Chapter 260
“Excuse me, have you ever heard of the Jewel of Truth?”
…
Deep beneath the Arctic Sea lies a mystical realm, the domain of the mermaids.
Within this underwater kingdom sprawls a peculiar and vast city constructed from countless egg sacs.
Amidst this city, nestled within what is known as the city center, lies the 840,928th egg sac.
Here, within the confines of the ‘Red Egg Sac,’ a curious encounter unfolds between a group of mermaids and an unfamiliar visitor.
“The Jewel of Truth?”
The question hung in the air, prompting one mermaid to flex his pectoral muscles, an expression of bewilderment evident on his face.
He cast a skeptical glance towards the stranger in their midst, Lloyd, who floated awkwardly, wearing an uncertain smile.
“Ah, pardon my curiosity. I’ve journeyed from afar after hearing a captivating rumor in the human realm. It is said that within the mermaid kingdom lies a magnificent treasure known as the Jewel of Truth.”
“Hmm, how ancient is this rumor?”
“Excuse me?”
“It sounds like a tale from the distant past…”
The mermaid regarded Lloyd with a bemused expression, subtly distancing himself by a few fin lengths.
“I’m sorry, I only recall hearing brief mentions of it in my youth, so I cannot say for certain.”
“Ah, hold on…!”
Before Lloyd could press further, the mermaid swiftly swam away, leaving Lloyd feeling more rushed than before.
Lloyd sighed.
“This reception is rather chilly.”
It wasn’t the reaction he had anticipated.
He had assumed that the Jewel of Truth, being a rare treasure of the mermaid kingdom steeped in myth and legend, would be widely known.
Hoping to glean some information from any mermaid he encountered, Lloyd had expected at least a semblance of a response to his inquiries.
“Perhaps most of it would be trivial anecdotes, but I thought by piecing together these tales, I might uncover clues or leads. Yet, judging by their reactions…”
The reality fell short of his expectations.
Nearly all the mermaids he encountered offered lukewarm responses to his questions, or worse…
“Do you know of the Jewel of Truth?”
“Ah, no, I do not.”
“Really? You’re not familiar?”
“Do not delay me. I must swim. If I neglect my daily exercise and my muscles wither, will you bear responsibility?”
…
He faced outright dismissal on numerous occasions.
It seemed as though…
“They’re treating me as if I’m asking for directions.”
Lloyd sighed deeply.
Indeed, the mermaids’ responses mirrored just that: as though they were too preoccupied to entertain frivolous questions, displaying clear annoyance and inconvenience.
At times, such dismissals were even considered polite.
“Pardon me, esteemed elder mermaid, where might you be headed in such haste?”
“Eh? What is a land-dwelling human doing here?”
“Ah, nothing of consequence. I merely seek a treasure known as the Jewel of Truth within these waters. And upon encountering such a venerable elder, I wondered if you might spare a moment to entertain a few inquiries…”
“No.”
…
“Even as my joints ache terribly, why are you interrogating me about fish bones?”
“Nevertheless, if you could just…”
“What do you mean ‘nevertheless’? Hey, young human, are you attempting some sort of scam?”
“Pardon?”
“Who speaks of the Jewel of Truth these days? If this were a bygone era, perhaps, but you are woefully misinformed.”
…
“Thus, young man, what are your true intentions? Are you plotting some swindle by inquiring about the Jewel of Truth?”
“Well, um…”
“Refusing to answer immediately? Would you prefer to face the wrath of this old lady?”
…
With a menacing growl, the elderly mermaid exuded an imposing aura.
Despite a slight hunch in her posture, her forearm muscles remained formidable.
Not merely formidable, but as though she could effortlessly bend five 500-won coins as part of her morning routine, all while wearing a smile.
Lloyd was at a loss.
He felt on the verge of tears.
Yet, the passing mermaids offered no warmer reception.
Had he somehow offended the elder mermaid, they seemed poised to pounce and demonstrate the resilience of their toughened muscles.
“Ah, I apologize profusely! It was entirely my fault!”
Eventually, Lloyd bowed repeatedly before making a hasty retreat.
Taking refuge in a secluded corner of the egg sac alley, he couldn’t help but feel unjustly treated.
A hollow chuckle escaped his lips.
“It’s akin to asking individuals in downtown Seoul for directions to Ungnyeo from the Dangun mythology.”
