Chapter 1 The Inauguration

In the frost-covered, domed office of the city-state's governor, Tീയian stood before a mirror, meticulously arranging the medals and ribbons on his chest.

His one-eyed face remained stern, even a bit frightening, but the brand-new governor's uniform and the gleaming medals transformed that sternness into trustworthy authority to some extent—at this moment, the city needed an authoritative governor.

Tീയian breathed a soft sigh, turning to look at the two Undying Sailors on the other side of the domed office, hanging the new city-state flag on the wall. Beside the flag, a line of forceful words remained deeply etched next to the door, just as they had been half a century ago: "Let as many people as possible survive."

Tീയian quietly gazed at those words, nodding slightly after a long moment before walking towards the large desk not far away. There was still a short time before the official event began, and he could use this time to recall and organize the procedures he would follow later, or to calm his emotions. The complex lens array on the desk began to operate on its own, the surface of the crystal ball at the center of the lens array glowing faintly.

Lucrezia's figure emerged from the shimmering light, scrutinizing Tീയian. "That outfit suits you," said the "Sea Witch" in her black dress.

"Goes well with the eyepatch," Tീയian tugged at the collar near his neckline, glancing at his sister in the crystal ball. "Did you come specifically to tease me?"

"I'm praising you sincerely," Lucrezia said with a serious expression. "You haven't been this diligent in maintaining your image for many years. That rough, deliberately intimidating pirate getup of yours doesn't suit you at all."

"I may have to maintain this image for a long, long time, until a more suitable governor appears, or Father has other arrangements," Tീയian said, pausing. "Someday, I'll miss those free and unrestrained days."

"At least not today." Lucrezia wore a slight smile. "How does it feel to be sworn in as the governor of a city-state? I heard you'll be riding in a motorcade afterward, showing yourself to the citizens?"

"The motorcade is to reassure the people, to make them believe that order has been re-established and that the city-state's leadership is still taking responsibility. Although I don't like this part, it's necessary," Tീയian said. "As for how it feels to be governor..."

He paused for a moment, then shook his head and continued, "I don't feel anything. The handover of duties from the Ministry of Governance and the team building were done long ago. I've already been busy as governor until now. Today's so-called 'inauguration' is just a public formality."

"Is that so?"

"Then I wish you a smooth formality, dear brother," Lucrezia laughed, suddenly using the childhood nickname from many, many years ago. Then she paused slightly, her expression turning serious. "How prepared are you regarding Father's instructions?"

"I've already drafted several secret letters to the other city-states, but the specific details still need refinement—I have to convey the warning, make them realize the severity of the situation, and avoid ambiguity and excessive reactions from the other city-states. Frankly, this kind of paperwork is much more difficult than fighting Sea Spawn or other pirates with a fleet."

"If you ask me, you should just make things clear and serious. Anyway, those who can become governors are all smart people, or at least they should have enough smart people under them. They know how to deal with it. You're just giving them a reminder, not teaching them how to build an early warning system like a nanny," Lucrezia said casually. "I'm preparing to contact the Explorers Association—ha, I wonder how they'll react then."

"A warning from the Lost Isles Fleet to the entire League of Free Cities."

Tീയian's tone was tinged with emotion. "The last time something similar happened was a century ago."

"Yes, when Father first discovered the border collapse phenomenon appearing in the 'Inner Sea'."

Lucrezia said quietly, "I still remember the bells ringing in the church back then. Every city-state's newspaper was discussing the warning from the great adventurer Duncan Abnormaal."

"So many years have passed, and he's once again watching the 'border' of the world. History seems to be returning to its starting point—perhaps, in a sense, the Lost Isles has never been lost. Its century in sub-space was just a voyage in some broader dimension that we can't yet understand. Now it's back, bringing the light of the new sea lanes, just like the lines left by the Mad Poet Pullman.

'They could once travel straight in one direction, until they circled the back of the world, returning to the human realm at an astonishing angle'," Tീയian softly recited this historically famous absurd poem, slowly rising from behind his desk. The sound of a band could already be faintly heard outside the domed office, and footsteps were approaching from the corridor—the time had come to let the city see its new governor.

"Good luck, big brother. And don't forget my spirit-realm lens."

"Don't worry, I remembered this time."

