The next day, Cale was at the port early in the morning. He introduced Toonka to the ship and the crew.

"Bob."

Toonka stared at them for a while before starting to speak. "Come after a month time. The world will be different."

Cale started to think that he must absolutely not go to the Whipper Kingdom anytime in the next month. He could see the excitement in Toonka's eyes and knew that he was going to run wild.

"...Hurry back home." Cale slowly moved away from Toonka and looked toward to crew to urge them to leave.

Toonka watched Cale and hesitated for a bit before finally deciding to ask. "Are you weak?"

"Yes. I'm very weak."

Toonka seemed extremely confused after hearing Cale's sharp and clear answer. However, he then stepped onto the ship.

"Make sure you come after one month."

"Yeah, yeah." Cale casually waved at Toonka and then turned away from the ship.

At that moment, Toonka shouted loudly from behind Cale. "My name is Toonka! Don't forget it!"

Cale turned back around. The mid-sized ship was leaving the port with the sun shining down on it brightly while Toonka was waving at him from the deck.

It felt like a scene out of an anime when the main character was leaving. Cale thought he saw something he shouldn't have seen and turned back around without any regrets.

Cale continued to hear Toonka shout for Cale to not forget his name, but Cale made sure not to turn back. But he was feeling full just thinking about what would happen around a month later.

He would be able to earn enough money to spend for a lifetime and get a way to build a strong castle as well. 'I've got to strengthen the walls in Henituse territory.'

Cale returned to the residence to greet the others. He started to pet the kittens, On and Hong, who had been hiding inside the residence since they got here, as he started to speak. "Have you come to talk?"

"Yes. Still, I needed to come to thank you as well as to apologize for scaring you."

On and Hong dropped their jaws as they blankly stared at Witira. These kittens, who did not even have much reaction when they saw Paseton, had a completely different reaction to Witira.

Witira checked Cale's expression as she cautiously asked. "Are you feeling okay now, young master Cale?"

"I'm the same as usual."

Cale was always at 100 percent thanks to the Vitality of the Heart. It allowed him to feel perfectly fine, even after sleeping for only two or three hours.

He then started to speak to Witira, who had suddenly stopped talking, as well as her younger brother Paseton next to her.

"That's enough thanks. If you thank me anymore, it will not feel genuine. Same thing with the apology."

"Got it. Thank you very much."

Cale blankly stared at Witira, who was speaking formally to him, but observed her at the same time.

The bloodline of the Whale King. This was different from the chief of any other Beast tribe, because the Whale King was the person who ruled half of the ocean. That made the Whale King no less than the king of a kingdom.

However, Witira was speaking formally and respectfully to Cale. She had not done so to Choi Han in the novel.

'Why is she hiding her identity, even though she revealed the fact that she is part of the Whale tribe?'

However, Cale did not reveal the question on his mind out loud. Cale was trying to hide the fact that he knew quite a bit about the Whale Tribe. They might be cautious of him if they knew, and Cale is lazy to think of an excuse.

"You just thanked me again. I said no more." Cale continued to speak to the two siblings who seemed to be straight out of a piece of art. "I'm glad you siblings got to meet back up. You can go ahead and talk about what you want to say now."

He had sent Toonka back already and wanted to meet with the Ubarr territory's head before heading back to the Henituse territory.

Of course, there was stuff for him to complete back home, but he would at least be able to rest until he went up to the Whipper Kingdom. Maybe train a little in between.

It was at that moment.

"Then I'll get to the point, young master Cale-nim."

Witira's voice, and the voice of the Whale tribe in general, was as beautiful as the legendary siren, the dangerous beings that lured people to jump into the sea with their beautiful voice.

Cale started to get the chills thinking about that legendary existence. He slowly turned his head to look at Witira. He had an odd feeling in his mind as he did so.

"We have a very old enemy. I'm sure you already know because you healed Paseton. It is the mermaids."

'I know. I know very well.' Cale nodded.

"However, my brother Paseton was able to figure out how they were able to suddenly get stronger."

'What is this godsend information? That's what I wanted to know.' Cale listened attentively while feigning indifference.

Paseton added on. "The reason the mermaids were chasing after me was because I found the source of their sudden increase in strength."

The mixed-blood Whale Paseton who was killed while being chased by the mermaids. There was a reason he was being chased, and the information he had was very important for the war between the mermaids and the Whales.

"I heard that young master is from the Henituse family."

"...And?" Cale frowned a little. 'What does it has to do with my territory?'

Witira and Paseton did not respond right away and exchanged glances with each other.

Witira finally turned toward Cale and started to speak. "The Forest of Darkness. I wish to go there. No, I must go there."

