The sky had grown gloomy at some point, with thick clouds that seemed to be solid covering the sky above the city. The slightly fishy and salty sea breeze blew through the streets, as if to fill people's bones with cold air.

Old Captain Lawrence walked out of the church door and shrank his neck in the cold wind. He looked up at the sky and began to mutter about the bad weather: "Damn it, my luck is terrible. I finally ended the observation period, but I have to walk for half an hour in this wind to go home..."

On the street of the church square, pedestrians are walking hurriedly, as if a rain is about to fall at any time. Everyone is worried about the clothes that have not been collected at home, or the windows that are not closed properly. The first thing the old captain thinks of is his bad-tempered wife - he has been "isolated and observed" in the church for many days, and he hasn't even sent a message in the meantime. Wouldn't he be scolded and even beaten up this time when he goes back?

Lawrence rubbed his arms and hands, sighed, and prepared to walk into the cold wind ahead, but just as he took two steps, he saw out of the corner of his eye that a church guard was running towards him hurriedly, and further away stood the young psychologist who was responsible for providing psychological counseling...I think her name was Heidi or Hailey.

"No way..." Lawrence muttered subconsciously, and then he saw the church guard coming to him. He first bowed politely, and then stretched out his hand seriously to block his way: "Sorry, Captain Lawrence, I just received an emergency notice. You can't leave for the time being."

"Isn't the observation period over?" Lawrence felt something the moment he saw the other party appear, but he couldn't help but frown at this time, "You have to have a suitable reason."

"I can't tell you the details, but..." The young church guard seemed a little embarrassed, but finally spoke in a businesslike manner, "It was a direct order from the Inquisitor. Things have changed. All ordinary people who have had contact with the Lost Homeland must continue to stay in the church."

Lawrence's mouth twitched. When he heard the word "Lost Homeland", he knew he had to obey the order, but he couldn't control his bad mood. The old captain frowned and said, "Okay, extension, I understand - but who can explain it to my wife? I'm..."

"Sorry to bother you," the old captain said before Heidi's voice came from the side, "Do you have any concerns?"

Lawrence turned his head and glanced at Heidi. During the days of quarantine in the church, he had also dealt with this young psychologist. He knew that although she looked young, she was indeed a reliable "expert" and had indeed helped him and the crew to relieve a lot of tension and resentment, so his expression eased a little: "I have been away from home for too long, and my wife is not a gentle person. I have to take a vacation after finishing the last shipping order. I can't spend the first half of the vacation in quarantine in the church and the second half of the vacation in ** to recover..."

"...Indeed, no one wants to encounter such a thing," Heidi sighed and said with empathy. Then she took out a potion sealed in a glass tube from her medicine box and handed it to the old captain, saying, "But things are complicated now. It's best to listen to the instructions of the cathedral first. Don't worry, someone will contact your family."

"What is this?" Lawrence took the medicine tube, looked at the medicine inside with some suspicion, and then looked at Heidi with suspicion - there were always some strange things in the medicine box of this psychiatrist, which made people nervous.

"Calm your nerves, soothe your nerves, and enhance your mental defenses to a certain extent," Heidi said casually, "to prepare for the next stage of quarantine observation."

"...Damn it, there's really no compromise..." Lawrence felt a toothache when he heard the "next stage of isolation". He then pulled out the stopper of the medicine tube, drank the salty and bitter medicine inside, and casually returned the glass tube to the psychiatrist.

The effect of the potion soon became apparent. The old captain shivered in the cold wind, his eyes changed a few times, then quickly calmed down and let out a long, complex sigh.

"Do you need me to take you back?" Heidi asked softly, observing the old captain's expression.

"...No, I know the way." Lawrence was a little depressed, but soon shook his head in relief. "Well, it's good to go back and chat with someone. After all, there are a few trainee monks who are quite interesting to talk to..."

He turned in the cold wind and walked alone towards the church gate, where two guards were already waiting, ready to take the old captain back to the place of quarantine and observation.

