Who taught him to restore the country like this

Chapter 235 is suspicious.
Inside a room at the Rose Mercenary Group's camp.

Ron was relieved to hear from Karina about the Holy See's reply.

He had only been on Mermaid Island for a few days when he encountered one danger after another, and was beaten so badly that he had to run away with his tail between his legs.

These teammates completely failed to protect the hero; ultimately, they were too weak to handle big situations.

He currently only has one return scroll, and if he continues to rely on this configuration, he doesn't know how long he can hold out.

Now that the Holy See has sent a saintess, he feels much more at ease.

Bertoutina, the goddess of war, is undoubtedly a powerful figure worth clinging to in the original story, as she is a main force in the fight against the demons.

Not to mention that she now has the blessing of the Divine Record. With her around, as long as it's not the first three legion commanders of the Demon King's army who make a move, Ron wouldn't be afraid even if the remaining Demon King's legion commanders attacked together.

The Holy See should have sent him a powerful figure like that long ago. Sending mid-to-upper-level fighters like Keltia and Karina was just a trap.

If his target hadn't been Tianhai North Island, he would have quit long ago; let whoever wants to be the hero be it.

"Lady Beretta, I'm so sorry."

Seeing the joy on Ron's face, Karina realized that her abilities had failed to provide the hero with a sense of security.

For this, she felt deeply remorseful and ashamed.

"No need to apologize, Karina."

Upon hearing this, Ron's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You've done a very good job, but the situation is beyond our ability to handle."

"Thank you."

The self-blame on Karina's face did not disappear.

Ron calmly looked at the strong girl in front of him, who inadvertently revealed a vulnerable side, without much emotional turmoil.

"Karina, have you felt anything unusual about your body lately?"

After a brief silence, Ron spoke up.

"Something strange?"

Upon hearing this, Karina looked at Ron with a puzzled expression, wondering why Ron was suddenly asking this.
"It's like feeling uncomfortable somewhere in your body, or a sudden increase in the speed at which your magic power and mental strength are increasing."

Ron said.

"No."

Karina shook her head.

She felt perfectly normal.

"That's good."

Ron nodded thoughtfully.

"If you experience any unusual symptoms, be sure to tell me."

He then added.

"Ah."

Karina didn't think much of it, taking it as just concern between companions.

"have a good rest."

Ron walked out of the room, closed the door, and headed towards Gangji's room.

His face was now filled with deep doubt.

It will take Bertoutina another ten days to two weeks to get here from the Emerald Kingdom, during which time he will have to rely on himself.

The attacks against him have become increasingly intense with each one.

First came the Titan Princess's seduction, then the manipulation of orc warriors and numerous sea monsters, and now the resurrection of Philian.

Ron didn't want to think about what the intensity would be next.

In short, it was definitely a thorny problem that he couldn't handle.

Since we cannot directly solve the problem, we can only prevent it from happening in the first place.

The demons' attacks were strange and ingeniously planned, but the mastermind behind them never showed up.

Even when he was at low health, no one came out to finish him off.

Therefore, Ron suspected that the demon legion commanders had not actually come to Tianhai North Island.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Compared to mobilizing the entire army to assassinate the heroes, what they need to do now is to protect the Great Demon Lilith so that she can successfully advance to become the Demon King.

If the demons didn't come to Tianhai North Island, how did they activate their abilities? And how did they know about the hero's actions?
Ron believed that a demon spy had been found among those around him.

The gray fog of Tianhai North Island can interfere with most of the transmission of magic and sound. Without a medium, it is impossible for the demons to remotely influence the interior of Tianhai North Island from the outside.

Therefore, it can only be that someone is helping the demons remotely activate their abilities and monitoring the hero's every move.

Although Ron used his appraisal skill to check everyone he had come into contact with, he did not find any spies with demonic labels.

However, this does not rule out the possibility that there are spies around.

It's highly likely that the demons manipulated someone through some means, and this spy might not even know they are a spy.

Given this premise, Ron's primary suspects were several members of the hero's party.

They are all highly suspicious.

Needless to say, Keltia definitely had a deal with the demons.

As for Karina, she had previously fused with the Originium, and there is a high possibility that there are remnants in her body that could be used by the Great Demon Lilith.

In the original work, Karina died young, and it is impossible to verify whether the Originium has this ability.

As for Gangji, the black spot that appeared on his back actually grew larger after he came out of the Sea God's Ruins.

Finally, there's Gratoni.

The removal of the mermaid's heart signifies the dissipation of Philian's remains.