Indeed, the mermaids’ reactions mirrored precisely that.
The Jewel of Truth of the mermaid kingdom.
The realization dawned upon him that this treasure was steeped in antiquity.
“Should I simply concede defeat and return?”
The thought of returning to the dragon king Berkis, who had deceived him, crossed his mind.
Perhaps that would be the prudent course of action.
Or perhaps he should resign himself to damnation.
What if he sought guidance from the king of the underworld on how to avert the cycle of destiny, even at the cost of a steep price?
Such musings lingered in his mind.
Yet, he shook his head resolutely.
“No. I’ve come too far!”
It seemed wasteful to abandon his quest at this juncture.
He resolved to persist for another day or two, and if still met with silence, then he would contemplate retreat.
And so, the endeavor began anew.
Despite the continued indifference and disregard from the mermaids, Lloyd grew bolder.
He wore his audacity as a badge of honor and continued to inquire persistently.
“Pardon me, passing mermaid? Have you perchance heard of the Jewel of Truth?”
…
“Hey, muscular fellow over there? Uninterested in the Jewel of Truth?”
…
“Ah, you possess the most resplendent fins I’ve beheld today among the mermaids. But are you acquainted with the Jewel of Truth?”
…
Not a single mermaid extended a friendly response.
It was as though they regarded him as a madman uttering incomprehensible gibberish, simply passing him by in silence.
Yet Lloyd remained undeterred.
He refused to be disheartened or despondent.
Having grown accustomed to being overlooked and scorned, having endured the hardships of the lowest rungs of South Korean society in various states of destitution, encountering such treatment once more held little surprise.
Instead, he thickened his skin brazenly.
“Might as well fully embody the ‘Do you know the way’ persona.”
He resolved to let events unfold as they may, even seeking to attract attention to himself.
And attract attention he did.
Lloyd fully embraced his role.
“Pardon me, sir? My, you exude such a positive aura? It seems as though you’ve received an abundance of blessings from the Jewel of Truth, have you not?”
…
“Hey, young man? Do your shoulders feel weighed down or your neck stiff? It appears as though your ancestors are burdening you with their woes. Perhaps they urge you to seek out the Jewel of Truth?”
…
“Um, I’m unsure if I should divulge this to someone I’ve just met, but do misfortunes seem to plague you at the eleventh hour? I’ve heard that harnessing the energy of the Jewel of Truth could remedy that. Although, I don’t usually impart such knowledge to just anyone.”
…
…and so it continued.
While the mermaids’ responses remained chilly, a shift occurred.
“Excellent. The mermaids are beginning to take notice!”
Lloyd clenched his fist in secret jubilation.
Had his peculiar behavior sparked rumors?
Or had news spread of a curious human engaging in eccentric behavior?
Mermaids indeed began to congregate.
They formed clusters, observing him intently and exchanging hushed murmurs.
Some cast mocking glances his way.
They laughed openly, their conversations resembling spectators at a peculiar or amusing spectacle.
Yet Lloyd felt no shame or embarrassment.
“Excellent. This is a vast improvement from before.”
He detected a glimmer of hope.
Despite the lack of direct responses to his inquiries, at least he had captured their attention, drawing a substantial audience.
“It’s a matter of probability.”
Better to gather dozens or hundreds of them than to rely on one or two individuals.
Such an approach would enhance the likelihood of receiving a response.
“Of course, the embarrassment falls squarely on Habiel’s shoulders.”
Indeed, Habiel had been blushing furiously since earlier.
He couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze, maintaining a cautious distance of about five paces.
Was it embarrassment, or did he wish to signal his disassociation from the spectacle?
Lloyd smirked.
“The stage is set.”
From that moment on, Lloyd deliberately raised his voice when inquiring about the Jewel of Truth.
He wanted every mermaid in attendance to hear his question.
Hoping to pique the interest of even a single individual.
He grew even more audacious.
Then, during one such instance…
“Excuse me, are you genuinely interested in learning about the Jewel of Truth?”
Finally, for the first time, a mermaid approached him with a question!
“Yes?”
Lloyd regarded the mermaid with surprise.
A youthful male mermaid with strikingly colored hair.
Yet, his appearance was somewhat unconventional.
“For a mermaid, he seems rather lean?”
