Seventy-two hours later, this long sunset began to gradually come to an end. At the end of the boundless sea, only a line of golden edges and some rune rings of the glorious sun remained on the sea. Refractionated by the clouds, the sunset glow became more magnificent, but also darker.

People in this world have no time to appreciate the beauty of the sunset - the magnificent and brilliant glow only means the approach of night for most people, and now, the whole world is gradually entering what may be the longest night in history.

In the city-state of Moko, two steam walkers with the emblem of the Academy of Truth hanging on them were strolling through the streets. Fully armed knowledge guards accompanied the walkers on both sides, checking the situation on the streets and urging the citizens to return home as soon as possible. In the increasingly dim skylight, the shadows of the warriors and spider robots were stretched out, swaying and blending into the shadows between the streets and the roadside buildings.

In Cold Harbor, the last mobilization of supplies has been completed, and the notice of the temporary suspension of the subway station has echoed at each station. The guards have closed all doors leading to the underground facilities and guarded the entrances and exits. At sunset, sacred steam and incense will be injected into the pipes until the underground of the city-state is completely purified. After that, the subway will reopen, but it will operate cautiously according to the new schedule and safety rules.

After all, the night may last for one to two months, and the city-state cannot completely shut down for such a long time. During the 72-hour "preparation period" at dusk, the city-state's managers and scholars have developed a new "timetable" and safety system for the long night to maintain the city's basic functions as much as possible during the duration of the night.

The new timetable and safety system had not been tested in practice, and there was not even time for more thorough and detailed discussion - each city-state would verify the feasibility of its own "night plan" during the long darkness before the sun rose again.

In distant Lensa, the sound of gunfire disturbed the tranquility of the city and almost broke people's tense nerves. Some sun cultists took the opportunity to deceive the highly nervous citizens, spreading the message that the real sun god will be reborn in the night. The deceived believers set fire to the lower city and tried to occupy the churches on the edge of the city.

The chaos was quickly suppressed, and the "fire keepers" of the Firebringer Church took control of the situation immediately. However, the tension in the city-state had already risen...

※※※

The mechanical spider moved its long limbs and walked through the mottled and old streets of the city-state. The broadcasting device installed on the head of the walker emitted a slightly distorted sound, echoing in the streets:

"A warning to all citizens... There are still thirty minutes to sunset, please return home as soon as possible... The new curfew will last for twelve hours, and then a temporary city operation timetable will be implemented...

"...Steam, electricity, and gas will be supplied as usual, and workers in relevant positions can pass through the checkpoints with permits...Night shelters will be open until sunrise...

“Citizens have an obligation to help monitor the operation of the city’s infrastructure…If you find that a street light is out or the steam supply is not smooth, please report it immediately to the nearest church or security post…

“…If you notice unusual shadows in your home, or hear unusual noises coming from underground, immediately seek help from the knowledge guards on the street…

"Please stay calm and relax, citizens. We are experiencing a special abnormal phenomenon. The city-state has enough power to protect everyone. Please follow the new timetable and safety rules to maintain your life and keep your body and mind healthy..."

The sound of the broadcast faded away and gradually turned into a vague and distorted sound of wind in my ears. Outside the window of the Port Hotel, the gas lamp had been lit. The solitary light dispelled the malicious darkness and illuminated the empty street - except for the occasional patrolling guards passing by the intersection, there were no pedestrians to be seen on the street.

It is hard to imagine that this place was bustling with traffic and people just a few days ago.

Lawrence withdrew his gaze from the window, exhaled softly, lowered his head and wrote down lines of words in his diary -

On x month x day of xx year, we are still docked at the port of Phaeron. The city-state has prepared for the coming night, and now the sun will soon disappear on the sea...

My crew members did not feel fear. Instead, they had a kind of... fearless excitement. The blessing of the Lost Homeland gave them confidence and made them believe that they had enough power to deal with everything - which was not a bad thing.

Phaeron was not a very wealthy city-state, but the situation here was not bad. Everyone was trying their best to comfort the people around them and to stock up on things for the night... Before dinner, the innkeeper said that he had obtained enough fuel and had filled the warehouse with emergency food and medicine, which would be enough to support the city even if the curfew was extended...

This city-state is close to the southwest border, and it seems that it has become accustomed to this kind of "uneasy" situation. No one knows what will happen next. People here try not to discuss the worst possibilities, but instead use all their energy on the present life. This is a valuable quality, and this quality allows Phaeron to withstand greater pressure than those wealthy city-states in the central sea...

