Sha Wusuo La Damuxi—a noun quite difficult to pronounce in human speech—was a century-old city on Mercury 42. In truth, it was simply a transliteration of the Fishmen's unpleasant gurgling language.
To stroll through it, one first needed Underwater Breathing and the ability to remain submerged for long periods. Even the so-called dry zone, which occupied only one-fifth of the city, was a half-flooded area with water up to the waist.
Like the others, Lu PingAn reclined halfway in a small boat being pulled down the street by a large fish.
He watched his surroundings with great interest, watching those Aquatic Races calmly chat and trade underwater, with enough leisure left over to point at him, an outsider.
The most common sights here were all kinds of small and medium-sized sea beasts. Lu PingAn spotted several hybrid mounts resembling dolphins and seahorses. Many young Half-Fishmen rode them through the streets, much like the cyclists back on his Homeworld.
Above his head, in the water-filled area separated off by some unknown force, people swam back and forth, occasionally pointing at him, this rare foreigner.
This was Fishmen territory—or rather, Half-Fishmen territory—and it lay roughly seven hundred meters below sea level. Even though the local water pressure was relatively low, land creatures could not easily reach such depths.
In fact, when the Redemption arrived at the port of this deep-sea city, it drew the attention of nearly half the city.
"This is pretty interesting. So many Fishmen and oceanic races, and most importantly, none of them shouted 'gurgle gurgle' and rushed straight at us."
"Easy there. That statement already counts as racial discrimination, especially in this environment."
"Heh. I'm just stating a fact."
Lu PingAn was as politically incorrect as ever. Though he appeared relaxed as he lay in the small boat,