The coastline of GoldSea Town stretches for about twenty miles, and the natural harbor has very deep mooring depths, with the shallowest areas being nearly fifteen meters and the deepest reaching around forty meters.
As the town gradually expanded, the docks were also extended, and now even the multi-masted sailboats built by the southern kingdoms can easily berth at the harbor docks.
Currently, the port is filled with various multi-masted sailboats, single-masted square-rigged ships, and even some oar-powered galleys. These vessels gently sway with the calm lapping of the water.
Under the cover of night, GoldSea Town was still brightly lit, as if these adventurerspossessed endless energy.
Even after a tiring day in the endless forests and vast grasslands, they were still keen to gather in taverns at night, engaging in lively discussions.
Many adventurers also took advantage of the night lights to sneak into the ladies' establishments with lanterns hung high, and soon, high-pitched sounds, like a male and female duet from a noble orchestra, would emanate from the now exquisitely maintained residences.
Mist gradually spread from the depths of the sea, moving towards the coast under the sea breeze, enveloping the ships docked in the harbor and parts of the town.
The crew members on duty on these ships had long been accustomed to this scene and were not surprised.
A young sailor climbed out of his companion's bunk, shuffled his feet, and put on his waterproof, warm clothing.
Enduring the unpleasant smell that permeated the cabin from the bottom of the ship—a mixture of rotting wood, garbage, food, and cargo, combined with dampness, body odor, and mildew—he brightened the masthead light to prevent any accidents.
He did not notice, however, that in the gradually thickening mist, an ugly monster silently emerged from the distant sea.
A pair of vicious and cruel eyes were scanning the mist, quietly observing this town that seemed to have no night.
This monster's body, from head to toe, was about two to three meters long and slender. Its dark green skin was covered in a mesh pattern, with occasional fine scales appearing on some parts of its body.
Its head had prominent features, with developed jaws and sharp teeth, and all four limbs had webbed feet. Its head, neck, back, and the sides of its forearms also bore vertical fins like small sails, and it had a pair of fish-like eyes.
The monster's tail had a pair of strong fin-like structures, and its sharp claws held a trident decorated with coral and intertwined seaweed.
This was a Fishmen, called a sea demon by coastal human residents. This type of monster usually inhabits ocean caves or deep-sea trenches.
They enjoy hunting and attacking all creatures they see. Although they also have a habit of trading, they prefer to obtain what they want by plundering coastal settlements and merchant ships, making them a highly predatory, intelligent fish-like race.
However, because Bronze Dragons, who pride themselves on being righteous and benevolent and never feed on intelligent creatures, are very fond of the taste of these monsters and often prey on them, they do not recognize these Fishmen as intelligent beings.
Unlike the Blue Dragon among the Chromatic Dragons, who not only acknowledge these Fishmen as intelligent beings but also eat them more readily than Bronze Dragons.
This Fishmen was a member of a Fishmen tribe living in a deep-sea trench far from this sea area. In the past, when these Fishmen occasionally patrolled this sea area, they would not pay attention to this place because they knew it belonged to an Ogre settlement.
Those foolish Ogres were poor yet strong, not worth attacking and plundering by the Fishmen, and there were few merchant ships passing by before, which did not attract the attention of the Fishmen.
But this sea area seemed to be getting livelier recently, with more and more humans and merchant ships passing through and docking here, which caught the attention of the monster who occasionally patrolled this area. So he began to lurk and investigate.
In the eyes of these Fishmen, humans always gave them the impression of being extremely weak and easily bullied. So, after observing for a period, this Fishmen sank into the water and approached the sailor on the ship.
The young sailor was unaware that danger was approaching him. After lighting the masthead light on the ship, he looked enviously at the lively town on the shore,
He muttered to himself, "Facing men's butts all day, I've almost forgotten the wonderful smell of those ladies, damn it."
Suddenly, he heard a violent splash and quickly turned his head towards the source of the sound. In the hazy mist, he vaguely saw a green monster already leaping out of the water, releasing a powerful jet of water towards him.
Before the sailor could even shout, he was struck in the face by the powerful jet of water, and his vision instantly went black.
A sharp trident, propelled by immense force, had already pierced his body, and the sailor collapsed weakly onto the deck.
Thud, the Fishmen grabbed the ship's hull and leaped onto the deck. Without lingering, he dragged the unconscious sailor and jumped back into the sea.
He intended to bring this human to report to the Fishmen nobles and priests who ruled the tribe, and perhaps he would receive a generous reward.
...
"Move aside, move aside!"
The Fishmen, who possessed several times more strength in water than on land, easily dragged the human corpse with one claw into the large grotto in the trench, while driving away the other Fishmen who came forward, drawn by the smell of blood and flesh.
When he entered this deep and vast cave, he did not look at the Fishmen guards who were eyeing the human in his hand. Instead, he bypassed these guards and walked towards the upper level of the cave.
The upper level of the cave contained another spacious area, which appeared somewhat pearlescent under the reflection of various underwater coral gems.
The cave ceiling and walls were adorned with various strange and ferocious murals, drawn with a special oily substance.
These murals mostly depicted fierce sharks battling various strangely shaped deep-sea monsters. This was the deity worshipped by these Fishmen - Sekhura, the Shark God.
Below these murals sat a tall, grotesque, ugly male Fishmen, surrounded by several female Fishmen. They were diligently striving for the propagation of their race.
These were the Fishmen priestesses and the Fishmen Baron who ruled this tribe.
The patrolling Fishmen did not dare to look too much. Although these priestesses were the playthings of the Fishmen Baron, they themselves held great influence and high status within the Fishmen community because they were qualified to channel the divine power of Sekhura, the Shark God.
"Baron, I have discovered some good news."
The patrolling Fishmen threw the already pale and bloated human onto the ground, knelt down, and kept his fish-like eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to look up.
The Fishmen Baron, who was busy on top of a priestess, twisted his head to look at the intruding patrolling Fishmen while vigorously thrusting his ugly body. He bared his sharp teeth and sneered coldly, "This news had better satisfy me!"