Yet we still haven't caught up with father's steps–he went to the deep sea, reaching depths even the Dive Project of yesteryears never achieved… What do you think he found on this adventure?”

Tyrion didn't speak for a moment, and then suddenly, a crackling noise erupted from behind him, followed by Duncan's voice coming from the mirror, “I discovered an astonishing secret–I was just about to tell you all.”

Tyrion nearly jumped out of his skin, all his muscles tensing up, and on the other side of the Crystal Ball, the “Sea Witch” reacted even more dramatically–he only heard Lucrece let out a cry of alarm, followed by a clattering noise. Soon after, smoke and flashes rose in the Crystal Ball, and the video feed cut off.

Tyrion, with his body tense, turned and saw a ghostly green flame burning in the mirror behind him. In the dark mirror, Duncan leaned forward and looked behind him, “…Is your sister alright? Did I startle her?”

“`
“Can you not appear in such a scary way every time…” Terence muttered subconsciously, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt they were inappropriate and quickly checked Duncan's reaction–his father's expression hadn't changed at all.

“I've considered friendlier ways of appearing, like knocking on the door in advance or sending a note, but Fenna told me it's not the way I appear that's frightening, but my very presence,” Duncan looked at Terence indifferently, “I think she's right, so I've decided not to change it–it's at least a bit amusing to see others startle and react.”

Terence's eyes twitched, astonished at his father's candor about enjoying the spectacle, but he quickly composed himself, regaining his expression and curiously looking at his father in the mirror, “Have you returned to the City-State already? I'll come to you…”

“I've sent my avatar back, but there's no need for you to go there,” Duncan interrupted Terence, “Pack your things and head directly to the Homeloss.”

Terence paused in surprise: “Ah?”

“I've made a significant discovery in the deep sea,” Duncan's expression was particularly serious, “The information is not suitable for public disclosure, and it may pertain to ancient gods, so we need to gather everyone on the Homeloss to discuss. I've already sent Agatha there, and my followers are also assembling. As the owner of the Sea Mist and the new Governor of Frost, your presence is mandatory.”

Terence immediately grasped the urgency and gravity of the situation from his father's demeanor and tone, and promptly tightened up his own slack, “Alright, I'll leave a note for Aiden explaining the situation.”

“Hmm,” Duncan nodded, then his gaze swept across the room, landing on the complex structure of the Crystal Ball lens device.

“Bring your Crystal Ball when you come to the ship,” he instructed Terence, “Lucy should also listen to what's happening–the secrets of the deep sea will interest her.”

Terence, who was writing the note, immediately looked up, first in surprise at Duncan, then quickly nodded, “Alright, I'll definitely bring the Crystal Ball–where is the Homeloss now? I'll prepare a speedboat…”

Before he could finish, Duncan in the mirror gestured with his hand, “No need, Ai Yi will take you.”

A “thud thud thud” knocking sound came from outside the window.

Terence turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw the plump white pigeon that always followed his father.

The pigeon was pecking at the window glass of the harbor office with its beak, its head tilted at the moment, “Getting on? There's a big seat! Driven by an old hand, nice and steady!”

Terence: “…?”

The dining room on the Homeloss served as the gathering place for the crew.

The wide, long dining table had been polished until it shone, and gleaming oil lamps hung from the pillars near it, while the captain's followers were gathered on both sides of the table–Fenna and Morris sat upright with solemnity, Sherry and Alice daydreamed, Nina and Ah Gou were each engrossed in their books, and beyond them, two new figures appeared today.

A blind Nun dressed Agatha, sitting quietly beside the long table in silent prayer, and Lawrence, draped in a white coat and clutching a pipe, looking uneasy and jittery.

The latter was nervously surveying the scene inside the cabin.

Lawrence's ship was currently moored nearby on the sea, with the first mate managing affairs aboard while he, the captain, had been summoned to the “flagship” on orders. No one had told him exactly what the matter was, which left the old captain feeling extremely anxious.

It was his first time setting foot on the Homeloss, stepping aboard this legendary Ghost Ship that had returned from Subspace, where Duncan Ebnomal's followers congregated in this ancient and solemn cabin, waiting for orders from Captain Duncan under the light of the lamps.

He already knew the identities and backgrounds of these people–
A moving puppet, a shattered sun, a sentient demon, an oath-broken Judge, a legendary scholar on the edge of madness…

Now, he was among them.

Even in his most frenzied Dreamscape and hallucinations, Lawrence never imagined he'd find himself in a scene like this.

An adventure ship captain who was ready to retire… How did he end up here?

Chapter end

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