Morris left with a strange look, clutching a century-old cannonball.

Duncan stood behind the counter, watching the old gentleman's retreating figure, a smile on his face.

"...You really gave Mr. Morris the cannonball," Alice muttered beside him.

"Really gave Teacher Morris the cannonball..." Nina echoed.

"I don't like cannonballs," Alice said softly, "I especially don't like them."

Nina asked curiously, "Why?"

Alice said seriously, "Because the captain once gave me eight cannonballs..."

"Stop mumbling," Duncan's voice suddenly came from the side. He glanced helplessly at Alice, who was full of resentment, and Nina next to her, who was clearly intrigued. "Where did Shirley go?"

"She said she was dizzy and brain-dead from reciting the alphabet, and wanted to go out and breathe some fresh air," Nina stuck out her tongue, "but I bet she's already run to the next block."

"As expected," Duncan sighed. "With Shirley's education and personal cultivation, it's already amazing that she can refrain from swearing in front of me every day..."

"A small accident, a small accident." Tilian quickly waved his hand, thinking that it was fortunate that he had recovered after another day. If the Inquisitor had seen him yesterday, he really wouldn't know how to explain his head, which had grown a whole size bigger.

Someone knocked on the door. "If you like it, then that's good," Vanna nodded with a smile, then raised her head with some curiosity, looking at the towering hull of the Deep Sea Embers and the main gun turrets that could be seen from the side. "Although I've heard of it, it's still incredible to see it with my own eyes... This ship actually 'healed' itself like that, even the main guns that were completely obliterated have grown back?"

This warship, which had been severely damaged by the Forsaken, had recovered for the most part after only a few days of "self-cultivation." The many wounds and cracks on its armor belt and deck were now completely healed, and there was no trace of damage. The undead sailors were busy going back and forth between the gangplank and the warship, carrying the supplies and parting gifts generously provided by Morris.

He was indeed tired. He hadn't had a good rest for many days.

But this time seemed different from before. This time... he didn't see that terrifying ghost captain.

Then, as if to prevent further embarrassment, he quickly changed the subject: "Our days as guests at Morris's place were very pleasant, and thank you for the gifts."

Vanna stood on the pier, watching the warship gradually turn into an inconspicuous black shadow on the sea before gently exhaling and turning to board the white steam car that had been waiting for a long time.

Vanna suddenly stood up, then arched her body slightly like a fierce beast preparing for battle, guarding against everything around her.

The road was bustling with pedestrians, and the citizens were busy living their lives. Nothing unusual happened in the upper city today—the brief malfunction of Anomaly 001, the almost invisible damage to the solar rune ring, the forgotten deep-sea operation in the far north, a mysterious symbol left by the ancient Cretan kingdom... all of this seemed very far away from this sunny neighborhood.

Tilian looked back at his warship, his gaze falling on the eight new main guns that were obviously newly restored, which now seemed to be slightly smaller than the other main guns. His face was full of pride as he smiled: "The Deep Sea Embers knows what it should look like. It always tends to put itself in the best condition—but these guns can't be used very much right now. They're still small and need a few more days to grow before they can fire fully loaded standard caliber shells like the other main guns."

Then he looked away and looked at the familiar room again. The shimmering light shattered like quicksilver.

Vanna suddenly opened her eyes. "Things keep happening one after another. The paperwork is much more tiring than fighting heretics with a greatsword," Vanna moved her shoulders and neck, leaning back in the back seat in an ungraceful manner. "And recently, I've been suffering from insomnia."

After sending off the Deep Sea Embers, this uninvited "guest," she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Actually, she originally..."

"...She originally thought she would stay here for a long time—but something happened," Tilian rubbed his forehead gently, "Something in the north. I have to go back and take care of it."

He found himself in a familiar room.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a long time, he whispered to himself, as if muttering to himself, "Tilian is indeed going to delay his return..."

"Yes." The subordinate driving the car raised his head,

Looking at the Inquisitor's tired face through the rearview mirror: "You seem very tired?"

