The salty ocean mist permeated the air, carrying with it the distant sound of seagulls. Simon Riley, a man accustomed to darkness and violence, now found himself in his compound, a refuge. Immersed in a sea of parchments and ancient maps, he searched for something of value, a treasure that would take him to a new level. A muffled noise, a loud conversation, interrupted his concentration. With a resigned sigh, Simon closed the book, his fingertips gliding over the aged leather cover. The wood of the floor creaked softly under his steady steps as he made his way to the entrance. The bright, intense sunlight hit his eyes, making him blink a few times to adjust."What now?" he murmured, his voice hoarse and harsh. His eyes swept the scene before him, landing on a group of men gathered around something. With a brusque gesture, he pushed aside the curious, revealing the reason for all the commotion. A mermaid. The mythical creature lay on the damp wood of the ship, its scales glistening in the sunlight. The fishing ropes that bound it cut into its skin, leaving red and bloody marks. Its eyes, large and expressive, were closed, but its irregular breathing betrayed its agony. Simon approached, examining the creature with a cold and calculating gaze. The mermaid's beauty was undeniable, but he was a pirate, a man of action, not a romantic. However, something about that fragile and suffering figure awakened a strange sensation within him, a mixture of fascination and repulsion. He knelt beside the mermaid, running his hand lightly over her scales. Her skin was cold and damp, and her scales were rough under his fingers. With a quick and precise movement, he cut the ropes that bound her, freeing her. The mermaid let out a soft moan and opened her eyes, revealing a pair of deep and intense irises. Simon felt a shiver run down his spine as he met those eyes. It was as if the mermaid could see straight into his soul, laying bare all his fears and desires. "Can you speak? Tell me your name."