For the next three days, Lansi and Earl Vale stayed in uneasy harmony.
During those three days, Lansi considered running away. But the high-strength glass was just that—high-strength. It wasn't like coral bone, which looked solid but was actually brittle. Lansi was trapped inside a glass box. After searching every inch for a weakness, he couldn't find any place to break through.
Earl Vale seemed relieved about this glass prison. He showed no hesitation or urgency to take extra protective measures or move Lansi to a more secure enclosure. Everything stayed the same.
Interestingly, even though Earl Vale no longer had direct contact with Reims, he visited the glass box every day, separated only by a pane of glass. He spoke to Reims softly, almost like a parent comforting a child.
Every night, Earl Vale brought a fairy tale book and told Lansi various stories, along with tales from his own past.
Although Lansi didn't like Earl Vale, he couldn't deny that the stories gave him insight into the world beyond the glass box. So each time Earl Vale told a story, Lansi lay close by, listening quietly.
Lansi's willingness to listen encouraged Earl Vale to share more. He even forgot that in his eyes, the white mermaid had the intelligence of a ten-year-old and began bragging about how he once manipulated people on the black market.
Perhaps every successful person likes to share their family history to bask in the envy of others.
Really, too narcissistic.
Lansi thought as he listened with a mix of amusement and disgust.
Based on what Earl Vale mentioned, Lansi pieced together a rough timeline:
About fifty years ago, the world began its descent into chaos.
The key event was the emergence of sea monsters after a massive sunspot storm. Ships began sinking, and sea levels rose.
Following the sea monster outbreak, weather patterns became abnormal on land—floods and droughts occurred simultaneously. A virus spread among humans, shutting down their cells. Scientists were powerless as half the population died.
At the same time, solar radiation and other factors caused animals and plants to mutate and attack humans.
As a result, the habitable areas for humans shrank drastically.
Five years later, a cure was developed, the virus vanished, and the surviving humans banded together to form the Survivor Alliance.
Thanks to combined efforts by state institutions, the Alliance barely protected human civilization. But resources were scarce, and life was far harsher than before.
The Alliance consisted of multiple countries. Among them, scientific research institutions wielded enormous influence, almost dictating policy.
The most famous of these labs was the Doomsday Laboratory.
The black market existed as an illegal trade hub for ordinary people.
The Alliance's leaders knew about the black market, but for the sake of maintaining surface-level harmony, they turned a blind eye.
All of this was Earl Vale's way of boasting.
Isn't that right? As the black market's leader, Earl Vale played a role connecting past and future.
He looked like a proud peacock showing off.
Lansi just stared silently.
Narcissism.
Three days later, Earl Vale finally revealed a new development.
He brought a burly man to Lansi, followed by several others who wheeled in another transparent glass box.
"This is the legendary mermaid?" the burly man muttered, stunned by the sight.
"Correct," Earl Vale said softly. "My favorite item."
He turned to the burly man and asked, "Old Tang, what do you think he's worth?"
Old Tang, apparently Earl Vale's trusted friend, rolled his eyes and replied, "You won't lose money, that's for sure."
Old Tang studied the mermaid again.
Usually, Earl Vale wouldn't show off his prized possessions before auction. Even Old Tang sensed something was off.
He urged his men to hurry and confirmed with Earl Vale: "You can't do anything with the mermaid, right?"
Earl Vale smiled without answering.
Inside the water tank, Lansi watched the group with growing unease. He knew the moment had come.
Earl Vale stood nearby, leaning on his cane, seemingly detached. But his blue eyes looked at Lansi with an odd tenderness. His men, however, were preparing to do something cruel.
It was a strange contrast.
Old Tang ordered his subordinates around. Suddenly, the glass box was opened, and a tube was inserted.
Lansi grew anxious. He twisted and turned in the confined space, lifting his head to watch the tube.
Slowly, a blue liquid flowed into the water. After a while, Lansi detected a familiar bitterness and tingling in his mouth.
They were injecting anesthetics directly into the water.
Half an hour later, Lansi lost all strength. He lay at the bottom of the glass box, his head swimming and vision blurry. He was completely powerless.
Once Lansi sank to the bottom, the water level began to drop until the tank was empty.
Lansi saw the glass box open fully. Someone approached and lifted him out.
They placed him into a smaller glass box prepared nearby.
A thick black cloth covered his view.
Then, the box was moved.
The muffling cloth cut off all sound. Lansi lay at the bottom, barely conscious, staring at the darkness above like he was trapped in a tiny black room, suffocating.
Only slight vibrations hinted at movement.
Where was he being taken?
Lansi struggled to think with his clouded mind.
An auction?
Another operation?
The fear made his heart race.
He fought the drowsiness but felt it creeping in. He instinctively reached out and scratched at the cold glass, trying to escape.
But the hard glass pulled him back to reality.
His fingers touched the smooth glass. He glanced down at his nails.
They were neatly trimmed.
His mood plummeted.
He had lost every defense for his body, and he regretted ever coming to the sea.
