The short figure that appeared before Edwina was naturally Xio Derecha. At this moment, she stood beside Ebner and politely greeted the pirate admiral opposite her.
As for the "Iceberg Admiral," although Xio had only met her briefly once in Daniel's Maze, she was not unfamiliar with her. She had even deliberately imitated the other party's clothing style for a period of time afterward.
Unfortunately, she later discovered that it didn't suit her.
Seeing this, Edwina also restrained her smile and returned to her "iceberg" demeanor. She very politely returned the greeting, then walked to Ebner's other side and asked with an unchanged expression:
"Is the 'Ghost Empire' about to 'dock'?"
"Yes, at eleven o'clock tonight—there are still about two hours left… However, I think we should go over early to make some preparations," Ebner said with a smile.
Speaking of which, in his memories, not only Giuseppe, but Alvin and Dannett as well had all explored that final legacy of the Trunsoest Empire. Even if they couldn't be said to know it inside and out, they were extremely familiar with it… This was also the source of his confidence in daring to bring Xio and Edwina along.
Otherwise, even with a promise, he would not have let them take such a risk.
As for Giuseppe Castia? That "waste" was just an accident. He hadn't even finished exploring Dannett's complete memories before rashly entering—his death was well deserved.
"Then let's set off," Edwina nodded, then very naturally took Ebner's hand.
"Don't you need to prepare?" Xio asked in surprise from the other side.
Edwina gently shook her head and replied seriously, "As a 'Prophet,' all preparations have long been completed within my own 'White Tower.'"
No need to emphasize it—I know you're a demigod… Xio muttered softly, then said no more. She only glanced at Ebner.
Ebner understood at once and directly took her hand, then simulated the ability of a "Wanderer," sketching in his mind the appearance of the island where the "Ghost Empire" was about to dock.
The next second, the three of them appeared in the Furious Sea, on a small island far from the safe shipping lanes.
This island wasn't very large, but it had mountains and water, rain and snow, and even temperature and humidity that were all "orderly," as though it were a miniature world.
It was just a pity that a place stitched together from so many extreme environments would naturally not support life. The island was completely barren, without a trace of vegetation.
"The weather of the Furious Sea is already extreme enough—how did the environment here form?" Edwina frowned and asked in confusion.
Xio, however, said thoughtfully, "This place feels very similar to when I'm beside Her Highness… Is it the power of 'Order'?"
"No need to guess blindly. The reason this place ended up like this is naturally because of the existence of that 'port'!" As he spoke, Ebner led the two of them to the foot of the only mountain on the island.
And here, there stood a half-collapsed stone ruin dozens of meters tall.
"This is the 'port'? But it looks a bit like…" Edwina frowned again, seeming unsure.
At this moment, Xio spoke up once more, "Like a gigantic stone gate!"
"That's right!" Edwina's eyes lit up as she added, "It's somewhat similar to the 'Triumphal Arch' in Trier that just collapsed!"
"Emperor Roselle came here long ago, and the Triumphal Arch in Trier was actually a replica he built after returning.
"This 'Door' was in fact jointly constructed by the 'Night Emperor' and Mr. 'Door,' the ancestor of the Abraham family."
Ebner said slowly, enlightenment continuously surfacing in his eyes.
In fact, before coming to this island, he had no memory at all related to this "stone gate" ruin. It was as if Alvin, Dannett, and even Giuseppe had all deliberately forgotten it.
Of course, it was also possible that the Calamity Seal or the God of Luck had interfered.
Fortunately, Ebner had just recently manipulated Roselle's replica in Trier. The impression was extremely vivid, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to immediately "see through" so many things.
Hmm… Roselle replicating that 'Door' was most likely guided by the Calamity Seal. It wanted me to learn the details of the 'Ghost Empire' and some of the Night Emperor's arrangements?
Then the one who intercepted the memories related to this gate was very likely the God of Luck…
Is this another round of gaming?
Also, the 'short-term task' Lilith previously gave me, in fact, also allowed me to understand the details of this 'stone gate' jointly built by the Night Emperor and Mr. 'Door'…
And Lilith can basically represent the Goddess's stance… which means They believe it's better for me to 'know'?
As his thoughts turned, Ebner noticed Edwina beside him looking at him with her clear, spring-like light-blue eyes, filled with intense curiosity:
"Cooperation between the 'Night Emperor' and Mr. 'Door'? What was the purpose of constructing such a structure? Was it merely the 'port' of the 'Ghost Empire'?"
Ebner smiled and shook his head, replying, "The formation of the 'port' was probably just an accident…
"When it was first designed, it was likely meant to allow the 'Night Emperor' to travel to the realm of 'Order.'"
Toward the end, Ebner's wording became somewhat vague.
"The realm of 'Order'?" Edwina and Xio repeated the phrase at the same time, confusion in their eyes.
Ebner didn't explain the phrase in depth. He only continued, "You only need to know that this realm could very well allow the 'Night Emperor' to be resurrected… I suspect there were two purposes behind the 'Door' he built to reach it.
"First, to seek power, in order to win the 'War of the Four Emperors'; second, after failure, to prepare for his own resurrection…
"Unfortunately, in the end, the 'Ghost Empire,' forged with the full national strength of Trunsoest, vanished without carrying a single passenger aboard. This very likely caused the Night Emperor's resurrection plan to fall through."
He most likely hid his 'soul stone' on some clansman, hoping that the 'Ghost Empire' would carry it back to the 'Land of Disorder'… But unfortunately, something went wrong with the 'Ghost Empire,' and it set sail on its own, allowing not a single person to board.
Yes—unlike source materials such as the 'City of Calamity,' the 'leak point' of the 'Nation of Disorder' was artificially created by the Night Emperor and Mr. 'Door.' There's an eighty percent chance it's located within some 'mirror world'!
And all the 'mirror worlds' and 'Doors' that lead to that 'mirror world' were established by the combined power of Mr. 'Door' and the Night Emperor as 'independent' and 'hidden' spaces.
Unless one were extremely lucky and wandered in from an ordinary mirror world, other than the 'Ghost Empire,' the only way to enter the space leading to the 'leak point' would be through this 'stone gate' that once created the 'leak point,' forming a crude 'entrance'!
No wonder this place is the ship's 'port'…
And what Vera wants to 'see' is probably the leakage condition of the 'Nation of Disorder,' right?
However, the 'Ghost Empire' seems to have its own ideas. From my previous experiences, although it endlessly cycles through that 'hidden space,' occasionally leaving reflections in other mirror worlds, it appears extremely resistant to approaching that 'leak point,' never once truly reaching it…
(End of the chapter)