Take a trip?

Nina was stunned for a moment, then she understood what was going on.

Thinking back on the whole incident, and thinking of her and Shirley's actions before and after the appearance of that strange object that looked like "living steel", she felt that it was normal for these knowledge guards to be alert - any incident involving supernatural invasion must include all people and objects that may be contaminated in the scope of investigation to the greatest extent possible, this is the iron rule of the guards.

While on the ship, Vanna would often talk about her daily work as an inquisitor, which also included the many rules of the guardians. According to Uncle Duncan's usual saying, it was these "rules" that were strict to the point of being harsh that ensured the survival of the city-states in this deep-sea age and ensured that most ordinary people could still live a relatively stable life in this dangerous world.

So she nodded, and calmly tugged at Shirley's arm to prevent her from suddenly saying something vulgar, then looked at the knowledge guard in front of her: "Okay... but if we don't go back, our family will be worried."

"It's just to confirm whether you have suffered mental pollution or subconscious suggestion," the knowledge guard seemed relieved and explained patiently, "This is a necessary screening and protection process. If there is no pollution, you will be allowed to leave soon."

He then paused and added, "When you follow us to the academy, we will first register your basic information. Someone will contact your family, so don't worry about that."

"Oh, let's go then," Nina laughed and turned to look at Shirley, "Is that okay?"

"What else could be wrong?" Shirley muttered, "I'm kind of looking forward to it..."

Nina heard from the other person's tone that he was waiting to see some fun, or even a little gloating. She knew what he was expecting, but she didn't say much. Instead, she focused her eyes on the "lump" that had almost stopped moving, and asked curiously, "Do you know what this is?"

"Some kind of abnormal individual that invaded the real world, but I can't tell you the details," the knowledge guard said in a businesslike tone, "If it is later confirmed to be an incident that can be made public, the academy will announce it to the public."

"Oh..." Nina uttered a long "oh" and turned around to leave with the guards. But before leaving, she couldn't help but stop and looked back at the pile of strange-shaped "lumps".

The latter has gradually become still, even the last twitching and trembling has stopped, and a rock-like texture is slowly spreading on the completely solidified iron-gray skin.

※※※

At 99 Crown Street, in the "mysterious mansion" with towering spires and lush gardens, Duncan and Lucretia were chatting about many things that happened in Frost some time ago. Not far away, Morris was curiously communicating with the clockwork doll Luni, and seemed to be interested in the latter's driving method. Vanna did not stay in the living room - it was her daytime prayer time, and Lucretia specially prepared a "prayer room" for this devout Storm Saint.

"...When I left, order had been restored in Frost City, but it will take a lot of effort to clean up the pollution left by the 'Elements'," Duncan told Lucrecia about the situation in the north. "It is said that Tyrian's overtime schedule has been scheduled until next quarter..."

"I've been a pirate in the Frost Sea for half a century, and now I'm finally going to make up for the debts I owed during my lazy years," Lucrecia said with emotion. "By the way, have you ever been to the frozen sea further north of Frost?"

"That's not the case," Duncan shook his head. "I only heard that there is an endless ice field there, and the ice extends all the way to the depths of the thick fog at the border. I am indeed a little curious about it, but what happened in Breeze Harbor concerns me more."

"It is said that in the frozen seas north of Frost, some of the ice layers even contain relics left by explorers from the Dark Ages and the Old City-States. Some people have tried to walk through those ice layers to explore the thick fog, but were eventually swallowed up by the sudden extreme cold... In comparison, I think the warm southern seas are more suitable as a breakthrough point to challenge the 'border'..."

"If I have the chance, I really want to see that border... Don't worry, I know the danger of that thick fog, but I'm just curious..."

"Just don't rush into that thick fog again."

The "father and daughter" who had reunited after a long separation chatted idly, talking about what had happened in recent times, the many incredible phenomena on the vast ocean, the thick fog on the border, and those dangerous areas far away from the civilized world.

Their conversation didn't always go on, and Lucrecia wasn't much of a chatterbox, but it was incredible that they had been talking like this for a long time.

But suddenly, Duncan stopped.

He seemed to "hear" something, his brows slightly frowned, and after a brief moment of concentration, he cast his gaze towards a certain direction outside the window.

Lucrecia immediately noticed her father's strangeness: "What happened?"

"Nina is calling me," Duncan turned his head with a strange expression and glanced at Lucrecia, "...how do I get to the neighborhood college?"

"Neighborhood College?" Lucrecia was stunned for a moment. "Why are you going to Neighborhood College?"

"Save him."

Lucrecia: “……?”

※※※

"Name?"

