"Excuse me, who are you?"
Angel did not answer his question, but asked casually.
The man was about thirty years old. He had short blond hair that was meticulously groomed. His relatively flat facial profile and dark blue eyes were very characteristic of Intis's southern race. Based on his question, Angel guessed that the man was also one of the "outsiders."
After all, according to the information she had received before, this city was not completely isolated from the outside world. On the contrary, every few years, people would mistakenly enter here and become its new residents. However, the strict laws prevented people from leaving, which resulted in the outside world having almost no clues about "Ghost Empire". The legend was once regarded as a rumor spread by false rumors.
"You can call me Nemo. Of course, this is a pseudonym, but in this city, I am Nemo."
Blonde Man replied with a smile, directly admitting that he was also an "outsider".
"Angelica," Angel also smiled kindly, immediately put down the history book in his hand, and decided to find out some information from living people, "They and I have just arrived in this city, so we want to learn about its history and origins in the library, and try to find a way out... Mr. Nemo, do you have any good suggestions?"
"My only advice is don't waste your time."
Nemo chuckled, trying his best to maintain Gentlemen's demeanor, but Angel could still see a hint of sarcasm from the depths of his eyes.
It was not a mockery of her, but a mockery of myself.
"Have you tried it?" Angel asked thoughtfully.
"Of course, every 'guest' who has just come here has tried it. They read ancient books, traveled to every corner of the city, communicated with people who came here before, and even risked their lives using various Beyonder Ability... But I guess you have never seen anyone who successfully escaped outside, right?"
In fact, Nast's father Savini Solomon is probably the one and only one... Angel muttered, shook his head and continued to ask:
"What about you? When did you become a resident of this city?"
Hearing this question, Nemo first looked to both sides and found that other Reader in the library had politely withdrew their gaze and stopped looking here, then lowered his voice and said:
"Actually, I accidentally entered this city not long ago. It was an expedition to the depths of the Sonia Sea six years ago... There my ship encountered Storm that tore Spirit World apart. My friends were missing. Only I survived, but I also appeared here..."
In the depths of the Sonia Sea, that should be the location of "God War Ruins" where Ancient Sun God killed many ancient gods and took back his authority. In the depths of the ocean, the remaining divine powers conflict with each other, hiding countless dangers, tearing Spirit World apart. It's not impossible... The most important thing is that part of the trajectory of "Ghost Empire" passes through that sea area. Under extremely coincidental circumstances, people who accidentally enter Spirit World will indeed fall into the gap between reality and enter this Floating City.
"Most of the people who come here are accidents that happened east of the Sonia Sea?"
she asked confirmingly.
"As far as I know, yes, even if it doesn't enter the dangerous sea area, it is at least east of the Beluga Whale Sea."
Nemo nodded and answered, and then said excitedly:
"This gave me a guess. The 'Dream City' floating in the air but invisible in reality is actually hovering at the Sonia Sea. It is the legendary 'Ghost Empire'!"
This... I've known it for a long time...Angel almost couldn't help showing disappointment, but couldn't bear to dampen the man's enthusiasm, so he simply changed the topic and asked:
"Who else do you know who are 'outsiders' like us? How are they doing? Have they really given up on finding a way to leave and live peacefully in this city?"
"Archives Bureau has the files of all outsiders, which can be read with the consent of the consul. Therefore, it is not difficult to find other 'similar people'. We all have common topics and are willing to keep in touch at any time. But there are only five people who are still in contact with me. The others have not severed contact, but have passed away..."
Nemo replied softly, with a hint of loneliness in his eyes, but then it was replaced by a flattering smile.
"Here, although the law prohibits discriminatory practices, outsiders like us are not welcomed by everyone, and it is difficult to establish neighborly relations. People with the same 'originality' are almost the only remaining friends. If you are willing, I can introduce you to everyone. We can go to parties on weekends and help each other if necessary."
No wonder he saw us as "outsiders" and quickly came over to introduce himself. It turned out that he had this idea... Looking at the other party's eager expression, how could Angel not guess the other party's other thoughts besides "making friends"?
But she was already a senior Demoness, and had a clear understanding of her own charm, so she was not too surprised. Instead, she continued chatting with the other party's friendly attitude, and quickly dug up all the information about the small circle that looked like "Fellow Townsmen Association".
Including Nemo, there are a total of six foreigners in this group. Since most of them have been residents of "Dream City" for more than twenty years, they are generally older. The first person to enter here is already over sixty years old.
What surprised Angel even more was that all of them were Beyonder!
Nemo claimed to be a "Pyromaniac" and proved his ability by condensing a bright yellow flame at his fingertips without affecting tables, chairs, or books. The other "fellows" were also mainly Low Sequence, and the highest one was Sequence 6, a "biologist" who believed in Earth Mother.
Due to his special ability, he has been helping farms and manors on the outskirts of the city to catalyze the growth of animals and plants and increase production, becoming the busiest of all outsiders.
