“Officer Sako was right. Mrs. Booker didn’t commit suicide. We found this on the body.”
In a bar outside the Red Moon Sea Police Station, Officer Sako, the lead investigator of the ‘Bubble Case,’ pulled out a small medicine bottle and handed it to the young officer, Qiwen. Inside the bottle, several white, powdery flakes were submerged in liquid.
“This is?” Qiwen squinted at the contents.
“Skin tissue from the killer.”
Qiwen frowned, looking from the bottle to Sako. “How can you be sure it belongs to the killer? It could just be something left behind after the deceased had physical contact with someone else.”
“The probability of that is nearly zero. The body and the clothes were very clean; no hair, bodily fluids, or skin tissue from a second person were found anywhere else. These small flakes were only found inside her clothes. What does that tell you? After the killer murdered Mrs. Booker, they cleaned her body but missed this part.”
“Could it be from someone else in the dressing room? Like, skin flakes drifting through the seawater onto the deceased while she was changing?”
Officer Sako shook his head. “The deceased didn’t change her clothes between the time of the incident and her death. These flakes were found inside her bra. Her bra is made of the finest baleen—it’s very tight. This tight.” He reached out and pinched Qiwen’s chest, making the young officer yelp.
“My Lord Misezong!” Qiwen, who hailed from the Bodhi Sea, invoked the name of his home sea’s deity. “Women are terrifying! They’re so ruthless to themselves!”
Sako remained unmoved by his outburst, his expression grim as he spoke deliberately. “Therefore, without physical contact and a certain degree of friction, the possibility of these drifting in through the seawater is practically zero. The killer held the deceased from the front.”
“I still think this deduction is a bit hasty...”
“You wouldn’t think so if you saw this.” As if expecting that response, Sako handed him a report.
“The genetic test results for the skin tissue?”
“Mhm.”
“Osteichthyes class, female, red curly hair, blue tail. Order, family, and species are all unknown... and there’s no record of this person in the Light Sea population registry?”
“Exactly. She has never submitted her genetic samples to any government department. There are three possibilities: one, she works for a special organization; two, she’s an illegal slave; or three, she was once an illegal slave and never officially registered after becoming a citizen. Regardless of which it is, the likelihood of her being the criminal is high. After all, this marriage had political undertones, even if the motive remains unclear. And there’s one more interesting point.” Sako handed him Mr. Booker’s deposition. “Look at this.”
“The suspect Mr. Booker mentioned... was also a female merfolk with long curly hair?”
“Yes. Let me ask you, what is the first reaction of a normal person when they hear a couple arguing?”
Qiwen read the file carefully and nodded vigorously. “If it were me, I’d step out, apologize, and then leave.”
“But she said nothing and fled faster than a thief.”
“Yes, yes! That makes perfect sense!”
“So, I won’t say it’s a hundred percent, but there’s a ninety-nine percent chance that this person is the killer. What we need to do now is check every merfolk who was present that day. We’ll start with the slaves at the Wind-Vane Palace.”
“Should we investigate Luoya University at the same time?”
“No. My professional intuition tells me there’s a subtle connection between the killer and Miss Bubble. It’s more likely she’s among the arcane students at Luoya. We’ve already startled the snake once; let’s stay quiet for a few days. We’ll wait for the killer to lower her guard, then launch a surprise raid.”
“Agreed! How long should we wait?”
“Until October 15th or 16th. On that day, even a criminal will be very happy. Because, according to news from the Holy Capital...” He whispered the rest into Qiwen’s ear.
“That makes sense!” Qiwen clapped his hands.
***
Ever since discovering that Su Yi looked exactly like her mother, Fanli had begun a massive investigation into Su Yi’s files.
Unfortunately, most documents regarding Su Yi only concerned her academic achievements. After scouring the old newspapers Mr. Hong hadn’t thrown away, she found a few other clues.
Like Sheng Tifeng Jin, Su Yi was also referred to as a “Princess.”
