Nina was stunned for a moment, and then she understood what was going on.
After thinking about the whole incident and the actions of herself and Shirley before and after the strange thing that looked like "living steel" appeared, she felt that it was normal for these knowledge guards to be wary - anything involving
In the event of extraordinary invasion, all people and objects that may be contaminated must be included in the investigation scope to the greatest extent possible. This is the iron law of the guards.
While on the ship, Vanna often mentioned her daily work as an inquisitor, which also included the many rules of the guards. According to Uncle Duncan's usual words - it is these strict and almost harsh "rules" that ensure that
It has ensured the survival of the city-states in this deep sea era and ensured that most ordinary people can still live a relatively stable life in this dangerous world.
So she nodded, and quietly tugged on Shirley's arm next to her to prevent the latter from suddenly making vulgar remarks. Then she looked at the knowledge guard in front of her: "Okay... but we will never go back.
If so, my family will be worried."
"Just to confirm whether you have suffered mental pollution or subconscious suggestion," the knowledge guard seemed relieved and explained patiently, "This is a necessary investigation and protection process. If there is no pollution, it will be released soon.
You left."
Then he paused and added: "After you come to the academy with us, you must first register your basic information. Someone will contact your family members. Don't worry about this."
"Oh, let's go then," Nina laughed, then turned to look at Shirley, "Is it okay?"
"What else could be wrong," Shirley muttered, "I'm already looking forward to it..."
Nina heard from the other person's tone that he was waiting to have fun and even a little gloating. She knew what this guy was looking forward to, but she didn't say much. Instead, she focused on the man who had almost stopped moving.
On the "lump", I couldn't help but asked curiously: "Do you know what this is?"
"Some kind of abnormal individual has invaded the real world, but it is difficult to disclose the specific circumstances," the knowledge guard said in a businesslike tone. "If it is later evaluated and confirmed as an incident that can be made public, the college will announce it to the outside world."
"Oh..." Nina said in a long voice, turned around and prepared to leave with the guards, but before leaving, she couldn't help but stop and looked back at the pile of strange "lumps"
"One glance.
The latter has gradually stopped, and even the last twitching and trembling have stopped. On the completely solidified iron-gray skin, the rock-like texture is slowly spreading.
…
At No. 99 Crown Street, in the "Mysterious Mansion" with its towering spire and lush gardens, Duncan and Lucretia were chatting about many things that happened in Frost some time ago. Maurice was curiously chatting with Clockwork not far away.
The doll Luni was communicating, and seemed to be interested in the latter's driving method. Vanna was not staying in the living room - it was her daytime prayer time, and Lucretia dedicated herself to this devout storm saint.
A "prayer room" was prepared.
"...When I left, order had been restored in Frost City, but it would still take a lot of work to clean up the pollution left by those 'elements'," Duncan told Lucretia about the north.
situation, "It is said that Tirian's overtime schedule has been scheduled to the next quarter..."
"I have been a pirate in the cold sea for half a century, and now I finally have to make up for the debt I owed during my idle period," Lucretia said with emotion, "By the way, have you ever been to the frosty place further north?
Is it near the frozen sea?”
"That's not true," Duncan shook his head, "I only heard that there are boundless ice fields there, and the solid ice spreads all the way to the depths of the thick fog at the border. I am indeed a little curious about it, but what happened in Qingfeng Port is more
It makes me care.”
"It is said that in the frozen sea in the frosty north, some ice layers even contain relics left by explorers from the Dark Ages and the Old City-State Era. Some people have tried to walk through those ice layers to explore the dense fog, but in the end
Swallowed by the sudden extreme cold... In contrast, I think the warm southern sea is more suitable as a breakthrough to challenge the 'border'..."
"If I have the chance, I really want to see that border... Don't worry, I know the danger of that thick fog, but I'm just curious..."
"Anyway, just don't rush into that thick fog again."
The "father and daughter" who reunited after a long separation chatted together, talking about the recent events, the many incredible phenomena in the boundless sea, the thick fog on the border and the dangerous areas far away from the civilized world.
.
Their topics could not always be continued, and Lucretia was not a good chatter, but what was incredible was that they had been talking like this for a long time.
But suddenly, Duncan stopped.
He seemed to "hear" something, his brows furrowed slightly, and after a brief moment of concentration, he cast his gaze to a certain direction outside the window.
Lucretia immediately noticed something strange about her father: "What happened?"
"Nina is calling me," Duncan turned his head with a strange expression and glanced at Lucretia, "...how to get to the neighborhood college?"
"Block College?" Lucretia was stunned for a moment, "Why are you going to Block College?"
"Get people."
Lucretia: "...?"
…
"Name?"
"Nina." Nina hesitated and did not say her current "last name".
