Split personality

Sol Island is an 'isolated' island, located at the junction of Sina State and Kona State, and is under the jurisdiction of the two states at the same time.The strangest thing is that the people living on Sol Island are neither humans nor snake people, but mermaids!

The Hill Continent calls them sharks;

'There are sharks in the South China Sea, living in the water like fish, they don't waste their weaving, their eyes can weep. "Shark weeping beads, this is a beautiful allusion in "Natural History".

There are similar legends in the Hill Continent.Of course, it's just a legend, the mermen here are very common subspecies just like the snake people.They are no different from normal people except that their legs have turned into fish tails and they cannot leave the water for a long time.

The Hill Continent is very similar to the Earth in the 21st century, and it is also a technologically advanced planet.Although there are humans, snakemen and mermen on the mainland, the three parties can live in harmony, which is very strange.

Everyone was surprised when they learned that there was a group of sharks living there.Because the sharks were not specifically mentioned in the news, they didn't check the information until they decided to go to Sol Island for an 'interview'.

Of course, whether it is Merman or Snakeman, since they are all intelligent races and can live in harmony, I think this 'interview' will not be greatly affected.

The agreed departure time is 2:1 pm. At around [-] o'clock, Jing Pengtao and Du Sheng came back, and their expressions were not good.

"what happened?"

Jing Pengtao called everyone together, and Zhan Qingqing hurriedly asked, "Have you found anything at the police station?"

Jing Pengtao nodded, and then took out a case file and handed it to Zhan Qingqing, "The main residents on Sol Island are sharks, you already know it?"

Jing Pengtao said, "The reason why the sharks live on Sol Island is that apart from not being able to leave the water for a long time, there is another very important reason why the sharks are hot-tempered and very exclusive. In addition, it is not the people who really have the right to speak on Sol Island. State institutions, but their patriarchs."

Therefore, whether their interview can go on smoothly depends on a word from the patriarch.

Zhan Qingqing frowned while looking into the case file, "It has been confirmed that it is a criminal case? Then why..."

"The police investigation has hit a bottleneck, so it hasn't been announced to the public." Jing Pengtao explained, "Sol Island belongs to the Hitler Free Federation after all, and the police organization wants to intervene, but the patriarch can't. However, the residents of Sol Island do not If they don’t cooperate, even the families of the victims dare not speak out.”

After Zhan Qingqing read the case file, Su Mo took it and read it briefly.

Hearing Jing Pengtao's explanation, Su Mo frowned, "The two people who disappeared according to the case records are both children... the mermaids are also Homo sapiens, and just being united and xenophobic is not enough to make parents give up their own flesh and blood, right?"

"So there must be a reason! Maybe it has something to do with the mysterious flying objects that appear every night!" Zhan Qingqing pondered, "What could it be?"

"Belief."

Everyone turned their heads in unison, and unexpectedly discovered that the person who spoke was the ghost face who had been hiding in the corner.

"Faith? What do you mean?" Taupe asked.

The ghost face didn't pay attention to her at all, but closed his eyes directly.

Tao Pei was annoyed, and when he was about to say something, Su Mo explained, "He means that the child's disappearance may be related to religion."

In fact, after reading the case file, Su Mo also felt that it might have something to do with religion or belief.

The reason why the merman family is so united is probably because they are different from humans and snake people.The sharks have always firmly believed that they are the sons of the sea god, and they will sacrifice to the sea god at the beginning of every month.

The sharks on Sol Island are better, because they are under the jurisdiction of the state, they only use cattle and sheep as sacrifices.It is said that the sharks living overseas still retain the tradition of human sacrifice.

"Do you suspect that the two missing children were not lost or killed, but were secretly sacrificed to the sea god by the mermaids?" Zhan Qingqing was a little incredulous, "This is a modern society, how could there be such a feudal superstition... "

"You underestimate the power of faith."

Su Mo said coldly, "Don't think that modern society is so great. If you can't see it with your eyes, it doesn't mean that darkness doesn't exist."

Su Mo's map is the earth, and Zhan Qingqing can hear it naturally, "But this place is not inhabited or extremely backward!"

"On a small island isolated from the world, who can say for sure the patriarch's supreme right to speak?" Du Sheng said with a frown.

"Whether it's a sacrifice or a homicide, we'll know when we get to the island." Gao Chang was very excited, "What's more, this low-magic world is much easier than imagined, and we are gods here!"

