As she drew closer, she heard Coral Cetus say, "The territory of the Mysticeti Tribe is just ahead. Stay close and don’t wander off. No one in the tribe knows you, and it would be a problem if the patrolling Warriors mistook you for an intruder."

Evangeline gently lowered her gaze and gave a slight nod.

Her purpose in coming to The Deep Sea was to find someone, so she naturally had no intention of causing unnecessary trouble or picking fights.

Evangeline followed behind Coral Cetus and Stellan. Before long, the view before them opened up dramatically.

Amidst a sprawling cluster of reefs were scattered large, colorful Sea Conches. These dwellings were immaculate, gently opening and closing in the current. Occasionally, agile figures could be seen swimming through the gaps between them.

They moved with great speed, and the light reflecting off their scales was blinding. They were clearly Tideborn Beastmen.

The moment Stellan and Coral Cetus entered the tribe’s territory, these Beastmen swarmed around them.

The Beastman in the lead held a dark steel fork that glinted menacingly under the pearlescent light. He sized up the pair and said, "Heard this trip of yours didn’t go smoothly?"

Before they could answer, he pointed the tip of his steel fork toward a large Sea Conch deeper in the tribe. It was adorned with the shell of a giant sea turtle, giving it a very solemn appearance. "The leader is waiting. Best get going."

Stellan nodded and released his arm from around Coral Cetus’s waist.

Coral Cetus paused. When she glanced back at Evangeline, a trace of hesitation flickered in her eyes.

A moment later, she suddenly doubled back and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, took Evangeline by the hand.

This gesture instantly drew the attention of the Mysticeti Tribe’s Beastmen. When their gazes landed on Evangeline, their eyes went wide, and their Adam’s apples bobbed violently. Their expressions were filled with pure, stunned admiration.

They were all fixated on Evangeline’s lustrous crimson scales, which were so magnificent they were dizzying to behold.

Someone suddenly exclaimed in shock, "Stellan! Is this a member of your clan? She’s pregnant before even reaching adulthood?"

At this, Stellan’s brow furrowed, and he was at a loss for how to explain.

"What’s the problem? She *is* a member of Stellan’s clan, here to visit our tribe as a guest!" Coral Cetus jutted out her chin, pulled Evangeline along, and swam deeper into the tribe, clearly having no intention of explaining further.

After swimming a short distance, she didn’t forget to throw a glare back at them. "Alright, get back to whatever you were doing!"

Her temper had always been fiery and direct, and few of the males in the Mysticeti Tribe could handle it.

Stellan followed closely behind Coral Cetus when he suddenly felt the water around them churning. He looked back to see that several males from the Mysticeti Tribe had actually followed them and were now circling Evangeline.

They feigned nonchalance as they stretched their bodies, their firm, knotted muscles flickering in and out of view in the rippling water.

One male deliberately tensed his shoulders, his fist-sized biceps bulging and flexing in the current.

He lifted his chin, gave Evangeline a suggestive quirk of his eyebrow, and boomed, "The little maiden! My beast form is a great whale of The Deep Sea. I guarantee I can hunt enough to provide for you. How about giving me a try?"

Another male abruptly shifted into his beast form. A colossal, dark blue whale churned the seawater, creating massive turbulence. Its sleek back cut an elegant arc through the shimmering light as it let out a series of clear, resonant whale songs.

He circled Evangeline several times. "Beautiful female of the Mer Clan! May I become your mate?"

"..."

The males scrambled over each other to show off their most powerful forms in front of Evangeline, deliberately churning the water around her. They were like a flock of peacocks fanning their tails, using every trick they could to unleash a torrent of masculine hormones.

The corner of Coral Cetus’s eye twitched. ’Look at these males, suddenly going into a frenzy.’ A vein throbbed in her temple.

’These guys. Normally, every last one of them has impossibly high standards, even looking down on the most exceptional females in the tribe. Evangeline just got here, and to them, she’s not even an adult. How did she get so popular all of a sudden?’

Stellan’s brow knitted even tighter. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed the warning he was about to issue.

’These members of the Mysticeti Tribe have been completely bewitched by her beauty. They have no idea that Evangeline is no easy female to deal with. Stripping scales, digging out a Beast Crystal... entering a Contract with her is tantamount to offering up your own life.’

The outer corners of Evangeline’s narrow eyes tilted up slightly. She swept a casual glance over the crowd, the corner of her mouth curling into a lazy smile. "My apologies, but I am already taken. I’m very fond of him and have no intention of looking for anyone else."

At her words, not only did the crowd of males not back down, but the desire in their eyes was completely ignited.

They became utterly frenzied.

Females of The Tideborn had always been cold and distant toward males, showing little emotion.

Aside from Coral Cetus, they had never seen a female express her affection for a male so directly. Yet this Mer Clan female before them was not only beautiful but also seemed charming and gentle.

Even more remarkably, she was so open and affectionate toward a male!

Just then, the male with the steel fork licked his lips, his gaze burning as he stared at Evangeline. "So what if you’re taken? On the Beastman Continent, only the strongest males are worthy of possessing the most beautiful females!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding males exchanged glances and let out a chorus of low, boisterous shouts.

Someone shouted, "That’s right! Arion Cetus is the strongest Warrior in our Mysticeti Tribe! He still hasn’t entered a Contract! The little maiden, why don’t you form a Contract with him instead?"

Coral Cetus’s brow furrowed. She pulled Evangeline behind her protectively and said in a low, stern voice, "She is my guest, not here to choose a mate from the tribe! Get out of the way!"

The commotion from Arion Cetus’s courtship attempt attracted many of the tribe’s females, who stopped to watch.

The Mysticeti Tribe was not short on females. They swam in pairs and threes, and when they saw Coral Cetus, they frowned in unison. The Coral Pearls in their hair swayed gently as their expressions soured with disdain.

However, when their eyes landed on Evangeline, their critical expressions suddenly shifted, their gazes lighting up with intense curiosity. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

They whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and understanding. ’No wonder Arion Cetus, who has such ridiculously high standards, is suddenly trying to court someone.’

The Mer Clan, whether male or female, were the most dazzling pearls of The Deep Sea.

They were born with soul-snatching beauty and enchanting singing voices, regarded by the Marine Beastmen of every clan as the first choice for a Contract. However, the Mer Clan was by nature proud, aloof, and exclusive, rarely forming Contracts or unions with outsiders.

The fact that Coral Cetus had managed to find a mate from the Mer Clan—Stellan, no less—had made them green with envy for a long time.

They never expected the tribe would now welcome another female from the Mer Clan. Even more astonishing, she was already carrying a child. In the eyes of a male, a female like that exuded a fatal allure.

This Mer Clan female not only possessed great beauty, but the Beast Spirit Flower blooming on her forehead was proof of her potent fertility. To the males of the Beastman Continent, a female who possessed both qualities was well worth fighting over.

Arion Cetus stepped forward, sizing up Evangeline. "So, little maiden," he said in a deep voice, "have you considered my offer?"

Evangeline lifted her eyelids, and just as she was about to speak, a clear, smooth voice suddenly sounded. "Stellan, a message has come from the Mer Clan. You are to return at once."

The mention of "the Mer Clan" made Evangeline pause, and she lifted her gaze to look at the speaker.

A Beastman elder with a distinguished air was approaching slowly.

The years had etched a sense of authority into his deep-set features, and his every movement exuded composure and a refined grace. His eyes, heavy with wisdom, were as calm as The Deep Sea, yet they couldn’t help but betray a hint of a keen, restrained edge.

’This must be the leader of the Mysticeti Tribe, Quinn Cetus.’