In comparison to the robust, muscular mermaids surrounding them, he possessed a distinct physique.
Almost reminiscent of a sleek athlete, were he human.
However, this uniquely built mermaid approached with a determined gaze.
“I’ve overheard your inquiries to the mermaids.”
“You heard my questions?”
“Yes.”
The lean mermaid nodded, his eyes alight with earnest intent.
“So, I would like to engage in a meaningful discussion with you regarding the Jewel of Truth. Could we relocate to a less crowded locale? Many ears are listening here.”
“Of course.”
Lloyd readily agreed, eager for the opportunity.
He followed the lean mermaid, accompanied by Habiel.
After a brief journey…
They arrived at a secluded spot where the lean mermaid turned to address them.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Lotolua.”
“Lotolua?”
“Yes. My mother bestowed upon me the name of the most renowned mermaid from the era of myths. She harbored hopes that I would discover the Jewel of Truth, the most precious relic of that era.”
Mermaid Lotolua spoke with a solemn countenance.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
“You seek a relic from mythological times? The Jewel of Truth?”
“Yes.”
Lotolua nodded.
“In truth, my family has dedicated generations to the pursuit of the Jewel, bearing this unfulfilled desire. Yet, our efforts have thus far proven fruitless. Then, word reached me of a surface dweller wandering among the mermaids, posing peculiar questions.”
“That would be me.”
“I hastened to investigate.”
Lotolua’s expression softened with a faint smile, reminiscing on the surprise and joy he experienced earlier.
‘Never did I imagine encountering a surface dweller who shares belief in the Jewel of Truth.’
It was an unexpected delight.
‘Quite delightful indeed.’
For a simple reason.
‘The Jewel of Truth has all but faded from the collective memory of mermaids. Yet, it remains our most lamentable lost relic.’
He had always believed that it must be found.
Having dedicated his life to the pursuit of the relic, he had encountered nothing but disdain and ridicule from his fellow mermaids.
Mermaids had little interest in such relics.
They believed that their time would be better spent honing their swimming skills and building muscle, rather than squandering it on fruitless pursuits.
His life had been filled with sneers and unsolicited advice.
But today, he encountered a kindred spirit.
Someone who shared his fervent desire to unearth the Jewel of Truth, even if it was a surface dweller!
Lotolua trembled with excitement, grasping Lloyd’s hand.
“That is why. Though it may seem presumptuous, considering our brief acquaintance, I have a request to make of you.”
“A request?”
“Would you consider embarking on the quest for the Jewel alongside me?”
He inquired earnestly.
It mattered not that Lloyd was not of mermaid descent.
Nor did their disparate origins trouble him.
The opportunity to explore the Jewel of Truth with a kindred spirit outweighed all else.
However…
“Hmm. I wonder?”
Lloyd cocked his head, regarding him with a blend of curiosity and skepticism, even voicing his doubts!
“How can I trust anything you say, from beginning to end?”
…
“What?”
Lotolua was taken aback.
Here stood a surface dweller professing a desire to locate the Jewel, yet he hesitated to readily accept the proposition.
Unexpectedly, he displayed doubt and skepticism.
Lloyd continued, voicing his skepticism.
“Consider it from my perspective. Every other mermaid dismisses the Jewel of Truth with a mere wave of their hand. Yet, here you are, willingly approaching me to discuss the Jewel fervently. Should I simply embrace your words without reservation?”
“But, that’s…”
“If you’re not a deceitful mermaid with ulterior motives, then prove it.”
…
“How might I…?”
“It’s simple. You claim that your family has pursued the Jewel for generations.”
“Yes, but…”
“Then demonstrate that you’re not a charlatan.”
“How would I go about that?”
“By sharing everything you know about the Jewel of Truth. I possess some knowledge on the matter as well. If your information aligns with what I know to be true, then I can determine whether you harbor genuine intentions or if you’re merely fabricating a tale.”
“Are you truly so distrustful of me?”
“Tsk. If you lack confidence in substantiating your claims, then perhaps it’s best if you depart.”
Lloyd turned away without a backward glance.
At this, Lotolua felt a surge of anger and anxiety.
‘No!’
This was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
The first individual he had encountered who exhibited genuine interest in the Jewel of Truth.
He couldn’t allow this opportunity to slip through his grasp.
