Who taught him to restore the country like this

Chapter 225 Do you prefer a big-breasted princess or a flat-chested saintess?
in the room.

Ron looked at the mermaid girl in front of him and asked.

Name: Luna Atagatis

[Race: Mermaid]

【Age: 16】

[Level: LV.41]

[Affiliation: Siren Tribe (Sub-Woman)]

【Growth Talent...】

The girl in front of them was a genuine young girl, not an older mermaid disguised as a girl.

Her ability to travel from Tianhai North Island all the way to the border of the Star Empire with such strength clearly indicates that she has an extraordinary background.

The appraisal skill only identifies names that belong to nobles and people of a certain status.

Although Ron never met the mermaid girl named Luna in the game, the surname Atagatis and the name of the Sirens tribe were almost ubiquitous throughout the entire storyline of the North Island of the Sky Sea.

As a sub-woman of the Siren tribe, someone whose status is second only to the chief, she might hold the key clues to finding the Mermaid Heart.

As Ron was asking the questions, he had already decided that if the woman refused, he would forcibly take her back.

Although he didn't have much interest in the Mermaid Heart, after all, the price to pay for getting his hands on that thing was too high.

However, the future person said that there were still secrets in the Demon God Altar, and that he needed to come to Tianhai North Island.

Is it possible that the Mermaid's Heart is the key to unlocking the secrets of the Demon God's Altar?
Otherwise, apart from the Mermaid Heart, Ron couldn't think of any other special existence on Tianhai North Island.

In short, let's find the vessel for the mermaid's heart first, and then decide whether or not we can retrieve it.

At that moment, the mermaid girl on the bed hesitated for a long time after hearing Ron's question.

She fled from Tianhai North Island to seek refuge, and now she is on the border of the Star Empire. If she goes a little further, she will be able to escape the Star Empire completely.

But is it really safe to escape?

What will the outside world think when mermaids, who have been isolated from the world for many years, appear in public, coupled with the Star Empire's actions against Tianhai North Island?
"Is this mermaid the very thing the Star Empire has gone to such great lengths to find?"

Driven by this idea, many people would probably want to capture her and use her to curry favor with the Star Empire.

It seemed that he had nowhere to go.

Rather than continuing to flee, it would be better to...

"Are you... a hero?"

She spoke to confirm, her eyes filled with all her hope.

Throughout history, heroes have had deep friendships with the merfolk, and they are highly regarded on the northern island of Tianhai, where it has even become a kind of faith.

The statue of the first hero still stands next to the statue of the sea god in the center of the North Island of the Sky Sea.

The appearance of a hero brings them happiness and peace; this is a fact that every member of the fish race has come to believe.

If the man before you is a hero, then following him is obviously more reassuring than running away.

"Yes."

Ron nodded, responding with a gentle smile to the mermaid girl's goodwill towards the hero.

Are you also searching for the Mermaid's Heart?

Luna continued to ask.

Although she had already decided to follow the hero, she couldn't help but feel a little worried after hearing the hero's conversation with those villains. It seemed that the hero was also looking for the Mermaid's Heart.

"Ah."

Ron nodded, his voice growing heavy. "The Demon King is about to appear. The only way to defeat him is with the power of the Mermaid's Heart."

Seeing the determination in the hero's eyes to defeat the Demon King, Luna's worries gradually dissipated.

"Of course, we came to Tianhai North Island just to confirm the location of the Mermaid Heart. If we can prevent the birth of the Demon King, we won't need to take out the Mermaid Heart."

Ron composed himself, his smile softening as he made a promise to Luna.

"But... what about the Star Empire..."

Luna hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

The Star Empire would probably not agree to such a thing.

And the hero has just reached a cooperation agreement with the Star Empire...

"You don't need to worry about that. The hero will protect everyone's safety."

The full moon hung high in the sky, and its light streamed into the room through a gap in the roof, adding a layer of holy radiance to Ron.

It makes people feel very safe and secure.

Luna was moved by it.

"I want to go back with the hero."

she spoke.

"Can you help us find the Mermaid's Heart?"

Just as Ron was about to probe further for information, Kertia spoke first.

She could clearly tell that the mermaid girl in front of her was no ordinary person.

But that's such a stupid question.

If the mermaid girl in front of him were any more shrewd, then all the trust Ron had just built up would have been for nothing.

Fortunately, this mermaid girl was naive and innocent.

