Next page password is bold portion:
Translator: SumTLMan
“I don’t want to go; all the elemental creatures of the Marlaya Mountain are villains, it will surely kill me… I’m still a sprite, I haven’t grown up yet… I’m certain to become as handsome as my ancestor once I grow up, I can’t die before seeing that day…”
Dangros, with his face in the palm of his hand, buried it in the tear-shaped clasp of the Blood Night Sanctuary, screaming, sobbing, and not daring to look up until Angel spoke out his refusal, at which point it timidly revealed half an eye: “Huh?”
Troysa squinted threateningly: “Are you sure you want to refuse?”
Angel confidently said: “Yes.”
Angel’s refusal made Dangros breathe a sigh of relief, and his eyes sparkled with immense brightness towards Angel.
However, Troysa’s expression changed in an instant: “Since you refuse, then there’s no possibility to proceed further. Considering you were brought by Lobert, I can forgive you for intruding into the Mena Glacier, but now, you must turn around and leave immediately, not allowed to take another step forward.”
Troysa’s change of expression was anticipated by Angel. However, the fact that the other party did not directly start a conflict also indicated that there was still a chance for dialogue.
“We really don’t need to be at odds; I bear no malice towards Marlaya Mountain.” Angel paused: “Moreover, I came to seek Highness Frost for a very important matter, which concerns the future of the entire Tidal Realm. Are you sure you can overstep Highness Frost’s will and expel us?”
Troysa’s eyes flashed with disdain: “You think I would believe you just because you say so?”
Angel calmly stated, “Before this, I had already met with the monarchs of the Fire Domain, Wild Stone Wasteland, Toothpull Desert, and White Cloud Hamlet… If you don’t believe me, you can ask Lobert.”
As Angel confidently mentioned the names of several realm’s monarchs, Troysa began to waver in her certainty. Moreover, the presence of Dangros in Angel’s hands seemed to corroborate his statements.
After a moment of hesitation, Troysa turned her head and looked intently at Lobert.
Lobert immediately understood and said, “Yes, we came from the White Cloud Hamlet not long ago.”
To prove his point, Lobert even brought forward Cupid, introducing its identity.
The elemental creatures of Stormridge are distinctly different from those of White Cloud Hamlet, and Troysa could naturally sense this difference. After confirming Cupid’s elemental nature, she found herself believing Angel’s words a bit more.
However, she found it hard to retract her previous statements.
“Even if you have met with the monarchs of various lands, it still doesn’t prove that what you say will concern the future of the entire Tidal Realm,” Troysa said. “Unless you can prove it to me.”
Angel could see that Troysa was already somewhat convinced, and her persistence was more emotional than rational.
He wasn’t annoyed and said, “If you want proof, I can show it to you.”
With that, Angel turned his head, his gaze landing on Toby.
Though Angel didn’t speak, the years of companionship allowed Toby to immediately understand Angel’s intention.
Lazily preening his feathers, Toby leisurely stored his fluffy white dress, suited for icy lands, into the Snowy Feather. Then, under everyone’s gaze, he flew into the mid-air.
Troysa was puzzled by the behavior of the strange seabird when, in the next second, its eyes widened in shock.
Because Toby… had transformed into a gigantic flame griffin.
Intense sparks scattered from the enormous creature, burning large holes in the thin ice, clearly showing that the flames on the griffin were not an illusion.
Troysa, with ice-blue eyes filled with disbelief, watched Toby’s transformation into the flame griffin. “This… this is…”
Angel said, “Since you’ve heard of Dangros, I assume you’re not unfamiliar with its appearance?”
After Toby transformed into his griffin form, he looked exactly like Kalomaches, the former co-monarch of the Tidal Realm. Since Troysa recognized Dangros, she must also be aware of Kalomaches.
And to prove “the matter spoken is related to the future of the Tidal Realm,” unless Angel explicitly states his intentions, it remains a matter of personal conviction. Personal conviction relies on individual judgment standards, which are hard to define absolutely.
Angel’s prompting of Toby to display the flame griffin form was a hint to Troysa: this matter is related to Kalomaches.
Considering Kalomaches’s former position as co-monarch, Angel believed that Troysa would infer more than what was explicitly stated.
As long as Troysa made such inferences, then the matter was almost certainly assured.
Indeed, following Angel’s insinuations, Troysa made the connection to Kalomaches.
