Chapter 125 Archibald ocean

Chapter 125 Archibald ocean
The air grew heavy. Karlison took one aggressive step forward, his hand already clenched into a fist.

"Come on, pretty boy…"

Then Mei Mei froze.

A thick, suffocating killing intent slammed into her like an invisible tidal wave. It was cold, sharp, and utterly primal, the kind that belonged to someone who had already decided on slaughter. Her blood ran ice-cold.

For a split second, her vision warped. She saw Karlison’s body torn violently in half, blood spraying across the dock as the white-haired boy stood motionless, eyes glowing with merciless power.

Mei Mei shook her head sharply, dispelling the horrifying illusion. Karlison was still alive, still posturing. But her instincts screamed at her louder than any rational thought.

“Karlison! Stand down!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

Karlison turned toward her, confusion written all over his face. “What? Mei Mei, I was just--”

“I said stand down and step away from them,” she ordered firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Now.”

He stared at her, utterly bewildered. “Why? These idiots--”

“Obey,” she snapped, her tone brooking no further discussion. “Go back to the ship and help the others offload the cargo. I will handle this.”

“Forgive me for being too forward and brash. I am usually a people person and I would like to understand your predicament better…”

Karlison’s mouth opened and closed. He looked genuinely stunned. Mei Mei, the same Mei Mei who rarely showed mercy, was apologizing to strangers and pulling him back? The humiliation burned in his chest. He shot Vandal a venomous glare, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Anger simmered beneath his skin as he turned on his heel.

“Fine,” he grumbled through gritted teeth, storming back toward the boat. “Whatever you say, Leader.”

Mei Mei ignored his resentment and stepped forward gracefully, her expression shifting into a warm, disarming smile. She extended a slender hand toward Vandal.

“My name is Mei Mei. I also apologize for Karlison’s rude behavior. He can be overzealous at times. I hope you weren’t too inconvenienced.”

Vandal studied her carefully for a moment before accepting the handshake. Her grip was surprisingly firm.

Sabine watched the exchange warily, while Jaclynn and Chan exchanged uneasy glances.

Mei Mei’s sharp eyes softened as she tilted her head. “So, where exactly are you headed? Perhaps we can be of assistance.”

Vandal glanced briefly at Sabine before answering. “We’re heading north. While we’re at sea, we’ll specify the exact location where we’d like to stop. We’re willing to pay for any trouble or stress caused. We simply need safe transportation.”

A bright smile bloomed on Mei Mei’s face.

“In that case, allow me to offer you a ride. Our ship is heading north anyway. It would be no trouble at all.”

The offer stunned everyone present. The sailors who had been kneeling on the dock looked on with open ridicule and disbelief, muttering among themselves about how these ragged travelers had suddenly gained favor with a core disciple of the Devourer’s Choir.

Without waiting for further discussion, Mei Mei gestured elegantly toward the boat. “Please, come aboard.”

“Thank you for your hospitality. We will surely pay you well for your services.”

As Vandal’s group followed her onto the deck, the sailors’ mocking whispers grew louder. Mei Mei paused at the edge of the dock, as if remembering something.

“Ah… I almost forgot about the sailors.”

She turned back toward the eight men still kneeling on the pier. With a casual wave of her palm, she began weaving intricate hand signs. The seawater around the dock surged upward in response to her resonance, coiling like living serpents before rapidly freezing into thick blocks of ice. In seconds, the sailors were completely encased from the neck down, only their heads exposed. Their eyes widened in pure terror.

Mei Mei’s voice remained sweet, almost playful. “It’s either you open your mouths of your own accord… or I do it for you.”

The eight sailors immediately began begging and pleading, tears streaming down their faces. “Please, Miss! Mercy! We were wrong--”

She raised a single delicate finger.

To their horror, their jaws locked open against their will. No matter how hard they struggled, they could not close their mouths.

One by one, Mei Mei carried out her promise.

The dock soon filled with the sounds of agony.

Tearing sounds ensued.

Vandal’s group watched in stunned silence. Sabine quickly looked away, her face pale. A visible chill ran down Jaclynn’s spine as she gripped the railing tighter. Chan’s usual bravado had completely vanished.

In that moment, they all reached the same conclusion:

Behind her sweet, sunny demeanor and captivating smile, Mei Mei was utterly ruthless.

\---

In a dark cave not far from the resonance council, the leader of the pious clan sat on his bamboo chair. A smaller frog man bent on one knee as he gave his report. He informed the leader about the latest development within the Fourth Fortress of the resonance council. Apparently the grand elder had been taken to trial to be punished severely for negligence and loss of important prisoners.

“So you mean to say, out of the two women who were to be bred by my son, one is dead and the other is now in the custody of the other fortresses, and you don’t know which fortress?”

“Yes, yes, my lord,” the frog warrior said in a timid croaked voice.

“And what do you expect me to do with that information?” Lord Ayargajin asked as he stood up slowly and walked over to the warrior. He towered over the trembling warrior.

“My lord… I… I don’t know,” the warrior stammered.

“I don’t know either. Your information is useless, as is your life,” Ayargajin said as he opened his mouth. His tongue wrapped around the warrior before the warrior could react, and he swallowed him whole. The rest of the frog warriors flinched as they watched what happened.

Then he pointed at another frog warrior.

“You shall take his place. Do not disappoint me like your predecessor.”

“I want to know where the other woman is and I need you to pass a message to Rajab. Tell him I need another woman to replace the dead one and ask him when we can attack.”