Chapter 127 Banquet

Duncan knew that the arrangements he had made today were destined to bring turmoil to the boundless sea—this "warning" was enough to shock everyone, not only because of the content of the warning but also because of its source.

The civilized world would face a small "Vanishing Hitchhiker shock."

"This is a big deal," Tyrion broke the silence. "The Church doesn't need to worry. They have always been keen and professional in dealing with transcendent crises and will definitely give it enough attention. But the city-states are complex, and I doubt whether everyone can establish an effective early warning mechanism!"

Before that, let's consider how many people will properly respond to this warning.

Lucresia's voice came from the crystal ball: "In this world, there are countless warnings about the Weiyou, and most of them come from those crazy cultists—now the Vanishing Hitchhiker suddenly starts warning the world, frankly speaking, many people's first reaction is probably the same as when they encountered those Weiyou cultists, or even worse."

Sherry muttered softly across the table: "After all, its reputation precedes it. That's their business."

Duncan glanced at Sherry expressionlessly, shook his head and said, "The Vanishing Hitchhiker's reputation is a good thing. Even if some people don't want to believe the warning, they will at least take the warning itself seriously—even if it's out of fear of the Vanishing Hitchhiker, they will be cautious. That's enough!"

"I will contact the Church as soon as possible." Agatha nodded, her voice hoarse and gentle. "I believe the Sanctum of Death will definitely pay attention to this warning from the Vanishing Hitchhiker with the highest level of attention!"

"After the Deep Sea of Death and the Academy of Truth receive the news, the Flamekeepers will definitely receive it as well." Vanna also nodded and added, "I will directly confirm this matter with the Pope!"

"I haven't communicated with the Academy Ark for a long time. This is a good opportunity to catch up with old friends." Morris took off his monocle and wiped it. "But I need to prepare some extra rituals. It's not easy to contact the Academy Ark from the boundless sea for the required ointments and herbal powders!" Hearing Morris' words, Duncan suddenly thought of something!

"Has there been any progress in the matter I asked you to investigate last time?" He looked at the great scholar. "Have you found the source of the broken cross mark carried by the Preacher of the End?"

"I'm sorry, there is no progress yet." Morris showed a hint of apology on his face. "I have written many letters to my academic friends and contacted several universities with good relations, but I have not found any records related to that kind of broken cross mark. At present, I can only confirm that they may have appeared on the architectural ruins of some ancient Cretan kingdoms..."

"I see…"

Duncan was slightly regretful, but he knew that investigating a mysterious symbol without sufficient information was like looking for a needle in a haystack, so he didn't dwell too much on this issue, and casually said, "Then continue to pay attention to this matter, and tell me as soon as there is any progress!"

Morris immediately lowered his head, "Yes, Captain!"

Duncan hummed, then thought briefly to confirm if there was anything missing, then gently exhaled, got up from the long table and swept his eyes across everyone present!

"Then today's gathering is over. The general direction of the action has been set. If you have any questions later, you can confirm with me at any time!"

Laurence at the end of the long table subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief!

This gathering was not as gloomy and terrifying as he had imagined, nor was it filled with bizarre rituals or strict and bloody rules, but even so, the mere fact of being "watched by Captain Duncan at any time" here made him feel a lot of pressure. As a "newcomer" here, he had been tense all over, and now he could finally relax, but he had only relaxed halfway when he realized that the others around the table had no intention of getting up and leaving at all. On the contrary, most people, including the highly respected scholar Morris, looked forward to the next part of the gathering. Still more procedures?

Just as a trace of doubt arose in Laurence's heart, he heard Nina's voice coming from across the table: "Ah, finally finished talking, let's eat, I'm hungry!"

"Eat a big meal today. Eat a big meal." Sherry also shouted happily.

"Today is the Youzi of the gathering, there is good soup stewing in the pot, the time is just right." Alice said as she got up, "I'll push the dining car over."

Laurence looked at the scene in front of him in a daze, not understanding what was going to happen next. He turned his head and glanced at Agatha, who was closest to him, but saw that her expression was as confused as his!

Just then, Duncan's voice suddenly came from the head of the long table, answering Laurence's and Agatha's doubts: "After talking about business, we have a meal together. This is the rule on the ship!"

"After talking about business… have a meal together?"

