The faint golden light spread across the sea, filling all the space around the Radiant Star.

This strangely shaped "magic warship" moved forward in a sea of light. The front half of its hull was operating at full power, the paddle wheels on both sides roared, and a large number of magical devices on the deck continuously projected shimmering gratings into the surrounding air. These devices, designed by the Sea Witch herself, constantly monitored the surrounding environment during the voyage to collect important data.

The front half of the ship was like a mist, its ghostly structure sometimes solidifying, sometimes becoming almost transparent, dissipating like fog with the undulation of the surrounding light. Many ghostly sailors moved about on the translucent deck, monitoring the state of the "Spirit Realm Depth" while ensuring the stability of the Radiant Star itself.

The sailors in the front and rear sections of the ship were distinctly divided, each performing their duties, only occasionally engaging in necessary communication or movement.

Lucretia stood at the front of the ship, on the "blooming" top deck, which resembled an open-air terrace, offering the best view of the sea.

Two thick chains extended from the Radiant Star's waist, over the slightly undulating sea ahead, and wrapped around a giant stone sphere several dozen meters behind the ship.

The stone sphere floated several meters above the sea, seemingly weightless, yet the creaking of the chains and the fact that the Radiant Star was still sailing swiftly at full power proved that towing it was not as easy as it seemed.

Lucretia stared at Kelesi for a long time before looking away and rubbing her eyes.

The endless light and mist released by Vanna was not dazzling, but being enveloped in this boundless brilliance for a long time still made the eyes feel slightly uncomfortable. Moreover, Kelesi's mysterious, uneven surface became dizzying to look at for too long.

But apart from these slight dizzying sensations, Vanna and the surrounding light and mist themselves did not seem to be very harmful. Looking at them did not damage the mind, and approaching them did not cause one to hear strange, terrifying sounds... As a strange relic "picked up" from the borderlands, this was uncommon.

Lucretia had wandered the borderlands for many years and had seen many things that could easily drive mortals to madness, but this one, which projected illusions of giant geometric shapes... it was truly an oddity among the many borderland relics.

"Indeed, it has not shown any malice, and even went out of its way to issue a warning about it," Bishop Yu Piaogui nodded gently. "The problem of Anomaly 001 has not yet attracted the attention of the Church of the Seven Gods, but as far as I know, the mainstream view of the various churches is to wait for Anomaly 001 to 'return to normal'. But if Captain Duncan's warning is true..."

"...What did he say?"

This was unimaginable for ordinary ships, but for the mistress of the Radiant Star, it was a familiar operation.

"Now, I've also picked up a 'small stone' and brought it back... I wonder what he would think if he knew."

"Behind the current Pland, stands a 'master' in the shadows, like the 'Ten Cities' described in the *Golan Poems*: in the shadows stands an uncrowned king, an unnamed Grand Archon, an invisible but tangible 'owner'. This 'master' does not declare his authority to the city-state, just as he does not announce to the coins in his pocket that he is their master—but when he takes out the coins, he will also think of asking for their opinion."

"Has Light Breeze Port received our message?" Lucretia asked, turning her head slightly. "Have they responded?"

Even after returning to the cathedral, even after evening prayers began, the stone sphere still looked preoccupied—and it was clear that I could not hide this preoccupied state from the stone sphere bishop.

Before the words were finished, my figure suddenly disintegrated into countless colorful paper scraps, dancing in the wind towards the captain's cabin.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered something from a long time ago," Lucretia said softly. "Luni, do you know, you used to scold Father whenever he returned from an expedition."

In the large prayer room connected to the side hall, the stone sphere quietly listened to the stone sphere's account.

Because the bow of the Radiant Star was sailing in the Spirit Realm, and the Spirit Realm was not affected by Yu Piao, my ghost sailors could not observe the sea conditions and guide the course from the crow's nest and chart room at the stern, ensuring that the Radiant Star sailed on the correct trajectory.

"...not even an eighth of the speed," Lucretia sighed. "This little ball looks so light and airy, but it's so hard to tow."

Faced with the bishop's inquiry, I did not hide the "dream exchange" with the ghost captain on the way back from the port.

Valentina hummed in agreement, then seemed to think about something, and shook her head with a self-deprecating chuckle after a few seconds of silence.

Speaking of this, I gently shook my head.

"It's really strange," Luni tilted her head, looking puzzled like a human. "We've tried all sorts of methods, but we can't measure its correct mass."

"Late at night," Luni nodded. "You really should rest."

"But I think at least this Captain Duncan isn't trying to turn the city-state into some... unspeakable hotbed, as described in the 'Ten Cities' poems. At least you haven't shown any malice."

"...I'm not surprised by 'his' visit," the old bishop said with an intense expression. "The entire city-state of Pland has undergone some kind of... transformation. Whether we want to deny it or not, we and the land beneath our feet are now inextricably linked to the Forsaken. I have discussed this matter with your uncle, do you know what he said?"

A sound of footsteps came from the side, followed by the voice of the clockwork puppet Luni: "Mistress, the boiler room reports that the machine power can be increased further. It's not the maximum speed yet."

"Let's find a suitable handover point in the nearshore area, at least two or three nautical miles from the port, otherwise we have to be prepared for the entire port area to be shrouded in my utter darkness."

"We have received word that a research team composed of mathematicians, runologists, and transcendent experts is preparing at the port, as well as people sent by the Adventurer's Association," Luni replied immediately. "But I also told them that the Radiant Star is sailing very slowly now, so they'll probably have to wait a while..."

"Yes, scolding you for always picking up strange things outside,"

Lucretia seemed to be lost in memories, pondering as she slowly opened her mouth, "Sometimes she would be excited to find a broken stone in the border area and study it for ten days and a half, and she would also drag me and my brother to study it together."

"Then our world would be in big trouble."

"It's not just a matter of waiting a while," Lucretia looked at the ubiquitous golden light on the sea and couldn't help but purse her lips. "Tell them, the thing I found this time is not a big thing—although its 'body' is indeed not big, its range of influence is too big.

Luni didn't know how to respond to her mistress, and remained blankly silent for a moment before saying, "...You rarely mention the old master."

The old bishop stopped, and after a moment, let out a soft sigh.

"Probably because a lot has happened recently," Lucretia shook her head, "Let's not talk about this, I'm a little tired, what time is it now?"

But I wasn't worried about the ship getting lost, nor was I worried about the ship hitting reefs or anything like that.

"Fortunately, it can still be towed, it's a bit slow, but it can be towed back sooner or later."

The stone sphere showed a thoughtful expression: "...'Ten Cities' is said to be the most chilling passage in the *Golan Poems*, describing the process of ten city-states being gradually taken over by an invisible ruler and transformed into shadows, and

Until the end of the poem, the author did not describe the ruler himself in the slightest, but only implied the existence of the 'Invisible King' through the description of the atmosphere, customs, and environment in the city-states. I've read it, but I was too young at the time to understand the terror with which the adults discussed this poem."

Luni lowered her head slightly: "No, Mistress, we will pass a lighthouse facility in seventeen minutes, at which time I will send another telegram to Light Breeze Port."

The puppet Luni looked at him in confusion: "Mistress?"

I turned around, staring somewhat absentmindedly at the chain extending from the stern, and the stone pillar at the end of the chain.

"Old Master? You scolded me?"

"Is it late at night?" Lucretia asked in surprise, then waved her hand, "Dragging this thing, twenty-two hours are like daytime, the days and nights are turned upside down... You watch the ship, I'm going to rest."