Cale thought about everything inside the Forest of Darkness that he knew of. 'The swamp of dead mana? It can't be, right? Is that how White Star know about mum's Ancient Power? Because his subordinates was using the swamp of dead mana for the mermaid?'

Cale clenched his fist after coming to that conclusion.

"Why?" Cale had to confirm.

"We found out that the source of what strengthen the mermaids was inside the Forest of Darkness, even we are not sure yet of what it is exactly. But I beg you. We have prepared a large compensation for you as well. May we please go with you?" The large and small Whales both looked at him with sincerity.

On and Hong tapped Cale's knee with their front paws. It was their way of asking Cale to take the Whales with them.

At the same time, there was a knock on the door before it opened.

It was the Wolf child, Maes. "Young master-nim, here are your tea and snacks."

Two other Wolf children came in with a tray and teapot. Beacrox was outside the door guiding them.

– I am much more handsome and beautiful.

Cale heard Raon's mumbling before closing his eyes.

He felt like he was standing in the middle of a chaotic whirlpool, when he couldn't confirm the exact reason yet.

"Umm, young master-nim?"

Cale raised his hand at Witira's cautious question, which made Witira stop talking.

Once the Wolf children left and the room became quiet once again, Cale slowly opened his eyes back.

He looked very calm with his back to the couch, as he sat there with his messy yet cool looking red hair. However, in comparison, Cale's dark brown pupils looked so deep that you could not see the end.

Witira and Paseton were looking into Cale's eyes when they heard his calm voice. "First, explain everything in details to me."

"We have had many battles, both large and small, with the mermaids over the years. We control the north and the mermaids control the south." Paseton looked toward Cale.

Cale, who was leaning on the couch, motioned to Paseton with his chin to continue with his story. Cale needed the couch to support his body.

On and Hong peeked at Cale's darken face before slowly moving away from Cale's knee and heading toward the corner of the room next to their youngest.

"We are fighting to prevent the mermaids from creating a kingdom throughout the entire ocean. However, something changed six months ago." Paseton's eyes started to fall. "The mermaids started acting weird."

'Weird?' Cale started to think about the novel's information regarding the mermaids.

"They crossed over the implicit border between our two tribes and started to provoke us."

This was something Cale knew about. The mermaids start to provoke the Whales so that they could take control of the ocean.

Paseton continued to speak. "I was able to figure out the reason behind it."

'To connect the route between Eastern and Western continents. Even though the novel said that the mermaids wanted to build their own kingdom, but it's not the exact reason.'

The Whale tribe in volumes 4 and 5 knew about the mermaids' plan of building their own kingdom, and that was why Choi Han was helping them fight against the mermaids.

"They are trying to take control of the sea route that connects the Eastern and Western continents."

"...." Cale knew that because the information that he gathered from his desperately past life was the fact that White Star's army entered the Western continent by the sea route.

Cale still had to conceal the fact that he knew so He sat up straight and looked toward Paseton before asking. "Isn't the sea route something for the humans?"

There were a couple different sea routes that connect the Western and Eastern continents. The humans had found these routes, but they were far and dangerous, preventing an official route from becoming created.

According to the novel, there was an implicit agreement between the lifeforms living in the water and the lifeforms living above water.

The sea lifeforms would not touch these sea routes and the land lifeforms would not meddle in the issues of the sea in exchange.

That was why Choi Han was troubled on whether to involve himself in the battles between the Whales and the mermaids.

But the mermaids were going to break this agreement?

That's the reason he chose this question to ask.

Witira started to speak. "At first, we thought that the new king of the mermaids was leading the charge to create their kingdom, but the information Paseton brought back was different."

Sigh. Cale let out a sigh and took a sip of his now lukewarm tea.

'So it was because of the death of Paseton that no one know about the reason until it's too late.' Cale contemplated. 'If I was right, I'll just go and destroy that dead mana swamp, help the Whale to win the war, so I can delay and destroy that White thing's plan.'

"And there was one more weird thing."

"Hold on." Cale prevented Witira from continuing by interrupting her. "Just tell me why the Forest of Darkness is involved."

Cale just wanted to know right now if he was right. Cale could see Witira slightly smiling. Why the hell is she smiling?

"Yes. This is regarding that!" Witira brightly answered while Cale's expression turned darker.

"As we mentioned, the mermaids became stronger about one or two months ago. We were able to figure out the 'ingredient' that caused this to happen."

Cale closed his eyes. He slowly opened them back and asked the two Whales. "That ingredient is in the Forest of Darkness?"

"Correct! You realized it right away!"