He admired Philian and, to some extent, did not want the mermaid's heart to be taken away.

Of course, if we were to rank the suspects in order of suspicion, Gratoni would be the least suspicious.

After all, he was one of the best among the eighth-tier experts. It would be very difficult for the demons to use an eighth-tier red dragon without them noticing.

However, an investigation is still necessary.

Without hiding anything, Ron visited each of them in turn. After a little reflection, the rest of them understood the purpose of his inquiry.

He wasn't afraid of alerting the enemy.

It's good if you scare the snake away, but the real danger is that it might stay lurking there and suddenly bite you.

Ron completed the round and, as expected, came up empty-handed.

If it were so easy to detect, these people would have noticed it themselves long ago.

This kind of thing can't be rushed.

Ron finally arrived at Luna's place.

Luna followed them all the way, making her an unofficial member of the hero's party.

Moreover, there is a suspicious point about her.

When the mermaid phantom appeared on her body, it was outside Tianhai North Island. Why was she still alive?

Even the third-generation hero, who was bound to the island, struggled to survive outside the island. Yet, she, a mere fourth-tier mermaid, seemed perfectly fine after waking up.

This unique aspect is worth exploring further.

When Ron found Luna, she was sitting blankly by the small pond in the camp.

Since she is still needed to open the Poseidon Ruins, she will need to stay with the Rose Mercenary Group for a while.

Noticing someone approaching, the mermaid girl snapped out of her daze and looked up.

"Lord Brave."

Upon seeing that it was Ron, she quickly stood up and bowed.

"What are you thinking about?"

Ron smiled and returned the greeting, then asked.

"The tide is coming."

Luna answered, staring at the pool.

Tides are a unique phenomenon of Tianhaibei Island. Whenever the tide comes in, the entire island will be completely submerged in the water.

"That's really something to look forward to."

Ron said with a smile.

Luna turned her head and looked at Ron's face, which had a faint smile on it.

While others are filled with fear and unease at the prospect of an approaching tide, the hero is somewhat different.

"It will be dangerous, hero. You should leave Tianhai North Island."

After a moment of silence, Luna spoke.

"No need, we can rest on the ship when the tide comes. I will also go and explain the situation to the five chieftains of the merfolk; they will not attack us."

Ron said.

"No, it's the ruins of the sea god."

Luna shook her head, a growing sense of unease appearing on her face.

What happened to the Poseidon Ruins?

Ron asked.

“The Sea God’s Ruins will kill us. Those voices are inside the Sea God’s Ruins.” Luna’s emotions began to become unstable again.

It was the same thing I said yesterday.

Mermaids have a keen sense of sound, so perhaps she really did hear someone's "voice".

"Is the voice you heard the voice of the dark elf teammate of the third generation hero?"

Ron asked.

Last night in the Poseidon Ruins, the only thing that posed a danger to them was that corpse.

"I don't know, there are so many voices..."

Luna tried hard to identify the sounds, but they were noisy and chaotic.

All she could tell was that the voice was malicious.

Seeing the mermaid girl beside him looking pained, Ron reached out and gently stroked her head, without asking any further questions.

After a while, the mermaid girl calmed down.

"sorry."

Luna lowered her head and apologized.

"It's okay, you're thinking of me."

Ron said softly.

"Hero, will something bad happen if I make a wish upon the Mermaid's Heart?"

Luna suddenly asked at that moment.

"You've seen Philian's memories?"

Ron asked.

Luna nodded regretfully.

From the moment she first entered the Sea God Ruins and saw the person in the crystal coffin, she had been very curious about the past experiences of this person.

So she secretly peered into the memories of the person in the coffin and learned that the mermaid's heart had the ability to grant people's wishes.

"Can you tell me what you wished for?"

Ron asked.

The Mermaid's Heart doesn't grant your wish simply by making a wish.

It selectively fulfills the wishes of some people, with the main purpose of binding people together and providing them with an additional identity to use.

Normally, the Mermaid's Heart should not grant the wishes of the Mermaids, because it does not need to be bound to any Mermaid and can be transferred between Mermaids at any time.

Did Luna make some special wish that caused the mermaid's heart to grant it for her?

"I beg the Mermaid Heart to protect the Sirens tribe and drive away the bad guys."

Luna replied.

Ok.

A very ordinary wish.

Perhaps it was because this wish was too simple that the mermaid's heart helped him fulfill it.

Protecting the Sirens and driving away the Star Empire is exactly what Ron is doing.

I was essentially used as a tool.

……

Having exhausted all clues, Ron was at a loss as to how to find the traitor within the team.

