Chapter 687: Settling In and Communication

Chapter 687: Settling In and Communication

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.

As Duncan absorbed Lucretia’s theory, he battled with skepticism. The concept was wildly incredible, yet they were no strangers to the bizarre—like the recent and startling event of the sun’s disappearance, which had reset their expectations of the strange. Understanding this, Duncan accepted the unusual without surprise, focusing instead on their primary objective: to locate the “Truth Keeper.”

Suddenly, Duncan’s expression shifted as if he were receiving a distant message, his face marked by intense focus.

Nearby, Alice observed his changed expression and asked with concern, “Hmm? Captain, what’s wrong?”

While eyeing Lucretia and Morris discussing strategies to find Ted, Duncan responded casually, “Ah, there’s no need to continue searching.”

Surprised, Lucretia and Morris exclaimed in unison, “Huh?”

“He’s safe,” Duncan assured them, gesturing dismissively. “Ted Lir has been located on the White Oak.”

This revelation left everyone in the room puzzled. A stunned silence ensued, broken by Vanna’s voice, “The White Oak? Lawrence’s ship? But how did he end up there?”

“The specifics are unclear. It seems Ted Lir himself is confused about his situation,” Duncan explained, his mind still connected with Lawrence. He continued, more composed, “Like when the sun disappeared, the White Oak was at sea. They discovered Ted Lir floating near a dark patch of water. With the help of Anomaly 077, they rescued him... Lawrence said Ted was initially disoriented, hardly able to talk. Now, he’s a bit more collected. According to his fragmented accounts, he was transported to a distant, unknown realm...”

Duncan paused, his tone becoming grave.

“We suspect he may have been thrust into subspace.”

...

Wrapped in a thick, warm blanket, Ted Lir sat in the cabin, illuminated by a comforting light. He held a steaming cup of tea. Gratefully, he said, “Thank you.”

Before him stood a figure that, despite its eerie, decayed appearance, seemed oddly comfortable in the cozy environment. The corpse-like entity made a dismissive gesture and spoke, “Next time, just don’t throw me out like that—once my bones break, I’m not sure they can heal.”

Ted Lir grimaced, recalling an unpleasant memory. He awkwardly addressed the figure, bustling like an energetic sailor despite its ghastly and uncontrollable nature, “You are Anomaly 077 – Sailor?”

The figure perked up, stepping closer with a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Ah, you recognize me?” it asked, its voice tinged with excitement, contrasting with its ghostly appearance. “Most people just get scared, but you know my name and number?”

Lawrence nodded, confirming, “Yes, just a few minutes, Mr. Truth Keeper. We found you shortly after you disappeared. That’s why we’re all eager to hear about your experiences during that brief time.”

Ted focused on a specific word in Lawrence’s explanation. “‘We’?” he noted, picking up on the implication.

Lawrence clarified, “I just spoke with my ‘boss,’ who’s already aware of the situation here—the disappearance of the Truth Keeper caused some unrest in Wind Harbor, but fortunately, the White Oak found you before it escalated.” He reassured Ted, “Don’t worry too much about the city-state. Given the proximity of the Vanished to the city, there’s no place safer than Wind Harbor on the Boundless Sea. As for your stay here...”

He paused, reflecting briefly before continuing, “We’re still unsure about the full impact of the sun’s extinguishing on our world. Using spatial portals could be risky right now, so it’s best you stay on this ship for now. Meanwhile, tell me about what you saw in that ‘darkness’—’he’ is very interested in it.”

Ted’s expression turned serious as he considered Lawrence’s words. After a moment of reflection, he met the seasoned captain’s eyes. “You must already know that my experiences are linked to subspace—a realm filled with dangers and mysteries.”

Lawrence responded casually, “My boss is deeply involved with subspace too—he faces risks much greater than the knowledge you’ve gained.”

Ted acknowledged the logic in Lawrence’s statement.

“...Alright, then where should we start?” he asked, ready to discuss his experiences.

“Let’s start with the inverted mansion floating in the darkness you mentioned while you were delirious,” Lawrence suggested, pointing out that even in his confused state, Ted had revealed glimpses of his supernatural journey.

...

“Ted Lir’s luck is nothing short of miraculous; having survived the perilous confines of subspace mostly unharmed, he is now on the White Oak, sharing his supernatural experiences with Lawrence. It’s highly likely that we will soon learn significant new details about subspace from his account.”

After briefly ending his mental link with the White Oak, Duncan refocused on the current issues in Wind Harbor. He quickly updated those present with the latest news from Lawrence, his gaze then thoughtfully turning to Lucretia.

“It seems his experiences in subspace were quite different from mine,” he observed, noting the contrast.

Lucretia, displaying a complex mix of emotions, replied, “Indeed... After all, he was ‘away’ for just fifteen minutes, while you spent a century in that realm.” She paused, her expression serious. “Just fifteen minutes in subspace nearly shattered the psyche of a man as resilient as him, nearly tearing him apart...”

Duncan acknowledged her comment but quickly changed the subject. “Fortunately, the only incident on the White Oak was Anomaly 077 getting punched,” he said dismissively. He then became more serious, “Before we get more updates from them, we should focus on the current global situation following the sun’s extinguishment... Lucy, can you explain that unusual ‘signal’ we’ve detected?”