Lotolua reached out hastily, grasping Lloyd’s shoulder as he attempted to leave.
“Then listen carefully. The Jewel of Truth, as it has been passed down through the mythological era within the mermaid kingdom, is…”
From that moment onward, fueled by frustration and anxiety, Lotolua began to divulge all that he knew about the Jewel of Truth.
Unaware that Lloyd, who had turned away, wore a malicious smirk, reveling in the success of his mermaid fishing expedition.
Chapter 260: Do You Know of the Jewel of Truth? (1)
“Excuse me, have you ever heard of the Jewel of Truth?”
…
This place lies deep beneath the Arctic Sea, within the mermaid kingdom.
A strange and vast city composed of hundreds of thousands of egg sacs.
Among them, in what’s known as the city center, lies the 840,928th egg sac.
Here, in the area called the ‘Red Egg Sac,’ mermaids had to face a peculiar stranger.
“The Jewel of Truth?”
The question prompted one mermaid to flex his pectoral muscles, as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
He gave the stranger a glance.
The stranger, Lloyd, maintained an awkward floating posture and smiled sheepishly.
“Ah, please don’t find it odd. I’ve come all this way because I heard an interesting rumor in the human world. They say there’s a magnificent treasure called the Jewel of Truth here in the mermaid kingdom.”
“Hmm, how old is that rumor?”
“Pardon?”
“That sounds like a tale from ages past…”
The mermaid eyed Lloyd with a strange look, gradually distancing himself by about five fins’ length.
“I’m sorry, I’ve only heard about it briefly when I was young, so I’m not sure.”
“Ah, wait…!”
Before he could say more, the mermaid swiftly swam away from Lloyd, who seemed somewhat more rushed than before.
Lloyd sighed.
“This reaction feels rather cold.”
It was different from what he had expected.
He had thought the Jewel of Truth, being a rare treasure of the mermaid kingdom and mentioned in myths and legends, would be well-known.
Hoping that any mermaid he asked could provide some information, Lloyd had anticipated getting at least a general answer from his inquiries.
“Of course, most of it would be trivial tales, but I thought by listening to all of them, I could piece together clues or leads. But seeing their reactions…”
The response was not as expected.
Nearly all the mermaids in the city showed only lukewarm reactions to his questions.
Even…
“Do you know the Jewel of Truth?”
“Ah, no. I don’t.”
“Really? You don’t know?”
“Don’t hold me up. I need to swim. If I don’t swim enough today and my muscles atrophy, will you take responsibility?”
…
He faced outright dismissal frequently.
It was as if…
“They’re treating me like I’m asking if they know the way.”
Lloyd sighed deeply.
Indeed, the mermaids’ reactions were exactly that: as if they were too busy to be bothered with pointless questions, clearly showing annoyance and inconvenience.
Sometimes, that was even considered polite.
“Excuse me, esteemed mermaid elder, where are you hurrying to?”
“Eh? What’s a land human doing here?”
“Ah, nothing much. I’m just trying to find a treasure called the Jewel of Truth here. And since I’ve come across such a wise-looking elder, I was wondering if you might have a moment to answer a few questions…”
“No.”
…
“Even though my joints are aching terribly, what’s with all these questions about fish bones?”
“Still, if you could just…”
“What do you mean ‘still’? Hey, young human, are you a scammer?”
“Pardon?”
“Who talks about the Jewel of Truth these days? If this were the era from ten thousand years ago, without autumn or winter, maybe. But you’re still so green.”
…
“So, young man, what’s your real intention? Planning some swindle asking about the Jewel of Truth?”
“Well, uh…”
“Not going to answer right away? Want to face off against this granny?”
…
With a menacing growl, the elderly mermaid’s figure was imposing.
Despite a slightly hunched back, her forearm muscles were still formidable.
Not just formidable, but as if she could easily bend five 500-won coins for her morning exercise with a smile.
Lloyd was at a loss.
He wanted to cry.
Not that the passing mermaids were giving any warmer looks.
Had he behaved improperly towards the elder mermaid, they seemed ready to swarm over and show him what their tough muscles were made of.
“Ah, I apologize! My fault entirely!”
Eventually, Lloyd bowed repeatedly and beat a hasty retreat.
