Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace.
The palace, built from coral and seashells, glowed softly underwater, a gigantic bubble enveloping the entire castle.
Inside the great hall, Neptune sat below the Coral Throne.
The enormous merman looked very uncomfortable, because Basha was the one sitting on the throne.
His three sons stood on either side of the throne.
Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi.
None of the three felt any resistance toward the woman on the throne. After all, they had witnessed her terrifying power not long ago.
And none of them dared look too closely at that pale-skinned human.
Behind the three was another figure.
An enormous one.
Shirahoshi poked half her body out from behind the curtain.
She was huge, much bigger than her three brothers.
At that moment, her eyes were full of curiosity.
Basha sat on the throne, her long silver-blue hair falling over her shoulders. She held a shell cup filled with sake brewed in the deep sea.
She took a sip, set down the cup, and looked at Neptune.
"Neptune."
"What should you call me now?"
Neptune's scepter trembled.
"I... know."
"You are... the embodiment of this sea."
"When you entered these waters, all the seawater around Fish-Man Island trembled. All the Sea Kings surfaced and bowed their heads in your direction."
"You are the ruler of this ocean."
Basha nodded.
"Good, as long as you know."
She stood, her tail swaying gently behind her.
"Then you should also know who rules the sea outside, and those Fish-Men, from this day forward."
Neptune fell silent for three seconds.
Then his enormous body bent before Basha, his forehead almost touching his knees.
"Fish-Man Island is willing to serve you as its ruler."
The three princes bowed with their father.
Behind them, Shirahoshi lowered her head too.
"Father..."
Watching this,