The Island

The sea mist over the Devil's Triangle concealed a surprisingly beautiful view.

Between the blue sky and the azure sea, a clear, ethereal song suddenly rang out.

Captain Victor had only heard the opening notes when an intoxicated look spread across his face. His eyes glazed over as he walked toward the end of the deck.

"Everybody, snap out of it!"

Suddenly, a shout exploded in Victor's mind like a clap of thunder.

He came to with a start and realized that both hands were gripping the railing, one foot hanging over the side. One more step, and he would have plunged into the sea.

"Damn it!"

Victor hurriedly pulled himself back and shook his head. "It was like I was bewitched. Was that a mermaid? It was more like a siren!"

That fleeting glimpse had been enough for him to see the shadow beneath the sea.

The creature did indeed have a fish's tail, blue-green scales, and a sleek body. But its upper half looked nothing like a beautiful woman. It had gills and scales, and its hands ended in sharp claws. It was practically a half-human, half-fish monster.

"There's a lot of falsehood in legends and myths... Plenty of things are added to satisfy people's wishes..."

Wu Ming had appeared on deck at some point. He watched the shadows darting beneath the ship.

The mermaids' song continued.

Yet, for some reason, after Wu Ming came onto the deck, Victor still found the song lilting and beautiful, but no longer felt his mind being bewitched.

Thud, thud! Thud, thud!

A muffled noise, accompanied by a faint tremor, came from the bottom of the ship.

"When the mermaids can't bewitch people, they resort to this?"

Wu Ming laughed and stamped his right foot lightly on the deck. "Begone!"

The ship