On the surface, this is indeed the case. Although there are strange merman and snake people in the Hill Continent, they look no different from ordinary people.Moreover, the science and technology of the Hill continent is similar to that of the earth. Players who are used to living on the earth and possess inhuman power really deserve the word 'god'.

But, is Hill Continent really that simple?

Su Mo, who knew a little bit of the inside story, was skeptical about this...

The team set off at two o'clock in the afternoon, and at three o'clock everyone boarded the boat for Sol Island;

While most of the people were admiring the scenery of the Inland Sea, Su Mo was holding his laptop, wondering what to look up.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhan Qingqing sat next to Su Mo curiously. When he saw the information on the computer, he couldn't help wondering, "This information...how did you find it?"

"It went in black."

The information Su Mo read was nothing but the introduction of the Merman and certain taboos and legends.

Humans, snakemen and mermaids in the Hill Continent seem to live in harmony, but in fact there is serious racial discrimination.Its sensitivity is even higher than that of the country. At the beginning of the last century, there was a large-scale racial segregation.

These issues are now outlawed, but the segregation persists.For example, the mermaid clan, they cannot live without water, but most of the mermaids can only live on a small island, so is it not a kind of isolation?

Compared with humans and snake people, although the mermaids are a bit more irritable, they are intelligent species after all, and they are not unreasonable.Of course, this is not the reason why they were 'differentiated'.The fundamental reason is still those two words - faith.

It is a good thing to have faith, but if you lose your mind because of your faith, or even become a terrorist from time to time, you will have to receive special attention, and even be treated differently and suppressed.

"The mermaids believe in Poseidon, the god of the sea. Poseidon has a cruel temperament, strong aggression and great ambition. His greatest ideal is to pull his younger brother off his horse and become the new emperor of heaven."

"Poseidon? It's a familiar name, I seem to have heard it somewhere." Zhan Qingqing frowned.

"In Greek mythology, he is the brother of Zeus."

"what!"

Zhan Qingqing's eyes lit up, "The one I remembered was the 'Sea King'!"

Of course Poseidon is the king of the sea, but Su Mo knew that the "sea king" in Zhan Qingqing's mouth had another meaning.

"There are at least a dozen or twenty female gods who have had sex with him?" Zhan Qingqing joked.

"In fact, few of the gods are clean."

Poseidon is the king of the sea, but his brother Zeus is only more than he.

The saddest thing is that the younger brother is one-on-one. Almost every goddess who has had a relationship with him gave birth to children for him and became new gods one after another.Poseidon is also sowing everywhere, but the number of his children is nothing compared to Zeus.

Failed to fight for power, and also failed to have children. As an existence at the same level as Zeus, Poseidon is indeed a bit sad.

"A large part of the reason why the mermaid family's belief in Poseidon is so strong is because of Poseidon's son Triton."

Triton was born to Poseidon and his real wife Amphitrite, who was originally a sea nymph and is now the queen of the sea.The most important thing is that their child, Triton, is a mermaid.

Mermaids are also mermaids, so they have always believed that they are descendants of Triton, and Poseidon is their 'father'.

Belief in Poseidon, the mermaid temperament will inevitably approach him.If the mermaid belief is not eliminated, racial discrimination may always exist.The more discriminated against, the more united the mermaids and the deeper their beliefs. This seems to be an endless loop.

"So, do you still think that the two little mermaids who disappeared were sacrificed as tribute?" Zhan Qingqing asked.

"It's not that simple." Su Mo frowned, "If only this was the case, the progress of the police station would not be so slow."

Humans are selfish, and mermaids are no exception;

Moreover, there are many mermaids who have been "cleaned by civilization" and become "open" in their thinking, but the police station's files state that all the mermaids, including the patriarch, do not cooperate with the investigation, and even the two families that lost their children The same goes for parents.

While speaking, the ship has reached Sol Island;

They were greeted by a normal human being.

"Miss Qing, you are here!"

Before coming, they deliberately found photos of journalists stationed on Sol Island.Seeing the person in the photo now, Zhan Qingqing didn't panic at all.

"Brie, you have worked hard these days."

"It's hard work, it's just that the...uh, the sharks here are very uncooperative." Buli waved at Su Mo, "Xiao Su is here too!"

Su Mo nodded, and then Buli directly pulled Zhan Qingqing aside, muttering in a low voice, "Sister Qing, what are you doing here? There is nothing ludicrous about this case, and the police suspect that it might be a sacrifice. Before you came, the police were discussing how to block the news!"

