The Mermaid's Lament

For the rest of the journey, Thor kept his eyes on the Lantern.

The Lantern remained steadier during the teleportation than Thor did. As far as Mental Power went, the only people who could probably surpass him right now were Tier 4 Wizards.

And among Tier 4 Wizards associated with light, they were all members of the Judgment Court. Aside from Flim, the Court Master, Thor couldn't think of anyone else.

At last, the shifting space stabilized. The carriage stopped, and the coachman outside was probably trying to adjust to the discomfort.

Ultra-Long Distance Teleportation Arrays had a significant impact on the body and mind. Even with protective measures inside the array, Thor had felt his spiritual body tremble during the prolonged teleportation.

Yet the Lantern across from him remained perfectly steady. If Thor hadn't faintly sensed a slight fluctuation of Mental Power from it when the Magic Array activated, he might have mistaken it for an ordinary object like the carriage.

"The Court Master came to meet me in person?" Thor asked tentatively.

Even after Thor recognized him, the Lantern's light remained warm and steady.

Flim made no attempt to pretend he wasn't there. A strand of Mental Power entered Thor's mind, and a dignified, somewhat ethereal voice rang out.

"Mermaids from Nephrite cannot be sold without permission. Anyone caught doing so will be punished."

Thor replied at once, "I took him from someone else. Going to Nephrite now is just returning him to his rightful home."

The Lantern said nothing, so Thor took it that the matter had been left deliberately vague.

"Did you come all this way just to fine me?" Thor continued, testing his attitude.

A mental message came from inside the Lantern again.

"You relied on your own strength to suppress and seal the Wind