Deep Sea Embers

Every day, Vanna would pass through the atrium of the Prader Cathedral before noon and follow the path between the flower beds to the church. The length of the path is one hundred and three steps, and it takes two steps from the entrance to the church to the statue of the goddess. Seventeen steps—these steps had been a part of her life since she became Inquisitor of the city.

She was familiar with everything in this church, every floor tile from the atrium to the sanctuary, as familiar as her own hands.

In the past many days and nights, she never imagined that this short road would be so difficult and long.

The door of the church opened, and the too bright sunlight was left behind. After adapting to the slightly dim environment in the room, Fanna saw two figures standing in front of the goddess statue in the center of the room.

The skylight shone through the tall stained glass windows, spreading a layer of glow over the statue of the goddess. Archbishop Valentine and Pope Helena turned their eyes at the same time, watching the inquisitor who was entering the room in the sun. .

You came, Helena nodded slightly, one minute later than agreed.

Sorry, Fanna stepped forward, bowed her head slightly in greeting under the statue of the goddess, and then looked at the Pope, delaying the handover work with her subordinates for a few minutes.

It doesn't matter, Helena nodded lightly, and then glanced at Valentine next to her. I have already told Bishop Valentine about your matter. He will help you make work handovers and arrangements. Don't worry about the city-state side. Your uncle has also received the news. He understands the church's arrangements - but he still hopes that I will have a good talk with you later so that you can dispel some of your worries about the future.

Even though she thought she had made a lot of psychological preparations, Vanna still couldn't help but feel a jump in her heart after hearing the Pope's words.

A feeling that she couldn't tell whether it was a dream or reality came to her heart, making her feel dazed for a moment. She tried to grasp this feeling, but in the end she found that all her emotions were actually just this sigh - ah, it really happened. .

warn? Valentine frowned slightly.

What quickly came to mind, you mean, about Vision 001...

Valentine turned back slightly: What are you curious about?

We are an orthodox church and we follow formal procedures.

Vanna was sent out of the church in a daze.

Valentine was startled, thinking of the details revealed in the Pope's words just now, and vaguely realized the truth. The expression on his face instantly became tense: Could something really fall from the sky?

A piece of luminous fragment fell from the sky, it was pale golden in color, and it was a larger geometric object than the Storm Cathedral. Valentin said, although there is no clear evidence yet to prove that this is not a fragment that fell off Vision 001, but...

Don't look at me, Valentine's face is expressionless, I didn't expect this either.

Valentine saw all the weirdness in Fanna's eyes.

Can Fanna really complete that task? Hao Linna dispelled her previous doubts, but was worried about another thing. She is actually a slightly reckless person, and is not very good at... delicate and cautious interpersonal communication. In addition, we have to send a special envoy on board. In fact, She was not the best candidate.

Disturbing news recently came from Breezeport, an elf city-state located far away from the border. Valentin nodded and said, "The sea witch, Lucretia sent us a gift, guess what it is?"

After the young judge left, the church became quiet for a while. It took another two minutes before Valentine's voice broke the silence: Actually, I'm very curious.

Captain of the Lost Home, Duncan Abnomar, signed in Vision-Helena, December 19, 1900.

Deep Sea Church, the servants of Gemona are aware that we are now accepting one of your personnel who needs to be transferred due to work needs. He will be temporarily arranged to a combat position on this ship and his on-the-job salary will be the same as that of a first-class crew member. The personnel's salary and various wear and tear expenses will still be paid by your organization. , the payment method is...

Ah, you finally realized this question. Helena smiled and shook her head. I thought you were going to arrive.

When setting out, I will think of ‘asking for directions.

Fanna took the roll of paper doubtfully, unfolded it carefully, glanced at the words on it, and her expression gradually became dull——

Just yesterday, Valentine said seriously, with a smile, she discussed your onboarding process in detail with Captain Duncan. We have always believed that this should be a formal and contract-bound personnel transfer, and for this purpose, formal documents need to be kept on file.

