Murmurs, comments, and even sighs can be heard amidst the Mermaid army.
Many of them are jealous of the pair of sisters who just joined Lucien's group; others are sorry for Saria for not getting more kisses from the Handsome Devil, but anyway, everyone has a better opinion of him now.
Nea wants to cry in frustration, but she understands that because he saved that Mermaid, it's natural for her and her sister to want to swear loyalty to him, so she doesn't think about interfering with that anymore.
On the other hand, she doesn't want the other Mermaids around Lucien as she fears more of them will be seduced by the devil. Yet, her policies have always been honest and transparent, so she won't start doing hidden things now.
So, she looks at the army and calls out a name. "Ramla!"
"My Queen." The loyal Mermaid immediately responds as she flies to the water platform.
Once she gets there, Nea quickly starts giving orders. "Stand by Saria's side and help her lead the troops..."
Nea pauses before quickly glancing at Lucien as she continues talking to Ramla. "Also, don't let that devil abuse her or any other Mermaid."
Lucien sighs as Ramla quickly nods. "Yes, my Queen!"
"Mom??" Saria has an idea of what's about to happen, and she doesn't like that. "You're going to the central region, aren't you??"
Nea's expression turns profound as she looks at the group of Mermaids she sent towards the storm. "It's clear that it's something bigger than we can imagine, so I can't send anyone else but myself."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"I'll go with you!" Saria quickly speaks in a determined tone.
"No." But Nea quickly denies that. "The Central Region is a dangerous place even for me, so I'm not going to put at risk the future of our people by letting you go with me."
"Mom..." Saria makes a pleading expression as she holds the Ghost Lady tightly. "I'm already strong enough to take care of myself and help you, for real."
"..." Nea doesn't know what to say; she understands that Saria's strength is already greater than hers was at such an age, but she still can't help but fear the unknown in the most mysterious region of the Blue Star.
She looks to Ramla, her faithful advisor, seeking an opinion, and Ramla quickly comments. "Perhaps this is a good opportunity to show our people how prepared Saria is to take the crown and lead us as well as your majesty."
"..." Nea understands how good that could be for the people, but she still can't help but fear for her daughter, making her think of Lucien and what he's said about putting the family first.
As soon as she thinks of him, she also hears his voice. "I can protect her… if you let me go along."
"You??" Nea can't contain a mocking smile from appearing on her face as she looks at Lucien. "Will you protect her in the most dangerous place in the Blue Star, a place where only the creatures with the strongest power and water affinity can survive???"
Lucien smiles as he realizes how silly he looks. He knows how powerful Saria is and isn't sure if he could defeat her himself since, in their previous fight, she didn't feel any evil intentions from him and so didn't fight with all her power.
However, he has specific abilities that can be useful, so he sticks to his decision. "My power has improved a lot in the last few days, especially my water mana."
As he starts talking, Nea takes a closer look at his body and actually notices that he has advanced one more layer of Sky Realm in addition to not only gaining a lot of water mana but also a specific type of chaotic mana that only Mira and Kamala have.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})[So this is what he meant by sharing power with his wives??] She wonders if that ability has any limits; otherwise, he will become one of the most powerful people in the universe, if not the strongest creature ever.
Nea is clearly analyzing Lucien, but Saria has already liked the idea of having him by her side on such an adventure, so she tries to persuade her mother. "I'll take care of him while you find the problem."
"I don't know..." Nea makes a thoughtful expression. "When we enter the Central Region, the currents will be stronger than any other; only powerful water creatures could withstand it... what if he ends up being carried away by the depths?"
"Then you'd have one less problem to worry about." Lucien comments in a sarcastic tone.
"Bullshit!" Nea quickly responds. "I don't like what you're trying to do to my people, but I won't forget that you brought my daughter back home. And you're Claire's brother too, so I don't wish you harm."
Lucien can't help but admire Nea even more. "Even maintaining a stern and even a little hostile posture, you can't hide a kind and lovely heart..."
Nea struggles not to blush as Lucien continues to smile at her. "That's why I won't give up on you and your people... I'll take care of you and make your race one of the most powerful ever."
"Stop talking nonsense!" She really doesn't know how to handle praises from someone who makes her so angry. "If you want to seek your death so badly, I won't stop you!"
"Good..." He makes a teasing expression. "I would go after you anyway."
"We're leaving in ten minutes." Nea sighs before turning back to Ramla.
Saria smiles at Lucien before following her mother. Then Eve approaches him. "We're going too."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"I don't think it is the best..." Lucien looks at Eve with a kind expression. "I don't doubt your power, but I don't want to leave Claire and Naomi alone; also, I have the Instant Teleport Gem, so I can quickly go back in case something goes wrong and bring the others into the Purple World."