Hiding in a corner of the egg sac alley, he couldn’t help feeling unjustly treated.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
“It really feels like asking people in downtown Seoul where to find Ungnyeo from the Dangun mythology.”
Indeed, the mermaids’ reactions were just like that.
The Jewel of Truth of the mermaid kingdom.
The realization struck him that this treasure was indeed ancient.
“Should I just give up and return?”
He thought of going back to the dragon king Berkis who had tricked him.
Perhaps that would be better.
Or maybe he should just go to hell.
What if he asked the king of hell for a way to prevent the phenomenon of destiny restoration, even if it meant paying a price?
Such thoughts crossed his mind.
But then he shook his head.
“No. I’ve come all this way!”
It felt too wasteful to pack up and leave now.
He decided to persevere for a day or two more, and if still without answers, then he would return.
From then on, it started.
Despite the continued cold shoulder and disregard from the mermaids, Lloyd became even more brazen.
He put on a thick face and kept asking around.
“Excuse me, passing mermaid? Have you heard of the Jewel of Truth by any chance?”
…
“Hey, biceps guy over there? Not interested in the Jewel of Truth?”
…
“Ah, you have the most beautiful fins I’ve seen today among the mermaids. But do you know the Jewel of Truth?”
…
Not a single mermaid showed any friendly response.
It was as if they were treating him like a madman asking incomprehensible questions, just passing him by without a word.
But Lloyd did not give up.
He didn’t become disheartened or sulk.
He was used to being ignored and looked down upon, having been kicked around at the bottom of South Korean society in all sorts of shabby states.
Encountering such treatment again wasn’t particularly shocking.
Instead, he brazenly thickened his skin.
“Might as well fully embrace the ‘Do you know the way’ persona.”
He decided to let things take their course, even trying to draw some attention to himself.
And so, he did.
Lloyd fully embraced his role.
“Excuse me, sir? Wow, you have such a pleasant aura about you? It seems like you’ve received a lot of good energy from the Jewel of Truth, haven’t you?”
…
“Hey, young man? Do your shoulders feel heavy or your neck stiff? Oh dear, it looks like your ancestors are crying on your back? They seem to be telling you to find the Jewel of Truth?”
…
“Erm, I don’t know if I should say this to someone I’ve just met, but do things not go well for you at the last moment? I heard that getting the energy from the Jewel of Truth could solve that. Actually, I don’t tell this to just anyone.”
…
…was how it went.
Of course, the mermaids’ reactions remained cold.
But something had changed.
“Good. Mermaids are gathering around!”
Lloyd clenched his fist secretly.
Was it his odd behavior that spread the rumor?
Or the news of a bizarre human doing mad things?
Mermaids were indeed gathering around.
They formed groups, watching him and whispering to each other.
Some snickered at him.
They laughed out loud, discussing something amongst themselves, like people watching an interesting or foolish spectacle.
Yet, Lloyd felt neither shame nor embarrassment.
“Good. This is much better than before.”
He saw a glimmer of hope.
Still, no mermaid responded directly to his questions.
But at least he had caught their attention, attracting a sizable crowd.
“It’s a matter of probability.”
It was better to gather dozens or hundreds of them than to ask one or two individuals.
That would increase the chances of getting an answer.
“Of course, embarrassment is all on Habiel.”
Indeed, Habiel had been blushing furiously since earlier.
He couldn’t even raise his head, maintaining a hesitant distance of about five steps.
Was it because he was embarrassed?
Or did he want to signal he wasn’t part of this?
Lloyd smirked.
“The stage is set.”
From that moment, Lloyd deliberately raised his voice when asking about the Jewel of Truth.
He wanted all the gathered mermaids to hear his question.
Hoping someone interested would bite.
He became even more unabashed.
Then, during one of these moments…
“Excuse me, are you genuinely curious about what the Jewel of Truth is?”
Finally, for the first time, a mermaid approached him with a question!
“Yes?”
Lloyd looked at the mermaid in surprise.
A young male mermaid with striking water-colored hair.
But his appearance was a bit unusual.
“For a mermaid, he seems a bit under-muscled?”
Compared to the bulky, muscular mermaids around, his body was different.
If he were a human, he’d resemble a sleek athlete.
Just that slim.
Yet, this uniquely built mermaid approached with a serious gaze.
“I’ve been listening from a while back. The questions you’ve been asking the mermaids.”
