Ashes Of Deep Sea-Chapter 258 - 262 Captain Duncan’s Gift
Chapter 258: Chapter 262 Captain Duncan’s Gift
In the voluminous document brought by Morris, only a short section was connected to the mysterious symbol—and that symbol was just an inconspicuous part of that section. The author of the document had not devoted a single stroke to interpret the symbol or the relief patterns surrounding it.
Duncan and Morris could only analyze it through the details presented in the manuscript illustrations, tentatively identifying the shattered cross surrounded by a hexagonal outline as a religious symbol or scholarly emblem from the time of the ancient kingdom.
Duncan slowly closed the heavy tome.
From a rational perspective, Morris believed that the ascetics who visited Homeloss a century ago couldn’t possibly be descendants of the Ancient Crete Kingdom—a group of hermits passing down traditions over ten thousand years in the chaotic and dangerous deep-sea era was nearly impossible. From a rigorous scholarly standpoint, he couldn’t hastily make this assumption without further evidence.
But Duncan still intuitively believed that those ascetics definitely had deep connections to the Ancient Crete Kingdom. They possessed the mysterious emblem and regarded it with great importance, indicating they knew its significance.
Of course, assumptions aside, without evidence, everything was empty talk. At this stage, unless those ascetics appeared before Duncan again, no one would be able to unravel their origins.
...
“…How many well-preserved Cretan relics that have been discovered are still in the world?” Duncan suddenly looked up and asked.
“There are very few discovered relics, you could count them on one hand. As for well-preserved…” Morris said, “that depends on what the standard for ‘well-preserved’ is. For researchers of the ancient kingdom, finding a pit confirmed to be related to Crete, a dozen meters of connected wall bricks, or even just a few stone doors fallen on the ground, would all be considered well-preserved.”
At this, the elderly scholar couldn’t help but let out a slight sigh, “Under normal circumstances, relics within the City-State’s territory are unlikely to survive. We do our best to leave behind textual and visual documentation, to record every detail as much as possible, then collect the relics that can be analyzed into research facilities, and finally… the relics themselves are leveled, buried, and become a part of the city.”
Duncan pondered for a moment, mumbling to himself, “Land is as precious as gold.”
Morris nodded, “We study history, preserve history, and strive to remember those things of the past as time flows by, but we can’t let the past squeeze our living space.
“The new City-State has been around for nearly two thousand years, and during the era when explorers were most active, new islands were often discovered, unknown wilderness and ancient ruins entered our sight, but in the past century or two, such ‘discoveries’ have almost ceased.
“The ‘new islands’ of the past have gradually become one City-State after another. There is only so much land on the Endless Sea where we can stand. The few remaining relics… either lie on uninhabitable solitary islands, are shrouded in transcendent powers, or sit on the fringes of dangerous anomalies, such that even the doctrine of the four deities could only scout them out and then seal their existence on the sea map.”
Duncan was silent for a long while, yet his focus returned to the symbol and the original document behind it, “You just mentioned, your friends in the academic community can find more information related to this symbol?”
“I have a friend in Rensa who specializes in the history of the ancient kingdom. He was my classmate at the Academy of Truth,” Morris nodded, pointing to the large book on the table, “This book was a gift from him years ago. I remember he mentioned something about related documents. I’ve written a letter, but I don’t know when I’ll get a response.”
Duncan let out a sigh, “Patience, then. Let it be as fate wills.”
Then, he discussed many things about the Ancient Crete Kingdom with Morris—about those scattered discoveries, those elusive and strange legends, and those documents and scrolls, which were a blend of truth and fiction, to the point where it was hard to tell if they were reality or myth.
After a thoroughly enjoyable conversation, it was time for Morris to take his leave.
“As I was leaving, I promised my wife to return home for lunch,” the old scholar said with a smile, “I’m afraid I’ll be scolded by my wife and daughter if I go back too late.”
Duncan couldn’t help but laugh, “It seems to me you actually enjoy that.”
Morris chuckled and nodded, buttoning his hat, then tucked the large book under his arm and went down the stairs with Duncan.
