Shrouded Seascape

"I've already explained it to you, Mithila. We have to cooperate with them if we want everyone to survive this crisis," Margaret said with furrowed brows as she stared at the little girl, who had sharp, jagged teeth, in front of her.

"You liar! You're a big liar!! You never had any intentions of killing Charles. Everything you did was just to deceive me! You used us!" 134 exclaimed, looking extremely agitated as she hovered in the air.

Margaret's head throbbed in pain. Apparently, Mithila had lived for several hundred years now, but she still had a child's personality, which Margaret had always found difficult to handle.

The truth had already been laid out in front of her, but she ignored the stakes and vested interests to prioritize her own selfish desires.

"Charles must die! He stole my island from me! No one is allowed to steal from me! We had an agreement, and you're supposed to kill Charles as per our agreement, but what did you do?! You helped him instead!!" 134 shouted.

Her voice was so loud and high-pitched that it sounded like a shrill scream. She was so agitated that her small face was flushed red.

Staring at the agitated 134, Margaret couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. "Are you not aware of the ongoing crisis? The sea levels are rising. Charles cannot die in the meantime. We'll figure out a way to go about that once the crisis is over."

"You liar! You don't want to kill Charles at all. Do you really think that I don't know? You're in cahoots with him! You bitch! I bet you've already bent over for him—"

"Enough!" Margaret roared. Her brows knitted tightly, and her face became quite ferocious as a result. "If you think that this partnership isn't to your liking, then you can leave and become a pirate again.

134 pointed her pudgy finger at Margaret, who was sitting behind the desk in front of her. "I helped you reclaim Whereto, and after getting a new backer, you've actually decided to betray me? Great! All humans are trash. Every. Single. One. Of. Them!"

"I said, enough!" Margaret retorted, "Go back to your Sottom and stay quiet. You better not do anything that will make all of us unhappy. And don't forget that we're at Hope Island's docks!"

134 bit her cheeks hard before turning around and stomping out of the door.

A loud bang echoed as 134 slammed the door shut.

Margaret kneaded her swollen temples. Mithila had never been the type to let go of things so easily, so Margaret knew that the matter wasn't over yet. If Margaret didn't want Mithila to kick up a fuss, she would have to appease the latter.

Fortunately, Margaret had long figured out Mithila's temper and personality. She just had to take advantage of that knowledge, and Mithila would eventually settle down.

"A disobedient child must not be spoiled; give them the stick instead," Anna said, smiling as she stared at Margaret after suddenly appearing before the latter. She was clad in a tight-fitting dress that accentuated her curves.

Margaret was about to stand up and greet her, but Anna's tentacles pushed her down and said, "No need to be so polite. You helped me, so we're all on the same side now."

"Mithila didn't mean that. She actually—"

"It's a trivial matter, so it's fine," Anna interrupted. "Let's talk about what matters, shall we? What are your plans going forward?"

Margaret was slightly stunned. She couldn't believe that Anna was so nonchalant toward a blatant threat to Charles' life. Could it be that Anna didn't really love Charles?

"Don't space out, dear," Anna said, reaching out toward Margaret's chin and lifting it with her index finger. "I asked you a question."

"Uh... um... stabilize the morale of Whereto's residents, provide support to the expedition parties on the surface, and be on the lookout for the Fhtagn Covenant's attacks," Margaret replied.

Anna shook her head slightly. "There's one thing missing: to serve as Julio's eyes. You're one of Julio's people, aren't you? I saw it in your head."

Margaret's heart tightened. She subconsciously glanced at the ring on her pinky finger and was astonished to realize that the relic that Governor Julio had given to her against mind control was useless against Anna.

Anna grabbed Margaret's hand and pulled out the ring. Then, she pinched it lightly; it crumbled instantly into powder.

"The mages of the Western Seas are quite capable with their tricks, but their tricks are no longer effective against me. Perhaps you can try finding something better."

Margaret's expression remained unchanged, and her voice was calm as she said, "Miss Anna, our top priority is locating. Everyone will die without the darkness. Do you really think that this is the time to do something like this?"

"Hehe, didn't you say that line to Julio before? How did he respond? Anyway, how about we look at this from another angle?

"You see, Julio isn't really that close to you. He's also not strong enough to dominate the Northern Seas, so why don't you jump ships and pledge loyalty to me rather than stay loyal to him?" Anna suggested.

Margaret's eyes shifted downward as she avoided Anna's gaze. Then, she sounded a bit unwilling as she said, "Hope Island has already become the Overlord of the Northern Seas."

"You know I'm talking about a different matter, right? Think about it. I can give you everything you want. I can help you reclaim the glory of the Cavendish family, and I can even give you powerful and special powers."

Seeing that Margaret wasn't saying anything, Anna added, "You have principles, so I've decided to extend this invitation to you from the bottom of my heart. If it weren't for that fact, I'd devour you whole just for your little affair with Charles."

Margaret stared into Anna's pitch-black eyes. "Is this your own idea, or is this Charles' idea?"

"It's my own idea. That brat has no time to handle what's going on down here. Of course, do a great job, and I can blindfold Charles and send him into your room."

Margaret stood up and glared at Anna. "Are you trying to humiliate me?"

Anna let out a chuckle and said, "I actually don't understand. Why are you resistant to that idea? Do you think he's dirty? You know that the other governors are far more depraved, right?"

"Those governors are devoid of even the most basic principles, which is why their reigns are always short-lived. Meanwhile, the Cavendish family has the deepest history throughout the Northern Seas."

"That's right, that's right…" Anna nodded in approval and said, "Those with principles are always better than those without. Anyway, we've digressed. Answer me, would you rather be loyal to me or loyal to Julio, who is in the distant Eastern Seas?"

Margaret put her hands together quietly, and her ample chest rose and fell as she was immersed in her contemplation. After a while, she said, "I still think we should focus on the ongoing crisis. We can talk about anything else once the crisis is resolved."

"Don't worry. Charles has already found the darkness, and he's heading there as we speak. Once he retrieves the darkness, the Subterranean Sea's crisis will be resolved.

"It's fine if you don't want to answer me today," Anna said, "Think it through before giving me an answer. Anyway, I have to go. I have to talk with the other governors," Anna said. She clapped lightly and vanished before Margaret.