At this point, Duncan finally understood the ins and outs of the "Abyss Project" that had been sealed for half a century, and why it was regarded as a taboo. Even the rebels who started the Frost Rebellion were deeply afraid of it.
-They really should be afraid.
Although the whole thing happened in the real dimension from beginning to end, when the situation started to get out of control, it obviously went beyond the order of the real world. Under the deep sea... there was a completely unknown horror hidden, and until the end, no one
To figure out what it is, only people continue to fall into madness, and the entire plan continues to accelerate, as if it is sliding towards the abyss.
The deep dive with no end in sight, the strange atmosphere that gradually spreads, and the Frost Queen's almost autistic behavior in the later period... To be fair, even Duncan himself would instinctively think that Lei was the original one when faced with this series of facts.
·Nora was really bewitched and controlled by something, and she even suspected that the "Frost Queen" was colluding with the subspace.
In this case, not to mention that there are opponents of the queen lurking within Frost, not to mention that there are many city-states in Lengliehai itself that have ill intentions towards Queen Frost's rule. Even if the situation in the north is originally stable, things will continue to change.
As time goes by, an undercurrent gradually arises.
But Tirian always emphasized that Le Nora had never been affected by anything. He firmly believed that the Frost Queen was awake until the end and protected the city-state until the end.
Duncan couldn't say whether Tirian's judgment was correct, but he tended to believe it because... he had also seen the "Frost Queen" in historical fragments.
The other party also asked him soberly and rationally "not to pollute history."
At least from that perspective, the Frost Queen back then didn't look like a terrifying madman controlled by subspace.
But it was precisely because of this that Duncan became more curious - he couldn't figure out what kind of motivation would make a sober city-state ruler make those autistic and extreme decisions, making her want to stay in the country at all costs.
What was the reason why she continued to advance the project even though she knew that there were problems with the Qianyuan Plan? She kept all the secrets in her heart and remained silent even in front of her most trusted naval commander.
After thinking for a long time, Duncan found that all the questions ultimately pointed to one place: What "secret" did the Frost Queen...learn in the deep sea?
"...After the Great Frost Rebellion, you never returned to that city-state?" Duncan raised his head and looked at Tirian and asked.
"No, Her Majesty Le Nora gave an order for me to leave the Frost with my own troops. At that time, the rebels had already colluded with other northern city-states and gathered an entire fleet in the outer sea," Tirian said
The tone here seemed particularly low. This was obviously a past that he didn't want to mention, "...but if I had disobeyed the order and stayed, Hanshuang would have had an additional force that was still loyal to the Queen. Those rebels would not have been able to easily
Break through the port's defenses..."
"So there are rumors in later generations that you actually participated in the rebellion, and you even took the initiative to put the rebels into the frost." Duncan said, shaking his head, "Have you ever thought about why the Frost Queen wanted to do this in the first place?
After giving that order, does she have nothing else to tell you?"
"...I have been confused about this for many years," Tirian said frankly. "The queen did not order anything, she just asked me to leave with the team. I once thought that she might want to leave a team for herself in the future.
Revenge, but... this is meaningless at all. She prohibited us from returning to the city-state, and the rebels occupied the city-state. How can we take revenge if we don't return?"
"You can plunder the rebel fleets in the open sea and intercept all merchants coming in and out of the Frost. You have been doing this for many years."
"Yes, this was the only thing I could think of at that time, and it was also the only way for the Sea Mist Fleet to survive... We didn't even have a home port at that time," Tirian shook his head, "But now
We have gradually stopped this looting activity."
"Why?"
"...Because the last rebel leader is dead, too," Tirian smiled bitterly and spread his hands, "We have been using all possible means to capture those rebel leaders, and hang them on the mast if we catch them.
, and then threw the corpses on the merchant ship heading for Frost, so they later learned the lesson and simply hunkered down in the city-state, not stepping out of the city for decades. I could only watch them die peacefully.
, until everyone who participated in the rebellion has passed away."
Duncan didn't speak for a while. He was silent for a long time thoughtfully, and then suddenly said: "All the soldiers under your command are 'living dead', right?"
