Chapter 1 General Belozov Arrives at the Secret Chamber

The moment the burly, gray-haired military man stepped into the massive structure—a mix of solid reinforced concrete and colossal stone foundations—he sensed an atmosphere of solemnity, gravity, and bizarre unease. This atmosphere emanated from the rune reliefs visible everywhere within the building and from the rows of closed doors along the corridors.

The ubiquitous runes were part of the building's security measures, designed to resist external supernatural intrusions and prevent unwanted visitors from entering. Behind those closed doors lay deep passageways, leading to chambers that might contain sealed anomalous objects, dangerous sample repositories, temporarily insane researchers, or forbidden but indestructible ancient scrolls.

Walking inside this building felt like traversing the narrow space between the real world and the abyss of madness, like standing on an invisible defensive line, peering into another treacherous world. Even ordinary people without supernatural powers or spiritual talent might feel their nerves tighten and their hair stand on end.

"...Are the security measures here really enough to guarantee that 'that thing' won't cause any problems?"

General Belozov followed a military scholar who was leading the way, and couldn't help but ask as they passed a pitch-black alloy door.

"The 'Secret Chamber' facility is the most secure building on Dagger Island. All the rooms here have independent security and supernatural barriers. Every item with a danger level above three has a direct connection to the furnace. Even without considering the various supernatural barriers, the building's structural strength alone can withstand a full-force attack from a Saint-level enemy," the scholar said with a proud tone. "Unless some ancient god extends their power here, this place is foolproof."

The scholar paused, then continued, "That being said, although 'that thing' is bizarre in every way, it's actually far more... 'stable' than we initially imagined. You could even say it's well-behaved."

"Stable? Well-behaved?" General Belozov frowned, instinctively questioning.

"Yes, although it's not entirely accurate to say so," the scholar nodded. "That thing has been hanging in the center of the Secret Chamber for many days. Typically, such bizarre things would show some 'living' characteristics, influencing the surrounding environment in various ways, but it has never shown any such behavior. It doesn't release any substances, doesn't emanate any power, and doesn't exhibit any characteristics beyond the dimensions of reality—although the samples scraped from it have some strange physical properties, they're limited to physical properties. Compared to most safe items of the same level, it's as docile as a rock."

A sound like the wriggling limbs of some mollusk came from inside the blue coat.

The general didn't comment on this, but looked up at the end of the corridor.

For the first time, the biggest pirate boss in the frigid sea was conflicted about "going out" for so long.

Why was his father's envoy making such a racket?

"Captain, can you please stop looking and get this bird off my head…" Aiden's voice trembled slightly, "This fire keeps falling on me."

"It doesn't matter, I don't really care about these rules myself," the general said, frowning slightly. "Is it my imagination? There seems to be a strange smell in here—I've smelled it since I came in. It smells like some kind of... aquatic creature."

A researcher in a blue coat came from the opposite direction, passing by in a hurry. He nodded respectfully to the general as he passed, without slowing his pace.

Tirion did one last check of his coat and hair, then left the dressing mirror and went to a nearby shelf, looking at the items displayed there.

"I mean, you'd better hurry," Aiden's voice rang out again, this time with obvious relief. "For the Queen's sake… the envoy is coming down!"

Just then, First Mate Aiden's voice suddenly came from outside the door, interrupting Tirion's thoughts: "Captain, are you ready?"

This was where he spent his childhood, where most of his memories resided. The parts of his life that he did not wish to recall and confront were also here. After a century of absence, he suddenly found that he couldn't imagine what he would be like when he stepped onto that ship.

Tirion blinked hard, finally bringing his vision into focus and seeing the face of the person before him.

And on the chest of this skeletal bird, a copper compass was floating in mid-air—his father's possession.

Professor Myerson stood at the door.

But he found that Aiden was about to faint.

But it wasn't his father—compared to his father, this figure seemed too slender. It looked more like a woman.

Somewhat familiar.

