The leaders and bishops of the Church of the Four Gods will gather on a ghost ship returning from the warp to hold a meeting - this kind of thing seems too explosive no matter when it happens. It is the kind of thing that if someone shouts this in the city-state, those who hear it will have to consider for a long time whether to report it to the Inquisitor or to the mental hospital.
But now it's really happening.
The Lost Homeland arrived at the agreed place at the agreed time - near the Breeze Harbor, in the calm sea near the Cathedral of Storms. It stopped here, and then the "visitors" from the four pilgrimage arks arrived one after another in small boats.
Shirley lay on her stomach behind a railing on the stern deck, looking at the priests on the middle deck who were nervously looking around or trying to remain calm. She muttered to the shadows beside her, "They really dare to come... Did you see that bald uncle? His forehead is really shiny and covered in sweat..."
Agou's voice came from the shadows: "It's too scary... In the past, in the city-state, let alone encountering this level, we had to hide when we met a few guards..."
"Things are different now... is that the word?" Shirley said proudly, "Now they want to avoid us - at least that's the case on the ship. Hey, do you want to jump out and scare them? This opportunity doesn't come often..."
"I can jump out, but you might get beaten by the captain if you look back—did I really jump?"
"No, no, no, I was just joking..."
On the deck, the puppet Luni, who came to the Lost Homeland with the mistress, was methodically guiding the "visitors" through the central deck to the door leading to the cabin. The clockwork puppet looked back in the direction of the stern deck, turned his head and explained to a deep-sea priest wearing a bishop's robe beside him: "That's Miss Shirley. She is the old master's 'student'. You don't have to be nervous."
"But I sensed the breath of the Deep Demon..." The nervous Deep Sea Bishop couldn't help but say, "It's right next to Miss Shirley..."
"That's Mr. Agou, Miss Shirley's guardian dog," Luni explained calmly, "and he's also the old master's student. You don't have to be nervous."
Deep Sea Bishop: “……?”
Luni didn't pay attention to the strange look in the other person's eyes. She clapped her hands, looked up and introduced to the priests who had just boarded the ship: "Let me emphasize some common precautions -
"The ropes on the boat sometimes move suddenly. If you get tied up, don't worry. They are just for fun and will loosen up with a little warning. Don't worry if you encounter buckets rolling around. They may just be transporting things. If you pick up a silver-haired puppet head and can't see the puppet's body nearby, please send the head to the main mast and give it to a talking pigeon. The pigeon will help return the head.
"Also, don't go to unopened areas casually. If you get lost, stay where you are immediately. It's not forbidden to pray to the gods on the ship, but the gods can't help you escape from the blocked cabin, so you still have to remember the few 'rules' I mentioned before. If you see individuals that look like deep-sea offspring in certain places on the ship, stay calm and leave. They are fish. Don't pay attention to strange shadows that suddenly appear in the mirror or in dark corners. That's Ms. Agatha taking a walk. She won't enter the visitor lounge...
"Always remember that the boat is safe and friendly. If you feel like you are dying, repeat this in your mind: The boat is safe and friendly. Reflect on whether your actions violate the rules, rather than questioning whether there is something wrong with the environment...
"Finally, I wish everyone a fulfilling day on the great Lost Homeland - meals will be provided after the meeting. Please rest assured that they are all edible substances for humans."
The clockwork doll smiled and bent toward the visitors.
"Next, please follow me and we will go to the hall."
The priests on board were either nervous, doubtful, or cautiously observing this ghost ship that was surrounded by countless strange legends and dangerous atmosphere. The "safety tips" given to them by a clockwork puppet on the deck did not reduce the tension in the hearts of these people with normal outlooks, but instead added to the weird atmosphere they felt here. However, driven by their mission and responsibility, they could only put aside their worries and honestly follow the guidance of the weird clockwork puppet and walk towards the cabin.
Vanna stood far away under a mast, looking at Luni who was busy in the distance with a little worry, and couldn't help muttering softly: "I think Miss Lucrecia shouldn't arrange Luni to do the 'reception' - it would be better for me and Mr. Morris to go..."
"But I think this is good," Helena's voice sounded from the side. The graceful female pope stood beside Vanna with an inexplicable smile on her face. Her eyes fell on the deck in the distance, and her tone was somewhat happy. "This can help them realize in the shortest time why I emphasized to them before they boarded the ship, 'Don't make a fuss', and let them 'take everything on the Lost Homeland for granted'."
She paused and looked thoughtfully at the huge silhouettes of the Ark ships on the sea in the distance: "...the bishops have profound knowledge and superb divine skills, but they have stayed on the 'ordered and normal' Ark for too long. This 'normality' will not last forever."
