Going deep underground, the temperature drops significantly. Tanigawa shuddered and hugged his shoulders, but Kiyomi seemed to be completely fine.

I thought that there should only be a few people on duty in this kind of underground breeding base, but to my surprise, I noticed that there were many people on the lower floors from the breath. Judging by their breath, they seemed to be asleep, but I felt a little strange. If you use a dream as an analogy, the people below are in a nightmare. Although it was good to fall asleep, it was not very comfortable. Why are there so many people living in the breeding base?

Crane asked us to pay attention to the voice, and he seemed to know exactly what was going on. The underground breeding base seems to be divided into two floors, the first floor has a canteen, toilets, and a bathing center-like room, which looks exactly like a dormitory. We came to the doorway of the second floor, pushed open the metal door that stood in front of us, and we officially entered this mysterious place. Although I realized it on the way here, the structure here is very similar to that of a prison.

Behind the gate is a deep, often dark hallway, almost completely devoid of light. Although I could clearly see the surroundings, Crane, who was a sea person, also felt that the surroundings were a little dark. He escaped from his arms and took out the pearl of water, which was completely transparent and emitted a faint fluorescence in near-total darkness. If there is a mythical word to describe it, it is the pearl of the night. Tanigawa stared at the Night Pearl, but Kiyomi was intrigued by the cell-like rooms around the corridor. These rooms are densely arranged, except that the doors are not fenced doors, but metal doors that are well sealed.

From what I could perceive, there were one or two people living in each room here. All in all, there are probably nearly 100 people living on the entire second basement floor. Crane led us to the end of the hallway, then carefully opened a door and led us inside. There was only one person inside the door, but the room was still small. There were four of us, including five of us, and the place was almost filled. I thought there would be something like a bed in the room, but it was actually a stone pool that was almost like a bathtub. A man is soaking in the water.

Crane closed the door.

"She's my mother. ”

We were all taken aback. Everyone began to take a closer look at the women who were soaking in the water. She was a real person, face down, lying in the water like a floating corpse. Although I could feel the vitality of life in her body, Kiyomi seemed to think that Crane's mother was dead. She took a few steps back to get away from Crane. In her opinion, the person who soaked her dead mother in the pool for others to visit must be a psychopath. It's a pity that the room is small and there is no place for Kiyomi to hide. Crane found out about Kiyomi's misunderstanding, and she quickly began to explain.

"My mother didn't die. When the women of the sea people enter the latent state, they will not suffocate to death even if their bodies are completely immersed in water. ”

I have heard the theory of using the pores on the body for gas exchange, and it is said that some qigong masters will choose to extend their life in this way. According to them, this is a way to achieve "turtle breath". However, it is a bit mysterious that you can also breathe in the water. However, it is not impossible to interpret it in a modern way, because water that comes into contact with air tends to dissolve a certain amount of oxygen. If sea people are adapted to the ocean, they may really be able to use seawater to obtain oxygen, just like real marine animals. Kiyomi is suspicious, but Tanigawa finds something unusual in Crane's words.

"I don't know what you mean by 'latent state', but since that's the case, the women of the sea people don't need the pearl of the sea. ”

"That's right......" Crane said with a subtle expression, "I think it's better to do it the other way around." ”

"The other way around?"

"The Pearl of the Sea is actually generated by the women of the Sea People entering the 'latent state'. ”

Crane's words surprised Kiyomi and Tanigawa, but I had already thought of this possibility on the way here. We haven't seen a woman in the sea before, and if it's just a patriarchal society, it's too thorough. I was wondering if there were innate differences in body structure and function between women and men. It's like the queen ant and worker ant of ants. However, if reproduction is dominant, then women who control the next generation should gain the advantage of domination and achieve a feminist society.

"I was surprised when I saw you landmen, because you are completely different from the women of our seamen. Very energetic, a bit like a man of the sea. "In order to make pearls of the sea, the women of the sea people often go into a latent state and close themselves. It takes about three months to make a pearl of the sea. ”

"Do you stay in this kind of place for three months?" asked Kiyomi in some surprise.

"That's right. Sometimes you may go to the upper floor to eat or do activities, but after entering the latent state, the pace of life is very slow. They may eat once a few days, and some people may not move for a month. Everyone just soaked in the pool water, motionless. Sometimes I fall asleep, and sometimes I get up. ”

"That must be very uncomfortable. ”

"I don't know if it's going to be uncomfortable because I haven't experienced it myself. But everyone says that when you get used to it, it becomes natural. ”

According to Crane's description, the Pearl of the Sea is actually a miraculous creation that took three to four months for the women of the Sea to produce. The social structure of the Hai people is about 1.5 times that of men, but the concept of family is relatively indifferent. Sea women spend half of the year making pearls of the sea, and the rest of the time is often spent in shifts doing housework or reproducing the next generation. Compared to the men of the sea people, the women of the sea people are extremely weak, which may be due to the fact that they are motionless half the time. In addition to the pearl of the sea supplied to the nobles, the remaining pearl of the sea is just enough for the living needs of the male sea people.

I think that perhaps the females of the sea people have undergone a similar evolutionary process to shellfish, and perhaps the examination of homologous organs will give a further answer.

When Crane said this, he looked at his mother with a somewhat complicated look in his eyes. Tanigawa thought for a moment, and probably understood what Crane was trying to say.

"Female sea people spend half of the year dormant, so the pearl of the sea is just enough. But now the nobles want more pearls of the sea...... Is that so?"

"That's it. Crane sighed, "The women of the nobility only need to enjoy the pearl of the sea offered by our commoners, and there is no need for them to go into a latent state. But for the sake of the Viscount's ambitions, my mother and other sisters may need to go into hibernation forever. ”

"So you choose to rebel. ”

Tanigawa nodded.

