Chapter 79 Homecoming

Accompanied by the rush of air from the pipes, a clear and melodious whistle sounded from the upper levels of the Truth Academy Ark. The Vanishing Sail had once again docked at the steam-powered mechanical wharf at the end of the Ark's coastline. Knowledge Guardians and scholars in deep blue robes appeared on the gangway, ready to welcome back their Pope.

Duncan saw Luen coming out of the captain's cabin on the stern deck.

The short, plump elven elder had been in the captain's cabin, having a long, long talk with their race's "Creator." Duncan didn't know what they had discussed with the goat-headed figure, but he knew that when Luen came out of the cabin, the expression on his face looked somewhat lost.

There was also a kind of blank-minded tranquility.

He approached the "Truth Pope" and greeted him several times before the latter finally woke up from that daze and emptiness.

"Your church ship is already waiting next door," Duncan said, pointing to the giant Ark outside the ship's side, which resembled a small city-state. "Scholars and guardians have come to take you back."

Luen looked up and belatedly nodded, "Oh... yes, it's time to go back."

Looking at the elven elder's reaction, Duncan couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, "What did you talk about with Sasloska? You weren't in this state when you first boarded the ship..."

"We talked about... many things," Luen hesitated, seemingly not knowing where to start, "Many, many things."

Duncan frowned, vaguely realizing, "It seems you saw the First Mate's usual self."

Luen immediately perked up, seemingly truly regaining his senses. He looked up at Duncan, hesitated for a long time, and finally opened his mouth, "...Why does He talk so much?"

"I'm more surprised that He speaks so little in His mythological form," Duncan laughed, with a hint of pleasure in his smile, "What you see now is His personality when He's on my ship—strictly speaking, His personality as 'Goathead'."

Luen opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something but not knowing where to start. After a long silence, he suddenly laughed in relief, "...It's not bad, He seems to like it this way."

The deck fell silent for a moment, as if no one cared about the pilgrimage Ark waiting for the Pope's return next door. After an unknown amount of time, Duncan broke the silence, "How do you plan to handle the 'truth' of this incident? Especially the part about Sasloska."

"Most of the content will be limited to the high-level members of the Four Gods Church. Like all transcendent events pointing to the gods, we will block the news, handle the aftermath, and carefully assess the long-term impact of this incident on the real world. As for the elven society..."

Luen paused here. He thought for a moment, and then gently shook his head.

"The ancient times have passed. Let the legends... continue to sleep in the legends. This is also 'His' intention."

"That's good, I don't like trouble," Duncan nodded, then changed the subject, "But there's one thing I need to remind you—this is the third city-state."

Luen immediately understood what Duncan meant, and his expression became serious.

"Pland, Frost, Windport... The causes and processes of each incident seem different. Each time, they seem to be independent 'special disasters'. The biggest mastermind behind each incident seems to be those cultists, but a group of cultists alone cannot shake the world's most fundamental order," Duncan said seriously, "What these incidents truly reveal is that the 'foundation' of this world is shaking—I want to know if the Four Gods Church has any solutions to this, what do you know, and what kind of response plan do you have."

Luen was silent with a somber face. After a long time, he nodded gently.

"I understand what you mean... Now I have also confirmed your position. At least in my personal judgment, now is indeed the time to abandon suspicion and further cooperate."

Duncan looked at him, "But you still have to consider the reactions of the other three Gods Churches, right?"

"It's not just considering their reactions... but also the reaction of the gods," Luen said frankly, "I will discuss this matter with the other three Popes as soon as possible. No matter the outcome, I will give you an answer—similarly, no matter the outcome, at least the Truth Academy will, from now on, give the Vanishing Fleet the greatest trust and cooperation."

Duncan nodded. He knew that this was the biggest commitment the other party could give him at this stage.

Just then, Luen seemed to remember something else and suddenly said, "There's also one more thing—I've heard about Miss Vanna's experience in this incident. I think... at least the Fire Keepers should be coming to find you soon."

"Fire Keepers?" Duncan frowned, immediately realizing what he meant.

He turned his head and looked to the other side of the deck—Vanna was leaning against a pillar by the ship's side, enjoying the sea breeze. She seemed to be closing her eyes and resting, but Duncan's attention was not on her, but on something placed beside her.

It was a huge, strange staff like a tree trunk, its end swelling like a strangely shaped boulder. The staff body was straight and rough, and the entire staff was covered with carvings like mysterious symbols.

