The deep sea is to be feared.
Alice was a doll, yet she still had vibrant eyes capable of expressing emotions and subtle changes in her expression that defied rational explanation, so Duncan could clearly detect from her demeanor a fear and aversion to the deep sea... or rather, certain "things" within the deep sea. Considering his previous encounter with the Spirit Realm and the so-called border anomalies he had witnessed at sea, it was easy for him to realize—the vast expanse of ocean he was in certainly harbored great terror.
Homeloss was navigating this boundless ocean, and the mechanical vessel he had collided with in the Spirit Realm was also sailing these waters.
This inevitably aroused his curiosity about some even more distant matters—what was the land in this world like? Or rather, did normal land even exist in this world?
However, the doll before his eyes could not answer his questions. Most of Alice's memories were shrouded in a hazy state, which Duncan judged was likely the result of some kind of seal... or "suppression."
He remembered observing the mechanical ship as it passed by through the vast sensors of Homeloss. The enigmatic runes, the religiously symbolic decorations, and the symbols engraved on the exterior of Alice's "sarcophagus" all pointed to one thing:
This "Cursed Doll" was definitely deeply dreaded within "civilized society."
Duncan gave the doll before him a meaningful glance, and she returned it with a calm and serene gaze.
"Let's confirm once again, you completely don't remember where you came from, nor any of your past experiences, correct?"
"I don't remember," Alice answered seriously, "Ever since I can remember, I've always been lying inside this large box—although I don't know why, but it seems there were always a group of anxious people around me, they were afraid I would come out and used various methods to seal the box shut. Honestly, thinking back, I suddenly feel the circle of nails you hammered onto the lid of my box earlier was actually quite friendly... even though you later added eight cannonballs, at least you didn't pour lead inside, right?"
This time, Duncan didn't pay attention to Alice's nonsense talk, but continued to ask, "Then where does your name come from? Who gave you this name? If you have never left the box or had any contact with others, why do you have a name? Could it be that you named yourself?"
Alice suddenly froze.
She seemed to have truly fallen into confusion, her dazed state lasting for a good ten seconds, almost making Duncan worry whether dolls also had a "crash" setting, when the doll lady finally resumed activity: "I... don't remember, I have known myself as Alice from the start, but I wasn't the one who named myself, I..."
She mumbled to herself in bewilderment, her hands subconsciously supporting her head, making Duncan's eyelid twitch, prompting him to quickly stop her: "Alright, if you don't remember, then let it be, you don't need to tear your head off..."
Alice: "..."
After this, Duncan asked the doll lady many more questions, but unfortunately, most of them yielded no result.
Just as the doll lady herself had described, most of her conscious time was spent in a dim haze within that "sarcophagus," maintaining a state of alternating between deep sleep and semi-consciousness. She knew very little about the outside world; her only knowledge came from snippets of conversation she heard outside her sarcophagus in her semi-dreaming state, and these fragmented pieces of knowledge were nearly useless in helping Duncan piece together the outline of the world.
But even so, Duncan was not without some findings—from his conversation with Alice, he was able to confirm several things:
This world had a form of power structure known as "City-States." The word came up repeatedly in the doll lady's narrative, nearly encompassing the entirety of her journey, and her intended destination was a City-State called "Prand."
It seemed to be a prosperous place, as sailors mentioned in their discussions that it "holds an important position on many trade routes."
Secondly, Alice also had the designation "Anomaly 099," and this seemed to be some kind of "official" title in the civilized world. As for the name "Alice," which she referred to herself, so far, apart from her own and Duncan's knowledge, it seemed there was no third person who knew of it.
Lastly, Alice had been constantly transferred from one City-State to another, and it appeared she was not the only "anomaly" to undergo such transfers. During certain journeys, she had overheard those responsible for "escorting" her mentioning "other sealed compartments."
Duncan boldly conjectured that perhaps the very action of continually relocating "anomalies" was also a necessary tactic to maintain the seal and prevent their "escape."
And it was clear that the team responsible for transporting Anomaly 099 had run into serious misfortune—because of the sudden appearance of Homeloss, their "doll" had already escaped.
He just didn't know what made this strange Cursed Doll so frightening, and what havoc her escape might wreak.
After all... she seemed quite harmless while aboard Homeloss.
Frankly, Duncan was rather disappointed.
He had originally thought that he had finally found a source to help him understand this world, only to find that the guy lying in the coffin was just as clueless as he was.
Yet, when his gaze swept over Alice, who was still sitting quietly on the wooden box, his disappointment faded slightly.
At least, he now had someone on board the Homeloss to talk to—although she seemed to be a doll, although it was quite horrifying when her head fell off, although she surely had many more secrets, although she would occasionally spout some rubbish talk.
But she was certainly more normal than that noisy goat-head painting.
And speaking of weird dangers... this Endless Sea, this Homeloss, all the strange things on this ship, which of them looked safe?
Even from the perspective of others, it seemed like he, "Captain Duncan," might be the most dangerous entity on the Endless Sea.
Duncan sighed, and, without realizing it, his expression softened a little. With the demeanor of shooting the breeze, he asked, "I want to know what you would do if I threw you off the ship again?"
Alice blinked, "Are you going to pack me with cannonballs this time?"
"No."
"What about nailing nails into me?"
"Uh... no."
"Filling me with lead?"
"No... cough, I mean, if I refuse to let you stay on board..."
"Then I'll just row back," Alice said, sitting upright with an unruffled expression, "I don't want to be swallowed by this sea. At least your ship offers a place to land."
Duncan was so taken aback by the doll's forthrightness that he wasn't sure whether to call her honest or thick-skinned. After a long pause, he managed to say, "You could have phrased it more delicately…"
"Anyway, you already know the answer, don't you?" Alice smiled, "But if I were to come back, I might think of a way to hide somewhere in the ship so that you don't find me. I won't just run up to the deck so carelessly next time. I've been awake for only a short time, and I didn't think things through in my previous returns, but now I have experience..."
Duncan interrupted her, "My perception extends throughout the entire ship, and I can even pinpoint the position of every wave that hits the hull."
Alice's upcoming words were immediately stifled, "Ah..."
Duncan continued calmly, "And I could also choose to destroy you directly, using a more thorough method to stop you from pestering me and my Homeloss."
The doll lady apparently had not considered this possibility. She instinctively widened her eyes, and then there was a click near her neck...
The headless doll fumbled to catch her own head, began frantically pressing it back onto her neck, and Duncan couldn't help but sigh in an amused exasperation. Once Alice had her head back in place, he continued, "However, I've suddenly realized that having one more crew member on this ship might not be a bad thing—if you can behave yourself here, I can find a place for you."
"You should have said so earlier! You scared my head off!"
Duncan couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eyes, "So what exactly is going on with your neck?"
Alice looked innocent, "I don't know! I don't get many chances to 'come out and move around,' so how would I know why my body has this problem..."
Duncan silently observed Alice for a few seconds, then said earnestly, "It seems that lying in bed for a long time isn't good for the cervical spine."
Alice: "..."
Looking at the doll lady who was speechless, Duncan's mood suddenly improved a bit.
"Alright, anyway, the Homeloss has a new crew member—come with me, I'll find a place for you to rest."