The registrar across the table didn't pay much attention to this and just continued to write down as usual: "Age?"
"17 years old."
"Profession?"
"Still in high school..."
"Are you a local from Qingfeng Port?"
"He is from Puland. He came to Qingfeng Port to visit and temporarily stayed at... a relative's house."
The registrar recorded these basic information one by one. After hearing a series of honest answers from the girl opposite, he raised his head with a smile and said in a gentle and soothing tone: "Don't be nervous, girl, it's just some routine registration. You
I didn't do anything bad, I just accidentally got involved in extraordinary events. These registrations are for your protection - don't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid," Nina said obediently, and then looked at the registrar opposite with a somewhat embarrassed look, "Just don't be afraid later."
"Me? Why should I be afraid?" The registrar was startled for a moment, and waved his hands in confusion. He thought this was the random nonsense of a young girl who was inexperienced in the world and was nervous, and didn't take it to heart. "Hey, you
It would be great if that companion could be so educated."
Nina was stunned and listened to the noise in the next room. Sure enough, she heard some *vulgar language* that was very characteristic of Shirley.
But it didn't sound like a rant, but just some swear words to express oneself, similar to casually adding some highly suggestive words when talking to others - in Shirley's own words, they were all "modal particles".
So Nina relaxed a little and smiled with an embarrassed expression: "She is already in a relatively restrained situation."
"It's okay. We have seen all kinds of people in our position, especially those who have been in contact with extraordinary powers. It is normal for them to be mentally unstable or even mess around. We are all used to it," the registrar waved his hand nonchalantly.
"It's just a bit surprising. She seems to be such a well-behaved girl..."
Nina recalled Shirley in front of Uncle Duncan, and said that the registrar's first impression was actually correct from a certain perspective...
After a while, she asked curiously: "When can we go back?"
The registrar, who was wearing the smock of a priest of the Academy of Truth, turned his head and glanced at the incense placed on the table next to him and the candles that were burning quietly.
"You have to wait until the incense burns out and the candles naturally go out. If all the catalysts have no reaction, you can leave."
"Oh," Nina nodded, and after a few minutes of silence, she asked again, "Where is that 'thing' that appeared at the market before? Has it been arrested?"
"Sorry, no comment," the registrar shook his head, and then reminded, "I suggest you not to continue paying attention to it, and try to avoid recalling it, because some 'foreign objects' that invade the real world will be in the minds of witnesses.
It produces parasitic effects. Although we have not found you and your companions to be contaminated by this so far, frequent memories and excessive curiosity may still cause bad effects."
"Oh." Nina nodded again, and then she finally became quiet, as if she was patiently waiting for the incense to burn out and the "inspection" to end.
The young registrar sitting opposite her calmly breathed a sigh of relief. While sorting out the forms he had just recorded, he adjusted his sitting posture and took his hand out of a hidden compartment under the table.
There was a small device in his hand that looked like a pocket watch.
Using the cover of the desktop, he pressed the cover of the device. After the "cover" opened softly, what was exposed below was not the hands and dial, but a surface that looked like mercury - that layer of "mercury" undulated slightly.
Like some kind of living creature.
He carefully tilted the layer of "mercury" towards the girl across the table and carefully observed the changes on the silver-white liquid surface.
This girl named Nina seems sane, speaks clearly, and is even well-educated, but this does not dispel the concerns of professional clergy - because in many cases, people who have suffered mental pollution can also
Maintaining such a "clear mind" appearance can easily lead to secret contamination being leaked if not carefully investigated.
According to the field team's report, the girl and her companions had approached the patrolling knowledge guards a few seconds before the "invading object" appeared, and had many unreasonable actions during the incident.
There is no doubt that everything needs careful inspection.
However, the mercury liquid surface did not reflect any abnormal shadow at all.
The "Registrar" frowned and brought the device closer to his eyes, carefully observing the subtle changes in the fluctuations of the liquid level.
Suddenly, he seemed to really see something in the slightly rippling mercury liquid surface——
It was wisps of golden light.
That's the gathering flame.
It is some kind of mysterious and vast power, ancient and lost knowledge, the eternal majestic light and heat, the power of all things in the world...
The roar sounded in his mind, and the storm-like knowledge was impacting the boundary of reason. The thirst for truth seemed to grip the mind. The mortal soul longed for the gravity of the sun. He suddenly widened his eyes and stared at the thing that was about to hit him.
Coming——
A hand suddenly stretched out from the side and blocked his eyes.
"It's okay, don't just look at it," a low and majestic voice came into my ears, "You still look at it when you think something is wrong, why do you guys at the Institute of Truth have this problem?"
(Give up your fantasy, I’m definitely positive...but don’t worry, everyone, I feel fine, and I won’t stop updating.)