[Vol. 7] Chapter 37: The Past and the Future
As it turned out, while the idea of entering the Azure Sea Whale seemed terrifying at first, the reality was far less unsettling.
Despite being a massive sea beast, this creature was naturally equipped to transport living beings safely. Its throat split into two separate passageways.
One leading to its stomach for digestion, and another that opened into a spacious chamber, almost like a secure storage room. The whale could control these passages at will, ensuring that no one accidentally got swallowed. It was an impressive and somewhat fascinating ability.
The interior was much larger than anyone had expected, spanning thousands of square meters. The walls, composed of the whale’s internal tissue, weren’t the slimy, blood-red surfaces one might imagine. Instead, they were dry and firm, resembling its outer skin with a tough, iron-gray texture.
It was clear that Rashid had lived here for quite some time. The space was furnished with various everyday items, stacks of supplies, food reserves, books, and even small magical devices for entertainment. Hanging from the ceiling were magic lamps, casting a bright, steady glow that dispelled any eerie feelings about being inside a colossal creature. Instead of fear, the place had a strangely comfortable atmosphere.
“Welcome aboard my [Sea Sovereign]! Haha, it’s a bit cramped, so I hope you don’t mind making yourselves at home.”
Rashid joked lightheartedly before shifting to a more serious tone.
“We’re now moving through the depths of the sea and have officially entered the [Ghost Sea]. Our destination is the island where Princess Nitila is located. With Ahei’s speed, the journey will take a few more hours. Feel free to rest and recover your strength in the meantime.”
"Remember, in the [Ghost Sea], your mind will constantly be assaulted by strange and twisted information. Even with protective measures, there’s no way to fully resist it. That’s why you must stay in top condition. Listen less, look less, think less. Follow orders exactly, and you’ll have a better chance of not suddenly losing your sanity."
Seeing that the Queen, who had personally joined the mission, nodded in acknowledgment, Rashid watched as Alex and the others distributed the specially prepared equipment to their soldiers. The so-called Pirate King looked somewhat satisfied. But beneath that, there was an almost imperceptible trace of unease.
The crisis facing the Emerald Sea was far worse than it appeared on the surface. Rashid knew that neither he nor the Azure Sea Whale alone had the power to resolve it. That was why, years ago, he had traveled to [Eastern Sea Pearl], hoping to gain the support of the ruling Merfolk Kingdom.
However, King Willipol had refused him. Worse still, the king had taken an extreme approach, making radical decisions that ultimately led to his own daughter's entanglement in this dangerous power struggle.
To be honest, Rashid didn’t see Willipol as a competent ruler. The risks of his actions were far too great. So reckless that it seemed almost irresponsible toward his own people.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Rashid glanced at Violet, who was casually observing her surroundings with her companions, showing not even a hint of tension or concern.
She and her group had appeared completely out of the blue, disrupting all of his plans and expectations. If the rumors about her were true, if she really was a central figure in the “Grand Alliance”. Then perhaps, just maybe, she could change the course of this entire situation.
With that thought, Rashid made up his mind.
"Miss Violet, would you be interested in a private conversation?"
"Hmm? A chat? You better have a good reason for inviting a beautiful girl to a secret talk~"
The black-haired girl turned around, but her expression wasn’t one of surprise or shock. Instead, she wore a half-smile, as if to say, “Oh, finally made up your mind? I’ve been waiting for so long.” It seemed like she was fully in control of the situation, as if everything was going according to her plan.
This...
After a moment of stunned silence, Rashid only felt more helpless and oddly reassured.
She was exactly as described.
The realization made him lower his head slightly, adopting the same intellectual and courteous demeanor he had when they first met. With a smile, he responded politely.
“Of course, it’s a topic of great value. I’ve heard that Miss Violet has always been interested in information about the ancient gods. So, how about learning about the two gods who once ruled the seas, and the hidden secrets buried deep within this oceanic region... Would you be interested in hearing more?”
………………………………
“I’ve arrived...”
Nitila exhaled a quiet breath, staring at the entrance to the room ahead of her. It looked strangely familiar yet completely different. Her heart raced with a mix of relief and anxiety.
Behind this door lay the answers and the goal she had been searching for. Proof that everything she had learned from the book, and the absurd truths it contained, were indeed real.
Pushing aside her thoughts, the mermaid girl carefully opened the weathered door, which was in much better condition than the previous ones they had passed, though it was still worn down. She stepped inside.
The room was empty, which didn’t surprise her. She walked over to the center of the room, where a pool had long been decaying and accumulating foul water. She searched around for a moment before pulling out a sharp stone shard she had found earlier and had been holding tightly in her hand. With a firm motion, she jammed it into a crack in the floor.
"Whoooosh..."
The filthy, rancid water in the pool quickly drained away as the mechanism was triggered. But Nitila didn’t rush in. Instead, she turned toward a nearby broken shelf, where she found a nondescript, rusty metal sculpture. She gave it a few strong twists.
"Creeeak..."
The sharp, grating sound of metal echoed through the room like the mournful caw of a crow. Due to prolonged exposure to seawater, the rust had weakened the mechanism, and the girl found it difficult to turn, but she persisted until the faint click of a lock unlocking sounded from the bottom of the pool.
"Phew... luckily it didn't break. This was just a chance investigation, and I didn’t expect to find use for it so quickly. If it weren’t for Miss Le Qiaoqiao, I might have had to rely on the [Book of Truth] again..."
With a sigh, Nitila muttered to herself. She jumped into the pool, pushing aside the tightly sealed stone door, which had begun to slightly crack open, and stepped inside.
The hidden passage had been designed with waterproofing in mind, so it hadn’t been overly damaged by seawater. Though it showed signs of age, the space still retained its original appearance, much like the one the princess had seen not long ago.
As Nitila walked through the short tunnel and reached the final chamber, the dim glow of a magically powered light, which barely functioned despite having been repaired, illuminated the room. And there, standing in the center, was the figure she had longed to see. But now felt strange and foreign.
Her voice, which should have been filled with joy and excitement, trembled.
"Father, is that you...?"
The decayed body, now wrapped in strange, eerie tendrils resembling fine muscle fibers and bones, turned toward her. Despite the grotesque form, the eyes, the only thing left unchanged, shone with a mixture of affection and a deep, unsettling glow, like something from the depths of the ocean.
"Nitila, my child... you’ve come."
"Now, let’s complete the final step together and free... the future of this sea."