Chapter 73: A Late-Night “Signal”

Chapter 73: A Late-Night “Signal”

East Chester County in January was still very cold. Accumulated snow could often be seen. Within the woods, branches were withered, leaves had fallen, wild beasts hid away, and there was not the slightest hint of vitality.

Audrey led Susie, surrounded by attendants and maids, around the collapsed ancient tower several times, but discovered nothing.

All that existed there were piles of gray bricks and stones, along with rotting timber. In the gaps between them, weeds and the corpses of small animals could be seen.

Audrey had originally thought she might find some murals on the remains of the walls, decipher the origin of the ancient tower, and quietly practice the Psychiatrist Beyonder techniques of Awe, Frenzy, Placate, and the like on wild beasts that appeared nearby. In the end, she was left very disappointed.

This is not a little adventure… This is purely a horseback stroll… She pressed her lips together, gripped her riding crop, and walked toward her mount.

Halfway there, still unwilling to give up, she asked the surrounding attendants and maids, “Are there any legends of monsters nearby?”

Among this group of servants, half had followed her from Backlund to the family castle and then to this manor, while the other half were locals who normally worked on the estate. Audrey’s question was undoubtedly aimed at the latter.

And the reason she had come to this manor was because the surrounding region had historically possessed folk customs related to dragon worship.

A young attendant stole a glance at the noble and beautiful lady of the estate. Summoning his courage, he took two steps forward, bowed, and said, “There are many terrifying wild beasts deep in this forest. Every year, hunters die there, but no one has ever encountered a monster.

“This is just like what an old ballad passed down in our area describes…”

He roughly recited the ballad. Its meaning was:

“Monsters are in your dreams;

“Dragons are in your dreams;

“The great palace imagined into being, floating in midair, is also in your dreams;

“There, you shall possess everything, until you awaken.”

O curious children, O brave adventurers, go, go search for the dragons in your dreams… The attendant concealed the final line and did not say it aloud, because it would make people suspect that he was mocking Miss Audrey.

Dragons are in dreams… The great palace imagined into being, floating in midair, is also in dreams… Audrey pondered carefully for a few seconds, then suddenly felt that this old ballad might not be entirely meaningless.

The information on dragons she had bought from Little Sun showed that the Dragon of Imagination, Ankewelt, had truly imagined a city floating in the sky into existence. Upon it stood huge temple pillars, supporting one lofty, magnificent palace after another. Its name was Liveseyd, meaning City of Miracles.

In dreams… The Spectator pathway belongs to the mind dragons and involves consciousness, the subconscious, the sea of collective subconscious, and the sky of spirituality. No matter how one looks at it, it must involve the domain of dreams… Perhaps this old ballad truly indicates something… Could Liveseyd really exist within the sea of collective subconscious, within dreams? But dreams are purely spiritual… Many thoughts flashed through Audrey’s mind. Even after she returned to the manor, she had not organized them into a clear line.

After entering her room, she glanced at the golden retriever Susie and suddenly felt an urge to show off a little.

Susie does not know the information about dragons. She definitely cannot sense what is strange about that ballad… No, I must not be proud. That is too shallow… And Susie might easily discover that I am hiding a secret… Audrey straightened her back and paced back and forth a few steps, then asked as if unintentionally, “Susie, what do you think that ballad was truly talking about? I keep feeling that it is not as simple as it appears.”

Susie opened her mouth and, for a moment, did not know how to answer, because she understood nothing about poetry.

After seriously thinking for a while, she said, “Audrey, I am only a dog.”

…

In the jungle of Blue Mountain Island.

Because of his agitation and excitement, Kalat had not slept. Seated in his wheelchair, he moved everywhere, inspecting things, as though he had found another goal for living besides revenge.

After making a full round, he returned to the altar, intending to pray once more.

He remembered the contents of the Ten Commandments very clearly and knew that he must not take Sea God’s name in vain, so he planned to use the relatively vague title of “God” in place of it during ordinary prayers.

As he approached the altar, his gaze suddenly went still, because the items placed there now carried unusual auras. For instance, the dagger reflected not crimson moonlight but silver-white electric light. And the leaf had become even greener, making one feel one’s breathing open merely by looking at it.

Divine grace has descended… Those words abruptly flashed through Kalat’s mind.

At that moment, he no longer held the slightest doubt toward the change in Sea God. The blasphemous thoughts hidden in the depths of his heart dissolved completely.

Since God gave a revelation saying He would reappear upon the earth, that meant He was going to reshape His image… This meaning was hidden so deeply that we failed to interpret it at all before… Kalat slowly inhaled. Supporting himself with both hands, he solemnly prostrated himself and bowed to the great Sea God.

Very soon, he sat back into his wheelchair and headed toward the residences of the High Priest, Edmonton, and the others.