"Are all the outsiders who died before you Beyonder?"
Hearing this, Angel asked curiously.
"The vast majority are, and because of this, they are not allowed to leave offspring and can only die alone. On the contrary, a few ordinary people can get married and have children. After a few generations, they have completely integrated into this society and forgotten the existence of the outside world."
That's right, Beyonder's physique is generally better, and he has certain means of self-protection, so he is more likely to survive when he accidentally enters "Dream City". Moreover, the depths of the Sonia Sea are originally dangerous sea areas, and pirates without any strength, Adventurer, will not enter rashly... This is probably the survivor bias...
Angel was thinking, and was about to continue asking other people about Sequence and their work, when Nemo continued:
"What about you? What's Pathway and Beyonder?" He seemed to think this was a bit impolite, and immediately added, "Sorry, if you are worried about me, you don't have to say anything."
I always felt that it was not until this sentence that he felt a little "Hunter"... Angel chuckled secretly, looked at Klein next to him who seemed to be immersed in the book, but raised his ears to listen to the conversation between the two, and said:
"I am a 'Witch', Sherlock is a 'Magician', and Mr. Cole Gregg over there is a 'Barbarian'."
"Barbarian? I think he is quite polite... Sorry, sorry..."
Nemo muttered, but stopped suddenly when he saw the look in "Marionette" Chunas's sudden look with a sense of majesty, and apologized repeatedly.
Perhaps because he felt that he had talked too much in the first meeting, he quickly stopped introducing his small circle after being glared at, and instead said:
"If you are interested, you can come to my house tomorrow evening. Our meeting point this week is there. I will introduce you to everyone... 26 Sassen Street, it is easy to find. It is on the road adjacent to the park at South District. This place is much smaller than Trier. It is not even comparable to a district..."
Today is October 7th, Friday in the outside world, and Angel knew when reading the history of this city that due to the continuous addition of outsiders, "Dream City" has abandoned the calendar that originally continued Trensoest Empire and changed it to the same calendar as the outside world, starting on Fifth Epoch. Therefore, tomorrow is Saturday, the day when the entire city rests.
"Okay, we will visit," she replied, then pretended to be curious and said, "Trier? Which fashion capital were you born in?"
"No, I am from the Dale Riz area, a 'foreigner' in the Trier population... Of course, before coming here, I stayed in Trier for a few years, and by chance I became Beyonder, I accepted the task given to me by that organization and came to the depths of the Sonia Sea to find something as proof of my courage to "join the organization." Unfortunately, none of my friends can prove their courage."
Then the mortality rate of your organization is quite high...Angel cursed, and then asked:
"What kind of organization is that? Will you go to dangerous sea areas to take risks?"
She refrained from saying the word "die".
Nemo showed a somewhat embarrassed expression, lowered his voice and said:
"They call themselves 'Iron and Blood Cross Order'. I joined a gang under them. Because I was promoted relatively quickly, I was recommended to become a full member..."
Iron and Blood Cross Order, the secret organization that believes in "True Creator"?
Angel's face changed slightly.
"Don't worry, I don't believe their 'True Creator'. I just believed it and played it when I was young and ignorant... And now that I'm here, I have already abandoned those decadent thoughts and embraced an orderly and peaceful life."
Seeing her strange reaction, Nemo quickly explained.
Watching Blonde Man Nemo leave the library, Angel glanced at Klein beside him and asked in a low voice:
"Do you believe what he said, Mr. 'Magician'?"
"It sounds like there are no flaws, but his behavior in provoking Chunas in the second half of the conversation was a bit deliberate, which always made me feel something was wrong... Of course, if you don't find any useful clues tomorrow, you can go visit other Beyonder at their party."
Klein replied calmly, the coins in his fingers flying up and down, but he did not perform any real "divination".
That's prying into other people's privacy.
Late at night, a sneaky figure came to the South District of "Dream City". It first entered the deserted park, and then left from the south side. It found the road sign of "Sassen Street" next to the park. It seemed that It is named after a certain region of Lenburg and their legal currency, but according to the time when Lenburg appeared in history, Sassen District of Lenburg is actually the imitator.
This is the role of being familiar with history... Sitting in the study room of his new home, looking at the borrowed Fourth Epoch historical documents on the table, Klein sighed with satisfaction.
He did not let Marionette Chunas who was a few hundred meters away from him enter Sassen Street, but walked through the edge of the park like an ordinary Passerby, looked at 26 Sassen Street from a distance, and saw with satisfaction that the two-story house had turned off the lights.
Walking around the corner of another street, Chunas, who looked cold and had broad shoulders and long arms, leaned against the wall with his eyes slightly closed, his palms clasped beside his mouth, and he prayed in a low voice:
"The beloved of the sea and Spirit World, Protector of the Rhoside Islands, the ruler of underwater creatures, the controller of tsunamis and storms, the great Kalvetua..."