Chapter 1 Sherry

On the foredeck of the Brilliant Star, Sherry clung to the railing, her face alight with excitement as she watched the coastline gradually take shape on the distant horizon. She shouted with glee, "Oh, oh, oh! I see the port! I can see the port already!"

"Don't get too excited and fall overboard," said Agou from beside her. "And don't just stand there grinning like an idiot. Don't forget what you promised the captain before we left, that even when you go out to play..."

Sherry waved her hand dismissively before he could finish. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Agou, you're such a nag, like an old mother hen..."

The Abyssal Hound, sprawled out on the nearby deck, immediately voiced its displeasure and began its own round of nagging, while Lucrezia, standing not far away, watched the commotion on the deck with a complex, subtle expression, her eyes flickering as she seemed lost in thought.

Nina stood beside Lucrezia, looking nervously at this "Sea Witch" with her elegant, mysterious aura, beautiful face, and unsettling aloofness. She spoke softly, "You don't think Sherry is too noisy, do you? She's always like this..."

"It doesn't matter," Lucrezia said, turning her head slightly. "This ship is always noisy. My dolls make even more commotion."

"Oh..." Nina replied. Then, with a shy smile, she added, "Um... thank you for letting us board this ship."

"Father asked me to take you to Galeport, so I naturally will," Lucrezia said, glancing at Nina. She seemed a little uncomfortable dealing with strangers, but this discomfort and awkwardness always came across as coldness and arrogance to others, so she tried to adjust her expression to appear a little gentler. "I remember your name is Nina, right?"

"Yes." Nina nodded quickly, a bright smile spreading across her face.

"...You call my father 'Uncle Duncan'," Lucrezia said, a hint of curiosity in her expression. "You... aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid? Uncle Duncan is a very nice person," Nina said with a smile. Then she paused, her bright smile softening into a gentle one as she looked into the "Witch" girl's eyes. "I know what happened. You don't have to worry... But I think it's good the way it is now."

"...I see." Lucrezia quietly looked at Nina for a moment and nodded slightly.

But then she heard the girl named Nina ask curiously, "Miss Lucrezia, are you... and Uncle Duncan not on good terms?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I heard someone say that the Brilliant Star broke away from the Forsaken Fleet a century ago. And when Uncle Duncan brought us here just now, I saw that you were always intentionally avoiding his gaze," Nina said, her voice gradually fading. "Sorry, did I say something wrong? That doesn't seem very polite..."

"We did take different paths," Lucrezia said, not minding. She shook her head. "But that was in the past. As for now, the relationship between my father and I can't really be described as good or bad. I think... we just haven't seen each other in too long."

Nina listened with wide eyes. She seemed to sense the subtle regret and sadness in the "Witch" girl's tone, and hesitated for a moment. "You're different from what I imagined... I was quite nervous before I actually met you."

"People always make wild guesses about things they don't understand, and they never take responsibility for their guesses," Lucrezia smiled. "Also, you don't have to use honorifics when addressing me, Nina. You can just call me by my name."

Nina was taken aback. "But you..."

"My father is your 'Uncle Duncan'," Lucrezia looked at Nina, her smile finally showing some genuine warmth. "Under these circumstances, if you keep using honorifics, I'll feel very awkward."

Nina thought for a moment and nodded. "Oh, I guess so..."

Lucrezia's lips curved upward. She looked at the girl, who was essentially a shard of the sun, but whose words and actions were just those of an ordinary girl. She then turned her head to look at the "Demon Summoner" not far away, who was sprawled out on the railing, eagerly anticipating exploring the city.

At the same time, the scholar Morris was in the ship's cabin, reminiscing with Talan El, whom he hadn't seen in decades. The two seemed to be discussing a visit to Galeport's city-state university. The "Exiled Judge" named Vanna was in the middle of the deck, curiously touring the ship's unique "spiritual structure" under the guidance of the rabbit Rabi.

As for the living doll named Alice, she was definitely with her father right now—as soon as he boarded the ship, he said he wanted to introduce her to Rooney, and then he left with her.

