Chapter 229: Faith

Soon, a green-skinned Sahuagin forcibly shoved aside a soldier holding a trident.

His status was clearly higher; his fins and body were noticeably larger than those of ordinary Sahuagin.

He imitated human manners, clumsily and crudely bowing to Luo De.

Then he chattered rapidly in the Sahuagin language.

Luo De understood not a single word.

The male mage still under siege spotted the Sky Sail descending and shouted urgently: "My lord! These Sahuagin are the tyrants who seized this place! They oppress civilians and slaughter the innocent—they've long been infamous! Kill them all at once!"

Only then did the male mage notice the severed limbs of Zhen Na on the ground.

His heart chilled again.

He hurriedly added: "My lord, you saw it yourself! This woman ambushed me! I had nothing to do with her actions! I never intended to attack you! My lord, please act quickly! Sahuagin are naturally cruel and vile—they must not be allowed to remain here!"

The higher-ranking Sahuagin appeared to have understood his words.

He glared viciously at the male mage and unleashed a torrent of guttural shouts—no doubt insults.

Luo De activated the 【Tremor Blade】's translation skill.

"He says this man and woman stole their offering."

Behind him, Kalistra, who had just landed the Sky Sail, spoke calmly.

She examined Zhen Na's mangled remains with keen interest.

"Offering?"

Luo De was curious.

On the current continent, that word was never a good one.

The Sahuagin before him seemed to notice his grim expression and quickly explained, chattering away.

This time, Luo De finally understood his meaning.

It seemed that over twenty years ago, after undergoing a legendary magical ritual, their main warriors died out completely, forcing them to reform.

He claimed that over these years, they had harmed not a single person along the Hansen River.

Not even a single land animal had been killed.

Even their annual winter sacrifice offerings were made using hand-carved wooden objects and jewelry or meat purchased from humans.

Throughout his speech, Kalistra's lie-detection spell showed no reaction.

Proving they spoke the truth.

Besides,

this Keshi Plain remained within the Argyll family's sphere of influence, covered by the Snow Hill Evening News.

Luo De had never seen any negative reports about nearby Sahuagin in the newspaper.

In fact, he once read an article about Sahuagin helping local residents retrieve drowned cattle and sheep.

"Sahuagin are naturally cruel aquatic intelligent beings, but this group that migrated into freshwater rivers has completely lost these traits?"

Luo De pondered silently.

Land and oceanic intelligent species usually differ greatly in temperament.

Most oceanic intelligent beings disregard morality and emotion; they are more cruel and prone to gluttony.

Whether Sahuagin, Kuo-tao fishmen, oceanic nagas, or sirens—often mistaken for mermaids—if one listed their menus,

one would find they include nearly all creatures of the continent, even their own kind.

"They believe seawater is the source of their cruelty and rage."

After checking Zhen Na's condition, Kalistra summoned an ice arrow that pierced her heart. Zhen Na's eyes widened, but she made no sound before dying utterly.

After killing her, Kalistra didn't stop—she specifically used a purification spell to cleanse the corpse and blood.

"You know these Sahuagin?"

"More famous than you think. They're the only known Sahuagin group capable of surviving in freshwater. Academies in Ethelon compete annually for their blood samples."

Really?

So the male mage just tricked me like an idiot?

Luo De's expression darkened as he glared at him.

Already barely holding on, now seeing his last hope vanish,

he suffered a magical backlash from rage, lost control of his spell shield, and was immediately captured.

The higher-ranking Sahuagin, seeing Luo De had no intention of interfering, quickly pulled out the male mage's spell satchel.

He swiftly located the offering inside.

He understood social customs well—he grabbed a handful of jewelry and a palm-sized statue, offering them as a gift to Luo De and his companions.

The jewelry was declined.

Luo De couldn't stand the fishy stench.

He took only the brown wooden statue—a figure possibly humanoid.

Why "possibly"?

Because it had only basic contours; its identity was left entirely to imagination.

From Luo De's perspective, it was a seated, bearded human.

"This is a fictional deity worshipped by the Sahuagin, named 'Hoff.'"

Said Kalistra, the Continent Encyclopedia.

"They deliberately blur the carving's details, believing that anyone who sees Hoff's true form will be possessed."

Luo De found this strange. He considered it from the perspective of divine worship and said:

"A deity without a defined appearance—can it truly influence faith and tradition? And… they seem to portray their race's god as something terrifying."

Most races depict their deities as benevolent, motherly figures.

For example, the Lizard Mother God of the lizardfolk.

She is a mother goddess who embraces every lizardfolk.

The Snow Hill Evening News once reported a scandal: a lizardfolk councilor running for deputy mayor of Nightlight was exposed for hoarding thirty-six imported magical dolls, each with a photo of the Lizard Mother God pasted on its face.

Though shocking, it proved how kind and maternal the Lizard Mother God was.

Hoff, as worshipped by the Sahuagin, was certainly an exception.

"The natural forces of the deep sea are far harsher than those on land. They may have deified a specific disaster—or perhaps they worship an unusually powerful individual from the deep sea. Sahuagin are also inherently cowardly and bullying."

Kalistra scowled:

"As for 'seeing Hoff's form leads to possession,' there are similar spells—【Name Resonance】, an eighth-rank spell. The caster sets a word; whenever anyone on the continent speaks it, the caster senses it."

Huh.

Quite powerful.

An eighth-rank spell? Luo De pondered silently.

For someone who had mastered eighth-rank spiritual magic, eighth-rank spells didn't seem so distant.

Even though his magical reserves were only second-rank.

As he thought this, Luo De glanced at Zhen Na, the super-male woman whose heart Kalistra had pierced.

"Did you find anything?"

He asked while bidding farewell to the Sahuagin.

The two leapt onto the Sky Sail, rising slowly into the air.

Kalistra uttered one word: "Bestialism."

(End of Chapter)