Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 284: Chapter 283: The Lingering Ghost Shadow (Part 3)

Chapter 284: Chapter 283: The Lingering Ghost Shadow (Part 3)

That Tilia would seek trouble with Black Katie did not surprise Fang Zheng in the slightest.

In fact, ever since in the World of Shana, Black Katie tormented Tilia to the point of being unable to get out of bed for three nights and four days through Fang Zheng’s influence, Tilia had sworn to seek revenge when the opportunity presented itself. No wonder she was so angry; as Fang Zheng’s “sister,” who always boasted about “fighting forever for her brother,” she missed the final battle of creation because Black Katie tricked her. By the time Fang Zheng had finished creating the new world, Tilia was still fast asleep in bed.

This was an immense humiliation for Tilia, and she had long vowed to reclaim her dignity the moment she found the chance!

Now it seemed Tilia had finally found her chance to stir up trouble.

True, Black Katie is a Shrine Maiden and the Grand Priestess who serves the God of Creation, but the problem was… she had absolutely no connection with the Goddess of this world. From Fang Zheng’s perspective, with Black Katie’s loyalty to the Ritual Snake, she obviously wouldn’t sing praises for the Goddess of Order of this world. And now, Tilia was actually making Black Katie help these humans hold a soul-soothing ritual…

Little girl, your will to survive really is weak.

Fang Zheng silently lit a candle for Tilia in his heart and sighed with resignation. He had long realized that although Black Katie appeared taciturn and reticent, she was actually very astute. However, she had always remained detached, or rather, besides the Ritual Snake, nothing else really mattered to her, giving her an unapproachable air.

But that didn’t mean she didn’t care, or that you could mess with her without consequences.

As the saying goes, even a clay Bodhisattva has some anger.

This time Tilia had really messed with Black Katie, and that little girl would definitely not show any reaction on the surface. Once this was over, she’d find an opportunity to strike back with a combo…

But whatever, it was just minor nuisance after all, nothing to fuss about.

Just as Fang Zheng had predicted, after he conveyed this request to Black Katie, the Grand Priestess simply paused for a moment before nodding her head in agreement.

“As the Alliance Hierarch wishes.”

At the same time, Fang Zheng knew Tilia had gone too far again.

But Tilia wouldn’t care; with her relationship to Black Katie, this was just a process of probing on the edge of courting death. After all, even if she got knocked down by Black Katie in a flurry of moves, what of it? Just resurrect and find another chance to do it all over again, right? After all, Followers of the Crimson Realm are immortal, so what was there to fear?

The sky was gradually turning darker.

Ominous clouds hung over the sky, making the distant ocean appear even more pitch black. Although it was only the afternoon, it felt as if it was about to turn dark. The sailors shouted orders while maneuvering the ship along its course, and despite the chilly outdoor temperatures, not a single one retreated into the cabin.

“Tell me, what exactly are they aiming for?”

Watching the sailors who were handling the sails and shouting orders, Miss Ogrande crossed her arms and discontentedly complained.

“It’s going to rain, why are they still out here? Also, why do we have to come out too!”

“Please don’t worry, Miss Ogrande.”

Having spent a few days together, Captain Fox had also figured out the temper of this young lady; he also approached with a grin, attempting to reassure her.

“It’s the rule; all ships coming to Soul Bay must not return to their cabins before leaving Soul Bay. And also, please don’t worry about the weather, though it looks like it’s going to pour down any moment, the truth is that the weather here has been like this for centuries. Indeed, there are no calmer waters than those of Soul Bay.”

“How so?”

Hearing this, Ogrande became curious and asked. After being chilled for a few days on the journey, the young lady had also figured it out. Clearly, they wouldn’t turn around to send them back for the sake of the Platinum Family. So they could only follow Fang Zheng and the others helplessly. Although Ogrande was high-spirited and proud, she was also pragmatic. Now that they had boarded this pirate ship, since resistance was futile, they might as well enjoy the ride…

“It’s like this…”

Captain Fox was evidently not introducing clients to the history of Soul Bay for the first time, and easily shifted gears to become a guide.

