Shrouded Seascape

"I want to eat that!" Lily exclaimed as they walked past a restaurant. Her tiny paw was pointed at the grilled prawns on someone's plate behind the glass window. "The canned food yesterday was so horrible; it was so salty I almost died."

Lylejay's steps halted. Without saying a word, he nodded and brought Lily into the bustling restaurant.

Soon, the two were seated on a couch in a private room. A smile of affection graced Lylejay's face as he watched Lily devour the succulent shrimp. He also held two different sauces, one in each hand, serving her by the side.

While indulging in her food, Lily's beady eyes darted around the room in search of any mouse holes. But to her dismay, she found none. A hint of frustration crossed her face. She wasn't here just for food. She was hoping she could run into another fellow mouse.

Suddenly, Lily swallowed the mouthful of food in her mouth and complained, " I can't eat with you staring at me. I don't like people watching me while I eat. Go wait outside!"

"Alright, I'll wait for you outside," Lylejay said and placed down both sauces before leaving the room.

As soon as she heard the sound of the door closing, Lily hurriedly plucked some of her fur and arranged it on the table to spell out a few simple words of distress.

She then carefully lifted the plate and placed it over the fur to cover the makeshift message. Once the waiter cleared the plates later, he would definitely be able to see it.

"I'm done!" Lily called out toward the door when she was done with her preparations.

Hearing Lily's call, Lylejay entered the room again. He sat down and scooped the shrimp shells and leftover shrimp pieces from Lily's plate, stuffing them into his mouth. Then he picked up the plate and together with all the fur underneath, he brushed them all into his mouth as well.

"God, since you're full, let's go," Lylejay said as he tucked Lily, whose tears had welled up in her eyes, into his sleeve and exited the private room.

Back on the bustling streets, Lily's mind was racing with ideas on how she should escape. Just then, she spotted a mouse perched on a bald head. Her eyes lit up with hope—it was one of the mice she had sent out to assist the other exploration ships!

Just as Lily was about to shout, Lylejay's hand reached out swiftly and covered her mouth. No matter how hard Lily bit down on his flesh with her tiny front teeth, his grip remained unyielding.

Lylejay bowed his head to avoid a patrol squad and then darted to the back of a brothel before finally releasing his hand over Lily's mouth. "I've told You that these attempts are useless. Stop wasting Your energy."

"Hmph!" Lily let out a snort and retorted angrily, "Don't be so smug about it! Mr. Charles will definitely come to rescue me!"

"Charles?" Lylejay's brows slightly furrowed. "Do You really think he cares about You as I do? You're nothing but a tool to him."

"No! He likes me! We even kissed! He genuinely cares about me! You're nothing like Charles! You just see me as a vessel for the Light God!"

Lylejay gently shook his head. "No, the Light God resides within You. Your body was also created by the Light God. You are the Light God!"

"I'm not the Light God!! I'm Lily! Stop being delusional! Your Light God is dead!" Lily's young but determined voice rang out in the alley. Lylejay's expression faltered momentarily, but he quickly composed himself.

"No! You are the Light God! The Light God can't die! Your radiance will shine upon us again!" Lylejay declared fervently.

Before Lily could say another word, he hastily left the alley. This time, his pace was quick, almost as if he were trying to escape something.

Upon seeing the airport that was built next to the massive hole, realization finally dawned on Lily that they were in the Colossal Hole Fortress. They were truly about to descend to the Subterranean Sea.

Security was incredibly tight here and every passenger boarding an airship had to undergo identity verification, multiple checks even. Not only were their identity documents printed with their photos, but they even had to go through a large steam-powered machine to verify their authenticity,

Seeing the extensive security measures from afar, Lylejay felt a hint of apprehension. This was indeed a difficult situation. Not everything could be resolved by sheer force.

An example would be his current situation. If he tried to break through by overpowering the guards, the guards wouldn't be able to stop him, but it would definitely alert those down below. The moment he arrivedat the island beneath, the entire island would have been turned into a trap waiting for him.

Just as Lylejay was pondering how to get back down to the Subterranean Sea, he suddenly noticed an airship emerging from the colossal hole and landing on the spacious airport. A man disembarked and was immediately surrounded by a crowd.

Though the man had put on some weight, Lily still recognized him instantly. He was James, the former chief engineer of the Narwhale.

"Hmm… It seems like this young man holds quite a high position here. In that case, him it shall be," Lylejay muttered before he silently began to follow James.

"What are you planning to do? What are you going to do to him?" Staring at Lylejay's gaze, Lily could sense something off, and panic began to stir within her.

"Nothing much, just finding a way to get down there," Lylejay's words only heightened Lily's concern.

"I'm telling you! Don't you dare hurt James!! He's Mr. Charles' subordinate!"

However, Lily's words only served to quicken Lylejay's pace instead of slowing him.

"Oh, isn't that even better?" Lylejay said with a chuckle.

"You… don't hurt him! He's my friend too! He's my best friend! I'm begging you!" Lily sounded as though she was about to burst into tears the next moment.

"Please! Let him go! As long as you don't harm him, I'll do whatever you say, alright? I won't run away anymore. I'll stay by your side obediently." Lily begged in desperation.

Only then did Lylejay finally slow down in his steps…

"Alright, there is more than one way to return to the Subterranean Sea. I'll find another way. But please keep Your word and stay by my side without causing trouble."

"Okay…" Lily's mouse ears drooped slightly, and a bitter expression crossed her furry face.

Lylejay turned to look at the giant hole in the distance. There were indeed many ways down, and the best course of action was to find one that caused the least disruption.

Since he had yet to establish his own forces again and was just a lone individual, it was best not to provoke Charles’ forces.

Just then, a tall Haikor walked toward him. As soon as he brushed past Lylejay, a black backpack fell from his sleeve and landed right at Lylejay’s feet.

Lylejay picked up the bag and looked at it, his eyes filled with curiosity. He then lifted his gaze to stare at the tall Haikor's retreating figure.

"Hmm? Where did that come from? You weren't holding that before." Lily asked in confusion upon returning to her senses.

Bringing the backpack to a secluded corner, Lylejay then unzipped it to find a shriveled human skin and several red papers.

He remembered seeing these papers. Those boarding the airships were holding onto these. With these, he could now descend from the surface world to the Subterranean Sea.