In the aftermath of the catastrophe, Kalomaches emerged as the sole monarch, reviving the Tidal Realm’s fragmented landscape with newfound vitality. It’s said that Kalomaches commands an unparalleled respect across every domain within the Tidal Realm, its esteem undiminished even within the Marlaya Mountain, a place notorious for its elemental incompatibility, where numerous water and ice elemental creatures hold it in high reverence.
Troysa is among those admirers.
Even though Kalomaches has perished, its influence persists, and now, a creature bearing an exact resemblance to it has appeared, potentially shaping the future of the entire Tidal Realm.
With this thought, Troysa’s conviction shifted entirely, perhaps believing that Angel’s visit to meet Highness Frost might indeed be as significant as he claimed, involving matters of great importance.
Even though Highness Frost had granted her the authority to handle foreign affairs, Troysa felt unqualified to deal with matters that could influence the future of the Tidal Realm as a whole.
Such significant issues, she believed, could only be personally addressed by Highness Frost.
Troysa cast a profound glance at Toby, who hovered in the air, displaying his majestic form, then turned to look at Angel:
“You have convinced me.”
With those words, Troysa gently waved her arm, and the ice surface, previously scorched by sparks from Toby, reformed and solidified, creating a thick ice path that stretched into the depths of the mist.
Undoubtedly, this path was Troysa’s way of demonstrating her concession.
However, Angel did not step onto this ice path but continued to look at Troysa.
“Did you not mention earlier that we could directly pass through the Mena Glacier to arrive at the doorstep of Highness Frost?”
Troysa’s torso remerged into the water column, leaving only her skull visible: “Are you trying to take a kilometer after being given a centimeter? I did say that, but only on the condition that you hand over Dangros to me.”
Troysa glanced at Dangros, who immediately shrank back and agilely hid behind Angel.
Angel: “How about we make a trade?”
“A trade?”
Angel: “I can offer you an opportunity, and in return, you need to transport us to the doorstep of the Frost Palace.”
“An opportunity? I don’t think you have anything worth my while.”
Angel smiled, pulling an object from his bracelet.
A strange yet familiar fluctuation emanated from the object in Angel’s hand.
Troysa looked over in surprise, noticing it was a mermaid figure cradling a tower-shaped conch. Despite its ordinary appearance, it inexplicably captivated her.
“Are you going to give it to me?”
Angel: “This object is called the Rhythm of the Ocean, and I do not own it, so I cannot give it to you. However, I can let you experience it.”
Troysa: “Is this the so-called opportunity you want to trade with me?”
Angel nodded: “If you’re willing, we can start now. If not, we’ll leave immediately.”
Troysa felt an irresistible attraction and after a long pause said, “Are you sure you want to trade with me? I must say, even without the aid of my glacier, reaching Highness’ palace wouldn’t be difficult for you, at most it would delay you a day or two.”
“I am sure,” Angel naturally knew that this trade now seemed more like a one-sided giveaway on his part, but some things can’t be simply calculated like that.
To his knowledge, Troysa is the only water elemental creature among the three great glacier dominions, meaning it is most attuned to the essence of Rhythm of the Ocean.
Once Troysa experiences the Rhythm of the Ocean, it will naturally understand that this trade is unequal, with it gaining the upper hand.
As the beneficiary, Troysa would naturally be inclined towards Angel.
This is actually based on a psychological compensation effect stemming from guilt.
Even though Angel has explicitly stated that this is a fair “trade,” this psychological compensation still exists. The other party would feel even more ashamed for taking advantage without offering compensation under the guise of a “trade.”
Of course, the above situation only applies to ordinary people who are not very cunning. For those who are scheming and wizards, a trade is a trade, settled once and for all, even if one side gains an advantage, they do not feel the need to compensate.
Angel was willing to make this attempt because he saw that, despite Troysa’s always high stance, its nature, like that of most elemental creatures, is a blank slate, susceptible to such simple psychological effects.
Even if Troysa does not feel guilty enough to offer psychological compensation, it doesn’t matter.
After all, initiating the Rhythm of the Ocean only costs him a negligible amount of energy.
In Angel’s view, spending a little bit of energy to save a day or two of travel time wasn’t a bad deal at all.
The complex twists and turns within Angel’s heart were unknown to Troysa, whose senses were currently captivated by the Rhythm of the Ocean. Therefore, after Angel nodded in agreement, Troysa did not feign modesty and immediately accepted the offer of the trade.
Without any hesitation, Angel activated the Rhythm of the Ocean, enveloping Troysa in a wonderful illusion.
