"Erza said that you soldiers are very effective in restraining black magic, and she has repeatedly told me to act with you.
"Those missing people stripped themselves naked, and then arranged their clothes in that weird way and jumped into the sea. Even one such weird thing is unreasonable. Two identical cases show that the reasons for their disappearance are related. Think about it this way
, the missing crew chief may also be in trouble. What did the safety director say? Has the captain taken action?"
Griffith thought about it and talked about his progress today:
"After we left the sewage tank, the safety director made a report to the captain.
"There is a way on the ship to simply report to the Maritime Zone Administration, but the Equinox is on the sea between the two places and is sailing very fast. If the warships cruising nearby do not encounter us by chance, they will have to wait until we arrive at the destination port.
"We will enter the offshore waters of Neopolis Island early the day after tomorrow, and the local Beyonders and officials will be ready.
“However, it may be too late by the time we reach the port.
"Early tomorrow morning, we will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the bottom cargo hold. We should find something there, and there may also be a fight."
Amber took a small piece of ham and put it into her mouth:
"I found that the two of us couldn't handle this mission at all. The ship was too big, and there were no highly inspired mages or hunters. We wasted a lot of time like deaf and blind men.
"Also, it is impossible to carry out investigation and comprehensive vigilance at night, allowing the cultists to do whatever they want."
You're right. How do you allocate manpower for this task? Are the official people in charge all banana-eating curly baboons?
The two of them sighed in unison. Amber ate all the food, clapped her hands and stood up:
"Forget it, there's no point in complaining.
"Tonight we will alternately be on guard and conduct a limited patrol. You take a shower first, and I will go to the captain to see if there are any instructions from the academy. Just leave the sofa for me."
…
After Griffith took a shower, he made his own nest on the sofa and lay down comfortably. As soon as he lay down, Amber returned to the room.
"How's it going? Did you find anything?" Griffith sat up from the sofa.
"Well, there is nothing special." Amber walked into the room and took off her coat and threw it on the back of the chair next to the desk. "The captain and senior crew members are very nervous and have distributed weapons to the sailors. I'll rush in.
Liang, just sit down and sit still!"
"Understood," Griffith smiled and nodded, "I'm not the kind of person who eats while listening to the sound of water outside!"
As soon as he said these words, Griffith felt that he was too frivolous. When he was with his comrades in the assault cavalry, he would make some dirty jokes, but he gave up this hobby after leaving the army.
"Uh..." Amber, who had already walked into the bathroom, poked her head out and glared at Griffith, "You go to the corridor!"
"Boom!"
The door closed behind Griffith again.
Griffith shrugged and walked slowly along the quiet corridor.
The cabin passage is very peaceful at night, but apart from the sound of the sea, there seems to be some special sound? It's like...
Curious Griffith listened. Gradually, the faint sound became clear.
He seemed to hear the vague sound of dice falling to the ground.
There is another sound, like the bell struck by a weirdo on the clock tower at midnight? Or like some kind of pipe organ used by the church? The solemn and indescribable echo goes through the empty corridor and hits the heart... Griffith is alone
The hair on his body stood up, and he almost fled back to the room. The strange sounds seemed to come from the bottom of hell? He stretched out his gray and rotten arms upwards, and the cold feeling spread from his ankles.
In a daze, Griffith felt that beneath him, on the bottom floor of the Equinox, there seemed to be a locked door that had been opened a crack.
Although he couldn't see this scene with his own eyes, he still visualized it in his mind.
The inspiration that became sharper after promotion instinctively accepted this scene, and Griffith's reason seemed to be swept away by a storm.
He only felt that his vision went dark. He seemed to have entered a psychedelic world in a trance. In the void with nowhere to stay, twisted and elongated shadows were entangled, and a door opened far away, and countless eyeballs were layered in the darkness.
The ground flickered, and the densely packed black tentacles were like kneaded threads, waving continuously.
Accompanied by a strong sense of dizziness and vomiting, Griffith lost his rationality for a moment and danced crazily. He jumped up and down in the cabin aisle like a spring-loaded toy, waving his hands and twisting like seaweed in the rapids.
Twisting back and forth. His eyes lost their expression and luster, and he stumbled toward Amber's cabin like a zombie.
In the confusion and chaos, Griffith suddenly noticed a golden light appearing in front of his eyes, followed by a heavy blow. He was beaten to the spot. Before he could wake up, an uppercut hit his jaw.
.
"Boom!" Griffith flew up, hit the ceiling above his head and bounced to the wall on one side, fainting simply.
When Griffith woke up, he found himself collapsed on the sofa. He had escaped from the temporary madness, but the left side of his face and jaw hurt badly. Amber got dressed and sat beside the big bed, tilting her head to look.
