The Final Odyssey, the fantastical journey of a cat boy

We have all your favorite science fiction genres. Welcome to visit our site.

"Huh? You mean that guy is a special envoy from the Duchy of Fayun?" Hearing Ange say this, Alicia couldn't help but speak up, "If you hadn't said so, I would have thought that guy was a new breed of dairy cow brought in for display at a dairy farm."

"That's right, that's right..." Shana and Meru quickly nodded in agreement, and even Sachi, who rarely expressed her opinion, started nodding as well. The subtle atmosphere of anger emanating from all parts of the venue also proved this point.

"Ah, while I do think this lady could make a greater contribution to the world from the dairy farm. However, she is currently the new special envoy of Fayun—and this raises a question," Ange said.

"Logically speaking, such a person should not be appointed as the special envoy of Fayun," Fish said in a low voice. Back when they first met, Ange had already emphasized to him that the Grand Duchy of Fayun valued bloodlines very much because they were descendants of the earliest rebels and shared the same surname "Lindenhild" as the royal family.

Although there are no restrictions on the identities of the technical officials who are actually in charge of the specific work, in the Duchy of Fayun, the vast majority of the most symbolic positions are held by high-ranking nobles who are "pure-blooded" and have platinum fox ears and tails.

For example, special envoys and other diplomatic representatives are such "significantly symbolic" positions.

"The special envoy theoretically represents the Duchy of Fayun, and it is unusual for someone like him to be appointed—this has nothing to do with personal ability," said Mint, who is also a nobleman of Fayun.

"So, you're saying your envoys don't consider ability?" Shana asked. "Isn't that a bit too much?"

"In fact, there is no major problem. Those who are truly capable can nominally serve as deputies or counselors to handle practical matters such as negotiations and treaty negotiations for the special envoy. The special envoy only needs to appear on ceremonial occasions... This practice has been the usual practice in Fayun for hundreds of years."

“That’s why, even though Fayun is now under the de facto control of the Regency Council formed by those coup plotters, appointing such an envoy is too strange,” Ange said. “More importantly, I had absolutely no way of finding out the identity of this cow… oh no, Miss Katerina. Reports from intelligence agents within Fayun state that she was only appointed as a ‘government advisor’ by the Regency Council four months ago. She was not a noblewoman before, nor did she have any experience in holding a low-level administrative position or running for parliament.”

"Actually, we know nothing about her, where she used to live, or what she did for a living," Mint added. "Her past information is basically zero, just like... just like that Dr. Iskander Lomonosov who also appeared out of nowhere."

"And this strange person, whose origins are unknown and whose past is completely unclear, was appointed as a 'government advisor' without any specific management duties. Two months later, he was appointed as a special envoy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be in charge of this diplomatic affair," Ange stared at the sweet wine in her glass. "This is unprecedented in the diplomatic history of the Duchy of Fayun."

"It seems things are getting more interesting." Fish looked at the envoy who was speaking, while trying to avoid looking at the other's chest—after all, if he stared there for too long, the perceptive Xiaoxing and Shuangye would cast angry glances at him. "If we have time in the future, perhaps we should study this envoy carefully to see what secrets he may have."

"But now is not the time," Ange glanced at Luca with a slightly provocative look, while at the same time, the cow lady began her speech slowly in a voice as sweet as condensed milk, "Remember what our primary task is today."

"Don't worry, I've never messed up a request from anyone before." Luca glared back with the same sharp look. "Just watch me."

Then, she quickly drank the golden liquid in the glass in one gulp... and began to foam at the mouth and convulse violently as if she had been electrocuted.

"ah!"

"Uh-huh-huh-huh!"

"Someone's been poisoned!"

"Don't drink alcohol! Absolutely don't drink alcohol!"

This book is first published on 111k.com, providing you with a reading experience without errors or disordered chapters.

As Luca collapsed to the ground in convulsions, a series of shrill screams erupted around them. Some people turned pale with fright and huddled together, while others, disregarding all decorum, dropped their glasses and bottles, even spitting out their drinks indiscriminately, fearing that the other drinks in the room had also been poisoned. Of course, Fish and his group, as planned, also feigned panic and immediately surrounded the convulsing Luca.

Two minutes later, two doctors on duty in the Coral Palace ran over, gave Luca a brief examination, and then began questioning Angel, who was nominally her "attendant": "Miss, does Miss Iluvisca have any history of allergies?"

"Oh dear, yes!" Anjie said, "My young lady is allergic to... uh... bone-setting fruit juice!"

"Tsk, bring me that bottle right now!" another doctor called out. Soon, a waiter brought over a bottle, and the doctor held it up to his eyes, adjusting his thick glasses and looking at the label.

"Sure enough, this wine contains elderberry juice!" After examining it for a while, the doctor said, "I'm sorry, elderberry is rare in Oasis Harbor, and wines containing elderberry juice are also uncommon. I'm afraid the organizers overlooked this point, and I sincerely apologize for that."

"Yes, Miss Iluviska's symptoms are likely epilepsy triggered by neurological dysfunction caused by allergies—she should rest well for a while and take anti-allergy medication; she'll be fine in a few hours," another doctor said, pulling out a small notebook and beginning to write down prescriptions and treatment suggestions. Of course, like his counterparts from the old civilization, this fellow's handwriting was a wild, flamboyant cursive style. "Please take this to the infirmary to get the medication, and then let her rest."

"I understand," Xiaoxing took the book that was enough to make any textual expert's brain cells burn out, then helped up the still convulsing Luca and left the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for Miss Iluvisca's absence."

"Phew...I see..." Upon hearing that it was just an allergic reaction and not poisoning, the guests, who had been terrified just moments before, immediately regained their composure. Several maids quickly entered the room and began cleaning up the bottles and glasses that had been overturned in the chaos, using sponges to absorb the spilled wine from the carpet.

