On one side of the long table, Lawrence carefully observed the behavior of everyone present, while at the same time carefully controlling his every expression and every muscle. He was thinking about how he should naturally integrate into this special gathering without appearing like an... outsider.

Many stories about legendary investigators and adventurers flooded into my mind, and then faded away like the sea flowing over the beach, leaving behind no reference other than some messy thoughts.

After thinking about it for a long time, he mustered up some courage and whispered to Agatha, who was closest to him, "When will Captain Duncan arrive?"

"I don't know either. He said he'd have to wait until everyone is gathered," Agatha lowered her voice, "Just be patient and wait."

"Are there any rules later?" Lawrence asked again in a low voice, "This is my first time attending a rally..."

"It's my first time too," Agatha folded her hands over her chest, looking like she was praying silently. But like Lawrence, she was also carefully observing the situation in the cabin. Although she knew the faces at the long table, this was indeed her first visit to the ship. "But I don't think we need to be nervous. We have dealt with each other in the city-state before, and everyone is very friendly."

Lawrence said "oh", but he still couldn't sit still, and couldn't help looking at Vanna who was sitting one seat away - this Judge Plande was more or less an "acquaintance" of his: "Your Excellency Judge, this is my first time attending a rally. If I do anything impolite later, please help me..."

As soon as he finished speaking, before Vanna had time to say anything, Shirley on the other side of the table suddenly said, "What? You want this person to help you take care of your impoliteness? Old man, let me tell you, when she is impolite, the noise she makes is louder than yours. When she jumped and slashed..."

"Ahem." Vanna suddenly coughed loudly, interrupting Shirley's muttering. While Lawrence was stunned, Nina, who was sitting across the table, put down her book, looked around and muttered, "I'm hungry. When is dinner?"

Shirley shook her head: "It's too early to leave for dinner."

Nina was stunned: "Ah? Then why do we have to come to the restaurant?"

"The captain said there was something important to discuss. Didn't you hear it?"

"I didn't hear it... I was busy reading. Uncle Duncan told us to gather in the restaurant, so I came here with my book." Nina shook her head. "Who has food?"

"I have biscuits! And salted fish!" Alice stood up immediately, and said happily while taking snacks out of her skirt pocket. "Who else wants some?"

Nina and Shirley immediately jumped over excitedly, while Agou was pulled to the side by the chain. He immediately scratched the draft paper with his claws and shouted: "Hey Shirley, please tell me when you get up. My coordinate map is crooked..."

Lawrence was stunned at the scene. The atmosphere in this solemn and gloomy gathering place suddenly became lively. He hesitated and turned his head to look at Morris, the only one who was still sitting upright. Morris took off his pipe and nodded at him in a friendly manner: "You'll get used to it. It's like this every day on the ship. If you're hungry, tell Alice. She's in charge of everyone's meals."

Lawrence felt his brain creaking and turning half a circle, and he spoke with difficulty: "Uh, I... am not hungry."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly saw a flash of faint green fire near the restaurant door out of the corner of his eye. He was immediately shocked and tensed up. However, just as he was about to open his mouth to remind everyone, the door opened, and the person who walked in was not the owner of the Lost Hometown.

Tirian appeared at the door with a suitcase in hand, his steps somewhat unsteady, and he looked at the scene in the restaurant with a hint of bewilderment.

Shirley climbed onto the table, Agou was hanging in the air, Nina was hanging on Alice, and Alice, the living doll with the face of the Frost Queen, was raising her hands high, one hand full of biscuits and the other hand full of dried fish.

The Frost Gatekeeper and Pland's Inquisitor sat across the table with expressionless faces, covering their foreheads with their hands without making a sound.

Tirian's appearance attracted everyone's attention. Even Shirley, who was stuffing dried fish into her mouth, stopped. Several eyes at the long table fell on the new Archon of Frost at the same time. The unified gazes even made the "Iron Lieutenant General" who was used to seeing big storms subconsciously take half a step back.

However, this was not the first time that Tirian had seen the current atmosphere of the Lost Homeland. He reacted quickly, adjusted his expression, and walked towards the long table while greeting everyone on the scene in a friendly manner - he was polite and graceful, and it was hard to tell that he had been roaming this cold sea as a big pirate for the past half century.

"Sorry, it took a little time to pack up. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Tirian said as he came to an empty seat at the long table. He placed the heavy suitcase on the table and looked around. "Is father not here yet?"

