Snow fell silently and steadily, not too heavy, but it looked like it would continue for a long time. The sun's rays were blocked by dark, heavy clouds, and the light that filtered through was dim but definitely present.

Looking out through the street-facing window, one could see pedestrians on the road – people who had survived the disaster, fear still lingering in their eyes.

These shaken citizens emerged from their hiding places, confirming the presence of acquaintances on the streets, inquiring about the whereabouts of the missing, asking if there was any new news from the upper city, and some were still immersed in the horror of the mirrored invasion, startled and cowering at every figure passing by, rushing out of their homes only to lock themselves back inside.

Battered steam walkers and equally battered city-state guards, constabulary forces, and guardian squads passed by at the crossroads. Their appearance reassured many people. The large loudspeakers installed on the steam walkers broadcast announcements that the anomaly was over – the mirrored invasion had subsided, and the entire city would enter a forty-eight-hour period of security control. The city-state authorities would use this time to regain control of the situation and clear up hidden dangers in the city. Material supplies, electricity, steam power, and fresh water would be restored as soon as possible, and all districts were notified to report casualties as soon as possible…

The loudspeaker broadcast, mixed with static, faded away, and the rough sound quality accentuated the desolate atmosphere on the streets on this snowy day. However, after the steam walkers passed through the streets, many people's nerves gradually relaxed.

Shirley leaned against the living room window, watching the scene on the street while muttering to herself, "I wonder how long this chaos will last... Bread will definitely go up in price."

Nina sat on the sofa next to her, blowing out hot air that distorted the air with her mouth open. Hearing Shirley's muttering, she turned her head, "It's definitely going to be chaotic for a while. It took Pland three days to restore security back then – but it definitely won't be too outrageous, after all, the constabulary forces are still there…"

"Hey, hey! Don't blow your breath at me!" Shirley couldn't stand the hot wind and retreated from the window in a flustered manner, shouting at Nina while dodging, "You're blowing air like a leaking steam core! Why is it so hot!"

Nina quickly put her hand in front of her mouth, muttering an apology while hot air billowed from the corners of her mouth, "Sorry, sorry... I was maintaining that state for too long..."

Just then, Duncan's voice entered the two girls' ears, "I told you, Nina can only stay in the sky for a short while now – her condition is unstable."

As soon as Shirley heard this voice, she quickly turned around and stood at attention. Nina also jumped off the sofa and ran to Duncan with a smile, "Uncle Duncan!"

Duncan smiled as well, gently hugging Nina, who was radiating heat, then turned his head and nodded slightly in response to Maurice and Vanna, who were rising from the chairs beside him and bowing in respect, "Looks like you're all in good condition."

"In good condition," Maurice adjusted his monocle, "and deeply shocked."

"I thought my nerves were thick enough after the great fire in Pland," Vanna said, her tone filled with emotion and awe, "To be honest, it's more relaxing to talk to you like this – I mean, under a normal 'scale'."

"Once in a while is enough to handle," Duncan waved his hand, "But I have to say, the view from the sky is indeed impressive."

As he spoke, his gaze noticed something on the dining table not far away.

It was a large book with a black cover, with no words or symbols on the cover, the whole book exuding an eerie and dangerous atmosphere.

"Is this the 'Book of Blasphemy' you seized from that Annihilation Cult sub-leader?" Duncan's eyes fell on the book, "It looks... definitely not like any proper reading material."

"Yes," Maurice nodded, carefully picking up the book, "I did some simple identification of this book later, under the premise of ensuring safety, and speculated that this should not be an 'original', but a copy held by a special member of the Annihilation Cult – because if it were the original, it should have more powerful power, and be more precious, it is impossible for a sub-leader to bring it to the city-state casually."

At this point he paused, his tone with a hint of uncertainty, "As for the role of this book... it may be used to spread the teachings, or it may serve as a medium in casting or rituals. It contains some content related to the Abyssal Lord. This part of the content should be able to be used as a source of power for those cultists, but the specific situation can only be guessed."

As he spoke, he handed the book over, "Do you want to take a look now?"

