My Lord

The Banshees looked at one another, exchanging glances, while a few gathered in a huddle to whisper among themselves.

Occasionally, a few gazes would fall upon Theus, only to dart away just as quickly.

Theus sighed softly; it was clear that these Banshees had truly taken his words to heart and no longer viewed him as a god.

He did not regret it, but he felt a little... lost.

These Banshees could potentially bring great help to his territory, and he certainly had no shortage of troubles; besides, they were genuine supernatural creatures, and he had seen with his own eyes how these Banshees fought.

Not to mention that they had revered him as a god... a god, of all things...

Ash stood not far from Theus. His words had left her lost in thought for a long time, and now she frowned, opening her mouth to say something, but the complex emotions churning in her chest left her unsure of how to begin.

She was not particularly skilled with words.

At that moment, a petite figure from the side swam over. She smiled at Ash before arriving in front of Theus.

"Hello, my name is Monica." She looked up at Theus.

Theus looked at this... little girl with some surprise.

She seemed to be the youngest of the Banshees, her young face still holding a hint of immaturity.

Her scales were emerald green, as was her hair, and her emerald-like eyes were like coral in the shallow sea.

"You said you are a lord... I don't know much about humans on land, but is this your territory, and would you be willing to take us in?"

Theus's eyes lit up.

"Of course. According to the enfeoffment decree, half of the Storm Ocean is my legal territory. Her Majesty didn't specify whether it was the top half or the bottom half."

That decree had been written vaguely on purpose; if he could actually turn the entire Storm Ocean into imperial territory, the Empress would likely stay up all night to grant him the title of Grand Duke.

Ash thought about it seriously. "Then we are born as your half-subjects."

Half-subjects? What an interesting way to put it.

Theus raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but laugh. "Yes."

"You wouldn't refuse the loyalty of your subjects, would you? We are, after all, the 'half-subjects' you personally acknowledged."

"Of course, but how can you pledge loyalty for only half?"

"We will pledge our loyalty to you from now on—you didn't say whether it was the first half or the second half." Monica smiled craftily. "We weren't subjects before, were we?"

Theus gasped... at the cold water.

This little girl was so good at swindling; it was a pity she didn't go to the church to preach.

The other Banshees began to laugh as well; thanks to Monica's nonsense, the atmosphere finally livened up.

Ash, standing beside him, also looked over with bright, piercing eyes.

Theus felt a bit of a headache. Why were these Banshees so fixated on him? Why did they trust him so much? First, they were convinced he was the god who would save them, and now they wanted to pledge their loyalty to him.

Theus had just noticed that after Monica jokingly said they would "pledge their loyalty from now on," the eyes of many Banshees had lit up.

He didn't quite understand; after he stated he wasn't a god and pushed away their worship, they actually trusted him more.

What Theus didn't know was that the words he spoke to express his own feelings were truly shocking to this world.

As a modern person, he had witnessed the greatness of humanity in a world without gods, and naturally, he didn't consider so-called gods to be particularly lofty existences.

When he said he wasn't a god, he felt a sense of pride in his heart—the pride of being a mortal.

This subconsciously revealed demeanor did not escape the keen senses of the Banshees; they could feel that Theus truly disdained becoming a god.

What kind of existence could feel disdain for a god?

The human before them had a body as frail as a swimming fish, yet he showed not a shred of fear. The Symbiotic Pact could be formed directly, and despite being pushed onto a divine throne, he had cast it aside without hesitation, as if it were nothing more than a common seashell.

He also possessed vast knowledge; the curse that had plagued his people for centuries was broken by him with a casual remark.

And he was a lord, too—Banshees had no homeland of their own.

The Banshees exchanged glances, and an inexplicable atmosphere began to spread.

Ash felt the change in the air as well. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze slowly turning firm, and then she straightened her body and spoke aloud to those around her:

"My kin! It is time to make a choice. Let us bind ourselves together once more!"

Having said that, she gently closed her eyes.

Her long, silver-white hair swayed softly in the sea, and the other Banshees followed suit, closing their eyes one after another.

What were they doing? Theus looked around with curiosity.

The Banshees wore solemn expressions; even the youngest, Monica, had her fingers crossed over her chest, eyes closed in silence.

At this moment, every single Banshee had her eyes shut, yet Theus felt something was off. Through the Symbiotic Pact, he vaguely sensed something strange.

It was as if these Banshees had become a single entity.

Was this another ability of the Banshees? He would have to ask about it when he had the chance.

This did not leave him puzzled for long; almost a moment later, all the Banshees opened their eyes in unison.

Ash let out a long breath, her expression relaxing slightly. She swam slowly to the front of Theus and spoke with a solemn face:

"The Banshee race wishes to follow you and become your subjects."

Theus felt a stir in his heart and looked around; the Banshees surrounding him varied in height and appearance, yet the same light flickered within their eyes.

"So, is this the... collective thought of all of you?"

Theus had a vague guess, connecting it to the fact that the Banshees' innate ability was the Symbiotic Pact; perhaps the moment they had all closed their eyes together was some form of psychic communication shared by the entire race.

It had to be said, it was highly efficient, and recalling the dispute at the entrance of the Abyssal Trench earlier, they had all abided by the final decision reached.

Ash bowed her waist once more, though this time she did not kneel, her long, silver-white hair drifting in the seawater.

"We wish to follow in your footsteps."

"This does not stem from prophecy, tradition, or anything else, but from our own will."

She paused, as if listening to the voices echoing within her mind.

"We may not yet understand all of your ideals, but we can feel your will."

Theus turned to look around, the Banshees meeting his gaze, and in a flash of insight, he vaguely understood that the Banshees' communication was not conducted through language alone; his struggles, his thoughts, and his final, unwavering will had gradually infected the Banshees beside him, and even if they could not understand it, they could still feel that determination.

They chose to believe in him.

This was both an expression of their gratitude and a decision made after contemplating the fate of their race.

The Banshees were truly a miraculous race; the invisible power within their minds converged, resembling a silent chorus, and this inexplicable atmosphere made Theus feel his blood boiling.

Ash stepped forward.

"Your will is our destiny."

"My lord... my liege."

The Banshees lowered their heads in unison.

Theus stood on the seabed; there was no light in the deep sea, yet the colorful scales of the Banshees shone like gems under the sun, or like the stained glass on a cathedral dome, casting down a sacred and dazzling radiance.

How beautiful.

At this moment, these lights surrounded him, adding a touch of warmth to the cold deep sea.

Theus felt as if he could hear countless heartbeats gradually merging into one, much like the gazes that fell upon him.

That was the power of trust.

"I understand." He straightened his posture.

"My name is Theus Corsica Simmons Stuart, Count of the frontier on Castel Island of the Saint Mir Empire. By the sacred covenant and the decree of Her Majesty the Empress, I am the rightful lord of this land, and I accept your allegiance."

"My people."

"Welcome to my territory."

He looked at the pairs of shining eyes around him and said in a low voice:

"Welcome home."