Lawrence instantly thought of what "Martha" had told him before - he could no longer tell whether the Martha at that time was his hallucination or the "sense of existence" emanating from the "Martha" in front of him.
”, but only one thing is certain, he should go to Hanshuang.
But how to get there?
"We have been searching here for a long time," Lawrence couldn't help but frown and said, "Since the last time we left the city-state port at night, the White Oak has never found that city-state again - we returned along the same route.
, there is only a sea there."
"You can't find it if you look for it this way," Martha smiled and shook her head, "Lawrence, the frost is hiding from you."
"Avoiding me?" Lawrence was stunned, "Why?"
Martha didn't speak, but raised her hand and pointed at the ghostly flames that were burning quietly on Lawrence's body.
Lawrence understood instantly. He looked down at his spirit-like arms and said thoughtfully: "That's why...we didn't encounter any obstruction when we left the city-state port before..."
It’s not that we sailed away from there, but that the city-state moved away from the White Oak?”
He raised his head and his expression became a little subtle: "Then what should I do? The White Oak is now closer to the Lost Home than when it left the port. If that city-state has been consciously moving away from me, how can I possibly find it?
?』
"I'll go find it," Martha said calmly and briefly.
"You're looking for it?" Lawrence didn't react for a moment, "Can you find it?"
"Of course, in the past many years, my boat and I have always been part of this sea area. Even if I break away from this huge community now, it will not realize this in a short time - and
On the other hand, the current existence of the Black Oak is closer to the reflection of the White Oak. I have not directly established contact with the Lost Home, at least not yet, and the frost will not hide from me.
······It’s not as ‘smart’ as you think.”
Lawrence nodded half-understanding, but he was a little confused: "But you are the only one who can get close to it. What will happen to me and the White Oak? As long as we show up, it will definitely 'escape.'"
Martha smiled.
She took half a step forward, gently pressed her hand on Lawrence's chest, and with a profound expression on her face, she said softly: "It's very simple, let's exchange places - here, the boundary between the body and the reflection is not so clear.
"
Lawrence was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to ask the other party what he meant by these words. However, before he could open his mouth, he felt a slight push in his chest.
This force was very gentle, but it made him feel like he was spinning in an instant. He only felt that he was falling on his back. The moment before losing consciousness, he felt that he was being held up from behind, and Martha's soft voice was in his ears.
A voice sounded: "Take a nap, my love - an incredible journey lies ahead."
Lawrence fell into a drowsy sleep, but he felt that he only slept for a moment. Then he suddenly opened his eyes again and subconsciously shouted: "Martha!"
However, what came to his ears was the voice of first mate Gus: "Captain, are you awake?"
Lawrence finally woke up completely. He struggled to hold himself up, gasping for breath as he woke up from his deep sleep. Then he looked around again and realized that he was lying on the bed in the captain's cabin - the first mate Gus had a look on his face.
Standing aside with a worried expression, there were several sailors nearby.
And in a corner, he also saw a familiar figure - it was Anomaly 077. The mummy was holding a noose around his neck while no one was paying attention, but after realizing Lawrence's gaze, he
He immediately put away the rope and pretended that nothing happened.
"I'm..." Lawrence took a breath and muttered while rubbing his forehead. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether he was in a dream or reality. What happened not long ago was rising and falling in his memory like an illusion.
.
"You have returned to the White Oak. It was Sailor who brought you back," the first mate said immediately, and raised his finger to point to the mummy not far away, "You have fallen asleep.
It’s been several hours.”
"I remember...I remember exploring the Black Oak and seeing Martha on it...did these things really happen?" Lawrence rubbed his forehead hard, then raised his eyes, "Where's the Black Oak?"
Where is it now?"
"Your memory is correct. You did go to that ship. Sailor, you also told us that you met Ms. Martha on it." First Mate Gus reached out to help Lawrence up, but his face turned pale mid-sentence.
It's a little weird, "As for where the ship is now... Captain, the current situation is a little weird, I don't know how to explain it to you..."
"Weird?" Lawrence frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Our ship is out of control now. The rudder and propeller are useless. The White Oak is drifting like a ghost ship. As for the Black Oak... I will take you to see it."
