Who taught him to restore the country like this

Chapter 230 The Price of Obtaining the Mermaid's Heart

Deep in the sea, in a cave.

The chieftain of the Siren tribe, as the host, was the first to stand up and politely introduce himself.

Then the other four people also stood up and introduced themselves. They were the chiefs of the five tribes of the Merfolk.

We have gathered here to meet the hero.

"On behalf of the Sirens, I thank you for saving Luna and Silas."

After introducing himself, the Siren tribe chief, Hysis, expressed his sincere gratitude.

"As a brave person, helping everyone in need is what I should do."

Ron bowed slightly and said.

Upon hearing this, the five clan leaders were all very satisfied with the hero's character.

Although the merfolk admire heroes, they do not blindly follow their words.

At least they won't blindly listen to what the new hero says.

They need to test the hero's character first.

Of course, through the lens of the hero, they can accept any new hero as long as their character isn't too bad.

"This must be Lady Keltia of the Radiant Church."

Hayes's gaze fell on Kertia, who was standing next to Ron, and he used a respectful title for her.

Although she is no longer a saint of the Holy See, people privately spread rumors that she is the illegitimate daughter of the old Pope of the Holy See.

"We don't have much time. If we don't get back before dawn, the Rose Mercenary Group will definitely become suspicious."

"Kertia said calmly."

I don't want to engage in pointless pleasantries.

"Then I won't take up any more of your time."

Hayes straightened his expression.

“We have already heard from Silas why you have come.”

He looked at the two of them and said.

"Lord Beretta, I heard you've also come to search for the Mermaid's Heart?"

After a pause, he didn't rush to express his opinion, but instead asked a question first.

"Yes, only by finding the Mermaid's Heart can we defeat the Demon King."

Ron nodded.

"Is the Mermaid's Heart important to you?"

Seeing that Hassis was deep in thought, Ron waited a few seconds and asked with concern.

Is it important?
Several clan leaders asked themselves this question.

The answer is... it's not that important.

They initially regarded the Mermaid Heart as an auspicious omen for the Mermaid race, so when the Star Empire asked the Mermaid race to cooperate in finding it, they refused.

Later, things evolved into what they are today, and the Mermaid's Heart has transformed from an auspicious omen into an ominous one.

Some of them initially called for cooperation with the Empire to find the Mermaid Heart and restore peace to Mermaid Island.

However, the Star Empire went too far and made them give up the idea.

Now, the thought that even the hero desires the mermaid's heart, and that he might exchange it for peace, has resurfaced in their minds.

but……

"None of us know the whereabouts of the Mermaid Heart."

The five clan leaders looked somewhat helpless.

Their thousand-year search yielded not a single useful clue.

They felt more than once that the mermaid's heart simply did not exist.

But heroes throughout history have all demonstrated that the heart of a mermaid exists.

"Yes, I know the Mermaid's Heart is hard to find. It's okay if you don't know any clues. If you can't find it, it just means we are not destined to find the Mermaid's Heart."

Ron said with a smile.

Their optimistic attitude made the five merfolk chieftains secretly feel ashamed.

They all assumed the hero would be displeased upon hearing that the merfolk had no clue about the Heart of the Mermaid.

Therefore, that plan will no longer be implemented.

It now seems that the new hero has fully inherited the third-generation hero's broad-mindedness, kindness, and a heart that dares to think and act.

"Lord Beretta, Silas said that Luna is exhibiting mermaid-like phenomena?"

After a two-second silence, Hayes took the initiative to bring up the matter.

Ron nodded: "Do you know what's going on?"

“I don’t know either, she’s never had this happen before.”

Hayes shook his head.

"but……"

His voice changed.

“A long time ago, this happened to another person as well.”

"who is it?"

Kertia immediately asked.

"Filian, a teammate of the third-generation hero."

Hysis Road.

"She is a dark elf..."

He slowly told the two about how, more than two hundred years ago, the hero and his teammates came to Tianhai North Island.

At that time, Tianhai Beidao was on the eve of the appearance of the Mermaid's Heart, which was only seen once every three hundred years.

The third-generation hero wants to bring his teammates to witness the legendary Mermaid Heart.

While we're at it, let's help the merfolk deal with those three dragons that ran off to the northern island of Tianhai and were causing trouble.

