Ashes Of Deep Sea Chapter 632

Chapter 632: Chapter 631: Invitation and Contact Chapter 632: Chapter 631: Invitation and Contact The two ships stopped at a very close distance from each other–close enough for shuttle boats to make quick trips between them.

Duncan observed the colossal Pilgrimage Ark with curiosity, looking at the academic facilities built in the upper sections and the many towering structures. He saw numerous figures moving near the perimeter walls, some likely guards and sailors of the academy ark, while others looked more like ordinary scholars or apprentices from their attire. He also saw steam-powered walkers–the large spider-like robots climbing the bulwarks at the edge of the ark–far more agile than any he had seen in other City-States, a clear sign of a higher level of technology.

Duncan knew that those aboard the Pilgrimage Ark must also be observing the Homeloss.

The sea's surface shimmered with highlights, the gentle breeze wrinkled the ocean, and the sinking sun plated the undulating waves with a layer of pale gold. But among the pale golden gleams, there were threads and traces of eerie green light. These faint greenish fires spread out from the Homeloss, reaching the edge of the Pilgrimage Ark where they stopped–there was a distinct “border,” and at that border line, Duncan could feel a distinct “resistance.”

The Ghost Ship and the church ship remained opposite each other over the sea, quiet and silent.

After a standoff that lasted who knows how long, Duncan turned to a shadow beside him with a hint of confusion, “What are they waiting for?”

“Perhaps they are still observing the Homeloss?” Agatha's voice came from the shadow, tinged with hesitation, “But they should have at least tried to make contact…”

The cockpit grew quiet. Duncan thought for a moment and then spoke with some uncertainty, “Do you think, is it possible that they are trying to call the Homeloss by radio?”

Agatha: “…Does the ship have a radio?”

“No, but I've always wanted to install one. Coming to Light Breeze Harbor was originally part of that plan…”

Agatha: “…”
Just then, a series of flashes suddenly lit up from the upper levels of the Pilgrimage Ark, interrupting Duncan and Agatha's exchange–along with the regular blinking lights, Duncan also noticed the flags being waved near the light.

In the end, it was the traditional and reliable light signals and semaphore that worked.

“They're inviting the Homeloss to dock at the Pilgrimage Ark?” Duncan determined the meaning of the signals, surprise evident on his face, “Are they serious?”

“Captain, this could be a trap,” the voice of the goat-headed being immediately came through the psychic link, carrying its usual conspiracy theories and innate wariness of the churches, “You must be careful.”

“I understand your caution, but it's unlikely at this time,” Duncan shook his head, “And whether it's a trap or not, my plan was to meet with the people aboard that ark anyway–now that they've invited us, it's actually perfect.”

As he said this, he slowly steered the Homeloss closer to the massive ark nearby, all the while becoming increasingly vigilant of the Pilgrimage Ark and the movements of the surrounding warships, using the power of fire to extend his senses further across the sea.

Of course, he wouldn't lose his basic vigilance–although logically, he didn't think it was a trap, this was still a direct contact with one of the top military forces of the Three Gods Church, and who knew what the pope serving the God of Wisdom Rahm was thinking at the moment.

And Duncan believed that the people on that ark probably had the same worries–they had invited the Homeloss, but were they nervous?

They were nervous, too.

From their perspective–who knows what the “ghost captain” of the Homeloss was planning.

Since its return to the real world, the Homeloss had made contact with many City-States and church powers, and Duncan knew these “contacts” were effective. The Three Gods Church was attempting to understand this Ghost Ship that had returned from subspace, sending Fenna on board was clear evidence of this–it was indeed a friendly signal. But Duncan was also very clear that to this world, the Homeloss was still an unpredictable enigma, a symbol fraught with danger.

He viewed the Three Gods Church in the same light.

With caution, scrutiny, probing, and contact, even after establishing a certain level of communication and even tacit understanding, both sides had to take careful steps towards each other, slowly confirming “safety.” They needed to make sure the ghost captain who had returned to reality possessed genuine humanity, to confirm whether the recent actions of the Homeloss were truly benevolent or merely a ruse driven by subspace chaos–and as for Duncan, he needed to ascertain how much of the implied accord and trust from the other side was genuine.

At the same time, he was also communicating with his followers.

Maurice had studied at the Academy of Truth–his mentor was even the “pope” at the helm of the academy ark.

This was the distinct “tradition” of the Academy of Truth as compared to the other Three Gods Churches–the followers of the God of Wisdom maintained a “teaching legacy” at their core doctrine, and their “priest” hierarchy was maintained in the form of teachers and students, no exception even for the pope.