Listening to the first mate's worried words, the expression on Lawrence's face instantly became solemn. He pushed away the other person's hand that was supporting him, and followed the sailors toward the door.
At the same time, he also noticed the changes in himself and others. The faintly burning spiritual flame had been extinguished at some point. Everyone's bodies were now back to a living state, and the surrounding floors and walls
It no longer shows the same burning state as the Lost Home - everything here seems to have returned to normal.
The first mate noticed the captain's gaze and explained, "The flames subsided a few hours ago, shortly after you returned."
Lawrence nodded silently. He was now more concerned about what happened than the ghost flames that had subsided, so that his usually calm first officer would show such a hesitant and at a loss expression.
Soon, he and the sailors left the cabin and came to the deck of the White Oak.
In just a moment, he realized the... strangeness in the surrounding environment.
Humid, cold, as if soaked in sea water, there is no light at all in the sky, only weird shadow-like lumps floating in the sky, there is no wind around, but there is a cold flowing feeling touching every inch of the skin on the body, from time to time
You can see weird turbulence traces appearing nearby, like tiny bubbles in the air.
Lawrence was stunned to feel the contradictory environment around him, and was vaguely aware of what had happened. When first mate Gus took him to the edge of the ship's side, he further confirmed his suspicion.
"The Black Oak is there."
The first mate stood on the edge of the ship's side and pointed at the water directly below.
Lawrence lowered his head and saw the "sea" slowly undulating. The ripples caused by the White Oak's movement slowly spread around with a twisted and weird texture. On the sea surface like a twisted mirror, he saw the white oak.
"Reflection" of the Oak.
It was a pitch-black ship wrapped in thick fog and shadows. Several ghostly lights were lit on the ship. It was "reflected" below the White Oak and was sailing through the wind and waves.
At this moment, Lawrence finally understood what Martha meant when she said goodbye.
Now, the White Oak is a reflection of the Black Oak.
"Captain..." First mate Gus noticed the change in expression on Lawrence's face. Years of following his experience allowed him to keenly judge that the old captain might already know what was going on, "What's going on?
Why does our reflection in the sea look like the Black Oak? And the ship is out of control..."
"We are not out of control - we are just following the Black Oak," Lawrence breathed out softly, with a faint smile on his face, "Let everyone have a good rest and recharge, we are heading to a place that can solve all problems
The place."
"The place where all problems can be solved?" The first mate blinked in confusion, "Where are we going?
"We are heading towards Frost."
Night is gradually covering the city.
Two figures were walking quickly through the streets that were under curfew.
One figure is exceptionally tall and burly, wearing a long black trench coat reminiscent of nightfall, while the other figure looks
He is extremely short. Even though he is wearing a thick winter coat, his rather thin figure can still be seen under the winter coat.
A gust of cold wind blew, and the thin and short figure sneezed firmly: "...sneeze!"
Duncan lowered his head and looked at Shirley who was rubbing her nose: "I asked you to wear a scarf but you didn't - the frosty night is much colder than Pland."
"It's so cold..." Shirley subconsciously tightened her clothes. Although the clothes were actually enough to resist the surrounding temperature, she still felt the cold wind was biting. She was born and raised in Puland, so she was obviously not very adaptable to the cold.
Frosty weather, "I kind of regret coming out
Duncan looked at the girl with a half-smile: "You didn't say that, as long as you don't do homework, can you do anything?"
When Shirley heard this, she immediately raised her neck and said harshly in the cold wind: "Yes, I said it!"
"My mouth is the toughest in my body," Duncan sighed helplessly, then raised his head and looked at the alley in the distance, "Let's go, I don't want to deal with the night guards yet."
Shirley hurriedly moved her short legs to keep up with Duncan. While walking forward with great effort, she couldn't help but asked curiously: "What on earth are we going to do?"
"Check someone's condition." Duncan said casually as he walked forward.
"What's going on with someone?" Shirley raised her face and looked at the burly captain beside her, "Who is it?"
"Gatekeeper, Agatha." Duncan said calmly.
His eyes crossed the night sky and stared at the end of the street in front of him.
A small cluster of green flames burned in his field of vision, flickering on and off, as if separated by a thick curtain.