Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

He bowed slightly, performing a simple yet solemn gesture, quite characteristic of Atlantis.

"Su Zhisu, the Dream Lord of Atlantis-R'lyeh, has come to pay a visit at His Majesty's invitation."

His voice was steady and clear, echoing in the empty hall.

Queen Sephiria's gaze lingered on Su Zhixu for a moment.

In the depths of those deep blue eyes, a subtle glint seemed to flash by, as if assessing and scrutinizing.

Then, a very faint but genuine smile appeared on her face.

"Welcome to Hydeland, Lord Su Zhisu."

Her voice was gentle and magnetic, with a peculiar soothing power.

"Kyle's report has filled me with curiosity and anticipation regarding your current situation and that of Atlantis."

First of all, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come.

"Secondly, please allow me, on behalf of Hydeland, to express my gratitude to you once again."

"Thank you for your help to Kyle and the mission in Atlantis."

"If you hadn't discovered and dealt with the potential danger in time, the consequences of that mission would have been unpredictable."

"Hydeland will always remember this kindness."

"Your Majesty is too kind."

Su Zhisu straightened up, his expression calm. "Mutual support is the duty of neighbors. It is my honor to be able to do my part."

The Empress nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes.

She turned slightly to the side, gesturing for the seats by the window.

"Please sit down, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

"Kyle, you stay too."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Kyle Crane bowed respectfully and then stepped aside to stand in attendance.

Su Zhisu walked to the seat opposite the Empress, but did not sit down immediately.

She paused, her gaze becoming even more sincere.

"Did you bring a gift that symbolizes friendship?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Su Zhisu took out the [Dream Seed] condensed by Behemoth Krasin from his bosom.

A ball of light, pale blue, slowly rotated in his palm, with stars flowing inside, exuding a tranquil and dreamlike aura.

"Your Majesty, this is a gift I bring to you and Hydeland on behalf of Atlantis."

"This item is called the 'Seed of Dreams,' containing a fragment of the rules of dream power and the coordinates of Atlantis."

"Planting it will slowly improve the surrounding environment, soothe the mind, and establish a connection with the present Atlantis."

He took two steps forward and gently placed the ball of light on the coffee table between the two of them.

The ball of light touched the tabletop, emitting a warm glow, and the light in the entire viewing hall seemed to soften as well.

Queen Sephiria's gaze fell on the Seed of Dreams, a clear hint of surprise and interest flashing in her azure eyes.

She stretched out her slender fingers and gently touched the surface of the ball of light.

A cool, gentle touch spread through her fingertips, and a tranquil, peaceful, and profound dreamlike power flowed into them, seemingly dispelling some of the fatigue she had been feeling from handling government affairs for the past few days.

"Dreams... a wondrous power... pure, gentle, quite unlike the mystery and corrosiveness of strange forces."

She withdrew her finger, looked at Su Zhixu, and her eyes showed a hint of amusement.

"A very precious gift; I feel the friendship of Atlantis. On behalf of Hydeland, I thank you for your gift."

"Please have a seat, Lord Su Zhisu. This gift is enough to set a good foundation for our conversation."

Su Zhisu then sat down in the chair opposite the Empress.

"Kyle mentioned in his report that besides visiting and re-establishing connections, it seems you also have some personal matters to attend to during your visit?"

Queen Sephiria got straight to the point, her gaze calmly fixed on Su Zhixu.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Su Zhisu sat up straight, organizing her thoughts.

"I have accepted a commission to find a female alchemist named Liliana Thea and return an item that belonged to her deceased friend."

"Based on the clues I have, she is likely connected to the 'Puppet Grip' alchemy workshop, which was abandoned many years ago due to an experimental accident, and its owner—Master Amadeus Thorne."

"I believe Your Majesty knows more about Master Amadeus and that accident than anyone else."

Empress Sephiria's expression did not change much upon hearing the names "Lelena Thea" and "Amadeus Thorne".

But Su Zhisu keenly noticed that her fingers, which were resting on the armrest, moved slightly, almost imperceptibly.

The air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

Kyle Crane, who was standing to the side, subconsciously held his breath.

"Liliana Thea... Amadeus Thorne..."

The Queen softly repeated the two names, her gaze fixed on the vast ocean outside the window, as if lost in distant memories.

A few seconds later, she looked away and turned to Su Zhixu, her eyes becoming deep.

"It seems Kyle was right, you did bring... something unexpected."

"You're right, Amadeus Thorne is the 'Puppet Grip' I personally bestowed upon him. He is the most talented and daring genius in alchemy in Hydeland in the last hundred years."

"His alchemy workshop, 'Puppet Grip,' was once an important symbol of the most cutting-edge technological research in Hedland alchemy."

Her tone was calm, yet tinged with a hint of regret.

"As for that accident... the official record states that it was an explosion caused by a runaway alchemy experiment."

"Amadeus perished on the spot, and the core area of ​​the alchemy workshop was destroyed, turning it into a wasteland."

"But the reality is much more complicated."

She paused, seemingly considering her words.

"Amadeus's research has touched upon certain... taboo areas."

"On the transformation of life forms, the anchoring and transfer of the soul."

He believed that by combining a perfect alchemical golem with a soul, a new life form closer to "eternity" could be created, or even... a kind of "resurrection" or "immortality."

"Liliana Thea was his most outstanding and trusted apprentice and assistant, and she participated in almost all of his core research."

"She was also in the core area of ​​the workshop when the accident occurred."

The Empress's gaze sharpened, as if she wanted to see through Su Zhisu's heart.

"Then, Lord Su Zhisu, can you tell me, are you seeking Liliana Thea merely to fulfill a request?"

"Or... are you also interested in Amadeus's forbidden research?"

Faced with the Empress's pointed question, Su Zhisu remained expressionless.

"Your Majesty, I am indeed interested in Master Amadeus's puppet alchemy."

"As an alchemist, it's only natural to be interested in advanced knowledge and skills."

"But more importantly, I was entrusted with this task and I must fulfill the agreement."

He raised his hand, gently rolled up his sleeve, revealing the antique "Thorne's Pocket Watch" on his wrist.

"This relic embodies the lingering attachment of a deceased man named Edgar Thorne."

"He is Liliana Thea's lover."

"I think... he is also the son of Master Amadeus."