Through a layer of illusory mirrors and flames, Duncan could still clearly observe the reactions of Tirian and Lucretia from beginning to end - nervousness, vigilance, and vague fear.
From the perspective of "family reunion", this atmosphere is not really good.
But he didn't mind this. This situation had been expected - being able to meet with Tirian in advance while the situation was under his control had already achieved his goal today. By laying the foundation for the meeting now, he might be able to avoid future problems.
Suddenly encountering it again will put you in a panic situation, not to mention... today is "buy one, get one free".
Unexpectedly, Lucretia was there too.
Moreover, just now he was hidden in the mirror and heard the exchange between Lucretia and Tirian, knowing that his last attempt to call the other party through "Nelu" was actually not ineffective, although he did not receive any messages from his side.
Feedback, but there is movement on Lucretia's side, and this information can be considered an unexpected gain.
After calming down, Duncan maintained his usual calm expression and slowly glanced at Tirian and the crystal ball on the table next to him: "I don't think there is any special reason for a father to find his children."
Tirian's eyes widened slightly for an instant, but this momentary wavering was quickly suppressed by him. He lowered his voice and still looked at the person in the mirror warily: "You should know that this is a cathedral - even if it's you
, we should also take into account the gods behind this sacred place."
"Yes, this is a cathedral, of course I know - I witnessed it being burned down by fire, and then reshaping this place from the broken history," Duncan said calmly, "If the god behind this church is watching
, then He owes me a thank you."
Tirian instantly didn't know how to proceed with these words.
But this feeling of suddenly not knowing what to say when talking to his father was not unfamiliar to him.
Because even a hundred years ago, when the name Abu Nomar was not yet haunted by the curse, he often remained silent in front of his father - his father was always too majestic and obsessed with mysterious and terrifying things.
And at that time, Tirian... was not a person who was good at words.
At that time, whenever there was an awkward silence between father and son, it was always the more lively Lucretia who broke the deadlock.
"Have you...your sanity been freed from the influence of subspace?" The voice of the "Sea Witch" came from the crystal ball. Just like a hundred years ago, she broke the embarrassment between her father and her brother, "You...
Are you coming back this time to continue... your adventure plan?"
Duncan looked at Lucretia. Underneath his calm appearance was the crazy thinking in his heart.
This is a crucial meeting. In this meeting, he will lay the foundation for the future, cover or explain in advance the many "doubts" that he may expose, and if possible, let the Lost Home Number and himself
All changes from now on will become "natural" for these brothers and sisters.
Fortunately, he already had a draft before he came.
"Subspace has left a very profound impact on me. Perhaps throughout my life, I will never be able to completely get rid of this influence." He spoke slowly, controlling his speaking speed and expression. "I can't remember many things clearly.
, even including my understanding and... cognitive methods of the real world. I am trying to re-understand this world, and after knowing your existence, I think this may be a key step in rebuilding cognition."
He paused for a moment before continuing: "But as you said, Lucy - at least, my sanity is back."
This was the most effective way he could think of to solve hidden dangers and prepare for the future.
In order to maintain the stability of the Homeless Ship, he must play the role of "Captain Duncan". Even if he reaches a tacit understanding with the Goat Head, he cannot give up this identity, so he must continue in front of Lucretia and Tirian.
This "acting", no matter how clever it is, has loopholes, not to mention that I know almost nothing about the brothers and sisters, so of course the most effective way is to prepare a pot in advance.
Then put the blame on subspace.
Anyway, all the evil things in this world are related to the subspace. That place is simply the pot of all pots, and he is not missing...
Moreover, he also deliberately emphasized that the problem with him was not just his memory, but also his understanding and way of cognition of the real world - this could almost explain everything that was wrong with him.
The rest is left to Tirian and Lucretia's brainstorming.
Lucretia in the crystal ball was obviously startled after hearing Duncan's words. She seemed to be carefully observing the changes in the expression on her father's face to confirm the authenticity of those words, while Tirian next to her was silent for a short time.
Then he suddenly asked: "So, your previous actions in Puland were just to save this city-state?"
A smile appeared on Duncan's face: "It's all out of goodwill."
"...But the bishops and judges in the city don't seem to be so gullible," Tirian said in a deep voice, "Especially the judge...she is very wary of you."
"Oh, I can feel it," Duncan nodded. "She jumped on me twice in a row, and both attempts failed."
Tirian suddenly didn't know how to continue.
