"Smack!"

The papers in his hand were slapped on the table, and Liszt suddenly stood up from behind his desk—in fact, he almost jumped up—and the port defense commander glared at his subordinates in front of him: "You say it again?!" What happened to Dagger Island?!"

"Dagger Island..... Dagger Island, it's gone!" The soldiers who came to deliver the news all stuttered a little, obviously even as a well-trained warrior, he could not control his state in such a situation, "Just now, we observed a series of explosions on Dagger Island, and it is suspected that the last remaining people on the island have detonated various facilities... Then the fleet on guard duty in the nearby sea watched as the island quickly sank and disappeared into the sea.

"Which fleets weren't affected?" Liszt immediately frowned, feeling that something was wrong.

"No," the soldier shook his head, "the sinking of Dagger Island has barely caused any changes in the sea surface, and the front has reported that.... It was as if the island had melted silently into the water."

Liszt's face became extremely terrifying, he was silent for a few seconds, and then looked up at the gatekeeper who was still standing in the office: "Lady Agatha, are there any known magic, miracles, or supernatural objects in your knowledge that can cause this phenomenon?"

"No," Agatha shook her head without thinking, "an anomalous change of this magnitude goes beyond a spell and deserves more of a miracle—or some kind of vision."

「… Anyway, we're in big trouble, the investigation hasn't started yet, the situation on Dagger Island is still unclear, and the island will disappear into the sea, and the town hall won't like the news," Liszt frowned, tapped his fingers on the table, and then suddenly looked up at the soldier as if remembering something, "By the way, what's the reaction from the Sea Mist Fleet?"

"They are still in their old position, and they have not crossed the offshore cordon," the soldier replied at once, "but after the disappearance of Dagger Island, two of their clippers briefly approached the sea - stayed for about ten minutes, and then returned quickly."

"Sounds like I'm observing... Looks like they didn't expect it," Liszt said slowly, "Damn, it looks like we'll have to talk to that pirate."

"The Cathedral will take action," Agatha continued, "and now that the exploration of Dagger Island is meaningless, we will turn our efforts to a comprehensive investigation of the city. Now that the Guardians have found some clues and several possible *** points for the Annihilation Cultists, I will personally lead the team to deal with them."

"I hope you'll get something out of it, Madam Gatekeeper," Liszt looked up at the black-clad goddess in front of him, "things are getting out of hand, we need the help of the Transcendent Realm more than ever, and the investigation into the cathedral is already slow."

"We're going to do our best."

Agatha nodded slightly, then lifted her cane and paused twice on the floor, and with the sound of the end of the cane hitting the ground, her figure suddenly turned into a gray wind, and then swirled directly into a pale crack that appeared out of thin air on the floor.

Liszt looked at where Agatha had disappeared, and only after the crack had closed did he sigh and sit back in his chair, while commanding the soldier, "Go out and close the door."

Next, he should write a "messenger" to the city hall as soon as possible to explain the evil sect that happened at the door of the city-state.

The city-state's port staff were guiding the ships to the shore, and those in black or blue uniforms stood on the concrete-poured docks, doing their own things in the cold wind, not communicating much with each other, appearing silent and busy.

A little farther away, several other moored ships could be seen, which seemed to have been docked for a long time, and only a few people could be seen on board, their loading and unloading or replenishment operations had been completed, and they were perhaps waiting for the next step in the departure process.

Farther afield in the docklands, you can see the main road leading to the city – a wide road that stretches out to the towering buildings in the distance, and the gas lights on both sides of the road have not yet been lit, but as it is already approaching night, there are not many pedestrians on the road, only occasionally

See some horse-drawn carriages, hurrying across the road that is gradually darkening.

Lawrence stood at the edge of the deck, looking out at the city-state buildings in the distance.

It wasn't the first time he had been to Frost, but it had been a few years since his last visit, and the long time barrier and the decay of his memory as he had grown older had made him unable to remember what the city was like, and now he felt stranger to the spires and towers that stood in the twilight in the distance.

