But... why is this? Where does the similarity between the two come from?
When she had just graduated from the reserve program, she had asked Silver Wing Locust, her director, this question. But the latter didn't answer, just maintained a slight, silent smile.
And now, Vivian felt she was close to the answer.
...By further studying the books in her hand, the solution to the puzzle seemed within reach.
"Phew... Before delving deeper into these two secret texts, I should solidify the secret art model for [Raven Transformation] first... It's only one step away now."
Vivian closed the book, then carefully placed it into her carry pouch.
Her progress on the second-category, upper-tier secret art [Raven Transformation], which she had been studying, was now over 90%. She just needed to completely solidify the art's array in her mind to master it.
Originally, fully mastering this art would have taken at least another half year, but those two secret texts made Vivian understand the art much faster. Some previously vague principles became oddly clear and tangible.
And this also supported some of her conjectures...
The Confidential Division indeed had some hidden connection with the Six-Eyed Crow. Otherwise, their canonical texts would have had absolutely no way of influencing the secret art she was studying.
However, the most important thing now was to complete the art already at its final stage.
Ordinary birds, after carrying the [Calling Bird] secret art array, gained a certain degree of spiritual nature. [Raven Transformation] was about introducing this nature into oneself. The caster could thereby transform into a bird form and briefly merge with shadows.
"Let's go out for a walk. Staying in bed this long is making me rusty."
Vivian stretched her back, then lightly raised her hand, signaling the raven Munin to go to the spot on the Leviatan with the best view to keep watch.
...
During the nearly half-month voyage, Fran had turned her room into a simple laboratory.
Although this doctor wasn't passionate about casting or mechanical arts, it didn't mean she had no exposure to them.
Fran's standards for her own professional competence were always strict. Besides being able to treat flesh-and-blood life, she also required herself not to be helpless when facing diseased spirits or machines.
But today, Fran was just completing a research project she had set aside before.
At the moment, she was wearing a monocular eyepiece used for repairing precision parts, meticulously disassembling the weapon components in her hand. Haida sat nearby, quietly observing.
The object placed on the workbench, disassembled into countless pieces... was a single-edged chainsword.
"Reverse engineering the weapon modules isn't difficult; after all, this thing's barrier to entry is much lower than power weapons. The problem is, without promethium fuel, how to make it work..."
Fran's world did not have energy sources similar to promethium.
High calorific value, easily obtainable, almost usable for any mechanical power supply. Its by-products could be used to synthesize food, dyes, yeast, antibiotics, even cigarettes...
Almost worthy of being called an industrial-level "panacea."
Of course, it also caused severe pollution and atmospheric acidification... But compared to its efficacy, these side effects were undoubtedly acceptable.
"If we assume the users all possess a certain degree of spirituality, then we can make a storage device using wraithbone, powering it with pure spirituality."
Fran licked the corner of her lips, finally settling on the modification plan.
"Dr. Fran, this is... a sword?"
Seeing the doctor roughly finish her work, Haida began asking about the object placed on the workbench.
"It looks somewhat similar to the chain weapon mounted on that White Cup's mechanical armor before."
Fran wiped the bit of machine oil from her hands, explaining to the nun beside her.
"In principle, the two aren't much different. Both cut enemies with a high-speed rotating sawtooth chain."
"But obviously, this little thing is more lightweight, and its structure is also much more streamlined. It's a trophy I obtained from a previous house call... from a not-so-friendly patient."
"A trophy?"
Haida keenly noticed the difference in Fran's wording.
If obtained through a commission, she would call it "consultation fee." But "trophy"... was probably taken from an enemy. However, this also raised some confusion in her.
"Hmm... Did the transdimensional effect not work?"
Previously, when treating Yvonne in the Lands Between, Haida also obtained a couple of quite handy weapons. But ultimately couldn't bring them back due to the transdimensional effect.
"You still remember that rule? Truly the Secret-Hunters' top student. In fact, not all realms have the transdimensional effect."
