Volume 7: The Hanged Man Chapter 40: Where Dreams Begin
After returning to the real world, Alger patiently waited for the mission that Mr. Fool had mentioned.
On this day, wearing the Pope’s clothes and a silver and black mask, he was discussing the internal affairs of the Church of God of the Sea with the Divine Envoy Danez, when he suddenly saw a bishop enter.
”Pope Coronet, the Storm Church has sent a messenger with two gifts to congratulate you on your assumption of God’s vicegerency.” This bishop held a box made of white pewter and bowed respectfully.
Danez, who had been secretly glad that the telegraph line had malfunctioned in Bayam earlier, was surprised when he heard this and said offhandedly:
”Where is that messenger?”
”He left his gift and went away.” The bishop at the door replied rather helplessly.
Although the people of the Storm Church often had moments of irascible impulsiveness, behavior like this was still quite rare.
Alger nodded gently:
”It’s already enough for them to not be hostile to us and send a messenger to send a gift.”
After saying that, he raised his right hand and gently grabbed it, causing the white pewter box in the bishop’s palm to be swept up by the wind and fly over.
After catching this modest box, Alger’s movements suddenly slowed down a bit, as if he felt a heavy weight.
He opened the container a little bit and saw a volume of books bound by tawny parchment placed inside.
On the surface of the book, there was a line of words written in Elvish:
”The Book of Natural Disasters.”
”The Book of Natural Disasters.”…… After reading the line of words clearly, Alger was in a trance, having the feeling that he was dreaming.
But soon, he realized that it was real, and understood what Mr. Fool was talking about in his mission.
Alger sighed silently and looked at the bishop in the doorway:
”What is the second gift?”
”It’s a phantom ship called the ‘Phantom Blue Avenger’ that is already docked at the harbor.” The bishop replied without realizing anything out of the ordinary.
”The Spectral Blue Avenger”…… Daniz instinctively turned his gaze to Pope Alger next to him when he heard the name.
He remembered very clearly that this was the other party’s ship when they were pirates.
This meant that the Storm Church knew that the Pope of the Church of Neptune was their former Cardinal!
Was this a congratulation, or a letter of war? As Daniz’s heart tightened, he realized that another gift was also quite familiar to him:
It was the extremely sinister Book of Natural Disasters, which he had seen while following Germaine Sparrow.
”Return a letter to the Storm Church for me, thanking them for the gift.” Alger had composed himself and calmly commanded.
When the bishop had left the room, he turned to Daniz:
”Divine Messenger, I have received an oracle from Mr. ‘Fool’, and will be going on a mission next, perhaps not returning until a few years later.”
”An oracle?” Daniz said offhandedly in shock.
At this moment, there was only one thought echoing in his mind:
Why didn’t I know?
Alger nodded:
”Mr. ‘Fool’ is about to enter a deep sleep.”
”However, that does not prevent your prayers from being answered.”
”……” Danez was so shocked that he couldn’t speak.
Alger continued:
”Germaine Sparrow has followed suit and fallen asleep.”
”When I leave, the affairs of the church will be handed over to Elder Derek Berg of New Silver City, and you will need to cooperate with him in writing into the canon the matter of Poseidon being a subordinate god to Mr. ‘Fool’ for all believers to accept.”
”Our faith is the key to the awakening of Mr. ‘Fool’, and as you are k’s divine messenger, it is all the more important for you to set an example in this regard.”
”Of course, k may give you a new oracle at any time and entrust you with other tasks.”
Daniz listened with some dizziness and confusion, but still understood the gravity of the matter.
He hesitated and nodded heavily:
”Good.”
After explaining this matter, Alger stood up, took the Book of Natural Disasters, and returned to his room.
He looked at himself in the mirror and let out a laugh, slowly removing the triple crown on top of his head and taking off the silver and black mask on his face.
A few days later, Bayam Harbor, on the crowded docks.
Alger raised his head and looked at “Sun” Derek, who was much taller than himself in appearance, and said with a smile:
”You’ve done a good job for a while, the Church of Neptune is functioning properly.”
Derek subconsciously wanted to raise his hand to scratch the back of his head again, but in the end he still held back and said with a slight sense of melancholy and reluctance:
”Pour, Coronation Wilson, when will you be able to return?”
Alger shook his head and said:
”Everything ahead is still unknown, no one can say for sure.”
Not waiting for Derek Berg to respond, he turned to say:
”You’re mature and steady enough, there’s nothing more I can dictate to you.”
At this point, Alger paused for a moment, but spoke anyway:
”If the Rothschild Archipelago encounters an irresistible disaster, you should not sacrifice yourself in order to protect the place.”
”Huh?” Derek froze for a moment.
This was Mr. Fool’s most important place of faith, the new hometown of Silver City, how could he just give it up like that?
Alger had already anticipated Derek’s reaction and explained a few words with a serious expression:
”To Mr. ‘Fool’, the most important thing is the believers here, not these islands, and to Silver City, the most important thing is the people, not the city.”
”As long as we can protect Mr. ‘Fool”s believers, protect the populace of Silver City, and move them in time, then even if we lose Bayam, lose New Silver City, and lose the Rothschild Islands, we can always rebuild a new city, a new home, somewhere else. ”
”Remember, don’t compromise substance for form.”
Derek was deeply touched by what he heard, and grasped the crux of the matter at once.
He responded heartily:
”I understand, thank you, pour, Coronet Wilson, I will protect Mr. ‘Fool”s followers and the people here.”
Without another word, Alger turned his body and walked towards the Phantom Avenger, which was parked at the dock here.
