“Todd, I don’t mean to blame you for not understanding Sutherland’s vision. But perhaps you could try to think about what the world will eventually become.”

Elijah's words silenced Todd.

Todd looked at the children running and playing outside the tent, then slowly sat down next to Elijah and said calmly, "You didn't bring me here just to say this, did you? Tell me, what is your purpose?"

Iliad rubbed his aching knees: "Bringing you here wasn't my idea."

Todd frowned. "Not you? It was Sutherland?"

Eliade: "If it weren't for the decision of the forefathers, I would never have brought anyone else here."

Todd pressed on, "Then why did Sutherland send me here?"

Elijah: "He didn't tell me why, he just said, 'Look here, and you'll understand.'"

Puzzled, Todd turned his gaze forward to the rolling mountains, the endless grasslands, and tents scattered everywhere.

Accompanied by a gentle and warm breeze, carefree children played and frolicked on the grass, while the elderly sat together, watching the cattle and sheep graze and chatting loudly about everyday life.

For Todd, it all felt so comfortable, and so...familiar.

Sitting on the sand, Todd completely relaxed, stretched out his legs, and let out a long sigh.

Elijah sat down next to Todd, and as he grew older, he slowly closed his eyes, and surprisingly, he began to snore.

Todd glanced helplessly at the old man, then turned his gaze to the scenery in front of him, slowly forgetting the passage of time.

Todd sat there until the sun set and the moon rose.

Iliad finally woke up, stretched, and said slowly, "I haven't slept this long in a long time."

The old man looked down and saw that a coat had slipped off his body.

Seeing Todd wearing only a single layer of clothing, Elijah picked up his coat, handed it back to him, and asked, "After watching for so long, have you figured anything out?"

Todd shook his head: "No, I still don't understand why Sutherland sent me here."

Iliad waved his hand, dismissing the aliens who had been guarding him. He stood up and walked back, saying, "If you don't understand, come a few more times... Next time you come, you won't need me to lead the way; they'll already know you."

Todd caught up with Elijah and said, "I want to see Sutherland."

Elijah shook his head and said, “Sutherland will not see you, at least not now, but I will pass on your request to him.”

Todd watched Illid's departing figure, his face grave, and remained silent.

Dusk in West City, at the trading post on Jiliu Island.

What was once a desolate island has now been fully developed.

All sorts of buildings were quickly constructed on the island, with shops and houses representing various industries such as commerce, handicrafts, warehousing, and services filling every corner of the island.

In the words of the residents of Muxi, "There is no place left on Jiliu Island to even put down a small apartment building."

Between Waiheke Island and Muxi Harbor, the marine tribes built numerous waterside structures, including the Merfolk's Coral Palace, the Shark Tribe's Great Reef, and the Flounder Tribe's Snail House, among others.

Due to the increasing number of marine races, Muxi City had to renovate its port. Muxi Port now only accommodates small barges and slow-moving cargo ships, while large ocean-going vessels are now docked at Jiliu Island Port, which has indirectly stimulated the island's secondary development.

"Golden Pearl" is a small tavern located next to the harbor on Waiheke Island.

The tavern wasn't big; the main hall and bar together had only about fifty seats at most.

However, this tavern is always fully booked, and reservations often need to be made more than a month in advance.

The reasons are twofold: firstly, the scantily clad and beautiful mermaid waitresses; and secondly, the fact that this tavern is the private property of Rita, the richest person in the ocean tribe. Everyone seeking wealth comes here to try their luck and obtain even the slightest possibility of cooperation.

Today, the Shark Clan Chief Yego, accompanied by several strong members of his clan, pushed aside the customers queuing at the tavern's entrance and walked straight into the Golden Bean Tavern under the watchful eyes of those who dared not speak out in anger.

He threw the two burlap sacks on the ground and shouted, "Deal!"

A mermaid maid, unfazed by anything unusual, swam in from the seawater channel at the end of the tavern.

Swimming to the sack, the maid disdainfully lifted a corner of it, glanced at the sack filled with minerals and corals, and said irritably, "We told you last time, if you want to trade, you have to come in through the back door. This is the entrance for customers!"

Yego scratched his dorsal fin nonchalantly: "Customer, let's drink!"

The maid rolled her eyes and directed the two mermaid men to push the burlap sack into the waterway and pull it to the back.

The maid turned her head and warned Yege, "A distinguished guest has arrived at the shop. If you don't want to be thrown out, you'd better be quiet!"

Yego shook his head angrily, his mouthful of sharp teeth particularly glaring: "We are guests! Who are we...?"

Upon seeing the people sitting at the tavern bar, Yego suddenly stopped yelling and stood there frozen.

Three Valkyries, clad in leather armor, carrying bows and swords, stood at the bar, looking down at the mermaid woman and speaking to her.

The other customers at the bar all slipped away, like quails in late autumn, hiding in the distance and not daring to speak.

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