Chapter 418: The Princess's Favorable Impression!
A Challenge Accepted
The actions of the Fisherman Kingdom delegation brought the atmosphere to an extremely awkward halt.
Luke Shaw and Carol were, after all, guests of the King of Xebel. To challenge guests immediately upon their arrival was an insult to the King.
The guards were furious, wishing they could tear the Fisherman Kingdom delegation to shreds.
Mera continued to communicate with the Fish Man representative, trying to change his mind, but to no avail.
Seeing the situation rapidly escalating, Carol frowned.
"What should we do?"
"We are guests. Whether we accept or refuse, we need to know the host's feelings."
"Mera won't agree to this."
Luke Shaw paused. "How do you know?"
Carol whispered, "She is a kind person."
Luke Shaw remained silent. Carol was the Star Sapphire Queen, master of the power of love, able to perceive the emotional waves of others and even influence them to some degree. If she said Mera was kind, it was likely true, at least for now.
The situation unfolded exactly as anticipated. When communication failed, Mera picked up a trident and placed it in front of the Fisherman Kingdom representative, stunning everyone present.
"Princess, no!"
Rola cried out, but it was too late.
The trident was the standard weapon of Atlantis and a national symbol. When an Atlantean places their trident before you, it signifies the beginning of a duel.
You can refuse, but you'll be branded a coward. You can accept, with no guarantee of survival.
Mera was the Princess of the King of Xebel, whose bloodline was supreme; no one had the right to challenge her. Yet, for two surface-dwellers, she had offered the trident.
Nereus clenched his fists, staring fixedly at the Fisherman Kingdom representative. If he dared to accept, a bloody conflict was likely to erupt immediately.
The situation was approaching a crisis point, likely leading to an unpleasant conclusion.
Luke Shaw sighed slightly, grasped the trident that the Fish Man had offered, and struck it heavily onto the ground.
Clang!
The sharp sound echoed. Everyone turned simultaneously. When they saw the trident embedded in the floor, their eyes widened: the surface-dweller had actually accepted.
Mera looked crestfallen.
"Luke, you didn't have to do this. This is the realm of Xebel."
Luke Shaw laughed heartily. "We have a tradition on the surface called 'making friends through martial arts.' Since this Mr. Fish Man wants to experience the power of surface-dwellers, how can I refuse? However..." he paused, then said solemnly,
"This is my first time at the bottom of the sea, and I'm unfamiliar with underwater combat. If possible, please arrange the battle for three days from now."
Mera's expression was incredibly complex, filled with gratitude, apology, and a hint of helplessness. When the request was relayed, the Fisherman Kingdom delegation unexpectedly agreed.
Three days was a good amount of time; they could comfortably make arrangements and find a powerful Fish Man warrior for the fight.
After this brief interlude, the eyes of the guards shifted subtly, and the Princess Guard stopped glaring at the couple as if they were enemies.
Luke Shaw ignored all of this. Led by Mera, he and Carol toured the "military fortress." The Atlantean culture was truly captivating. Their frescoes were detailed and exquisite, yet lacked none of their majestic scope. The battles between gods and sea monsters depicted in the paintings gave one the illusion of being there.
They revered the Sea God, claiming to be descendants of the gods, and the figure of Poseidon appeared in many frescoes.
There was no sense of time on the seabed. Before they knew it, it was midnight. Mera arranged for the couple to stay in the adjacent room and even prepared a bed piled with fish skin and seaweed.
"I prepared this in the human style. I hope you like it."
Carol asked curiously,
"Do you not use beds for sleeping?"
Mera shook her head. "The seawater is the best bed and blanket."
Carol immediately understood. Atlanteans live in the sea year-round, their bodies integrated with the water. Surface-dwellers couldn't handle that; the water pressure thousands of meters deep wasn't something just anyone could endure.
Luke Shaw sat down on the bed, sinking into it. The couch piled high with fish skin and seaweed was surprisingly soft.
"Please rest well. Let me know if you need anything. I'll be right next door."
Mera nodded slightly and left the room.
A Night in Atlantis
After the door closed, Carol immediately pounced on Luke Shaw, grabbing his collar and staring intensely at him.
"Are you interested in the Princess?"
Luke Shaw was speechless. "Stop being silly, alright? How could I be?"
"Don't try to deceive me. If you weren't interested, why would you accept the challenge from the Fisherman Kingdom for her? Don't think I didn't notice: after that incident, Mera's favorable impression of you increased significantly, and she even started caring about your meals and daily life."
Luke Shaw tore open his shirt, revealing his chest.
"To show my sincerity, I am willing to open my heart so you can observe my emotional waves and see if I have any ulterior motives."
Carol gave a wry smile, resting her head against Luke Shaw's chin.
"Did you know? My super ability works on everyone, except you."
Luke Shaw was startled. "Why?"
"There is a fire deep within your heart. Every time I try to touch it, I get burned." The girl looked up, her eyes somewhat lost. "I can only feel the emotions you release; I never know what you're actually thinking."
Luke Shaw rolled over, pinning her beneath him. "I'll show you right now, with action."
"No!"
Carol instantly panicked, struggling and whispering curses.
"We're at the bottom of the sea! Mera is right next door! We can't do this! Get up!"
Luke Shaw ignored her, stripping them both bare in two or three moves.
"Four thousand three hundred meters deep, strange deep-sea fish, we are guests of the King, lying on a bed woven from fish skin and seaweed. This kind of opportunity only happens once in a lifetime. Do you think I'd pass it up?"
"Don't resist, little lady, resistance is futile."
The sounds of slapping and cursing filled the room, soon replaced by heavy breathing. The noises were alternately loud and muffled, continuing for a long time before slowly subsiding.
The fortress's soundproofing was poor, making it impossible for Mera not to hear. The various sounds overwhelmed her, leaving her embarrassed and exasperated. If only I had arranged for them to stay elsewhere, I wouldn't have to suffer this.
Surface-dwellers really have no shame, doing such things right inside someone else's home.
Early the next morning, Luke Shaw emerged, yawning. The Princess Guard standing outside stared at him with strange expressions; a few even glanced at his lower body.
Luke Shaw didn't care. Let them look. They had been eavesdropping all night; surely they could spare a glance or two. Carol, however, was crimson-faced. When no one was looking, she sharply elbowed Luke Shaw in the lower back.
"Where is your Princess?"
"Her Highness is preparing breakfast. She said she wants to introduce you two to Atlantean cuisine."
Vice Captain Rola swam forward and said solemnly,
"Mr. Shaw, Ms. Ferris, please follow me. I will take you to the side hall."
Atlanteans don't walk under the sea; they swim. Luke Shaw and Carol couldn't do that, so they had to use the "conch" devices to stroll through the tall and magnificent architecture.
To be honest, the scenery at the bottom of the sea was breathtaking. The seawater swirled around them, and every now and then, fish and shrimp swam past. Some deep-sea creatures even stopped, staring at the pair with curious eyes.
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