On the way back to the cathedral, Agatha was preoccupied.
It was good news for her to clarify the correctness of the "Second Waterway" exploration direction. However, the identity of the mysterious existence was still shrouded in mystery, which made her uneasy no matter what - of course , now it is certain that that being has a friendly attitude towards Frost City-State, but as the leader of the guards of this city-state, she must take a long-term view of things.
Any superior being’s gaze on the world is not without reason. In a sense, their “gazing” itself is a disturbance with substantial impact. How long will the mysterious “visitor” continue to gaze at this place? ? What long-term impact will his long stay here have on Frost?
Will people living in a city-state change under this influence? Does that being himself know this impact? Or...do you not care about it?
The small steam core let out a low and powerful roar, and the vehicle driven by the mechanical mechanism drove through the ancient streets of the city-state. The scenery on both sides of the road gradually receded in the peripheral vision. The vehicle passed another intersection and slowed down slightly.
The subordinate's voice came from the front driver's seat: "Sir, do you want to go back to the cathedral directly?"
Agatha raised her head and looked through the car window in the direction of the cathedral.
The Great Cathedral of Silence overlooked the entire city-state quietly as usual.
The center of the frost is a mountain, a roughly cone-shaped mountain. It towers high in the hinterland of the city-state. Beneath it is the boiling gold mine that brings endless wealth to the city. The Great Cathedral of Silence and the City Hall are located on the top of that mountain. The top of the mountain - two large buildings stand side by side on the highest point of the city-state. You can see them no matter where you are in the city.
See at least one of them.
The cathedral is majestic and majestic, and looks quite holy against the background of the sky. The city hall opposite it is actually a rather grand building - in the Queen's era half a century ago, it was actually a palace. According to official records, Its name is "Winter King's Court", but more people will directly call it the Queen's Palace.
In that era that was already regarded as taboo, the Winter Palace and the Great Temple of Silence overlooked the city-state like a pair of twins. Classical stories full of fantasy depicted them as two symbolic protective forces - the guardian of the church. Watching the night of the city, the royal family guards the day of the city, and the two sides support and support each other.
But in fact the situation is similar today. The earthly power represented by the city hall still guards the city - it's just that the Queen's era is over.
Agatha was a little distracted. She unconsciously stared at the mountain, which she had seen countless times, and the two crown-like buildings on the mountain. She looked at them as if they were two buildings standing on the mountain. The giant beast on the top, and the large and small houses and factories arranged along the mountain are like the blood overflowing from the giant beast, winding and flowing along the mountain.
She felt her eyeballs sting a little.
"Gatekeeper, shall we return to the cathedral?"
The voice of her subordinates came from the front row again, and Agatha suddenly woke up from her distraction. She blinked her eyes and felt that there was still a slight buzzing in her ears, but the next second, this residual buzzing disappeared. The memory of just a moment quietly disappeared together.
"No, go to the sewage treatment center first." Agatha shook her head. "The fake one that disappeared in the bathroom is really worrying. I have to confirm it with my own eyes." "
"yes."
The steam core whirred happily again, and the car turned a beautiful arc at the intersection and drove onto the road to the sewage treatment center.
The sky is covered with thick clouds, and the dim skylight floats feebly among the clouds, appearing chaotic and unclear. In the distance is the endless sea water, and a little mist floating on the sea.
Lawrence stood on the bow of the White Oak, looking at the scenery in the distance with a frown - this scenery had not changed for a long time.
He turned back and saw that the sea in the other direction was just an endless sea. No other ships could be seen, and no trace of a certain city-state could be seen.
The cold wind blew across the deck, rolling the corners of his clothes and the white hair on his temples, Lauren
Si's brows had not relaxed for a long time.
"How long have we been away from the frost?" He suddenly turned his head and asked the first mate standing beside him.
"It's been a day and a night, Captain," the mate said immediately, "and we've been keeping full speed."
"Something's not right...Why do I always feel like I'm still spinning in circles..." Lawrence looked up at the chaotic sky above with a solemn expression, and then seemed to suddenly remember something, "Wireless telegraphy can receive messages from nearby city-states or A signal from the port?"