The modern Light Sea had no royalty, nor did it have the official title of princess. Jin’s father was the previous Dictator, and her mother was the Sovereign of the Winter-Approaching Sea. Jin herself was a noble lady and the heir to the Sovereign title. Furthermore, her demeanor and speech had always been indistinguishable from a fairy-tale princess, earning her the love of the people and the honorary title.
Su Yi was called a princess because her brother was Su Shiye. Her beauty could make money, and her intellect could make money, yet she devoted her entire heart to academia. The things she worried about all day seemed meaningless to many girls, forming a sharp contrast with the canary-like, noble, and fragile Jin. Consequently, those who championed female independence and freedom also called her “Princess.”
Tragically, a few months ago, Su Yi had traveled to the surface and contracted a highly contagious viral pneumonia. She had been in isolation for a long time and hadn't appeared in public since. Reports said she was in critical condition, and rumors even claimed she had already passed away.
Ordinary people likely couldn't meet Su Yi. But thinking that she might be her mother, Fanli’s aversion to the ocean wasn't as strong as before; she even felt a sense of closeness.
One day, Mr. Hong was out, and Mrs. Hong looked exhausted. After dinner, the younger Hong sister excitedly invited Dangdang to go out and play. Dangdang said she had other plans for the evening and suggested she ask Fanli instead.
“Ah, Fanli! Why didn't I think of Fanli!” The younger Hong sister rushed to Fanli’s side like a flying fish, trailing a flurry of snow-like bubbles. “Dearest Fanli, will you go out with me on Gentday?”
“I want to rest at home.” Because she had no money.
“Why? It’s a perfectly good day off! Let’s go to the Marine Trade Expo and the slave market, okay? Gentday is the first day of the Expo. You just moved to Luoya, so you definitely haven't been, right? Only Luoya has it in all of Light Sea. We’re the commercial center of the whole sea, you know—even Saint Yegana doesn't have one. There are so many new things this year: the latest squalene cosmetics, beluga fat soap from the Ice City, shark silk and golden seawater pearls from the Bodhi Sea... Oh, and they’ve added a lot of shipwreck exhibits!”
Of everything she said, Fanli only caught one keyword: “Shipwrecks? Are they ships that sank near here?”
“There are shipwrecks from other sea areas too, though not many. There are also lots of treasures on display.”
“Human shipwrecks?”
“What other creature besides humans builds ships?”
Great! The merfolk’s names for different sea regions were completely different from humans’, so Fanli had never been sure where she was, and she didn't dare ask too much about humans. However, if she studied the positions of three or more shipwrecks, she could establish stable points for triangulation, deduce her coordinates in the human world, and then cross-reference them with a map of the Light Sea to find the East Pacific. Then, she would just need to take underwater transport straight to the seabed nearest her home, work there to save money, and wait until the ban was lifted...
“I’ll go!” Fanli bounced up.
Dangdang raised her hand. “Count me in for the Expo, I’m going too!”
“Then I’ll only go to the Expo during the day. I won't go to the slave market,” Fanli said.
“Don't be like that, go wander around with them,” Dangdang said, winking frantically at Fanli. She pulled her into the stairwell and whispered, “Mrs. Hong happens to be out on Gentday. I want to have a date with my boyfriend at home that night, and I don't want the little sister to see. Help me out.”
Fanli blinked. “Boyfriend?”
Dangdang held her arm, her face flushed pink. “Yes, I’m in love. He’s a very, very good man.”
“Really? Congratulations! You found a boyfriend so quickly. Tell me, what makes him so good?”
“He’s handsome, romantic, and has a charming wildness about him.” Dangdang cupped her face with one hand, looking utterly enchanted. “And he has a beautiful daughter.”
When she mentioned the “daughter,” the pink on her face turned to a deep crimson, and she was beside herself with excitement.
Fanli’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Wait, I got all the points before that, but what the hell is with the ‘beautiful daughter’?”
“I knew you’d react like that. But Fanli, try to set aside your past concepts and worldly views for a moment and think seriously: don't you think a man with children is very charming?”
“Not at all.”
“Don't answer so fast, think again. Not even a little?”
