Chapter 110
In this situation, the apprentice can not only maintain a high level of mental processing, but also shield and interfere with hostile targets when necessary.
As you apprentices reading this far have probably realized... yes, this is the electronic warfare method used by naval warships before the invention of radar.
Even during the World Wars, many countries were still using this outdated but efficient method.
It is considered backward because it is inhumane.
It is said to be highly efficient because it is truly effective—even in the early stages of the war, a brain in a daytime location could fight against more than ten radars.
Of course, this method was eventually phased out.
On the one hand, the number of apprentices is decreasing, and on the other hand, the "Soul of the Dead" technology has been enhanced with the help of the Celestial Flint, so everyone is working on alchemy-based Living Spirit ship girls.
Of course, Hebe wouldn't be so heartless as to recklessly reverse the car and turn a perfectly good Toyokawa Shoko into a brain in a vat.
She chose a more unconventional, yet more efficient, approach.
—The figurehead.
The earliest verifiable figurehead dates back to the second period of history before Christ.
People consecrate ships by pointing to their figureheads, praying that the deities represented by the figureheads will protect them on their journey... Naturally, all the figureheads point to the Named Attendant of the June Archon, Pearl.
They are generally divided into two types: one is represented by sea monsters with many arms and octopuses, and the other is represented by guardian deities.
The former corresponds to the Named Attendant of Pearl, "Yan Gong"; the latter also corresponds to the Named Attendant of June Archon, "Bhikṣu Ice Ancient Buddha."
Both groups together form the retinue of the June Archon, known within the Cathay cultural sphere as the "Water Palace Immortal Class."
It is important to note that the original "Water Palace Immortal Class" only referred to the Named Attendant under Pearl's command, but as time went by and the legends changed, "Water Palace Immortal Class" gradually came to refer to all non-human beings living in the water.
Naturally, the apprentices who read this far have realized that... the true identity of the so-called "Water Palace Immortal Class" in Western Europe is a group known as the "Nymphs".
Nymphs are minor beings in the Mediterranean Sea mythology, sometimes seen as fairies and elves, and sometimes as members of the fairy family. They often roam in forests, fields, springs, and the sea.
They are spirits created from nature, usually depicted as beautiful young girls who love singing and dancing.
In other words, the so-called "Pure Water Spirit" are actually nymphs.
As an "invited guest" to visit Atlantis, Toyokawa Shoko is a perfect fit for the role.
Her surname "Toyokawa" came from across the sea, and even after settling in the Higashi, the element of "water" was retained in her surname; the Toyokawa bloodline has stretched for hundreds of thousands of years in the border region of Otogiyama, and is naturally extremely sensitive to the boundaries of reality; the prow of the ship is like a ritual to pray for protection to the "Water Palace Immortal Class", and the direction they are about to sail is the Atlantis that capsized Beneath the Waves.
It already possesses all the elements of symbolism, status, and power.
Now, all that's missing for Hebe is a good ship.
"Lend me your boat," Hebe said to Morgan at dinner.
Morgan looked at Hebe and chewed even harder.
"No," she spat out the words of refusal through clenched teeth.
"I know you have a ship," Hebe said calmly. "'The Sapphire,' hmm?"
The Sapphire is a cruise ship, but it can also transform into a yacht, fishing boat, submarine, aircraft carrier, etc., when necessary. In short, the Sapphire can freely transform between these forms according to Morgan's own will.
Morgan's coffee cup trembled.
She knew Mordred was a troublemaker.
"What do you want?" Morgan asked, slightly annoyed. "I'm not lending you the ship."
"What about Atlantis?" Hebe asked calmly. "How much longer are you going to keep quiet about this?"
"I don't want to talk about it!"
Morgan got up unhappily, and as he walked past Hebe, he reached out and grabbed her, pulling her up from the chair.
Toyokawa Shoko remained alone in the restaurant, quietly eating, seemingly oblivious to the scene unfolding before her.
Behind the Silent Bookstore stands a tall tower, known as the "Seagull's Cry Tower," where three messengers of Blanckug always hover on the rooftop.
However, Hebe didn't intend to let Morgan drag her that far; they simply stopped in the loggia at the bottom of the tower.
There are several lounge chairs and deck chairs here, with ivy entwined around the pillars. In the distance, you can see the undulating sea and the sun, whose light is not glaring, as it surges and sinks between the waves.
All around were the sounds of sea breeze, tides, and seagulls.
Morgan's eyes reddened slightly, and she asked through gritted teeth, "Why do you have to do this? One adventure after another, one rescue after another, huh? Besides me and Arthur, how many more people do you have to save? The world is at peace now, what is there that's worth risking your life for?!"
Hebe sighed.
This was her initial concern in avoiding Morgan and Arthur.
Eris, secret history, historical decisions, Lostbelt... there are so many things that cannot be described, and some things are dangerous to even mention.
Is dusk a safe time?
Don't you see that the Fisher King, April Archon, has already been nearly killed by Eris?
She stood on tiptoe, gestured to show her height compared to Morgan's, and sighed helplessly.
"What do you want to do?" Morgan was a little confused by Hebe's sudden action.
"I was thinking of giving you a little reward?" Hebe shrugged. "But when I stood on tiptoe, I realized there's quite a height difference between us... Speaking of which, do you have some misunderstanding about me? When did I ever say I was going to personally enter Atlantis?"
"Hmm?"
What's that strange noise?
Hebe looked at Morgan and found that apart from being slightly rosy, the latter's cheeks were otherwise normal.
'Never mind, maybe it's just seagulls calling...'
