Deep Sea Embers

The expression of no surprise on Vanna's face was certainly not hidden from Heidi. This "psychiatrist" who often cooperated with the church immediately guessed something from the inquisitor's reaction.

After a slight hesitation, she asked cautiously: "It seems... there is a big problem behind this incident?"

Fanna nodded: "It's a big problem."

Heidi thought for a while, then quickly said while packing her medical kit: "I'm on vacation tomorrow, and I may be away for a while..."

"Ms. Heidi, you may have made a connection with this matter," Vanna glanced at Heidi, "I'm sorry, but including me, everyone who appeared at the scene at that time had been exposed to some kind of cognitive Under the pollution, the mental problems you found in these cultists have actually happened to each of us, but...thank you to the goddess, we were not deeply polluted, so we just 'awoke' at this time."

"...Damn it, I knew I would encounter this kind of thing sooner or later in this business." Heidi finally stopped packing the medical kit and covered her forehead. "I should have listened to my father's advice and inherited it." He could start his career as an antique appraiser, or even follow his mother's advice and become a history teacher at the public school in the Cross Street neighborhood... That would be much safer than dealing with cultists."

"Be more open-minded. At least your current job is enough for you to maintain a decent life in the uptown area." Fanna shook her head. In front of Heidi, who was about the same age and had known her for many years, her attitude seemed more approachable than in front of her subordinates. Many, "Let's talk about what you found. It may help the church and city hall grasp the situation."

"...It's actually very simple, an obvious violation," Heidi sighed, talking about the clues she dug out from the subconscious of the cultists, "On the night of the sacrificial ceremony, a sacrifice was placed on the totem of the sun. He lost control before and reversely sacrificed the priest who presided over the ceremony. According to the clues we found at the scene, the 'sacrifice' that caused the loss of control was actually a 'corpse' that had been sacrificed. He came back from the dead. Went to the high platform, right?"

Fanna nodded: "Of course, I remember it very clearly."

"Then the question comes... Since this sacrifice has been sacrificed once, why didn't any of the cultists at the scene recognize him? Ordinary cultists are just that, why didn't even the priest himself? Didn’t you recognize that the sacrifice in front of you was sacrificed by yourself not long ago?”

Fanna slowly frowned: "...the cultists at the scene watched as the sacrifices that had been sacrificed not long ago appeared again in front of them, but no one noticed anything unusual... Their memories were tampered with, and their cognition Twisted."

"Even we didn't realize this obvious violation at the time, did we?" Heidi smiled bitterly and spread her hands. "In fact, even until an hour ago, I didn't realize that I had ignored this natural violation. It’s not until now that I know from your mouth that my own spirit has been affected.”

Fanna didn't speak for a while, then turned around and came to the cultist who was still in a confused state.

The cultists who were hypnotized by a large dose of neurological drugs and powerful incense just shook their heads slightly and looked blankly at the tall lady in front of them.

Fanna suddenly turned around and asked, "Is it also because of cognitive confusion that these cultists killed each other after the ritual went out of control?"

"Yes, I 'saw' some flashing images in their memories," Heidi replied. "These images seemed to have left a very strong impression on them, making them firmly believe that everyone else at the ceremony was possessed by evil spirits or evil spirits. Similar things have taken over and controlled them. They do not think that they are killing their compatriots, but that they are expelling the evil spirits from other compatriots..."

"This is probably a warning from their soul instinct - cultists are also believers. After all, there is a dark sun behind them that is 'blessing' these people. When huge and strange dangers arise, these blessed believers are extremely likely to They may have sensed something," Fanna analyzed based on experience. "Their crazy hallucinations actually revealed the truth more or less. Unfortunately, these untrained ordinary people did not know how to distinguish the meaning of these warnings, and instead fell into collective madness. state."

Heidi looked at Fanna who had a serious face. After hesitating several times, she finally spoke cautiously: "So... what is the thing behind this matter? Is it more evil than that ancient sun?"

Vanna thought for a while and shook her head gently: "It's better not to inquire, Heidi, your connection with this matter is not deep yet, but if we learn more about it, some unbreakable connections may be established."

"Well, since even you, the judge, said so, then it's more important for me to protect my own life," Heidi said as she picked up the packed medical kit, "I really want to give myself It’s time for a holiday... Don’t worry, I’m not running away. There will be an exhibition at the Oceanographic Museum in two days, and I’m quite interested.”

Fanna nodded: "Visiting the Oceanographic Museum is a good way to relax, and the goddess's blessings are also filled with those exhibits."

Heidi smiled, picked up the medical kit and walked towards the door, but just when she was about to open the door and go out, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Vanna worriedly: "I said... the pollution has really subsided. Already?"

"Don't worry, of course it has subsided," Vanna spread her hands helplessly, "We just caught up with some 'residues'. You have been in this quiet underground temple for so long, and the goddess's blessing has already wiped out what you have received. The impact has been cleared up.”

"Then I'm relieved," Heidi breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door, "I'll see you next time, Judge Vanna."

Vanna watched Ms. Heidi leave the room.

Beside her, the Sun Cultist who was confused by the powerful incense and nerve agent also half-opened his eyes and stared at Vanna blankly.

Potions made by modern civilization, incense passed down from ancient times, the quiet environment of the church, and the "blessing" of the sun deeply embedded in the soul. These chaotic forces are entangled and gathered, creating subtle changes in the bodies of cultists. Influence.

Fanna's hazy figure was reflected in the cultist's eyes.

He saw the inquisitor standing in front, tall and firm.

He saw a vague shadow standing behind Vanna. It was an almost transparent illusion, with green flames burning around it.

This tall illusion stood quietly behind Vanna, standing expressionless.

…

Duncan sat expressionlessly in the chart room, watching the doll Alice working in front of him.

She brought a large tray with bright tableware and a large bowl of steaming soup.

It smells like fish soup.

Apparently, after becoming more familiar with the environment on the Lost Home, the puppet lady came up with new ideas and wanted to "do something for the captain in her own way."

"Dinner?" Duncan looked at the puppet curiously, watching the other person place the tableware and fish soup in front of him, "Why did you suddenly think of making this?"

"I finished cleaning up the ingredients in the kitchen, and then I saw... fish in the bucket." Alice smiled with pride. "I can't help with many tasks on the ship, but cooking should always be done." Okay, I will cook for you from now on.”

"It's a good thing to have this kind of heart." Duncan didn't know how to evaluate this strange doll. He just faced Alice's sincere smile and was embarrassed to refuse to anyone. He was just a little curious, "But as a A doll, can you cook?”

"I can learn it, it feels quite simple," Alice said matter-of-factly, "Just ask Mr. Goathead about the most basic things. He told me a lot about cooking before..."

Duncan glanced expressionlessly at the goat head next to him, and then at Alice.

A wood carving and a puppet made of unknown material. Together they can't make up a digestive system, but they come together to study cooking. One dares to teach, and the other really dares to listen?

He didn't know what his feelings should be. He just picked up the spoon and stirred the fish soup in the bowl. He thought that at least this thing smelled right. However, the next second, his movements froze. .

After a moment of silence, he reached out and fished out a long silver-white hair from the spoon.

"Your hair fell in." Duncan said expressionlessly.

"Ah, I didn't drop my hair in it," Alice immediately waved her hands, "My head fell in... But don't worry, I fished it out immediately without anyone's help!"

Duncan: "...?"