novelraw Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Leon had already prepared his mental defenses and come up with two possible scenarios.
One was that the Mermaid Queen would be breathtakingly beautiful, even more stunning than the young mermaid maidens. The other was that she might resemble the elder mermaid matron he’d met before.
But when he actually saw the Mermaid Queen, all of those defenses instantly collapsed.
Her upper body was like that of a human, with milk-white skin that gleamed with a supple sheen. Her figure was slender yet brimming with a sense of strength, the perfect mermaid lines complemented by an aura of power that could make even the top supermodels pale in comparison.
Her lower half was a long, elegant fish tail clad in golden scales. Draped over it was a chain skirt made from alternating black and white pearls, radiating nobility.
But from the neck up, where a face of world-stunning beauty should have been, was instead the visage of an anglerfish. This absurd combination suddenly made Leon understand the true meaning of “Lu Bu riding a dog.”
Right now, Leon only wanted to ask if this Mermaid Queen happened to be a fellow Earthling—and perhaps once lived near a certain island nation.
Otherwise, how could she look so fierce? With a head like that, Leon simply couldn’t believe she hadn’t drunk nuclear wastewater.
“Guardian, it’s been a long time.”
The Mermaid Queen’s voice was like celestial music. Each word was like a shimmering note, lilting and melodious.“Ah…”
This time, Leon couldn’t help but sigh. There was no helping it—her top-tier figure and siren-like voice would be irresistible qualities for any normally-faced woman. But paired with the head of an anglerfish, it was just… a tragedy.
Rasmodius gave Leon a puzzled look, not understanding what nonsense he was thinking. Still, he maintained proper decorum before the Queen.
“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty. It’s truly wonderful to see you still so full of life.”
“Hahaha, thank you. I don’t know why, but the older I get, the younger I feel.” Her laughter was enough to make Leon’s ears tingle. If this kind of laugh were broadcast in public, it would probably need a censor bar.
After chatting with Rasmodius, the Mermaid Queen turned her gaze to Leon.
“This must be the adventurer you told me about, correct? If I remember right, his name is Leon?”
“That’s right.” Leon nodded, keeping his composure as he looked into that anglerfish face.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“There’s no need for such formality. You helped the Merfolk reclaim their relics. That makes you an honored guest of our people.” The Mermaid Queen offered him a reassuring smile.
Then she beckoned to the elder mermaid matron and whispered a few words in her ear. The matron swam quickly to the area behind the oyster-shell bed and returned with a small chest, placing it in front of Leon.
“This is a token of our gratitude. Please don’t refuse.”
As she finished speaking, the matron opened the chest, revealing its contents.
It was filled to the brim with pearls—round, lustrous, each the size of a lychee. Leon quickly counted and saw at least twenty of them.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Leon wasted no time in accepting the chest and slipping it straight into his System Backpack.
If it had been a chest of gold jewelry, he might have declined once or twice to show modesty. But pearls? Those he could never refuse—not when the Mermaid Queen might take him seriously if he declined. He wasn’t about to take that risk.
At this moment, even with her anglerfish head, Leon found her far more radiant. She had simply given too much.
These were pearls—the best gifts in Stardew Valley. Almost everyone loved them. Their value alone far surpassed that of diamonds from the mines, rivaled only by the Prismatic Shard in both price and rarity.
Though Leon wasn’t sure of the exact real-world price of pearls, he was certain they wouldn’t be cheap.
His decisiveness even took Rasmodius by surprise. He had expected Leon to at least feign reluctance, but before he could say anything, Leon had already stashed them away.
The Mermaid Queen seemed pleased.
“It looks like you’re satisfied with this gift. That’s good. The ocean has so much to offer, but I didn’t know your preferences. I just chose one of the most popular treasures among others, and it seems I chose well.”
“As long as it’s from Your Majesty, I’ll like it.” Leon’s attitude was excellent. After all, she was the benefactor—flattery was a small price to pay for wealth.
“You’re a sweet-tongued young man. Handsome, too. I think I might rather like you.” The Queen’s praise was direct.
Leon instantly sobered. Money might make the Queen seem charming for a moment, but her anglerfish face was still well beyond his limits. So he replied quickly.
“It’s my honor, Your Majesty. But I’m just an ordinary human farmer—unworthy of a noble Queen.”
“You needn’t be so humble. You are an honored guest of the Merfolk now—a friend. We can speak as equals.” She smiled, attempting to set him at ease.
“Your servant is humbled.” Leon gave a bow with clasped hands, not daring to meet her gaze.
“Alright, Your Majesty, please stop teasing the boy,” Rasmodius finally interjected. “We’ve met, and the Neptune Greatsword has already been delivered to the elder. We are not sea creatures—if there’s nothing else, I should take him back to land.”
“I had prepared a banquet for you both. Will the Guardian and young Leon not stay?” the Mermaid Queen asked, sounding a bit disappointed.
“No. I imagine the affairs of the City of Elements matter far more than entertaining us,” Rasmodius reminded her.
“Indeed. The Shadow People must pay the price.” At this, her tone grew cold and serious. Then she seemed to recall something, producing a palm-sized spiral conch from… somewhere, and tossing it to Leon.
“Leon, take this. If you ever encounter trouble at sea, blow it. Any mermaid who hears the call will come to your aid. Consider this another part of your reward.”
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