Nina was behind the counter, counting several banknotes, while Alice watched curiously. Sherry had vanished at some point, likely having run off to play.
When Duncan came down the stairs, Nina was patiently explaining monetary knowledge to Alice, who lacked common sense: “You see, this one with the gold corner is a Sola; here is the denomination… These coins are ‘peso,’ the number on the front is the value… Don’t bite them, they’re dirty!”
“Looks like business is good today?” Duncan glanced at Nina’s hand and raised his eyebrows slightly, “Not usually this much.”
“Yes, I don’t know why, but business is very good today,” Nina happily waved the banknotes at Duncan, “Seems to be related to Alice?”
Duncan was taken aback when he heard it, “Related to Alice?”
“An old lady mentioned it when she left just now,” Nina said with a smile, “She said the store looks more authentic now that there’s an employee like the young Miss around…”
Duncan: “…?”
He silently looked towards Alice, who appeared bewildered as she looked back at him.
However, the doll Miss had no clue what was going on—she was still trying hard to memorize what the bills looked like and learning how to count money.
“I never expected Alice to have this effect here,” Duncan mused after a while and then suddenly turned to Morris, “Do you want to take something back with you?”
“Ah?” Morris was surprised, “I…didn’t plan to when I left…”
“No charge, it’s a gesture of thanks for your diligent research,” Duncan smiled, stepped over to the counter, and reached onto the shelf to take down a crystal pendant—identical to the one he had given Morris as a “free gift” before, since he had bought a whole box of these pendants, “I remember you mentioned your daughter’s pendant was damaged. I’ll give this one to you.”
Morris looked at the pendant in Duncan’s hand, gazed at the beautiful crystal that symbolized modern industry gently swaying in the air, its surface reflecting dazzling light, but the first thing he thought of was the incredible experiences Heidi had mentioned upon her return:
The lucidity amid the breakdown of the City-States, witnessing the split of two histories and the erasure of one of them, along with the protection from the amulet.
It was only then that he belatedly realized that Captain Duncan had extended his kindness so early on.
The dagger worth three thousand four hundred solars was an insignificant gift; the real treasure had almost been lost to dust before his eyes.
“I hope this amulet will continue to bring good fortune to Miss Heidi,” Duncan said with a smile, “Take it, you deserve it.”
Morris earnestly took the crystal pendant and expressed his gratitude, but it seemed as though Duncan had thought of something else, muttering thoughtfully, “If you just take this pendant back, you’ll surely get an earful from your daughter, and this time you’ll have to include your wife. Wait here, I’ll find you something genuine to make peace with your wife and child.”
Upon hearing this, Morris immediately waved his hands in protest, “No need, no need, you don’t have to go to such lengths for me…”
However, Duncan had already turned and started rummaging through a pile of miscellaneous items by the counter, muttering to himself without looking up, “No need to say more, I understand… Ah, got it.”
While saying this, he came back to the counter with the “genuine” item he had found and with a “bang,” placed it on the surface.
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The sudden noise even startled Alice, who quickly reached out to stabilize her own head.
Morris gaped at the item Duncan had brought onto the counter.
“What is this…?” the old man was a bit puzzled.
“An antique,” Duncan looked seriously at the gentleman before him, “There aren’t many genuine items in my shop, but this one is definitely authentic.”
“Looks like a cannonball?”
“Yes, from the Homeloss, in very good condition. You could even fire it if you find a smoothbore cannon with the right caliber,” Duncan said cheerily, patting the large iron ball on the counter, “More importantly, it still bears the complete steel stamp from the cannonball foundry and the personal mark of the founder. Honestly, it’s even rarer than the dagger last time—I’m giving it to you.”
Morris looked at the cannonball, then at Duncan, his expression growing ever more bewildered. He couldn’t decide which would be more likely to raise his wife and daughter’s blood pressure—bringing home a cannonball or bringing a glass pendant. Yet, faced with Mr. Duncan’s warm and enthusiastic smile, he ultimately swallowed everything he wanted to say and resignedly accepted the… “gift.”
“Very… grateful for your kindness.”
