CHAPTER 1020: CHAPTER 213: PRIDE, PREJUDICE, AND FOLLY

Vena Ice-Free Port has lost contact.

First, Merchant Anthony was unable to reach Mayor Matteus, and then it was completely impossible to enter Vena Ice-Free Port. Not long after, a message came from Midnight City that an hour ago, Vena Ice-Free Port was engulfed by seawater.

"How long until we arrive?"

Lu Li, standing on the deck, asked Andrea over the vast expanse of the sea.

Puxiu brought over the clock, and as his claw slowly turned, pointing opposite the hour hand, Andrea sounded the horn.

In 12 hours, at midnight, they would reach Vena Ice-Free Port.

"Is there...still time?" Ophelia asked.

"I don’t know."

In the time that followed, Lu Li frequently contacted Midnight City, inquiring about details after the arrival of the God of the Deep Sea.

He did not intend to destroy Midnight City.

Upon learning that Lu Li needed it, Dean Lawrence from Giant Tree Academy inquired into a secret only known to the top echelons of Midnight City: the God of the Deep Sea wanted to seize the faith of Midnight City.

The Lady of Midnight led the city’s gods, along with the sewer leaders willing to help, to stop the God of the Deep Sea outside Midnight City, and also prevented those who coveted Him due to serious injuries to the Ancients.

In addition to that, some troubles were brought by Him. The strangeness beyond the Spine of the World Mountains and the Barren Lands followed the scent like mosquitoes, significantly increasing strange activities around Midnight City.

The God of the Deep Sea may not have betrayed, but for some reason, He was injured and needed believers to restore His strength and wounds. After Midnight City refused, Vena Ice-Free Port became His next target.

The situation at Vena Ice-Free Port wasn’t good. They lacked the power to fight against the God of the Deep Sea, and Midnight City couldn’t help in time. One could only hope Vena Ice-Free Port had a card to stand in the dark world, and that the already severely injured God of the Deep Sea would need time to transform the city.

Lu Li returned to the Captain’s Cabin to rest, preparing for the trouble ahead.

At night, Puxiu awakened the sleeping Lu Li, telling him that the Mist of Strangeness had receded.

Stepping out of the Captain’s Cabin onto the deck, the cold night wind was no longer shrouded by mist, extending dimly into the unseen sea.

They had already entered the range covered by the power of the God of the Deep Sea.

"We still have less than two hours from the time Andrea mentioned," Puxiu continued.

Not long after continuing, a shape resembling a luminous jellyfish appeared on the distant sea surface.

As they approached, it became clearer and larger until it was fully seen: a mysterious phosphorescent water membrane rising from the sea, enveloping the entire city.

The seawater surged, covering internal details, only faintly exuding a weak yellowish glow.

"Can we break through?"

They were already very close to that water membrane.

Andrea sounded the horn in response to Lu Li, charging towards the water membrane without slowing down to show determination.

The passage to the lower deck was closed, and they retreated to the Captain’s Cabin, securing and checking items that couldn’t be fixed. Then Lu Li tied himself, Puxiu, and Ophelia to a pillar with ropes to brace for the imminent violent turbulence.

The water membrane outside the Captain’s Cabin window gradually filled the entire view, becoming clearer, almost able to see the flowing luminance of the seawater.

With a sudden jolt, Andrea burst into the water membrane, and darkness replaced the phosphorescence enveloping the Captain’s Cabin, shattered bubbles and sea debris flashing past the glass.

Seawater gushed into the Captain’s Cabin from the weakest door, bringing coldness and a frightening sense of oppressive narrowness.

After a dozen seconds, a sudden light appeared outside the window, and Andrea broke through the water membrane—

then plummeted from a dozen meters high.

Under the sensation of weightlessness and all-around pressure, the hull emitted a distorted, muffled low sound as it smashed into the sea bed.

Waves and ripples spread far away, gradually restoring calm outside the bay of Vena Ice-Free Port.

Suddenly, a large ship churned up and down in the waves emerged from the water, surging towards the harbor with the seawater spilling from the deck.

Lu Li untied the ropes, stepping onto the stabilized floor, untied Puxiu, and overlooked Ophelia who was waiting for him to approach, gazing at the distant Vena Ice-Free Port.

Enveloping the city, the water membrane shimmered like a city beneath the sea, with lights on in the city...and fires burning. There was some commotion, but it wasn’t severe yet.

"Lu Li..."

Ophelia, with burnt ropes, hinted for Lu Li to check his wrist.

The Sanity Value Counter was clicking away. Pollution inside the water membrane was omnipresent.

hours.

Lu Li remembered an analysis received a few hours ago, penned by Giant Tree Academy.

It recorded a scholar’s research from many years ago on altering faith. Giant Tree Academy replaced, modified, and completed the final conclusion: the God of the Deep Sea requires 24 hours to alter faith.

Thus, the time frame within which Lu Li and others are not attacked by the will of the God of the Deep Sea is 24 hours. To save the citizens of Vena Ice-Free Port, only 12 hours remain.

Quiet and eerily cold, Andrea sailed into the calm and dark harbor.

The battleships and soldiers were nowhere to be seen, no wreckage on the sea surface, whether they died in combat with the God of the Deep Sea or—

The searchlight that brightened the sea surface sternly denied Lu Li’s guess, as two battleships drew close to Andrea and those at the harbor, dozens of cannons aimed at them.

"We’ve been waiting for you, the fallen Exorcist."

The Judiciary Guard, holding torches, emerged from the worker’s hut.

Clearly, their arrival was not related to friendliness.

"Do not act rashly, that will get Mr. Luli by your side killed," the goatee-wearing Guard Captain pointed at the cannons aimed at them, reminding Ophelia.

"I’m here to resolve the crisis at Vena Ice-Free Port," Lu Li calmly looked at the Judiciary Captain he had never met.

"Coming at a time of crisis... I don’t think so. Besides, you know that Evil God, right?" He spoke with a certain uncomfortable regret and sigh, signaling his men to approach Lu Li.

"Arrogance and prejudice," Lu Li simply said.

Calling the Ancients an Evil God is arrogance; considering Lu Li’s descent is prejudice.

Under the aim of battleships, Lu Li did not resist, allowing the Judiciary Guard to restrain Puxiu, Ophelia, and even Merchant Anthony.

Andrea rather received better treatment—the Judiciary Guards refrained from stepping onto the strangeness, only having two battleships to supervise.

As his wrists were tied roughly, Lu Li looked at the captain: "Will Bishop Ussa come to see me?"

"The Bishop indeed had that intention, but not now," the captain, maintaining a distance from Lu Li from the start, answered: "After dealing with the Evil God’s invasion issue,"

"Do you have a way to get rid of Him?" Lu Li asked.

The captain’s face showed a trace of mockery: "You are not entitled to know."

"That is the ancient God of the Deep Sea! Without Mr. Luli, you cannot handle Him!" Puxiu, bound like a lamb, struggled and shouted.

The captain showed disgust, refusing to speak to Puxiu.

"In the outer pocket of my coat, there’s an analysis from Midnight City’s Giant Tree Academy. The God of the Deep Sea’s transformation takes 24 hours, with 12 hours remaining," Lu Li said, watching the still-confident captain.

"Midnight City, too? No surprise."

The captain’s heart, long distorted by prejudice, stubbornly believed Lu Li had fallen into the abyss, signaling his subordinates with a wave.

"Take them to the dungeon."