[Vol. 7] Chapter 25: A Sticky Situation
As soon as those words were spoken, the two women behind the priestess, especially Miss Le Qiaoqiao, visibly let out a sigh of relief.
After all, this was a clear and official statement from Her Majesty the Queen, meaning they were unlikely to be blamed any further.
'She’s quite a smart leader,' the priestess thought to herself. 'No wonder she was able to lead her people through such a crisis and chaos.'
While making this silent evaluation, she sat down gracefully, neither too humble nor too arrogant, and gave a slight nod.
"We truly appreciate Your Majesty’s trust. May I ask how you would like to cooperate with us in more detail?"
Anies pondered for a moment.
"Before we discuss that, there's something we need to confirm first. Miss Violet, can you fully, or at least to some extent, represent the stance of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild?"
'Oh? So she has quite the ambition...'
The black-haired girl spread her hands slightly.
"Well… to be honest, I’m not exactly a formal member of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild. I just have a bit of influence and some say in its affairs. If it’s a major partnership, I can’t make the final call. But if it’s just minor trades like selling some unimportant materials like before, that’s no problem."
Her response didn’t really answer the question, but it skillfully tossed the topic back to the other party, making it clear that she expected them to state their position first.
"I suppose that makes sense..."
Seeing that the priestess was carefully guarding her words, Her Majesty no longer pressed the issue. She nodded and waved her hand toward those around her.
"Everyone except Valda and Silisa, leave us."
Since it was a direct order from the Queen, the soldiers and attendants standing guard didn’t dare to question it. They quickly bowed and exited the audience chamber in an orderly manner, leaving only Violet and her two companions, along with three high-ranking merfolk officials.
After dismissing the unrelated personnel, the Queen maintained her composed demeanor. After a brief moment of contemplation, she continued explaining to the seated young women.
"You’ve been on the island for some time now, Miss Violet, so I assume you’ve gained some understanding of the Eastern Sea Pearl Archipelago… Our Emerald Sea is a relatively closed-off, self-sustaining kingdom."
"The [Ghost Sea] and the [Great Whirlpool] serve as natural barriers, shielding these waters. Apart from the occasional pirate disturbances, we rarely have to worry about external threats or invasions. This is an advantage, but it is also our greatest weakness."
"When Nitila was taken by poachers, the harsh environment of our sea and the limitations of warfare prevented us from sending sufficient forces to rescue her. We had no way of even tracking her whereabouts. That was the first time I felt powerless… and realized an undeniable truth, the [Ghost Sea] is not just our shield. It is also a massive prison that confines us."
"As a great race, the merfolk are scattered across the world's waters, yet we are disorganized and lack the unity seen in the Winged, Beastfolk, or Human tribe. At its core, this is because we, as the royal family, have been far too isolated."
"Now, with the Ghost Ship reappearing and leading those [Deep Sea Ghost] back into our waters, we find ourselves fighting alone once again. This has made me realize, more than ever, the importance of opening up and establishing connections with the outside world."
"The Spirit Veil Merchant Guild is one of the most powerful financial and resource organizations in the world. Not only does it have branches spread across many regions, but it also possesses incredible unity, efficiency, and an extensive intelligence network capable of acquiring treasures from across the world. What you have is precisely what our merfolk kingdom needs most right now."
"If possible, I would like to form an alliance between the merfolk and the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild. We seek your assistance in carrying out a large-scale operation, or if you prefer, you can consider this a business deal."
"Of course, we will offer compensation befitting such a request, and in return, we will stand as your unwavering allies, providing full support for your endeavors. Perhaps this all sounds a bit vague, but surely, Miss Violet, you’ve heard about our reputation?"
"The merfolk are not a race that makes empty promises. We may not be as dominant as the Winged or Human tribes, but our influence, especially over the seas, is undeniable. A partnership with us can only benefit the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, wouldn’t you agree?"
After stating her stance and intentions in one go, Queen Anies finally paused, her sincere and searching gaze falling directly on the black-haired girl, who was clearly the spokesperson for the group. Seeing that Violet did not immediately respond or ask about the so-called "large-scale operation," the queen took the initiative to nod and continue.
"This is an important matter, and of course, you can’t decide right away. That’s fine. Miss Violet, take your time to consider or discuss it with your companions after you return. But please don’t take too long, our time is limited."
"In addition, to show our sincerity in this collaboration and to track Nitila’s whereabouts, I have prepared something for you all to see."
Anies turned to the priestess beside her.
"Silisa, is everything ready?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They are already waiting in the inner chamber, but… are you sure you want to—"
The queen waved her hand. Though her aura did not seem as strong as Silisa Hailyn’s, that simple gesture was enough to make the Sea Priestess fall silent, not daring to press further.
"After everything that has happened, do you really think I can just stand by and watch? Nitila is not only my daughter but also the future hope of the entire merfolk race. I trust her judgment, and I trust my own. There's no need to say more, lead the way."
"Understood… Miss Violet, please follow me."
The Sea Priestess stepped down from the platform, leading the way toward the back of the audience chamber, accompanied by Anies and the girl with six tear-shaped markings on her face. Naturally, the priestess and her group followed.
Violet had already more or less guessed what Anies wanted to show them.
The inner chamber behind the audience hall was an enormous space, almost as vast as a stadium. Armed merfolk soldiers stood guard at the edges, keeping a close watch over everything. Inside, several figures moved quickly. Merfolk with long, sharp, fin-like tails and their entire faces hidden beneath wide, hood-like coverings similar to woven hats. They hurried back and forth, tending to and transporting what seemed to be patients lying on seaweed mats.
The moment they entered the room, Le Qiaoqiao wrinkled her nose and murmured curiously.
"Boss, boss… the air here feels really strange to me. It’s… thick? Sticky?"
Before Violet could respond to her question, Queen Anies had already turned around and stopped in her tracks. The attendants stepped forward, offering the same type of sealed long hats. The queen casually took one and put it on, as did Silisa and the merfolk girl named Valda.
"What you see before you are our warriors who have just been withdrawn from the front lines. They have been in contact with the [Deep Sea Ghost] for too long and have fallen into a state of madness. These dozen or so individuals are the most severe cases."
"The ‘contamination’ they suffered is so intense that they have become new sources of infection. Their bodies now release an eerie substance that can’t be seen or physically felt, but it subtly disrupts the minds of living beings. That strange sticky sensation you mentioned, Miss Le Qiaoqiao, that’s where it’s coming from. It seems your perception is quite sharp."
"Ah? Haha… Y-Your Majesty, you’re giving me too much credit. My master always called me 'dog nose' instead…"
Anies chuckled and handed an identical long hat to Violet.
"These hats aren’t meant to filter the air but to help keep the mind clear and reduce the effects of mental contamination. I suggest all three of you wear them. This kind of ‘contamination’ can be hard to guard against."
"This is my first time seeing a protective device like this~"
After briefly examining the structure of the specialized hat, especially the thin, flexible strips inside that fit against the brain, Violet quickly understood its mechanism. No wonder Nitila had been so eager to buy materials from the Ancient Spirit Realm. So this was what they were being used for.
At its core, this was just a simple protective device, similar to wearing a mask during a plague. It provided some protection, but if the "contamination" was too strong, it would be far from enough.
Still… was this "mental contamination" the same kind of force she had been thinking about?