"Let's take it back to the ship and read it," Duncan shook his head, "This city is still very chaotic. Something might happen after I open this book, so let's add less chaos – and there will be guests in a while."

"Guests?" Vanna asked curiously, "What guests will there be at this time?"

Duncan glanced at Vanna, his tone with a smile, "Your colleague, she's coming this way."

After speaking, he didn't care about Vanna's suddenly strange expression, but went to the window facing the street and sat down on the sofa, in a posture of waiting patiently.

Footsteps sounded from beside him, and Alice walked to Duncan, the doll lady's face with the same carefree and optimistic expression as always: "Captain! When are we going home? Go back after receiving the guests?"

Duncan raised his eyelids and glanced at the solid-headed doll, "Do you think... things here are over?"

"Ah? Otherwise what?" Alice looked puzzled, "The villains are all dead, the disaster is over, and then the remaining people continue to adventure – that's what it says in the picture books…"

The corner of Duncan's mouth twitched, and he looked up at Alice, "What else did the picture book say?"

"The picture book also said that the prince and the knight lived a happy life together..."

Duncan: "...?"

He choked for a long time, finally uttering a word, "Usually, shouldn't there be a princess or something in this kind of picture book story..."

"The princess ran away with the housekeeper..."

Duncan was silent for a few seconds, then took a light breath.

"Where did this kind of picture book come from?"

Alice thought for a while, raised her hand and pointed to Shirley: "There are a lot in her room..."

The next second, before Duncan could speak, Shirley jumped up and rushed towards the door, "I saw a used bookstore that couldn't continue to open and was clearing out books very cheaply, so I bought a bunch. Didn't you tell me to read more books usually, preferably starting with picture books? I didn't expect they were all such strange things, no wonder they couldn't continue to open, it's really none of my business..."

The girl ran across half the living room howling like a ghost. Duncan hadn't even planned to teach her a lesson yet, but she had already ran to the door and slammed it open, raising her leg and running out.

The next second, there was a bang outside the door, followed by Shirley's exclamation: "Holy sh** what the he** did I just crash into..."

Almost everyone in the room was dumbfounded – Alice didn't react to what happened at all, Nina was startled by Shirley's close-range howling, Vanna didn't expect Shirley to be so brave, Maurice... this highly respected old gentleman was still immersed in the story of "the princess ran away with the housekeeper" and was deeply shocked.

Only Duncan remained sitting safely on the sofa, neither chasing Shirley nor curious about what was happening at the door.

He just turned his head and looked towards the door.

Footsteps sounded, and a young lady walked in hesitantly.

She was wearing a black cleric's robe with church markings, her eyes covered with a thick black cloth, her long hair draped behind her, and crack-like scars could still be seen on the exposed skin of her arms and neck. Those wounds, which should have been terrifying, had a sacred aura like stigmata.

More importantly, she was carrying Shirley, who was baring her teeth and claws.

"Sorry," Agatha raised her head, "looking" at the figures in the room a little nervously, "I wanted to knock on the door, but... she suddenly ran out."

As she spoke, her gaze swept across the room.

In the house that had faded in color and presented a black and white gray texture, figures exuding a strong sense of presence came into her "vision" –

She saw a dimly outlined old man, surrounded by colorful light streams, and matrix-like light spots flashing in the old man's body, as if Rahm was casting his gaze on the mortal world;

There was also a tall figure standing next to the old man, the figure's outline was dark and chaotic, filled with ominous light and shadow reminiscent of the subspace, but there was also a touch of faint green flame jumping between the light and shadow, maintaining the figure's stability;

A beam of bright arc-shaped flame stood near the window, the flame did not seem to have the power of mystical properties, but released pure light and heat. Just looking at it, it felt like the soul was being scorched;

There was also a hollow shell standing in the room, countless faint thin lines spreading around the shell. She seemed to be casting a curious gaze this way. Under that gaze, Agatha even felt a fear that her own soul would be captured and become one of the "thin lines."

And among these figures, the most powerful one was there.

A brilliant starlight walked towards her.

"Welcome, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The starlight said to her.

(End of Chapter)