.. According to what you're saying, I must engage with modern society and understand how this new era operates before I can find the people I am looking for?
After listening to Lancelot and Wood's explanation, Merlin muttered, sounding as if he only half-understood.
Wood nodded. "Mage, I never doubted your greatness and wisdom as England's greatest mage, but this is the world fifteen hundred years later, a world completely different from the one fifteen hundred years ago!"
Er..
Merlin frowned, all the strange objects he had seen since arriving in this world flashed before his eyes: the roaring, human-carrying iron boxes (police cars); the crystal spheres that could shine as brightly as the Sun with a single press (light bulbs); the roaring steel birds flying straight through the sky (airplanes); the metallic cylindrical sticks capable of writing (pens); and the black crystals as smooth as mica that would produce tiny figures looking exactly like real people singing and dancing when a small black box was pressed (LCD televisions)..
You are right, this world is indeed very different from the one I once lived in.. But I am the greatest mage in the history of England. With only a brief period of study, I will master all the knowledge and rules of this world, assisting my King to ascend the throne once again..
“..”
Wood and Lan Siteluo couldn't help but glance at each other, but they did not dare to contradict the old wizard's words.
—Alright! Get ready, we set off tomorrow!
Merlin raised both hands and announced with excitement.
..
..
Influenced by the warm waters of the Atlantic flowing from the north and the Baltic Sea waters flowing from the east, the waters in the North Sea near Britain are unusually warm and do not freeze even in winter. In some areas, the depth of the Seabed is only a dozen or so meters, making it a natural shallow-sea tourist area.
On this day, a sea vessel carrying Agents from the Avalon Special Events Investigation Department sailed toward the Alpha Oil Platform, where a world-shaking explosion had occurred more than thirty years ago—of the more than two hundred and thirty workers on the drilling platform at the time, only sixty-seven survived. Most people believed the incident was caused by excessive natural gas pressure within the drill pipe, which caused the pipe wall to rupture and leak, leading to a series of explosions.
After this disaster, all five drilling platforms surrounding the Alpha Oil Platform had ceased production and have yet to resume to this day.
However, within the secret files of the Avalon Special Events Investigation Department, there exists another, even more terrifying explanation for this great catastrophe.
The cause of the Great Catastrophe, the reason that forced the five platforms surrounding the Alpha Oil Platform to choose to cease production, was neither a gas leak nor an oil blowout, but—
An unspeakable behemoth slumbering on the Seabed.
That Monster, neither dragon nor serpent, has slept for years on the Seabed of the Atlantic. More than thirty years ago, He let out a gentle sneeze and shifted his body in his sleep, triggering the massive disaster at the Alpha Oil Platform!
The modern technology that humanity takes such pride in is as insignificant as a child's toy before His massive, towering physique.
.. After multiple assessments, we have had to choose to suspend operations, lest we awaken this God slumbering on the Seabed.
On the deck, senior Agent Ken introduced the specifics to Williams, who was performing his first mission in the North Sea: "In addition to the routine inspections every three months, we have also established multiple observation points in the surrounding waters. Any abnormality regarding Jormungand must be reported to Headquarters immediately, professional personnel must be dispatched to dive and investigate."
So our mission this time—
Yes, something has happened underwater.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Jormungand woke up crying for Papa ()
It's a pity that the Boss is about to make his appearance~
Thanks to readers "Liu Yi Si", "kiki", "Qing Yun", "Yuan Zhong Ren De Yi Yu Zhong Li", "Qian Mo Zong Heng", "Ruo Yue Liang Mei Lai", "Qian Duo", "Ruo Yue Liang Mei Lai", "Lan Wu", "Yun Shen Jian Qiu", "Yang Yi Fei ing.", "Gu Lu Gu Lu", "Li Yu", "Yue Xia Yin Cha.", "a", "Er Jiao", "Xiao Mao Diao Da Yu", "Nu Li Jie Wang · Kan Dao Wo Jiao Wo Qu Xue!", "Ha Pi Jiu", "Lan Mei Xiao Yang", "", "Yi Tuo Da Yan", "Xing Ye", "Min" for Irrigation Nutrient Solution
Chapter 36 True and False Arthur (6)
—Remember! Once you are underwater, you must remain absolutely calm no matter what you see, you must not make any loud noises, lest you provoke the God beneath the waters.
Before the official descent, Ken once again urged the newcomer Williams: "Although his codename in the database is 'Jormungand,' I don't think he is the Midgard Serpent from Norse mythology—he looks more like some kind of prehistoric monster that science has yet to confirm. Therefore, we cannot expect him to have intelligence, let alone understand human nature. We must do everything in our power to protect ourselves and protect this country!"
Understood!
Williams shouted excitedly, putting on his diving helmet.
Alright! The operation officially begins!
With a single command, more than ten divers participating in this diving mission, including Williams, plunged into the deep sea.
