Chapter 281: About the Taboo of Reading at Sea

“We are currently sailing northward along the Sea Mist’s route, and in a few days, we will reach the fringes of the Cold Sea, which will undoubtedly offer a vastly different view from the central sea,” Duncan explained. “During this time, you can stay aboard the ship. Alice has prepared rooms for you, and if you find it difficult to adapt to life at sea, you can always return to the city-state. I can summon you temporarily if necessary.”

“I... I’ll stay on the ship,” Shirley quickly volunteered, “I can help Miss Alice with some tasks...”

“You’ll also need to complete your homework while on the ship,” Duncan reminded, glancing in her direction. “I’ll personally supervise it here.”

Shirley hesitated: “Ah, then I...”

“You’ll need to do your homework in the city-state as well, and I’ll still be supervising it.”

Shirley frowned: “Then... I’ll stay on the ship, just for a change of scenery.”

“I’d like to stay on the ship too,” Nina chimed in, looking at Shirley and then at Duncan, her eyes shining with excitement. “I haven’t really adjusted to life on the ship yet; I couldn’t even last overnight the last time...”

Duncan nodded: “Hmm, you can return briefly to gather your familiar bedding. It might help prevent sleeplessness in an unfamiliar environment.”

“Alright,” Nina agreed, nodding repeatedly. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can I bring my school’s vacation homework and textbooks on the ship? I’m afraid I won’t finish them before the new semester starts...”

As Nina spoke, Dog couldn’t help but hold its head with its paws: “We’re on the most infamous ghost ship in history to solve a supernatural mystery, yet it’s starting to sound more like a vacation trip...”

Duncan didn’t mind Dog’s grumbling. He pondered for a moment before cautiously telling Nina: “Shirley and Alice’s practice book can be brought on board, but your textbooks and homework might pose some risks. Reading books on the open sea can attract malicious shadows just as easily as reading in the city-state after nightfall.”

Nina thought for a moment, then raised a surprisingly practical question that even Duncan hadn’t considered: “If something emerges from the shadows, can’t you just defeat it?”

Duncan: “...?”

Dog and Shirley: “...Right!”

“I never considered that.” Duncan was taken aback for a few seconds before finally conceding, with a puzzled expression, that he had overlooked the possibility when he heard the goat head mention something about the “sea reading taboo.” Like everyone else, he accepted it as a rule but failed to explore other options. Now, it was Nina, a newcomer to the supernatural world, who demonstrated exceptional open-mindedness.

Nina, of course, was not constrained by conventional thinking—because on her first day encountering the supernatural, she saw her Uncle Duncan standing in the city-state, tearing apart the sun. The world’s most potent supernatural force was presented to her as being subdued and pinned down...

“I believe your assessment is quite reasonable.”

Duncan didn’t acknowledge the goat head’s praise but continued to engross himself in the book he held. He leisurely flipped through the slightly coarse pages, his eyes roaming across the captivating and enigmatic folk tales of the southern city-states, permitting his mind to unwind and become engrossed.

Just like that, he silently awaited the knowledge-seeking invaders to catch a whiff of the enticing lure and breach this unguarded reality.

However, no intruders materialized.

“It doesn’t appear to be effective,” Duncan lifted his head and addressed the goat head, who sat quietly at the edge of the table, “Is there an alternative method?”

“Actually... I believe you need not fixate on this issue. With countless taboos across the vast sea, being unable to read is merely...”

“Nina wishes to complete her winter vacation homework,” Duncan stated softly, “She takes it very seriously.”

“You may want to let someone else attempt the reading, such as Mr. Morris. Followers of the God of Wisdom excel at controlling their minds, which is advantageous for both self-protection and setting traps,” the goat head quickly suggested. “The invaders likely haven’t appeared due to sensing your presence, but a well-placed trap should be effective.”

Duncan considered the idea and decided it was worth pursuing.

He promptly returned the book to the dining room, where everyone was still gathered. Nina and Shirley whispered and conjectured about Duncan’s activities, Alice and Dog reviewed each other’s spelling words, and Morris rested with his eyes closed, only opening them when he heard Duncan enter.

“I require a trap to draw in the knowledge-seeking intruders,” Duncan addressed Morris directly, presenting him with the folklore book. “Read this, create the impression of a vulnerable scholar, and entice a powerful knowledge-seeking evil spirit onto the ship. I wish to ‘communicate’ with the invader and discern its nature.”

Morris was taken aback. He had pursued academia for most of his life, and this was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre and implausible idea. However, in the next moment, he discerned from Duncan’s gaze that the “Ghost Captain” was earnest.

In truth, only a formidable subspace shadow like him would dare to genuinely contemplate this course of action.

After the initial astonishment, an odd mixture of excitement and anticipation welled up from deep within the elderly scholar’s heart.

He had to concede that he was suddenly intrigued himself.

What would unfold if, under the watchful eye of Captain Duncan and aboard the uniquely positioned Vanished, he deliberately read and enticed malevolent spirits?

Eagerly, Morris picked up the book.