"I...I will try my best."

Luna replied.

The forced response suggested that the person was unaware of the whereabouts of the Mermaid Heart.

Keltia felt a pang of disappointment, mainly because Luna's conversation with Ron just now seemed to indicate that she knew the whereabouts of the Mermaid Heart.

"Don't panic. She just thought the merfolk should know some clues about the Mermaid Heart. It's okay if you don't know."

Ron smoothed things over.

"The Mermaid's Heart has always been just a legend within our Mermaid race. We've never seen what it looks like."

Luna said.

Since it has never appeared before, how can we be sure that it actually exists?
Because every three hundred years, the Mermaid's Heart creates a magnificent spectacle on the North Island of the Sky Sea to announce its existence.

The first hero once said that he saw the heart of a mermaid, a dazzling gem that was indescribably beautiful and pulsating.

These statements have been confirmed by the Vatican.

From then on, the mermaid's heart was no longer just a legend.

But more than a thousand years have passed, and countless people have gone to Tianhai North Island to search for the Mermaid's Heart, but not a single one has found it.

Logically speaking, a "mermaid without a heart" should be so obviously unique that it shouldn't be so hard to find.

Have the merfolk gone into hiding?

No.

The mermaid race is also searching for the whereabouts of the Mermaid Heart.

But the usual methods are destined to fail.

The "mermaid without a heart" story is actually a version whose meaning has been distorted over time.

Its original version was actually... a non-existent mermaid.

Yes, a person who never actually existed.

A person transformed from the heart of a mermaid.

It can make its existence seem completely legitimate, and no one will realize that it is an extra person.

The most insidious aspect is the existence of its observer.

Let's assume that Luna is a transformation of the mermaid's heart.

When you're unsure, she is the heart of a mermaid.

Once you're certain, she's no longer the heart of a mermaid.

With such a cunning hiding method, it would be a miracle if anyone could find it.

Even though Ron had played the game, he couldn't guarantee that he could find the Mermaid Heart.

However, the Mermaid's Heart does indeed have an inexplicable connection with the hero.

Because of the hero's special abilities, the probability of finding the Mermaid's Heart will be much higher.

The cost might be much lower.

Ron was unsure.

In the game, the player is not a hero; they obtain the mermaid's heart through a rather brutal method.

The Mermaid Heart has a weakness.

But it is precisely because of this weakness that the ending became so tragic.

Therefore, Ron did not want to repeat that method unless absolutely necessary.

"Those who know what the heart of a mermaid looks like are probably only the heroes of past generations."

Luna looked at Ron and said.

The implication is that only the brave can find the mermaid's heart.

A careless remark, and the pressure returned to Ron. Well, for Ron, pressure doesn't exist.

“I don’t feel anything right now, but maybe things will be different if I go to Tianhai North Island.”

Seeing that his teammates were all looking at him, Ron shook his head and said.

The conversation ended there, and the group began packing their things.

……

at dusk.

The Rose Mercenary Group arrived at the inn, compensated for the damaged rooms, and then picked up Ron and his group to head to the bonfire party.

Due to the rule that mercenaries cannot enter towns in large numbers, the bonfire party was held in an open area by the river outside the town.

When the group arrived, a huge bonfire had already been lit, and the aroma of roasted meat and cheerful music filled the air.

The members of the Rose Mercenary Group gathered in small groups, drinking and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Hero, you have arrived."

Salom was waiting at the camp entrance and warmly greeted them.

At this moment, she changed into a red evening gown that accentuated her figure, looking radiant and beautiful in the firelight, attracting the attention of many mercenaries, and naturally drawing Gratoni's gaze as well.

"These are the brothers who have recently joined our mercenary group. Tonight's bonfire party is to welcome them back."

Salom led Ron and the others to the main seat and introduced them to the other people in the main seat.

Following Salom's direction, Ron looked at the three people sitting at the main table, drinking and eating heartily.

They were three exceptionally tall and robust orcs with bulging muscles and rugged faces.

They wore simple leather armor, their bare skin adorned with tribal totem tattoos, their eyes defiant, and they exuded a fierce aura.

Two are seventh-order, and one is eighth-order.

This significantly enhances the overall strength of the Rose Mercenary Group, and it's definitely worth celebrating.

"Oh? You're the hero?"

The three powerful orcs looked at Ron with curiosity.