Seeing the nun beside her mention this, Fran began explaining in a lecture-like manner.
"The Lands Between, though chaotic, still has an intact material world. Even the so-called 'Greater Will' needs to exert influence through agents subtly over time. But some realms' rules are already full of holes, so you can take some things through loopholes."
The Warhammer worldview was like this. The material world was almost torn apart by the Warp, so many original rules no longer held any force.
"The Spiritbone Colonizer is still at the clinic; I didn't bring any wraithbone materials with me. Further research should wait until we're ashore... I believe Sigrid will be interested in this."
As she spoke, Fran began picking up the chainsword and its corresponding parts, neatly placing them into her portable medical kit.
"Hmm..."
Hearing this, a flicker of thought passed through Haida's amber eyes. She suddenly thought of a question.
"Dr. Fran, the 'membership card' you gave is actually a key to Fog Street. The holder can enter Fog Street from any corner of Norlington... But what about in other cities?"
"Don't worry about that, Haida. Even in other regions, you can still enter Fog Street. There's no restriction in that regard."
After saying this, Fran paused slightly, then delivered the second half.
"It just becomes a one-way ticket; you can't return to the original location. Leaving Fog Street will directly enter Norlington."
"Is that so..."
Haida gave a slight nod, already understanding the rules involved.
"That's without an 'anchor point.' After reaching Gormouth, you can travel back and forth to Fog Street by setting up a ritual; the preparation process is just a bit troublesome."
Fran never avoided telling Haida such information, so she explained the specific principles from simple to complex.
"Choose a secret realm not existing in reality, use my blood as the main material, and you can summon the gray mist. Transform the ownerless secret realm into a 'branch' of Fog Street Clinic."
"I understand."
A slight fluctuation flickered in Haida's gray-brown eyes; she noted this down.
After nearly half a month, the Leviathan was already approaching the coastal waters of Gormouth. They would dock at Foy Port tomorrow.
If the ship had sailed straight, they would have reached the destination days ago. But there were many sea areas in the Abyssal Sea that were like forbidden zones, requiring detours.
This was absolutely not alarmist talk or exaggerated rumors... but experience written with the blood and corpses of countless sailors.
Just as the proverb widely circulated within the White Cup's Oceanography Department says:
—Don't be complacent about the metal ships driven by secret art cores; that sea eats even steel.
After finishing the chainsword parts, Fran slightly raised her head, her amber gaze somewhat absent-mindedly looking out the window.
The sky was gloomy and oppressive, sunlight hidden behind the cloud cover, impossible to see.
What a peaceful voyage; not even one sick person on the ship. Good thing they departed at the beginning of the month; otherwise, she wouldn't know who to see for the April monthly house call.
Pity the ship maintained a constant speed most of the time; otherwise, she could have tried fishing...
——
At dusk, Leviathan, Captain's Cabin.
The Captain's Cabin's decor wasn't luxurious, but also wasn't simple. One could only say the person living in this cabin had strange taste.
The interior was simple, not much furniture. But many transparent quartz tanks were placed inside, raising various strange Abyssal Sea creatures.
At first glance, it didn't look like a living quarters; it was more like an ecological exhibition hall.
Captain Nifel Germilton held a pen, writing today's logbook.
He was a tall, thin old man. Although wrinkles had become deep grooves on his face, his eyes were still deep and clear. When sitting upright at the desk, his posture was straight, full of vigor.
Utus sat on a leather sofa to the side, his expression normal, not exactly serious. It seemed the two were just chatting.
That was indeed the case. Although in terms of position, he and Nifel had a superior-subordinate relationship, their actual status was nearly equal. After all, this Oceanography professor was the strongest combatant among all the Leviathan's crew.
"Hmph."
Nifel picked up his pipe with some annoyance, looking at Utus with a touch of resentment.
"Letting Secret-Hunters on my ship again. Kid, are you trying to jump ship to the Burial Court? A few years back, you even sent that Chief Hunter on a round trip to Gormouth. Thinking about that guy being on the ship, I didn't sleep well for three months."
