Chapter 755: On the Road to Armageddon
Chapter 753: On the Road to Armageddon
The Pope’s reaction made the Truth Magus on the side feel a bit confused, and he cautiously spoke up, “…… The entire world isn’t going to fall into a freeze due to the sun ‘disappearing’ for an extended period of time, isn’t that good news? ”
“Just from the matter itself, this is certainly good news,” Lune shook his head gently, “But what if we look at it from the power that the sun was originally supposed to possess? What if we look at it in terms of our knowledge and understanding of the world, in terms of the laws that things ‘are supposed to follow’?”
The middle-aged cleric frowned slightly, suddenly understanding what the Pope was worried about.
“The sun brings light and heat, when the sun rises, the day gradually becomes warmer, and when the sun descends, the night gradually cools down – if the sun is absent long enough, the Infinite Sea will all freeze, this is the law of things, just like ice melts in fire, the simplest of truths, but What’s happening now is …… the cooling curve of the night seems to have nothing to do with the sun anymore,” Loon said with a stony expression, “and you know what that reminds me of?”
He didn’t wait for the middle-aged cleric’s answer, but continued to speak after a slight pause, “Machines in the midst of evil – like an axle that’s still spinning after the steam core has cooled down, like a differential machine that keeps spitting out paper tape even after the gears have jammed, the process of how things work and the results of how they work are gradually being separating, and some taken-for-granted laws …… are failing.”
A disturbing silence fell over the sanctuary for a while, and after a long time, the middle-aged cleric broke the silence, “We should contact the other three arks ……”
“They are also paying attention to the changes in this area, they should not need us to remind them,” Lune said, “Than this …… Has our border fleet already departed?”
The middle-aged cleric immediately nodded, “Yes, they entered the curtain range an hour ago, and contact has not yet been broken – the remaining fleets of the three churches have also entered the borders from different directions. There have been no casualties yet.”
Lune nodded slowly, “What about the …… sea refuge channel?”
Without any cover or hesitation, the Lost Country and the Radiant Star docked directly on the eastern coastline of Lightwind Harbor, and Duncan just waltzed into the city.
“I can’t believe there are stores open here!” Shirley “looked” a little surprised at the few stores along the road, “And there are people out and about ……”
“We have set up twenty-six rendezvous points at the midway points of the major shipping lanes in the various seas, with large cathedral ships and supply ships serving as the core of each rendezvous point, and at present there are hundreds of ships that are unable to return to the city-states in time that have responded to the call, and are heading to the rendezvous points to seek refuge, and according to the plan, these evacuated ships will be guided to the ‘safe distance’ of the nearest city-states within a three-day voyage afterwards! ‘Safe Distance’ and remain there until the end of the night.
“But the actual effectiveness of this maritime ‘night shelter’ has yet to be proven, and we don’t yet know what else will happen in the night as time passes, so for now, we can only be prepared for the best possible scenario, while also preparing for the worst… …”
“All that’s left now are the patrols and watchmen,” Sherry cooed, putting a strip of black cloth over her eyes to shield her somewhat intimidating eyes, but now she suddenly realized she didn’t seem to need to be so discreet – after entering the city she’d barely seen more than a few figures moving around outside, “Rumor has it that martial law is going to last all the way through a month or two.”
Lune froze for a moment, and then as if sensing something, he listened with his sideways ear, a small smile suddenly appearing on his face, “…… They’re back.”
“You’ve just said that the whole state of martial law is going to last for a month or two – the most basic order of life has to be maintained during this period of time,” Morris shook his head, “I think the various city-states should have already developed some sort of ‘living order’ based on the next long night’s state has developed some sort of ‘living schedule’ that allows everyone the opportunity to go out and purchase or work during martial law …… Life has to go on.”
In the other half of the city, where the “sunlight” released by the glowing geometries couldn’t shine, there was only a depressing and somewhat suffocating night.
The Lost Country ship and the Bright Star ship had returned – in the distant sea covered by night, the ghost ship’s blazing green firelight was as eye-catching as a lighthouse, and the two ships straightly crossed the cordon line constructed by the Church and the city-state fleet offshore, and straightly sailed towards the Light Wind Harbor, and the patrol fleet that had received the order ahead of time didn’t dare to stop them in the slightest.
And just at that moment, a sudden chime from not far away interrupted his conversation with the cleric – the bells from all parts of the Ark ship rang one after another with a hint of unusual urgency.
Nina took Shirley’s hand and followed behind Duncan and Maurice, and she couldn’t help but frown as she crossed the empty roads inside the harbor area.