Regardless, the White Oak had finally docked safely in the city-state—and despite the terrible weather along the way, it had not encountered a terrible storm or anything terrible.

Footsteps came from behind him, and the old captain turned his head to see that it was his first mate.

"The inspection is almost over," said the first mate, "let me ask, can I enter the city today?" Along the way, everyone can suffocate on the boat."

Lawrence glanced up at the sky, although the creation of the world had not yet appeared, the remaining afterglow in the sky was already dim to the point that it was about to dissipate, and he frowned and shook his head: "It's too late, there is a curfew in the city after dark, and there is nothing to go to get off the ship now, so let's stay on board honestly—I'll go to the port office myself to complete the rest of the formalities, and the others will go ashore tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I'll tell them the news," the first mate laughed, and then casually asked, "But you're going alone?" Do you want to send two people with you?"

"No, I see the door to the harbor office—right next to the docks," Lawrence waved his hand and gestured to a light not far from the shore, "Be careful to check all the ship's warehouses after the harbor inspectors leave, especially the bilge and a few seals where the relics are kept, in case any careless guy touches the setup."

"Yes, Captain."

The first mate departed, and Lawrence took a soft breath in the night wind, and the cold wind of the northern sea poured into his lungs, making him suddenly sober up.

Then the old captain shook his head, complained a little more about the bad weather, and walked to the staircase not far away.

A figure was standing at the top of the stairs, arms crossed in the dim light, looking at Lawrence calmly.

Lawrence paused hesitantly, and after a moment of recognition, he hesitated to speak, ".... Martha? Why are you here?"

"If I were you, I shouldn't have any more doubts at this time, but leave here at once," the female navigator with her hands on her chest looked at the old captain in front of her, and her tone was helpless, "Your vigilance has decreased, Lawrence."

"Martha, I'm ......" Lawrence subconsciously took half a step forward, he vaguely felt as if something was wrong, but he was blocked by a thousand words, so he could only stretch out his hand forward sluggishly, "I miss you a little.... How have you been?"

Martha did not answer him, the navigator only cast a calm gaze, but her gaze seemed to be focused on a farther place, and she slowly hummed in the gentle breeze and the sound of the waves.

"The sails have been hoisted, the sails have been hoisted, and the sailors who have left home continue on.........

"In the midst of the wind and waves, in the noise, we are only one plank away from death.

"Put away the hornsails, spread the mainsails, let go of the cables, hold on to the side of the ship—we're in the middle of the sea..."

Martha's voice grew deeper and lower, and she finally stopped, focused her gaze on Lawrence, and said in a soft voice that seemed to be talking to herself, "Lawrence, be careful, you are in the middle of the sea."

Lawrence took a sudden breath, the cold air currents stirred his mind, and then, as if remembering something, he hurriedly reached for his hand to his chest, quickly but hurriedly fumbling in his pocket.

Martha stepped away and walked slowly towards him.

"Lawrence, why are you so old?" The navigator reached forward, her voice hoarse with a hint of softness, she still looked young, and despite the slight wind and frost of life at sea, she was still as beautiful as Lawrence remembered, "It's been years, haven't they? You're not young anymore...... Me too..."

"Martha—" Lawrence's throat quirmed, and he felt like his fingers were about to touch the vial, but missed it several times.

He could almost smell Martha—the familiar scent, with a hint of lemon, which was her favorite scent.

He felt the little bottle.

"Martha... …」

He took it in his hand, but his feet were fixed on the deck as if they had been rooted, and he watched as the man of his memory stretched out his hand to him, as he had seen in countless dreams, and the hand touched the ends of his hair with a familiar temperature, and he saw the man in his memory laugh again, as if to tell himself about a longing that had been absent for many years.....

"Martha, I'm sorry."

Lawrence clenched the vial tightly and poured the bitter potion into his mouth.

Martha is gone.