Chapter 186: 'Local Products from the City-State”

Chapter 186 “Local Products from the City-State”

On the first floor of the antique shop, Nina sat anxiously in a chair next to the counter. From time to time, she would get up and peer out the window, searching through the empty streets with those eyes for signs of her uncle.

“Ohhh~ how can Uncle be like this... Why did he go out so late into the night? There’s a curfew out...” Nina sat back down and moped, “If the guardians on patrol find out, he will definitely be detained again...”

That’s already not the first time she’s muttering to herself like this. But then, the slight sound of movement came from the door, followed by the doorknob turning.

Nina perked up immediately, looking up in the direction of the entrance with anticipation. Sure enough, the familiar figure had come into her view.

“Nina, I’m back,” Duncan said as he met his niece’s gaze with a smile. “See? I’m not too late.”

Nina practically threw herself at Duncan’s chest as she complained: “It’s not too late?! What time is it? Do you know how dangerous it is to go out past curfew? You just suddenly got up and said you’re going out. You left me home alone...”

The girl’s chattering complaints came out like a storm on the sea, forceful and continuous. However, her barrage swiftly halted after noticing the small figure hiding behind Duncan’s leg.

Shirley, carrying the small tin box, had peeked out with her head and waved at Nina nervously: “Nina... it’s me.”

Relieved that he’s found an opening, Duncan promptly closed the door behind them and slid to the side so the girls could speak.

“Shirley?! You...... Why are you here so late with Uncle... Wait, how come there’s so much blood on you!” Nina’s eyes widen in shock at the terrible state of her friend.

“Ah, don’t worry, don’t worry,” Shirley hurriedly waved her hand to indicate it’s nothing. Although the injury on her back hasn’t completely healed yet, she still tries to portray a bright smile, “I encountered a small little problem. I’m perfectly fine.”

“That’s not a small problem at all!” Nina hurriedly took the small box from Shirley’s hand and carefully examined the blood stains on the girl’s body. Growing shocked at the number of wounds: “You... you got so many injuries, we must find a doctor quickly! You...”

“I’m really okay. But, uhh, calm down!” Shirley quickly grabbed Nina’s hand and showed a helpless expression, “Have you forgotten I’m not an ordinary person...”

Nina wanted to say something, but her attention was interrupted by Duncan’s following cough.

“Umm... they should be human, right?” The puppet muttered, “Captain, what are you doing with three of these things? You probably didn’t buy them, right?”

“I didn’t buy them. I picked them up from the roadside.” Duncan casually coped with the fragmented thinking of the puppet while also paying attention to the three “subspace believers” who had almost completely returned to their human form.

It seems that Ai’s teleportation process is as reliable as ever. So... does this mean I can use Ai to transport ordinary people to the ship in the future?

Duncan contemplated the idea’s feasibility and gradually grew happy at the other possibilities this opened.

Aside from testing Ai’s ability, Duncan had other plans in mind for other projects. Like what the Vanished’s environment would do to others and what Alice’s guillotine ability would do to living people if they got into contact now.

What other better test subjects were there than these cultists, who just happened to drop into his lap tonight?

He could only thank nature for the plentiful gifts he’s gotten...

While Duncan relishing at the good harvest, one of the Enders finally showed some movement. First, it was a slight twitch, then came the groan from the one that sat up.

“You’re awake,” the gentle voice mixed in with the sea breeze stimulated the nerves of the alienated captive.

“Here is...” The cultist slowly turned his head, finding Duncan and Alice already staring down at him. Due to the sluggishness of his brain, the guy had to take a second to process the image, but once he did, the hostility instantly showed. “Who are you?!”

“Oh right, you haven’t seen me before,” Duncan laughed as he watched the other two Enders slowly recover as well. “Welcome to the Vanished. You can call me Captain Duncan.”

“...... The Vanished?!” The first cultist was stunned because he obviously knew the name. “This is... this is the ghost ship that returned from subspace?!”

“That’s right, it seems that you understand the situation, then our communication will be simple.” Duncan nodded, “First of all, I have some questions...”

His words did not get far because the cultist opposite to him had already raised both hands into the air, those eyes filled with ecstasy and madness. With a loud shout: “O subspace! You have finally opened the door to me and the others! Eternal life in the last days! Redemption in disaster! Annihilation for rejuvenation! The ark of promise has come... The ark of promise has come!”

Duncan’s face visibly twitched after that proclamation.

What illness does this cultist have in his brain?!