Chapter 29: Sirens
In the dim ship's cabin, Lothar had just finished narrating the a part of the story.
On the bed opposite him, Fringilla was still listening with rapt attention.
"Continue! What happened next?"
Banu pressed her lips together and said nothing, but Lothar could clearly sense a hidden trace of anticipation in those usually cool eyes.
"Alright, then just one more chapter. Let me say this first, after this chapter, we absolutely must rest! Proper rest is crucial for a warrior."
Fringilla said with some impatience, "Alright, alright, I know! Hurry up and start!"
Banu's lips twitched slightly; that last sentence was what she had said to Lothar on the first night they slept in the same room.
Lothar gave Fringilla an exasperated look, cleared his throat, and continued the story.
The notification sound of affinity increasing chimed from time to time, but there were no significant changes. Fringilla still hadn't reached "Friendly," but her attitude was clearly different from when it was "Indifferent." Perhaps, like Banu, she still lacked a certain catalyst to achieve a breakthrough.
Lothar didn't have too many utilitarian thoughts either. He enjoyed his time with them, so he tried not to think about what skills affinity might unlock. Everything would fall into place when the time was right. Besides, there was no use in rushing. He couldn't exactly grab Fringilla by her fair, tender neck and urge, "Become friendly with me, hurry up!"
After finishing the chapter, Lothar yawned. Stamina didn't equate to mental energy; he couldn't go a whole day and night without sleep. If he could draw some potions from the system in the future that could alter his constitution or increase attributes, perhaps he too could become like a high-quality retainer.
"That's it for now. I'm sleeping."
"Mm." Banu nodded slightly.
Fringilla didn't pester him further, merely saying with some regret, "It's all because my strength hasn't recovered. Otherwise, if I gave our Lord the First Embrace, you wouldn't need to sleep every day."
Lothar was rather speechless. He closed his eyes and lay down. If he were older in the future and hadn't drawn any life-extending potions or items, he might consider becoming a vampire. But he had no such plans now. Vampires were another species; transforming into one would completely overturn his values and worldview. Heaven knew if he would then become a fiend who only knew how to keep "blood cattle," hiding in a dark, damp ancient castle, fierce, cruel, and preying on humans.
Seeing Lothar lie down, Fringilla's face was etched with boredom. Vampires also needed sleep, but that kind of sleep was measured in months at the very least. A short, daily sleep like humans? Possible, but unnecessary.
Fringilla wanted to say something, but then she glanced at Lothar, from whom even breathing sounds were already coming, and forced her words back down. She tried making faces at Banu, but that big dummy ignored her. Hmph. She turned over and went to sleep.
Lothar was in a deep, groggy sleep when, suddenly, a beautiful and gentle song reached his ears. The voice was so tender that it didn't bring any sense of irritation from having his sleep disturbed. It was as if he were resting his head on a beloved woman's soft lap, and he could almost smell a faint fragrance.
[Milestone Activated - Encounter Siren: You had an exchange with a Siren and successfully survived their cruel mating process.]
The system's notification sound was like an annoying alarm clock. Lothar woke up, somewhat irritable, but immediately realized something was wrong—the singing hadn't stopped. It wasn't a dream; there really was a woman singing!
In the pitch-black cabin, Banu was holding her demon-faced shield, warily surveying their surroundings. The demonic relief on the shield had become excited. Fringilla's eyes glinted with a dark red light.
"They actually came." Her voice held a hint of excitement, as if a surprise had appeared in her otherwise uneventful life. "My Lord, I won't drink human blood, but can I drink Siren blood? Listening to this seductive sound, I just know their blood must be exceptionally sweet." Fangs unknowingly pricked her lips.
Banu frowned and snapped, "Wake up!"
Fringilla's crimson eyes immediately dimmed. She said with some disbelief, "How can this be? That's not right. My spiritual power is so much higher than yours; how am I the one who fell for it?"
Banu stated succinctly, "Your desires are too ardent."
"Let's go. We need to wake people up; we can't let them continue to be entranced by the Sirens' song." Lothar threw on his outer garment and was the first to go out.
In cabin after cabin, scenes of utter indecency were unfolding. Lothar frowned deeply. "It's a good thing the subjects were separated by gender into two cabins; otherwise, a series of ethical tragedies would surely have occurred."
He first woke Hans, Ryan, and Moder. When these three awoke, their faces were full of anger. Only after recognizing Lothar did cold sweat break out on their foreheads, and they became fully awake.
"Block your ears and wake everyone up! Prioritize our subjects." After these hurried words, he led Banu and Fringilla up to the deck.
On deck, the obese merchant was gazing into the distance with an enraptured expression, murmuring, "Selina, I've returned. This time, I've brought you a whole ship full of offerings. I know an ugly fatty like me is unworthy of your favor, but I beg you, I beg you to accept this humble gift."
'Selina? Could that be a Siren?' Lothar's expression turned cold. So this damned Jewish merchant was not only stingy and greedy but also intended to use his passengers as gifts to appease the Sirens. Truly damnable!
In the night sky, three figures hovered in the air. Their vibrant red lips parted, singing a beautiful song. Their upper bodies were identical to those of human women, but on their backs sprouted a pair of fleshy, bat-like wings. Colorful fins adorned their waists, and their lower bodies, as in the legends, were long fish tails. Golden, flowing hair cascaded over their shoulders. Hand in hand, they floated, singing, their faces gentle and beautiful.
It had to be admitted, even Lothar, who had spent a long time with Banu and Fringilla, felt a stir of attraction towards these three female Sirens. Beautiful, noble. Where was the terror and ugliness of Sirens spoken of in legend?
Just then, one female Siren slowly descended. She extended her hand towards the obese merchant, gently caressing his plump face.
The merchant was ecstatic. "Selina, I knew it! I knew you wouldn't harm me! You let me go last time; I knew you had special feelings for me too!"
A slight smile touched Selina's lips. 'Special? If you weren't too strong for me to hold, how could I have let such a large piece of meat escape? Still, it's good that this foolish prey has delivered himself to my doorstep again, and even thoughtfully offered such a lavish sacrifice. Perhaps I should spare his life?' Selina licked her lips; she could feel her mouth watering. The sight of all this blubber made it rather difficult for her to control herself.
The merchant, however, misinterpreted her actions and eagerly leaned his face closer.
The next moment, a bloodcurdling scream erupted. The Siren's face was smeared with blood as she viciously chewed on the merchant's lips and flesh. The merchant shrieked, rolling back and forth on the deck, leaving behind shocking trails of blood. The Sirens still hovering in the sky could no longer restrain their appetites and, beating their wings, swooped down towards the blood-soaked merchant.
Fringilla sneered. "Such low-intelligence creatures can't compare to us vampires. Obviously, they should have given this merchant a little taste to string him along and catch a bigger fish."
Lothar said in a low voice, "Enough nonsense. Kill them!"