Hebe chuckled and shook her head, "I just plan to take a stroll in the nearby waters... Do you think I'm so special that I can ignore the ruling ban and pass through the gates of Atlantis?"
This is a lie.
The Fallen Empress's gaze softened. "Really?"
Although Merlin is known for her deceitful nature, at least since they recognized each other, she hasn't lied to him... Perhaps she has changed her ways?
"Believe it or not, I won't gamble my life for nothing." Hebe shrugged. "I ask you, if I were really going to Atlantis —who is there, and what is there, worth saving?"
"Or to put it in a way that's easier for you to understand, what ability do I currently have to save Atlantis?"
This is another deception.
169. Not good!
That's true.
Or rather, only the truth is difficult to deny.
Hebe's current apparent rank is at most daytime, and even with achievements, it barely reaches dusk... But what kind of place is Atlantis?
There is far too much evidence to suggest that it was brought to the Beneath the Waves the ruling party itself—though the ruling party declined to reveal its identity.
Let alone one sunset, even if you stake the entire Albion, what could you possibly change?
Morgan may not believe Hebe's words, but she must believe in the Path of Ascension; there is no more authoritative and reliable measure than this.
A complex expression of hesitation, doubt, and uncertainty slowly appeared on Royal Sister's face.
She slowed her speech and gently sat down on a bench by the corridor.
"Alright... in that case."
Morgan closed her eyes slightly, raised her hand, and set up several Water Mirror around the area.
Even now, in Blanckug, Morgan remains extremely cautious about discussing Atlantis, saying:
"Atlantis was once Utopia Above the High Seas; the Ys City was its capital; even after it was submerged by the Beneath the Waves, there were still survivors who called themselves Agor."
Atlantis, Isoo, Agor. These three names support and anchor each other.
These three names have cemented their place in the world.
Hebe nodded slightly; she knew that.
"Atlantis possesses the means to break free from the shackles of fate." This was the second sentence Morgan said to Hebe.
Hebe always thought this was just a rumor among apprentices and shouldn't be taken seriously.
But when Morgan said the same thing, she had to consider the veracity of his claim.
"The Orkney goblins have a saying: 'The Bell of Ys shakes the Tokiomi,'" Morgan said. "The Orkney goblins have been integrated into Albion society for hundreds of years, but their reverence for clocks has been remembered, as evidenced by Big Ben in London."
This is an innate reverence for bells.
Tracing back upwards, one inevitably arrives at Atlantis.
In other words, Hebe must be careful about everything related to the "clock" within Atlantis.
"Anything else?" Hebe pressed.
"That's all," Morgan said irritably. "Do I look like I know a lot?"
Hebe sighed.
Royal Sister knows less than she does, yet she's kept this little bit of information hidden for so long...
Thinking of this Hebe really wanted to tiptoe and pat Royal Sister's head, "It's okay, knowing just this much is already amazing..."
But she was afraid that an angry Morgan would do something out of control, so she didn't dare to.
"What about the ship?"
Hebe gestured with her hands. "Where did your cool Sapphire go again?"
Ever since she learned from Mo that Morgan owned a multi-purpose vehicle, she had been longing to borrow it.
To Hebe's surprise, the expression on Morgan's face this time was not just hesitation and indecision... but an overwhelming sense of shame and indignation.
"Anyway, don't ask." Morgan ran away from the veranda in embarrassment and annoyance.
Hebe was completely baffled by Royal Sister's reaction.
On a bright and sunny morning, the sun shone down evenly from the clouds, a rare occurrence.
The sea fog Blankog Island was beginning to dissipate, Hebe was taking a walk in the corridor when she saw a two-finger-wide note being handed in through the door.
The ship has arrived.
Hebe held the note, unusually hesitant. She turned and walked towards the lobby of the Silent Bookstore, only to see Toyokawa Shoko, not Morgan.
"Let's go."
Hebe waved to Toyokawa Shoko.
They silently bid farewell to the silent marble statue, to the swaying trees in spring, to the gauntlet holding the sword hilt at the entrance of the Martial Practice Garden, to the portrait hanging on the wall... Seagulls, white doves, and black crows merrily circled above Hebe's head.
Hebe turned around casually and saw Morgan standing on the observatory, waving vigorously at her.
"Why make such a big fuss?" Hebe laughed. "It's not like we're never seeing each other again!"
She turned around, raised her hand high above her head, and waved.
The beige skirt fluttered in the sea breeze, like a fish swimming in clear water.
Blanckug seemed particularly cheerful today, probably because Festival of Light is approaching.
This is a festival unique to the Nordic region, with different characteristics depending on the area—in Blanckug, apprentices hold a celebration ceremony in the mine to welcome "the birth of new light from the earth."
Mr. Day and Lord Twilight, these Brilliant Twins, are both worshipped on this festival.
Hebe walked past the bushes with lanterns hanging from them and saw the apprentices walking side by side along the road, all wearing cloaks and carrying bundles of mistletoe.
This is a unique feature of Blanckug, at least the members playing the role of "secret society followers" here are actually genuine.
They chanted Druidic Order prayers, blessing each passerby.
Hebe watched quietly for a while and thought it was pretty good.
She liked those mischievous but mostly kind little fairies, the elementals that could emerge from the tap, the Phantasmal Spirit flitted between the fireplace and the windowpane, and the fluffy balls that would quietly dance in the moonlight... Mysterious and unreal, of course, is beautiful.
Of course, Hebe doesn't force everyone to accept her views. In Hebe's view, if someone truly agrees with her views, then they will inevitably walk alongside her.