The Mermaid Book

October 15, early morning.

Arthur sailed aboard the Gale toward Rhine Island. The Old Wood Ship Auction was scheduled to take place at dusk.

The trip from Blue Bay Island to Rhine Island, plus a quick meal, would leave him with just enough time.

Rubbing his temples, Arthur took a deep breath. He had spent the entire night poring over the Mermaid Book.

It contained three volumes in all, recounting the legendary tales of the merfolk and the era before last.

Volume One of the Mermaid Book told of the merfolk's origins. In an ancient era, a prince came upon a giant seashell. When he opened it, a young woman from the Sea Race appeared.

The young woman and the prince were joined, and their union gave rise to the merfolk's ancestor, the great Mermaid Princess Hathaway.

Volume Two was a bloody, tear-stained history of the merfolk in the North Sea. The Mermaid Book even mentioned a betrayal within their own ranks.

In the wake of that betrayal, the merfolk fell into decline among the Sea Race, gradually fading away.

Volume Three chronicled the merfolk's downfall at the end of the ancient era and the beginning of the Era of Light.

The loss of the merfolk chieftain, along with the disappearance of the Mermaid Sanctuary, left the merfolk homeless and scattered.

The merfolk were never seen again along the shores of the Old Continent.

"The merfolk's sanctuary, the lost authority, points to the depths of the sea."

Arthur hadn't expected a map to be hidden inside the Mermaid Book, one that guided future generations to the merfolk's sanctuary.

Activating the map required meeting two exacting conditions:

1. A scholar proficient in Sea Race Language.

2. Merfolk blood.

"Mr. Red Grail has the merfolk blood, but finding someone proficient in Sea Race Language is impossible."

Arthur closed his eyes. A scholar proficient in Sea Race Language—a very exacting condition indeed.

The ship reached Rhine Island.

Rhine Island was unusually lively today, with ships of all sizes crowding the harbor.

The most eye-catching vessel had a gold-plated figurehead shaped like a rose, and its largest sail was dyed red.

"What an impressive ship. How many gold coins did it take to dye the whole sail red?"

The pirate who had brought Arthur here was a sailor newly recruited from Blue Bay Island. He was said to have come from the countryside of the Tudor Dynasty and wanted to try his luck at sea.

"Mickey!"

"Captain! Here!"

"Come with me to meet some high society. Remember, don't say a word more than you have to."

"Yes, Captain!"

"Call me Lord Arthur here."

"Yes, Captain!"

The Old Wood Ship Auction was being held in the grand hall of the Governor's Mansion on Rhine Island, with Governor Drew himself presiding.

Arthur took Mickey with him to the Governor's Mansion for a meal.

The guests coming and going were nobles and high-society figures from the Tudor Dynasty.

Lace cravats, silk breeches, and gold embroidery on broad-brimmed hats; a rich fragrance hung in the air.

The women wore whalebone skirts and corsets, with pearls and gems adorning their hair.

There were also middle-aged men in dark brown robes and square caps, their scholarly refinement unmistakable.

"I never expected that lord to come too!"

"How strange. The auction in Fog City is far grander than this one, and its lots are much more valuable."

"What do you know? Times have changed. That lord can only attend the Old Wood Ship Auction on Rhine Island..."

The whispers around him reached Arthur's ears, piquing his curiosity.

Which famous figure had come from the Tudor Dynasty?

Just then!

Governor Drew emerged from the Governor's Mansion with his guards, a warm smile on his face.

Arthur stepped aside and spotted Arena nearby, walking at the very center in dazzling splendor, two brilliant rubies dangling from her ears.

"Oh! The brightest jewel in Stuart!"

"Welcome, Miss Arena!"

The daughter of Grand Duke Stuart had come to Rhine Island in person to attend the Old Wood Ship Auction.

Governor Drew had to receive her with the highest honors. As a member of an old noble family, he had to conduct himself with decorum.

"Miss Arena, another noble is expected to arrive. Please wait a moment."

Arena glanced at Arthur, then looked toward the most luxurious ship in Rhine Port. She said without a trace of courtesy:

"Are we waiting for a marquis who uses gold and dye to conceal his incompetence and depravity?"

"The sun is blazing today. I have no desire to stand around in it with you."

Arena led her maid straight into the Governor's Mansion, showing Governor Drew not the slightest consideration.

Governor Drew's smile stiffened. He let out a sigh inwardly; he didn't want to show the other party any consideration either.

But she was, after all, from the Tudor Dynasty, an ancient and venerable noble house—and the sole heir of that lord.

As governor of Rhine Island, he had to preserve the dignity of the nobility. Otherwise, the nobles would make sure he learned what it meant to lose face.

Arthur didn't linger. He took Mickey into the Governor's Mansion.

Afternoon tea had already been laid out: soft, fragrant pastries, crisp biscuits, and wine that filled the air with its aroma.

"Eat up. It'll be a long time before we can rest. Don't wait until your stomach starts growling tonight."

Arthur picked up a savory pie and caught a whiff of fish. Pinching his nose, he ate it anyway.

The fish, unseasoned, sent its briny smell shooting from his throat straight to his head.

He wolfed it down, washed it down with a sip of wine, then turned his attention to the desserts.

The ship-shaped biscuits had been made with cane sugar and tasted faintly sweet. They were a rare delicacy on these waters.

Governor Drew entered the mansion with a blond young man who held his head high. Seeing Arthur wolfing down the food, he couldn't stop his face from twitching.

The cane sugar used in the desserts was worth fifty gold coins. He had spared no expense to treat his guests.

A despicable bandit!

Mickey followed close behind Arthur. When Arthur handed him a biscuit, he stuffed it into his mouth at once.

Sweet! So sweet!

He had never tasted such a sweet biscuit. Back home in the countryside, the coarse, dry bread was so hard to swallow that it took all his effort.

As the desserts on the table slowly disappeared, the people around him, so intent on keeping up appearances, began to heap scorn on Arthur in their minds.

They all wanted to eat, but couldn't bring themselves to lower their dignity.

Even Arena couldn't help turning away when she saw Arthur eating. She was ashamed to know someone like him.

At last, someone couldn't hold back. A scholar in dark brown robes, carrying a leather notebook, stepped up beside Arthur and picked up a biscuit.

The moment the biscuit entered his mouth, Arthur clearly heard him let out a long breath.

"I'm Leo Edward, a bachelor of linguistics from England University. May I ask who you are?"

"Arthur, captain of the Great White Shark."

Leo looked Arthur over again. Captain Arthur had been quite famous lately; he'd encountered cultists and hadn't gone mad.

Seeing that the atmosphere at the gathering was a little off, Governor Drew immediately stepped forward. "Please, everyone, help yourselves."

"The Old Wood Ship Auction will be held in the grand hall next door at sunset."