Pride nodes. "He's right; the gem and his soul realm are a very useful combination; there's no point in taking additional risks."
Lust makes a teasing expression. "It could benefit us all if you make the con… you know."
"..." Eve and Pride make the same annoyed expression.
They both think a lot about making the soul contract with Lucien, but that goes directly against their principles of being the ones who take care of the group. Also, for Eve, it's even harder to 'abuse' her little brother or even risk falling in love with him.
Lucien also thinks similarly; he sees his relationship with Eve as sacred, different from his relationships with his other sisters as he never realized their needs.
But with Pride, it's the opposite as he can't wait to conquer every part of her body, especially her heart that burns like living flames despite her trying to look like a cold person.
The mood between the three quickly gets awkward, and to change that, Lucien walks over to Maya. "I don't think you're going with us, right?"
"I'd be useless in a place like that..." She sighs. As an ancient phoenix, she has great power beyond her current power realm, but underwater, she becomes extremely weak, especially in places with powerful water mana.
"And no one would look for a Phoenix in a world made almost completely of water..." Lust comments.
Maya nods before looking at Lucien with a questioning expression. "What do you want from me?"
"Protection for my sisters." He goes straight to the point. "I didn't want to abandon them again, but taking them to such a place seems too risky now, so..."
"I understand," she comments. "But you overestimate my current power. It hasn't been long since my last rebirth, so I wouldn't be able to deal with a Leviathan if such a creature shows up."
Lucien smiles. "Still, you would do anything to protect Naomi and the others, wouldn't you? I can see that you're kind and loyal like Nea."
Maya doesn't hide her blush and smiles back at him. "I know Gluttony's intention was just to devour my energy, but Naomi is a good girl… a true friend. And I owe you a life since you saved my Kayla."
"Thank you." Lucien bows to Maya, demonstrating that he respects her and also admires her straightforward, honest personality.
Then they go back to the Sea Devil to explain their plan to the others. Claire and Naomi quickly show they want to go with Lucien, but he and Eve convince them that going with him without a soul contract is too risky since they only have two instant teleport gens.
Both Naomi and Claire obviously want to make a soul contract with Lucien. But it's all still very new to them, and the fear of drastic changes prevents them from taking such a rash step.
While Naomi is very shy despite trying to appear bold, Claire still has doubts about Lucien's relationship with Saria. She now understands that she never had romantic feelings for the Mermaid Princess, but she sees her as her sister, and Greed's influence makes her want everything for herself, a sister and a brother, only for her alone.
Since both sisters still don't know how to deal with their internal conflicts, they don't feel confident to make a soul contract with Lucien right now.
The rest of the Sea Devil crew, who don't have a soul contract with Lucien, are a little upset due to his sudden departure. Especially the Mermaid and Naga that joined the group before and Valencia were waiting for the promised reward. But as the storm on the horizon looks like a global problem, they understand that this is not the time to be selfish.
Lucien asks all his wives if they want to stay at the Sea Devil, but even little Kara makes it clear that she's going with him anywhere, even to the end of the world.
So the ten minutes Nea mentioned quickly passes, and they gather for a brief goodbye. Eve can't help but feel bad about letting Lucien walk into danger alone, but she understands that by going with them, she can do more harm than good.
Even though it should be a short journey, Saria also feels a little bad about getting away from Claire. She got used to having her best friend always by her side.
Then the Mermaid Princess flies towards Claire and hugs her tightly. "Take care of yourself, my sister."
Claire smiles as she returns the warm hug. "Take care of my brother... sister."
Saria blushes as she thinks of something. "If we're sisters, then doesn't that make him my brother too? Of course, I'll take care of him."
"Hehehe..." Claire giggles, and over Saria's shoulder, she sees Lucien smiling at them with a loving expression.
Claire understands that the voice inside her screaming for her to have everything and everyone is not just Greed's but hers as well, so she can't help but fear that journey brings Saria and Lucien closer, pushing her aside. But somehow, she can see in Lucien's smile that he would never do anything to hurt her.
"We have to go." Nea talks to Lucien and Saria. "The storm keeps growing, and we still don't have the slightest idea what's causing it."
"Mm." Saria nods before hugging Claire once more and going to her mother's side.
Lucien also hugs Claire and Naomi together, and they both kiss his cheeks while Eve rolls her eyes.
"Come back quickly and safely." Both the Sisters comment.
"Sure." He responds to them before smiling at Eve. They don't need many words as they both already have excellent sync despite not having a soul contract.
And so, as thousands of Mermaids watch, Nea, Saria, and Lucien depart towards the Central Region. The mother-daughter pair swim at incredibly high speed in the water as Lucien tries to keep their pace through the air.
