[Vol. 7] Chapter 14: Good Kids, Don’t Try This at Home
“Princess Nitila… it really has been a long time.”
Violet said the words, but in truth, she had already sensed the young princess’s presence long before their meeting.
When she first returned to this world and scanned the surrounding seas, her spiritual awareness had briefly caught sight of Nitila. Though she had withdrawn her SP scan immediately to avoid startling anyone, that fleeting glimpse was enough to confirm it. There was intelligent life here.
The Mingjiao Trribe was the ruling family of the vast Merfolk race, their numbers as rare as the White-Feathered Winged people. Seeing so many Mingjiao merfolk gathered in one place, including the recently rescued princess, made one thing clear. This must be one of their major strongholds.
With that in mind, Violet had chosen to come here in search of sea charts. The Merfolk civilization might be more scattered and not as vast as the Azure Sky Kingdom, but as the ruling family, the Mingjiao tribes would undoubtedly have valuable information to offer.
That said, Violet didn’t actually have a close connection with this little princess.
Or at least, from Nitila’s perspective, she shouldn't.
After all, when Violet had saved her life back in [Demon Suppression City], she had done so under the alias "Dawn", not as Violet. In reality, the two had only briefly met afterward.
Yet here she was, showing up on the very first night of Violet’s arrival.
Was it just a coincidence? Or was there another reason?
“No need to be so formal! It’s rare to run into a familiar face from land, so just call me Nitila~”
Compared to a year ago, the little princess looked much healthier. Smiling, she waved at the Sea Priestess beside her.
“For the upcoming discussions, I’ll be handling everything on behalf of Her Majesty and negotiating directly with Miss Violet. Sister Silisa, you’ve worked hard, go rest for now.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Apparently unbothered by leaving the young princess alone with an outsider, the Sea Priestess bowed respectfully, then let the flowing waters carry her back into the lake. In moments, she had disappeared beneath the surface.
Violet watched Silisa depart, then turned back. Only to find Princess Nitila gazing at her once more, her gem-like eyes filled with amusement as she smiled.
She really does seem happy, almost like she might jump up and hug her at any moment.
…Was she imagining things?
“Miss Violet, you’ve been gone for over half a year without a single message! So many people have been searching for you, and now, out of nowhere, you suddenly appear on the islands of the Emerald Sea? I was completely shocked when I heard the news~”
The way Nitila spoke so casually, as if they were close friends, caught Violet off guard. She wasn’t quite sure how to respond, so she could only offer an awkward smile.
“Haha… I ran into some unexpected situations and had to leave for a while. I just got back here myself.”
Nitila nodded knowingly.
“I see… well, given your abilities, I imagine you carry burdens that most people can’t even begin to understand. But don’t overwork yourself, alright?”
For some reason, Nitila comforted her with a few warm words before quickly shifting the conversation, as if she didn’t want Violet to dwell on the awkward atmosphere.
“Alright then, let’s talk about our upcoming collaboration.”
The moment they got down to business, the princess’s demeanor became composed and dignified, befitting of her royal status. She spoke seriously.
“Sister Silisa has likely already explained the situation regarding the Emerald Sea and the crisis our Merfolk race is facing.”
“With the appearance of the Eastern Calamity, the battlefield situation has taken a turn for the worse. However, the [Ghost Ship] hasn’t fully engaged in battle yet. Right now, what’s causing the greatest casualties isn’t the ship itself. But rather a mysterious power it seems to have given the Ghosts.”
“This power isn’t like conventional mind-affecting magic. It’s something far more sinister, a form of spiritual corruption. It’s invisible, intangible, yet its effects are undeniable. It spreads slowly when our warriors come into contact with the Ghosts, gradually eroding their will. Over time, it clings to them, and if left unchecked, it could eventually drive them completely mad.”
“That’s why, we need something that can counteract this spiritual corruption.”
Nitila glanced at Violet, who had slightly furrowed her brows at the mention of “spiritual corruption,” seemingly deep in thought. Seeing that Violet didn’t respond immediately, Nitila continued.
“From what I’ve heard, Miss Violet, you returned with a large ship, one said to rival the [Sea Sovereign] ship, and you brought along a sizable crew and cargo, correct? I looked through the trade manifest and noticed that you seem to have several rare materials that can help calm the mind and resist mental interference…”
At this point, Violet had pretty much figured out what the princess was getting at.