Hold him.
"You were unconscious for two hours. Did you see or hear anything just now?"
"The sound of bells, maybe the sound of a piano," Griffiths used his strength to support himself to sit up. "There was a very strange but clear sound from the bottom of the boat, and then I saw many bizarre scenes, like impressionist murals.
.”
Amber bit her lips lightly: "Tomorrow morning, after the sun comes out, we will quickly gather the crew to thoroughly search the cargo hold at the bottom of the ship. There will definitely be traces of black magic there. Now, close your eyes and sleep for a while."
"What about you?" Griffith asked, "I can be on duty first."
"No, you go to sleep first." Amber took out a pair of golden gauntlets from her bag and clasped them on her wrists, and gestured to him twice, "I don't trust you."
…
January 8, 1444, the morning of the third day after the Equinox left port.
Griffith and Amber sat facing each other in silence, having breakfast and waiting for news from the sailors.
The security director followed the captain's order and organized an investigation team early in the morning. They entered the cargo hold with cargo details, lanterns and weapons. The two Beyonders will wait for the results of their investigation in the restaurant.
Unsettling news is spreading on the ship, and a group of passengers corner the crew, demanding an explanation for the disturbing rumors.
Griffith slowly took a sip of the hot milk. The alluring aroma and warm taste made him feel comfortable and comfortable from the bottom of his heart as he just got up.
Amber looked absently at the sea outside the window, gently playing with her long blond hair with her fingers.
"We should go together," Amber suddenly stood up, "Sailors are not extraordinary people, and black magic items are not something they can handle."
"That's right, they can't handle it," Griffith put down the milk glass and nodded seriously. He had fully recovered from last night's confusion, and his mind was exceptionally clear.
"Hey! Then why are you still sitting there!" Amber asked in surprise, "We may be the only Extraordinaries of the lawful camp on this ship!"
"Yes, we are probably," Griffith stood up, held Amber's shoulders as he was about to rush out, and pointed to the seat next to him, "so before the sailors check, we give them the requirements
Yes - if you find any suspicious goods, do not open them and contact us as soon as possible."
"You are letting the sailors be used as cannon fodder!" Amber put her hands on her chest and shook her head dissatisfied.
"This is the risk brought by their work," Griffith said calmly. "If we rush in and fall into the trap at the first time, who else can stand in front of the fallen mage?"
At this moment, a young man in a dark dress walked over. Griffith noticed the stranger's approach and subconsciously tightened the Corrupted Feather Fencing sword at his waist.
"Miss Amber," the young man bowed, "I am Senator Milovan Neville's valet. The Senator would like to invite you to sit in the room for a while."
"I happen to have some time," Amber stood up and said to the waiter in the restaurant nearby. "If the captain wants to find me, you can come to the councilor's cabin without delay."
Griffith also followed and walked with Amber to the councilor's room: "I will wait for you outside later. If there is any danger, call me immediately."
"Oh~ why is there danger?" Amber smiled and winked at Griffith, "My principal, Lord Seer Gryffindor, has had a personal relationship with the Councilor for many years."
Griffith shook his head and said: "Even so, we have no clue about the strange clothes left by the missing passengers and sailors. We have no idea about the enemy's methods and capabilities."
"I know, I know," Amber said with her hands behind her back, shaking her long fluffy hair, "I'm serious too, I'm super strong! Even Erza admitted that if you are worried about me, why?
Why don’t you come with me into the senator’s room?”
"Oh? Is that okay?"
"Of course! Doesn't he have the right to refuse?"
The two came to the door of Suite 308 and entered the cabin under the guidance of the valet.
"Isn't Mr. Deacon here?" Griffith scanned the luxurious suite and found that it was divided into two floors. In addition to the majestic-looking old man and personal attendant sitting in the center of the living room, there were also two maids.
Also serving on the side.
"Mr. Deacon has been missing since this morning," the footman said simply. At the same time, he turned and said respectfully to the old man, "Sir, this is Miss Amber and..."
"Griffith Blanton, apprentice knight of the Larmore family," Griffith bowed slightly, "greetings to you, Honorable Councilor Milovan Neville."
"Please take a seat, Miss Amber, Mr. Apprentice Knight," the member of the Arcane Council said in a full and powerful voice, which was in sharp contrast to his old appearance. "Miss Amber, I have thought twice about Lord Gryffindor's offer.
After the suggestion, I agree with his view on a sealed item under my control."
Sealed object? Could it be the "Lin Yuan Collection"? Griffith put his hand on his sword and observed everyone in the cabin.
"Thank you, Mr. Congressman," Amber nodded gently, "May I ask what this sealed artifact is?"
"The original version of "Lin Yuan Ji"." Councilor Milovan Neville said slowly.