Laurence listened in surprise, thinking he had misheard something, but then he saw that the "living puppet" actually pushed a large dining car back to the cabin. The old dining car creaked as it was pushed, and many containers on the car were filled with steaming… food!

Laurence watched in stunned silence, watching Alice move the food onto the table, watching Sherry and Nina run back and forth to help place the plates and cutlery. He smelled the aroma of food—there was fresh bread, vegetables, and fruit, and it was normal food that he, a human, could eat!

The most intense of all the aromas came from a pot of soup at the end of the long table!

Delicious fish soup, in which tender meat that could no longer be identified, slightly curled up, was soaked. Heat was rising, and the curled slices of meat on the slightly swaying surface of the soup seemed to retain a little bit of activity, still spasming in the lingering steam!

But upon closer inspection, that tremor and spasm seemed like an illusion and had never happened!

Laurence stood up unconsciously, his eyes falling on the fish soup. He couldn't tell what kind of fish it was, nor could he detect anything unusual about this "food," but a strong intuition still beat in his heart, something that had been accumulated over decades of wandering in the boundless sea, an "experience reaction" that allowed him, an "ordinary person" without spiritual talent, to perceive certain transcendent things.

It was something extremely dangerous, a terror that could kill people and bury ocean-going ships in the deep sea.

"It's... it's fresh fish,"

Duncan said with a smile to Laurence and Agatha, who were attending the gathering for the first time: "I just caught it today, and I specially ran to a place quite a distance from Frost Island to catch it!"

"Fish?"

"Fish" caught in the sea area far away from safe shipping lanes and island shelters?

Laurence felt a little dazed, and some shocking guesses suddenly appeared in his heart, while Morris, not far away, nodded to him friendly: "It's what you think, Captain Laurence, but relax, this is a necessary step to join us, and you don't need to worry, it's harmless now, it's really food on this ship."

Laurence listened confusedly, and by the time he reacted, Alice had already placed a bowl of steaming fish soup on the table in front of him!

But when she came to Agatha, Alice stopped in confusion!

"I can't eat anything." Agatha looked a little embarrassed. "This body is already a dead shell, and I can no longer enjoy the delicacies!"

"It's okay." Duncan waved his hand generously when he saw this. "It's said to be a rule on the ship, but it's actually no different from an ordinary gathering. Those who can eat can eat something, and those who can't eat can chat a few words to get closer!"

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at the crystal ball in front of Tyrion: "Lucy, don't forget your dinner either!"

"I'm eating, I'm eating..." Lucresia replied quickly. "Luni brought me baked apple pie and salty meat pie."

After Duncan finished listening, he nodded and smiled at the sides of the long table, and casually picked up the wine glass placed beside him, raised his glass high as the host: "Then, for the Youzi of our gathering here, cheers!"

The slight feeling of dizziness faded away little by little, and the faint green firelight at the edge of the field of vision gradually dissipated in the air, and the fresh and cold sea breeze blew across the deck, bringing a moment of clarity to the mind!

The experience of attending a gathering on the Vanishing Hitchhiker still felt like a dream, lingering in his mind with a little unreality.

Laurence shook his head, letting himself further recover his sanity, and then came to the edge of the deck, looking at the sea that was gradually darkening into night!

The slightly glowing silhouette of the Vanishing Hitchhiker still floated on the sea not far from the White Oak, just like a dream!

Gathering on a mysterious ghost ship, communicating with various figures including living puppets, fragments of the sun, and demonic specters, and discussing the secrets of ancient gods and the Weiyou in the depths of the spirit world.

Then, under the gaze and witness of the shadows of the subspace, sharing the flesh and blood of the Deep Sea Spawn!

The gathering ended, and the wind of the real world blew across his cheeks again. As the tension and numbness in his mind gradually faded away, and he was able to think with human reason again, as the relaxed and strange impressions during the gathering dissipated.

Laurence finally gradually realized the "essential appearance" of everything that had just happened!

A belated "realization" surged up, but he couldn't tell what he was feeling in his heart at the moment. Normal people should feel scared, should feel terrified, and at least should feel terrified when recalling the "fish" they had eaten!

But he didn't feel anything, only an unusual peace and sense of belonging, soothing his agitated mood!

It smells so good...