“Oh… so the Merfolk want to buy more of these materials?”
After all, most of these goods were controlled by Ming Lan and a few other Spirit Veil Tribe members. The merchants in the fleet could only sell a small amount freely, enough for personal use, but if they wanted to supply a major settlement like Eastern Sea Pearl, home to millions, the amount they had wouldn’t even make a dent.
Nitila didn’t hesitate and nodded immediately.
“That’s right. These materials are exactly what we need most right now. We’ve already confirmed that they’re highly effective against spiritual corruption, but up until now, they could only be bought on land, where the prices are outrageous and the supply is extremely limited. Even if we were willing to spend a fortune, there just isn’t enough to go around…”
At this, the princess let out a small sigh of frustration.
“Miss Violet, I’m sure you know, because of the Ghost Sea and the [Great Whirlpool], combined with how far we are from land, the Emerald Sea is practically a sealed-off world. We don’t have frequent contact with the outside world.”
“With the way things are now, buying large quantities of those rare materials is nearly impossible. But your fleet showing up? It’s like a miracle. If we can get at least some from you, even if it’s not enough to supply the entire front line, it’ll still greatly relieve the urgent crisis we’re facing.”
“So? What do you think? Consider it, please~ Ah, and don’t worry about the price! We’ll pay market rate, or even higher if needed! As long as it’s not completely outrageous, the Merfolk will buy as much as you can provide!”
“…It’s not really about the price.”
Violet watched as the princess looked at her with hopeful, expectant eyes, but deep down, she felt a bit puzzled.
She could already guess which materials Nitila was talking about. They were mostly crystals and minerals that came from Ancient Spirit Realm, places filled with pure spiritual energy.
These materials absorbed immense amounts of refined spiritual power as they formed. The unique energy of the Ancient Spirit Realm was known for purifying impurities and calming the mind, a pure and nourishing force of nature. It was no surprise that such energy could even turn lifeless objects into spirit beasts and elemental creatures.
These materials were considered valuable in the Ancient Spirit Realm, but they weren’t exactly legendary treasures. However, in a world without spiritual energy, they naturally became highly sought-after and sold for an incredible price.
This was exactly the kind of business strategy the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild excelled at.
Violet had never been too concerned with money, and since she wasn’t taking a loss or giving things away for free, offering a favorable deal wasn’t a big deal to her.
What truly puzzled her was Nitila’s attitude during this negotiation. Even if the Merfolk were in desperate need of these materials, as a princess, she didn’t need to speak in such a humble manner or even sound like she was pleading for help.
It almost felt like she already owed Violet a huge favor, and now that she needed help again, she was feeling awkward and apologetic about it.
Violet didn’t fully understand why, but it wasn’t something that had to be figured out right now. After a brief moment of thought, she nodded slightly.
“Alright, I’ll agree to it. Give me a name, and I’ll have my people gather all the materials we have. As for the price… since you’re buying in bulk, how about 20% off market price? Does that sound good?”
“Huh?! You’re even giving me a discount?! That’s amazing! Thank you so much, Miss Violet!!!”
Seeing the princess literally spin around in excitement, Violet felt a little awkward and quietly turned her head away.
Even with a 20% discount, it’s still selling for more than ten times the market price in the Ancient Spirit Realm…
A monopoly really is insanely profitable. No wonder people have such a love-hate relationship with it.
“Ah… right, Miss Violet.”
Nitila, still clearly thrilled, took a deep breath to calm herself. Then, as if remembering something important, she looked at Violet again, her expression turning serious.
“I have one more request. I’d like to personally commission you for something. Not as the royal palace of the Eastern Sea Pearl, but as a personal favor from me.”
“You can name your price, anything I have is on the table. Would you consider it?”
“…What is it that’s so important?”
“......”
The princess lowered her gaze slightly. The clear, gem-like eyes that had been bright with excitement just moments ago now held a shadow of deep worry.
“I’d like to ask for your help in investigating the true reason behind the disappearance of my father… the chieftain of the Mingjiao Tribe, Willipol Mingjiao.”