"M-mermaid skin?" Amy's eyes widened.
Countless terrifying guesses swirled through her mind, making the receptionist's smile look stiff and eerie.
Amy felt thoroughly uneasy. "I clearly remember that the Starry Movement includes demi-human protection acts..."
Seeing that the girl was truly frightened, the receptionist chuckled. "Just a joke. I'm only a staff member here. I wish you a pleasant stay on the island."
Noticing that no one else was watching, the receptionist quietly slipped an inconspicuous little card into Amy's hand.
"If you're interested in the haunted houses on the island, feel free to visit the Mermaid Bathhouse where I work part-time. The lady boss is very welcoming, and the young men there are strong and sturdy. You can get a forty percent discount with this card."
Amy was dumbfounded. The mermaid girl on the card was dressed in skimpy, provocative clothing, throwing a flirtatious wink. Setting aside the fact that she was being given a flyer right to her face, was this really a legitimate haunted house?
By the time she snapped out of it, the staff member had already returned to his post as if nothing had happened, casually whistling a tune.
Amy patted the sofa beneath her. The earlier words echoed in her ears. Even though it was just a joke, she still felt a sense of repulsion. She had never actually touched mermaid skin before... She couldn't help but imagine the process of making a mermaid sofa, and bloody images flashed through her mind.
Ever since entering the hotel, she had felt something was off. The perfume in the first-floor lobby was far too strong, used almost like an industrial deodorizer, as if it were intentionally masking some other smell. If one inhaled deeply, the fishy stench of the sea could still be detected.
And they were several kilometers away from the shore...
As her thoughts drifted, twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye. The production crew set up all the cameras, aiming them at the three members of the Paranormal Explorers. Occasional figures walked through the lobby, but few cast a second glance; to the staff and guests here, a film crew on location was nothing unusual.
The official filming began. The two men on the sofa prompted her, and Amy snapped back to reality, reluctantly reciting the lines given to her by the show:
"Hi everyone, welcome back! Our Paranormal Explorers have now arrived at the Fountain of the Gods hotel. After dinner, we plan to head to Mermaid Town to begin our investigation!"
Amy energetically pumped her fist in front of her, making a cheering gesture.
"I've long heard of the great reputation of the Paranormal Explorers. This is my first time joining everyone on an adventure, so please take care of me!"
John and Kim Jung-han exchanged a look, and the latter spoke first:
"I am Kim Jung-han, the leader of the Paranormal Explorers. This mission is urgent and the schedule is tight, so we'll skip the initiation rituals and idle chatter. We must move quickly to reinforce the loosening seal."
Amy's expression shifted, turning serious. "A seal?"
"Yes. Before arriving on the island, our professional team captured a mysterious audio clip."
With that, Kim Jung-han placed an old-fashioned radio on the table and played a recording. It sounded like the cry of some massive marine creature, sometimes distant and sometimes near, intermittent and fragmented. When these pieces were pieced together, a faint melody could be heard.
"Is that... the sound of a whale?" John asked.
Amy crossed her arms, striking a thoughtful pose.
"No, it is the song of the Siren King," Kim Jung-han said, adjusting the frequency on the old radio. The previously disjointed singing connected, no longer sounding so distant or obscure. If one listened closely, it sounded like a woman whispering in a raspy, low voice.
"I am... Siren King... the tide... is coming..."
"Yes. Not long ago, because the miracle seal loosened, the Siren King awakened," Kim Jung-han explained. "The goal of our Paranormal Explorers this time is to reinforce the miracle seal, retrieve the lost anchor points, and soothe the Siren King's restless spirit to send her consciousness back to the deep sea."
"So what should we do to reinforce the seal, soothe the Siren King, and what exactly is that miracle?" John asked after a moment of silence.
[: Are we jumping straight into the plot? Looks like this episode's challenge is no joke.]
[: The Siren King, is it related to mermaids?]
[: A miracle seal, interesting. I'm looking forward to this more and more.]
Kim Jung-han let out a long breath.
"Those are my questions as well. Fortunately, a mysterious person code-named 'Blue Iris' contacted us recently, claiming she could help our investigation. I think we can learn more from her."
John looked up. "A mysterious person?"
Kim Jung-han nodded and looked to the side. "Yes, she's already here."
At that moment, text popped up on the live broadcast: [Mysterious Special Guest? Starry Singer, Daughter of the Sea?], heightening the curiosity of all the viewers.
[: Not just a new member, but a mysterious special guest this time too?]
[: Hiss, the Starry Singer... could it be!?]
[: Hurry up and show her, I can't wait!]
A girl in a white dress walked out from the side. Everyone's gaze converged on her at once. The girl's first impression wasn't exactly stunning; perhaps it was the unadorned white dress or the mysterious veil she wore. Yet, her clear, elegant aura was incredibly soothing, possessing an invisible magic that firmly held everyone's attention.
Dark stripes swept across the screen as text introducing the girl appeared.
[Sevia, the mysterious contact. Starry Singer, Daughter of the Sea? Possesses magical power and a Requiem capable of soothing the Siren King's spirit.]
"Is this the mystery person willing to help us?" John said, glancing sideways.
Amy blurted out, "A-Xin?"
Never mind the veil; even if the other person were wrapped up tight from head to toe, Amy would still recognize her.
Seeing the familiar Amy, Tang Xin's expression shifted slightly. Her eyes half-closed as she clasped her hands in front of her.
"May the sea bless you."
Amy suppressed a grin. If she could, she really wanted to record this scene and play it on a loop in front of Tang Xin later; the girl's expression then would surely be priceless.
Tang Xin silently sat down next to Amy, a smile fixed on her face while she continuously cursed a certain pomelo spirit in her heart.
She gently lifted her veil, allowing everyone present and the audience behind the screen to see her face clearly. Her youthful and lovely face, with pale red lips and clear eyes filled with a water-like gentleness, looked like crescent moons. She radiated a fresh, natural aura from within. The screen was instantly covered by a flood of comments.
[: I knew it, it really is her! (screaming, rolling around, attacking random people on the street)]
[: Cheering for Little Blue Bird! Love for Xin!]
[: A goddess has descended, she's so beautiful 9996.]
[: Isn't this Little Blue Bird? Haven't seen her for a few days, why did she come to guest star as a paranormal explorer? Hahaha!]
John and Kim Jung-han were momentarily dazed, and even Amy felt a flutter in her heart from the pure cuteness.
A-Xin had become even more beautiful after a few days apart. As expected, wealth could nurture a person; the previously disheveled duckling had grown bright feathers and turned into a beautiful white swan.
Rate on N.U.
