Coral Cetus was secretly pleased. ’After all, my Mysticeti Tribe has strength in numbers. Are we really supposed to be afraid of a mere three...’

Her expression froze the moment Nix turned around.

Nix’s figure was long and well-defined, his silhouette sharp against the halo of light. His purple hair cascaded down, a faint fragrance drifting on the air. There was a seductive air about him, but the most breathtaking sight was the dazzling Nine-star pattern on his forehead.

’The Nine-star Extreme Realm was the pinnacle of power on the Beastman Continent. Even the Great Fish Clan, hegemons of the sea, had few experts at that level. We just arrived on the mainland, and we can just randomly bump into one on the side of the road?’

Coral Cetus thought she must be seeing things. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

Just then, Lachlan, who had been lying quietly on the ground, slowly rose. He gently nuzzled his head against the hem of Evangeline’s clothes and said softly, "Eva, get on. It’s time to go."

Coral Cetus’s pupils shrank. The Snow Leopard Beastman’s forehead was also unexpectedly flashing with a Seven-star Pattern.

The corner of her mouth twitched uncontrollably.

’This time, my Mysticeti Tribe has brought many precious underwater goods to trade. We even made a point of bringing along a Seven-Star Pattern Warrior. But who would have thought that powerful individuals with Seven-star Patterns were so common on the mainland!’

’And there was even a Nine-star Extreme Realm expert!’

Coral Cetus’s eyes darted around as she secretly plotted how to back out of traveling with these three. But just then, she heard the bewitching female say, "Alright, let’s set off then."

Coral Cetus felt a headache coming on. Meanwhile, Evangeline, now seated on Lachlan’s back, turned and saw the fidgeting female. A smile touched her red lips, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Could it be that the Great Fish Clan, hegemons of the sea, is afraid to travel with the three of us?"

Evangeline’s drawn-out tone was like a little hook, laced with a hint of doubt.

As if provoked, Coral Cetus shot to her feet, her pink hair flying. With hands on her hips, she retorted, "How is that possible?! We of the Great Fish Clan are the hegemons of the sea! Our power is immense. Why would we be afraid of you?"

She shot Evangeline a fierce glare and declared huffily, "Fine, we’ll go! Who’s afraid of who? Let’s move out!"

The group resumed their journey toward the Tribal Trading Assembly.

"By the way." Evangeline’s voice was soft, but Lachlan had already slowed his pace. She turned her head to look at Coral Cetus. "I haven’t asked for your name yet. Are all Tideborn females as beautiful as you?"

Coral Cetus was not one for worldly pleasantries. The casual compliment made the tips of her ears turn red and her gaze wander. She huffed lightly, shooting Evangeline a sidelong glance. "I... My name is Coral Cetus!"

Seeing her react this way, Evangeline chuckled softly. ’The Tideborn are all surprisingly naive.’

A gust of wind swept past, lifting a few strands of hair at her temples and making her involuntarily think of Danton.

’He was also this quick to trust others. A few sweet nothings had been enough to lure him ashore.’

Coral Cetus noticed Evangeline’s smile suddenly vanish, her expression turning distant. She couldn’t help but tilt her head.

"Hey!" she called out, her tone characteristically blunt. "What are you thinking about? How could you just zone out like that? I told you my name, but you still haven’t told me yours!"

Evangeline snapped back to the present and looked at Coral Cetus, a faint smile on her lips. "Flora."

"Flora?" A complicated expression crossed Coral Cetus’s face; she thought the name sounded a bit plain.

She coughed lightly, her curious gaze sweeping over Lachlan and Nix. "Those two... are they both your mates?"

The corner of Evangeline’s lips curled. Her fingertips affectionately grazed past Lachlan’s ear, giving the reddening tip a gentle pinch. With a smile in her eyes, she said, "Yes, they’re both my beloved partners. What about you? Did you bring a mate of your own ashore?"

At the mention of this, Coral Cetus’s eyes instantly brightened. She turned and pulled over a male who was carrying a basket on his back.