The steam core emitted a low vibration and hum, and the gears and connecting rods ran smoothly. The subordinate listened to his superior's complaints, and a smile appeared on his face: "But at least the city-state has been peaceful recently—no heretics, no monsters, no unlucky guys trapped in the night. The night watchmen haven't encountered any distortions in the night for several days... There's always sunshine after the storm, isn't there?"

"...Of course, it's a good thing," Vanna said softly, then adjusted her posture in the seat,

Closing her eyes, "Wake me up at the cathedral when we arrive."

Was this the warm sun?

At least before the Storm Cathedral arrived in Morris to receive His Holiness the Pope, I should be able to rest for a few days.

The next second, she saw the window not far away—the window was open. Although it was still daytime when she fell asleep, the scenery outside the window was now night, and the cold night wind blew into the room through the window. Clear and bright moonlight filled the windowsill, and in the moonlight, one could vaguely see the undulating sea in the distance, and the shimmering light on the sea.

This seemed like just an excuse, but Jiang Rou wasn't interested in probing the parts that others didn't want to talk about. She just sized up Tilian with some concern, her brow furrowing slightly: "Excuse me for being presumptuous... Captain, is your face swollen?"

Vanna's gaze involuntarily fell outside the window. Then, she seemed to suddenly notice something and rushed to the window, looking up at the sky outside.

The short Jiang Rou came to the pier to personally see off the captain of the Deep Sea Embers.

Where did the World Scar go?

Jiang Rou thought so, but as if in response to her thought, the next second, she suddenly felt an aura approaching.

Something... she couldn't understand appeared here.

With a sigh, he turned his head to look out the window. Through the clear window, the ordinary and peaceful street scene of Pland came into view.

This was a luminous circular object that looked like the main body in the middle of the sun, but it was neither dazzling nor scorching hot. Instead, it hung quietly in the sky like a luminous disc with a cool air,

And on its surface, some textures could be vaguely seen--the entire luminous body seemed to exude a wonderful aura of peace and tranquility.

"Isn't this a good thing?"

Inside was the undulating sea, beside her was the familiar room, and outside the window was a strange sky, a strange celestial body... Considering her experiences these days, the answer didn't seem difficult to guess.

"We didn't expect you to leave so soon," Vanna said, "The Grand Bishop was prepared for the Deep Sea Embers to stay for at least two weeks."

Vanna listened to her subordinate's sigh and said slowly after a while, "Indeed, the nights have been quieter recently than ever before. Even in the lower city and sewers, which are most often shrouded in darkness, there is no more noise."

Fortunately, however, I am not a person who dwells on those details.

Vanna was stunned. She always felt that the smile on the other person's face when looking at the main guns of her ship and the tone of voice they used seemed wrong somehow, but she couldn't tell what was wrong...

The city-state's order had not yet fully recovered, and all the follow-up work was proceeding in an orderly manner, and the paperwork was completed. There were no problems with the report to the Grand Cathedral and the various contacts with the city hall—and behind this "everything is going smoothly" was the fatigue of the past few days.

Everywhere she looked, there were classic and exquisite furnishings. Ornate tapestries in the style of the last century hung on the walls, and dark-colored shelves and wine cabinets were placed in the corners. The center of the room was covered with a thick woven carpet, and on the carpet was a carved coffee table and a high-backed chair, and at this moment, she was sitting in one of the high-backed chairs.

"Knock knock knock."

A gentle night breeze suddenly blew across her cheeks, carrying a cool and fresh scent. Along with it, she heard the sound of waves hitting the hull.

Vanna stared blankly at this strange luminous body. At that moment, she felt that her thoughts seemed to fall into a state of tranquility along with this clear light. This state of blankness lasted for an unknown amount of time before she nimbly thought—what is this?

And where is this place?

While her subordinate was responding, Vanna felt herself entering a drowsy, light sleep. The mechanical operation of the car and the sounds outside the window were gradually fading away.

In the southeastern port of the city-state, the huge steel warship Deep Sea Embers was ready for departure.

At 8:40 a.m., accompanied by a melodious whistle, the towering steel warship slowly accelerated, leaving the city-state.