Tirian replied casually: "Yes, it is something everyone knows."
"Have they all directly or indirectly participated in the 'Qianyuan Project'?"
"I participated in that plan. As my direct troops, of course they also participated," Tirian said casually, then frowned slightly, "What did you think of?"
"You participated in the Submerged Abyss Project, but you did not become crazy and weird in the later stages like other people who participated in the plan. After 'One Thousand Meters', the Frost Queen had another dispute with you and excluded you from this plan.
And on the eve of the rebel attack, your queen specifically ordered you to lead your troops to stay away from the frost..."
Duncan said slowly while thinking, and finally, his eyes fell on Tirian, his voice was low: "You are right, the Frost Queen may indeed want to leave an army, but she left this army
It doesn’t seem like he’s trying to avenge himself…”
Tirian slowly showed an expression of astonishment, but before he was about to ask anything else, the figure in the mirror shook his head gently: "Don't ask me, you can't understand things yourself, I'd rather
I don't understand - I just expressed my thoughts from the perspective of a bystander."
Afterwards, the room fell into a brief silence. After an unknown amount of time, Duncan's voice sounded again: "Tirion, we have talked long enough this time."
The big pirate who was deep in thought subconsciously raised his head when he heard this, and looked at his father in the mirror with some surprise. He seemed to have suddenly realized something at this moment, and a complex and astonished expression appeared in his eyes.
He seemed to have just realized how much he had talked about with the other person, and realized that he had unknowingly adapted to the atmosphere of this conversation - even a century ago, he had rarely had this kind of relationship with his father.
They had a long conversation, and as for the little vigilance in my heart when I just woke up here...it disappeared long ago.
"I..." He subconsciously wanted to say something, but at this moment, there was a stinging pain on his forehead, which made him couldn't help but touch his forehead, "Ah, it hurts..."
"...The child's actions are neither gentle nor serious. I hope you won't argue with her," Duncan's voice sounded in the mirror, "Do you need ointment?"
"No... no need," Tirian waved his hands with a strange expression. He couldn't help but recall the last scene he remembered before coming here, the weird little girl, and the... like figure flying in the sky.
It was something like a dog, and then he suddenly reacted, "Wait a minute, I remembered, that's not a dog, that's a deep hound!"
He looked at the mirror, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Is that also your current subordinate? An... Annihilation cultist?"
He seemed a little hesitant when he said the words "Annihilation Cult", obviously he was not sure about Shirley's true identity - after all, he had seen such creatures as the Annihilation Cult, but he was so reckless with the contracted demon.
It’s the first time I’ve seen it…
"She is indeed doing something for me," Duncan said with a half-smile, "but if you have the chance to see her again, I suggest you not to mention the word 'Annihilation Cult' in front of her, she doesn't like it very much."
Tirian made a confused sound, then subconsciously looked around, and finally his eyes fell on Alice next to him, who seemed to be wandering.
Alice quickly reacted and looked at Tirian curiously: "What are you looking at me for?"
"Nothing," Tirian withdrew his gaze, and there was no trace of emotion hidden in his complicated eyes. Finally, he looked at the mirror that was still burning with flames, and asked with some uncertainty, "Then I... can I do it now?"
left?"
"Do you still want to stay for dinner?"
Tirian quickly waved his hand: "Ah... no, that's not necessary..."
"Well, then I will arrange for my messenger to send you..." Duncan in the mirror nodded, but suddenly, he frowned, as if he thought of something, "Wait, I suddenly thought of something."
Tirian was a little nervous subconsciously: "One thing?"
"Strictly speaking, they are two doubts about the same thing." Duncan's expression became serious again. He stared at Tirian, "Do you still remember what you just mentioned, the No. 3 submersible surfaced one after another with several 'copies'
Product'?"
"Of course," Tirian nodded, "counting the first body and the subsequent six copies, there are a total of seven 'Submersible No. 3' floating on the surface."
"I have two questions," Duncan organized his thoughts and spoke slowly, "First, was the first submersible that surfaced at that time... really the main body?
"Second, was the seventh submersible that surfaced at that time really empty?"