Diary of a Dead Wizard - Chapter 820: Beneath the Sea Surface

Royer couldn’t teleport, and Saul had no coordinates outside the royal palace, so they honestly flew through the sky.

Fortunately, third-rank wizards flew quite fast, and the Evernight Royal Palace was close to the coast. They soon saw the ocean.

The last time Saul went to the seaside with Alfonso, he hadn’t been able to see the Red Sea Trees. This time the weather was clear and they happened to catch low tide. Looking out, the shoreline was a dazzling expanse of red.

The red leaves resembled palms, densely overlapping together. Scattered dark brown tree trunks were exposed, their bark shining as if oiled.

Dense Red Sea Tree forests almost covered the entire coastal sea surface, and fallen leaves had dyed the nearby seawater red.

Royer flew ahead and dove head-first into the water beneath the trees.

Saul followed closely, entering the water with graceful form.

Swimming under the Red Sea Trees was very difficult. The Red Sea (the name of this sea area) below wasn’t as spacious as other waters—it was filled with tangled Red Sea Tree roots, and they couldn’t damage them.

Fortunately, both men moved with agility and speed even underwater, as if they were soaring through the sky.

Though he hadn’t given birth to these children, he had definitely raised them.

“Red Sea Tree leaves absorb nutrients in the air, while the trunks are the important part for resisting pollution.”

The two continued descending, and the light grew increasingly dim.

Although he knew Saul’s vision wouldn’t be greatly affected in this environment, Royer enthusiastically illuminated the nearby waters to show off.

“This is where Red Sea Trees store pollution.” Royer led Saul close to a tree root as thick as a thigh, where four or five head-sized tubers had formed.

They resembled underwater sweet potatoes but with relatively smooth surfaces.

Royer casually crushed a tuber, revealing the dark brown pulp inside.

Saul recalled that Alfonso had seemed to throw these things into the deep pool by the sea a few days ago, drawing out the sick mermaids hiding inside.

Saul also took one, crushed half of it, and carefully examined the tuber’s composition with his hands.

He discovered low-activity black tide pollution hidden in the tuber’s fibers.

But after he crushed the tuber, the black tide pollution inside quickly returned to activity.

Indeed, Red Sea Trees could only absorb and store pollution, completely unable to process it.

However, even so, their method of temporarily storing pollution from seawater in root tubers at least allowed coastal residents to live normally.

“Royer,” Saul asked the other man who was watching him, “Do you know about Black Sea Trees?”

Royer wasn’t at all surprised that Saul also knew of Black Sea Trees’ existence.

Although the Tribunal wouldn’t openly station forces in the Borderland, that didn’t mean they knew nothing about happenings there.

In fact, the former third-rank wizard of the Borderland had been their biggest source of information.

“Of course I know. I personally led the purge against the wizard family that advocated preserving Black Sea Trees.” Royer wore an arrogant, proud smile, as if he were bragging about saving an entire family rather than exterminating one.

Saul couldn’t help but glance at Royer.

Third-rank wizards lived long lives. Many things that sounded like historical biography had actually happened to the person before him.

“Black Sea Trees are more efficient at absorbing pollution and can even process pollution to some extent. Haven’t you tried combining the advantages of Red Sea Trees and Black Sea Trees?”

Species hybridization, taking the best of both.

Though difficult, it would be worth trying for Nephret’s future.

Royer’s smile faded somewhat. “You think we haven’t considered it? The key is that Black Sea Trees and Red Sea Trees are completely incompatible in several core characteristics, there’s no way to make the two species combine. Even if Black Sea Trees just appear, Red Sea Trees will have their nutrients plundered and die in large numbers.”

Though Royer was arrogant and flamboyant, he was still serious about his experiments.

“To ensure Red Sea Trees’ pollution absorption efficiency, we don’t dare let Black Sea Trees appear in Nephret. If not for preserving species diversity for the future, we wouldn’t even allow Black Sea Tree to remain in the Borderland.”

Royer suddenly stared at Saul. “The original keeper of the Black Sea Tree, Justin, is already dead. Herbert, who killed him, also died by your hand. The only remaining Black Sea Tree should be in your hands, right?”

Saul tacitly agreed.

Royer shrugged—this gesture was especially inconspicuous underwater. “If it’s in your hands, so be it. As long as you don’t bring it to Nephret, I won’t lead a hunt for you.”

Saul looked frank. “I do know the story of Red Sea Trees and Black Sea Trees.”

Seeing Saul’s sincere expression, Royer felt quite pleased and rarely mentioned mermaids. “Aren’t you interested in mermaids? I’ll take you to see them. Aside from feeding, they generally don’t surface in shallow waters.”

He turned and swam toward the deeper ocean, where Red Sea Tree roots gradually changed from dense to sparse but never completely disappeared.

Saul hurried to follow Royer, though his expression was somewhat stiff.

Because he suddenly remembered that Little Algae living in the back of his neck had just devoured part of the essence of Black Sea Trees and Inverted Trees.

Due to time constraints, Saul hadn’t yet tested what abilities Little Algae, which had tangled itself into a dead knot, now possessed.

If Little Algae, having fused with Black Sea Trees, also had the ability to make Red Sea Trees kill themselves…

Would he also face endless pursuit from the Tribunal?

Saul’s spine ran cold. He couldn’t help but pat the back of his head, then pressed the back of his neck.

Fortunately, although Little Algae had no brains, it was obedient—when told not to come out, it absolutely wouldn’t.

After instructing Little Algae, Saul relaxed slightly, regained his composure, and continued descending with Royer.

Soon, Saul saw the mermaids living in the deep sea area.

Or rather, he couldn’t call it living—it should be called barely surviving.

In areas where the seabed intersected with tree roots lay large numbers of mermaids. They were all skin and bones, scales on their tails patchy and falling off, wounds covering their bodies.

Some wounds were still bleeding, others had long since festered. If not for Red Sea Trees and wizards’ methods blocking seabed predators, these bloody scents would have attracted large numbers of carnivorous beasts long ago.

The mermaid race was struggling to continue their existence in the comfortable environment deliberately created by wizards.

Saul saw mermaids on the seabed overlapping each other like autumn leaves that had fallen to the ground and piled together.

No one would care about any individual leaf’s feelings.

“It’s winter now, so the seawater temperature is low. When spring comes, you can come see.” Royer smiled with ill intent. “Large-scale breeding scenes.”

Saul remained noncommittal. Whether he’d still be in Nephret in spring was uncertain, and even if he was, he wasn’t interested in such things.

Royer stopped and didn’t continue approaching the seabed, but Saul kept descending. Royer didn’t stop him either.

Because the bottom was covered with mermaids, Saul found a position—a rock covered with seaweed—to land on.

But as soon as he landed, he realized something was wrong.

Feedback from his mental power told him that what was covered by seaweed wasn’t a rock, but a mermaid corpse that had died long ago.

Saul was silent for a moment. Magical power spread outward from him, sweeping away all the mermaids lying nearby.

This revealed the dense bones underneath.

Mermaid skeletons that had died long ago.

(End of Chapter)