But just as he was about to walk through the door, Heidi's voice rang out: "Mr. Lawrence, as a psychiatrist, I still have to give you a serious suggestion - it's almost time to retire. The vast ocean is not good for your mental health."

Lawrence did not say anything, but just waved his hand from a distance to indicate that he had heard it, and then his figure slowly disappeared into the tall and majestic gate.

The only people left in the square were Heidi, who was carrying a medical kit, and a defender wearing a long black trench coat.

The guard looked at the old captain with a hint of respect in his eyes.

Then the guard turned around and looked at the psychiatrist beside him: "Ms. Heidi, do you know what happened?"

Heidi rolled her eyes. "You are from the church, and you don't know. How can I, an 'external editor consultant' sent by the city hall, know?"

"But you and your Excellency the Inquisitor..."

"She didn't tell me anything, and I haven't even seen her since yesterday." Heidi shook her head and looked at the Guardian warrior in front of her curiously. "But I heard that she suddenly issued a lot of investigation missions? This morning, a team of civilian priests even ran to the city hall to borrow files..."

"Yeah, a lot of investigation tasks," the Guardian sighed, "borrowing files, visiting communities, checking a lot of old accounts, and setting up checkpoints at the port to monitor twelve French fry sellers..."

Heidi: “……?”

"So now even we are guessing what happened," the guardian sighed, looking up at the gloomy sky, "Tsk, this damn weather."

※※※

Morris sat at his desk, his fingers gently stroking the rough edge of a thick book. His mind gradually calmed down until he could even hear his own heartbeat.

He lowered his head and slowly opened the "Book of Lachem" in front of him, skillfully opening the chapter on mental protection and wisdom discernment, and silently recited the teachings above in his heart.

After completing the most basic self-suggestion and mental reinforcement, he stood up, lit the candles and incense on the table next to him in order, and dripped extracted essential oils into three of the candle flames.

In the suddenly rising flames, he stared at the mirror in front of the altar, looking at his reflection in the mirror with a somewhat self-deprecating smile on his face.

"I'm really old... Fortunately, I can still perform the details of these rituals accurately."

The crackling of the candle flame gradually faded, and the smoke from the incense slowly condensed into a lingering cloud above the mirror, blocking the old man's sight, making it impossible for him to accurately see his own reflection in the mirror. At this point, the protection of the mind and the blessing from Lahm, the god of wisdom, became necessary.

"I have betrayed you for eleven years... and you are still willing to favor me." Morris sighed softly when he saw the ceremony was completed so smoothly, "Do you still have any expectations of me..."

The room was still quiet. The God of Wisdom certainly would not show up just like that, but Morris still listened attentively. He seemed to have heard the God's instructions in the silence. His expression gradually calmed down and he opened a drawer at hand.

A bracelet made of colorful stones lay quietly in the drawer. There were twelve stones in total.

Morris hesitated for a moment, then picked up the bracelet and put it on.

At this moment, he felt his mind become clear, as if a curtain that had covered him for many years was suddenly removed. Then he took another look at the layer of smoke still condensed in front of the mirror, and finally made up his mind, pushed the door and left the room.

Heidi was not at home, and the empty house seemed especially quiet.

The bedroom he and his wife shared was not far to the left; the door was ajar, and it was dim and silent inside.

Morris touched the stone bracelet on his wrist, not daring to look at the half-open door. Instead, he ran quickly through the corridor as if escaping, then through the living room, out of the door, started the car parked in the yard, and drove towards the downtown area.

At the same time, a white dove was flying quickly over the low and old buildings in the lower town.

Without anyone noticing, a white dove flew through the window on the second floor of Duncan's antique shop. A moment later, a cluster of green flames flashed behind the window.

Duncan walked out of the fire, glanced at the bad weather outside, and then looked at the clock hanging on the wall not far away - it would be a while before Nina came home from school.

He went to the first floor, opened the shop door, moved a chair, and sat at the door, staring at the street ahead with a calm expression, thinking quietly.