It seemed that a very tall figure was standing in front of him.

The amulet didn't have any real effect, but wearing it might provide some psychological comfort, but he didn't know his father's attitude towards the "gods" now. Would he like it? Or would he disdain it?

His loyal first mate was standing there stiffly, with a terrifying skeletal bird enveloped in green flames standing on Aiden's bald head. The skeletal bird was splattering with flames, and sparks of spiritual fire kept falling, occasionally landing on Aiden.

Finally, he sighed and said to Tirion, "Captain Tirion, I know you have many ques..."

Then he began to wonder what those strange words that the weird bird suddenly blurted out meant. After thinking for a long time, he couldn't figure it out.

The next second, he felt dizzy, as if all his senses were being shuffled and reorganized. Then, he felt as if he had been thrown into the sky, he didn't know how high—he traveled in darkness and heat, he didn't know how long, or maybe it was only a moment, this strange dizziness and feeling of separation suddenly disappeared without a trace.

The skeletal bird tilted its head, as if carefully observing Tirion, then suddenly opened its mouth and made a strangely toned female voice: "Go to Chenghua Avenue, walk to Wuxian Bridge… Get on the bus! There are seats, big seats! Everyone move back… Peanuts, drinks, mineral water!"

Before he finished speaking, he saw the giant bird suddenly stomp on Aiden's head and rise into the air, then dive down from the sky. With a flash of ghostly green flames filling his vision, Tirion only heard a strange cry beside his ear: "Your dad's here!"

Tirion was startled by this string of sounds. The first thought in his mind was—

He was going to the *Shi Xiang* (*Lost Home*)! He was going back to the *Shi Xiang*!

He had been firm for a long time about what to bring with him.

"The ventilation system in a building in Dagger Island's bay is directly connected to the outside, so it's normal to have this smell. Plus the strange smell from the disinfectant and settling tank, it's normal for you to smell anything," the leading scholar said with a sigh. "Actually, we've always wanted to apply for funding to repair the ventilation pipes inside, but the superiors' response is always that it's good enough as it is."

"The people here are all in a hurry," General Belozov said casually.

Weapons seemed to be useless. He couldn't rely on a sword or a gun to protect himself on the *Shi Xiang*. Moreover, he was being invited to the *Shi Xiang* as a "guest." Bringing weapons would not only seem insincere but might also anger his father.

Aiden's voice continued to ring out: "Captain, if you don't open the door soon, I'm going to… Ah, thank God, you finally opened the door!"

"Yes, it's always like that in the Secret Chamber—our work is not limited to analyzing this diving bell, but also monitoring other things outside the facility," the leading scholar shrugged. "Please don't mind everyone's rudeness."

The envoy had arrived.

The biggest pirate boss in the Frigid Sea was deeply shocked.

"...That's an interesting situation. I'll report it to the City-State Magistrate," General Belozov said casually.

Tirion was stunned. Only then did he realize the strangeness in Aiden's tone. He hurried to the door and opened it.

Should he bring his sword? Should he bring his gun? Should he bring his amulet?

Tirion frowned and shouted at the door, "Almost ready, stop rushing me."

Normal 022, Spirit Realm Compass.

"Let's go," Tirion shook his head, forcibly throwing the messy thoughts out of his mind. He no longer considered how to face his father after arriving at the *Shi Xiang*. With the mentality of leaving everything to improvisation, he looked at the strange skeletal bird. "Let's go..."

The feeling of being on solid ground reappeared, the darkness and weightlessness disappeared, and the sunlight shone on him again through the mist. As his familiar five senses returned, Tirion saw the scene in front of him gradually become clearer from the shaking.

"He brought Prand up?!"

Before Vanna could speak, Tirion instantly took half a step forward, staring dumbfounded at the Inquisitor.

Vanna looked at the pirate boss in front of her with a strange expression, then awkwardly turned her head to look at the few figures not far away who were waiting to watch the show.