This ghost ship was still in the form of a three-masted sailing ship that was behind the times, unchanged from before.
Alger looked at it, at the few crew members on deck, and suddenly felt something and looked down at himself.
He was dressed in a linen shirt, a brown jacket and the locally popular wide-legged pants, with a special belt wrapped around his waist, with a short sword and a short staff made of white bone sticking out of it.
The corners of Alger’s mouth turned up slightly, and with a single step, he caught the wind and landed on the deck of the Blue Avenger.
He then turned his head to look at the boundless blue sea, raised his right hand, and said in a deep voice:
”Set sail!”
……
Inside the Hall family’s luxurious villa in Birkeland, Queens.
Audrey sat on the comfortable sofa, watching her father, Earl Hall, discussing the recent situation and development trend of the kingdom with her elder brothers, Hibbert and Alfred, and watching her mother, Mrs. Caitlin, constantly summoning the housekeepers and deacons to make the final preparations for the upcoming ball.
She did not speak, and with a not-so-subtle smile, she quietly watched this rather common scene in everyday life.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Earl Hall looked over with a smile:
”What is our little princess thinking about?”
Audrey pursed her lips and responded with a light smile:
”You guess.”
”I’m guessing you’re thinking about which dress to wear to today’s ball and what kind of hair and makeup to wear with it.” Hebert said with a relaxed look in place of his father.
Audrey’s mouth turned up at the corners and said:
”Correct answer, but no reward.”
She then slowly got up and addressed her parents and two older brothers:
”I’m going upstairs to change into my gown.”
Earl Hall smiled and nodded:
”There’s no need to rush, everyone recognizes that you’re worth the wait.”
Audrey bit her lower lip lightly and kept her smile as she took a step towards the door.
Nearly out of the room, she paused and looked back.
Her parents, her two older brothers, were again continuing what they had just done, either discussing or arranging.
Audrey’s blue eyes were like frozen, and little by little, she withdrew her gaze.
She walked out of this room, back upstairs, back to the bedroom.
The big blonde dog Suzie had long been waiting there.
Audrey inhaled a faintly invisible breath, raised her right hand, and used her index finger to outline a shimmering shimmering pattern in mid-air.
These were like dreams from the deepest layers.
A few seconds later, those shimmering lights twisted and turned into a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, exceptionally beautiful young girl, turning into Audrey Hall.
And unlike Audrey, this young girl still had a bit of childishness and a slightly romantic air about her.
”Good evening, Ms. ‘Justice’~” this young girl greeted with a light tone.
The corners of Audrey’s mouth curled up slightly in response:
”Good evening, Miss Audrey.”
After that impromptu tarot party, she had finally made up her mind to become a Dreamweaver, ready to split her identity to accompany her family, and keep herself away from them, so that they wouldn’t be affected by all the dangerous things she had attracted.
After staring at herself for two seconds, she turned her head to look at the big golden furred dog next to her and said:
”Susie, are you sure you want to follow me?”
”Well, we’re friends forever.” Susie, the big blonde dog, replied seriously.
”Justice” Audrey didn’t say any more, and separated a “virtual personality” into Suzie’s mind, which had let go of its own restrictions.
Then, she once again raised her hand and sketched out another Susie in mid-air.
As soon as this Susie was formed, she opened her mouth and let out a “woof”.
Audrey then withdrew her gaze and looked at her other self.
After a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but say to the blonde girl in front of her, even though she knew that the two of them shared the same thoughts and mind:
”From now on, I’m counting on you from now on.”
”Remember to pamper dad more often, so that he’s not so busy, he’s not young anymore, he needs to take care of his health, and a lot of things can be completely left to Hibbert and Alfred, to the housekeepers.”
”And, slowly enlighten mama, tell her that she doesn’t need to care too much about what people think, that she doesn’t need to be perfect in social situations, that it can be exhausting.”
”Well, don’t forget Hibbert, make him laugh often, make him less gloomy, don’t always overthink things, Alfred won’t threaten his position.”
”Alfred, Alfred, he needs a good wife to make him not want to take any more risks ……”
”Well, why are you crying? We’re too old to act like little girls.”
Audrey’s eyes dropped slightly and she smiled at her own self who was shedding tears in front of her.
”I know, I know.” After that Audrey finished speaking, she pursed her lips tightly and nodded heavily with a forlorn expression.
”Justice,” Audrey withdrew her gaze, picked up the cloak that was placed beside her, and draped it over her body.
Then, leading Suzie, the big blonde dog, she walked out of the bedroom and into the hallway.
The hall below was already lit up, the guests for the ball were arriving, and the Earl of Hall, Lady Caitlin, Hebert and Alfred had left the room they were in before and walked to the door.
Audrey stood behind the balustrade and watched silently for some time.
Then, lifting the hem of her skirt in vain, she made a solemn, slow curtsy to her parents and elder brother across the distance.
Maintaining this action for two seconds, she straightened her body and raised her hand to pull up the hood that came with her dark blue cloak, covering her features.
To her side, behind her, the lights were bright and bustling, and in front of her, a collective subconscious sea of many ethereal glows surfaced.
”Go.” Audrey spoke to Suzie in a slightly muffled voice.
After saying that, she took a step into the ethereal, dark, illusory sea.
Audrey inside the bedroom rushed out and said with a crying voice:
”Be sure to come back!”
Audrey didn’t turn around, she just raised her right hand and waved it, indicating that she knew.
Her figure in the blue cloak was in the deep darkness of the swaying silence, fading away to nothing.