Is what Helena said her true thoughts? Is the Deep Sea Church's goal really just to establish communication with the Lost Homeland? Does this "spokesman of God" really believe in the humanity and reason of "Captain Duncan" as she said
Duncan actually didn't dare to believe it completely. Although the Pope's attitude seemed very frank, he himself was quite savvy. He knew that the Lost Homeland was famous and had an outstanding "record". This reputation meant that a leader of a force like Helena would never deal with him without any vigilance - she would always have to be reserved.
But being cautious may not be a bad thing. Choosing to cooperate despite being cautious means that she has a reason to cooperate, perhaps because of God's will, or perhaps because of the interests of the church. Whatever the reason, the olive branch she is extending now is real.
"Now that the agreement has been reached, we should discuss the specific personnel handover and registration process," Duncan thought for a moment and said to the Pope from a reasonable perspective, "I think we need some formal documents."
Helena was stunned for a moment. Although she was the one who first brought up the matter, she obviously hadn't thought about this aspect. At this moment, her expression was a little surprised: "Registration... process, what do you mean?"
"Crew members joining the ship and handing over their work are very serious matters," Duncan said seriously. "The Lost Homeland is an exploration ship with strict personnel management. Your Deep Sea Church is also a formal unit. Don't you even prepare a letter of introduction for your envoys? In addition, there are the expenses of Vanna's life on the ship or the purchase and loss of her personal equipment. It should be made clear who should be reimbursed. I personally think you have to take care of it, at least part of it..."
Helena suddenly understood what Vanna meant when she mentioned many times in the report that "Captain Duncan is a man who often does unexpected things." She had come up with so many contingency plans for negotiations with the Lost Homeland, but she had never considered this one!
"... The Deep Sea Church will certainly bear this part... of the budget," Helena nodded after a few seconds. "I think you need formal documents, we can provide them, or you can provide them - do you have the corresponding template?"
"Of course, I'll send a messenger to you in a moment," Duncan nodded seriously, his tone very serious, "The Lost Homeland is not a lair of the evil gods who light two braziers, say some mysterious words, and then push people in to consider it a successful sacrifice. We are a normal and formal employer. Our recruitment, rules and regulations, and team building are all first-class in the subspace..."
Helena had been listening expressionlessly from the beginning, and now she could only nod subconsciously. For some reason, she suddenly felt that the distorted starlight that kept expanding and shrinking and wriggling in the mirror in front of her didn't seem so dizzying.
Nina hadn't said much since just now, but had been thinking about something. At this moment, she suddenly raised her head and said, "Uncle, do you have anything to do next?"
“Bang!”
The Pope muttered in some surprise.
Because this is the Lost Hometown.
"It's me," Duncan nodded gently, "Miss Inquisitor will become a new member of the Lost Homeland in one or two days."
"As long as she doesn't cause me any trouble," Nina muttered, "How dare I cause her any trouble?"
"Then how can we get her here if we don't tie her up?" Agou was stunned. In his "abnormal logic", he couldn't think of any other reason to explain why a city-state judge would suddenly become a new member of the Lost Homeland. "Oh, you plan to lock her up on the shore first..."
"In a sense, we are acquaintances," Shirley smiled, her eyes sweeping across the table, "We have all seen her, Vanna, and he and Nina even met you not long ago."
The next morning.
Agou thought about it, and felt that this kind of "reasonable" thing would be extremely weird if it happened on the Lost Hometown. He would rather doubt that one day he would see the Lord of the Deep when he opened his eyes on the ship, and he also doubted the captain's previous series of procedures. But after holding it in for a long time, he did not dare to speak out the thoughts in his mind.
The solid real world reappeared before Duncan.
Accompanied by a slight crackle of flame
With a popping sound, the green flame jumping in front of the mirror finally faded away, and the dim yellow-white flame reappeared on the candlestick. The floating light and shadow on the edge of the mirror and the dark cracks that were everywhere in the room gradually dissipated from the field of vision.
