Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 279: Agreement Reached

Pope Helena’s attitude was calm throughout compared to Vanna’s current helplessness. She had a smile on her face and even seemed a bit pleased.

However, Vanna couldn’t be happy at all, nor could she be more “reasonable.”

“I think... this is too sudden,” the young inquisitor racked her brain, completely clueless as to why the topic had suddenly shifted in this strange direction, and was now trying her best to catch up with the rapid pace of the conversation. “I understand the need to establish communication with the Vanished, but I think it should be gradual. Besides, if it’s just for communication, we already have channels for that, like Captain Duncan...”

“He visits you in dreams or talks to you through a mirror, right?” Helena gently interrupted Vanna, “I know, you mentioned it in your report.”

“But...”

“That’s not enough,” Helena shook her head with a smile, “That’s just ‘conversation’ – private talks between you and Captain Duncan. Such communication lacks both uniqueness and binding force. It’s far from being an official channel between the Storm Church and the Vanished. Vanna, you should understand the difference.”

Vanna’s lips moved a few times, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

She was now sure that this was not a joke, nor was it a whim of the “spokesperson of the gods” before her. From Helena’s attitude and gaze, Vanna sensed something well thought-out and... some feelings that she couldn’t understand for now.

After a while, she suddenly asked, “Is it the goddess’s will?”

“You can understand it that way – if it makes you feel better.”

“...I understand,” Vanna took a deep breath, finally calming herself down, and resumed her usual serious demeanor, bowing her head. “Then I will obey this arrangement.”

“Go and rest first,” Helena nodded gently, “There’s still a lot to do tomorrow.”

Vanna bowed again before leaving the room.

Watching the young inquisitor’s tall figure disappear outside the door, Helena took a long time before looking away. She suddenly laughed and shook her head helplessly, “This child... didn’t even ask me how I plan to send her to that ship, yet she’s trying to appear calm...”

A calm and dignified voice, mixed with the crackling of flames, spoke up, “I’m curious too, how do you plan to send her to the Vanished?”

Helena raised her gaze and stared at Duncan’s figure in the mirror.

The shimmering and distorted starlight filled her vision.

“As for the ‘lamb entering the tiger’s mouth’ you mentioned... I’m not worried.”

Indescribable flowing starlight surged on the mirror’s surface, as if trying to break free from the fragile glass, presenting a sense of swelling and writhing. Fine black cracks spread from the mirror’s edge, filling the entire room, and a low, chaotic roar filled her mind. Within each roar, it seemed as if infinite knowledge from subspace was intertwined.

“I can hear your voice, and it’s full of calm rationality. I believe you have indeed regained your humanity, and this humanity is clear evidence that you stand in the camp of civilized order.”

The mirror seemed to transform into a vortex within her field of vision. From it, the starlight giant within the mirror had lost its form completely, and all Helena saw was endless starlight. The fragmented light and shadow exploded in her mind, but in the next moment, gentle waves echoed in her mind as a counter, reshaping her thoughts on the brink of disintegration.

“You are friendly and reliable. My deity has guided me, and I believe unconditionally in my deity. If she commands me to cooperate with you, I will do so.”

The writhing starlight in the mirror overflowed, a stream of light and shadow extended in the air, pulsating, slowly swaying in front of Helena as if observing prey or sniffing the scent in the room. The writhing starlight formed a light and shadow less than half a meter from Helena’s face, and within its tiny light points, countless eyes seemed to fill them.

Duncan carefully observed Helena’s expression through the mirror, trying to analyze her true intentions from the details of her words and actions. In the end, he found only calmness and honesty in her eyes.

After a long while, he looked away.

“Agreement reached. I’ll reserve a spot for Vanna on the Vanished, but in return, once on the ship, it means she becomes my crew member. She will follow strict rules, and her priority will even be higher than her status in the Storm Church. I hope you understand.”

He tried to speak formally and dignifiedly, making the matter seem official.

But in reality, he was overjoyed.

From a very early time, he had thought that Vanna was destined for the Vanished. He had been planning how to bring this high-ranking cleric onto the ship as a helper but had no suitable opportunity or reason. He never expected this chance to fall from the sky.

The Storm Church needed an official communication channel to understand the Vanished’s intentions, which would alleviate their unease. The Vanished also needed a bridge to communicate with the Church’s powers in the civilized world, which would aid Duncan in his future activities. This was a win-win situation.

“I understand,” Helena nodded slowly, “So, the agreement is reached.”