Ashes Of Deep Sea Chapter 497

Chapter 497: Chapter 498 Necessary Process Chapter 497: Chapter 498 Necessary Process Duncan knew that the arrangements he had made today were bound to cause turbulence across the Endless Sea–the “warning” was powerful enough to impact everyone, not just because of the content of the warning but also because of its source.

The civilized world would face a minor shock of the “Homeloss.”

“This is a big deal,” Terian broke the silence, “We don't need to worry about the church's response; they are always keen and professional in handling Transcendent crises and will surely give this adequate attention. However, the situation in the City-States is complex, and I doubt whether everyone will be able to establish an effective early warning system.”

“Before that, let's consider how many people will take this warning seriously,” said Lucreshia's voice from the crystal ball. “In this world, there are countless warnings about 'Doomsday,' and most of them come from those frantic heretics–now Homeloss has suddenly started warning the whole world, frankly speaking… many people's first reaction might be similar to when they encounter those Doomsday cultistes, or even worse…”

Sherry muttered softly from across the table, “After all, reputation precedes…”

“That's their business,” Duncan looked at Sherry expressionlessly and shook his head, “Homeloss's 'reputation' is a good thing. Even if some people do not believe in the content of the warning, they will at least pay attention to the 'warning' itself–out of fear of Homeloss, they would be cautious, and that's enough.”

“I'll contact the church as soon as possible,” Agatha nodded, her voice hoarse and gentle, “I believe the Sanctuary of Death will surely give the highest level of attention to this warning from Homeloss.”

“Once Death, the Deep Sea, and the Academy of Truth receive the message, the Fire Transmitter will surely hear about it too,” Fenna also nodded, adding, “I will confirm this matter directly with His Holiness.”

“I haven't communicated with the Academy Ark for a long time either. This is a good occasion to catch up with old friends,” said Morris, taking off his monocle and wiping it, “But I need to prepare some additional ointments and herbal powders the rituals require. Contacting the Academy Ark from the Endless Sea is not easy.”

Listening to Morris, Duncan suddenly thought of something else.

“Any progress on the investigation you conducted last time?” he asked the scholar, “About the shattered cross mark carried by the Doomsday Preacher, have you found its origin?”

“Sorry, there hasn't been any progress yet,” Morris's face showed a hint of apology, “I've written many letters to academic friends I am familiar with and contacted several universities with good relations, but I haven't found any records related to that kind of shattered cross mark. We can only confirm that they 'might' have appeared in some ruins of the Ancient Crete Kingdom…”

“I see…” Duncan was slightly disappointed, but knowing that investigating a mysterious symbol with scant information was like searching for a needle in the ocean, he didn't dwell on the matter too much and just casually said, “Keep an eye on this, and let me know immediately if there's any progress.”

Morris immediately bowed his head: “Yes, Captain.”

Duncan hummed in response, then paused briefly to make sure he hadn't overlooked anything, before he exhaled softly, stood up from the long table, and his gaze swept over everyone present.

“That will be all for today's meeting. We have a clear direction for our actions now. If you have any questions later, feel free to confirm with me.”

At the end of the long table, Lawrence unwittingly breathed a sigh of relief.

The meeting hadn't been as sinister or filled with strange ceremonies or rigid, bloody rules as he had imagined. Even so, just the fact of being “under Captain Duncan's watchful eye” put significant pressure on him as the “newcomer” here, and he had been tense throughout. Now, he could finally relax.

But he had barely begun to relax when he noticed that the others around the table didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. Instead, including the respected Scholar Morris, most seemed to anticipate the next segment.

There was more to the meeting?

Just as Lawrence was harboring this doubt, he heard Nina's voice from across the table: “Ah, finally done talking. Let's eat, I'm starving.”

“Today we feast! We feast!” Sherry also began to shout joyously. “Today is the day of the meeting, there's good food!”

“The soup is still simmering in the pot, perfect timing,” Alice stood up while speaking, “I'll go bring the trolley over~”
Lawrence, confused, watched the scene unfold, unable to grasp what was about to happen, turned to look at Agatha, the person closest to him, only to see a similarly bewildered expression on her face.

At that moment, Duncan's voice suddenly came from the head of the long table, resolving the puzzlement of both Lawrence and Agatha: “Now that we've discussed business, let's gather for a meal. It's the rule on board the ship.”