Naturally, news of the blockade cannot be published in the newspapers, and Zhan Qingqing is like a 'travel for nothing'.

Before Zhan Qingqing could speak, Bree lowered his voice suddenly, and muttered in a low voice, "Besides, won't Mr. Rupert be angry if you let Mr. Rupert dove like this?"

Zhan Qingqing was puzzled, "Whether he is angry or not is none of my business? What's more, isn't there Martha?"

"But……"

"Okay!" Zhan Qingqing interrupted impatiently, "Instead of wasting time here, it's better to take us to the scene earlier."

The scene that Zhan Qingqing mentioned was the Sol Forest in the center of the island;

According to news reports, the Sol Forest in the center of Sol Island has been very strange recently. Every night, a huge blue light will fly out of it.It is said that many tourists from outside the island have witnessed it with their own eyes, and some even took photos.

Of course, the tourists and the photos were all a few days ago. Since the news was exposed, the Merman clan immediately blocked the tourism on the island.

The only pity is that the photos were not very clear. Su Mo and the others looked at them many times before they came, but they didn't see why.

On the way, Bree secretly told Zhan Qingqing that there was actually a new development in the case.But what exactly, the police officer blocked the news and did not tell him.

This is no wonder, after all, Bree is just a small reporter, and this case is very likely not to be announced to the public, and it is reasonable for the investigators not to tell Bree.

It was a long drive from the periphery of the island to the center, during which Su Mo watched the sharks on the island through the window.

The mermaids have the same body and fish tail, but their movement speed is not much slower than that of ordinary people, and they are generally a bit taller than humans.This is not the key point, the key point is that they looked at the interview car very unfriendly, as if they were full of hostility towards them.

Su Mo knew the reason;

Even though racial discrimination is a sensitive issue, as long as it involves reporting on the merman, all the media will still unanimously smear them, either explicitly or implicitly. No wonder they are friendly to reporters and interviews.

Half an hour later, the interview vehicle reached the edge of the forest;

As soon as everyone got out of the car, they saw a snake-man policeman and a man in a suit walking towards them.

"It's Turner and Detective Nelson." Bree murmured in Zhan Qingqing's ear.

"Hello, Officer Turner!"

Zhan Qingqing stretched out her right hand with a professional smile, "I am a reporter from Yalan Newspaper, Zhan Qingqing."

"I know you."

After casually shaking hands, Officer Turner looked at Jing Pengtao behind him and said, "Xiao Jing, didn't you say that this case has not been reported? Why did the newspaper arrange for a senior reporter to come?"

"I specifically asked for it."

Zhan Qingqing seriously emphasized, "Whether it will be published in the newspaper or not, such a case should be carefully recorded, even if it will never appear again."

"Well, I accept that reason."

Officer Turner said, "But I don't recommend that you go in-depth interviews, especially interviews with the Ganma patriarch. You should also know that the Ganma patriarch has a bad temper, especially for reporters."

Zhan Qingqing was about to agree, but Su Mo suddenly said, "We are not only reporters, Yalan Newspaper is not an entertainment media either."

The patriarch must be seen, not only to meet, but also to dig out more things from him.Not surprisingly, their pre-mission task is most likely on the team leader Gan Ma!

"It's up to you! When the time comes to bang the nails, don't blame me for not reminding you." After speaking, Officer Turner snorted coldly and was about to take Detective Nelson away.

Detective Nelson took a meaningful look at Su Mo before leaving resentfully.

"Su Mo, it's wrong for you to make such a presumptuous claim." Zhan Qingqing frowned, "Of course I know the importance of the patriarch, but it's not worth the loss to offend Officer Turner."

Zhan Qingqing's idea is very simple. With their abilities, it is easy to meet a patriarch.

"Su Mo did the right thing."

Although Jing Pengtao has a rough appearance, his mind is extremely delicate. "The mermaids are all stubborn guys. If they can become the patriarch, Ganma will only be more stubborn and have a deeper belief in the sea god. The only thing that makes him afraid is ' The country' weapon, if we look for him in private, even if we kill him, I'm afraid we won't be able to ask anything."

Zhan Qingqing thought for a while, but still didn't quite agree, "If you could ask the question, the police would have asked. And you have seen the attitude of Yuren towards media reporters. I think approaching Ganma as a reporter will only make him Even more disgusted and even wary.”

"So, you can't go."

