As everyone knew, this world had nothing like telephones or telegraphs.
The fastest method of conveying intelligence was the teleportation array. Teleporting someone directly across—whether to deliver a verbal report or carry a letter—was the swiftest way to pass word.
In the entire world today, only the Elegy Poetry Society's Necrotic Codex and Anbaixiu's magic mirror were capable of real-time communication across vast distances.
The Blue Algae Tribe, however, was far too small to afford the exorbitant cost of setting up a teleportation array. Thus, Nepris had no choice but to rely on the most primitive method: swimming directly to the nearest teleportation point.
After repeatedly admonishing his clansmen not to offend those two undersea undead big shots, Nepris boarded his conch carriage and had over a dozen dolphins pull it forward.
These specially trained dolphins swam at remarkable speeds, yet it still took most of a day to bring Nepris to another large merfolk tribe.
It took Nepris several more hours to secure permission to use their teleportation array. When he finally stepped out on the other side, his vision was filled with magnificent, dazzling colors.
This was the Rainbow Tail Tribe, the mightiest of them all, whose leader was the High Priestess of Eadro.
The tribe occupied an entire oceanic trench, embellishing the surroundings until they sparkled like gemstones. Palaces crafted of coral and seashells gleamed amidst shimmering, deep-blue light and shadow.
Nepris swam along a road paved with pearls. Seaweed swayed gently, schools of fish darted to and fro, and the interplay of light and water cast an ethereal, dreamlike aura over everything.
While the Blue Algae Tribe had similar arrangements, their scale and splendor lagged far behind the Rainbow Tail Tribe's.
Fortunately, merfolk held few rigid protocols, so Nepris was quickly granted an audience with High Priestess Ariel.
The merfolk high priestess wore ornate armor adorned with seashells and coral. The trident in her grasp rippled with shifting prismatic light, and even her face was concealed behind an exquisite red coral visor.
It was common knowledge that prior to assuming her mantle, the High Priestess had been the Rainbow Tail Tribe's most formidable warrior. No one had expected her to one day inherit the position of High Priestess.
High Priestess Ariel said in surprise, "You are Nepris? I remember you. Back at the Tribal Alliance Conference, you were the second to arrive. Your tribe is situated on the outermost perimeter, isn't it? Have you run into trouble and come seeking aid?"
Nepris had intended to say it wasn't trouble, but the thought of that lich's true identity made him immediately change his tune. "The High Priestess is right. Our Blue Algae Tribe has encountered massive trouble. The Master of the Silent Night Sea has arrived at my tribe alongside a lich, demanding to meet with you."
"The Master of the Silent Night Sea? We merfolk have no grievances with them. Don't those undead usually clash only with the sahuagin? What do they want with me?" Ariel asked.
"They claim they have vital intelligence to convey to the Goddess."
Nepris relayed Anbaixiu's exact words to the High Priestess. After hearing him out, Ariel merely said, "We are at a critical juncture, and I do not wish to deal with those undead. While I haven't heard of any ties between the Master of the Silent Night Sea and those devil rays, who knows what those undead are scheming? I cannot pray to the Goddess over such vague and ambiguous intelligence."
Deities stood high above mortals. Racial deities, in particular, were revered as supreme "Father Gods" by their entire kin. Every merfolk was boundlessly devout toward Eadro, and none dared disturb the Goddess lightly.
The undead had virtually no ties to the merfolk, so why had they suddenly come knocking?
To Ariel's mind, the odds that this was a conspiracy were exceedingly high.
Ariel told Nepris, "Tell them that I have been overwhelmed with tribal affairs of late. If they wish to meet, they must wait a while. Once I conclude our urgent matters, I will contact the Silent Night Pirates again."
Nepris was on the verge of agreeing when he blurted out, "High Priestess, I didn't explain clearly just now. I'm afraid this matter isn't decided by the Master of the Silent Night Sea. The one who truly wishes to speak with the Goddess is that lich. His name is Ultraman Tiga."
"Isn't he just a lich?" Ariel's eyes were filled with confusion. Was it strange for the Silent Night Pirates to have a lich among them?
Moments later, however, the trident in Ariel's grasp trembled. Shocked beyond measure, she exclaimed, "Which lich did you just say? The lich who obliterated the dragons and the Githyanki?!"
Nepris gave a bitter smile. "Yes, that very one. If not for him, I wouldn't have dared disturb you at a time like this."
Ariel instantly fell silent.
Had it merely been the Silent Night Pirates, Ariel could have afforded to make them wait. Powerful though the pirates were, they would never declare war on the merfolk over such a trivial slight.
Adding this lich to the equation, however, changed everything.
The entire sea had heard tales of this lich's brutality and insatiable greed. He had reportedly skinned and tendon-stripped true dragons, and slaughtered tens of thousands of Githyanki and Ryanian soldiers—rumor had it, simply because they refused to do business with him.
He was nothing less than a tyrant among the undead. If she refused to grant him an audience, the lich might very well launch an annihilating strike against the merfolk, such as exiling them all beyond the boundaries of the world.
