Fishing season

The group arrived at Hargeon Port. The sea breeze, carrying a salty and humid scent, mixed with the smell of fish and the aroma of grilled squid. The dock was bustling with noise, with vendors' cries, shouts, and the whistles of fishing boats all blending together.

From a distance, the port was bustling with activity, with fishing boats densely packed on both sides of the dock.

The fishermen on deck were busy tidying up their nets and moving fish boxes. Their bare upper bodies were tanned dark and shiny by the sun, and their rough laughter carried from the boat to the shore.

Lucy felt a bit overwhelmed by the huge crowd. Her steps slowed unconsciously, and she covered her forehead with one hand, her brows furrowed in a knot.

"Wow, are they all here to catch Dream Pearl Fish?! There are so many people!"

She tiptoed and peered into the crowd, but the sea of heads stretched as far as the eye could see. Her expression shifted from shock to Despair, and her lips drooped.

"No, it's peak fishing season now. Most people are out fishing at sea; ordinary people don't specifically go out to catch Dream Pearl Fish."

Riyao spoke up to explain, and while he spoke, he bought two skewers of grilled squid from a roadside stall and handed one to Mirajane.

"There aren't many people who actually come to catch the Dream Pearl Fish, since they're rare and hard to come by. Most people just try their luck; they mainly make money from ordinary catches."

Mirajane rode on Riyao's neck, his legs dangling in front of his chest, taking a bite of a grilled squid, smearing some sauce on his lips, chewing as he glanced into the distance, his gaze casually sweeping across the crowd.

She patted Riyao's head, her palm striking his forehead twice with a soft "smack, smack."

"I saw someone I know over there."

"Oh? Which unlucky guy is it?"

Riyao looked up at Mirajane, a wicked smile playing on his lips; his expression clearly indicated he was about to cause trouble again.

"It's Princess Hisui and that black-faced knight."

Mirajane pointed with the grilled squid in the direction of the other side of the harbor, a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth, his smile carrying an expectant "this is going to be fun" vibe.

"Hey, they're here too."

Riyao raised an eyebrow, and before he could even swallow the squid in his mouth, he burst out laughing, almost choking. He coughed twice, but his eyes lit up.

The two stealthily approached Princess Hisui from behind, their steps light and slow. Riyao even went around to the back of a wooden post to put Mirajane down from her neck. The two of them moved close to her from the left and right, like two cats poised to pounce.

Wow! ×2

Riyao and Mirajane leaped out from behind Princess Hisui at the same time. Riyao cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, while Mirajane leaned close to her ear. Their voices overlapped and exploded in the quiet corner of the harbor.

Princess Hisui was startled and sprang up as if she had been electrocuted. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her hands flailing wildly in the air but grabbing nothing. She landed hard on her bottom on the stone floor.

Arcadios remained expressionless and motionless, not even lifting an eyelid, clearly not wanting to acknowledge the two.

He simply gazed silently at the distant horizon, as if there was something there worth pondering.

"Ouch! Ouch! Riyao! Mira! You scared me again!"

Princess Hisui stood up, clutching her bottom and rubbing it with a grimace. Her eyes were slightly watery, but mostly filled with anger. Her cheeks were puffed out as she pointed at the two of them, both angry and wanting to laugh.

Mirajane laughed so hard he was doubled over, his laughter as clear and crisp as wind chimes, that passing fishermen couldn't help but turn around to look.

Princess Hisui, unable to contain her anger, rushed over and grabbed Mirajane, her fingers accurately poking at her side, tickling her.

Mirajane's laughter instantly turned into screams, her body twisting and turning like a slippery fish.

"Hehehe... Run, Riyao!"

Mirajane laughed as she nudged Riyao's shoulder, circling around Arcadios, with Princess Hisui chasing after her, her skirt billowing in the wind and her heels clicking on the stone pavement.

Arcadios stood still, like a silent pillar, as the three people circled around him again and again.

The sea breeze carried their laughter far away, but his expression remained unchanged, only the veins on his temples throbbed slightly.

Lucy looked at the four people, habitually making sarcastic remarks, crossed her arms, a helpless smile on her lips, and shook her head.

Why does Riyao like to run in circles so much?

"I guess they feel that going in circles has a more ceremonial feel."

Gray shrugged, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

The three of them stopped laughing after they had had their fill. Princess Hisui was panting, her cheeks flushed, while Mirajane, leaning on Riyao's shoulder, was still laughing and her shoulders were swaying.

"What brings Your Highness here?"

Riyao took a breath and casually straightened Mirajane's collar, which had been ruffled by the wind.

"I came out to observe the people's conditions."

Princess Hisui straightened up, put her hands behind her back, and raised her chin slightly, trying to adopt a dignified posture, but her flushed face and still-breathing breath completely betrayed her.