But I'm worried about other things - the seals on the ship, the seals in the city-state.

There are also those ships that are still sailing in the distant sea. Even if they try their best to return, they still cannot reach the port in time. The sun is about to set. Perhaps there are still many captains and sailors who are still staying in the vast sea. It takes at least seven days to reach the nearest city-state from the middle of the southwest route. The situation on those remote routes is even worse... In the continuous night, no one knows what changes will happen to this sea...〗

A cool breeze blew past his ears. Lawrence stopped writing and sighed softly.

He raised his head and looked towards the window facing the port area. Looking beyond the dock, he could see two more large cargo ships appearing on the distant horizon, honking their horns and approaching the coastline. Several small speedboats with church emblems rushed out of the dock like sharp arrows, heading towards the two large ships that requested to dock, preparing to conduct necessary boarding inspections and blessings for entry into the port.

In the corner of the window, a hazy figure emerged from the glass surface and waved to Lawrence who was looking into the distance.

“Two more ships have docked, and they are large ones,” Laurence said quietly. “All the docks in Phaeren are nearly full.”

"In the past seventy-two hours, four times as many ships have docked in Phaeren as in the past. More than half of them are here to seek 'refuge,'" the dim figure in the window said casually, with a hint of ethereal tremor in his voice. "They are already lucky. Those who didn't make it back in time don't know what to do."

"...Ocean-going ships are equipped with chapels and priests, but these measures are only for normal nights," Lawrence sighed and shook his head. "Twenty-four hours after sunset is the last deadline given by the Port Administration for normal docking. Ships returning after this time are not allowed to approach the city-state directly - they have stayed in the night for too long and it is no longer safe."

"…The White Oak also had this kind of 'treatment'," Martha said. "I remember you said it was after the first encounter with the Lost Homeland."

Lawrence shrugged and said nothing.

Martha was silent for a while, then spoke again: "...If the sun continues to move in this way, people will adapt sooner or later. Chaos is only temporary, just like those city-states that persisted in the Dark Ages. They found new ways to continue after the collapse of the Old Kingdom - as long as they survive, life will always find a way out."

Lawrence knew that this was not something Martha would say—she was an outstanding female explorer and captain, but not a philosopher.

But he still felt a sense of relief and warmth in these words.

"You're right, Martha," he nodded gently, "there will always be a way out..."

In the high sky, the pale wound of the world has gradually emerged behind the clouds, the increasingly thin sunlight is gradually fading from the sea, and a layer of chaotic mist has appeared nearby at some point, rising and falling with the sea.

The towering bow of the Lost Homeland broke through the waves and sailed into the distance in the evening mist. On the tall mast, the translucent spiritual sails blew without wind. The Brilliant Star followed closely beside it, its half-real and half-virtual hull undulating in the waves, as if it would fall into another dimension at any time.

The latest news from Breeze Harbor is that the last civilian cargo ship that can return to the port before sunset has docked at the pier - the city-state navy is setting up outposts and navigation marks in the nearby waters, and is moving a mobile port equipped with a high-power steam core and church facilities to the sea between the city-state and the "luminous geometry". After that, ships returning to the city-state must dock at that temporary port, and only after strict inspection and quarantine are they allowed to approach the city-state.

Duncan stood on the bow deck, listening to Morris's report on the situation at Breeze Harbor, and nodded slightly. "Lawrence is currently in the city-state of Phaeron. He said that there is a 24-hour window for returning ships after nightfall. After the window is over, the returnees must stay at the temporary dock near the city-state for inspection and quarantine."

"Each city-state is developing different response plans based on its own situation and experience, but no one knows which plan will be the most effective," said Vanna. "But no matter what, it shouldn't be a big problem for everyone to get through the first nightfall - even with only the stored supplies, most city-states can safely welcome the sunrise. What's really worrying... is the future."

Duncan didn't say anything, just thought quietly.

After a long while, he suddenly spoke: "What about the sightings of the 'End Survey Team'?"

"Just as you expected, there have been sporadic reports of sightings in other parts of the world," Vanna nodded. "Her Majesty Helena and I have confirmed this. She mentioned that since a few days ago, there have been at least five sightings of phantoms from another time and space appearing suddenly within the influence of the Deep Sea Church. After comparison and confirmation, three of them are most likely the End of Time Survey Team that is carrying out observation missions at the end of time."

Duncan pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

And in the corner of his eye, the last ray of sunset glow finally gradually disappeared on the sea.

It's getting dark.