Not long after—
Excited, chaotic voices from the divers erupted through the receiver.
Whoa! It's so huge! No wonder the codename is 'Jormungand.' I suspect a single scale plucked from its body would be larger than my entire body!
Don't let your emotions get the better of you while on duty—our mission is to determine whether this behemoth is still in a deep slumber; once the mission is complete, we can leave!
.. Yes, Boss!
Work strictly according to the manual procedures, once everything is finished—ah!
After the sharp scream—
“Zzzzt.. zzzzt.. creak.. hic.. hiss..”
Eerie, chaotic sounds drifted from the speakers, carrying an indescribable chill.
Everyone on the ship looked at one another in shock, their bodies stiffening as if plunged into an ice bath; their breathing grew rapid, their hearts raced, they held their breath in tense silence.
..
The weird and incomprehensible audio lasted for about ten minutes, followed by a deathly silence.
Under the dominion of a massive, unknowable fear, everyone fell into a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
After a long time—
.. What should we do now?
The Captain broke the deathly silence of the scene with a bitter smile: "Should we continue to send people down to investigate the situation with Jormungand to find out exactly what this group has encountered, or.."
Or we could seek help from Master Merlin.
Ken said softly, "If that strange old man is indeed Master Merlin, who has been sleeping for fifteen hundred years."
But—he vanished into thin air the very day he was brought back. What can we do to find him and convince him to work for us?
“..”
In an instant, the air fell silent once more.
..
..
Two hours before the eerie silence descended upon the Alpha Oil Platform in the North Sea, the Jormungand Project Team of the Avalon Special Events Investigation Department successfully persuaded Wood and Lancelot to finally leave the dilapidated castle—which lacked electricity, water, gas, even proper lighting—and return to Glastonbury Town.
The three of them walked into the Green Leaf Inn, Lancelot pulled the last of the change from his pocket to ask the Inn Staff to borrow a charger.
While waiting for his mobile phone to charge, Wood saw several Asian Tourists walk into the inn. After entering, they first found a seat by the window, then opened their backpacks and took out a standee of a blonde girl in a long blue dress holding a sharp sword, placing it on the table and making hand gestures to pose with the standee.
What are they doing?
Merlin asked curiously, "I seem to have heard them saying 'Arthur,' though the pronunciation was very strange, but.. Arthur.. why would he be related to a blonde girl in a long blue dress?"
Because.. because this Blonde Girl is the Arthur from a Japanese Mobile Game..
Wood said awkwardly.
Japan? What is that?
“Japan is..”
Wood looked toward Lancelot for help.
Lancelot understood his meaning and explained concepts such as "Asia," "Japan," and "Mobile Game" to Merlin.
At this time, the Mobile Phone's charging progress had already reached forty percent.
Seeing Merlin listening intently to Lancelot's introduction to the game, Wood decisively pulled out the charging cable and slipped into the bathroom with the Mobile Phone.
..
("Wood?")
The moment that familiar voice came through the receiver, Wood, huddled in the toilet stall, was so moved he was almost moved to tears.
Boss.. Boss.. I, I..
("Calm down first, tell me—what happened? Why could I still vaguely sense you when I was in New York, but after arriving in London, it's the opposite.. I can't get through on the phone, all your social media accounts show you're offline..")
Because.. because I.. I was..
Wood took a breath: "Boss, what I am about to say might defy common sense, but these things have truly happened to me! You must believe me!"
("No matter what happens, I believe you.")
Mm.
Wood nodded repeatedly, giving a brief account of what he had encountered over the past few days.
.. Lancelot and I successfully brought Merlin out of the castle, we are currently at the Green Leaf Inn. Boss, I know this is difficult to achieve, but I really hope you can come and rescue me immediately.
("Of course.")
Master's voice was so clear, it was as if he were right by his side.
And the truth was—
Hmm?
Hearing the footsteps, Wood lowered his head and saw a pair of leather shoes, both in color and style, that were exceptionally familiar, appearing through the gap in the partition.
(Could it be.. could it be..)
Wood suppressed his excitement and cautiously opened the bathroom stall door. Seeing Master appearing before him like a god descending from the heavens, tears immediately streamed down his face uncontrollably.
Boss! I, I..
I was nearby when I received your call.
“.. Boss!”
Wood threw himself into Master's arms, his sobbing tears wetting Master's shirt. ".. When Merlin took me away, I thought I would never see you again in my life! I thought you wouldn't come looking for me.. I.. I.."
Even if a Puppy were lost, his Master would post notices everywhere to find him, let alone—you are important to me. You are not just some pet I raised on a whim to pass the time.
But—
Wood looked at Master with concern: "Merlin is the most powerful mage in the history of England."
Just a mage.
Master said nonchalantly, stroking Wood's hair, "Take me to say hello to Merlin."