Deep Sea Embers

The "Haiyan" stopped.

When this terrifying charger stopped, it had almost been reduced to a pile of fragments under the continuous bombardment. The original hull structure had long since disappeared, and there was not even a complete deck or building wreckage. The shredded hull and internal materials spilled over the sea like splashes, black mud slowly spread among the fragmented wreckage, and the remaining flames burned among these fragments, foul smoke Rolling up.

And on the path that the Haiyan once charged, there are all those strange substances like mud - the ominous black outlines a band-shaped trace in the sea water that is more than ten nautical miles long, as if some kind of mollusc creature crawled ashore Like the disgusting mucus left by time, it slowly drifts and undulates with the wind and waves on the sea surface, and lasts for a long time.

The roar of the coastal defense guns stopped, and the thick smoke filled the entire coastline. Li Si Te fixedly watched the burning wreckage on the sea in the distance. It took him a long time to be sure that the thing had really stopped completely, and he hesitated to break the silence. :"it's over?"

"...Maybe it's just the beginning," Agatha's voice was slightly hoarse, and a pale gleam flashed in her eyes from time to time. Even though the "Petrel" had ceased to operate, she was still worriedly observing the ghosts in the spirit world. Sight, to confirm whether there is still something moving towards the city-state among the wreckage, "Don't forget, the Haiyan has a problem after returning from Dagger Island."

Liszt's expression became very ugly.

"When was the last message from that island?"

"Just a few hours ago, a telegram said that everything on the island is normal," Liszt frowned, "the church's spiritual communication has always been fine."

"...Block Dagger Island, Mr. Colonel, from now on, don't believe any news from that island," Agatha breathed out softly, "I will return to the cathedral now, and believe in further Lockdown orders will be issued shortly."

"Thank you for your help, Lady Agatha."

"Everything is for the peace of the city-state," Agatha said softly, reciting a short proverb from the Book of the Dead, "Everything is in order."

...

Half an hour ago.

There were thunderous sounds from far away, one after another, and even more intense one after another. Judging from the direction of the sound, it seemed to be near the coast on the east side of the city-state.

Duncan raised his head and looked at the sky in the direction of the sound, and could vaguely see clouds rising over there.

"What's that sound?" Alice nervously supported her head, looking at Duncan helplessly, "Is it thunder?"

"It sounds like the movement of a giant cannon," Fan Na on the other side changed her expression slightly, "Coastal defense artillery? What happened, why is there a salvo of coastal defense artillery..."

Duncan had a thoughtful expression on his face. The first thing he thought of was the report letter he handed over to the old guard, and the next thing he thought of was the direction of Dagger Island—— Is it right?

The sound of flapping wings suddenly sounded from nearby, and an inconspicuous fat pigeon flapped its wings and soared into the air from the shadow of the building next to it, and quickly flew into the distance.

"Don't worry, I asked Ai to check the situation," Duncan said, then raised his head and looked at the house that seemed to be a little old in front of him, "Let's continue to talk about the situation of this house."

Morris on the side immediately coughed twice, and continued the interrupted introduction just now—although the faint roar from a distance continued, since the captain was so calm, there was obviously nothing to worry about: "This house Fanna and I picked out four rental houses—the other three were either too close to the city center for easy mobility, or the houses themselves were in poor condition for living. It’s a bit old, but the landlord has maintained the house very well, and the inside is quite clean.

"This house is at No. 44 Oak Street. Next door is Hearth Street. The landlord has another residence on the other side of Hearth Street. He doesn't come to bother him on weekdays. There is a small road connecting the two blocks, and the chapel is located between the two blocks. On the small square, some distance from here...

"We are on a short-term rental contract. The average daily rent is more expensive than long-term rental, but we can check out at any time. Currently, we have temporarily paid half a month's rent--Fanna and I have met the landlord, and he is a good talker. A well-educated lady, she generously sent some daily necessities over after she learned of my status as a traveling scholar..."

Duncan listened to the old man's careful introduction, and at the same time looked at the temporary accommodation in front of him.