Most of the world's distinguished scholars had studied at the Academy of Truth, and some of the luckiest among them had the opportunity to ascend the academy ark and become students of Pope Rune.

“…I think you can be at ease. I have discussed many matters about the Homeloss with my mentor, and among the popes of the gods, his attitude towards the Homeloss should be the most calm, rational, and objective one…”
“I'm not too worried about your mentor's 'attitude,' I'm just a bit curious as to why the Pilgrimage Ark from the Academy of Truth would personally come to Light Breeze Harbor, and so quickly at that,” Duncan thought to himself. “You must know, with all the commotion in Plunder previously, the Storm Cathedral only rushed over after the event had concluded, and over at Frost's side, the arks of the Death Church never even made an appearance.”

“Light Breeze Harbor is near the border, and the church's Pilgrimage Arks spend most of their time patrolling nearby, so it's normal for them to arrive quickly,” Morris explained. “Light Breeze Harbor may have sent out a distress signal to the academy's headquarters many days ago, and furthermore…”

He suddenly paused here and, after a few seconds, slowly continued, “Furthermore, over half the people on board the academy's ark are Elves.”

Duncan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Pilgrimage Ark drew near, this astonishing creation floated like a small City-State in front of the Homeloss, part of its “hull” magnified in Duncan's view, until at last, it almost presented a structure that could be called a “coastline.”

Following that, guiding lights and flags appeared on the “coastline,” accompanied by deep rumbles and the low growls of large steam valves venting pressure. Duncan watched as a portion of the edge of this very special “church ship” suddenly transformed, with a large structure extending from its bulwarks and reaching into the sea.

A dock appeared where the Homeloss could temporarily moor.

Duncan let go of the helm he had been holding.

Homeloss began to adjust its position and angle on its own. It closely “observed” the mechanical dock extending from the academy's ark for a moment, then finally approached the jetty unhurriedly.

For some reason, Duncan felt as if Homeloss's “actions” even conveyed a sense of… disapproval.

However, Duncan's attention was quickly diverted elsewhere.

He raised his head to look at the sky above the academy's ark.

Once again, he “saw” those hazy, tentacle-bearing, bizarre structures, like souls freed from their bodies. Enormous and indescribable spiritual bodies extended out from the ark, floating like mist above this giant ship, with countless appendages and ever-changing shadowy shapes at their edges!

Duncan stared intently at those “apparitions” that stretched out from the academy's ark.

When the Storm Cathedral visited the Plunder City-State previously, he had seen similar things!

At the time, he thought it was some sort of “power” of the Storm Goddess Gomona, worshiped by the Deep Sea Church, a symbol of the deep-sea's might, but now it looks like… the academy's ark also has this thing?!

Could it be that the other Church's arks also have it?

Is this thing a feature of the four arks? What on earth is it!

A wave of immense questions surged through Duncan's mind, and just then, from the corner of his eye, he saw shadows of people on the “jetty” connecting the Homeloss and the academy's ark.

He quickly pulled his mind together from the mess of thoughts and focused on the “visitors” who were coming down from the academy's ark.

There were four steam-powered walking machines–they escorted a small group of people onto the jetty and came to a halt midway between Homeloss and the ark, crouching low on either side of the jetty, while the party of people continued walking towards Homeloss. Among them were guards in the academy's Knowledge Defender uniforms, apprentices dressed as attendants, and leading these individuals was a short, plump old man in a scholar's robe.

Duncan recalled Morris's description of his own mentor.

That must be the leader of the Academy of Truth, the terrestrial spokesperson for the God of Wisdom Rahm, Morris's mentor–Rune.

The “Pope” himself had actually come out–bringing only a few attendants and walking directly toward the Homeloss?

With a thought, Duncan's figure turned into a stream of fire–that stream swept across the deck and fell straight down at the end of the jetty, reconstituting his form.

The group that had walked down from the academy's ark was clearly startled by the sudden appearance of fire but instinctively moved forward to protect Rune. However, he simply gestured dismissively and then revealed a slight smile to Duncan emerging from the flames.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Duncan Ebnomal,” the Elf elder greeted respectfully and gently nodded, “This is our first meeting.”

“I'm also very pleased to meet you,” Duncan replied with a polite nod.

But just as he was about to say some more, he suddenly noticed something unusual about the other person.

The body of this “Pope”… appeared to be faintly transparent!

Chapter end

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