Chapter 269: Spreading

“Are you truly certain this will be effective?”

As she observed the large basin of water on the dining table, Nina couldn’t shake her uneasiness. She glanced between the apprehensive Alice and the stoic Duncan, murmuring quietly.

“If this fails, we’ll need to use a solvent, but that stuff is caustic, and I’m unsure if it’ll harm Alice’s body,” Duncan said, frustrated as he looked at the gothic doll who had changed back into her usual attire but still had an immobile neck. “Or maybe she’ll just remain like this indefinitely.”

Alice became alarmed and quickly waved her hands, “No, let’s attempt boiling water first!”

Nina’s eyes darted between Alice and the basin several times before she finally exhaled, hesitantly reaching her hand into the tepid water.

She was exceedingly cautious, as though attempting to single out a lone grain of sand from the desert, channeling the intense flame from her inner core to the external world. For a sunny girl with a passionate core of 6,000 degrees, such precision wasn’t easily achieved. However, she had been diligently practicing this level of control at every opportunity and had made significant progress. In no time, she succeeded.

The water started to boil.

Alice looked at Duncan, who returned her gaze.

Without any hesitation, they submerged the doll’s head into the boiling water.

“Allow it to cook for some time,” Duncan advised while holding Alice’s shoulder, “but if you experience any discomfort, stop immediately.”

Alice promptly replied, “Glug, glug, glug... glug.”

Duncan considered for a moment and then glanced at Nina, “I suppose she isn’t feeling discomfort.”

Nina stared at the unfolding scene, unable to resist muttering, “I can’t help but find this situation so bizarre...”

Duncan sighed, acknowledging that her statement was an understatement; he too found the scene incredibly odd. In the dimly lit, cramped antique shop on the second floor, the pair were boiling a gothic doll’s head in a basin of hot water. The doll continued to gesture, raising her hand and giving a thumbs-up to signal that she was alright.

Any first-time observer of this scene would report it to the authorities, and upon a second look, they’d contact the church’s guardians.

Suddenly, footsteps and Shirley’s voice approached from the stairway: “I’ve returned! Mr. Duncan, old man Morris is here again. I told him to come right up...”

Shirley appeared in the doorway the following instant, and her voice abruptly cuts off at what she saw.

In the dimly lit room, Duncan and Nina stood silently beside the basin of boiling water, with the latter’s hand still submerged, maintaining the heat. Meanwhile, Duncan gripped Alice’s shoulder, pressing the gothic doll’s head firmly into the container with the constant bubbling sound of boiling water.

As it so happens, Morris also arrived right after Shirley, catching the scene in the dining area with his own gaze. But instead of freezing in shock, he only nodded as if comprehending the situation like it’s a typical day in the antique shop – ah, it’s the subspace shadow and sun fragment stewing Anomaly 099.

Duncan had, of course, noticed the issue of the new vision lacking a number, but what could he think? His knowledge of the supernatural realm was actually inferior to that of a skeletal dog...

However, he couldn’t admit that, so he could only contemplate for a moment before shaking his head indifferently: “I have no opinion. The ‘codes’ of anomalies and visions published by the major churches are unfathomable and meaningless to me.”

“This...”

Morris opened his mouth but then recalled the green flames that had engulfed the entire city-state, the disintegrating Black Sun, and the Anomaly 099 that had just obediently been submerged in the basin.

All these matters seemed to be the same for Captain Duncan, merely some... mildly bothersome “daily issues.”

There was no need to worry about what every speck of dust cleaned daily was called.

“Alright, this indeed holds no significance for you,” the elderly scholar looked at Duncan with a touch of awe and then hesitated before slowly formulating his words. “Also, although there should be no uncertainty, I still want to confirm that Pland was indeed turned into a vision by your actions, correct?”

Duncan turned his face slightly: “Is there any doubt?”

“No, I have no doubt. I’m merely curious about your plans for this city-state in the future,” Morris stated, organizing his words to convey his thoughts as clearly and unambiguously as possible. “You transformed it into a vision to...”

“I have no intention of controlling the fate of this city-state or interfering with anyone’s future,” Duncan interrupted Morris with a gentle shake of his head. “If I must say...”

He paused, gazing out the window at the tranquil scene on the street.

“I quite like this place, so I hope it can remain peaceful in the future.”

...

Within the local cathedral, Vanna, who was conversing with Heidi, suddenly stopped and looked back, puzzled.

“What’s wrong?” Doctor Heidi inquired curiously, observing her friend.

“I thought I just heard a bell ringing and someone whispering to me,” Vanna frowned. “It seems I must have misheard.”

“You certainly misheard. I didn’t hear anything,” Heidi dismissed the idea. “You must be under a lot of stress lately. Do you need me to...”

“No need!” Vanna interrupted Heidi quickly. “I feel like my mental state is quite good, and if I do encounter any problems, I’ll handle them myself. You know, priests are part-time psychiatrists.”

“Alright, if you don’t need it, you don’t have to be so anxious,” Heidi muttered helplessly. “By the way, where was I?”

Vanna thought for a moment and reminded her, “You were just talking about your father purchasing an artillery shell from an antique shop, and now you’re concerned about his mental state...”