The black sun hangs high

Chapter 346 Primary Objective
"Once we can eliminate the Dark Abyss, all the troubles will naturally disappear."

For a moment, Hugh couldn't even be sure of the true attitude of the faceless deity before him.

She seemed to be making a not-so-funny joke, yet also like she was solemnly stating a truism.

Seeing Hugh looking at her strangely, Theseus seemed a little bored as well. She shrugged and gave a wry laugh: "I'm serious, it's just that there really isn't anything that can do this..."

"You...can't do it either, right?"

"Of course not."

Theseus spread his hands helplessly: "I have tried my best and made every effort, but you have seen the final result... The only effect I can have is to slow down the process. Before long, these waves outside will become even more ferocious."

At this point, Theseus slightly raised her head. Amidst the swirling mist, she easily discerned Hugh's confusion, doubts, and bewilderment. The faceless deity shook her head and said, "What, do I really look like a mere 'fun-seeker'? Can't I take on some responsibilities on a whim?"

"..."

Theseus had seen through his thoughts countless times before, so Hugh was used to it and didn't feel embarrassed. He pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Theseus: "According to you, the situation is quite dire. So I want to know... what attempts you've made, and how much time these attempts have bought?"

"Hey, your attitude changed very quickly. You completely trust what I said?"

"Even if I have doubts, is there any way to bypass you and disprove it? Is it really necessary?"

Hugh looked at the figure before him. Even now, faint black mist continued to emanate from the wounds on Theseus's body. If this wasn't a deliberate performance, then it could only mean that this guy was very likely injured during the "attempt" she mentioned.

Hughes speculated that her current female form, which was significantly smaller, might also be related to that trauma.

“I didn’t really do anything. I just paid a visit to our neighbors, knocked on their doors casually, and kicked the dogs in their yards a couple of times… If I had to say anything excessive, it would be that I smashed their windows with a stone, that’s all.”

Theseus's description is somewhat comical, sounding like the subtle humor of "snapping a window with a rubber band," but when applied to the Dark Abyss court, it becomes truly chilling.

Judging from Theseus's description, what she did was probably to make a big commotion near the Dark Abyss Palace, go inside the palace, provoke and even harm the dangerous palace hounds with vile means, and then launch a direct attack on the Dark Abyss Palace itself in some unimaginable way.

After telling this nasty joke, Theseus became serious and said, "The Dark Abyss Palace's recent actions are destined to be very unusual... It had been gone for quite some time, and when it saw Vaan again, it was bound to 'go all out.' So, to avoid the hunters in the Dark Abyss Palace focusing too much attention on Vaan, I had no choice but to resort to this method."

Upon hearing this, Hugh's eyebrows shot up sharply: "Wait! You mean..."

"As a neighbor that has been 'borrowing' the power of the Dark Abyss for a long time, this sanctuary is essentially a bloodsucking worm clinging to the behemoth that is the Dark Abyss. Now, the bloodsucking worm not only continues to suck blood, but has even taken the initiative to increase its strength and take a few more bites."

Theseus’s tone was frighteningly calm: “So now, this place is also their target, even their primary target.”

Her palm gently brushed across the table beside her, and the power of the Faceless God calmed the restless, strange afterimages for a moment: "Let me put it bluntly, I have 'sold' this shelter. Not only will it become the primary target of those hunters, but everything related to this shelter will also be marked."

"Does that mean I'm about to be chased by a dog?"

"Pretty much, but it might not be those hunting dogs. In any case, it's always good to be mentally prepared."

Having finally revealed these important matters, Theseus's tone revealed a hint of relief. She stretched her body gently and hummed softly in a rather feminine manner, her voice long and languid.

"I remember when you first came here, you always wanted to run out of the mist, didn't you? Now your chance has come."

Theseus raised his finger and pointed to the other end of the corridor. Hugh looked in that direction and was surprised to find that the black mist that had been used to isolate the office area was now almost gone. He could clearly see the areas he had not been able to visit before with the naked eye.

"A new area is open! Go explore it!"

Theseus told a joke in a strange tone that gave Hugh a real headache.

"So, those things from the Dark Abyss could come from these places at any time, right?"

Hugh didn't take the bait from Theseus. He frowned and looked into the distance. The areas shrouded in mist seemed to be the same as this office area. At least, all he could see were neatly arranged desks, computers, and all sorts of familiar furnishings. However, there was always an unsettling atmosphere permeating these areas.

Combined with the dim, almost imperceptible lighting on the ceiling, it gave Hugh a rather strange and quirky feeling.

In the past, Hugh would have been angry or resentful at Theseus's behavior, but now he found himself able to face this change with extreme calm.

He even felt somewhat satisfied and pleased.

As for the source of this emotion, Hugh didn't want to delve into it now. He turned to Theseus and asked, "Then, how can I know when those hunters from the Dark Abyss will come? And... as the master of this place, do you have any backup plans?"

"Your spirit and power are one with the sanctuary. As long as it is impacted or senses an approaching threat, you will definitely be able to detect it..."

Theseus replied slowly, "As for me, I have more things to do and will be leaving soon. After all, judging from the previous situation, this visit has been quite effective. I will further 'increase my efforts,' since time is the most precious resource for you right now."