“You heard my questions?”
“Yes.”
The slim mermaid nodded, his eyes flickering with serious intent.
“So, I’d like to have a proper discussion with you about the Jewel of Truth. Could we move somewhere else? It’s a bit crowded here with many ears listening.”
“Of course.”
Lloyd readily agreed, eager for the opportunity.
He followed the slim mermaid along with Habiel.
After some swimming…
They arrived at a secluded spot where the slim mermaid finally turned to face them.
“Pleased to meet you. My name is Lotolua.”
“Lotolua?”
“Yes. My mother named me after the most famous mermaid of the mythological era. She hoped I would find the Jewel of Truth, the era’s most valuable relic.”
Mermaid Lotolua spoke with a serious face.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
“You’re searching for a relic from the mythological era? The Jewel of Truth?”
“Yes.”
Lotolua nodded.
“Actually, my family has dedicated their lives to excavating the Jewel of Truth for thousands of years, carrying this unfulfilled wish. But we haven’t succeeded yet. Then I heard about a land person wandering among mermaids, asking strange questions.”
“That was about me.”
“So I hurried over.”
Lotolua’s face softened with a faint smile, recalling the surprise and joy he felt earlier.
‘Never thought I’d meet a land person who believes in the Jewel of Truth.’
It was a delightful surprise.
‘Very happy indeed.’
For a simple reason.
‘The Jewel of Truth is almost forgotten even among us mermaids. Yet, it’s the most regrettable lost heritage of ours.’
He had always believed it must be found.
Having dedicated his life to searching for the relic, he had never received support from his fellow mermaids.
Instead, he faced mockery and ridicule.
Mermaids don’t obsess over such relics.
They should swim more, building their muscles instead of wasting time on boring relic hunts.
That’s what a true mermaid should focus on.
He had lived hearing nothing but snide remarks and unwarranted advice.
But today, he had met a kindred spirit.
Someone else desperately seeking the Jewel of Truth, even if it was a human from the land!
Lotolua trembled with excitement, gripping Lloyd’s hand.
“That’s why. I know it might be a bit presumptuous since we’ve just met, but I have a request for you.”
“A request?”
“Would you consider joining me in the quest for the Jewel?”
He asked sincerely.
It didn’t matter that Lloyd wasn’t a mermaid.
Nor did their species difference bother him.
The chance to explore the Jewel of Truth with someone who shared his passion was all that mattered.
But then…
“Hmm. I wonder?”
Lloyd tilted his head, eyeing him with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, even voicing his doubts!
“How am I supposed to trust anything you say from start to finish?”
…
“What?”
Lotolua was taken aback.
Here was a human claiming to seek the Jewel, yet he hesitated to immediately agree to the proposal.
Unexpectedly, he showed reluctance and skepticism.
Lloyd continued with his skeptical remarks.
“Think about it from my perspective. All other mermaids dismiss the Jewel of Truth as bothersome at the mere mention. Yet here you are, willingly approaching me to discuss the Jewel passionately. Should I simply welcome you with open arms?”
“But, that’s…”
“If you’re not a deceitful mermaid with ulterior motives, prove it.”
…
“How should I…?”
“It’s simple. You claim your family has been searching for the Jewel for generations.”
“Yes, but why…”
“Then prove you’re not a scammer.”
“How can I do that?”
“By sharing everything you know about the Jewel of Truth. I have some knowledge of it too. If your information matches what I know to be true, then I can judge whether you’re trying to deceive me or if you’re genuinely seeking the Jewel.”
“Are you really that doubtful of me?”
“Tsk. If you’re not confident in proving it, then please leave.”
Lloyd turned away without looking back.
At this, Lotolua felt a mix of anger and anxiety.
‘No!’
This was a rare encounter in his lifetime.
The first person he met who showed such interest in the Jewel of Truth.
He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
Lotolua quickly reached out, grabbing Lloyd’s shoulder as he turned to leave.
“Then listen carefully. The Jewel of Truth, as passed down from the mythological era in the mermaid kingdom, is…”
From that moment, Lotolua, fueled by irritation and anxiety, began to divulge everything he knew about the Jewel of Truth.
Unaware that Lloyd, who had turned away, was smirking maliciously, enjoying the success of his fishing expedition for mermaids.
