"Chief, the Ice Mermaid's corpse has disappeared again."
Maggie stayed in the mermaid settlement with nothing to do, but after she got up, she overheard the mermaid guards' report.
She paused, looking toward the source of the sound, where she saw the merman clan chief, whom Xiu called grandfather, frowning with a serious expression.
"Still haven't found the reason?"
His aged voice carried the authority characteristic of someone in a superior position, a stark contrast to his amiable manner when he received Maggie and the others yesterday.
"Chieftain, even though we've been watching them day and night, we still haven't figured out how they disappeared."
The mermaid guard had a bitter face, as if he really had no idea what to do.
After a moment's thought, Maggie turned and walked in their direction.
Seemingly having spotted Maggie, the chieftain's expression softened considerably, and he regained his amiable demeanor, as if what he had just said was nothing of importance.
"Xiu should be awake by now. Would you like to go out and play for a while?"
Like the kind old man next door, he makes you want to get close to him. He speaks with a cheerful smile, and his kindness and peace are so serene.
"No, I heard what you were saying."
Maggie shook her head. Logically, she should avoid discussing matters within the mermaid race, but her intuition told her that there was something about the ice mermaid that bothered her.
Perhaps it's not just a matter concerning the merfolk.
Upon hearing Maggie's words, the chieftain's gentle expression softened, and his gaze towards Maggie took on a different emotion.
"I'd like to help. If you don't mind, can we guard together next time?"
Maggie knew she had been somewhat offensive, but she had her own ideas. If the merfolk were truly wary of her involvement, she would find another way.
It's just more convenient this way, and you don't have to act secretly.
If she conducts her investigation furtively, it will only arouse their suspicion. It's better to openly and honestly reveal her thoughts.
"You want to participate too?"
The chieftain seemed somewhat surprised, never expecting Maggie to say that, and asked a question with slight hesitation.
"Well, I'm a little worried about the Ice Merfolk's motives. Besides Xiu, I also have my own reasons."
"The Ice Merfolk might be related to what I've been investigating."
Maggie's statement was rather vague and general, but that makes it more believable.
If you go into too much detail, it will seem like you're deliberately making things up to scare people. It's a basic rule of adult society to keep some things to yourself.
Everyone was understanding of each other.
As expected, the clan chief's scrutinizing gaze softened somewhat, but he still didn't really want Maggie to get involved.
After all, Maggie looks quite young, and frankly, she doesn't seem very reliable.
He may have believed Maggie's story, but he wouldn't have believed in her experience and competence.
This is not discrimination; it is the experience that the elderly have accumulated over countless years.
“You are Xiu’s friend and a guest of the Merfolk. I shouldn’t make you do this. If you really want to know something, you can ask me directly and I will tell you.”
The chieftain's tone was polite, and it seemed he didn't want to put Maggie in a difficult position.
Maggie twitched the corner of her mouth. She could sense that the clan leader must have treated Xiu quite well, otherwise he wouldn't have tolerated her offense and said something like, "You can ask me directly."
But she still wanted to keep trying.
Before she could even speak, Xiu's slightly lazy voice suddenly came from behind her.
"Grandpa, let her go, she... is very capable."
For reasons unknown, Xiu actually praised Maggie, but when he said the second half of the sentence, he paused for a moment for no apparent reason.
When this reached Maggie's ears, it was truly an outrageous story.
Although she and Xiu had worked together, Xiu had never really praised her much. Today, however, the kind-hearted mermaid...
Maggie turned to look at Xiu, and her eyes met his slightly complicated gaze. But a second later, Xiu looked away.
Those fleeting emotions vanished in an instant. Maggie saw them, but didn't understand them, as Xiu concealed them.
The clan chief, who had been watching the two exchange glances, suddenly realized what was happening and changed the subject.
"Sigh, never mind, Grandpa is just worried about your safety. Since Xiu has already spoken, it would be unreasonable for this old man to stop him."
As he spoke, he shook his head and sighed, comparing himself to an old man, which made Maggie feel a little uncomfortable.
I'm not used to such a rapid change in mood.
But it's good that it's successful, even though it's thanks to Xiu who spoke up for her.
In the time that followed, the chieftain quietly left with the mermaid guards, without giving Maggie a chance to say goodbye.
Only Maggie and Xiu remained in the same spot.
"You...thank you for just now."
When Maggie came to her senses, she realized that only she and Xiu were left. It would be impolite of her not to thank him.
"It's alright, you have your reasons for doing things. If... you really discover something, would you mind sharing it with the merfolk?"
Xiu knew that Maggie's knowledge far exceeded everyone's imagination, and if it was something she actively wanted to get involved in, it must be something quite serious.
Moreover, the Ice Mermaid Clan's affairs have troubled the entire Mermaid Clan for a long time. If Maggie can find a solution, wouldn't that be a good thing?
"I don't mind at all. It was my choice to get involved. It's already problematic for humans to interfere in the internal affairs of other races, especially since my status is different."
"To put it bluntly, that would be the Temple of Light interfering in the internal affairs of a race. It's good enough that they haven't charged me with anything yet."
Maggie only dared to speak like that because of Xiu's status.
If Xiu and the clan leader hadn't acted so intimately, she wouldn't have dared to participate so rashly; she would definitely have taken a roundabout approach.
"It's not that serious. The next attack by the ice mermaids shouldn't be too far off. If you want to do something, do it as soon as possible."
Xiu's words were also a reminder to Maggie that their chances were running out.
The clan chief might not interfere too much once or twice out of respect for Xiu, but if there are no results and the merfolk continue to be disturbed in their self-defense, then the problem will become much bigger.
"Of course, I know."
Maggie nodded in agreement.
She understood Xiu's reasoning, of course. Now all she had to do was wait for the Ice Merfolk to attack again, and Maggie could verify some things.
The aura was both familiar and strange, leaving Maggie unsure of its origin.
But if you could get up close, or... open those ice sculptures that the ice mermaids turned into after they died, you might get unexpected results.
Maggie's idea was perfectly natural, without the slightest fear.
Since coming into this world, she has become accustomed to corpses. She would not be afraid of smashing an ice sculpture or dissecting a living one.
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