Three minutes later, Troysa opened its eyes.
Compared to before, there was no significant change in Troysa’s appearance at first glance, but its eyes were now clearer and more penetrating than before. The turbulent aura of rage that had previously surrounded it had also become much calmer. However, this calmness did not signify a lack of life; instead, it meant that the surging waves were hidden in the deeper abyss.
It was difficult for outsiders to judge, but Troysa herself knew how much she had benefited from this exchange.
Although it was regrettable that she didn’t survive to the end in the world created by the Rhythm of the Ocean, her gains were sufficient to elevate her to heights she had never before imagined possible.
Given time, Troysa even felt that she could become a candidate for monarch.
Of course, that was just a feeling.
Yet even so, it was extremely astonishing.
Because Troysa knew how much she had benefited from this exchange, the look she gave Angel was noticeably less distant and more affectionate.
As Troysa continues to assimilate the opportunities brought by the Rhythm of the Ocean in the future, this sense of closeness is expected to grow day by day.
This is the outcome of the trade between Angel and Troysa, a long-term and progressively closer relationship.
And he expended only a slight bit of energy.
“Thank you, sir,” Troysa, restraining her excitement, nodded gently to Angel.
Angel had by then retracted the Rhythm of the Ocean, calmly telling Troysa, “This is merely a transaction.”
Troysa said nothing, but inwardly she thought: For her, this was an elevation and a baptism. Thus, it was more than just a transaction.
Angel could guess what Troysa was thinking, but he pretended not to know, still showing the façade of a “fair trade,” which made Troysa feel even more that she had gotten the better deal, with a sense of guilty compensation unconsciously accumulating.
Angel: “Now that the transaction is complete, then…”
Troysa quickly said, “I will take you to the palace of Highness Frost right now.”
With that, Troysa lightly tapped, and the ice surface directly cracked open, revealing the dark, bottomless ice river below.
In this ice river, a huge circular bubble appeared, into which Troysa gestured for Angel to enter.
Angel, indifferent, stepped in, and with a series of bubbling sounds, the bubble was propelled by a strong current at an incredible speed towards the dark depths of the ice river.
…
The journey beneath the ice river continued.
Despite the darkness all around and the occasional strange sound of water, Angel felt not a hint of fear; instead, he leisurely looked at the glowing… mermaid outside the bubble.
Yes, it indeed is a mermaid.
This is Troysa’s true form, an elemental creature in the form of a mermaid.
Compared to a normal upper body, its tail is exceptionally long, reaching over ten meters. The scales, white with a hint of blue, possess both the gentleness of water and the sharpness of ice.
Due to the nature of its tail, it can be said that this is the most streamlined and elegant mermaid form Angel has ever seen.
It’s probably only elemental creatures that can grow so freely; it’s hard to find a similar existence in reality.
After admiring for a moment, Angel turned to Troysa, who was ‘guarding’ next to the bubble, and said, “I’ve always had a doubt, and I wonder if you could clarify it for me?”
Troysa nodded without hesitation, even using a respectful title, “Please ask, sir.”
“I want to know, why are you interested in Dangros?”
Since Troysa recognizes Dangros, she naturally should understand the uniqueness of Dangros. Troysa couldn’t possibly harm it, especially since Dangros is an elemental sprite.
So, Angel was curious as to why Troysa would want Dangros?
Hearing the question related to itself, Dangros, although not daring to stick its head out to look at Troysa, pricked up its ears, wanting to hear her answer.
Troysa was silent for a moment before softly saying, “Because I greatly admire Highness Kalomaches.”
“Ever since I heard that a creature of fire named Dangros was born from the remains of Highness, I’ve always wanted to see Dangros,” said someone with a hint of anticipation in their voice.
Dangros pondered silently, “Want to see me? Could it be… admiration from afar?”
Troysa stated, “I want to see if it truly deserves to call itself the descendant of the Great Kalomaches.”
Angel asked, “Is that why you’re interested in Dangros?”
Troysa nodded affirmatively, “Yes.”
“And what’s your conclusion now? Do you think Dangros deserves to call itself a descendant of Kalomaches?” Angel inquired further.
Dangros, equally curious, stealthily extended his palm, attempting to catch a glimpse of Troysa’s reaction.
However, Troysa simply glanced at Dangros with a look of disdain and snorted contemptuously.
Although she didn’t answer directly, the answer was clear, given Dangros’s eyes had turned red with anger, the disdain was evident without words.