Almost at the moment when Tirian finished speaking, Duncan's voice suddenly appeared at the long table: "I'm here."

The next second, a ball of dark green flame ignited out of thin air at the end of the long table, rising and exploding. The flame fell towards the long table, and Duncan's figure condensed and appeared from the flame, and sat on the chair that belonged to him in front of the long table.

The next second, accompanied by a few faint "whoosh" sounds, all the lights in the cabin were stained with a layer of faint green glow.

A low, disconcerting creaking sound came from deeper within the cabin.

Morris's expression suddenly changed slightly - he felt that the "atmosphere" of the ship itself was changing!

The captain is adjusting the Lost Homeland into a... defensive posture!

Then, he heard the captain's voice in the flames: "What I am going to talk about today is extremely special and dangerous, so it requires the highest level of protection. From now on, the Lost Homeland will dive into the spirit world. During the gathering, members with firm beliefs should pay attention to their mental state at all times. If you hear or see any 'revelation' pointing to the gods, report it to me immediately."

Vanna, Morris and Agatha looked at each other subconsciously, but after only a moment's hesitation, they nodded slightly.

Duncan's eyes fell on Tirian: "Did you bring the crystal ball?"

"I have it." Tirian said immediately, and then he raised his hand to open the heavy suitcase he brought. The crystal ball containing extraordinary power and the lens device with complex structure appeared in front of everyone. Then, he began to operate the complex structure on the lens base and put all the lenses in the correct position.

The next moment, the crystal ball began to brighten little by little.

After waiting for a moment, a hazy figure appeared in the dim light, and then the figure quickly became clear.

Lucrecia's figure appeared in the crystal ball - it appeared for a moment, then the picture blurred and suddenly disappeared.

Nina, who was watching curiously from the side, was confused and turned to look at Tirian: "Is it broken?"

Tirian touched his chin awkwardly: "...She fell off the chair."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a rustling sound and the sound of debris being pushed away from the crystal ball. Lucrecia finally reappeared in the center of the screen. The "sea witch" looked at the scene on this side of the crystal ball with a horrified and nervous expression. The next second, she glared at Tirian: "Brother! What are you doing?!"

"I asked him to bring the crystal ball to the Lost Homeland, Lucy," Duncan's voice came from the side before Tirian could speak, "But I didn't expect he didn't tell you in advance - don't be afraid, just a few words to your father won't put you under the curse."

Lucrecia in the crystal ball had a strange look on her face. She was obviously not prepared for this sudden meeting and conversation, so she seemed a little uneasy. But she soon realized the unusually serious atmosphere here. The slight uneasiness in her heart was immediately suppressed, and she tried to regain her composure instead: "Father, long time no see. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it..."

"It wasn't that long actually - don't mind, I understand your reaction." Duncan smiled, then raised his head and gestured to the other figures around the long table, "Let me make a brief introduction first, Lucy. What you see are the new crew members of the Lost Homeland and the new captain of the Lost Homeland Fleet..."

He introduced the people around the long table one by one, and those whose names he called stood up to greet him. Finally, he pointed at the figure in the crystal ball and said, "This is my daughter, Lucrecia. Many of you should know her, so there is no need to introduce her, right?"

"The famous 'Frontier Adventurer', the 'Sea Witch' who has made great achievements in the field of mysticism," Morris nodded immediately, "It's an honor to meet you, ma'am."

Lucrecia nodded modestly. "I've heard of your name, too. Even in Breeze Harbor and Moko, senior professors at the Academy of Truth always cite your achievements and ideas when discussing issues."

After regaining her composure, the "Sea Witch" appeared dignified and steady. She sat in the crystal ball, revealing confidence and elegance in her every move.

It doesn't look like someone who just fell off a chair.

"Okay, enough introductions and pleasantries," Duncan intervened in the conversation at the right time, "let's get down to business."

His eyes swept over everyone present.

Everyone is present.

Even Goat Head, who was unable to move in the captain's room, was listening in on the action with his permission.

Duncan exhaled softly and broke the silence:

“In short, Agatha and I successfully conducted a deep dive below the Frost. The specific diving depth exceeded the diving plan half a century ago. During the deep dive, we witnessed many horrifying scenes and learned the truth that was enough to subvert the cognition of many people.

"First, we have confirmed the bottom structure of the city-state - there is some kind of extremely large biological organization there..."