Coral Cetus sat on Buck’s back. She glanced back and couldn’t help but purse her lips.
She leaned down a bit, close to Buck’s ear fin, and whispered, "That Arion Cetus... He usually gives the females in our tribe the cold shoulder, acting like none of them are good enough for him. But now he’s suddenly so attentive."
Buck imperceptibly slowed down a little but didn’t reply.
Suddenly, the current churned violently, and Evangeline’s figure abruptly appeared beside Coral Cetus.
She didn’t get close to Buck, however, and certainly didn’t touch his back. She knew that on the Beastman Continent, a male’s back was sacred ground belonging only to his mate, forbidden for any other female to touch.
Coral Cetus’s ear fins trembled slightly. As she turned her head, her pink hair drifted with the current.
She turned to look at Evangeline, a little curious. "What’s wrong?"
Evangeline’s scarlet Fintan carved an elegant arc of light in the current, her speed not decreasing in the slightest.
She glanced sideways at Coral Cetus and asked, "What’s the feud between the galodon Tribe and the r Clan?"
Stellan’s expression had changed instantly when he learned the r Clan’s ssage concerned the galodon Tribe. The attitudes of Coral Cetus and the others were unusual, too. There had to be so old grudge between the two tribes.
Coral Cetus’s brow furrowed, and her voice was a little cold and hard as she said, "You’ll find out when we get to the r Clan’s territory."
As she spoke, her gaze toward Evangeline held a hint of veiled displeasure.
Evangeline half-closed her eyes, the corners of her lips curling into a cold smile. "That’s not how it works. Since I’m going to help, I should know what I’m getting into so I can prepare. Or should I wait until the galodon Tribe’s sharp teeth are at our throats before we worry about the details? Wouldn’t that make a clueless fool?"
A glint in her eye, Evangeline’s tail fin subtly stirred the water.
’I never act without a motive. Since I’m heading to the r Clan and have to wade into these muddy waters, I need to know my allies and enemies. This could be an opportunity to win the r Clan’s favor, which would make winning Danton over a bit easier.’
Coral Cetus was at a loss for words. Her ear fins twitched involuntarily as she realized Evangeline had a point.
She turned her head toward Evangeline and t a gaze filled with concern.
After a mont of thought, Coral Cetus finally relented. "The galodon Tribe is a pack of madn," she said. "They’re used to rampaging through the Norfell Sea and provoking everyone—everyone except for us, the Mysticeti Tribe!"
Her voice was laced with a simring frost as she spoke.
"You know how beautiful the r Clan are; their fa is widespread. Males and females alike, they’re the most desired among all Tideborn Beastn—the absolute first choice for a mate. However, they’re exclusive and rarely form a Contract with outsiders."
"I’ve heard Stellan ntion it. The galodon Tribe has been scheming against the r Clan for a while. Their mbers have always wanted to form a Contract with the r, but they’ve been rejected many tis!"
"But this ti, the r Clan sent a ssage calling their people back. It must an the galodon Tribe is finally ready to drop all pretenses. The r Clan is probably gathering all its mbers to fight them off together."
As Coral Cetus continued, her voice grew quieter, her final words laden with a deep and lingering sorrow.
Although she wasn’t from the r Clan, she was contracted to Stellan, after all, so she knew a thing or two about their affairs.
Evangeline raised a delicate eyebrow, a flicker of doubt in her beautiful eyes. "The r Clan is also one of the overlords of the sea. How dare the galodon Tribe be so audacious?"
The r Clan wasn’t just a pretty face; their strength was not to be underestimated.
From birth, they could command thousands upon thousands of fish to fight for them. They were recognized as a highly intelligent race among the Deep Sea Beastn. If not for the limitations of their "delicate" beast forms, they probably would have vied for the throne long ago.
Hearing this, Coral Cetus shot Evangeline a sidelong glance, her tone turning sour. "The r Clan used to be very powerful. You could say they were dominant in the entire Norfell Sea. Other tribes had to avoid provoking them..."
"But ever since sothing happened to the Young Clan Leader, the entire clan fell apart. Even the Clan Leader..."
Coral Cetus’s voice grew somber. "Even the Clan Leader couldn’t bear the pain and didn’t survive that Cold Season."
"Losing their Clan Leader and Young Clan Leader was a devastating blow to the r. So even went ashore to seek revenge against the Oasis Tribe, but none returned. Over ti, the r Clan fell into decline."
"Now, the r Clan is a shadow of its forr glory."
As Coral Cetus spoke, her nails dug into her palm, her voice filled with suppressed fury. "If the r Clan hadn’t suffered such a drastic change, there’s no way those brutes from the galodon Tribe would have ever dared to make a move on them!"
"The r are beautiful. If the galodon Tribe actually succeeds, then Stellan’s clansn..."
At this point, Coral Cetus’s expression grew even darker. She beca listless, her spirits sinking.
She knew better than anyone what the r Clan ant to Stellan.
He would give his life to protect her, and likewise, he would shed his last drop of blood for his tribe. If sothing truly happened to the r Clan, he would fight to the death and would never choose to live on alone.
The re thought sent a chill of fear through Coral Cetus’s heart. This was also why she had to go with him.
’Stellan absolutely cannot be hard!’
’If it cos to it, I’ll use the power of our Contract to drag Stellan back by force. I can’t let anything happen to him. I’ll face his wrath without hesitation. I can’t lose him!’
’As for the r Clan... The tides turn, and the world is unpredictable. There are many things beyond my control.’
Evangeline frowned slightly. ’So, this is the original owner’s fault?’
’If the galodon Tribe really conquers the r Clan, then even if Danton returns to the sea one day, he’ll never be able to find the tribe that haunts his dreams. His old wounds haven’t even healed, and he’d just be dealt a new one.’
’With Danton’s kind nature, he’ll surely bla himself for all the misfortunes that befall his tribe. He’d probably give up, shouldering all the guilt. If that happens, he might truly lose the will to live.’
At this thought, Evangeline’s frown deepened, and a dark undercurrent swirled in her eyes.
’I can’t let Danton’s already painful wounds fester beyond healing. And I certainly can’t let him live on, burdened by the weight of a shattered holand. The r Clan must be saved!’
Coral Cetus glanced at Evangeline and saw the solemn look on her face. She pursed her lips.
Her voice softened a little. "Don’t you worry too much. Aren’t we all going back? The r Clan must have recalled all their mbers from every region. That’s a powerful force. The galodon Tribe surely won’t dare to go too far."
Evangeline looked up at her and gave a soft sound of acknowledgnt, the final note dissolving into the current.
With a flick of her scarlet rmaid Tail, she carved a sharp arc through the water and caught up to Stellan in the blink of an eye.
He was at the very front, clearing the way, his body moving so fast it nearly tore through the current. It seed nothing could stop his journey ho.
Sensing the turbulent water beside him, he glanced sideways at Evangeline.
The look was exceptionally cold.
Stellan remained silent. Evangeline gave him a cool glance and urged, "Faster."
He paused for a fraction of a second, still not saying a word, but his speed increased again, pushing him to his absolute limit.
The group of five shot through the dark currents, racing onward.
The fierce, colossal auras emanating from Buck and Arion Cetus made the Sea Beasts along their path scatter in retreat.
They passed through countless winding waterways and crossed innurable raging whirlpools. Just as even Evangeline was beginning to feel tired, a tribe ahead of them, glowing with a thousand iridescent lights, ca into view.
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