He could hardly wait to tell his companions what had just happened. He could hardly wait to share with them that “God’s grace is as vast as the sea.”

…

At a quarter past eleven at night.

Klein sat in a chair, expressionless, watching Danitz perform the Spirit Descent Ritual and committing every detail to memory.

It still relies on the spirit world… he made an initial judgment.

“If it is a spirit-world creature, then as long as the description is accurate, can precisely locate it, and uses a language with a certain degree of ‘power,’ one can directly summon it, or let it descend spiritually. This has nothing to do with distance or range.

“To a certain extent, deities also possess this trait. Only, sometimes even prayers in ordinary language may receive a response from Them—provided one has already become a believer and has received Their attention.

“At the level of half-god and half-human, it seems there is already some degree of intermingling with the spirit world. Therefore, precise descriptions can also point toward them, making it possible to receive a response. But distance limits exist. Once beyond range, they can no longer receive the ‘signal’… Sea God Kalvetua is one example.

“For a powerhouse among the middle Sequences like Vice Admiral Iceberg, to accomplish something similar, relying solely on herself would not work. She must borrow the power of a corresponding deity and provide a precise, unambiguous description. And there are still limits of distance and range.”

Just as Klein finished organizing his thoughts, various utensils on the altar floated upward—all except the three candles.

Danitz’s body trembled uncontrollably, and his expression gradually grew cold.

Soon, he spoke in a woman’s voice that carried Vice Admiral Iceberg’s style:

“Good evening.”

There seems to be a hidden anger from having been woken up… Klein felt that Danitz’s entire person had become more feminine.

He considered briefly, then said, “I have a way to find Admiral of Blood.”

“What?” Edwina Edwards, who had descended into Danitz, had already returned to her usual tone—meaning normal emotionlessness.

Klein said concisely, “They use the newest wireless telegraph technology. I obtained their frequencies and cipher information from White Shark.”

“Wireless… telegraph… You understand this?” Edwina seemed not to have expected that Gehrman Sparrow, an expert in the field of mysticism, would also possess common knowledge of wireless communications.

Klein smiled politely.

“A little.”

Edwina remained silent for two seconds before borrowing Danitz’s mouth to say, “Have they discovered it?”

Is she asking whether Admiral of Blood’s people have discovered that the cipher and frequencies were leaked? In theory, they should have noticed, because their intelligence officer, Old Quinn, died at Mr. Hanged Man’s hands. However, before wireless telegraphs have entered large-scale application, users can easily overlook security risks… Klein did not give an absolutely affirmative answer.

“Perhaps.

“But it is worth trying.”

As long as we can listen in on a signal, the possibility of finding Admiral of Blood will be very high! As Sea God, although I am only at the demigod level and cannot understand every detail of what happens in my “territorial waters,” I can command sea creatures and have them help search… Klein silently added two more sentences inwardly.

Edwina said thoughtfully, “I will have Danitz help listen.”

You understand wireless telegraphs quite well too… Klein drew up the corners of his mouth.

“Alright.”

After the Spirit Descent Ritual ended, Danitz looked with complicated feelings at Gehrman Sparrow, who had brought out a fairly large machine and its corresponding accessories from the bedroom.

“What is this?” he asked in astonishment.

Klein answered in an even tone, “A wireless telegraph receiver.”

Danitz opened his mouth and finally squeezed out a question.

“Where did you get it?”

Klein glanced at him.

“Outside.”

As he spoke, he tossed the operation manual and the frequency-cipher information to Danitz, turned around, and went back to the bedroom to sleep.

So he often goes out because he is busy with things like this… Danitz felt that he understood a little more.

After hard study and experimentation, he finally grasped how to use the wireless telegraph receiver, then peacefully lay down in the armchair and slept soundly.

He did not know how long he had slept when he suddenly woke, hearing rhythmic tapping sounds.

What? Danitz rolled over and sat up, looking toward the source of the sound.

Under the deep moonlight, inside the dim room, he saw the wireless telegraph receiver operating by itself, spitting out illusory white paper.

…What is this thing? Danitz condensed flames in his palm and approached carefully.

Such a scene reminded him of the horror stories pirates often told when they bragged.

There is something wrong with this wireless telegraph receiver. Is it connected to an evil spirit? Danitz decided that if anything went wrong, he would immediately shout for Gehrman Sparrow inside the bedroom.

He approached the wireless telegraph receiver and saw several lines of ancient Feysac words on the illusory white paper:

“Hello.

“I sensed a familiar and unique aura, but it is about to fade.”

“…Hello.” Danitz tried to respond. “Who are you?”

The wireless telegraph receiver once again began tapping, spitting out white paper:

“My name is Arrodes.

“As an exchange, you must answer one question of mine.”