Paseton's eyes were sparkling as he decisively continued. "I heard them talking about a swamp in the Forest of Darkness. That was why I was chased by them. We need to go to the swamp and figure out what the ingredient is."

'That's the confirmation. Destroy the swamp would be our mutual goal. I still think I should get some benefits from this cooperation. I don't do thing that resulted in my loss.' Cale quickly put on a frown. "It's complicated."

"Excuse me?" The Whale siblings' pupils grew larger.

'There was something I needed to understand first.' Cale spoke steadily. "Humans cannot interfere in the events of the sea."

Witira immediately responded. "We know that is the case. However, we plan on making sure you are not at a disadvantage in any way from this. Everything will be done by us in secret."

She then added on to respond to Cale's statement. "Furthermore, the mermaids broke the agreement first. They would have needed help from the land in order to reach the Forest of Darkness."

"But there is still a huge chance of danger. You know that, right?"

"Yes."

Next came the second thing he needed to know. "So what is in it for me?"

Cale informed them about the danger first before asking about this. A thick smile formed on Witira's face as she slowly started to speak.

Cale knew what was going to come out of her mouth. It would be the same condition the Whale King had offered Choi Han in the novel.

"A sea route."

Cale started to smile.

"There is a sea route that the mermaids have prioritized in their takeover. It is one that the humans have not found yet. It is the safest sea route available."

Cale asked, even though he already knew. "Where is it?"

Witira, who did not know that Cale knew about it, confidently answered. "Our ocean."

The Western continent's Northern Sea. "It is in the Whale tribe's territory."

Cale started to laugh softly as he asked. "Isn't the Whale territory the most dangerous? It is the location of the ocean's strongest lifeforms."

"But it is a safe place for you now, young master Cale. You will be given the rights to use that route."

Cale casually told the confident Witira. "But I don't need it."

"...Excuse me?"

Cale had absolutely no need for a sea route like that. It wasn't like they were giving him the sea route. They were just giving him the rights to use it.

As long as they feel indebted to him, they would still let me use it later. "Let me add one more condition."

The sea route will make his family wealthier and stronger. Of course, Basen will have to work even harder as the head of the territory, and Cale might need it to go to the Eastern continent in the future.

Cale could see the confusion in Witira's face, and answered the future Whale Queen. This is his main goal since meeting the Whales. "Lend me your strength when I need it."

"Our strength?"

"Yes, strength. Two times."

Nothing else mattered to Cale other than keeping this Northeastern territory safe when the Northern knights headed down toward this warm and plentiful part of the continent.

The whirlpools in the Ubarr sea and the naval base, why else would Cale have involved himself in all of this?

It was because Cale was preparing for the future based on his knowledge of the future.

"We can't interfere with the issues of the land."

Cale looked at Witira's pale expression sharply and adding on. "So you want me to put myself in danger, but you won't do the same?"

"...We are a peace-seeking tribe."

"I don't think you can say that when you have been fighting with the mermaids for so long."

The Whale tribe was feeling danger from the stronger mermaids. They had never felt such danger before. They probably wanted to completely get rid of that source of danger in order to maintain their peace.

Cale continued to speak to the silent Witira. "The Forest of Darkness is one of the most dangerous and mysterious areas in the world. It is not somewhere you will have safe travels just because you are strong. Especially for someone like you, who does not know much about the land. So, I will help you."

The Forest of Darkness that Choi Han had lived in for tens of years. Choi Han did not know everything about the Forest of Darkness, even after spending that long in there. He just knew bits and pieces of it.

And the human who knew the most about the Forest of Darkness after Choi Han was, of course, Cale.

"I think I know which swamp it is." Even though his mother's diary didn't mention the location, the novel had written about the directions to find the swamp.

Witira could see Cale smile again as he gently answered. "Doesn't the Whale tribe want a peaceful life as the strongest lifeform in the ocean?"

Cale could see Witira's point of view starting to change. She was slowly changing from a position of request to a position of making a deal.

"You are right, young master Cale."

The Whales that wanted peace. That was only possible because they were strong. The Whale tribe in the novel did anything and everything to fight the mermaids.

"I, Witira, as the successor of the Whale chief, accept your conditions." Witira could see that Cale was still calm after she revealed her identity.

"You were the successor? Great. We can finalize our deal without delay." He just seemed happy that they could complete the deal right then and there. He reached his hand out as he asked. "Am I supposed to speak formally to you now?"

"There is no need to do that, young master Cale. I need to hide my identity."

"Only I should know about it?"

"Correct."

Cale shook hands with Witira. That was enough. Cale plopped down on the couch once the Whale siblings left.

He let out a deep sigh. The three siblings couldn't help but looked at each other.

************************************

Tsuki: Enjoy!