"The princess threw a tantrum, insisting on coming out, and His Majesty, annoyed, had no choice but to agree."

Arcadios's voice was deep and steady, like reading an official document, without the slightest ripple in his tone, yet every word struck the Princess Hisui with precision.

Princess Hisui Emerald kicked Arcadios, the tip of her shoe striking his shin guard with a clang. She winced in pain, but her momentum didn't diminish.

"Hey, how dare you undermine me as my knight?"

Arcadios glanced down at the shoe print on his calf armor, raised an eyebrow expressionlessly—the subtle curve of his brow seemed to say, "I'm used to it."

Lucy's brain finally caught on; her eyes widened, her mouth formed an "O," her finger trembled as she pointed at the Princess Hisui, and her voice rose an octave.

"Hey! You're a princess? The Princess Hisui of the Kingdom of Fiore?!"

Her expression shifted back and forth between shock and confusion.

"How come you're so familiar with the princess!"

Happy looked disappointed in him, patted his forehead with his little paws, shook his head, and let his tail hang down helplessly.

"Lucy's so oblivious, in every sense of the word."

Wendy blinked, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her little face filled with wonder and admiration, her mouth slightly open as if she were looking at some rare treasure.

"Wow, this is the first time I've ever seen a real princess!"

She couldn't help but steal a few more glances, then felt it was impolite and quickly lowered her head, but her eyes still couldn't help but drift towards Princess Hisui out of the corner of her eye.

Carla maintained her disdainful expression, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, scrutinizing Princess Hisui with a critical gaze, and letting out a soft snort.

"He seems like he likes to fool around too."

Upon hearing this, Arcadios sighed deeply, his shoulders visibly slumping.

A rare look of weariness appeared on that usually expressionless face, as if he were carrying a heavy destiny.

"Every time Riyao passes through the capital, he takes Lord Mirajane to the palace to play with the princess. Over time, his personality has been influenced by this. Sigh."

He paused, his gaze distant, his voice carrying the vicissitudes of someone who had been through it all.

"Your Highness used to know what restraint was, but now you throw tantrums at the drop of a hat. The day before yesterday, you even tried to climb over the wall to leave the palace. After I stopped you, you sat on the ground and cried for an hour, saying, ' Riyao and Mira can run around everywhere, why can't I?'"

Riyao chuckled twice beside him, showing no remorse whatsoever, and even puffed out his chest proudly.

"This shows that Her Highness has an adventurous spirit, which is perfect for our guild."

Arcadios glanced at him, his eyes containing too much that could not be expressed in words, which ultimately turned into a longer sigh.

Carla frowned, trying to pull Wendy away, and tugged at Wendy's sleeve with her little hands.

Wendy smiled helplessly, staggered a couple of steps after being pulled along, but still couldn't help turning back to glance at the lively crowd.

Juvia held Gray's clothes with obvious delight, cradling the shirt in both hands, her cheek pressed against the fabric, a blissful smile on her lips, as if she were holding some priceless treasure.

Who knows when Gray casually took off his shirt again, and now he's standing shirtless on the beach, hands in his shorts, looking nonchalantly at the fishing boats in the distance, like Nezha.

Erza glanced around, her gaze quickly sweeping across the crowd. Her brows furrowed, and she subconsciously counted the heads. Suddenly remembering something, her expression changed.

"Where's Natsu?!"

When everyone turned around, there was no one there. Natsu was nowhere to be seen. Where he should have been standing, there was only a wisp of air blown away by the sea breeze.

"That idiot should have gotten off the bus by now, right?"

Gray scratched the back of his head, his tone uncertain, his brow furrowed as he tried to recall when he last saw Natsu, but his mind went blank.

Juvia didn't see Natsu get out of the car...

Juvia lifted her head from Gray's shirt, tilted her head and thought for a moment, then buried her face back into the shirt. Clearly, Natsu's whereabouts were far less important than Gray's clothes.

The others were only surprised for a moment and then paid no more attention to Natsu. After all, it wasn't the first time he'd lost something; he'd find it himself.

This kind of thing is as commonplace as eating and drinking in Fairy Tail, and Lucy didn't even bother to sigh anymore.

Upon arriving at the seaside, the original plan was to rent a boat and head out to sea to the islands near the habitat of the Dream Pearl Fish.

We'll have to rest for a day and wait for Natsu to be found before setting off again.

Just as they were about to rest at Hisui's estate, Princess Hisui perked up immediately, clapping her hands and saying that her estate was nearby, with hot springs and gourmet meals, her eyes shining like two gemstones.

Natsu shakily stepped off the train, one hand gripping a pillar on the platform, the other covering his mouth.

His face was ashen, his lips were bloodless, and his knees trembled like boiled noodles.