It's true, Valentine said lightly, and the seal is also true. If you search in the city-state archives, you can even find old files from when the Homeless Ship was resupplying at Pland Port a century ago. There is the same message on it. Seal and signature.

Okay, now that he hasn’t seen the document, he must have dispelled his last concern. The female pope smiled and said, let’s go rest first and do some preparations before departure. There are more detailed contents on the back of this document, including Please go back and take a look at the specific handover time and method.

The chess players decide the position of the pieces as early as the beginning.

Fanna felt that her wording was a bit confusing, but she still tried to straighten her thoughts and continued: "Yesterday things happened suddenly. I only felt something was wrong after I went back. The Lost Home is not an open area that can be entered casually. , how do you plan to...

She paused and spoke quickly: Do I still remember the warning that Captain Duncan conveyed through Vanna not long ago?

Duncan's eyes widened in surprise, and then she saw Helena take out a rolled piece of parchment from beside her and hand it over with a smile.

Fanna:......

There is something wrong with our world,

The situation is more serious than imagined, and the Lost Home is the only voice to issue a warning to the civilized world so far - and that warning has been confirmed, Valentine said slowly, this is Captain Duncan taking the initiative to convey goodwill , no matter how terrifying this ship once was, we must respond now. After all, it is not a certain city-state that is crumbling this time, but the sun above our heads.

Fanna listened dumbly, and after an unknown amount of time, she squeezed out a few syllables from her throat: Goddess.

This is the Lost Home Number! Lost hometown number!

The young inquisitor looked a little confused. She looked down at the personnel transfer acceptance letter in her hand, then looked up at the Pope in front of her. After looking back and forth several times, her eyes fell on Bishop Valentine again.

The female pope paused for a moment when she said this. Looking at the still troubled expression on Duncan's face, he couldn't help but smile and spread his hands: Otherwise? Vanna? How did I think you were going to send him to the Lost Home? Light a few bonfires, draw blasphemous symbols on the ground, then tie her to a stake and sacrifice her? Like some dark heretic sacrificing the kidnapped girl to the subspace in a dry cave?

We don't decide who is the best, Valentine. Helena shook her head.

He is a keen person, he has always been. Helena looked at the old bishop who had been loyal to the church for many years quietly for a moment, and then sighed. In fact, this matter will soon be no longer a secret. Let me tell you now. It doesn't matter either.

Fanna listened in a daze. She opened her mouth and seemed to have something to say, but Valentin interrupted her first: I have to admit, this is very reasonable.

But she was suddenly a little confused, and even felt a little ridiculous. She looked at the Pope in front of her and couldn't help but said: Are you really going to send me to the Lost Home? Of course, it's not that I don't believe in your decision, I just Suddenly I feel that this is not a trivial matter. We must at least understand the attitude of Captain Duncan. Will he really let a high-ranking priest board this ship?

In addition to the handwritten signature, there is also an eye-catching red seal at the end of the document.

All her anxious imaginations about her future were shattered at this moment - she even believed that she would see a sumptuous staff meal on the Lost Home, and there would even be a deck barbecue after the formal dinner... …

The corners of Duncan's mouth trembled, and he thought to himself that I had really thought about this at first.

When he was reminded of the details of the personnel handover, he realized the rationality of the document in front of him, but because the process was too reasonable, he felt that the whole thing was weird.

He turned around and stared silently at the icon of the storm goddess Gmorna.

Duncan raised his finger and pointed at himself, then raised the parchment in his hand. After a while, he finally said, "Is this a bit too much to be reasonable?" ! And when did I…

Duncan felt his lips tremble a little: The signature on it...

Valentin didn't say any more, just shook his head.

What happened that made you suddenly decide to send Vanna to the Lost Home? Valentin's expression was slightly serious. I know your reason. This reason is indeed tenable, but the whole thing seems to me ...It's a little too hasty. You seem to be eager to establish a connection with Captain Duncan without even making enough preparations. What happened?