Duncan didn't pay attention to Tirian's silence, but turned his gaze to the "daughter" in the crystal ball, and asked as if inadvertently: "Is Luni with you?"
"She's here." Lucretia nodded, then waved to the side, and soon, a clockwork doll wearing a maid's costume appeared in the crystal ball.
Duncan looked at the clockwork doll that appeared in front of him with some surprise. No matter how he looked at it, it looked like a clockwork doll that was not the same as "Nelu": "...Why does she look like this?!"
"I made a little... transformation on Luni," Lucretia said with a strange expression, while guessing the purpose of her father's sudden change of subject, "Why did you suddenly ask about her?"
"...I found Nelu," Duncan said calmly, "in a doll shop. You didn't take her away, and she has never been sold."
Lucretia couldn't help but exclaimed: "Ah..."
Some long-standing memories seemed to come to the mind of this "Sea Witch", and the expression on her face suddenly became complicated.
The subtle changes in her face did not escape Duncan's eyes.
That's it for now - the groundwork has been laid, and further details may affect the effect.
Duncan's voice came from the mirror: "I'm leaving."
Lucretia and Tirian didn't react for a while, and Tirian subconsciously said: "Leave?"
"I still have a lot of things to do," Duncan said lightly, his eyes finally falling on Lucretia, "Put Nelu here with me first. If there is a chance in the future, I will give her to you."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure began to dim rapidly, and the green flames on the edge of the mirror quietly dissipated like a phantom, leaving no time for Tirian and Lucretia to continue speaking.
The room fell silent again, and for the next several minutes, neither Lucretia nor Tirian spoke.
In the end, Lucretia took the initiative to break the silence: "Just... it really happened, didn't it?"
"It's not an illusion," Tirian smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Have you ever thought that all this would happen?"
"...I have never thought about it in my most bizarre dreams," Lucretia said, and then suddenly asked nervously, "What do you think of this?"
"Do you mean……"
"What he just said," Lucretia said with a serious face, "do you think it is true? Father said that he has lost most of his memory and even needs to re-understand the world. He also said that the influence of subspace
It's so profound that I can't get rid of it completely...but I still say that I have regained my sanity..."
"... Frankly speaking, I can't believe every word, even the words 'restore sanity'," Tirian said in a deep voice, "Before there is more evidence, I would rather believe that this is a subspace conspiracy."
"There is no conspiracy in the subspace," Lucretia said calmly, "Only humans understand conspiracy."
"...What about a human being who has been baptized by the subspace?" Tirian took a breath and shook his head, "When the chaos in the subspace becomes intelligent, it will be more terrifying than pure chaos... Of course, the situation may
It's not that bad. I also hope that a miracle will happen, but for the time being... let's stay on the sidelines and stay vigilant. You have been active at the border all year round, so you should know the need for this vigilance better than I do."
"I understand," Lucretia was silent for a few seconds and nodded slightly. But then she raised her gaze again and fell on the oval mirror again, feeling a little nervous, "...he is really leaving.
Alright?"
Tirian thought for a moment, took a few steps forward, took off the mirror, and placed it upside down on the table.
"I always feel that my father makes me more nervous than before." This famous pirate couldn't help but muttered in a low voice.
Lucretia's voice immediately came from the crystal ball: "That's because you were beaten by him just now, and you must have been deeply touched..."
Tirian looked back with an expressionless expression: "You should pay attention, maybe Luni will suddenly speak and sound like her father."
The crystal ball went out immediately.
…
In the captain's dormitory on the Lost Home, Duncan breathed a long sigh of relief and sorted out the exchange process he had just had with the "son and daughter".
There should be no omissions.
After sorting it out, he casually took the pen and paper from the side and began to sketch on it based on his memory.
After a few strokes, a strange hexagonal emblem appeared on the paper.
That was exactly the strange symbol that Tirian showed before Vanna and Bishop Valentine. It was the appearance of the emblems carried by those strange "ascetics" that Captain Duncan had received a hundred years ago.
Through Vanna's eyes, Duncan got this unexpected information!
Putting down the pen in his hand, Duncan looked thoughtfully at this weird hexagon and the fragmented cross structure inside it, thinking about where to start to decipher the secret of this symbol.
But suddenly, his eyes froze.
He saw a wet mark suddenly appear on the edge of the paper, as if an invisible water flow had soaked a corner of the paper, and then, in the middle of the soaked water mark, a vague line appeared!