During the day, the Shenlo Sea would of course show its flawless beauty. Clear waters churned, accompanied by flying seagulls and whistling ships, set against a azure sky, the ocean appeared vibrant, peaceful, and elegant.
But at night, the Shenlo Sea revealed a more grotesque side. The once light blue water turned murky and thick, a deep purple, with unnameable creatures writhing within. Just catching a glimpse of them was enough to send one's heart racing with fear.
Of course, "people" couldn't see these forms. Only Dulmi could see them.
His world was different from others'.
Perhaps during the day this situation would improve a bit, but at night it became increasingly obvious. And as time passed, perhaps the Outer Zone's influence would eventually seep into his daytime as well.
...Dulmi spotted a group of white-robed people standing by the port.
Above, the sun's brilliance was gradually fading, while a full moon slowly emerged. This group of white-robed people closed their eyes in unison, stretching out their hands as if to embrace the moon.
They prayed loudly: "Night is Your skirt, radiance is Your dance. We walk on Your path, under Your illumination. We offer sacrifices: our bodies, our souls, our memories. Please forgive us!"
A group of devotees.
They were preparing to depart from Nightingale for Fogland.
From Dulmi's experiences in the Outer Zone the night before, it was clear that the Shenlo Association of Nightingale had arranged their ships, accompanying personnel, and specific itinerary.
But wasn't it the Sea Moon now?
The Shenlo Association didn't recommend sailing during the Sea Moon, yet they were willing to provide convenience for this fleet—this seemed to be going against the god they believed in.
From the attitude of that tour guide during the day, it was clear that these people from the Shenlo Association... their respect for the Sea Mirror seemed quite superficial, even far less devout than these white-robed people were to their god.
Of course, after all, they were just "working" at the Shenlo Association.
At this moment, the mist at the far end of the street suddenly surged, and another group of people approached. These were people from the Shenlo Association, as Dulmi spotted that familiar fish-headed person.
Dulmi casually blended into this group, then said to the fish-headed person: "Hello?"
"...Hello?" The fish-headed person looked at him suspiciously, "Who are you?"
The fish-headed person had no memory of Dulmi dying in front of him the day before, shaking his head in confusion, not understanding this black-haired young man's intentions. The Outer zone would erase such memories, making each of Durmi's nights a new beginning for this world.
"Nothing, I'm just passing by."
The fish-headed person was about to call for someone.
So Dulmi asked at just the right moment: "You arranged the accompanying personnel for these white-robed people, and ended up assigning yourself?"
The fish-headed person froze, his mouth opening as if to ask something—but what? Ask why this stranger suddenly appeared out of nowhere? Ask how he knew that he was responsible for arranging these things?
Without realizing it, they had separated from the group, falling behind everyone else.
...Derek Marvel stared at this black-haired, green-eyed young man.
The stranger was handsome and talkative. His most striking feature was those very eye-catching, pale green eyes, no, rather, they were like a pale green flame burning in his pupils.
When those eyes looked over, Derek felt a subtle unease, as if all his secrets had been seen through.
"But then again, you must be an elite in the Shenlo Association?" the young man said, gesturing vaguely at Derek's head. "You look very special."
Derek didn't quite grasp his meaning, but those green eyes held a cold scrutiny that made him uncomfortable.
Suddenly, he recalled the power he had obtained—a believer's ability, just a notch above a novice. Once, he had been proud of it, but now it filled him with disgust.
This power could turn him into a fish-man.
After becoming a fish-man, even if he had never touched water before, he would immediately master swimming skills without any instruction, and could even breathe underwater. In the fish-man state, his body would become stronger, and his senses more acute.
But that was useless. It truly was for him, because he didn't need to go to sea. Among all the powers of the believers, he happened to get the most useless one. Moreover, the fish-man appearance was so ugly that Derek was unwilling to demonstrate his power even in front of his family.
Now, this young man's gaze seemed to say, yes, that's really too ugly.
...Derek shuddered violently.
Working for the Shenlo Association had its pros and cons.
The good part was that he had a decent salary, a leisurely life, and a social status that could be considered above average. If lucky—and he indeed had this luck—he could also obtain power bestowed by the Sea Mirror.
As for the bad side...
Countless times, he learned that colleagues who left would never return; countless times, he browsed through the files stored in the association, looking at those bloody death figures, imagining the terrifying stories behind the numbers.
Would he be one of them too?