“This goes back a hundred years, when the invention of the Magitech Engine sparked a new era of great seafaring adventures. Many adventurers and navies from various countries wanted to discover new Lands of Order. Due to the excellent geographical location of Soul Bay, it was developed into a large supply port during that period. Back then, it was known as ‘Golden Bay,’ cluttered with ships and fleets…”

Upon reaching this point, even Fox couldn’t help but get somewhat caught up in nostalgia. When the Magitech Engine was first invented, the maritime fever that ensued was a tale most cherished by every sailor. In that era, it was common to hear of someone discovering a mysterious relic hidden on a deserted island across the ocean, finding some lost divine weapon, or even vast treasures.

Unfortunately, however… what goes up must come down.

“…The specific circumstances are unknown to anyone, but it was on a certain day that a fleet arrived at Golden Bay. It was said that they had discovered lost overseas treasures; many people saw them unloading chests of jewels and gold from those ships.”

While gesticulating wildly, Captain Fox swallowed his saliva, and upon hearing this, Miss Ogrande’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Is someone really moving that much treasure in broad daylight? Are they out of their minds?”

No wonder, as a future star of the Platinum Family, Miss Ogrande might have questionable EQ, but her IQ was certainly not lacking; she naturally understood the saying ‘wealth should not be flaunted.’ Moreover, the situation at Golden Bay at the time had been clearly explained by Fox, with a mingle of various forces present. Even if one were thrilled to have obtained immense wealth, it wasn’t something to flaunt openly in public.

“The weirder part came later.”

Captain Fox was now getting into the thick of his story, his arms waving more animatedly.

“After those people left the chests on the dock, they immediately departed, and strangely, no one came to transport the goods. In the beginning, everyone was just curious, since liquidity was quite strong in Golden Bay at that time and with many people talking, it might have been an issue with the handover; Golden Bay even dispatched people to guard that treasure, as the power capable of bringing so much treasure back was certainly not one they could afford to offend. But later, the situation changed…”

At this point, Captain Fox’s voice lowered significantly, and not only Miss Ogrande, but even Fang Zheng, Tilia, and Nanali looked curiously at Captain Fox, clearly interested in the story.

“…Days went by, and no one came asking for that pile of treasure. Later, people checked and found that there was no record of that fleet entering or exiting, as if they had never existed! This greatly surprised all the forces in Golden Bay at the time. However, after that, they became tempted by the pile of treasure… As I’ve mentioned before, Golden Bay was a mix of dragons and snakes at the time. Although nominally belonging to the Kingdom of the Holy Church, it was more like a neutral zone without strict laws. Soon, someone couldn’t resist trying to seize the treasure, and then…a horrifying event occurred…”

As he spoke, even Captain Fox himself showed a look of fear.

“First, one of the major forces couldn’t hold back, and its men attempted to forcibly take the treasures, which led to a fight with the guards. During the fight, the chests containing the treasures were broken, and as the diversity of treasures was exposed, everyone went mad. They were like possessed, starting a frenzied slaughter, with all ships docked in Golden Bay joining in the massacre…”

“Who ended up winning?”

Upon hearing this, Miss Ogrande felt a chill throughout her body. Although Captain Fox was not exactly a master storyteller, the mere thought of the scene at the time was terrifying even for her.

“There were no winners.”

“What do you mean?”

Miss Ogrande was stunned momentarily.

“What does no winners mean? Surely some must have survived?”

“None.”

Captain Fox shook his head, his expression growing more serious.

“At the time, no one knew exactly what had happened. When the fleet returned to Golden Bay, they found only corpses and the wrecks of sunken ships. Even what had happened in Golden Bay that night remained unknown; everything I told you was gleaned from records and diaries from the port at that time….”

While speaking, Captain Fox sighed.

“After that, numerous mysterious sinkings and disappearances of ships happened, so this place gradually became abandoned. And Golden Bay was renamed to Soul Bay.”

“But you still haven’t explained, what does this have to do with not allowing us into the cabin?”

“It’s a custom, Miss Ogrande.”

Captain Fox spread his hands, giving a wry smile.

“It is said that those spirits still wander in these waters, still searching for their treasures. Thus, every ship’s cabin is meticulously checked by them, and if they find any living beings, they think those beings stole their treasures, and they drag them into the sea as well. So there is this custom here; whenever we are in Soul Bay, everyone has to stay on deck, otherwise…”

“………”

Upon hearing this, Miss Ogrande shivered, involuntarily stepping back from the pitch-black hatch.

At that moment, a sailor’s voice came from not far away:

“Captain, Soul Bay is just ahead!”