King Maxong was the 35th King of the Siren Kingdom and the ruler of the Water Clan—a species of humanoids who lived beneath the sea.
Their appearance was very similar to humans, except their skin carried a faint blue hue, and on their shoulders were gill-like organs that allowed them to breathe underwater.
At first, King Maxong had been a just and dignified ruler. However, from the moment his youngest daughter was believed to have died, he became swallowed by sorrow. He shed tears once every four months, mourning a loss that never left his heart.
Today was supposed to be another such day.
Yet, as King Maxong sat motionless upon his throne like stone, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
In the next instant, he leapt from his seat.
The king shot out of his palace and arrived at the city gate, where guards were blocking several humans from entering. But Maxong's eyes ignored everything else and locked onto a single small figure.
"Ohong…!"
His daughter—Ohong—who had been kidnapped by the Merman King and reported dead.
"Ohong!" he cried out.
At that moment, Ohong was arguing with the guards, demanding they let her human friends enter. Suddenly, she was pulled into a pair of strong yet warm arms.
"Eh?" she let out a startled yelp.
Then she looked up.
"Papa!!"
Tears streamed down her face as she cried out. Both father and daughter embraced each other tightly, weeping without restraint.
"It was worth it," Alan said with a smile as he watched the scene.
Nearby, Shona quietly wiped her tears, deeply moved by the emotional reunion.
"How are you… no—who saved you, Ohong?" King Maxong asked after calming himself slightly.
Ohong turned and pointed at Alan.
"When I was about to be eaten by the Merman King, he saved me," she said.
King Maxong's gaze shifted to Alan.
Alan felt a heavy pressure.
"A level 400+ NPC… he's incredibly powerful," Alan thought.
King Maxong then bowed deeply.
"Thank you… thank you for saving my child," he said sincerely.
"It was nothing," Alan replied calmly.
"Just be strong enough next time so she doesn't get lost again."
It was a rude remark—borderline mocking—but Alan was angry. He couldn't understand how someone could leave such a young child unprotected.
"You are right," Maxong said without hesitation.
"Not only me, but our entire kingdom has grown weak, believing no one could invade us beneath the sea. That must change."
Determination burned in his eyes.
[You have completed the Quest]
[You have changed the course of the Water Clan, who had grown complacent due to prolonged peace.]
[The growth speed of Water Clan members will increase by 100%.]
[All stats of Water Clan members will grow 50% faster.]
[You have single-handedly altered the fate of the Water Clan and prevented a future doom that would have come from their weakness.]
[You have acquired the title: Benefactor of the Water Clan.]
[Benefactor of the Water Clan]
[You have become an ally of the Water Clan.]
[If you form a guild in the future, the Water Clan and the Siren Kingdom will back you.]
[There is also a chance for the Siren Kingdom to come under your command if you display enough power.]
"I name you the Benefactor of my Kingdom," King Maxong declared."A home will always be reserved for you in the Siren Kingdom."
"It's alright," Alan replied calmly. "I just couldn't stand seeing such a young child suffer so much."
Maxong smiled gratefully.
"Please come with me. I will show you the house," he said."It once belonged to the last human who lived among us. Before he left, he entrusted something to us and said it should be given to the Benefactor of our Clan. I believe you deserve it."
Alan nodded, and he, Shona, and Piaro followed behind the king.
Piaro glanced at Alan's back, his thoughts unreadable.
Then a notification appeared before Alan's eyes.
[Affinity with Piaro has reached maximum.]
[He will never betray you unless you do something unforgivable.]
It seems Piaro also approves of my actions, Alan thought.
Another notification followed—this time from Shona.
[Affinity with Shona has reached maximum.]
[If you propose to Shona, there is a 100% chance she will accept your marriage proposal.]
Maybe later, Alan thought calmly.
As they walked, countless Water Clan members gathered on both sides. Their king was personally escorting humans, and many of them stared in shock—especially at the small figure in the king's arms.
"Isn't that Princess Ohong?"
"She's alive?"
"I can't believe it…"
"It's wonderful she's alive. Our beloved king was devastated by her loss."
"Yes… it was truly heartbreaking."
The murmurs spread through the crowd.
It seems King Maxong really is a great king, Alan thought.
Soon, they arrived at a secluded area. It was vast and quiet, with only a single, beautiful house standing at its center.
"This will be your residence," Maxong said."Everything inside belongs to you."
He then took out a black key and handed it to Alan.
"This key unlocks the inheritance left behind by the last human. Think of it as a reward for saving my beloved daughter."
King Maxong's expression softened.
"After my wife's death, her final wish was for me to take care of our youngest daughter. She knew she wouldn't be here due to her terminal illness… yet I failed to protect Ohong."
He bowed deeply.
"You are my daughter's savior. Once again, thank you for helping me."
Alan nodded and accepted the key.
[Affinity with Water Clan King Maxong has reached its peak.]
[He will become an invaluable ally to you.]
"Please rest inside with your companions for the time being," King Maxong said.
"I will call for you when we hold a banquet in your name."
"There's no need for that," Alan replied.
"No," Maxong said firmly. "Please allow me this. It is the perfect occasion to celebrate my daughter's return."
Ohong looked up at Alan with bright eyes.
"Please, Big Brother, join us. There will be lots of tasty things to eat!"
"Oh? Better than I cook?" Shona asked teasingly.
Ohong hesitated. "Um… um…"
"Don't corner her, Shona," Alan said, smiling as he saw the little girl struggling to respond.
"We'll be there," Alan finally said.
King Maxong nodded in satisfaction and left.
As he departed, Alan spoke up.
"Let's go and see who the last human before us was."
The others nodded, and they went inside.
"Hmm… looks like it belonged to a magician," Piaro said as he looked around the house. It was filled with countless books and scrolls, most of them dealing with mana theory and magic.
"Alan, there's a chest," Shona said, pointing ahead.
Alan and Piaro walked toward her and examined it. The chest was black with silver linings.
"This must be the key for it," Alan said, taking out the key. With a soft click, the chest opened.
Inside were three items—two books and an orb.
[You have acquired Mumud's Spellbook.]
[You have acquired Mumud's Orb Production Method.]
[You have acquired Mumud's Orb.]
"It seems the last human who was here, his name was Mumud," Alan said.