Just as Werther was enjoying his meal, a rush of footsteps sounded outside the Restaurant.
Before long, a seahorse merman entered the Restaurant. His mouth was long and tubular, and a row of fleshy spines ran from the back of his head down his back.
"Lord Werther, hello. I'm the Right Minister of Ryugu Palace. King Neptune is outside the Restaurant and would like to speak with you."
Werther looked up at the strange-looking mermaid, immediately understood why he had come, and set down his food.
"Have your king come see me himself."
The Left Minister hesitated.
"I'm sorry, Lord Werther. Our king is too large to enter this Restaurant."
Werther understood.
"In that case, I'll go out and see him."
Werther rose, leaving his food behind. Shyarly was startled to hear that King Neptune wanted to meet him, and she got up to follow.
Outside the Restaurant, Werther saw Neptune.
Neptune was a coelacanth mermaid, enormous in stature, with golden hair and a golden beard.
"Lord Werther, I've heard much about you. Welcome to Fish-Man Island."
Neptune was exceedingly polite. He had little choice. As a king who cared about his people, he personally disliked Werther, but the situation forced him to appear friendly.
"Hello, King of Fish-Man Island. What did you want with me?"
Werther studied the towering Fish-Man king seated on a whale. It seemed Neptune had simply come to say hello.
"Nothing important. I merely came to greet you and show our goodwill now that you've arrived on Fish-Man Island."
Werther understood and was about to return to the Restaurant when a question occurred to him.
"Neptune, is this Big Mom's territory now?"
Neptune, who had also been about to leave, stiffened. He took a deep breath where Werther could not see.
"Fish-Man Island has not