Coral Cetus huddled in the tent, wrapped in a thick blanket. Her long, pink hair seemed to have regained its luster.

She was taking small sips of seawater. Stellan handed her a piece of roasted meat and said softly, "How are you feeling?"

"I’m fine. Buck, bring me my string of pearls." Coral Cetus shook her head, took a bite of the meat, then started giving orders. Buck obediently brought out Coral Cetus’s most treasured pearl accessory.

Coral Cetus gently caressed her most cherished accessory, a smile gracing her lips. Her eyes and brow softened, lending her a much gentler expression.

Stellan’s eyes glinted slightly. "You want to give this to Evangeline?"

Her thoughts read so easily by Stellan, Coral Cetus felt a little shy. A blush rose on her cheeks as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded slightly. In a small voice, she said, "I know Eva doesn’t need things like this, but I love it, and I’m so grateful to her."

’Perhaps no one could understand how she truly felt.’

She knew what kind of person Evangeline was—someone who hated trouble. Yet this very person had always helped the Mysticeti Tribe for her sake. Not only did she deal with the Sandwurms for her, but she also took them in, letting them journey together to the Triangle Sea.

This tent—no one else from the Mysticeti Tribe had one. It was given only to her.

She didn’t know how to express her gratitude and always felt the need to give something back.

Stellan reached out and stroked her long, pink hair, his gaze gentle. "I know," he said softly.

If at first his feelings for Evangeline were mostly hatred, now, all that remained was gratitude.

Buck watched the two of them and said in his usual gruff voice, "The witch is a very discerning person. She can tell who’s good to her."

He wasn’t one for subtleties, but he could see that the witch everyone revered was a good person.

Coral Cetus let out a soft laugh and nodded. "Yes, she knows who’s good to her, and I know who’s good to me."

She tucked the pearls away securely against her body and said, "I’ll go find Eva later and give this to her."

Stellan hesitated for a moment. "She probably won’t have time today. We’re migrating tomorrow, so she’s very busy. Besides, the people we were waiting for at Blackwater Swamp still haven’t arrived. I don’t know if she’ll change her plans at the last minute."

At his words, Coral Cetus’s curiosity was piqued. "Do you know who Eva is waiting for?"

Stellan shrugged, his expression calm. "I heard from the Clan Leader that it’s probably someone from the Grymdale Tribe."

The Grymdale Tribe was famous throughout Norfell; even the Marine Beastmen had heard of them. However, ever since the Oasis Tribe and the Midridge Tribe were successively absorbed into their territory, nothing more had been heard from them.

"The Grymdale Tribe? The Snake Beastmen?" Coral Cetus shivered, a complicated look in her eyes.

When she was in the sea, the ones she hated most were the Sea Serpent Beastmen. They had the most venomous fangs; a single touch, and even their Great Fish Clan couldn’t withstand the poison. The Snake Beastmen of the Grymdale Tribe were probably much the same.

"Don’t be afraid, Iris. I’ll protect you," Buck said softly.

Coral Cetus burst out laughing and shook her head. "I’m not scared, I just... I just don’t like them. By the way, doesn’t Eva have a Beast Husband who’s a Snake Beastman? The one named Thorne?"

At the mention of Evangeline’s Beast Husbands, a strange expression crossed Coral Cetus’s face.

As Norfell’s infamous "Virago," the stories about Evangeline and her several Beast Husbands were known by almost every beastman.

Stellan smiled and shook his head, flicking Coral Cetus on the forehead. "Alright, let’s not talk about Evangeline, and especially not her Beast Husbands. They’re not people you want to cross. I’m going to go check on things. Buck, you make sure she finishes her meat."

’What were the Snake Beastmen of the Grymdale Tribe compared to the Fallen Beastman Tribe staying with them?’

Even though those Fallen Beastmen had covered the Star Patterns on their foreheads, their strange behavior had still aroused some suspicion among the beastmen of the Mysticeti Tribe. For the past few days, the Mysticeti Tribe’s beastmen hadn’t dared to stick their necks out.

And he had to keep constant watch, to prevent the Fallen Beastmen from getting any ideas about the Mysticeti Tribe and the Mer Clan.

Buck nodded. After watching Stellan leave, he turned to stare intently at Coral Cetus.

Coral Cetus’s eyes darted around. "Buck, why don’t we go out and have a look, too? I want to go find Eva."

Buck shook his head and said in his gruff voice, "Stellan said you have to finish your meat first."

The corner of Coral Cetus’s mouth twitched, and she took a vicious bite of the marbled meat in her hand.

Meanwhile, after leaving the tent, Stellan went to find Danton to help him with some Mer Clan affairs.

’Although he had left the Mer Clan for a female, in his heart, he would always be one of them.’

Danton had just finished distributing the day’s seawater. He turned to look at Stellan, his light blue eyes full of warmth. "How is your female? If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask."

Stellan’s tense expression softened. He shook his head and said, "She’s fine. With the witch’s help, Iris is doing very well."

At the mention of Evangeline, the look in Danton’s eyes grew even gentler.

Just then, a sudden commotion erupted from outside Blackwater Swamp.

Stellan paused and looked at Danton. "Have the beastmen from the Grymdale Tribe arrived?" he asked in a low voice.

Danton thought of Thorne’s tribe, and his brow furrowed. The Grymdale Tribe didn’t have a good reputation with him, especially since they had joined forces with the Norfell Tribe to besiege Caden Albright there. That incident had left him with an even worse impression.

He was the first to head outside, with Stellan following close behind.

When they went out, they saw a group of listless beastmen trudging their way into Blackwater Swamp.

These beastmen were hunched over, their faces pale and wan. They shivered uncontrollably, looking utterly pathetic.

"They’re... beastmen from the Grymdale Tribe?" Stellan was in disbelief.

From what he’d heard, the Grymdale Tribe was incredibly imposing. This group of beastmen looked nothing like that.

Danton pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, "The Cold Season is always the hardest for Snake Beastmen. Instead of hibernating, they agreed to journey with us to the Triangle Sea. Their leader is very courageous."

Hearing this, Stellan nodded in understanding, his curiosity about the Grymdale Tribe’s leader growing.

Elias Moretti led his tribespeople back to Blackwater Swamp, his mood completely different from the last time he was here.

He surveyed his surroundings, his crimson eyes filled with complex emotions as he looked upon a Blackwater Swamp that had been reduced to ruins.

Gable stood at his side, pulling his beast skin tighter around himself. He scanned the area and lowered his voice. "Are you sure we’ve made the right choice this time? You’ve heard the rumors. The Norfell Tribe has already united, and they plan to travel beyond the Triangle Sea. If we run into them during the migration, can you guarantee there won’t be a conflict? Who will we side with then?"

His tone was sour, as he didn’t approve of the Grymdale Tribe joining forces with Evangeline.

First, because aside from her few powerful Beast Husbands, Evangeline had no other support.

Second, because of Elias Moretti’s personal feelings. He was afraid Elias might do something detrimental to the Grymdale Tribe’s interests for Evangeline’s sake—though that seemed unlikely for someone like Elias Moretti, who always put benefits first.