This is a single-family building with typical northern city-state characteristics. The gray-white exterior wall is slightly rough and covered with porous mortar with good thermal insulation. The house has two floors, the windows are relatively narrow, and there are wall lamps and mailbox openings next to the black gate. Its roof is high and steep, with black tiles to help snow melt and fall off, and steam and gas pipes extend from thick pipes above the block and send them into the building along the gable walls.

It's not a luxurious residence, but it's more than enough as a temporary place to stay—it's even a little more spacious than the two-story building in Plante that functions as a store and housing.

Arranging Morris and Fanna to solve the problem of where to stay is indeed the right choice-this matter cannot be handled by other people on board.

Morris stepped forward, took out the key from his pocket and opened the door, followed by Duncan and Alice.

Entering the door is the hallway for taking off shoes and changing clothes, followed by a fairly spacious living room with slightly yellowish light grain wallpaper on the wall, the dining room is connected to the living room, and another bedroom is located next to the dining room, leading to the second floor. The stairs are facing the main door, and it seems that most of the bedrooms are placed on the second floor.

The floor is a little loose when stepped on, and there is a slight creaking sound that symbolizes the passage of time. The simple tables and chairs are glowing in the sun, and there is not much dust to be seen. On the table in the restaurant, a bouquet of brightly colored flowers can be seen— — Apparently fake flowers made of cloth or plastic.

"This is also sent by the landlord. It is said that it is the rule of Frost. The landlord prepares a bouquet of flowers that will not wither in winter for the new tenant, which heralds health and safety."

"...every place has strange rules," Duncan said with a slight smile, "this place is not bad... and it's far away from the main road, so it should be quieter usually."

While talking, he raised his head and looked towards the second floor: "It seems that Nina and Shirley can be taken over to do their homework. They have already started complaining about being bored on the boat."

The corner of Fan Na's mouth twitched suddenly: "... Shirley may indeed be complaining about being bored, but I guess her purpose is not to come to the city to do homework."

Duncan waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, she should work hard-now Agou can even roughly understand newspapers, and Shirley is still struggling with the spelling of twelve common vegetables. I am deeply worried about her future. She can't even catch up with Alice."

Alice, who was actually no better than Shirley, scratched her hair and showed a harmless smile: "Hey..."

Duncan said with a blank expression, "I didn't praise you—you and Shirley together know more words than a dog, which is not something to be proud of."

Alice was stuck for a while, as if she was thinking carefully whether the words she and Shirley knew together surpassed A Gou, and just at this moment, the faint roar that came from afar finally gradually cease.

"The sound stopped..." Fan Na listened intently to the sound in the distance.

Duncan didn't speak, but only perceived the situation that Ai detected in the distance through the vague spiritual connection.

After such a long period of running-in and adaptation, the connection between him and Ai is now much closer and clearer than at the beginning. When he is focused enough, he can even share Ai's vision and some other perceptions. And use Ai as a springboard to transmit part of the power without moving the main body.

In the eastern port area of ​​Frost, a chubby white pigeon is standing on a tower, with small round eyes looking at the smoky sea and the port.

Those soldiers running around on the port and the black "oil stain" spreading on the sea surface are reflected in its slightly jumping green fire eyes.

"Don't worry about it for the time being," Duncan withdrew his "sight" looking into the distance, and nodded slightly to Morris and Fanna, "It's an invasion, but it has been stopped by the Frostmen."

Fan Na's face changed slightly: "Invasion?!"

"If I'm not mistaken, it's from Dagger Island—the Frost people should have realized the seriousness of the problem by now, and it shouldn't be so easy to figure out the things on that island," Duncan said in a calm tone, " Now that Tirian has also arrived near Dagger Island, his sea fog fleet will further tense the mood of the Frost authorities—in any case, when the whole city begins to be under martial law, the Annihilation Cultists hidden in the city will definitely have It will be much easier to find them at that time.”

At this moment, a knock on the door suddenly sounded, interrupting the conversation in the living room.

Duncan looked at the door in surprise.

Just moved here and have guests?

"I'm going to open the door," Morris said, and stepped to the door, but after opening the door, he made a surprised voice, "Are you..."

A little girl in a thick white coat and a woolen hat was standing at the door.

(Mom!)