We can only wait and see.

Of course, Ron didn't stay idle for the next few days.

He led his team of heroes, protected by powerful members of the two major mercenary groups of the Star Empire, to hunt down the extremely aggressive and dangerous sea monsters surrounding the island provided by the Merfolk.

In just a few days, Ron killed more than ten sixth-tier sea monsters.

Below the seventh rank, thanks to the overpowered abilities of the Hero's Sword, he can defeat enemies of higher ranks.

And just like that, his level went from 40 to 49.

At the same time, under the free guidance of the powerful members of the two mercenary groups, he learned many sixth-tier martial arts techniques.

Beretta's randomly generated growth talent is among the more outstanding ones, with both strength and speed reaching A, making it very easy for her to learn martial arts.

Perhaps the snakes were truly frightened, because those strange attacks from before haven't occurred again in the past few days.

If we just wait a few more days until the Holy Maiden of Radiance arrives, it won't matter whether we find the traitor or not.

However, before the Radiant Saintess could arrive, Tide couldn't wait any longer.

On the seventh day after leaving the ruins of the sea god, the sky was unusually gloomy from dawn, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty and unsettling atmosphere, swept fiercely across the island.

The magic in the air became restless, and the sea level began to rise at a visible speed.

The tide that Luna had predicted a few days ago arrived as expected.

The Rose and Silverblade mercenary groups acted swiftly, with all personnel retreating to the large spaceship, supplies reinforced, and defensive arrays activated at full capacity.

Ron and his group naturally boarded the Rose Mercenary Group's flagship.

Standing on the deck, he could clearly see the seawater surging over the reefs and swallowing the buildings on the coastline, as if pushed by an invisible giant hand.

Tianhai North Island, which was originally above the water, is being gradually submerged by the azure sea.

Compared to the rising tide, it looks more like the island is sinking.

The waves grew larger and larger, making the dozens of warships of the Star Empire appear very small on the vast sea.

Like a candle flickering in the wind, it swayed violently, as if it might topple over at any moment.

The mages on the warship were struggling to maintain it.

The tides at Tianhai North Island will remain turbulent for half a day, after which they will gradually calm down and continue for two and a half days before receding.

The fact that the Star Empire's warships dared to stay behind meant they were confident they could survive the most difficult half-day.

only……

"Look over there!"

The mercenary on lookout duty suddenly screamed in terror.

Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing, and it was the direction where the original Sea God Ruins were located.

A huge whirlpool had formed in that area of ​​the sea.

At the center of the vortex, a powerful blue beam of light shot into the sky, tearing through the dark sky.

"It's here, it's here..."

Inside the cabin, Luna curled up and trembled.

Ron frowned, and through the window, he also saw the blue beam of light shooting into the sky in the distance.

A strong sense of unease arose in his heart.

"what is that?"

Karina stood beside Ron, staring in shock at the beam of light.

Ron didn't speak, but just stared quietly at the beam of light.

He didn't know what the beam of light was, but this strange phenomenon perfectly matched the description of a great treasure appearing in the world in the novel.

What treasures have been discovered in the ruins of Poseidon?
The only "treasure" Ron could think of was the one in the crystal coffin.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the beam of light lasted for more than ten seconds before dissipating into the air, and the vortex gradually subsided, as if nothing had ever happened there.

Do not!
"Prepare for battle!"

The leaders of the two mercenary groups suddenly looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Their eyes were fixed on the sky above where the beam of light had been.

There, a person was floating silently.

It was none other than Philian, the dark elf from the crystal coffin in the ruins of the sea god!

She actually emerged from the ruins of the sea god!

She hovered in mid-air, ignoring the raging wind and rain, her empty gaze sweeping over the fleet of ships that swayed like leaves on the sea.

Then, she raised her hand, and the seawater below responded, condensing into countless huge water spears that shimmered with black light.

The cold, merciless voice pierced through the wind and rain, reaching everyone's ears.

The next moment, a barrage of water spears rained down on the Star Empire's fleet!

"Defend! Defend quickly!"

The captains of each ship were shouting at the top of their lungs.

The light of magical shields shone on each ship, and warriors brandished their weapons to parry.

However, they were facing a legendary mage who had defeated the Demon King.

Boom boom boom——

Continuous explosions sounded.

Some of the smaller frigates' magical shields shattered instantly due to overload, their hulls were pierced by water spears, and they began to take on water and capsize.

Screams, splashes, and the roar of ships breaking apart were mixed together, creating a chaotic scene.

(End of this chapter)