Chapter 875 — The Siren's Answer

"...Fully transformed," Gao Yang drew a deep breath, steadying the emotions stirred by this staggering news. "Queen Petia will send a portion of the naga here. In other words, those transformed naga are no longer dangerous followers of the dark cult? What status do they hold now? A brand-new deep-sea species? New members of the siren kingdom? Or humans whose bodies and minds have been mutated?"

"Probably a bit of all three—our scholars are studying that question as well," Tyr said slowly. "But one thing is certain: the Stormborn who became naga have lost that fanatical aggression they once had, and this seems to be the result of multiple factors. The mutation changed their temperaments along with their forms, and it also granted them some knowledge of the deep sea—knowledge the sirens passed to them. I do not know the exact principle by which this knowledge calmed them, and there is also the hormonal influence of the transformation of their life form. All these factors worked together, and at long last they ended the centuries of meaningless conflict between the sirens and the Stormborn.

"Of course, not all naga have become entirely harmless. Some of the transformed still lack clear minds, and a small number of naga remain extremely irascible after conversion—we have had to establish many 'holding centers for abnormal humans' to keep them under control for the time being. I hope this does not make you uncomfortable. I know you are human too, but my kin truly had no other way."

"Uh... I can understand," Gao Yang rubbed the tip of his nose and said in an odd tone. "It seems you intend to send over the most lucid and harmless portion of the naga. I can probably guess what your Queen is thinking."

He paused, then spoke slowly in a tone of understanding: "Those naga were human once, after all. She is probably using this method to show goodwill, and at the same time she wants to use this frank and open approach to dispel any misunderstanding of the sirens I might harbor regarding the 'naga' matter. Secondly, the Stormborn were originally the ocean experts of human society. The sirens may understand more advanced techniques, but the Stormborn understand how humans ought to build ships, and they can play a great role at North Port. Finally, she likely hopes to reassure the naga in this way as well—to let those 'humans' newly transformed into another race do something important. It is an excellent means of calming hearts and showing that they are valued."

Gao Yang analyzed the intentions behind the siren Queen's arrangements with clear logic, and his lucid reasoning even made Tyr, who had been growing drowsy since a moment ago, open her eyes wide. The siren lady looked incredulous. "Why do I feel like our Queen never thought that far at all?"

Gao Yang looked at her, caught between laughter and tears. "You think a queen would be like you—sleeping and eating and sleeping again all day, with nothing in her head but salt and water?"

"All sirens have nothing but salt and water in their heads!" Tyr immediately responded to Gao Song's teasing with racial pride, then waved her hand. "Anyway, whatever the Queen thinks, do you have any objections to the arrangements above? If you do not trust those naga and do not want them appearing at North Port, I will explain to the Queen in my next contact..."

"No need," Gao Yang shook his head. "Let us not waste your Queen's good intentions.

"I trust that Byron will maintain order at North Port, and I do not mind the appearance of some... naga on imperial soil.

"After all, Cecil has always been an inclusive nation."

Looking at the smiling Gao Yang, Tyr merely gave a great yawn. "Ha—I understand. I will convey it to the Queen."

The siren lady, by now nearly ready to drop dead on the spot from drowsiness, wriggled her way out of the room.

Gao You stood before the desk for a while, then shook his head and murmured softly to himself, "So it wasn't a signal from the siren..."

After a few seconds of thought and hesitation, he still raised his right hand and gently rubbed a mithril ring worn on his finger.

Amid the familiar faint warmth and the pulse of magical power, he heard a voice come through the ring—gentle and elegant, yet somehow a little unfamiliar: "Greetings. The Mithril Vault is delighted to be at your service, Your Majesty Gao Yang Cecil, valued client."

Gao Yang had been about to greet her out of habit, but upon hearing the voice from the ring he frowned instinctively: "You're not Metzen... Where is Metzen?"

"My apologies. Metzen is out on an unexpected debt-collection assignment. Until she returns, I am the one receiving valued clients in her place," the voice from the ring continued, elegant and mild. "You may call me 'Noretta.'"