After the divination ended, the Merfolk Old Priest lifted the Dragon Skin Cloak hanging from the Bone Staff, shook off the lice and dust, and draped it back over Agnegn's head.
At the same time, a little merfolk in a short gray robe staggered out from behind them, carrying an enormous shell. It walked up to the young wizards, lowered its head timidly, and said nothing.
The old merfolk shot it a sidelong glance and muttered under his breath, seeming to curse.
Senior Colmar was the first to toss a Silver Horn Coin into the shell.
The little merfolk grunted for a long while before finally squeezing out a "Thank you." Its voice was very soft, like a mosquito's buzz, with the distinctive leaky quality of merfolk speech.
The others suddenly understood. It was asking for tips.
Zheng Qing gave little. Since he disliked having inhaled so much smoke earlier and was not particularly interested in the old merfolk's divination, he only tossed a handful of Copper Coins into the shell. Little Fox, on the other hand, perhaps finding the little merfolk cute, put on a show of generosity and fished a Gold Bean from the bell hanging around its neck, throwing it grandly into the shell. The sight made Zheng Qing's heart ache.
A child selling his father's land wouldn't feel the pain, the young publicly funded student muttered to himself, reaching out to vigorously ruffle the fur around Little Fox's neck twice. No, a child selling his mother's land wouldn't feel the pain. That Gold Bean had not been given by him.
Of course, he did not fish the Gold Bean back out in the end.
After leaving the wandering merfolk's tent, Senior Colmar bid the young wizards farewell. She needed to meet up with her subordinates and