🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 03
At the same time—
Inside the office of Harold Orcadan, the head of the Orca clan.
The air was heavy with tension.
“Lord, a report has arrived. Our reconnaissance ship has been destroyed.”
“Again? Those damn White Sharks! We were so close to cutting off their distribution route!”
Harold tightened his grip on his cane and shouted in anger.
Soon, it would be the season when the White Shark tribe spread “Pearls” across the Emerald Coast.
Pearls were one of their main sources of income.
Ordinary pearls were everywhere—but those pearls were different.
They were high-grade, valuable enough to be supplied to the royal family.
If they could discover the distribution route, it would deal a massive blow to the enemy.
That was why, every year, elite scouts were sent out by ship.
But instead of gains, they only suffered losses.
“Could it be… our information is leaking?”
Harold narrowed his eyes and asked his butler and advisor, Daxton.
Daxton chose his words carefully.
“It can’t be completely ruled out… but proving whether this is truly the White Sharks’ doing is difficult. They are extremely cunning and filthy in their methods.”
“…So the problem isn’t decreasing. It’s increasing.”
Harold had fought the White Shark tribe for many years.
And yet, this endless war showed no sign of ending.
“So now we’re the ones being played… I must be getting old.”
“Lord…”
“Or perhaps my judgment is weakening.”
He sighed heavily.
Daxton hesitated, as if remembering something.
“Is there more to report?”
“…Yes. For the past three days, White Shark forces have been moving around the Gray Zone.”
“What? The border between territories? What are they planning? A war?”
Daxton shook his head.
“I don’t think war is their goal.”
If it were, they would act more secretly.
But instead, they were surrounding the Gray Zone from all sides.
Like a net.
“So they’re not invading… they’re waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“That… we don’t know yet. But one thing is certain. They are waiting for something in the Gray Zone… or something that will come out of it.”
Something they had missed three days ago.
“…Don’t tell me…”
Before Harold could continue—
THUD THUD THUD!
Loud footsteps echoed through the hallway.
“Those kids… I told them not to run inside the house!”
It could only be Ennio and Sandio.
Ennio at least pretended to listen, but Sandio was reckless and noisy.
Harold was already worried about when they would ever mature.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!!”
As expected, Sandio was banging on the locked door of the study.
“What should we do, Lord?”
“Open it. Today I will fix their manners properly.”
Daxton nodded and opened the door.
Creeeak—
A small round hand poked through the gap.
“Piip… piiip… (Excuse me…)”
“…You.”
It was the baby seal that was supposed to be in the bedroom.
“Grandpa! Pippi says it has something to say!”
“Pippi?”
“That’s its name.”
“Piip!! (No it’s not!!)”
Dahlia shook its head strongly, but Harold ignored it.
“You are not needed here. Leave. And you, Sandio!”
“Eek! Grandpa’s angry sea-urchin face! Tactical retreat!”
Sandio immediately ran away, abandoning Dahlia.
“Pi… piip… (H-hey, don’t leave me alone…)”
Just this morning, Dahlia had been confident.
Only ten more days—then it would turn four years old.
And then it could transform and convince the old man.
But it didn’t have ten days.
It didn’t even have one.
“Get out. This is not a place for the likes of you.”
“Piip… (But…)”
Harold’s presence felt like an unbreakable wall.
Still—
Dahlia refused to give up.
It reached into the pouch on its round belly and fumbled nervously.
“Daxton. Escort it out.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Now or never.
Dahlia quickly pulled its hand out.
“Piip!! (H-here!!)”
The door stopped closing.
Silence fell.
Daxton stared at what was in Dahlia’s tiny hands.
“…Lord. You may want to see this.”
The gemstone appraiser lowered his magnifying glass.
“I can confirm it. This is a product distributed by the White Shark tribe.”
Harold and Daxton exchanged sharp looks.
But the appraiser wasn’t finished.
Carefully wrapping the pearl in velvet, he lifted it with admiration.
“And look at this color! This elegant, radiant pink! The finest of the finest! This is the legendary ‘Rose Pearl’ supplied only to the royal family!”
Dahlia’s heart pounded violently.
It was sweating so much it kept wiping its belly.
“…I see. You may leave.”
Harold dismissed the appraiser and immediately turned back.
“Where did you get this? Did you steal it? Is that why the White Sharks were chasing you?”
“Pi, piiip!! (N-no!!)”
BANG!
Harold slammed his desk.
Dahlia jumped in fear.
“Or perhaps… you were sent as a spy?! A child beastman from another tribe, pretending to be harmless?!”
“Piip… piip… (N-no, that’s not it…)”
“I need a translator. Daxton!”
“Yes, Lord.”
Soon, Daxton returned with a round, nervous orca scholar.
“I-I am Tarik from the Coral Tower… honored to meet you—”
“Do you understand seal language?”
“Not exactly seal language, but I studied abroad in the Sea Wood region! There I learned sea lions, elephant seals, harbor seals—”
“Enough. Translate.”
“Yes sir!”
Harold’s eyes returned to Dahlia.
“Now. Tell me. Where did you get this Rose Pearl?”
All eyes focused on it.
Dahlia’s thoughts raced.
If I tell the truth…
No.
Absolutely not.
This pearl was something Dahlia itself could create.
In this world, the Creator had given powers to different sea races.
Sharks were given steel-like teeth and combat strength.
Orcas were given intelligence and tactical ability.
And sea otter beastmen were given—
The ability to create pearls.
But that very ability had turned them into slaves.
The White Sharks used sea otters to produce “Rose Pearls,” exploiting them endlessly.
Dahlia was one of the very few who could create them.
And in its past life, it had been killed after being used as a pearl-making slave.
If the orcas found out…
They might not let it live either.
So Dahlia decided.
“Piip… piip…”
“What is it saying?”
“It’s asking for a map!”
“A map?”
Daxton quickly brought out a map of the Emerald Coast.
Dahlia pointed urgently at it.
“Speak faster!”
“It says… there is an island used by the White Sharks as a middle distribution point!”
“…What?”
“Piip!! Piip piip!!”
“And if we strike that base… we could make a fortune!”