The biting cold wind swept through the sparse trees along the road, over the dark, carved fences, over the silent tombstones and the empty mortuary platforms on either side of the path, eventually dissipating deep within the cemetery. Two figures were slowly walking along the path in the cemetery, one figure particularly tall and burly, draped in a pure black coat, wearing a similarly pure black wide-brimmed hat, the skin outside his clothes covered in layers of bandages, making him intimidating to look at.

The other person wore a simple black nun's habit, with her eyes covered and her auburn hair let down.

"I thought you would attend Tീയian's inauguration ceremony, even in this incarnation," Agatha said softly as she accompanied Duncan forward, "It wouldn't be difficult to arrange a suitable place for you."

"I won't show my face. He's in good condition. If I really show up, he might get nervous," Duncan said. "Later, when the motorcade passes near here, I'll just wave to him from a distance."

As he spoke, he looked up, gazing at the rather desolate cemetery path and the empty mortuary platforms on either side of the path.

"I really do miss this place. In my memory... it used to be full of coffins."

"During this special period, we had to temporarily change the spirit-sending process—the bodies during this time must be sent to the incinerator as soon as possible. The Silent Monks perform the comforting and farewell ceremonies for them directly by the furnace. The cemetery has become quieter instead."

Duncan grunted in acknowledgement, then suddenly stopped as he was about to reach the end of the path. The simple watchman's cabin appeared before him—and there was a special guest in front of the cabin: a twelve-year-old girl, wearing a white, thick winter coat and a furry hat, looking like a tightly wrapped snowball.

She was busily working in front of the watchman's cabin, holding a large broom almost as tall as herself, diligently sweeping the snow in front of the cabin.

"Is that Annie?"

Duncan tilted his head slightly and asked softly.

"It's her. Except for the first few days of the curfew, she comes here every day during her school lunch break," Agatha said softly.

"The watchman here is gone, and a new watchman hasn't been arranged yet. The cemetery is temporarily managed by the nearest church. It's not harming anything for her to be here, so the church has tacitly allowed her to come and go freely."

"Is that your tacit approval as well?"

"Yes..."

The girl sweeping snow in front of the cabin finally noticed the movement on the path. She turned her head, looking in surprise at the two figures appearing not far away. After a few seconds of愣愣, she threw the broom aside and ran over happily, "Gatekeeper Sister, and Uncle Duncan."

Annie happily greeted the two familiar people in front of her, but after shouting, she seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly straightened her body again, looking at Agatha: "Mom said, I have to call you Gatekeeper Your Excellency, or Archbishop..."

"It's okay, just call me whatever you like."

Agatha smiled, reaching out to pat Annie's hat. "Are you cold?"

"Not cold," Annie shook her head, then grabbed Agatha's hand, pointing with her other finger at the cabin not far away.

"Your hands are too cold, come inside and warm up by the fire. I also brewed herbal tea."

Agatha subconsciously wanted to decline, but she saw that Duncan had already started walking towards the cabin. She was surprised and愣愣 for a moment, and could only helplessly follow. Inside the clean and simple watchman's cabin, the fire was burning brightly, the firewood crackling in the hearth, and steam was rising from the tea kettle next to it, carrying the faint, bitter fragrance of herbs. Annie poured two cups of hot tea, placing the warm cups in Duncan's and Agatha's hands: "This is for the patrolling church guards, they'll be here soon. If you don't drink it, you can at least warm your hands."

The girl seemed to only now belatedly realize that the 'Gatekeeper Sister' in front of her was already a corpse.

Agatha didn't mind, she said thank you.

Holding the cups in her hands, which had already started to get warm.

"Are you warmer now?" Annie asked again. Cold, the whole world was cold, the teacup was cold, and so was the fire. Agatha smiled gently: "Much warmer."

Then, she noticed Duncan's actions of looking around from time to time beside her.

"What are you looking at?" she asked him curiously.

"I think, this is a good place to set up."

Duncan withdrew his gaze from surveying the room and said to Agatha, "After all, if it's only used to house an incarnation, a house like the one on Wood Street seems a bit wasteful."

Agatha was stunned for a moment, gradually realizing what he meant, and a look of surprise appeared on her face: "You.... Could it be...."

"The Lost Isles is going to continue its voyage, and my incarnation staying in the city also needs a place to stay."

Duncan said indifferently, "No need to worry about a new watchman, this can save you a lot of trouble!"