They were her father's new "followers"—while countless smart people in the world were racking their brains to guess the purpose behind the reorganization of the Forsaken Fleet, these people seemed to be on vacation.

In a way, these people were indeed powerful, each possessing unique skills, and definitely worthy of a place in the Forsaken Fleet. But from another perspective...

They were completely different from what Lucrezia had initially imagined.

This was not a group of terrifying and oppressive "denizens of the sub-space." On the contrary, they were interesting and easy to get along with. Her father had gathered these people together... not because of any profound or long-term plan, but simply because these traveling companions had happened to come together.

"After we dock, I'll arrange a place for you to stay," Lucrezia said, gathering her scattered thoughts. "I have several strongholds in Galeport that are kept relatively clean. Do you have any goals after you enter the city? I can give you some recommendations."

"Recommendations?" Nina's eyes lit up at the words. "Then, do you know where to find a lot of good food in Galeport? I heard that this city-state has the most diverse cuisine in the entire Endless Sea. That's what I came for!"

Lucrezia's expression became subtle for a moment. "...'Gourmet food' in Galeport?"

Nina nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

"...Didn't my father explain the elven food culture to you in detail?"

"No," Nina said with a blank look, seeming to vaguely sense the subtlety in the other's tone. "Um, did I get something wrong?"

"...It can't be considered wrong. You need to experience it firsthand to understand," Lucrezia thought for a moment, then said seriously, "I'll take you to Crown District later."

Nina looked expectant. "Are there a lot of delicious things there?"

"...It's close to the hospital."

Nina: "...?"

At the same time, inside the Brilliant Star's crew quarters, Duncan found a place to sit and rested while watching an interesting scene not far away with great interest.

Two dolls were standing there, both looking a little dazed.

Alice curiously sized up the strange "person" in front of her who looked even more "doll-like" than she did. After thinking for a long time, she suddenly turned her head. "Captain! How do you make friends with strangers?"

"Start with introductions," Duncan said, pulling a few fries out of nowhere and tossing them to Ai, who was strolling leisurely on a small table nearby. "Start with your name."

"Oh," Alice nodded, turning to look at Rooney, who was standing opposite her. "Hello, my name is Alice, also known as Anomaly 099."

"Hello, I am Rooney," the clockwork doll standing opposite Alice also bent down, introducing herself with great politeness. "I am the servant of Lady Lucrezia. Are you the servant of the Old Master?"

"I'm not. I'm the captain's doll! I'm responsible for cooking and cleaning on the ship!"

Rooney tilted her head, and a slight sound of gears grinding came from somewhere in her body.

Alice continued to curiously size up her new friend. "You don't have any strings on your head!"

"Strings? What are those?"

"They're something everyone has, floating out of their bodies. The captain said that only I can see them," Alice gestured. "He said it might be 'Soul Threads.' I don't understand what he means, but as soon as I grab them, people stop moving..."

"Your words are difficult to understand," Rooney said in a somewhat rigid tone. "I am a doll. I have no soul... but I have a wind-up key."

As she spoke, the clockwork doll turned around, showing Alice the wind-up handle on her lower back that looked like a big bow.

"Wow, a wind-up key! I have one too!" Alice immediately became happy and turned around to show her new friend. "See this spot? There's also a wind-up hole under my clothes, but I can't reach it myself, so the wind-up key is in the captain's hands..."

"Interesting, we have similarities," a series of gears whirred happily inside Rooney, and she seemed happy. "This is the first time I've met someone similar to myself. The Lady and the Old Master both said that you could be friends with me. It seems they were right."

"Right? The captain is amazing!" Alice said happily. "And look, our joints seem very similar, even though your arms are a little harder than mine..."

Rooney lowered her head and examined her arm. "Yes, we have similar joint structures."

Alice became even happier and then reached out and held her head. "Right, can your head be pulled off? Mine can! Look—"

With a "pop," Alice pulled off her head in front of Rooney, holding it up in her hands and showing off. "You, you, look, can be pulled, pulled off..."

Rooney looked in amazement at her new friend's incredible feat and also reached out and held her head, pulling down.

*Crack.*

(End of Chapter)