The diffused light golden glow enveloped the entire sea surface and filled all the space around the Brilliant Star.

This "magic battleship" with a strange shape was moving forward in a shroud of light. The front half of the ship was running at full power, the paddle wheels on both sides of the ship were rumbling, and a large number of magic mechanisms on the deck were constantly projecting flashing gratings into the surrounding air. The devices designed by the "Sea Witch" were constantly detecting the surrounding environment during the voyage to collect important data.

The back half of the ship was foggy and illusory, like a ghost ship. The illusory structure sometimes condensed and sometimes became almost transparent, and dissipated like fog as the surrounding light fluctuated. Many ghostly sailors were moving on the translucent deck, monitoring the status of the "depth of the spirit world" while ensuring the stability of the Brilliant Star itself.

The sailors at the front and rear of the ship were clearly divided and each performed their own duties, only communicating or moving around occasionally when necessary.

Lucrecia stood at the front of the ship, on the top deck which was in a "blooming" state. It was like a large open terrace with the best view of the entire ship, allowing her to clearly see the situation on the sea.

Two thick chains extended from the waist of the Brilliant Star, crossed the slightly undulating sea surface behind, and wrapped around a huge stone ball several dozen meters away from the stern.

The stone ball floated several meters above the sea, seemingly weightless. However, the occasional creaking of the chain and the fact that the Brilliant Star was sailing slowly even at full power proved that towing this thing was not as easy as imagined.

Lucrecia looked at the stone ball for a long time before she looked away and rubbed her eyes.

The endless light mist released around the stone ball is not actually dazzling, but being shrouded by this boundless light for a long time will still make the eyes feel a little uncomfortable, and the mysterious concave and convex patterns on the surface of the stone ball will make people dazzled if they look at it for a long time.

Apart from these slightly dizzying feelings, the stone balls and the surrounding light fog themselves do not seem to be more harmful. Staring at them will not cause mental damage, and no strange and terrifying sounds will be heard when approaching... As a strange relic "picked up" from the border, this is not common.

Lucrecia has been traveling in the border for many years and has seen many dangerous things that can easily drive mortals crazy. However, this stone ball that can project a huge geometric illusion... is truly the safest anomaly among the many border relics.

A sound of footsteps came from the side, and the voice of the clockwork puppet Luni sounded: "Madam, there is a report from the boiler room. The power of the machine can no longer be increased. It is now at the maximum speed."

"...It's less than one-third of the normal speed," Lucrecia sighed. "This big ball looks so light and fluttery, but it's so hard to drag it."

"It's really weird," Luni tilted her head, looking confused like a human. "We tried every possible way, but we couldn't measure its exact mass."

"At least we can still drag it. It may be slow, but we will be able to drag it back sooner or later."

As Lucrecia spoke, she turned her head to look in the direction of the bow - due to the limited length of the chain, the Brilliant Star was now sailing inside the "giant geometric body" projected by the stone ball, and all that could be seen outside the bow was endless glow, and the normal sea surface could not be seen at all.

But she was not worried that the ship would get lost or hit anything like islands or reefs.

Because the stern section of the Brilliant Star was sailing in the spirit world, which was not affected by the stone ball, her ghost sailors could observe the sea conditions and guide the route in the lookout tower and chart room at the stern to ensure that the Brilliant Star was sailing on the correct track.

This is unimaginable for ordinary ships, but for the hostess of the Brilliant Star, it is a familiar operation.

"Has Breeze Harbor received our message?" Lucrecia turned her head slightly and asked, "What's their response?"

"They have received the news. A research team consisting of mathematicians, runeologists, and supernatural experts has been prepared at the port, as well as people sent by the Explorers' Association," Luni replied immediately, "But I also told them that the Brilliant Star is sailing very slowly right now, so they may have to wait a while..."

"It's not just a matter of waiting a little longer," Lucrecia looked at the golden light everywhere on the sea and couldn't help pursing her lips, "Tell them that what I found this time is not a small thing - although its 'main body' is indeed not big, its impact range is too large.

"Let them find a suitable handover point in the offshore area, at least two or three nautical miles away from the port. Otherwise, they must be prepared for the entire port area to be shrouded in endless daylight."

Luni bowed her head slightly. "Yes, mistress. We will pass a lighthouse facility in fifteen minutes. I will send another telegram to Breeze Harbor at that time."

Lucrecia hummed, and then she was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled at herself and shook her head.

The doll Luni looked at her in confusion: "Mistress?"

"Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something from a long time ago," Lucrecia said softly, "Luni, you know, I used to scold my father when he came back from his adventures."

"Old Master? Are you scolding him?"

"Yes, he always picked up some strange things outside and brought them back," Lucrecia seemed to be lost in memory. She spoke slowly while thinking, "Sometimes he would find a broken stone in the border area and study it excitedly for ten days or half a month, and even drag me and my brother to study with him."

She turned around and stared in a trance at the chain extending from the stern and the stone ball at the end of the chain.

"Now, I have also brought back a 'big rock'... I wonder what he would think if he knew about it."

Lu Ni didn't know how to respond to her mistress. She was silent for a moment before she spoke: "...You rarely mentioned the old master."

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

"It's late at night," Luni nodded, "You really should rest."

"It's already late at night?" Lucrecia asked in surprise, then waved her hand, "Dragging this thing, 24 hours a day is like daytime, and my days and nights are reversed... You keep an eye on the boat, I'm going to rest first."

Before she finished her words, her figure suddenly disintegrated into countless flying colorful pieces of paper, fluttering in the wind and flying towards the captain's room.

※※※

Even when they returned to the cathedral and the evening prayer ended, Vanna still looked troubled - and it was obvious that she could not hide her troubled state from Bishop Valentine.

When asked by the bishop, she did not hide her "dream communication" with the ghost captain on the way back from the port.

In the small prayer room connected to the side hall, Valentine listened quietly to what Vanna said.

"...I am not surprised by his visit," the old bishop said calmly, "the entire Plande city-state has undergone some kind of... transformation. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we and the land beneath our feet have now established an inseparable connection with the Lost Homeland. I have discussed this matter with your uncle. Do you know what he said?"

"…What did he say?"

"Behind Plande today stands a 'master' in the shadows, just like the 'Ten Cities' described in the 'Golan Poetry'. In the shadows stands an uncrowned king, an unnamed great ruler, an invisible but real 'owner'. This 'master' has not declared his authority to the city-state, just like you have never declared that you are the owner of the coins in your pocket - but when you take out the coins, you will not think of asking for their opinions."

Fanna showed a thoughtful expression: "...The Ten Cities is said to be the most chilling passage in the Golan Poetry. It describes the process of ten city-states being gradually taken over by an invisible ruler and transformed into shadows. Until the end of the poem, the author did not describe the ruler himself at all, but only hinted at the existence of the 'Invisible King' through the description of the atmosphere, customs and environment in the city-states. I have read it, but I was still young at that time and could not understand the relish with which adults talked about the horror of this poem."

At this point, she shook her head slightly.

"But I think at least Captain Duncan is not trying to transform the city-state into some kind of... indescribable hotbed as described in the poem 'Ten Cities'. At least now he does not show any malicious intent."

"Indeed, he showed no ill intentions and even came to warn you," Bishop Valentine nodded gently. "The issue of Vision 001 has actually attracted the attention of the Four Gods Church, but as far as I know, the mainstream view of the various churches is still to wait and see when Vision 001 can 'return to normal'. But if the warning conveyed by Captain Duncan is true..."

The old bishop paused for a moment before he let out a soft sigh.

"Then our world will be in big trouble."