That was what the giant named Tarigin had left to Vanna—even though the Dream of the Nameless One had completely dissipated, this staff remained, and together with that strange "mini-sun," it returned to the real world with the Vanishing Sail.

"Eternal Burning Ember, Tarigin, the God of the Fire Keepers," Luen said quietly, "The 'giant' that Miss Vanna saw in the Dream of the Nameless One should have been a phantom left in Silantis's memory in the form of a 'reverberation' during the collision of the two worlds, but even if it was a phantom, it was still a phantom of an ancient god. The things He left behind have now crossed the boundaries of dreams and reality.

"That staff... if I'm not mistaken, it should be the 'Chronicle Pillar' that the Fire Keepers enshrine—there is a 'device' on the Freem's pilgrimage Ark that looks almost exactly like it. It is regarded as the core of the pilgrimage Ark, but its size is much larger than that 'staff'. I've seen it. It looks more like a huge monument...

"And that 'Chronicle Pillar' built on the Fire Keepers' Ark is actually a 'replica' made according to the Holy Scriptures. For a long time, the real 'Chronicle Pillar' has only existed in legends."

Duncan pondered, "In other words, the staff that Vanna brought back is the 'genuine product' described in the Holy Scriptures."

"It can only be said to be the closest thing known to the 'genuine product'," Luen said rigorously, "Perhaps no real 'genuine product' exists in this world anymore—the Great Annihilation ended everything. When we trace back from the Deep Sea Era, the limit we can reach is only infinitely close to the so-called 'genuine product'."

"Anyway, it seems that the 'staff' is of great significance to the Fire Keepers," Duncan nodded slightly, "You think they will want to take the staff, is that what you mean?"

"I'm not sure. Freem is a generous and fair person. He never forces others to do things they don't want to do, and he won't take what doesn't belong to him, but... you know, that is, after all, the 'Chronicle Pillar' left by the Eternal Burning Ember. Whether it is for the Fire Keeper sect or for the Sentine, its significance is too special."

Duncan said nothing, just quietly watching the "staff" that was currently placed beside Vanna, thinking in silence.

For some reason, he thought of the long sword that had been thrown into the sky.

He gave that long sword to the research institute in Windport because, for him, the only important thing was the "information" about another world behind that sword. As for the transcendent item itself, he was not a professional researcher.

Similarly, that staff didn't really mean much to him, even if it had been held in the hands of Eternal Burning Ember Tarigin—Duncan was only interested in the "truth" and "knowledge" of the Great Annihilation. After obtaining that information, he didn't care about anything else.

There were many transcendent items in this world, but for Duncan, most of them were worthless—not even worth taking up a space on the Vanishing Sail.

But the problem this time was that the staff was left to Vanna by Tarigin.

He had to respect his crew member.

"I personally don't mind handing the staff over to the Fire Keepers. After all, just like the significance of that 'Horo-Dazo Long Poem' in your hands to the elves, the 'Chronicle Pillar' is indeed a relic of the Sentine civilization—but I must consider Vanna's feelings," he said frankly, "Since you already know Vanna's experience, then you should know that she cherishes that staff."

He paused and said to Luen very seriously, "That is the relic of her 'friend'—I am not as generous and fair as Freem in your mouth, I am protective of my own."

"...I understand your attitude," Luen nodded with a serious expression, "I will convey these words to Freem and let him carefully consider this matter—lest both parties be embarrassed at that time."

Duncan nodded slightly, "That's the best."

The melodious and loud whistle sounded again, and large clouds of steam rose into the sky above the Academy Ark.

Luen said goodbye to everyone on the Vanishing Sail. Then, under the watchful eyes of Duncan and the others, the elven elder stepped onto the gangway back to the Ark.

The mechanical gangway, driven by a huge steam engine, slowly retracted. Then, the entire deformable dock structure was also retracted into the "coastal structure" on the side of the Ark in a series of heavy mechanical operating sounds. This "church battleship," equivalent to a small city-state, made a low rumble and gradually separated from the Vanishing Sail.

But Duncan knew that this Ark would not immediately return to the border—Luen revealed his next arrangement. The pilgrimage Ark will continue to stay in Windport for a while to assist this "newly awakened" city-state in handling a series of aftermath matters.

But that had nothing to do with the Vanishing Sail.

Now, Duncan was going to deal with another matter that needed "handling."

He came to the captain's cabin at the stern of the ship and pushed the door open.

(End of this chapter)