"Yes," the first mate nodded, his expression looking quite serious, "But there is only one signal from the frost."
Lawrence took a deep breath: "What about the content?"
"Welcome message," the first mate said slowly, "The port is open, welcome to Frost, I received this message over and over again."
Lawrence frowned and remained silent, while the first mate muttered in a low voice after a moment of silence: "It's like... we're still swirling around the frost."
"Obviously, we are trapped in this area," Lawrence said in a low voice. "What's the atmosphere on the ship like now?"
"Everyone has noticed that something is wrong, but everyone is still calm." The first mate looked back at the direction of the deck and could see the sailors busy with their own affairs at their respective posts. "They are all good - we It’s not that we haven’t experienced strange things in the boundless sea, but everyone believes that you can take everyone out, so no one comes to disturb you.”
Lawrence didn't speak, just raised his head and looked at the chaotic sky again.
The first mate noticed the captain's strange behavior and couldn't help but ask: "What are you looking at?"
"I..." Lawrence rubbed his forehead, feeling a little dazed in his mind for some reason, as if he had forgotten something very important, "I was thinking about the heading."
"course?"
"Yes, heading," Lawrence closed his eyes forcefully and opened them again. While thinking about what he had forgotten, he said as if to himself, "Do you feel...we seem to have forgotten something? We The current course...should it be calibrated?"
The first mate was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously said: "Calibrate the course? You mean the star observation room? The navigator's side..."
"Wait, no, it's not the Star Observation Room," Lawrence suddenly interrupted the first mate, who seemed to wake up little by little from a long dream, "The Star Observation Room is used to calibrate the route under special circumstances, because it It is polluted and cannot be used frequently. There should be a simpler, more versatile, and safer way to confirm the direction of the ship during the day..."
Lawrence spoke faster and faster, and then he seemed to think of something, suddenly turned around and ran towards the captain's cabin.
The first mate was confused, but instinctively followed the captain's footsteps. He followed Lawrence back to the captain's cabin, and then saw the latter rummaging around the room, and finally couldn't help but ask: "What are you looking for?" "
"Some kind of instrument, used during the day, to calibrate the course..." Lawrence said quickly while rummaging through boxes in his room, and a strong impression came to his mind bit by bit. He felt like he was If he remembered, he would know what he was looking for... Suddenly, his eyes fell on the table not far away.
A small instrument was placed there, consisting of a telescope tube and some weird scales.
Lawrence walked over slowly, picked up the small instrument with some confusion, and struggled to recall its function.
After a moment, he thoughtfully took the small instrument and left the room, and came to the deck outside. Under the baffled gaze of the first mate, he raised the instrument, put it in front of his eyes, and pointed it at the sky.
"Captain, what are you doing?" the first mate asked curiously.
Lawrence slowly lowered the instrument.
There seemed to be a flash of faint green in his eyes, but not only did he not notice it, but neither did the first mate standing opposite.
The old captain had only confusion and astonishment on his face - he faced the first mate
After staring for a few seconds, he spoke slowly and hoarsely: "Do you remember... there is a glowing and hot thing in the sky, which floats above us accurately and on time, and can be used to help ships calibrate during the day? course..…"
The first mate slowly opened his eyes, as if some memories or impressions were awakening in his mind.
Lawrence turned his head again and looked at the chaotic clouds and the hazy skylight behind the clouds, with no source visible - the light seemed to spread evenly, and there was no clear, strong light body in the clouds at all. signs of existence.
He looked away and looked directly at his first mate: "Where has the sun gone?"
But the first mate could only repeat the captain's words blankly: "Where has the sun gone?" "
"It's not a journey, it's not a mystery, it's not a cyclic phenomenon..." Lawrence muttered softly, "The White Oak as a whole has entered an abnormal space..."
The first mate slowly raised his head and looked at the vast sea outside the ship's side, with confusion and fear in his eyes.
But suddenly, he seemed to find something.
A piece of land appeared on the sea.
It's a small island.