They stayed on the island for a month, and with few clues about the mermaid's heart, they chose to enter the ruins of the sea god.

The Poseidon Ruins are located in the center of Tianhai North Island, beneath the Poseidon statue.

There were no jewels or dangers inside.

There is only one pool called the Forget-Worries Pool. Soaking in it or drinking the water can make you forget all your troubles.

It's essentially about making people lose their memory, forgetting everything that happened in the past.

Even without drinking the pool water, staying in it for a long time can cause some memory errors.

The mermaids only dared to stay inside for half an hour each year during the sacrificial ceremony, but the three-person third-generation hero team stayed inside for the entire day that day.

After they came out, their memories seemed perfectly clear, and they even made some discoveries.

The merfolk asked them what they had discovered, but they didn't say. However, their excited expressions suggested that it was a clue about the Mermaid's Heart.

The merfolk didn't ask any further questions, because the hero had only come to witness the merfolk's heart and had no intention of taking it away.

Afterwards, the heroes entered the Sea God's Ruins many times, and each time they stayed for at least half a day.

However, until the eve of the Mermaid Heart phenomenon, the heroes seemed to have still not found the Mermaid Heart.

"On the night the Mermaid Heart phenomenon appeared, the three evil dragons that had inadvertently entered the island launched an attack on our tribe."

"The third-generation hero, along with his teammates, killed two evil dragons and captured one of them alive."

"And it was during this battle that Lady Philian exhibited a mermaid-like phenomenon, exactly the same as the mermaid-like phenomenon you described that appeared on Luna."

Hayes's expression turned serious as he said this.

"Did the third-generation hero tell you what's going on?"

Unaware of this, Kertia continued to ask.

Hayes shook his head.

Did they eventually find the mermaid's heart?

Keltija asked.

"This matter should only be known to the third generation hero himself."

Hysis Road.

"What happened to that dark elf named Philian? What became of her?"

Kertia then asked.

Elves are the second longest-living race after dragons, with an average lifespan of a thousand years.

Strangely enough, there isn't much record of the hero's elven teammates in the ancient texts.

It's rarely mentioned even in the Hero's Handbook.

I feel like I'm about to be forgotten.

It's as if the effects of the Poseidon Ruins were delayed.

"Lady Philian... she died that night."

Hayes answered Kertia's question in a somber voice.

died?

Kertia was taken aback.

How did she die?

Killed by a dragon?

impossible.

The hero at that time already possessed the strength to defeat the Demon King, so it was impossible for him not to protect his companions in the battle against the three-headed dragon.

So how did she die?

Given the heroes' strength at that time, no one on the island should have posed a threat to them.

Keltia stared at Hayes in disbelief. "We didn't want to accept this either, but it happened."

Hayes lamented.

"Lady Philian had no injuries, but when the mermaid phenomenon ended, she lay lifeless in the hero's arms."

Recalling the scene, the five clan leaders felt extremely heavy-hearted.

Kertia's heart sank.

If someone died without any injuries, then it can only be related to the Mermaid's Heart.

The Mermaid's Heart is silencing witnesses!?

From Hysis's words, we can learn that if they want to find the Heart of the Mermaid, they must venture into the ruins of the Sea God.

If you fail to succeed, your memories will become confused or you will lose your past memories.

If you succeed, you'll get a clue to the Mermaid's Heart.

But along with the clues comes a deadly danger; they may also develop mermaid-like phenomena.

According to Hayes's description, those who exhibit mermaid-like phenomena will die when the phenomenon ends, which occurs only once every three hundred years!
The price to obtain the Mermaid's Heart is too high, isn't it?
Kertia frowned deeply.

Little did she know that this was merely an appetizer to obtain the mermaid's heart; the real price was far greater.

Has Luna recently entered the Sea God's Ruins?

After listening to Hayes's story, Ron thought for a moment and asked a question.

"She is a female descendant of the Sirens tribe, and she goes there every year for the sacrificial ceremony."

Hayes replied.

"Did she stay inside for more than half a day?"

Ron then asked.

"No."

Hayes shook his head.

The ruins of the sea god are usually strictly guarded. The merfolk only open them for sacrificial rites or when they need to punish someone by "erasing their past memories."