Fanli closed her eyes and did as she was told, comparing “single man,” “married man,” “married with children,” and “divorced with children.” She felt the charm decreased progressively. She opened her eyes and said solemnly, “Not even a little.”
Dangdang looked disappointed but didn't give up. “Look at it this way. You must have met boys you like at school, right? Imagine them building a house for a child, and then a scene where they’re holding a child they had with another woman. Think of that scene, then tell me your answer.”
For some reason, Xinghai’s face appeared in her mind, along with him holding a child in a house. Fanli shook her head. “If I liked him, it would be because of him, and it would have nothing to do with whether he has a child. If I like a boy, of course it’s better if he holds *my* child. If he had a child with another woman, I wouldn't like him at all.”
“How strange. A man who built a nest for another woman and had a baby is clearly very charming. And doesn't the number of women he’s had just prove how sexy and resourceful he is? Hmph, I don't believe you don't like men like that. You’re just embarrassed to admit it, thinking that kind of fantasy is shameful.”
*I’m really not embarrassed to admit it...* The desire to monopolize someone else’s territory is an animal instinct, and a human one as well. Therefore, in classic business models, highlighting a product’s popularity is the most common sales tactic. For example, casting big stars in a movie and hyping up their fan count—it doesn't matter if the script is a bit weak. Or setting a countdown for orders in an online shop, emphasizing the number of people buying—it doesn't matter if the quality is a bit poor... But given the current speed of human civilization, this method is outdated. Nowadays, people care more about the quality of the film itself; whether there’s a popular star is no longer the standard for the public’s decision to watch. And marketing tactics like flash sales only attract less-educated middle-aged housewives.
Animals don't know what is good; they only judge the quality of a thing by “what others like” or “how many people like it,” so they love to plunder. The higher a human’s intelligence, the more they can escape instinct and cultivate independent judgment, rather than rushing to grab something just because they see others want it.
But seeing the sparkle in Dangdang’s eyes, Fanli couldn't bear to disappoint her. She could only pat her shoulder and say profoundly, “That makes sense.”
***
Since the assassination attempt, Xinghai had indeed insisted on being Fanli’s protector every day.
In the morning, he would wait for her at the first intersection west of her house at the scheduled time. After school, he would wait for her at the school gate. He didn't say much along the way—sometimes nothing at all—but he made her feel warm and safe.
After several days of this, Fanli felt quite bad and decided to do something to thank him.
She flipped through Mrs. Hong’s recipes and found a dish from the Bodhi Sea called “Flame Demon Sweet Crab.” The name was intimidating, but it was actually a very beautiful dish. The method was similar to a famous dish from her father’s hometown, so she decided to make it for him.
Flame Demon Sweet Crab was simple to make. For her first time cooking, choosing something simple was safer.
She went to the market and bought a fiddler crab from the mangroves. She used a seawater refiner to extract a jar of seawater so salty it would make one’s tongue go numb and stuffed the crab inside to drown it. After marinating for two hours, she opened the jar; the roe and meat were distinct in color, shimmering like jelly. She added a bit of fresh water and froze it. An hour later, it was filled with tiny ice crystals. She cut it into pieces, placed them in a sealed shell bowl, and finished.
She had intended to go downstairs and give it to Xinghai directly, letting him open it on the way to school. But as soon as she went down, she saw Dangdang and Xinghai chatting at the intersection. She quickly hid her hands behind her back, concealing the shell bowl, and wanted to run back home like a schoolgirl who had done something wrong to find a bag to cover her “masterpiece.”
Unfortunately, Dangdang called out to her. She had no choice but to walk over.
“Is Xinghai waiting for you here? Ooh, you two have something going on!” Dangdang stroked her large braid like a villain stroking his mustache.
Now Fanli was even more afraid to take out the shell bowl; Dangdang would tease her to death. Consequently, she had to take turns hiding the bowl behind her back with either hand as she boarded the transport vessel to school with them. Several times, the poor bowl was nearly knocked to the floor by the crowd, making her heart flutter with fear.
She finally endured until they got off the transport and entered the Luoya University campus. Dangdang finally headed toward the Conservatory of Music.
