North x Northwest

Chapter 92

Even though Ed remained quiet, she read in his eyes something that appeared to be pain.

However, Ed served in the Navy. Hes also an imperial citizen No, witnessing a mermaid might change his mind as long as hes human or Im not sure if hed be motivated by greed or curiosity. He might even get the idea to hunt down the rest of the species.

Distrust rained down on Lil like a barrage of bullets.

I dont know anything about him, and Ive been wary of him since the beginning. I cant believe him

She repeated the same few sentences in her head over and over again, like gunfire hitting her brain.

I dont believe him I dont trust him I cant trust him

Lil began to be buried under the deafening noise in her head and cried out to him with a roar.

Help me!

But along with his unchanged expression, his sharp answer shot back like a dagger.

No.

Without hesitation, the door started to close, so Lil hurriedly shoved her arm through the gap. The door, which was closing so fast it produced a gust of wind, came to a halt just as it was about to crush her arm.

A harsh voice came from behind the door.

Normally, I wouldve said Im a competent doctor.

I know. So if you snap my arm in two, Im sure you can fix it.

But didnt you say you wont hurt me?

Didnt you say that was a lie?

Lil closed her eyes tightly.

Im going to have to listen to this. This is it

She wasnt that concerned about his nagging as it was something she had expected anyway. But, she now had something vital to say. Words that were waiting to be said from her mouth.

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Sorry, I was wrong.

After a moment of silence, Ed peeped open the door a bit, and his half-seen face asked sullenly.

Really?

Yes.

However, he sounded unenthusiastic. Lil knew she couldnt afford to be duped and stormed through the door. After Ed was hit on the forehead by the doors corner and he was forced to take a few steps back with a yell, Lil slammed the door shut as soon as she entered the room.

His cabin was as bright as how she saw it from the outside.

No, in fact, it seems brighter.

Feeling like that, Lil shrugged her shoulders and looked around his room. Despite the fact that there was only one lantern hanging on the wall, it was as brilliant as day, even the shades had no chance to appear. While checking behind her, Lil continued.

I dont have time to fool around. After hearing what Ive to say, dont ask questions. Im in the middle of a situation where I dont even know if youll be helpful or not.

Nonetheless, Ed strolled up to the bed and lay down. He grabbed the blanket, twisted around to face the wall, and made incomprehensible snoring noises.

Didnt he whine about the South being too hot? Then whats the deal with this blanket?

Lil rushed to Eds bed, removed his blanket, and hit him on the back of his head. Causing Ed to glance back at her and exclaim with an awful face that stretched his chin and philtrum.

Oh! That hurts!

I have a question for you.

Instead of answering, Ed grabbed the blanket that had fallen around his waist and rolled himself in it. Lils agony peaked when she realised she had to entrust the fate of an unique race to a man acting like a five-year-old. She crossed her arms and paced for a moment, glaring at his back that looked like a silkworm cocoon. She concluded that she had no other option as she already came all the way down here. So she had to bet her last money on a terrible hand and spoke in a weak voice.

Its said that the Mother of All Things was originally a god named Orsay, so is a mermaid also a child of Orsay?

Ed wriggled and tightened his grip on the blanket even more. He then spoke in a murmuring voice.

Why are you asking that all of a sudden? Have you seen a mermaid?..

Yes.

..!

His wriggling abruptly stopped and he looked back at her over his shoulder.

So get up, we need to hurry. Theres a mermaid.

What?

We only have about 30 minutes left. We have to release it.

What are you talking about?

The Marian is carrying a living mermaid.

Ed, who had completely turned to face her, raised his upper body sporting an expression that was far from what she had expected. He didnt widen his eyes as if he couldnt believe it, he didnt laugh at her, he didnt say it was all nonsense, he didnt tremble in fear, and he didnt get excited with curiosity.

Instead, his face hardened fiercely.

You mean they captured a mermaid?

Why do you look like that?

Lil paused and chewed her lower lip.

Yes, theres no going back now.

Beating around the bush would be a waste of their time as they needed to get it out as soon as possible. However, she found the situation rather difficult to explain, so Lil began to speak in a gibberish way.

Its in a huge tank, and its its very deep Its chained and can rise to the surface for a while with the power of its tail, but it sinks quickly. Well, but if its shipped to the Empire, Im sure

Did you see it yourself?

Yeah, but its hostility was pretty evident, it tried to kill me no matter what I did. Its extremely afraid, probably thinking all human beings are there to attack it. I want to free it, but I dont know what to do. I got the key to open its chackle from Jacques Poussin, but he cant come up with a way to release it. You know the myth. Do you know anything else? Like when does it sleep? A weakness?

So youre telling me that theres a tank on that medium-sized sailing ship that isnt even a fishing boat? Was this capture planned?

The Duke of Mireille ordered it.

Who else knows?

The Marians crew, but on our side, its only Cesar and me.

Ed got out of bed and rummaged through the bag next to him as Lils gaze followed his back. Ed continued while intently looking for something in his bag.

Orsay hid the mermaids in a place where the wind lays down. I wonder how a small merchant ship managed to reach and escape that windless region.

Lil opened her mouth wide.

Jacques Poussin did say the mermaid was captured from the windless zone, and it took them several weeks to get out of the area.

She wasnt sure at first, but apparently, it was true.

How did you

I can see the Captains face even if I dont look. Why are you so surprised? Didnt you come here for this?

Uh, yes right? Yes, but

Lil couldnt shake the feeling of being a fool, so she quickly slapped herself on the cheek. She had to be resolute. She couldnt show her bewildered side in front of Ed, so it was time for her to come to her senses.

Youre going to help me, right?

Why would I?

Then what are you doing?

What are you trying to take out of that bag?

Lil moved to his side with hesitant steps and looked over Eds shoulder. As he pulled out his head, she could see a little inside his dark bag, but she couldnt tell what he was looking for. For no apparent reason, Lil grabbed her gun.

If Ed takes out a weapon, I must shoot immediately. I dont think he will, but I cant help but be prepared just in case. If the Duke was looking for a new race, anyone in Sesbron could have a similar idea. Judging from the precedents of the Western Continent, beautiful rare species were a luxury that had no comparison. This could be a huge incentive.

Another possibility arose in her mind.

Ed could be anyones pawn Im sorry I dont have enough time to sort things out logically, Ill have to defend myself first.

The water tank must be dark, right?

Lil answered with a startled heart.

Thats right

Youre going to need something to light it up.

But fire wont reach the bottom of the tank.

I know.

Ed turned around and held out a cloth-wrapped object in front of Lil.

Maybe this is what he was looking for.

Eds gaze fell on the gun handle held by Lil, but she didnt notice as she focused on the object. Her eyebrows raised unknowingly.

Whats that?

Ed unwrapped the cloth without saying a word. Dumbfounded, Lil took a step back when she saw the spherical, elongated item that was shimmering weakly with a light shed never seen before. It was roughly the size of a palm and therefore could be handled with one hand. The item appeared green, yet its radiance was pure white as if it were illuminated by stars.

Lils eyes widened in surprise at the exquisite hue. Because the colour of fire was yellowish, humans always associate light with the colour yellow instead of white. Even though this was also unrealistic experience for Lil, she abruptly came to her senses after foolishly wondering if the dream shed been dreaming since seeing the mermaid had not ended yet.