Evangeline’s gaze swept over him, her eyes narrowing slightly. He was handsome, with sharp brows and bright eyes, but his features weren’t coarse or severe. Instead, he possessed a gentle air that was rare for a male.

He stopped beside Coral Cetus, a lingering tenderness still in his eyes.

Coral Cetus linked her arm with his, resting her cheek on his shoulder. Her earlier fiery demeanor instantly melted away, replaced by a tender compliance. Her eyes shimmered as she gazed up at him, looking utterly smitten and delicate.

Her voice was filled with pride. "His name is Stellan! He’s my favorite mate! And he’s from the Mer Clan!"

At the words "the Mer Clan," Lachlan’s grayish-brown eyes froze for a moment.

He turned his head to glance at Stellan. He saw a gentle, flowing aura about the other male that was surprisingly similar to Danton’s—an air as hazy and indifferent as sea fog.

"...The Mer Clan. They’re a rare sight indeed." Evangeline retracted her gaze, her fingertips gently stroking Lachlan’s fur.

Hearing this, Coral Cetus’s eyes crinkled in a wide smile, and she hugged Stellan’s arm even tighter. "Of course they’re rare! Even in our Deep Sea Tribe, the Mer Clan seldom forms a Contract with outsiders!"

She gazed up at Stellan, her eyes shimmering with joyous light. "Hehe, but I was just that lucky! I managed to snag this treasure and get Stellan to fall for me! It must be a fate bestowed by the Beast God!"

Evangeline quietly watched the perfect couple before her, the corners of her lips twitching slightly.

’Life is truly unpredictable.’

’The original owner of this body and Coral Cetus both formed a Contract with a member of the Mer Clan. Yet, one cherished her partner as a treasure, while the other cast hers aside like a worn-out shoe.’

Stellan’s eyes flickered, sharply catching the briefest strange look on Evangeline’s face.

He narrowed his eyes and glanced at her, then said to Coral Cetus impassively, "It’s getting late. We should hurry so we aren’t delayed for the Tribal Trading Assembly."

A dark glint flashed in Stellan’s eyes.

’Tideborn Beastmen didn’t come ashore often, but it wasn’t unheard of. But this female was stunningly beautiful and accompanied by two powerful Beast Husbands. For her to insist on traveling with them was just too strange. He refused to believe she didn’t have a hidden motive.’

"Okay! Whatever you say!" Coral Cetus nodded emphatically and urged her party to pick up the pace.

The corners of Evangeline’s eyes lifted slightly. ’This Stellan is certainly more perceptive than Coral Cetus.’

’However, now that the Mer Clan has been brought up, how could I possibly miss this chance to gather information?’

She gracefully raised her eyes to Stellan, her red lips curling. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Rhea. I wonder how she’s been lately?"

Coral Cetus froze, her pink hair swaying gently as she stared at Evangeline in astonishment. "You know Rhea?"

The air around Stellan instantly grew frigid. As he looked at Evangeline, his eyes filled with a chilling light. "So, this was your goal in approaching us? To pry information about Rhea out of us? How do you even know her?"

Evangeline lazily lifted her eyelids, a half-smile playing on her lips. ""Pry?""

Her gaze shifted, her tone laced with mockery. "Rhea and I are old acquaintances. I was simply asking after her. There’s no need to be so on guard. It makes it seem as though I have some ulterior motive."

Nix, walking beside Evangeline, glanced at Stellan, his purple eyes filled with a deathly cold.

Sensing the cold, murderous intent permeating the air, Coral Cetus hurriedly stepped between them.

She coughed nervously and said in a rush, "Um, Flora, please don’t be angry."

Coral Cetus tugged on Evangeline’s sleeve and whispered, "It’s not that Stellan is targeting you. It’s just... the Mer Clan’s Young Clan Leader was tricked by a female years ago, and it made the entire clan very wary of outsiders..."

At this, Coral Cetus abruptly fell silent, casting a cautious glance at Stellan, whose expression had turned grim.