Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 247: 'Revisiting an Old Place”

Chapter 247 “Revisiting an Old Place”

The clear chime of the bell accompanied the opening of the door as the afternoon sun poured into the ancient shop that’s brimming with an assortment of dolls. The elf shopkeeper, attentively adjusting a doll’s frame behind the counter, heard the sound, glanced up, and saw a tall, black-haired man with an eyepatch entering her estate.

The elderly elf woman appeared puzzled by the “customer,” who didn’t seem to be there for doll shopping. However, after a brief moment of confusion, she greeted him with a smile, unaware that the towering, one-eyed man before her was the same boy who had purchased something from her shop alongside his sister a century ago: “Ah, welcome to Rose Doll House, feel free to browse.”

Pausing briefly, she casually remarked, “We don’t often see customers like you.”

Tyrian’s gaze slowly swept over the environment.

Assorted dolls, aged shelves, ornately carved stairs, the warm and tranquil ambiance, and the smiling elderly woman.

Faded shards of memories gradually assembled, creating a familiar scene that melded with the current view. It was only natural that the elf shopkeeper wouldn’t recognize him – he had changed significantly since a century ago with a hardened appearance from pillaging the frigid sea.

Tyrian subtly altered his expression, attempting to soften his features. He’s aware of the intimidating aura he exuded, which made ordinary people uneasy merely by being in his presence.

“I’d like to ask about something,” Tyrian didn’t know if he had successfully modified his expression. He had lost the ability to remember how a typical person should behave and speak when entering a store, “Have you ever sold a doll named ‘Nilu’ here?”

After a moment’s thought, he added, “A one-third scale doll, about this tall – adorned with a classical court style and an exquisite dress.”

The elf shopkeeper hesitated before replying uncertainly, those eyes glimmering with bewilderment: “Yes... we did have such a doll. It had been in the store for many years before someone bought it not too long ago. But why do you ask?”

“What kind of person purchased it?” Tyrian felt his pulse quicken. He hadn’t anticipated finding a lead so effortlessly and that his father had actually procured the doll from the shop so openly, “When did this occur?”

The elderly shopkeeper, taken aback by Tyrian’s overly enthusiastic response, grew even more cautious, “I apologize, but I cannot divulge information about our customers. It’s a rule of doing business.”

Tyrian was momentarily taken aback, not anticipating this answer. He quickly considered his options, hesitating for a few seconds before seemingly making a decision, “You don’t recognize me, do you?”

“Recognize...?” The elderly shopkeeper furrowed her brow, scrutinizing the unfamiliar human before her with confusion, “I don’t remember serving a customer like you – most people who come to buy dolls from my shop are women, young men selecting gifts for their partners, or fathers choosing presents for their daughters.”

“Oh, it was a middle-aged man around your height... perhaps even a bit shorter, and quite thin, as if he wasn’t in good health,” the old woman didn’t hesitate this time and spoke, “But I don’t think you’ll be able to find him; there are so many people in Pland. Were you planning to reclaim the other doll you couldn’t buy for your sister back then? Ah, that’s such a shame, if only you had come earlier... Wait a minute, I just realized, how did you know someone bought ‘Nilu’?”

Tyrian didn’t answer her question but frowned involuntarily.

Someone shorter than him, thin, and in poor health... It couldn’t be his father.

Could it be... one of his father’s subordinates?!

After regaining his humanity and reason, had he already started recruiting new subordinates? What was his goal? To rebuild the Vanished fleet?!

Tyrian pondered many things for a moment, only coming back to his senses when the elderly elf woman called his name twice. Then he thought of something and immediately inquired, “Besides purchasing the doll, did the customer say anything else? Did he take anything else?”

“He said... We just had a normal conversation,” the elderly shopkeeper recalled, “He seemed like a customer who genuinely loved dolls, and he was very concerned about the dolls’ repair and maintenance. He learned a lot from me; oh, that’s right, he also bought a wig and matching hair accessories, seemingly for his own doll.”

Tyrian’s expression froze, “...A wig? What kind of wig?”

“A golden, long, straight hair, life-sized wig, I remember it quite well,” the shopkeeper said, and suddenly thought of something else, “Oh, I have a similar one here; you can take a look.”

As she spoke, she turned around and went to search through the storage room under the stairs.

Tyrian wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but he didn’t have time, and at that moment, another peculiar knocking sounded from nearby, capturing his attention.

It sounded like someone tapping on a window from outside.

Tyrian looked puzzled and turned his head towards the source of the sound, finding a beautiful woman with waist-length blonde hair standing outside the window, gently rapping on the glass.

The admiral didn’t react at first, but when he saw the woman’s face clearly, he instantly froze in place as if struck by lightning.

The woman’s appearance... was identical to that of the Frost Queen, Ray Nora, from half a century ago!