Vanna felt that there seemed to be some deep meaning in the pope's words, but before she opened her mouth to ask, Helena spoke first: "Are you used to being on this ship?"
"Um... it's good," Vanna was stunned and quickly replied, "Everyone is very friendly, and I can get in touch with a lot of knowledge that I have never heard of. I am also constantly accumulating experience in fighting against heresy and blasphemy."
"That's good," Helena smiled, and before Vanna could speak, she walked towards the cabin on her own, "Let's talk after the meeting - we can't keep the Captain waiting too long."
Vanna was stunned for a moment, and then she noticed that someone seemed to be looking at her.
She followed the feeling and looked in the direction of the sight, only to see an exceptionally tall figure, extremely eye-catching among the crowd, looking at her on the deck in the distance.
He was a Sen'jin man wearing a simple short robe, with skin like grayish-white rock and deep and steady eyes.
It was the leader of the Firebringers, Frame.
The Sen'jin Pope, who looked like a little giant, nodded from a distance and then left in silence.
Fanna was in a trance for a moment. The moment her gaze met those quiet eyes, she couldn't help but recall the boundless desert and the old giant who had trekked with her in the desert...
The next second, Vanna suddenly woke up from her trance, and after a brief hesitation, she also walked towards the cabin.
The captain's call was ringing in her heart - the time has come.
Everyone gathered in the largest cabin on the upper deck of the Lost Homeland.
It is called a "meeting hall", but in fact it is just the restaurant on the Lost Homeland - the servants sent by Lucrecia in advance tidied the place up, rearranged the tables and chairs, and turned it into a meeting place.
Compared with the magnificent shrines and temples on the Pilgrimage Ark, this "assembly place" is obviously not that gorgeous.
But the people gathered here obviously did not dare to focus on the so-called "shabby" issue.
This is the Lost Homeland, a shadow returning from the warp, the "Fifth Ark" opened and revealed by the four gods - any inconspicuous corner of this ship has a different meaning for the world.
Just being able to board this ship is enough to be an unforgettable experience for a person...even if they are highly respected bishops or the "inner court priests" on the pilgrimage ark.
Unrelated personnel had already left, and the puppet servants sent from the Brilliant Star for "support" closed the door when they left the hall.
Ordinary priests sat on the outskirts of the assembly hall. Dozens of bishops were divided into four areas according to the gods they followed. A circle of chairs was placed in the center of the hall. Helena, Frame, Banster and Rune sat on four of the chairs. Opposite them was the real owner of the ship and his "followers".
Duncan deliberately asked Lucretia to arrange the venue like this.
He could notice that all eyes were focused on him - and those eyes were very complicated.
The tense atmosphere never dissipated from these people from beginning to end.
But he didn't care.
"We meet again," his eyes first fell on Helena opposite him - this "Pope of the Deep Sea" was the first Orthodox leader he met in this world and one of the starting points of his contact with the civilized world, "Welcome to my ship - I have fulfilled my promise and still stand on the 'civilized' side."
Helena responded politely and appropriately, but her eyes involuntarily fell on Vanna who was not far from Duncan.
The Pope's expression remained calm and peaceful, but there was something strange in the depths of her eyes.
Just now, Vanna naturally sat on the side representing the Lost Homeland...
The Storm Saint and Deep Sea Inquisitor did not hesitate.
But soon, she put away her strange emotion, and after simply adjusting her expression, she spoke to break the somewhat tense atmosphere on the scene.
“This is a closed-door meeting, and I’m sure everyone is aware of the nature of the meeting - so let’s cut through all the red tape and get straight to the point.
"Let's discuss what has happened in our world and what is going to happen."
She turned her head and her eyes fell on Rune beside her.
"The most learned among us have brought something that may help explain to some of those present who do not yet know the truth what... 'The Great Oblivion' is."
Rune nodded and then waved to the side.
A scholar immediately came forward and handed him something covered with a black cloth.
Duncan watched the scene curiously - he saw Rune open the black cloth, and what was underneath surprised him for a moment.
It was a birdcage.
There was only an ordinary-looking black bird quietly lying in the cage.
However, Rune's expression became serious, and he raised the birdcage in his hand and showed it to everyone present.
"This is a black-feathered short-billed auk, and it has a famous name that is well known in scholarly circles.
"The Madman Bird - In 1726, the famous 'Hepard Affair' gave this little bird this chilling name.
"As for 'The Great Annihilation', I want to start with this little bird."