"Strange, how come she has merman-like features?"

Ron murmured.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of a possibility.

"Is Lord Philian's remains still preserved among the merfolk?"

he asked.

"Yes."

Hayes nodded and said, "The hero said that Lord Philian's body cannot leave this island and asked us to keep it safe for him."

Where are her remains?

Ron asked.

"In the ruins of the sea god."

Hysis Road.

"Did Luna come into contact with Lord Philian's body during each ritual?"

"There was contact."

Hayes nodded.

"It seems the problem is solved."

Ron loosely clenched his left fist and lightly tapped it on his right palm, revealing an expression of understanding.

"What did you think of?"

Keltija asked.

"May I bring Luna into the Sea God's Ruins?"

Ron did not answer his question, but instead consulted Hayes and the others.

Do you wish to enter the ruins of the sea god?

Hayes hesitated.

Luna didn't care, but he didn't really recommend Ron enter the Sea God's Ruins.

After all, even if you find clues to the Mermaid Heart after going inside, your life will end the next time the Mermaid Heart phenomenon appears.

"of course."

Ron answered without hesitation.

"It's still over ninety years until the next appearance of the Mermaid Heart phenomenon. Living that long is already enough."

He said this with a very optimistic attitude.

"Moreover, the Star Empire must have obtained some information about this matter from the captured merfolk. If we want to deceive the Star Empire, it is necessary for us to enter the Sea God's Ruins."

Ron said seriously.

"Since the hero has made up his mind, we will do our best to cooperate."

After exchanging glances and discussing among themselves, Chief Haisis and the other chiefs gave their response.

“Luna knows how to open the Sea God’s Ruins; you can have her cooperate with your actions.”

Hayes produced the clan chief's token.

It was a crystal-clear scale, about half the size of a palm.

"I assure you, I will not let Luna be in any danger."

Ron accepted the token and made his promise.

When do you plan to take action?

Hayes asked.

"Without further ado, we will head to the Siren tribe tomorrow. Tomorrow night I will enter the Sea God's Ruins. Regardless of the outcome, I will leave the island within three days. I hope you will cooperate with me and put on a good show of the hero obtaining the Mermaid's Heart."

Ron outlined a rough plan.

How should we cooperate?

Hayes asked.

"It's simple, hunt me down."

Ron said.

"The hero deceived you and took the heart of the mermaid. The mermaids are hunting down the hero. Only such an abnormal thing would make the Star Empire believe it without a doubt."

"This……"

Upon hearing this, all five clan leaders showed a hint of fear on their faces.

Let them hunt down the hero?
This really put them in a difficult position.

To make the play convincing, one must genuinely incite the tribe to hate the hero.

But they deeply respected the hero, and the hero had helped them so much; how could they possibly do something so ungrateful?
"It's just a temporary hatred. When the clouds clear and the fog lifts, everything will be alright."

Ron said optimistically and cheerfully.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lady Beretta."

Seeing that Ron didn't seem to care much about it, the five clan leaders finally agreed.

"It's almost time, we should head back."

Once the agreement was reached, Ron declined to speak.

"We are unable to leave and cannot see you off at a distance, please understand."

Hysis Road.

"It's alright, just let Silas take me back."

Ron nodded.

Then turned and left.

Outside the cave, Silas, who was keeping watch, saw Ron come out and took out another bottle of sea-dwelling potion that he had prepared.

"Is there only one bottle again?"

Ron glanced at Kertia beside him.

"I'm sorry, we've only prepared the potions you'll need for your round trip."

Silas expressed his apologies.

It's not that they're stingy, but this potion is extremely precious, allowing other races to move freely in the sea, so it must be strictly controlled.

Otherwise, if they fall into enemy hands, their merfolk's advantage in the sea will be lost.

"Ok."

Ron glanced at Keltia beside him again. Seeing that she didn't move, he took the potion and drank half of it.

Then he handed the remaining half to Kertia.

Keltia, seemingly lost in thought, took the potion and drank it down.

"please come in."

Silas entered the mouth of the sea monster.

Ron and Kertia then went inside.

Then came another long voyage.

Just as Ron was getting a little sleepy.

"No, this isn't the way back to land!"

Suddenly, Silas's panicked voice rang out.