"Personally, I can't say if it's uncomfortable to be in a latent state, but at least I think it's like being deprived of life time to stay dormant like this. Crane's pretty face showed a sad look, "If it's for the sake of family or other people's lives, I think it might be honorable." But we don't want to be like this for the selfishness of the big guys above. ”

"So ......"

"So I want to plead with you. Crane turned to face us, "I beg you to give up the idea of letting the viscount trade with the people of the earth. Without your guidance, I don't think the Viscount would have been able to find the people of the earth in the middle of the ocean. Without you as a commonality, it would be difficult for him to establish friendship with the people of the earth. ”

"I think you need to correct your statement. I shook my head, "I think that with the Viscount's financial resources, he will be able to find the earthlings himself." It's just going to take a little more time. After seeing us and knowing that earthly people really exist, Viscount Braganza's ambitions will not stop. ”

"But without your help, at least some time can be delayed. Crane seems to have thought through the question, "and he's going to have more difficulties." Among the aristocracy there were also many conservative parties who were friendly to the people, who were pious and kind. The royal family didn't like Viscount Bragança very much. If he could make it more difficult for his trade plans, he could be toppled by his political enemies and lose his voice. ”

"I see......" I nodded, and Crane did have a point. It's just that I don't think Tanigawa will agree to at least. Sure enough, Tanigawa's face became serious. She looked at Crane with a blank expression.

"And what do you think we're going to say to the Viscount?' I refuse to let you trade with the earthlings?"

"This is certainly not realistic. Crane shook his head, "I think, at least give him some false charts and positioning information." Keep delaying his time to find land, if only he could never find land. ”

"We'll never find land,......" Tanigawa scoffed, "That means we'll never be able to return to land, won't it?"

Crane's face suddenly became embarrassed. The Viscount of Bragança and the trade of the earthlings are almost completely tied to our return to land. If we can never find an earthly person, then Viscount Braganza will definitely put us under house arrest for the rest of our lives. Even if we manage to escape, those Viscounts Bragança will find us. But there's a one-size-fits-all solution to this matter.

Tanigawa stepped forward, facing Crane head-on.

"Kill us. ”

"What......"

"If you want to solve this problem once and for all, then kill us all. Tanigawa said indifferently, "Our existence is a threat to you sea people. Even if I were so moved by your sincerity that I decided not to tell Viscount Bragança where the land was, he might have tortured us to extract a confession. If you leave us in this village, the armies of the nobles will come back and attack your hometown in a few days. It's your friends and family, and you don't want to do that. The underground world isn't that big, and we have nowhere to hide. What's even more terrifying is that we still need to consume the Pearl of the Sea. So the best thing to do is to kill us all. ”

Crane looked at us, and his hands began to tremble. I think Tanigawa must be like me, knowing that Crane can't do it. As early as the first time we met in the toilet, Crane had given up on the idea of killing us. Because Crane is a kind person. While being kind, she is also a naïve person. She thinks that when we see the miserable situation of the sea people, we will be moved, and if we are moved, we will organize everything that will happen in the future. It's just a pity that I think although we have some sympathy for them, we are not sentimental people.

"I think you may have some misunderstanding about us. Seeing that Crane had no intention of making a move, Tanigawa continued, "We don't just intend to provide Viscount Braganza with a location on land, we are his collaborators. ”

"Collaborators......?"

Crane doesn't seem to quite understand why the word is here. Until then, he had always thought we were just kids.

"The so-called collaborators are the ones who make a profit with Viscount Braganza. We also need money, so we agree with Viscount Bragança's trade policy anyway. Tanigawa shrugged, "Of course he asked for an increase in the production of the Pearl of the Sea, and it may be too much. I think it might be more scientific and reasonable to let the women of the sea produce the pearl of the sea eight or nine months a year. ”

Crane looked at Tanigawa with a look of disbelief.

"Scientific and reasonable? We're not asking for this kind of thing. We don't want our family to lose time for no reason because of aristocratic ambitions!"

"It's not always for no reason. Tanigawa shrugged, "When you start trading with the people of the earth, your standard of living will also improve." Overall, it's probably a good thing too. ”

"How did you say the same thing as a nobleman!"

"Because that's true in a way. I explained, "There are two main contradictions. The first is that the aristocracy has absolute rule over you, and they have a strong army. So when they need the Pearl of the Sea, you can't refute it. The next time they need kelp or something, you'll be oppressed too. The second point is that there are regional differences between the underwater world and people on the ground, which is also the main contradiction. Even if we are gone, there may be new earthlings thirty years from now. Now that the earthlings are exploring the world more and more, one day you will be discovered. Rather than this, it is better to establish diplomatic relations with the earthly world as soon as possible. ”

It didn't seem to occur to Crane that I would support Tanigawa as well. He looked at Ji Daimei, but Ji Daimei just took out the snack he was wrapping from his pocket and ate it in a big gulp. It's a shame that my sister doesn't think when she eats. She may not have even noticed what we were talking about. Crane closed his eyes, he seemed to be a little desperate for us. I feel a little sorry for him, but that's where we stand. Tanigawa also needs funds for research to fight demons, so he can't compromise here. Maybe it will make Crane think that we are bloodless and tearless and ruthless, but it is better than leaving him with any innocent illusions.

Crane's eyes suddenly opened. He looked very resolute. It seems that some determination has been made. Did you decide to kill us, or did you give up on yourself?, I was guessing Crane's thoughts when a slight cough suddenly sounded from me.

Crane had been lying in the water until now, and his mother got up. She wanted to be woken up by our argument.