Zhan Qingqing's status as a 'senior reporter' is too dazzling, and it would be self-defeating if she went there.

Jing Pengtao thought for a while and said, "Well, let me, Su Mo, and Li Mu get close to the patriarch; Qingqing and Gao Chang, you two follow Officer Turner and try to find out the truth from him. ;Pepe, you take Du Sheng and Xing Ze as registrars to visit the two families who lost their children, even if you can't ask anything, at least you have to get the two children's underwear."

Gao Chang is a dark sorcerer, with underwear, maybe he can find clues about the missing child.

The team leader Jing Pengtao's strategy of dividing his troops into three teams was very appropriate, and Su Mo also quite recognized it, but he once again sang the opposite tune, "I want to exchange with Tao Pei."

Jing Pengtao was taken aback, but Tao Pei said dissatisfiedly, "Why do you want to exchange? You are very annoying, you don't listen to instructions every time!"

Su Mo ignored her, and he was not a member of the Chiyan Mercenary Group, so why did he listen to Jing Pengtao's order?

"Okay, Peipei will follow me, Su Mo, Du Sheng, Xingze, the three of you together."

Jing Pengtao was also very dissatisfied with Su Mo arbitrarily asserting without explaining the reason.But he didn't say anything, and finally agreed to such an arrangement.

The reason for Su Mo's exchange is very simple. If the head of the Merman clan is under pressure from the police and has to say something, there will be a ghost, and he will never miss important information.If you still don't cooperate, adding Su Mo is useless.

As for why you want to trade with Taupe instead of someone else?

Because Du Sheng and Shi Xingze are easier to control.

Finally, Jing Pengtao said again, "No matter how much everyone harvests, come back here and gather before 8 o'clock in the evening!"

If there is little gain, they might as well go into the woods to meet the legendary 'Blue Light' for a while.

After the tasks were assigned, the 9 people rushed to their respective goals without any delay;

"There are two registered victims, which one should we go to first?" Shi Xingze subconsciously asked.

Just as Du Sheng wanted to speak, Su Mo said, "Boy."

"why?"

"Because of their religious beliefs, the Merman clan pays more attention to boys than girls. Although it has improved a lot now, the phenomenon of patriarchy still exists. A family that loses a son is naturally more painful than a family that loses a daughter."

Su Mo's explanation was reasonable, so Du Sheng had no choice but to shut up and follow silently.

The 'lost' boy's name is Elle, and his parents are Mom Evelyn and Philly Evelyn.

A quarter of an hour later, the three arrived at the door of Evelyn's house.Su Mo motioned for Shi Xingze to knock on the door, and Shi Xingze stepped forward very obediently, seeing Du Sheng having a headache and helplessness.

"who are you?"

The one who opened the door was a male mermaid over 1.9 meters tall, with alertness written all over his face.

Du Sheng hurried forward and said, "Mr. Evelyn, we are from Yalan Newspaper..."

boom! ! !

"Uh……"

As soon as Du Sheng started speaking, he was shut down, and looked behind him with a little anxiety.

Su Mo's face remained unchanged, "Keep knocking."

Shi Xingze knocked on the door again;

After a while, the door opened again. Just as Du Sheng was about to open his mouth, the other party said angrily, "Get lost!"

The gate is closed again;

"Damn it!"

Du Sheng was so angry, "You really think I'm easy to bully, don't you?"

"Do you want to force your way?"

"Uh, it still counts..." Du Sheng just wanted to refuse, only to realize that Shi Xingze was not asking about himself at all.

Su Mo was still indifferent, "No, keep knocking on the door."

"it is good!"

Shi Xingze raised his fist and continued to knock... No, this time it was smashing.

After a while, the door was opened.

This time it was not Mr. Evelyn who opened the door, but Mrs. Evelyn.The female mermaid's eyes were still red, and she opened the door and said, "You guys go, we don't know anything."

The door didn't close immediately, Du Sheng and Shi Xingze subconsciously looked at Su Mo.

Su Mo smiled slightly, and said gently, "You should be clear, we're leaving, and what awaits you and Mr. Evelyn next time will be court leaflets."

"What do you mean?"

Madam Evelyn showed a hint of panic and anger on her face, "We are victims!"

People are afraid of seeing officials, no matter where they are placed;

"No, you are accomplices."

Su Mo still had a smile on his face, "The victim is Elle Evelyn."

"He is my son!"