At the same time, he thought desperately of the black-tailed mermaid who had stayed with him.
Where was Winsor?
Would Winsor be worried?
Would Winsor get arrested or do something reckless because of him?
Lansi's thoughts spiraled in the haze of the anesthetic. Hallucinations flickered before his eyes.
He barely had time to feel sadness or fear before drowsiness overtook him again.
His eyelids grew heavy, and his consciousness slipped away.
...
"Next... final..."
"Deep Ocean... Fairy Tale..."
"Daughter of the Sea... Sunset Bay..."
...
The noise overwhelmed him.
Lansi barely opened his eyes to find himself still inside the glass box.
It was a small box, just large enough for his body. He couldn't even turn over.
His senses slowly returned, and he lifted his ear fins weakly. He heard a passionate voice outside introducing a mermaid.
White mermaid.
They were talking about him.
He pondered the question dimly.
Suddenly, the black cloth was yanked away, and a harsh light hit him. He screamed and burst into tears.
As his eyes adjusted, he looked around.
He was on a stage. Below were rows of people seated in an auditorium decorated like an opera house. Somehow, it had become an auction.
Everyone wore masks, hiding their faces but not their excitement.
When Lansi looked at the crowd, the atmosphere surged with energy.
The whispers grew into cheers and whistles as the white mermaid appeared.
Lansi's expression darkened as he understood where he was and who he had become.
Yes, he had truly been "loved."
That scumbag Earl Vale had sold him. Maybe this was his end.
His wrists were tightly shackled with silver handcuffs, chains extending from the box.
Weak from the anesthetic, Lansi slumped inside the box.
His white tail shimmered like pearls in the bright light. Hearing the crowd's cheers, he curled up slightly, covering himself with his gauzy tail fin. His weak expression looked distressed and shy—just like a fairy tale mermaid trapped in a shell.
In this doomsday world, the darkness only made people yearn for past beauty.
Who wouldn't want something beautiful?
Even if bought only to be destroyed immediately, the pleasure was supreme.
The auctioneer's face slackened for a moment after seeing the mermaid, but he quickly recovered, flushing slightly with excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our final item. The only mermaid ever hunted and caught in the entire ocean."
He adjusted his tie, disbelief clear in his voice.
"He is snow-white, 2.72 meters long, healthy and handsome."
As the auctioneer spoke, a screen dropped on stage, displaying data about Lansi's body and movements.
Lansi looked at himself on the screen, tears welling up.
"As for safety, rest assured."
The auctioneer smiled, eager.
"We performed surgery to smooth his fangs and claws, and even damaged his throat and poison sac. He is now completely harmless."
The crowd erupted.
Yes, a mermaid.
For those in power, precious and mysterious creatures were coveted trophies.
Mermaids were rare, beautiful, and dangerous—adding to their allure.
But after hearing about the expensive capture and surgery, the crowd hesitated.
No one wanted to buy a dangerous creature that might kill them later.
Still, the rich craved excitement. Life with money and power was dull.
Owning a unique sea spirit would bring status and satisfaction.
Temptation grew, and the bids soared.
"Three million!"
The auctioneer blushed and shouted, "Four million! Any higher?"
Lansi understood the bidding.
Watching the excitement was nothing like being bought by someone who truly cared.
Listening to the rising prices and hungry gazes, Lansi's anger erupted.
Ignoring his throat pain, he screamed at the crowd.
The water in the box vibrated. The glass trembled with a "click, click" resonance.
The auctioneer bent over, clutching his ears in pain.
Nearby spectators also covered their ears, dizzy and nauseous.
Lansi's scream was deadly for humans.
After a while, he coughed up blood and stopped.
His throat ached.
The auction hall fell silent.
In the control room, Old Tang frowned.
He turned to Earl Vale, sitting nearby:
"Vale, what now?"
Earl Vale's face was unreadable.
"The auction continues."
"Did you plan this?"
Old Tang frowned again, then realized:
"The rich love danger. Dangerous but non-lethal mermaids are their favorite."
Everyone knew the wealthy had gone mad.
It was a pity this beautiful mermaid wouldn't survive long after being sold.
Old Tang sighed and ordered the auctioneer to continue.
But Earl Vale's cane hand trembled.
A strange regret gnawed at him.
When the white mermaid appeared, waves of regret, irritation, and fear swept over his heart.
He struggled to control these feelings.
Seeing Lansi cough blood, Earl Vale even had the urge to rush onstage and protect him.
No, something was wrong.
Cold sweat broke out on Earl Vale's forehead as he pondered his strange preference for the white mermaid.
Why did this feeling affect all his decisions?
What had the mermaid done wrong?
He truly cared for Lansi.
Earl Vale closed his eyes and picked up his bidding paddle.
Old Tang watched as Earl Vale joined the bidding, his eyes sharp as a copper bell.
"Vale, are you crazy?"
"I've been crazy since I lost my hands and feet and became a prisoner."
" I want that mermaid. Don't try to stop me."