Discussed business… gathered for a meal?

Lawrence listened in astonishment, half-thinking he had heard wrongly, when suddenly he saw that “living doll” Alice actually pushing a large trolley back into the cabin. The creaky, slightly worn trolley squeaked as it moved, and the many containers on it held steaming… food.

Lawrence stared in amazement as Alice moved the food onto the table, watched Sherry and Nina darting about helping to set the plates and cutlery, and he smelled the food's aroma–there was fresh bread, vegetables and fruits, and meat.

It was normal, familiar food that humans could eat.

But among all aromas, the richest came from a soup at the end of the long table.

Delicious fish soup, soaked with indistinguishable, slightly curled tender meat, steam rose within it, and the slightly wavy surface of the soup seemed to have retained a bit of vitality, still trembling and spasming within the twirling steam.

Yet, when viewed closely, the trembling and spasming seemed like an illusion, never having happened.

Lawrence unconsciously stood up, his eyes drawn to the fish soup, unable to discern what kind of fish it was or detect anything unusual about this “food.” Yet a strong intuition still thumped within him–an experience reaction accumulated from decades of wandering the Endless Sea, which allowed him, a “common man” without spiritual talent, to sense something transcendent–
It had been something extremely dangerous, capable of causing death, sinking ships into the deep sea, it was…
“It's fresh fish,” Duncan said smiling to Lawrence and Agatha, who were attending the gathering for the first time, “I just caught it today–went to a spot quite a distance away from the main island of Frost.”

Fish? From a sea far from safe trade routes, far from the shelter of islands?

Lawrence was momentarily dazed, his mind suddenly filled with some thrilling speculation, while nearby, Maurice nodded at him friendly, “It's exactly what you think, Captain Lawrence, but relax, this is a necessary step for joining us, and you have nothing to worry about, it's already harmless–on this ship, it is indeed food.”

Lawrence listened confusedly and by the time he realized, Alice had already placed a steaming bowl of fish soup on the table in front of him.

However, when she reached Agatha, Alice stopped with a puzzled expression.

“I can't eat,” Agatha said with slight embarrassment, “This body is but a dead shell, no longer fortunate enough to enjoy fine food.”

“It's alright,” Duncan waved his hand generously seeing this, “Though it's a rule on the ship, it's really not different from any ordinary gathering, those who can eat, eat something; those who can't, a bit of small talk can also be forming bonds.”

While speaking, he turned his head, glancing at the crystal ball in front of Tyrion, “Lucy, don't forget your dinner.”

“I'm eating, I'm eating,” Lucricia hurriedly responded, “Luny brought me roasted apple pie and salted pork pie!”

After listening, Duncan nodded and then smilingly looked around the long table, casually picking up the wine glass beside him, and as the host, raised it high:
“So, to the day we gather here–”
…
The slight dizziness gradually faded away, the greenish ghostly flames on the edge of his vision also slowly dissipated in the air, the fresh and chilly sea breeze swept across the deck, bringing instant clarity to his mind.

The experience of attending the gathering on the Homeloss still felt like a dream, lingering in his mind with a sense of unreality.

Lawrence shook his head, allowing himself to fully regain consciousness, then walked to the edge of the deck, gazing at the sea which was gradually sinking into the night.

The faintly glowing silhouette of the Homeloss still floated in the sea not far from the White Oak.

“… It really is like a dream.”

Gathering on the mysterious Ghost Ship, interacting with various “characters” including living dolls, Sun Shards, and Profound Demons, delving deep into the secrets of ancient gods and doomsday in the Spirit Realm, then under the watch and witness of the Subspace Shadow, collectively partaking in the flesh of deep sea descendants.

When the gathering ended and the real world's wind once again brushed his face, as the tension and numbness in his mind gradually faded, allowing him to think with human rationality again, as the light yet bizarre impressions from the gathering dissipated, Lawrence slowly realized the “true nature” of everything that had just happened.

A belated enlightenment surged, yet he couldn't clearly define his feelings at the moment.

A normal person ought to feel fearful, horrified, at the very least, recalling the “fish” they had eaten should be terrifying.

Yet he felt nothing.

Only a peculiar calm and sense of belonging soothed his somewhat agitated mood.

The fish, truly delicious…

Chapter end

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