[Vol. 7] Chapter 11: Secrets of the Crescent Moon
On the night they landed on [Palut Island], one of the outer islands of the Eastern Sea Pearl, Violet took along a group of crew members.
These were mostly newly assigned personnel and key figures from Spirit Veil Immortal Island, sent to support the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild in the Origin Realm. Not only had they been carefully selected, but they also carried a large supply of goods exclusive to Ancient Spirit Realm.
For merchants, the most profitable business always involves exclusive products. Due to the vast differences between Ancient Spirit Realm and the Origin Realm, many resources, such as herbs, minerals, and crafted materials nurtured purely by spiritual energy, were impossible to find here. These goods, completely monopolized by the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, could fetch sky-high prices without issue.
Of course, staying on someone else’s territory meant they had to build a good relationship with their hosts. Though the [Emerald Sea] was enclosed by the [Ghost Sea] and the [Great Whirlpool], the entire maritime region was vast, comparable in size to any of the five great nations on Origin Realm, and wasn’t completely cut off from outside trade.
By offering the merfolk a "friendly discount", selling these rare goods at two to three percent below market profit but still several times higher than their original price in the Ancient Spirit Realm, they could easily win their goodwill and gratitude.
So, despite the tense atmosphere that morning, by nightfall, [Palut Island] had thrown a grand celebration to welcome Violet and her merchant crew. The merfolk were full of warmth, drinking and bonding with them as if they were long-lost brothers.
A true win-win situation… probably?
Well, that wasn’t important. Ahem. For the record, this whole idea was Ming Lan’s, not Violet’s.
As the actual leader of the group, Violet found the situation somewhat troublesome, but she couldn’t just disappear and play hard to get on their very first night there. So, accepting the invitation from Priestess of the Sea Silisa, she joined the banquet.
It wasn’t until the moon hung high in the sky, when the night had fallen silent and the guests had dispersed, that Alex arranged for the merchant crew to settle into the temporary lodgings prepared by the merfolk.
Naturally, overseeing all these arrangements was Ming Lan’s job. Violet may have brought the merchant crew along, but she wasn’t about to handle every little detail. Once they returned to the mainland, she would hand them over to the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, and that would be the end of her involvement.
Meanwhile, Le Qiaoqiao had gotten completely wasted on the merfolk’s homemade Sea Spirit Brew, and Hongyan was currently taking care of her. Enjoying this rare moment of peace, Violet wasn’t in a hurry to rest. Instead, she made her way alone to the lakeshore at the island’s center.
Beneath the long-unseen glow of the crescent moon, she took out the silver key that Hen had entrusted Kong to pass on to her.
"This place has quite a nice atmosphere…"
The cool, silvery glow of the moon bathed the [Key of the Three Moons], faintly illuminating the intricate yet seemingly meaningless patterns on its surface. After a moment of thought, Violet took out another identical key she had obtained in the Human United Kingdom. Raising both keys, she held them up toward the three moons hanging in the night sky.
But nothing happened.
Just as [Information Detection] had described, even with a second key in hand, the result remained the same, [One of the “Keys of the Three Moons”, used to open a door. Its power can only be activated when all keys are gathered].
The puzzle was still incomplete.
If there were indeed three keys, corresponding to the three moons of the Origin Realm’s night sky, then obtaining the last [Key of the Three Moons] would likely be even more difficult than the first two.
After all, among the three moons, only the largest and unchanging full moon represented the Main God, Luna, the Moon Goddess. The other two, smaller moons waxed and waned with the seasons and were far dimmer and less significant.
Since the two keys she had so far looked identical, it was reasonable to assume that the last one must correspond to the main moon’s key.
"But… opening a door… what does that really mean?"
"Miss Violet, do you enjoy gazing at the moon?"
A gentle, melodic voice suddenly sounded beside her. Without surprise, the priestess casually put the two keys away and turned to see who had approached.
She replied in an even tone.
"I wouldn’t say it’s a hobby. I just find it mysterious. Look at it, always hanging high in the sky, unreachable for mere mortals."
"The sun’s light is blinding, so intense that one cannot stare at it directly, like a god beyond reach. But the moon… it seems to deliberately cast a soft, inviting glow, as if luring us to gaze upon it, to chase after it. Aren’t we always drawn to the unknown in the same way?"
"That’s quite a unique perspective," the woman beside her mused, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You seem to have an exceptional curiosity for the unknown, Miss Violet. But you should also be aware… mystery often comes hand in hand with danger, doesn’t it?"
Her long, sea-blue hair shimmered like flowing water, carrying an air of enigmatic beauty. Standing beside Violet, she lifted her gaze toward the three moons above.
Her voice was ethereal, drifting like waves from the deep sea. Calm, mesmerizing, yet carrying an indescribable allure.
Just like the silver moon hanging in the night sky.
"Speaking of the Three Moons, there is actually an old legend about them that has been passed down among us Sea Priests. Would you like to hear it, Miss Violet?"
"Uh… you're not talking about those rumors, are you? The ones about the Moon Goddess Luna and how she chooses her partner?"
However, Silisa simply shook her head with a helpless smile, her clear, lake-blue eyes carrying a hint of amusement.
"Of course not. The people of the sea worship the goddess [Vier]. We long for the thrill of conquering the waves, for strength and adventure. Why would we concern ourselves with the romantic affairs of a deity unrelated to us? What I’m referring to is a secret tale about the Three Moons."
As she gazed at the moonlit sky, for a fleeting moment, something dark and obscure seemed to flicker in the depths of the Sea Priestess’s crystal-clear eyes.
"[Do not make eye contact with the moon]. Violet, have you ever heard this phrase?"
"Do not… make eye contact with the moon?"
The black-haired girl looked up again at the three flawless moons shining in the sky, curiosity flickering in her expression.
"To be honest, that sounds pretty strange. Is this supposed to be some kind of occult knowledge? I’ve never heard of it before… But aren’t we already looking at the moon right now? Nothing unusual is happening. And if the moon was truly something we shouldn’t look at, wouldn’t there be countless stories warning people about it by now?"
The shadow in Silisa’s gaze vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Turning back to Violet, she gave her a gentle smile.
"The logic of the occult can’t always be understood through conventional reasoning. But this is just an old rumor I’ve heard. As for its true meaning or the mysteries hidden in the heavens, those are things far beyond the understanding of a mere Sea Priestess like me."
She brushed off the topic lightly and then spoke in a soft tone.
"But let’s set that aside. I actually came to find you because I wanted to have an open and honest conversation. The day passed quickly, and since I don't know much about you, we haven’t had the chance to discuss many things yet."
"If you and your crew wish to pass through the [Ghost Sea] and reach the outside world as soon as possible, what I’m about to tell you might be of great help."
Violet didn’t seem surprised by Silisa’s words. Instead, she responded with a calm, knowing smile.
"It sounds like you’re proposing a partnership?"