Further ahead, they would be near the College of Arcane Arts; she had to keep her distance from Xinghai. Just as she was about to take out the shell bowl, a purple-tailed female merfolk suddenly swam over and said timidly to Xinghai, “Xinghai, about the arcane class... I-I have some questions I don't quite understand. Could I ask you for some help?”
“What questions?”
Seeing Xinghai look down to answer her, the girl quickly lowered her head as well. “The professor’s lecture was too hard to understand. I feel so stupid, there’s so much I don't get... Do you have time at noon? I could bring my textbook to find you, if that’s okay?”
“You can tell me now. I can answer them.”
“But there are really a lot of questions, and they’re very difficult...”
“Oh? Difficult?” Xinghai’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gave Fanli a playful glance. “If they’re difficult, you should ask this double-S top student. She’s much better than I am.”
Fanli’s lip twitched.
This guy probably didn't know she was a total fraud.
Fortunately, the purple-tailed girl looked at Fanli and shook her head, her eyelashes trembling. Combined with her small frame, she looked quite pitiful. “I heard the top student doesn't like answering questions... I... I’ll just ask the questions now...”
*So, the drunkard’s interest is not in the wine.* Fanli couldn't help but smile, instead watching Xinghai’s performance with an amused gaze. Xinghai was perfectly composed. He walked to a less crowded spot by the road and patiently answered every question for the girl. “...Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—the wavelengths decrease in that order, while the frequencies increase. The highest frequency light is Dawning Light, followed by Golden Radiance and X-rays. These are visible to high-tier merfolk but invisible to lower-tier merfolk and other creatures. They’re often used in military arcanum...”
“Then, excuse me, Xinghai, can humans see them?”
“Of course not.”
“Oh, okay, okay...”
“Here.” Xinghai drew a circle on a diagram. “Increasing the intensity of light can increase the number of dharma particles it strikes out of a specific metal. High-frequency light strikes out more; red and yellow light cannot. Different lights pair with different arcane arts. To find the maximum damage, write the formula...”
To ensure she understood, he spoke very slowly. But the girl wasn't looking at the book at all; she spent the entire time resting her chin in her hand, her head tilted as she stared at Xinghai’s profile.
Twenty-five minutes passed, and he had answered all her questions. She probably didn't even know if she understood, but she looked happy as if she had. Just as Xinghai was about to leave with Fanli, the girl suddenly pulled something out and handed it to him with both hands. “Um, this is for you...”
Fanli looked closely—it was the exact same type of shell bowl!
“This is?” Xinghai looked down.
“It’s sweet crab I made. It’s... it’s a thank-you gift...” After opening the bowl, her neck turned red, even more vivid than the crab roe inside.
This was too coincidental; even the food they made was exactly the same! However, the crab in the girl’s bowl was clearly much more beautiful. Not only were the ingredients better and the colors more vibrant than Fanli’s, but it was also decorated with delicate colored seaweed and candies. The entire crab was wrapped in kelp, looking like a refined gift.
Xinghai smiled. “There’s no need. It’s normal for classmates to help each other. I appreciate the gesture, but thank you.”
“But I made this specifically for you early this morning...”
“Actually, I don't like eating crab. I was allergic to it as a child, and even though I’m fine now, I still don't care to eat it.”
“I see...” The girl looked disappointed, but given his reason, there was nothing she could do. She could only bow to him, thank him again, and leave with her books.
Fanli felt a mix of disappointment and relief. Luckily, she hadn't given him her sweet crab, or it would have been a massive embarrassment.
“Why have you been hiding your hands all day?” Xinghai turned to look at her.
She wedged the shell between her backpack and her back and raised both hands to prove her innocence. “I haven't! Nothing at all.” She really had to praise herself for her quick thinking!
They swam together for a while. Seeing the College of Arcane Arts building just ahead, where they were about to part ways, Xinghai suddenly stopped. “Can you take it out now?”
Fanli was shocked. “Take what out?”
“The thing you’re going to give me.”
