The warp can contaminate everything outside the warp, even reality and time, but this does not seem to be a problem for the Lost Homeland.
Because in a sense, the ship is already part of the Warp - in fact, its bottom is still sailing in the Warp even now.
You can't drive a person with a san value of zero crazy, nor can you allow the Lost Homeland, which has been completely transformed by the warp, to be contaminated again.
Listening to Goat-Head's words, Duncan showed a thoughtful expression, but he did not ponder for too long, because Goat-Head's voice came from the navigation table again: "Captain, you are beginning to be interested in things within the civilized territory - before, you have always focused on sailing outside the border. Is there something in the city-state that is of special significance to you?"
Sailing beyond the border
Duncan's heart was slightly moved, but his expression remained unchanged. He just answered casually: "It's just pure concern, no reason is needed."
"Ah, well, you are the captain, you have the final say." The goat-head replied immediately, and then it was silent for two seconds, as if it was hesitating or thinking about something, and then it spoke in a low voice.
"Well, just in case I want to ask you a question."
Duncan raised his eyebrows.
He heard a hoarse and deep voice coming from inside the wooden wither: "Name?"
"Duncan Abnomer." Duncan had a blank expression on his face, and his fingers were lightly crossed together. But this time, after saying this name, he suddenly laughed, and then asked back: "Actually, I'm curious, what would happen if I said another name?"
This was the first time he asked this question, and it was also his boldest "crossing the line" so far. It was his life on this ship, his many contacts with the Goat Head, and his increasing understanding of his own strength and characteristics that finally made him tentatively take this step.
Mutual probing and observation established the most basic tacit understanding. Duncan's question revealed a fact that both parties knew. After this question, Goathead fell into a long silence. A full minute later, its low and hoarse voice sounded again in the captain's room: "Then try not to tease me like this, Captain. The Lost Homeland still needs you to steer the ship."
Duncan laughed.
Just as he thought, if the Goat Head had been the deputy of "Captain Duncan" for the past century, then its understanding of the ghost captain might even exceed the captain's understanding of himself. And considering that there are so many strange and extraordinary things in this world, would a "first mate" who knows the captain very well fail to notice the captain's changes and think of possible situations
No matter how careful the disguise is, there will be loopholes, and these loopholes will become more and more obvious over time. But no one has mentioned this loophole, which means that this level of disguise is just right and necessary.
The Lost Homeland needs a captain. The captain's name is "Duncan Abnormalmar". The things behind the name are not important, and it doesn't matter whether the captain himself is real. As long as there is a qualified person at the helm, it will be fine.
Duncan was just a little curious as to why it was him, and whether his current "self-will" was an unplanned situation, because according to his general understanding of ghost ships, if a cursed ship had to keep "catching" people to be captains, then the chosen people should actually be controlled by the curse, and he was obviously not bound by anything.
But he did not ask these questions, because the attitude of the goat head reminded him implicitly:
"Some things just need to be known by everyone, don't mention them too obviously."
Until we figure out all the secrets behind the Lost Homeland, this topic can end here.
"You still need your loyal first mate to serve you, and the Lost Homeland still needs the great captain to steer the ship himself. What do you think?"
The Goat Head's voice came from the side, sounding a little expectant and even eager.
Duncan turned his head and stared into the other's obsidian-carved eyeballs.
"Of course," he said with a smile.
Then he stood up and walked to the door of the captain's room: "I have to leave for a while, you take care of this ship."
Goat Head had returned to his usual lackey-like attitude, with a hint of joy in his tone.
Quick: "Of course, your loyal (omitted... ... ) will be waiting for you here, wish you a happy journey..."
Duncan had already pushed the door open and walked out of the room, leaving the words behind the goat head behind the door.
He stood on the stern deck and breathed a sigh of relief. A strange sense of relief rose in his heart. The morning sun was spreading over the sea, making the entire deck seem to be filled with a warm atmosphere. The door leading to the captain's room stood quietly in front of Duncan, and the letters "Gate of the Lost" on the door frame sparkled in the sun.
He held the handle and pushed it forward gently.
In the captain's room, Goat Head sensed that the captain had temporarily left the Lost Homeland.
It was silent, everything in the room was silent, even the entire ship was silent, but after a few minutes, a low creaking sound suddenly came from under the floor, followed by some furnishings in the room beginning to sway slightly and making various tiny noises.
The voice of the goat head broke the silence, and Didi murmured to himself: "Mom... You are not angry, right?... You should not be angry... Oh my, you are really not angry..."
The various subtle noises in the room became more obvious.
"I know, I know... It's not that I have to ask your name every now and then! Isn't this for the sake of navigation safety? If we suddenly fall back into the subspace, at least we have a preparation... Stop arguing, stop arguing, I'm still messing around... Or you can ask next time! If not, then don't argue... You also know that I'm the only one with a mouth on the whole ship..."
"That puppet? Are you okay? How would she know the situation... Wait, when did you become so close to her? Didn't you fight with her all the time... Do you feel bad after bullying her too much? How can you be like this?"
"Alright, alright, let's all go. Let's go and focus on our journey. The captain may be back at any time. He might ask about the progress of the voyage... Can you learn how to paddle the anchor? It will provide some power if you swing it. I think the propeller of a steam ship... Okay, just forget what I said... How about you jump in and mess around with the two lifeboats? Okay, just forget what I said..."
The noises in the captain's room gradually calmed down.
Goat Head sighed silently and continued to control the huge ghost ship towards the direction of Plande City-State.
On the foggy sea chart, the flickering light where the city-state was located moved a little closer.
... ...
Zhou Ming pushed open the door of the bachelor apartment and stepped into the world he was familiar with.
The window was still shrouded in fog, and the world he was familiar with was still only this far away.
Everything in the room remained the same as it was when he left. The bedding on the bed was a little messy, the book on the bedside table was still open, the computer screen in the corner was flickering, and the prompt "Network Not Connected" popped up again and again in the lower right corner.
Duncan breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the shelf at the end of the room.
The miniature model of the Lost Homeland still lay quietly in the grid, exactly where he had placed it last time.
Duncan picked up the lifelike "model" of the ghost ship, opened the door of the captain's room and took a look inside.
The navigation table was still empty, with no sign of the goat's head.
Duncan thought for a while, put the Lost Homeland back to its place, then turned and walked to the desk, ready to sit down and rest, and by the way, organize the known information and sort out his thoughts in this familiar and quiet environment.
But suddenly, his eyes were attracted by something on the desk.
Strictly speaking, not a "thing", but some weird... ...phenomenon.
He saw some very, very tiny flames constantly jumping on the empty table. The tiny flames were connected like sparks, and under the outline of these weak and green flames, some vague outlines were appearing and disappearing in the air.
It was as if something was condensing on the desk, but it was condensing too slowly and was stuck in a state of being about to take shape.
Duncan sat down at the desk, quietly watching the jumping flames and the faint shadows in the flames.
The silhouette of the man appeared, the dim green light of the fire shone on his face, and his slightly thin face gradually became serious.
He recognized that some of the outlines drawn by the dancing flames were familiar places - some neighborhoods in Plande!
He could even make out some details on the city-state's coast.
The fire was burning, and Duncan remembered that the order he gave to the flame was to continue chasing and hunting the "thing" with the black umbrella.
Now it has spread to almost every corner of the city-state.
Prey... ...are everywhere!
Duncan's brows furrowed a little as he thoughtfully tracked and distinguished the trajectory of the spread of the flames, looking for the pattern of their gathering and the direction where they might converge next, just like a hunter tracking the scent of prey.