It was terrifying beyond belief. How could anyone in this world banish an entire kingdom?
Ariel hadn't believed the rumors at first—until the Volcanic Sea materialized right before the eyes of all undersea races.
Faced with such dreadful consequences, Ariel had no choice but to seriously reconsider meeting Anbaixiu.
"He is a greedy, malicious undead who never forgives the slightest slight. What could he possibly want with our Goddess?" Ariel pondered for a long time without reaching an answer. In the end, she could only tell Nepris, "I will travel to the Blue Algae Tribe to meet that lich. Go back and prepare. Remember, prepare for the worst."
Nepris nodded repeatedly, speaking with solemn gravity. "I understand, High Priestess. The warriors of the Blue Algae Tribe do not fear death."
Nepris hurried back to his tribe, where he found Anbaixiu, who had already waited an entire day.
This time, however, alongside the two undead stood an exceptionally ugly human.
The man's face was covered in lightning-shaped scars, making him look anything but decent, though he clearly appeared to be a living human rather than an undead.
Nepris first addressed Anbaixiu: "The High Priestess has agreed to meet with you both. Please wait a little longer; she will make her way here as soon as she concludes the matters at hand."
Anbaixiu asked curiously, "She isn't inviting us over to her domain?"
Nepris hastily said, "How could we trouble our esteemed guests to travel further? As a show of sincerity, the High Priestess will come in person."
Anbaixiu chuckled softly, not bothering to expose Nepris's real concern. These merfolk were terrified of him and dared not lead him deep into their core waters.
No matter; Anbaixiu didn't care about such trifles.
The one he truly wished to speak with wasn't some high priestess, but the goddess Eadro. Arrogant though it might sound, Anbaixiu genuinely had little need to deal with mortals anymore; only the lofty deities commanded his attention.
Seeing that Anbaixiu hadn't flown into a rage, Nepris breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked, "Might I inquire who this other guest is?"
Nepris genuinely dreaded that Anbaixiu would utter another absurd, terrifying name that would leave him gasping for air from sheer dread.
"He is Aeolus, a friend of mine. He also wishes to see your High Priestess."
Fortunately, Anbaixiu casually supplied a very ordinary name.
Nepris had never heard of anyone named Aeolus. While someone who could befriend this lich was unlikely to be an ordinary figure, he couldn't possibly be more terrifying than the lich himself.
Having calmed down somewhat, Nepris brought forth all his hospitality skills, doing everything in his power to keep this dreadful guest placated for fear that impatience might drive him to turn hostile.
Anbaixiu, naturally, showed no displeasure. A businessman always greeted others with a smile; even when plunging a dagger into someone's back, his expression would remain warm and pleasant.
Even though Nepris's awkward, disjointed attempts at small talk were utterly mundane, Anbaixiu kept the conversation flowing effortlessly for hours, never letting the atmosphere grow stiff.
By the time Nepris received notification that Ariel had arrived with her escort, the merfolk priest was shocked to realize that four hours had already passed.
He had begun the encounter trembling with dread, so how had he lost all track of time while conversing? Nepris couldn't comprehend at what point his vigilance had completely melted away. This lich was far more conversational and gentle than he had imagined, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the tyrannical monster of the rumors.
What was more, the lich was exceedingly erudite and possessed extraordinary conversational charm. Over those few hours, Nepris felt as though he had taken a grand tour of the surface world; merely listening to Anbaixiu describe the scenery made him feel as if he were truly there.
Golden deserts, emerald-hued jungles, mountain ranges shrouded in eternal thunderstorms... Before he knew it, Nepris had lost himself in landscapes he had never seen before.
What a formidable lich! Had he truly not fallen under an illusion spell?
Or could the earlier rumors have been distorted? This lich didn't seem terrifying in the least.
Yet regardless of what Nepris thought, the one facing Anbaixiu next would no longer be him.
Tens of thousands of merfolk warriors advanced in a grand, sweeping formation, hovering above the coral reefs of the Blue Algae Tribe. Tamed sea beasts hauled colossal, sculpted conches behind them.
One glance told Anbaixiu that these were no decorative dwellings, but repurposed miniature magic towers.
There were fifteen such conch towers, each standing over a dozen meters tall. The immense magical power radiating from them was palpable even to non-spellcasters.
Anbaixiu and Aige exchanged a glance, both understanding instantly: the merfolk were staging a display of strength.
Neither paid it any mind. They could truly say they had seen far grander spectacles. A mere few tens of thousands of merfolk was not nearly enough to shake their composure.
Anbaixiu turned to Aeolus, who was craning his neck in search of Ariel, and murmured, "Brother, I'll let you see High Priestess Ariel in a moment. But whether you recognize her or not, keep your mouth shut. Don't say a single word, or you're no friend of mine."
Aeolus hastily replied, "Understood! I swear by the Storm Lord Talos, if you tell me not to speak, I won't say half a word!"
Anbaixiu: "..."
*He really dares invoke Talos in jest? It's one thing to impersonate a devotee, but isn't he terrified of being struck by lightning for swearing falsely in his deity's name?*
Chapter 417