Utus gave a low laugh, clearly not caring about the captain's teasing.
"That was the safest voyage ever. Forget pirates; even if a Heyl clan ghost ship came, it would have to drink a bitter cup."
In fact, during that voyage, they did encounter a pirate ship. And then, those unlucky fellows experienced Mr. Ahern's solo boarding...
"...That's also true. Although I don't much like those hunters, they indeed haven't caused trouble on my ship either."
Nifel took a sip of coffee, his tone easing slightly.
He wasn't really intending to interrogate Utus; mentioning this was more of a jest.
"Last time was the Burial Court's 'Red Wolf'; this time it's his daughter. Every time you hire such high-level 'bodyguards,' the General Affairs Division still has to pay you for the ticket... Purely in terms of business, it's somewhat overly profitable."
"Next time, I'll just deal with the hunters directly, saving you the middleman price difference."
Utus shook his head, not agreeing with the captain's reasoning.
"Norlington is, after all, the hunters' city. We have no reason whatsoever to refuse them boarding... Besides, the White Cup cult also agreed."
"Hmm."
Nifel wrote in his logbook. Only after finishing today's content did he speak again.
"So, do you know the Secret-Hunters' purpose for going to Gormouth? Other than a few big cities like Moldway and Foy, that place is truly lawless."
"Probably pursuing the Nightmare Guest. That guy caused trouble twice in Norlington; now he's being targeted."
This was the reason the General Affairs Division told Utus.
"Just a small thief."
Nifel was noncommittal about this answer.
If this "Nightmare Guest's" theft target was a Lamp cult High Priest, it meant he was preparing for promotion. A cult disciple who hadn't even reached the High Priest rank was far from a substantive threat in the Secret-Hunters' eyes.
"Even if he really is the target, he's probably just dealt with along the way."
"Hmm, that's true... Although the name sounds scary, the Nightmare Guest himself probably doesn't possess too much strength. He encountered Assistant Professor Child during the crime and immediately fled without looking back."
Utus thought briefly, then somewhat uncertainly mentioned a rumor.
"Old man Terence said Dr. Fran seemed interested in 'Abyssal Descendants' spirit materials during the academic symposium. Probably has some relation to that."
"Oh?"
Nifel showed some interest about this.
"Trying to find a living Abyssal Descendant in Gormouth is about as difficult as encountering a mythical creature. This isn't something achievable just through persistence or willpower... The Stellar Abyss Society has been looking like mad for how many years without even seeing a shadow."
"But, that doctor indeed might be able to do it... I listened to her lecture at the symposium. Even now, that sense of dread hasn't faded."
Although he didn't have an actual subordination relationship with the White Cup, he was indeed an honorary professor of Oceanography. Therefore, he also had the power and qualifications to know the true identity of that "Flamel" at the symposium.
"But what does this have to do with me? I'm just an old guy who drives a ship."
After another jest, this conversation between captain and first mate thus came to an end.
After Utus left, Nifel sat silently at the desk.
His gaze was calm and deep, fixed on the Abyssal Sea fish swimming in the quartz tank, unmoving for a long time.
The twilight's afterglow, filtering through the seawater in the tank, shone on his face. On his aged facial skin... the metallic texture of a row of scales was faintly visible.
——
Passing through the gray-white smog from the chimneys, the Leviathan dropped anchor chains, gradually coming to a stop at the port.
Looking at the surging crowd and long-awaited land at Foy Port, Vivian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Good, no unexpected situations this time... If anything, the peace was making her feel a bit unaccustomed. Heretical spawn, pirates, ancient creatures under the icy ocean—none of these were encountered.
Not even excessively harsh weather appeared; it was smooth sailing all the way.
But this also made the Fran doctor beside her somewhat oddly restless. She always observed people around her with an almost scrutinizing gaze, as if wanting to find hidden illnesses.
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