The Mermaid Book

October 15th, early morning.

Arthur was taking the fast ship Gale to Rhine Island; the Old Wood Ship Auction was scheduled for dusk.

Traveling from Blue Bay Island to Rhine Island and having a quick meal, the timing was just right.

Rubbing his temples, Arthur took a deep breath, having studied the Mermaid Book all night.

The contents were divided into three volumes, detailing legendary stories of the merfolk and the era before the last.

Mermaid Book, Volume One, mentioned the origin of the merfolk: in the ancient era, a prince encountered a giant seashell, and upon opening it, a sea maiden appeared.

The sea maiden and the prince united, giving birth to the ancestor of the merfolk, the great mermaid princess "Hathaway."

Mermaid Book, Volume Two, chronicled the bloody and tearful history of the merfolk in the Northern Sea, even mentioning a bloody betrayal within the Mermaid Book itself.

In that betrayal, the merfolk's influence among the sea races completely declined, and they gradually moved towards decline.

Mermaid Book, Volume Three, depicted the decline of the merfolk at the end of the ancient era, at the dawn of the Age of Light.

The loss of the merfolk chief and the disappearance of the Mermaid Sanctuary caused the merfolk to become displaced.

Traces of merfolk were no longer seen along the coastlines of the Old Continent.

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

Arthur hadn't expected that the Mermaid Book contained a map, guiding future seekers to the merfolk sanctuary.

Activating this map required two stringent conditions:

1. A professor proficient in sea creature languages. 2. The bloodline of the merfolk.

"Mr. Red Grail possesses the latter, the merfolk bloodline, but proficiency in sea creature languages is impossible."

Arthur closed his eyes. A scholar proficient in sea creature languages was indeed a very demanding condition.

The sailboat arrived at Rhine Island.

Rhine Island was exceptionally lively today, with numerous sailboats docked at the harbor.

The most conspicuous vessel had a rose-shaped figurehead gilded in gold, and its largest sail was dyed red.

"What a magnificent ship, dyeing the entire sail red must have cost a fortune in gold coins."

The pirates who brought Arthur were sailors newly recruited from Blue Bay Island. They were said to have come from the countryside of the Tudor Dynasty, seeking adventure on the high seas.

"Mickey!"

"Captain! I'm here!"

"Accompany me to meet some socialites. Remember not to say a word."

"Yes, Captain!"

"Address me as: Lord Arthur."

"Yes! Captain!"

The venue for the Old Wood Ship Auction was the grand hall of the Rhine Island Governor's Mansion, presided over by Governor Drew himself.

Arthur, with Mickey in tow, headed to the Governor's Mansion for a meal.

The people passing by were nobles and high-society figures from the Tudor Dynasty.

Lace cravats and silk breeches, wide-brimmed hats with gold thread embroidery, and the air was filled with a fragrant scent.

The women wore whalebone skirts, tight corsets, and their hair was adorned with pearls and gems.

There were also middle-aged men in dark brown robes and square caps, exuding a refined scholarly aura.

"I didn't expect that esteemed figure would also be here!"

"It's truly strange. The auctions in Fog City are much larger, and the items auctioned are more precious."

"What do you know? Times have changed. That esteemed figure can only attend the Old Wood Ship Auction here in Rhine Island..."

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

Which prominent figure from the Tudor Dynasty had arrived?

Suddenly!

Governor Drew, leading his guards, emerged from the Governor's Mansion with a sincere smile.

Arthur stepped aside and saw Arena not far away, walking resplendently in the center, with two brilliant rubies hanging from her ears.

"Oh! The most dazzling pearl of Stuart!"

"Welcome, Miss Arena!"

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

Governor Drew had to receive her with the utmost formality; as a member of the old nobility, he had to be proper.

"Miss Arena, another noble is about to arrive, please wait a moment."

Arena glanced at Arthur, her gaze falling on the most luxurious ship in Rhine Port, and said without reservation:

"Waiting for a marquis who covers his incompetence and depravity with gold and dyes?"

"The sun is quite fierce today, and I have no intention of standing here to bake with you."

Arena led her maid straight into the Governor's Mansion, showing absolutely no face to Governor Drew.

Governor Drew's smile stiffened, and he let out a long sigh in his heart; he had no desire to give her face either.

But after all, she was the sole heir to that great personage from the Tudor Dynasty, an old noble house with a long-standing heritage.

As the governor of Rhine Island, maintaining the decorum of the nobility was a necessity, or else the nobles would ensure he was "made" decorous.

Arthur did not linger, taking Mickey with him into the Governor's Mansion.

Inside the Governor's Mansion, afternoon tea had already been prepared, featuring soft, fragrant pastries, crisp biscuits, and aromatic wine.

"Eat a bit more; it will be a long time before we can rest, so don't let your stomach growl by nightfall."

Arthur picked up a meat pie, caught the fishy scent within, and pinched his nose as he forced it down.

Without seasoning, the fishy taste surged from his throat straight to his brain.

Wolfing it down until it was gone, he took a sip of wine to wash it down, then turned his gaze toward the desserts.

The ship-shaped biscuits, made with cane sugar, had a faint sweetness that was a rare delicacy on this stretch of the sea.

Governor Drew walked into the mansion with a golden-haired youth who held his head high, and upon seeing Arthur devouring the food, his face couldn't help but twitch.

The cane sugar used to make the desserts was worth 50 gold coins; he had spent a fortune to entertain his guests.

Vile bandit!

Mickey followed behind Arthur, and when Arthur handed him a biscuit, he stuffed it into his mouth immediately.

Sweet! So sweet!

He had never eaten such sweet biscuits before; in the countryside, there was only coarse, dry bread that took all his strength just to swallow.

Watching the desserts on the table gradually disappear, those around them who prided themselves on their decorum began to mock Arthur mercilessly in their hearts.

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

Even Arena, seeing Arthur's table manners, couldn't help but turn her head away, ashamed to know such a person.

Finally, someone couldn't hold back; a dark-brown-haired scholar, clutching a leather-bound notebook, stood beside Arthur and picked up a biscuit.

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

"I am a Bachelor of Linguistics from England University, Leo Edward. May I ask who you are?"

"Arthur, captain of the Great White Shark."

Leo took a few extra looks at Arthur, the Captain Arthur who had recently become quite famous for having encountered cultists without losing his mind.

Seeing that the atmosphere of the banquet was off, Governor Drew immediately stepped forward and said, "Please, honored guests, feel free to dine."

"The Old Wood Ship Auction will be held at the auditorium next door when the sun sets at dusk."

With those words from Governor Drew, the famished ladies and gentlemen swarmed toward the dessert table, with Arthur and Leo at the center.