Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 180: I am very capable

So the Merfolk had such a rule?

Rory glanced at Vincent, Yuel, and the others.

Vincent spoke calmly. "The Merfolk do indeed have that custom. If you wish to keep him, Rory, we have no objections. And if you don’t, that’s fine too. We can simply send him away."

After all, no one besides them knew what had happened tonight. As long as Wen kept silent, no one would know Rory had seen him.

"Female Master, please let me stay!" Wen pleaded earnestly. "I’m very capable. I can weave the most beautiful sea-silk in the entire galaxy. I can cry the most exquisite pearls. I can catch the most delicious sea beasts from the ocean depths. I can also—"

"That’s enough, that’s enough!" Rory cut him off quickly.

Raising a fish that could cry pink pearls for her... honestly, that didn’t sound bad at all.

She had secretly checked her terminal just now—one pink pearl was worth several billion star coins.

Keeping Wen was practically like keeping a living money tree.

Rory looked at him seriously. "I’ll allow you to stay. But remember—there must never be harmful intentions in this household. And you must never lie to me. I hate being deceived more than anything."

Wen nodded immediately. "I swear I will never harbor malicious intent. I will obey my master’s words and never deceive you."

As a follower, he could not address her by her name the way a matched male could. He could only call her "Female Master."

The way he said it—soft and gentle—sent a faint, tingling sensation through Rory.

"I’ll trust you for now," she said.

Without hesitation, Wen pricked his fingertip and used his blood to draw a mysterious symbol in Rory’s palm.

As he infused the symbol with his spiritual power, it glowed pink before sinking into her skin and disappearing.

Moments later, a tiny pink merfolk—no larger than a fingernail—appeared on her little finger.

The follower’s mark.

Rory sensed it carefully. With this mark, she could control Wen’s life and death with a single thought.

The follower contract was complete.

She studied the little pink merfolk on her finger, then turned to Vincent. "Since Wen is staying, arrange a room for him."

Vincent handled all room arrangements in the manor.

"There’s no need," Wen said quickly. "If possible, I would like to redesign the artificial lake in the manor and live there. Aquatic beastfolk are most comfortable in water."

Vincent nodded. "As long as it doesn’t affect Rory, you may modify the lake as you wish."

Wen brightened. "Thank you. I won’t disturb my master."

He would work beneath the surface; nothing above the water would change.

Nix eyed him curiously. "The Merfolk elders said you’re very aloof. I don’t see that at all."

Honestly, this fish looked rather easy to bully.

Wen flushed in embarrassment. "I’m not aloof. I just... don’t like talking much."

The elders constantly pestered him, saying the Merfolk had once been as powerful as the Dragon Clan, equal in status. Only after losing their Rank eleven powerhouse had they fallen behind and been forced to bow to the Dragon Clan.

They pressured him endlessly to break through to Rank eleven and restore the Merfolk’s former glory.

Truthfully, Wen had little interest in that.

He thought Paros managed the waters quite well. The dragon’s temper might be poor, but he treated all aquatic clans fairly and handled matters with impartiality.

"I see." Nix slung an arm over Wen’s shoulders. "But now that you’re Rory’s follower, you should speak up more at home."

If Wen barely spoke, how would he ever upgrade from follower to mate?

Wen nodded solemnly. "I understand."

It was clear Rory’s companions were all decent males—especially Nix and Yuel, who had fed him leaves before.

Once Wen’s matter was settled, Vincent checked the time and turned to Rory. "It’s late. I’ll escort you back to your room."

Rory nodded, then looked at Wen. "Where will you sleep tonight?"

Her concern made Wen’s eyes soften. "Master, don’t worry about me. I need to return to the Merfolk for a short while—to inform my clan and bring some belongings back."

He had nothing with him. He couldn’t rely entirely on her to support him.

"I’ll arrange an escort," Vincent said. Wen was still ill; sending him alone would be unsafe.

The Firebird Clan had only just found their missing Merfolk King. Vincent had no intention of letting him disappear again.

Satisfied, Rory smiled. "Then I’m going to sleep. You should all rest early too."

Just as she turned to leave, Wen spoke hesitantly.

"Master... may I speak with you alone for a moment?"

Jasper glanced at him. "I’ll head back to my room."

"Me too," Nix said quickly.

Vincent and Xarion also departed.

Yuel picked up the silent rabbit from the sofa. "Rory, I’m turning in as well. Cotton Candy can stay with me tonight."

Once everyone had left, Rory faced Wen. "What is it?"

Wen pressed his lips together, the tips of his ears reddening.

"Master... I’m sorry. I lied earlier."

"I wasn’t injured by Aren. I was injured by his twin brother, Aris."

Rory stared at him in shock. "So Aren truly has a twin named Aris?"

Wen nodded. "Yes. Aris is Aren’s twin. The charm-demon clan has an old superstition—when twins are born, the younger one is considered ill-omened. His existence must remain secret."

"Therefore, outsiders only know of MAren. They don’t know about Aris."

"How do you know this?" Rory asked.

"I once visited the charm-demon clan and learned it by accident," Wen explained. "Aris is ruthless and cruel. He is not a good beast."

He hesitated, then added carefully, "The day he injured me, I overheard him referring to you as his female. I don’t know whether he is your match... but I must warn you. Someone like that is far too dangerous to keep close."

Rory nodded slowly.

From Wen’s description, the one Vincent and Yuel had killed before was likely Aris.

"Master, I didn’t mean to deceive you," Wen continued earnestly. "I said Aren earlier because Prince Vincent and the others don’t know about Aris. I feared you would think I was lying."

"But when you said you hate deception above all else, I knew I had to clarify."

He dropped to one knee before her.

"I spoke falsely. Please punish me."

Rory pulled him to his feet. "Since you came clean on your own, I’ll let it go this time. But don’t lie to me again."

Wen nodded solemnly, pink eyes shimmering like starlight. "Thank you, Master."

"Since you know Aris," Rory asked, "have you ever met Aren himself?"

Wen shook his head. "No. I’ve only heard that he stays beyond the outer domains and rarely returns to the charm-demon clan."

"Aris has long acted under his brother’s name."

"But from what I’ve heard, before Aren left for the outer realms, he treated Aris very well."

"Perhaps that’s why Aris dares to use his name so brazenly."

These words were true—everything he had heard during his time among the charm-demons.

And honestly... it wasn’t without reason.

If Aris had committed so many atrocities, why had Aren never returned to discipline him—or publicly clear his name?