Fanli felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. *How... how does he know?*
“I don't have anything to give you!”
“Fine, you have nothing to give me. Then how about taking that thing out from under your backpack? Doesn't your back hurt from wedging it there?”
“It doesn't hurt. I could wedge it there for a day and a night.”
“A day and a night? Impressive. You could use that skill for other things.” Xinghai reached out his hand. “Give it here.”
“No.” Fanli instinctively backed away.
“If you don't give it to me, I’m going to have to take it by force.”
Fanli had no desire for an inter-species brawl. Forced into a corner, she reluctantly pulled out the shell bowl and handed it to him, rubbing her sore back. “Why be so persistent? You don't even like it...”
He opened the shell and took a look, his eyes filling with warmth. “Who said I don't like it?” He picked up a piece of crab meat with chopsticks, put it straight into his mouth, and said indistinctly, “It’s delicious.”
Fanli blinked. “Didn't you say you don't like eating crab?”
“That depends on who made it.”
“Aren't that girl and I... both merfolk?”
“Mhm.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Yes.” He just kept his head down, eating, his tone casual. “You’re different.”
His voice sat between that of a boy and a man—low, but not coarse; rather, it was somewhat clear and bright. It sounded very pleasant. Although his features were soft, his jawline and brow bone were sharp, and he ate with large, hearty bites, creating a beautiful sense of contrast.
Fanli wanted to ask, “Why am I different?” but after staring at him for a long while, the words never left her mouth.
Her intuition told her that if she asked, it would become very difficult to leave this world in the future.
They stood in front of the seaweed garden.
Many students were currently rushing to class, so there weren't many people here. Faculty and students were all coming and going in a hurry. It felt as if time had slowed down just for the two of them, its rhythm matching her rose-colored short hair swaying gently in the seawater. Meanwhile, through the filter of the ocean, shimmering light carved distinct marks onto his profile.
In the distance, Feisi and Lansi happened to pass by and saw the scene.
“That silly girl,” Lansi clicked his tongue. “She just won't listen to advice.”
“Sigh, if you look past the fact that Xinghai is a hybrid, they actually look good together.”
Lansi looked over again.
Xinghai’s proportions were excellent; he had the “long tail” that many girls loved most. His tail fin moved with the same slow, efficient speed as all sharks. Yet his aura was clear, nothing like a shark at all.
Fanli had a slender waist and a mischievous look in her eyes. Her translucent blue tail fin flicked irregularly, and she swung her backpack straps with both hands, looking like a young girl overcome with shyness.
He held the food she had made, appearing to eat seriously, occasionally looking up at her with a gaze that was intensely devoted. Her cheeks were flushed, and she couldn't stop smiling; there was a small flutter of excitement in her eyes, mixed with a bit of worry... This scene of a boy and a girl facing each other in front of the seaweed garden, yet neither looking directly at the other—any candid photo of it could serve as an illustration in a bedtime fairy-tale book.
“They do look like a match, don't they? It feels like they could be in a serious relationship,” Feisi nudged her boyfriend, saying uncertainly. “The kind where they get married after graduation?”
“I don't trust sharks, not even if they’re only fifty percent. But... forget it, let’s go. I just hope Xinghai doesn't hurt her.”
Lansi sighed and pulled Feisi toward the teaching building.
At the same time, Fanli also had a nervous premonition.
She had never been in love and wasn't sharp enough to recognize her own feelings. But subconsciously, she knew that constantly feeling nervous, happy, and sighing frequently around the same boy was not a good sign.
Some conversations could not be allowed to continue... She looked at Xinghai and sighed silently again, releasing a few bubbles.
“Fanli.”
Startled by him calling her name, she straightened her back. “Ah?”
“What’s wrong with your heartbeat? It suddenly sped up, and now it’s suddenly slowed down,” Xinghai said calmly, still not looking up as he enjoyed the meal.
“...That’s because I’m almost late! I’m going to class, bye!” She was terrified of the predatory race’s freakish sensory abilities. She tugged on her backpack straps and swam away as fast as she could.
***
**Glossary**