Her tone was calm and sincere, almost making Hugh forget the divine titles that Theseus possessed.

Now, she does resemble a different person.

Hugh nodded, glancing around. He saw the containers that sealed various ancient creations still standing silently in place. They were among the few within the sanctuary unaffected by the waves of the Dark Abyss. Theseus once again understood Hugh's thoughts: "I'll say it again, I don't recommend you perform too many 'sacrifices' in a short period. Every time you take in a familiar or creation, it's like dividing your magic and spirit. If you drive yourself insane, I'll have to spend time and energy fixing your mind, which is very troublesome."

"However, the specific choices and the right to operate are still in your own hands. Just be careful and don't cause any trouble."

……

Around three o'clock in the afternoon, Hugh slowly woke up.

When he left the Dream Sanctuary this time, his feelings were incredibly complicated. This complicated feeling came not only from Vaan and the new predicament he was about to face, but also from Theseus's clear attitude in this matter.

Revealing the truth about the shelter, frankly stating one's plans and thoughts, and clearly providing suggestions for the next course of action...

From this series of clearly biased actions, Hughes sensed a sense of impatience and unease.

It's hard to imagine that a god who used to be based on chaos and fun would become like this. If Hugh hadn't already known about the subtle connection between Theseus and the goddess of magic, Mel, he would have almost thought this was another performance and trick by Theseus.

Fortunately, this time Hugh finally received reliable and clear information from Theseus, which was a rare occurrence.

Danger is indeed imminent, but the threat to Vaan itself will be relatively delayed. At least for the foreseeable future, the vast majority of Vaan residents will not need to confront the "Great Hunt" from the Dark Abyss. These nations and organizations still have time to complete negotiations and alliances, and to find ways to eliminate threats originating from within Vaan.

The problem is that the amount of time Vaan has is essentially an unknown quantity.

Because Hugh didn't know how long Theseus, the Sanctuary, and he himself could withstand the direct threat of the Dark Abyss Court, nor did he know when the Dark Abyss Court itself would shift its attention elsewhere.

He got out of bed and reached out to pick up the trench coat he had thrown on the floor earlier.

A small shadow slowly crawled out from within the protective illusion created by the roots of fate. As a "child" connected to the spirit of Hugh, "Justina" clearly captured the trace of melancholy revealed by her "father".

She didn't know what to do, so she slowly moved to Hugh's side and placed her soft, translucent hand on Hugh's calf.

The cold touch on his leg pulled Hughes back to reality. He bent down and gently picked up the figure that was trying to care for him.

"I'm fine, don't worry... I'm fine."

He seemed to be talking to "Justine," or perhaps talking to himself. Finally, his fluctuating emotions stabilized, and Hugh stuffed "Justine" back into the illusion shaped by the roots of fate. He then placed the two containers he had prepared in front of "Justine."

"Remember to eat properly, don't go hungry, understand?"

"Well……"

Upon hearing the faint response, Hugh put on his trench coat, picked up the Black Sun Scepter and other items, and turned to walk outside.

After the morning's chaos and turmoil, the entire city of Merlinle regained stability under the strong hand of the Legal Council. Although many places and shops in the outer city remained closed at the Council's request, the basic activities of residents and chambers of commerce have resumed.

However, there are two noticeable changes in the current situation of Merlinler.

The first change is seen in the general public. Although people don't usually look up at the sky all the time, they now deliberately lower their heads, as if walking with their heads down has become a new trend. Any passerby who tries to look up will immediately receive a warning from their companions or family members. Some children who want to look up at their parents will even be scolded for it.

The second change occurred in the streets and buildings of Merlinle.

The mages of the Legal Committee were very efficient in dealing with these matters. In just half a day, magical notices, warning signs, and loudspeakers specifically designed to address the Black Sun anomaly were mass-produced. The magic apprentices, carrying executor badges, then fixed these items, intended to alert the residents, to various locations.

The new batch of magical puppets, which is managed by the headquarters of the Alchemy Workshop of the Legal Committee, will be relatively delayed.

After all, even the most experienced magic artisans had never created a magical puppet to "prevent residents from looking up at the sun in time," so such a request was simply too demanding.

And so, in a slightly tense and strange atmosphere, time passed little by little, and the sky gradually darkened, but the thick shadow in the sky was still very conspicuous. As one of the very few people who could observe the sky with the naked eye, Hugh could clearly see the flowing black lines in the area around this shadow.

These dark shadows were exactly the same as the scenes he had glimpsed in the dream sanctuary.

A warning came from the side of the Law Committee mage, so Hugh lowered his head and showed his identification to the other party. In the distance, the loud hum of large ships releasing magical steam echoed in Merlinle and the bay.

The last group of attendees has also arrived.

"Let's go inside. It's a bit chilly, so let's not stay outside."

Hugh turned to the side, forced a smile, and nodded to Veraine, who had been standing beside him.

So, the two, who had already changed into formal attire, walked one after the other toward the entrance of the venue not far away.

Will this approaching night have any impact on Vaan's future fate?
no one knows.

(End of this chapter)