The city-state was still under martial law at the moment, and even though it should have been morning by now, most of the citizens of Lightwind Harbor had stayed at home as ordered, except for those who maintained the city’s functioning and other special positions – the pale golden “sunlight” from offshore was quietly filling the air. The light golden “sunlight” from the offshore direction quietly filled the empty streets, making this place look like a ghost town in the dusk.
“…… It was still so lively the last time I came here ……”
Listening to Shirley and Maurice’s conversation, Duncan did not open his mouth to participate, he just looked up at the cold and empty streets in front of him and casually said, “I’ve seen enough …… Aye.”
However, after leaving the Outer Edge District and entering the more densely populated urban area, there were still sparse, hurried pedestrians on the streets, as well as some stores that were open for business.
Lune listened quietly, nodding softly.
A flame burned out of thin air, and the skeletal giant bird wrapped in flames hovered and appeared above the crowd, letting out a strange, shrill cry, “Who’s calling the fleet?”
“Take us to 99 Crown Street.” Duncan said.
A flame swept over Lightwind Harbor like a meteor, over the city illuminated by the offshore sunlight, and straight towards the Witch’s Mansion in the Upper City. This disturbing shooting star of flame undoubtedly attracted the attention of many people – but for those who really know the situation, it is a reassuring …… good news.
As soon as the flames hit the ground and her vision stabilized, Lucrecia saw her unexpected guests standing in front of her house.
Helena, who had a graceful temperament and wore a navy blue robe and skirt, Lune, who had a slightly blonde figure and wore scholarly robes, and a bunch of unrecognizable magi and scholars – looking like attendants or assistants brought over by the two crowned popes.
They seemed to have been waiting here for a while.
“…… Wow,” Nina muttered at once, “There are quite a lot of people coming ……”
“Not too surprising.” Duncan’s reaction was bashful.
Lucrecia’s first reaction was to frown, she looked at the “visitors” that appeared in front of her house, and quickly stepped forward, not hiding the impatience in her expression, and spoke before the two church leaders could speak, “I don’t like to receive guests –especially so many guests.”
Obviously, Ms. Witch, who had just completed a trip to the border and returned home with great difficulty, was very unhappy about the appearance of so many uninvited guests in front of her.
Lune, however, did not mind this “Witch of the Sea”‘s nonchalant attitude in the slightest, he seemed to have known this Miss Witch’s personality and habits for a long time, and waved his hand to the surrounding entourage, “Then you guys can go back first.”
Helena followed suit and dispersed the accompanying magi and guards, then nodded to Lucrecia, “There are only two ‘guests’ here now.”
Lucrecia stared wide-eyed at the two popes standing in the doorway, then sighed helplessly and took two steps to the side, “…… Well, my father would indeed be happy to talk to you. Luni, go open the door.”
Immediately, the clockwork doll Luni crossed over to the crowd and walked up the steps to open the door, while Duncan gave a slight nod to Lune and Helena, “Let’s go inside and talk.”
Bright lights dispelled the night, the warmth of the fireplace chased away the night’s chill, the machine dolls and tin squires who stayed in the mansion had cleaned the place up long before their mistress came home, hot tea was now on the table, and freshly baked treats were still radiating the heat of the freshly baked oven.
The bright, warm mansion almost made one forget the long, disturbing night outside and the fact that the world was falling apart.
Everyone was gathered in the living room, and Duncan sat down on the couch in a very casual position, nodding across the room to Helena and Lune, “I didn’t think you’d be waiting here in person – I would have thought that every time someone like you left the ‘Ark ‘ was a very serious and deliberate matter.”
“It’s true that we can’t leave the Ark at will without a good enough reason – but meeting you as soon as possible is ‘good enough reason’ in itself,” Helena said. “Especially under today’s circumstances.”
“What do you want to know now?” Duncan said, “Is it the state of the world? Or the cause of the end? Or what will happen in the future?”
Lune and Helena subconsciously exchanged glances.
“These are all things we would like to know,” Lune began, breaking the silence by adjusting his seating position so that his body was leaning forward slightly, his expression appearing extraordinarily solemn, “but first, we would like to know about what happened on the island of Sanctuary, and about your interaction with the . . the Creator of the World’s communication.”
“We have already received some information, from the Tides,” Helena added in an aside, “but I believe there is more truth that only you know.”
Duncan nodded softly after a brief pause.
“First, then, let me announce a conclusion to you – it is the premise of everything.”
From Duncan’s look and tone, Helena suddenly felt a heavy sense of unease, “Conclusion …… theory?”
“Yes, the conclusion – the end of the world is doomed, and any form of tinkering has come to an end, and at best …… only a limited continuation can take place.”
Duncan’s tone was calm, his voice was not loud, yet each word seemed to carry the weight of a thousand pounds.
(End of chapter)