After nightfall, the snow began to fall again. In the hazy and foggy night, the cold light of the Creation of the World was mostly blocked by the clouds. Only a few pieces of chaotic glow diffused through the gaps in the clouds. Gas lights in the streets and alleys lit up one after another, reflecting the fluttering snowflakes in the air, showing a quiet atmosphere different from that of Plande.

Vanna stood in front of the narrow window, staring at the night view outside for a while, and sighed: "I think they definitely didn't transfer the money - and by now they should have gathered a group of experts to crack the 'secret number' you left in the letter."

Duncan turned his head and asked: "Is it really that exaggerated?"

Vanna turned her head and looked at her current temporary boss seriously: "...Did you specify in the letter what the string of numbers was for?"

"No, but isn't this the standard format for a report letter?" Duncan said confidently, "Just attach the account number at the end of the report letter, and the city hall will transfer the money. That's how it works in Plande. And I heard that many places will deliberately not write extra notes in front of the account number to be subtle and euphemistic - I think I should be more euphemistic."

Vanna stared at Duncan for a long time, and then couldn't help but sigh: "Ah..."

Duncan thought about it. In fact, he had some idea of ​​what was going on. He couldn't help but sound a little embarrassed. "It seems that it's hard for them to understand?"

Vanna said with fatigue in her tone: "I'm glad you understand."

Duncan lowered his head and thought carefully: "…Is it not a good idea to go back and write a second letter now?"

"You... still have to hope that they can understand the purpose of the letter of complaint as soon as possible." Vanna couldn't help rubbing her eyebrows. She felt that she had once again discovered something unexpected about Captain Duncan. This powerful and terrifying captain... turned out to have such a distinct and interesting personality?

Duncan didn't care what Vanna was feeling, he just asked casually, "You sent Annie home today, is everything okay at home?"

Vanna nodded immediately: "Everything is normal in Anne's house. There is no sign of being invaded by supernatural phenomena. There is no trace of Annihilation Cultists nearby. There are no suspicious people in the surrounding residents. Mrs. Beroni... that is, our current landlady, she also looks like..."

"Stop, stop, stop," Duncan waved his hand without waiting for the other party to finish. "I was asking you about her family situation and living conditions. I didn't ask you to report according to the process of investigating heretics. Control your occupational disease."

Vanna was startled, then reacted immediately and coughed twice: "Ahem, sorry, I'm a little... used to my job. Everything is fine over there. Although I only stayed for a moment and talked to Ms. Beroni for a few words, I can roughly judge that after all, six years have passed, and both mother and daughter have walked out of the shadow of that year.

"Annie is currently studying in the city-state public school. In addition to renting out her house to earn income, Ms. Beroni also has some clerical work to support her family. After all, they are the family of a captain, and the Frost authorities also take care of such survivors, just like in other city-states. Generally speaking... there is no need to worry about their situation."

Duncan listened silently and nodded.

Vanna hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help asking, "You don't mind Annie telling others about what happened here... Is this really a good idea? Perhaps before long, the cemetery keeper will know that you live in the city so openly, and then the matter will be reported to the cathedral immediately, and the gatekeeper and the bishop will be alerted."

"And then?" Duncan turned his head and asked calmly.

"Then... there will be some troubles?" Vanna said, but under Duncan's gaze, her tone suddenly became a little unconfident, "The intervention of the city-state authorities may..."

"How will they interfere with us? Will they send a team of guards to arrest people?" Duncan laughed, "Or will the gatekeeper come out to talk to me? As for me, why would I care about them? Am I worried about my whereabouts being exposed? Or am I worried about the hostile actions of the authorities?"

Duncan said, spreading his hands.

"I didn't drive the Lost Hometown here."

Vanna opened her mouth. She felt that something was wrong with this matter, but she had no idea how to respond to the captain's frank words. After a long pause, she could only say: "Why do I feel that you just think this might be fun?"

"right."

Vanna: “…”

Duncan smiled and returned his gaze to the night outside the window. He paid no attention to the sudden expression on the face of the inquisitor beside him. After silently appreciating the night view for a few minutes, he suddenly said casually, "Vanna, why do I suddenly feel that you are becoming less and less like an inquisitor? Normally, when mentioning the church and authorities of a city-state, shouldn't your first reaction be reliable allies?"

The corners of Fanna's mouth trembled noticeably, and her heart seemed to have thousands of words, but in the end, not a single word came out.