Amidst the chaos, Xiaoxing, with the help of two maids, led Luca to the infirmary located on the basement floor of the Coral Palace... and was then forgotten by the people who were eager to cover up their earlier blunder.

"Not bad, not bad, you guys put on a good show just now." After Xiaoxing and Luca left, Huangyan commented in the encrypted communication channel, "Especially Miss Luca's acting skills. Cola Novels, making reading always a chapter faster."

“That wasn’t acting; she really did have a mild epileptic seizure,” Fish explained quietly. “On the coral reef near Oasis Harbor lives a mutated type of ray. The venomous barb on their tails can secrete neurotoxins. Luca added this toxin to her homemade herbs, diluted it fifty times, and created a drug that could temporarily induce epileptic symptoms.”

"And then, she just applied this drug to the wine glass? No wonder..."

"In that case, the doctor can't find anything wrong during the examination and can only diagnose it as epilepsy—because that's the case. Even if someone investigates the fruit wine containing elderberry juice afterward, they won't find anything abnormal," Fish explained. "This trick was originally something she used to prank people she didn't like in bars, but it also worked on her."

"Then, I think this medicine should be safe, right?"

"Indeed, the symptoms will subside on their own after a few minutes, and there's no danger whatsoever," Fish said. "I've seen several unlucky guys get pranked like this in bars before."

"And in this way, they have a perfect alibi: a person who is 'incapacitated' by epilepsy in full view of everyone can't possibly have anything to do with the document theft that will happen later at the embassy of the Principality of Fayun," Huang Yan commented. "The whole plan is imaginative and audacious... Not bad, not bad. I'm starting to like this Miss Luca."

"Our main task later is to try to draw attention and provide cover for them." Ange sat down again, calmly observing the dairy cow envoy who had resumed his speech. Although there had been a commotion earlier, the dairy cow seemed unconcerned, continuing to recite the same boring platitudes about "friendly relations between the two countries," "glorious past," and "strengthening trade for mutual benefit" in her sticky, cloying tone. Fortunately, because the man's voice was captivating enough, even with the clichéd content, most people in the hall still listened intently.

However, what truly captured Fish and his group's attention were the latter part of the speech.

"...Ladies and gentlemen, although Oasis Harbor has been a happy, beautiful, and prosperous port until now, enjoying leisurely times in the eternally mild summers, in this era, change and unexpected events are always present," after spending more than ten minutes rambling, the envoy suddenly changed the subject, "While we miss the peaceful and beautiful times, if we are to turn our attention to the future, we must be prepared to break certain taboos of the past."

While most of those present continued to let the words go in one ear and out the other, their eyes glued to the envoy's chest and admiring her sweet voice, automatically filtering out the actual content of her words, some people's expressions began to change.

After all, phrases like "breaking taboos" are rarely used in speeches at friendly social gatherings.

"Those are the guardians lurking within the Dark Isle."

Upon hearing the keyword "Dark Island," most of the people present finally came to their senses—after all, the main purpose of the special envoys from the Duchy of Fayun's visit to Oasis Harbor was, aside from the less important "good neighborliness" (although the two countries are not very close) and the renewal of some relatively minor trade terms, to acquire that strange black island.

Of course, the island was practically useless to the people of Oasis Harbor, serving only as a lighthouse and observation post. Urban legends even circulated in the city about a "curse" afflicting Deep Dark Island. However, this didn't mean people would ignore the Fayun people's attempt to purchase the island: in fact, precisely because of its eeriness and uselessness, the people of Oasis Harbor were extremely curious about the Fayun Principality's motives for buying it.

To date, Fayun has never released any information on this matter... until now.

"Yes, you may have heard the story: more than a century ago, the first people to arrive at Oasis Harbor were a group of fishermen who were caught in a storm. Their boat was damaged, their masts broke, and they were forced to drift. Due to the cruel twist of fate, these unfortunate people were far from any inhabited place and eventually arrived near the atoll that would later be known as Oasis Harbor."

"Uh...this..." A murmur rippled through the hall. Indeed, the story the envoy had just told was one everyone had heard—though it was considered a baseless myth. It was said that the first group of fishermen to arrive at Oasis Harbor discovered, in addition to vast ruins of an ancient civilization, "things that resembled humans but were not."

The true nature of these "human-like but not human" creatures is long lost to history. In any case, when the hungry and exhausted fishermen landed on the island and began to explore, these creatures suddenly appeared among the ruins and attacked. Most of the fishermen were caught off guard and were quickly killed by these beings. After that, the survivors scattered and fled, some escaping onto the last relatively intact fishing boat and rowing away from the atoll's coast towards the nearest landmass, now known as the "Deep Dark Island."

However, to their horror, those "human-like but not human" creatures also jumped into the sea and chased after them! Even more terrifying, these monsters were swimming faster than the boat!

However, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Just when the fishermen were terrified and thought they had no chance of escape, their boat docked at Deep Dark Island. On the island, they discovered an ancient device that resembled an altar and knelt down to pray. Then, a group of "angels" suddenly emerged from the depths of the island and annihilated the "human-like but not human" creature in one fell swoop.

Legend has it that the descendants of the fishermen became the earliest inhabitants of Oasis Harbor, and those "things that are neither human nor non-human" have been guarding the port ever since, to this day. However, as time has passed, almost everyone has come to regard this story of the "guardians" as a mere myth, and almost no adult would believe it to be true.

"Yes, I know you think this story is just a fantasy of old fishermen who make a living in the wind and waves year after year because of their monotonous and dangerous lives. But that's not the case," the envoy said. "That's precisely why we intend to buy Deep Dark Island."