"Nina." Nina hesitated and did not say her current "last name".

The registrar across the table didn't pay much attention to it, and just continued to record as a matter of routine: "Age?"

"17."

"Profession?"

"Still in high school..."

"Are you from Breeze Harbor?"

"I'm from Plande, and I'm here to travel to Breeze Harbor. I'm temporarily staying at...a relative's house."

The registrar recorded these basic situations one by one. After hearing the honest answers from the girl opposite, he raised his head with a smile and said gently, "Don't be nervous, girl. These are just routine registrations. You didn't do anything bad. You just accidentally got involved in the extraordinary events. These registrations are for your protection. Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," Nina said obediently, and then looked at the registrar opposite her a little embarrassedly, "Just don't be afraid later."

"Me? Why should I be afraid?" The registrar was stunned for a moment, and waved his hands in a helpless manner. He just thought that this was just nonsense said by a young girl who was not very experienced in the world and was nervous, so he didn't take it seriously. "Hey, it would be great if your companion could be so well-educated."

Nina was stunned, and pricked up her ears to listen to the noise coming from the next room. As expected, she heard some vulgar words that were very characteristic of Shirley.

But it doesn't sound like cursing, but just some dirty words to release oneself, similar to adding some words with a strong sense of mother when talking to people - in Shirley's own words, they are all "modal particles".

So Nina relaxed a little and smiled with an awkward expression: "She is already quite restrained."

"It's okay. We've seen all kinds of people in our position, especially those who have come into contact with supernatural powers. It's normal for them to be mentally unstable or even to smash things around. We're used to it." The registrar waved his hand nonchalantly. "It's just a little surprising. She looks like such a well-behaved girl..."

Nina recalled Shirley in front of Uncle Duncan and thought that the registrar's first impression was actually correct from a certain perspective...

After a while, she asked curiously, "When can we go back?"

The registrar, wearing the clergy smock of the Truth Academy, turned his head and glanced at the incense and the quietly burning candles on the table next to him.

"Wait until the incense burns out and the candle flames go out naturally. If all the catalysts have no reaction, then you can leave."

"Oh," Nina nodded, and then was silent for a few minutes before asking, "Where is the 'thing' that appeared at the market before? Has it been caught?"

"Sorry, no comment." The registrar shook his head and then reminded, "I suggest you stop paying attention to it and try to avoid recalling it, because some "foreign objects" that invade the real world will have a parasitic effect in the minds of witnesses. Although we have not found that you and your companions are contaminated by it, frequent recollections and excessive curiosity may still lead to bad effects."

"Oh." Nina nodded again, and then finally calmed down, as if she was patiently waiting for the incense to burn out and the "inspection" to be over.

The young registrar sitting opposite her breathed a sigh of relief without making any expression, and while sorting out the forms he had just recorded, he adjusted his sitting position and pulled his hand out from a secret compartment under the table.

In his hand there appeared a small device that looked like a pocket watch.

With the help of the table top, he pressed the cover of the device. After the "cover" opened quietly, what was revealed underneath was not the hands and dial, but a surface that looked like mercury - that layer of "mercury" was slightly undulating, like some kind of living thing.

He carefully tilted the layer of "mercury" towards the girl across the table, carefully observing the changes on the silvery-white liquid surface.

The girl named Nina seemed to be sane, spoke clearly, and was even well-educated, but this did not dispel the concerns of professional clergy - because in many cases, people who have suffered from mental pollution can maintain this "clear mind" for a short period of time. If they are not carefully checked, it is easy for the pollution secrets to leak out.

According to the field team's report, the girl and her companions had approached the patrolling knowledge guards on their own initiative a few seconds before the "invading object" appeared, and they also behaved in many irrational ways during the incident. These anomalies undoubtedly require careful examination.

However, the mercury surface did not reflect any unusual shadows.

The "registrar" frowned, moved the device closer to his eyes, and carefully observed the subtle changes in the liquid level.

Suddenly, he seemed to really see something from the slightly rippling mercury surface——

Those were wisps of golden light.

That is the gathering flame.

It was some kind of mysterious and vast power, ancient and lost knowledge, eternal and majestic light and heat, the power of all things in the world...

A roar sounded in his mind, and the storm-like knowledge was impacting the boundaries of reason. The thirst for truth seemed to have seized his mind, and the soul of a mortal longed for the gravity of the sun. He suddenly widened his eyes and stared at what was about to hit him -

A hand suddenly stretched out from the side and blocked his view.

"Don't look around if you don't have anything to do," a deep and majestic voice came into my ears, "You're still looking when you already feel something is wrong. Why do all of you students at the Academy of Truth have this problem?"