"Yes."

Ron nodded modestly.

"Come, drink."

The eighth-tier orc warrior grinned and raised his enormous wooden cup toward Ron.

"I can't hold my liquor, so I'll just have one drink to keep you company."

Ron stepped forward, picked up a large glass of wine, and drank it down in one gulp.

"it is good!"

The orc warriors were very satisfied.

At this moment, at Shalom's prompting, the mercenaries of the Rose Mercenary Group stepped forward to drink with the three orc warriors.

Ron is temporarily out of trouble.

He had intended to go to the edge of the stone platform and have a quiet meal, just like Kertia and the others.

But Salom insisted, and he was kept at the head table.

Perhaps in an effort to strengthen their bond and cooperation with the hero, Salom kept finding topics to chat with Ron.

Ron could only respond with a few words.

In a fairly harmonious atmosphere, the two could be said to have had a pleasant conversation.

"Hero, do you prefer the big-breasted princess in your party? Or the flat-chested saintess?"

After countless drinks, Salom asked with a mischievous smile.

Her questions became increasingly bold.

Her voice, however, did not subside at all; on the contrary, it grew louder and louder.

Ron's eyelids twitched when he heard the question.

I subconsciously glanced at the two people involved not far away.

Although they couldn't see Keltia's expression as she turned her back to him, they could tell from Karina's somewhat flustered expression that they could hear Salom's question.

If you answer this question, you'll be in for a beating.

"I might prefer a mature and charming woman like Vice Commander Salom."

Ron gave a tactful answer to the question.

After hearing this, Salom was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and nudged Ron's shoulder: "So young and already so good at pleasing women."

In her drunken state, she didn't know her own strength and pushed Ron so hard that he staggered back two steps and bumped into someone passing by behind him.

"Feel sorry."

The one who was bumped was one of the three orcs, and Ron quickly apologized.

This should have been a trivial matter, something that could have been easily resolved with an apology.

However, the orc who was hit hurled his wine glass at Ron's head.

Snapped!
The wine glass was grabbed.

"We're all brothers, why are you so angry?"

Shalom, drunk, shielded Ron behind him.

"The hero has already apologized, so let's just let this matter go."

She acted as a peacemaker.

This was never something that should have led to a fight.

But the orc warrior didn't listen to her.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his aura grew increasingly violent.

"die!"

He roared, and his large, fan-like hand, carrying a sharp gust of wind, ignored Salom and slammed down directly at Ron's head.

Ron shifted his feet, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Bloodclaw, stop!"

Shalom's expression turned cold. As he stopped the attack from launching another attack, he shouted angrily.

But it had absolutely no effect.

Not only did he fail to stop the orc in front of him, but two other orcs beside him also suddenly roared and pounced at the same time, their target Ron.

"Protect the hero!"

Realizing the situation was dire, Salom immediately shouted out the order.

While the Rose Mercenary Group's mercenaries were still in a daze, Gangji appeared in front of Ron and took the heavy punch of a bear-clan beastman head-on.

With a muffled thud, the ground beneath Gangji's feet cracked open.

The next second, a shield enveloped Ron.

It was Kertia's support.

At the same time, Karina immediately activated her Divine Blessing spell.

Something is wrong!
Ron keenly sensed that something was wrong with the orcs.

Orcs are known for their temper, but not to this extent.

They'll fight tooth and nail if you touch them.

One is fine, but three doing this at the same time is clearly problematic.

"They've been taken into custody, be careful."

Ron spoke up to remind him.

If nothing unexpected happens, these three people have likely fallen victim to the demons' trap.

The demons wanted to use them to kill the hero.

"Kertia, purify."

Ron gave the order.

The demons spared no expense this time, and the three orcs displayed a level of power far exceeding their original strength.

The two seventh-tier orcs displayed strength that was faintly close to that of the eighth tier.

The eighth-tier orc's strength also improved significantly.

On the other hand, the Rose Mercenary Group consisted entirely of people who were drunk and unable to exert much of their strength.

The only one they could count on, Shalom, had also seen a significant decline in his combat reflexes.

Soon after, blood appeared on her body.

The sharp claws tore through the evening gown, leaving three deep, bone-revealing wounds on her smooth back.

The orcs didn't intend to pay her any attention, but she didn't choose to stay out of it.

Despite his severe injuries, he blocked them from getting close to the hero.

(End of this chapter)