"She still couldn't imagine how a city-state judge could stay on that ship obediently," Ah Gou also muttered, "It feels like the days ahead are going to be exciting."
Duncan nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the people on both sides of the table. After a little thought, he added, "This is an agreement between me and the Deep Sea Church. I will board this ship as a secret envoy and serve me as a crew member after the mission begins. Her status is slightly different from yours, but when on the ship, everyone abides by the same rules. I hope you can get along well with each other."
"You're right," Agou said in a muffled voice, hanging his head, "This makes perfect sense."
After an unknown amount of time, the shaking lines on the edge of the image gradually stabilized. Helena took a deep breath and her tense muscles relaxed little by little.
"... Why did you think of tying people to the boat first?" Duncan's eyes twitched. "I said Vanna would be our new member. When did I say we would tie her to the boat?"
Alice almost fell off the chair just now, but she glared at Agou and scolded him: "Agou, you scared me!"
It was only then that she felt the sweat soaking through her clothes, her heart pounding, and the hollow, numb pain in her head.
Duncan looked into Alice's shining eyes (6000 deep), and after a long moment, he smiled and stroked her hair.
Nina was feeding the pigeons with a handful of French fries, but when she heard Uncle Duncan's words, she was stunned and looked up with surprise: "New member?! Who is it?"
"You're ready," Morris nodded slightly across the table. The old scholar seemed the most flustered (except for Alice who reacted from beginning to end), with a strange smile on his face. "But she might be particularly surprised when she sees you... But she will adapt. Vanna has been a child with strong adaptability since she was young."
"Because you specially gathered us all on board," Nina thought for a moment, "Miss Vanna hasn't even boarded yet, but you started to gather us. You must have other arrangements, right?"
"... You'd better remind Vanna to control her urge to pry in her 'new position'," Helena rubbed her forehead and said softly while fighting the dull pain in her head, "Facing the warp... This feels terrible."
Shirley lowered her head: "Why do you ask that suddenly?"
"… They really delivered it."
The captain is right.
Alice looked a little dazed. It took her several seconds to realize something. Her expression became visibly dull: "Could it be... this trial..."
"Can't it be a normal crew recruitment and job transfer?" Shirley looked at the other's beautiful dog head expressionlessly, "For example, the Deep Sea Church wrote a letter of recommendation, I wrote a personnel recruitment notice, and then Vanna became a marine and ship chaplain on the ship through such a normal process - don't you think this is more reasonable?"
I even felt that these rotating lights and shadows were somewhat familiar. Suddenly, a crackling sound came into my ears, and a glimmer of green light came into my eyes.
In the same slightly dazed state, she finally managed to have a successful conversation with the ghost captain.
In the dining room of the Lost Homeland, Duncan gathered all the members on board, including Shirley and others who were helping out in the antique shop, and old Mr. Morris who was looking up information in the City-State Library, and then solemnly announced the news.
"You will be adding a new member."
But he still stared at the mirror that had returned to normal, staring at his own reflection that was gradually emerging in the mirror.
This is Vanna's registration document on the Lost Homeland.
"Yes, there's some work to do—we're heading to Frost."
"me…
It was completely dumbfounded. Really, Mr. Duncan, what did you just say—this Inquisitor? !” The dog got up from the ground in a miserable state, ignoring Alice's shouting beside him, and looked at Duncan with two bloodshot eyes. “Are you going to tie up this Inquisitor? Of course, I am not doubting your ability. You can certainly tie her up, but it may not be easy to make this Inquisitor surrender. She has obviously received very strict training, and her mind is full of faith in the Goddess of Storms. I am afraid that it will be difficult to make her become a…
A loud noise suddenly came from the dining table. Duncan looked calmly in the direction of the sound and saw Agou lying on the ground in a miserable state - he had been sitting on the chair next to Alice a second ago.
Helena woke up suddenly, but she only had time to see a flash of green flame in the distance of the windowsill. She slowly walked towards the direction where the fire dissipated and saw an old parchment lying quietly on the windowsill.