The World Is Mine For The Taking

Chapter 975 - 148 - Bigger Plan (3)

Well, I figured it would be better to keep her out of the cell and let her breathe some air. The dampness and darkness of that place didn’t suit her at all. The moment I unlocked the door and stepped aside, she immediately came out and clutched my hand tightly, like she’d been afraid I’d vanish if she let go.

Her grip was strong—strong enough that I could still feel the pressure through my arm—but it wasn’t the same overwhelming force she had when her ability was active. Even so, that raw strength was still there, just hidden beneath her softer touch. What caught me off guard was how warm she felt. It wasn’t just physical warmth either... it was something that pulsed faintly from her, almost alive. For some reason, being near her made me feel oddly calm, even though her kind could crush a man’s skull without much effort.

Her appearance now was completely different from when we first met. Back then, she was all rage and ferocity. She was like a walking storm. Now, her black hair, slightly messy and damp, framed her face in soft strands. Her skin had that light green tint unique to ogres, smooth yet with a faint toughness beneath the surface. She wore only a thin upper cloth that wrapped tightly around her chest, hiding her bare breasts just enough, and a short skirt that barely reached mid-thigh, showing off her toned, sculpted legs that looked like they could crush steel.

Yet despite that powerful frame, there was something so disarming about the way she held onto me. Her body pressed close, her warmth seeping through my clothes. And even though she looked hard and strong, the feeling of her against me was soft. She really was surprisingly soft.

"Where are we going, Husband? Are we going to have baby-making now?" she asked with a curious tilt of her head, her bright yellow eyes glimmering with innocence that didn’t match her words at all.

I couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly. Although the idea of baby-making didn’t sound bad—especially coming from her lips—I had other things in mind right now. There were still too many things to sort out... like where we were even headed next.

And that destination... turned out to be something I never thought I’d see in my entire life. A mermaid.

Yeah, a real mermaid.

She swam gracefully in a massive pool, her movements fluid and hypnotic, like she was dancing with the water itself. Her laughter—or rather, the faint sound of it echoing across the surface—was light, almost musical. She looked completely at peace, gliding through the clear water with her tail flicking softly behind her. Compared to the filthy, cramped tub she’d been kept in before, this pool must’ve felt like heaven.

Her name was Serune Kalriss. Even her name had an elegant ring to it. It was graceful, almost royal. Han had told me that she was royalty, a princess of the Mermaid Kingdom. The reason she was staying here for now was simple... I still had no way to send her home. The Dark Sea was too far, and the logistics were a nightmare. We couldn’t exactly carry a pool on a helicopter—well, we could, but definitely not with her in it. It’d be dangerous as hell, not only for her but for everyone on board. Amon might be good at flying, but not that good.

And besides, the Dark Sea wasn’t a place you just strolled into. That region was chaos itself because the sky were always dark, storms raging day and night like the heavens were endlessly weeping. To get her there safely, we’d have to travel by land all the way to the shore, then hire people who knew how to navigate those cursed waters. It wasn’t something we could rush.

I watched Serune as she swam, unable to look away. Her long, flowing blue hair shimmered with every movement, like silk caught under sunlight. Small fins poked out slightly from the sides of her head, almost like translucent wings, fluttering gently with the water. Her tail was striking as well. It was a mix of red and faint green, glistening every time it broke through the surface. Aside from her aquatic features, her face was human. Beautiful, almost heartbreakingly so.

When she finally noticed me, she broke through the surface, water dripping down her hair and shoulders. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled—softly and sweetly—and waved. For some reason, my lower body reacted instantly, an involuntary tingling that spread down my spine. I didn’t need anyone to tell me why. Mermaids had this natural, inborn allure. It was a kind of sensual charm that pulled men in without effort. They were like the succubi of the sea, and no man was immune to that. Not even me.

She gestured at me, curious about my visit. The way she moved her hands was cute. It was almost teasing. Since her voice carried a dangerous hypnotic magic that could charm any man, we agreed she’d communicate with me through sign language. Her voice was a weapon and it was one I couldn’t risk hearing.

"I came to visit you," I said, smiling. "Just checking in before I head out for a while."

She didn’t reply, just gave a small smile and nodded, her eyes soft and understanding. That was her way of saying, be careful. Ever since I rescued her from the slave market, I’d gotten better at reading her emotions. We didn’t need words anymore.

After chatting for a while, I let her be and watched her swim again. She looked happy there, truly happy. Even if this pool was still far smaller than the ocean she longed for, it was freedom compared to the prison she came from.

"Husband, is she your woman?" the ogre suddenly asked beside me, tilting her head with curiosity.

"Nah, she’s not," I said. That was the truth. Serune and I were acquaintances—maybe friends at best—but definitely not lovers. Not yet, anyway. "By the way, I don’t think I asked your name, did I? What’s your name?"

"Name...? Name is Meria, Husband," she said, her voice carrying a gentle tone I didn’t expect from someone like her. "Your name, Husband?"

"Leon," I said with a small smile. "My name is Leon, Meria."

She smiled back, her expression softening even more. It was strange. Back when I fought her, she was a monster. She have a pure, destructive strength that didn’t know mercy. But now? She looked like a completely different person. Gentle. Tender. Like a woman deeply in love.

"Meria," I said quietly, meeting her eyes, "if I have other women besides you... you won’t hate it, right?"

She blinked a few times before answering, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. "Husband have many women?" she asked, scratching the back of her head. "I don’t think it’s a problem. Husband having many women means Husband is strong... making many powerful children. It’s natural for strong men to have many women. My job as one of Husband’s women is to have sex and give birth."

I paused, staring at her blankly for a moment before letting out a small laugh.

Well... I guess it wouldn’t be a problem with her, huh? That’s great.