Chapter 367: Chapter 366 Appearance
"Kissed you once?" Li Ang frowned. "That’s it?"
"What else could there be?!" Peter clutched his head, on the verge of collapse. "You don’t understand what that feels like—sinking alone into the vast, pitch-black depths of the sea, surrounded only by monstrous, hideous Mermaids! She flicked her long, fluorescent green tail fin and hovered motionless. Her slanted eyes, set on either side of her head, watched you silently with a greedy, bloodthirsty gaze as she reached out to drag you into the bottomless abyss. You tried to cry for help, but above the sea raged a fierce Gale and furious waves. The giant cruise ship, claimed to be unsinkable and absolutely secure, was merely a skiff in the undulating waves. No one could hear your cries for help..."
Perhaps the experience was too haunting; even Peter, the Governor’s son, forgot that in the current Rune Kingdom, it was absolutely unacceptable to call other beings "monstrous and hideous." Instead, one was expected to say their "appearance and aesthetic differ from modern societal norms, possessing a unique, distinguished temperament, style, and image."
Fortunately, no one present cared about this detail, not even the Governor’s wife, who was the head of the Mori City Anti-Discrimination Association.
Peter rambled on, his expression growing increasingly horrified. Li Ang leaned forward, his voice low and serious as he said, "Don’t panic. You’re in Mori City now, and you are safe. We are here; nothing can harm you."
Perhaps reassured by Li Ang’s words, Peter reached through the mosquito net, grabbed the water glass on the nightstand, and guzzled it down. He took a moment to catch his breath before continuing, "When I woke up, I found myself lying on the sandy beach of a deserted island, with a rescue boat approaching from the horizon."
"Didn’t see the Mermaid?"
"No." Peter shook his head. "Before I was rescued, I took a specific look at that stretch of beach. It was littered only with hard, sharp gravel and black rocks, as well as tree branches and various kinds of man-made trash washed up by the ocean currents. No trace of any mermaid slime was found."
"I see..." Li Ang nodded, flipping through the documents in his hands, showing no further emotion.
This world does have tales of Mermaids, mainly circulating among ocean-going sailors and in the Mysterious Studies Texts of secret societies. There are no physical specimens, nor has there been official confirmation; they remain mere legends.
Mermaids, or Sirens, are mystical creatures with the appearance of half-human, half-fish. They are frequently spotted on island reefs or circling ships sailing the open ocean. All reported sightings describe them as female. They possess heavenly voices and enchanting appearances, often luring sailors with their singing in the fog. This causes ships to wreck and sink, and the Mermaids then eat those who fall into the water. Some sailors claim to have escaped the Mermaids’ maws, but further investigation reveals these individuals to be, without exception, boasting fools or alcoholics spouting drunken nonsense.
Li Ang continued to sift through the files, not looking up as he said, "Mr. Peter, what you’re describing seems somewhat different from previous sighting records..."
"You don’t believe me." Peter’s face darkened.
Li Ang smiled. "It’s not that I don’t believe you. But did the Mermaid *just* kiss you and nothing more? Didn’t she engage in, um, more intimate acts? If the spying eyes on the ship originated from that Mermaid, one who adores your looks and saved your life in a dire moment, then it’s very easy for two people who shared adversity in a maritime disaster to spark some sort of romantic Sparks..."
"Ugh—" Peter retched at the thought, quickly covering his mouth. He said angrily, "When I woke up the next day, my clothes were only wet, with no signs of disarray. Also, I don’t think that... that creature is a normal admirer. After I returned to the Rune Kingdom, I could still feel that bone-chilling, maggot-like surveillance."
"Oh?" Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "It never stopped?"
"No." Peter shook his head. "No matter where I went, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. Even in my own home, in this tall tower, I can often feel it."
Now this is interesting. Li Ang rubbed his chin, intrigued. The Governor of Mori City, who was, in fact, the former city lord, not only possessed high social standing but could also command considerable mystical power. Within this mansion, at least five Spellcasters lay in wait, three of whom were no less powerful than Dorothy, the Forest Witch. A contingent of Spellcasters of this magnitude could easily dispatch a bloodthirsty and brutal Two-headed Chimera, let alone a single Mermaid.
Li Ang tapped the end of his fountain pen against a book, murmuring to himself, "Mermaids move through water, right? The nearest river is almost a kilometer from here. Small canals and ponds have been searched multiple times, fenced off with iron bars, and patrolled. This private chamber is also guarded inside and out. Logically, this shouldn’t be happening..."
Upon hearing Li Ang’s words, Peter’s expression became a mixture of anger at being disbelieved and helpless despair. He whispered, "So... you also think I’m mad, don’t you? Maybe I *am* just that lucky—swept off the ship by the waves and drifted all the way to an island. The Mermaid, the feeling of being watched... it’s all just a figment of my imagination. I belong in a mental institution..."
Seeing her son so disheartened, the Governor’s wife’s heart ached. She subconsciously wanted to run over and embrace him, but her husband promptly grabbed her wrist.
The Governor, who had maintained an aloof demeanor, keenly sensed that this Eastern Monk didn’t seem to consider the matter very serious. Either this Monk was a fool who didn’t understand the gravity of the situation and disregarded the Governor’s authority, or he was genuinely confident he could resolve the issue.
"Anyway, I’ve roughly understood what happened. You can rest easy tonight. My disciples and I will wait and keep watch outside this room." Li Ang put away his pen and paper with a SNAP. He stood up from his chair, smiling at Peter. "With some luck, we might just see the true face of the Mermaid tonight."