The Sea King's Shock

What a coincidental encounter, even the timing is so perfect. Everything seems arranged by fate.

Rhine thought, looking at Aurora beside him, and suddenly had a guess:

Back then, the soldier in The Tinderbox story was also going to capture this girl who was supposed to be Sleeping Beauty.

Will the protagonists of destiny be attracted to each other like magnets?

If that's the case, does it mean that even if he doesn't interfere with the trajectory of fate, the protagonists of destiny will still interact and unexpected changes that deviate from the original work will occur?

The Mermaid Princess Ariel, known as the Sixth Princess, listened to the other mermaids' dissuasion and shook her head helplessly, "Thank you for your kindness. But I have a reason why I must go to the Sea Hag. There are some things that cannot be accomplished without relying on magic—even if I am the Old Grandmother's beloved little princess."

Things that can only be done by relying on magic... Aurora instinctively shifted her gaze to the young Rhine.

Apart from the Black Witch she only knew from legends, this teacher was the most powerful Magician she had ever seen! Through the transparent belly of the big fish, Rhine smiled at the Mermaid Princess Ariel, "In that case, Princess, let's go find the Sea Hag together. That way, everyone can keep each other company."

The Mermaid Princess's eyes showed joy.

The boy's conversation and extensive knowledge had deeply impressed the mermaids, including her. It couldn't be better to travel with this knowledgeable human scholar.

Moreover, she had seen too few humans. To be with that handsome prince, she had to understand the rules of the human world, and she would definitely have many, many questions to ask this human scholar later! Seeing that they couldn't dissuade the two humans and Sixth Princess Ariel, the mermaids could only disperse helplessly.

They watched Ariel and the two humans riding the big fish, swimming towards the Coral Forest where the Sea Hag lived, disappearing into the azure depths.

"Oh right, I almost forgot, humans have come to our kingdom. Such big news must be told to others, to the great Sea King!"

The mermaids swam around, telling their friends and relatives about what they had just seen, and reporting to the guards of the Sea King's Palace.

Soon, this bombshell of news spread throughout the Mermaid Kingdom.

In the Sea King's Palace, where the ball had just ended.

On the magnificent seashell throne, the Sea King, holding a Trident, was surprised to hear the reports from his subordinates:

"Heavens! Humans have actually come to our underwater kingdom. Such a thing has never happened since I was born. No, that's not right, it has never happened in the three thousand years of our kingdom's history!"

"Moreover, one of the two humans who came to our kingdom is an elegant and kind scholar. Although everyone says he looks like a child, perhaps some human children are just so knowledgeable."

"I never thought that humans' understanding of us would be so profound! But our understanding of the human world is only a tiny bit."

The Sea King sighed.

As the king of this sea area, the monarch of mermaids and other intelligent sea creatures, the Sea King also had infinite longing for the world above the sea. The most regrettable thing for him was that he could not establish diplomatic relations with the human kingdom.

Physiological limitations prevented the mermaids from going ashore. The humans who might occasionally interact with mermaids were sailors on ships at sea.

However, the sailors on the ships coming and going, for some reason, feared and loathed mermaids, and always avoided them.

This was truly a strange thing.

"I think I must summon that human scholar. Let him be the most honored guest in the Sea Court, and ask him to tell us more about the human kingdom. This is necessary for us to understand the human world and become friends with humans!"

The Sea King said to the ministers in the palace and his old mother.

However, the Sea King's old mother, the "Old Grandmother" in the mouths of the Mermaid Princesses—a noble mermaid who was arrogant about her noble birth and wore a dozen Oysters on her tail as decorations—raised an objection:

"Since the beginning of history, mermaids and humans have been separated in two worlds. It is definitely not a good thing for two humans to come to the underwater kingdom! It's already merciful not to drive them out, but we can't let them step into our magnificent palace!"

The Sea King did not quite agree with his stubborn old mother, but he did not dare to object in person.

Just as he was thinking about how to resolve the differences between himself and his mother, the Old Grandmother learned bad news from another mermaid guard.

"What! You said Ariel went to find that Sea Hag?"

"Oh no! Oh no!"

"That ugly sea witch will never bring anything good. She will only offer unacceptable prices!"

"How could my lovely Ariel go to find her? Is there any wish that I, this Old Grandmother, cannot fulfill for her?"

The old lady, who was the Sea King's mother, changed her majestic appearance and panicked, shaking her tail from side to side, jumping up and down, shouting and yelling.

Everyone in the Sea King's Palace knew that although the Old Grandmother was usually inviolable, as soon as Ariel was mentioned, she would immediately change her appearance.

The Old Grandmother loved the Mermaid Princesses the most, and the youngest and most beautiful princess, Ariel, was the apple of her eye.

"We must bring the Princess back! Before she meets that Sea Hag."

The Old Grandmother and the Mermaid guards swam out of the palace in a hurry.

Seeing his mother leave, the Sea King, though worried about Ariel's situation, was also slightly relieved.

He summoned the ministers of the Sea Court and gave his orders:

"Pass on my words—this is the order of the Sea King. Summon that learned human to my palace as soon as possible. I am willing to honor him as the most distinguished and esteemed guest, and personally ask him about the affairs of the human kingdom!"