At the same time, outside the Frost City, on the vast sea in the dark night, a huge fleet was slowly slowing down and maintaining a low-speed cruise among the cold freezing fog and surrounding ice floes.

The majestic steel bow of the Sea Mist stood in the darkness, the glow from the navigation light from the side illuminated a corner of it, and nearby lights from the side of the ship illuminated the dark sea. Among the rippling waves on the sea, faint reflections could be vaguely seen.

That's small pieces of floating ice.

On this cold sea, all captains have heard this sentence:

〖When the mist suddenly appears, the ice floes emerge from the mist and gradually imprison your ship like shackles, then be ready, the Sea Mist is coming.〗

The Sea Mist is here now, and the entire Sea Mist fleet is here.

Tirian stood high on the bridge, looking out the wide window into the distance.

At the current distance, it is actually impossible to see the Frost City-State directly - but in the dark background, he can still see a little light floating there, which is the direction of the city-state.

The Sea Fog Fleet was actually heading for Dagger Island, and Tirian himself had no intention of landing on the Frost Island itself - but for the Frostmen who had been nervous for half a century, it made no difference. As long as the flag of "Vice Admiral Iron" appeared on the nearby sea, it was enough to make them lose sleep and eat.

He could almost imagine the chaotic scene of the defenders of the city-state at this moment.

Footsteps were heard from the side, and the first mate Aiden came to Tirian's side. The rough-looking bald man looked quite happy. "Captain, the Sea Raven and the Fjord have led their respective frigates to leave the fleet. They are expected to arrive at the designated location and block the route in twelve hours. The Sea Mist has lifted the blackout - those Frost people will not be able to sleep well all night."

Tirian nodded, a slight smile on his face, his eyes sweeping across the sea around the Seamist.

In the darkness, the entire vast ocean remained silent. Only the Sea Fog, which had lifted the blackout, was floating here, as eye-catching as a gas lamp in the dark night.

Under normal circumstances, warships flying at night on military missions are subject to blackouts. Unnecessary lighting will expose their positions and easily cause confusion for friendly forces when identifying light signals - but the Sea Mist put itself out so openly, as if to show its presence to Frost as a provocation.

Tirian was not worried at all that this would provoke the Frost City-State Navy, nor was he worried about the so-called accidental shooting incident.

In this world, apart from the Lost Homeland, no one could defeat the "living ship" Sea Mist in a night battle. On the other hand...if the Frost Navy was really stupid enough to take the initiative to attack today, the other six warships hidden in the waters around the Sea Mist would immediately teach them a lesson.

Of course, Tirian's high-profile behavior here is not just to vent his anger and provoke Frost. His more important purpose is to complete the task entrusted by his father -

Make the Frost City-State nervous, the more nervous the better. It would be best if they directly blockade the entire Frost Island and prohibit all routes in and out.

Judging from what has been observed so far, this goal should have been achieved - the garrison navy of the Frost City-State has blocked the port and sent a signal to the surrounding city-states to suspend shipping.

Everything is going according to my father's plan.

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from a nearby copper pipe. Aiden immediately walked over and talked to someone at the opposite end of the copper pipe. Then he returned to Tirian with a smile on his face: "Captain, the Frost People seem to be a little restless - a small boat appeared on the sea nearby."

Tirian raised an eyebrow. "A small boat?"

"Yes, it looked unarmed, and it turned on three yellow and one white signal lights, as if it was afraid of causing any misunderstanding," Aiden said. "The ship carefully stopped outside the range of the searchlight, as if it wanted to perform an observation mission without negotiation or hostility."

"Observation... It's OK, at least it has some concentration," Tirian shrugged. "Let it observe, and fire a warning shot if it gets too close."

"Yes." Aiden immediately obeyed, but before he turned around, Tirian suddenly stopped him again: "Wait."

"What else do you want me to do?"

"Signal them with lights," said Tirian.

"Light signal?" Aiden was slightly startled. "What's that?"

The corners of Tirian's mouth curled up. This pirate, who was known for his viciousness on the cold sea, now had a mischievous smile on his face: "Content? What content do you want? Just flashing around."

Aiden: “…Huh?”

"Let the signalman flash freely," Tirian stroked his chin and said happily, "give the expert advisors of Frostbite a little century-old problem."

A visible smile suddenly appeared on Aiden's face, and even his bald head seemed to be shining.

"Yes, Captain!"