"So, you and your husband can't get rid of the suspicion." Su Mo said seriously, "No one can cover up criminals, not even the chief Ganma."

"You are just unscrupulous reporters, not police!" Mrs. Evelyn said angrily, "You are responsible for the unfairness our people have suffered!"

"Which is more important, clansman or son..." Su Mo seemed to be thinking, "This is a question."

"You, what do you mean?"

"Mrs. Evelyn, can we go in and talk?"

After struggling for a while, the female mermaid finally let the door open.

Mr. Evelyn was not surprised to see the three of Su Mo coming in, but just looked at them with a sneer.

After Su Mo sat down, he introduced seriously, "As you can see, I am a reporter."

Su Mo took out his work ID, "But, I'm a reporter from Yalan Newspaper."

"Hmph, there's nothing good about reporters."

"Maybe." Su Mo was noncommittal, "However, Yalan Newspaper is a state-owned newspaper. I hope you understand the meaning of these four words."

The Evelyns were silent, as if they were really thinking about the difference.

"Actually, there is no need for me and my companions to come to your house." Su Mo continued to exert pressure, "Officer Turner will tell me all the information he knows. I believe that Officer Turner is fair, but no matter how impartial Many police officers also have their own private emotions. For example, dissatisfaction with parents who have abandoned their children.”

A flash of panic flashed in Mr. Evelyn's eyes, but he still sneered and said, "Hmph! It's not once or twice that the media has smeared us mermaids. What's the point of doing it again? I don't care!"

The mermaid couple was much calmer than expected, and it is not known whether they were instructed or for other reasons.

However, calm people also have weaknesses, and the weakness of the mermaid couple is even more obvious.

"Alright then, tomorrow's newspaper will write 'The Evelyn couple betrayed the belief of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and handed over their son to the devil...'Look, how about this headline?"

The merman couple were furious at the same time, and the merman husband threw his fist at Su Mo even more!

"You fart! We will never betray Lord Seagod! I will kill you!"

Seeing that Momu made a move when he disagreed with him, Shi Xingze rushed up before Su Mo could make a move, and directly threw the merman to the ground!

"Oh~~ I'm going to kill you, kill you!"

Seeing her husband being subdued, Mrs. Evelyn panicked and said, "You, you can't write like that! You are fabricating the facts, no one will believe it!"

"Why no one believes it? Besides, when did I fabricate the facts?"

Su Mo said calmly, "Could it be that your child was dedicated to Lord Sea God? If yes, I have nothing to say. If not, is this not betrayal?"

"No, it's not! We didn't betray Seagod, it belongs to Lord Seagod..."

"To shut up!"

Mrs. Evelyn was interrupted by her husband in the middle of her sentence.

The husband who was still captured on the ground said fiercely, "Whatever you write, my people won't believe it!"

"is it?"

Su Mo said meaningfully, "We can make a bet."

After finishing speaking, he signaled Shi Xingze to let Mom Evelyn go, and at the same time put down a business card on the table, "Here is my phone number. If you two suddenly 'remember' anything, call me anytime."

After speaking, Su Mo took Shi Xingze and Du Sheng away from the Evelyn couple's house.

After leaving, Du Sheng looked helpless, "Sure enough, I can't ask anything! What should I do? Go to the next one?"

"You go."

Du Sheng was taken aback, then pointed at himself in disbelief and said, "What do you mean? I'm alone? No, no, no, I can't do it!"

"You can do it! How can a man say no?" Shi Xingze patted Du Sheng's shoulder and said seriously.

Du Sheng threw Shi Xingze away fiercely, and when he was about to say something, Su Mo said again, "Just steal the girl's underwear. Of course, don't forget the boy's."

"Hey Hey hey!"

Du Sheng looked dissatisfied, "It's wrong for you to be so passive and sabotage!"

"Have it?"

A strange smile appeared on the corner of Su Mo's mouth, "I already have the information I need, why waste time?"

After speaking, Su Mo glanced at Shi Xingze to signal him to follow, and immediately walked in the opposite direction.

"Yeah, I've already got what I need, so don't waste time!" Du Xingze patted Du Sheng's shoulder earnestly, and quickly caught up with Su Mo.

Du Sheng stayed where he was, choking speechlessly...

"Brother Su, where are we going now?" Shi Xingze asked after catching up with Su Mo.

Su Mo looked surprised, "Don't you know everything?"

"Uh……"

Shi Xingze scratched his head foolishly.

"Go to the Temple of Poseidon!"