Chapter 422: Princess Kidnapping Case (1)
Orm's Vengeance
"Didn't you just say we should let the surface-dweller take the blame? Why this sudden decision?"
A challenge and a murder are completely different concepts. Luke Shaw was a guest of the King of Xebel, and killing him would be impossible to justify to the King.
Atenel said gravely,
"This is Orm's demand. He offered us terms we could not refuse."
The others were still confused. Although Prince Orm disliked surface-dwellers, it seemed excessive for him to issue such a command from a distance of thousands of miles.
Kamils hesitated. "Does Prince Orm have a feud with that surface-dweller?"
"No."
"Then why..."
Atenel's lips curled up with inexpressible mockery. "Because he doesn't want to repeat the mistake of his father, Orvax." He paused, and under the puzzled gaze of the crowd, he continued,
"Do you remember the Queen Atlanna's elopement that happened twenty-eight years ago?"
"Does this incident have something to do with Her Majesty the Queen?"
"Of course it does."
Atenel sneered. "It's normal that you are unaware of the royal scandal. Atlanna, who was a princess at the time, was unwilling to obey her father's arrangement to marry Orvax, the Captain of the Royal Guard, so she used the outbreak of war as an opportunity to escape. She was gone for years. Outsiders only knew that Atlanna was hiding in an abyssal trench, but in reality, she went to the surface."
"Not only did she go to the surface, but she fell in love with a surface-dweller and gave birth to a son. That illegitimate son is Orm's half-brother, who also possesses Atlantean royal blood."
Hiss!
This news was explosive. The Fish Men were shocked, and they instinctively pricked up their ears.
"Because of this scandal, Orvax's temper completely changed, and he became a notorious madman. Orm was also deeply affected by it and harbors an extreme hatred for surface-dwellers." Atenel's fish scales bristled with a hint of schadenfreude. "Orvax was truly an unlucky fool. He finally managed to marry a princess, and before he could even touch her, the princess ran off with a low-bloodline surface-dweller and gave birth to a son! Ha ha ha ha!"
"The poor guy, what could he do? The royal family would never allow the scandal to be exposed, so he could only endure it, wearing a massive green hat while guarding a Queen who didn't love him."
"This incident left a deep psychological shadow on Orm. He will never allow himself to follow his father's old path."
Kamils was stunned. "Are you saying that Princess Mera might—with that surface-dweller..."
"Why not?"
Atenel said with a faint smile, "Don't forget, Mera was raised by the Queen. She has yearned for the surface life since she was a child and even speaks the surface language. Haven't you noticed? She shows too much care for that surface man. She even challenged me in public for his sake. Is that appropriate behavior for a princess?"
"Orm has been secretly monitoring the progress of the alliance meeting. What will his reaction be when he learns that such a surface man has appeared around Mera?"
"The father was cuckolded by a surface-dweller, and the son is about to follow the same path?"
The remark caused the listeners' mouths to twitch. They wanted to laugh but dared not, forcing themselves to hold it in. Gossip knows no geographical or racial boundaries, especially royal gossip.
Kamils, being the calmest, raised the most pressing issue.
"How are we going to kill that surface-dweller? Send assassins?"
The surface-dweller's combat power could not be underestimated. Killing him in a frontal confrontation was almost impossible. The only way was through assassination, but this was Xebel's territory, and he had the Princess Guard around him. Even if they sent assassins, success was not guaranteed.
Atenel slightly shook his head.
"Orm has already made preparations for us. The day after tomorrow morning, a prototype Sea God Battlesuit will arrive at the fortress. That is the highest technology of Atlantis. With it, the surface-dweller will be no match at all. Kamils, this is in your hands. You must succeed."
Kamils raised his hand in salute.
"I will not disappoint you, my Lord."
The Duel in the Magma Pit
As the challenge date drew closer, Luke Shaw felt no urgency. Every day, he was either exploring the deep sea with the two beautiful women or tasting various Atlantean delicacies. He even found time to discuss the different cultural customs of the ocean and the surface with Mera.
In two days, the relationship between the three had developed rapidly, and they had become close, open friends.
Carol even prepared some surface sauces for Mera, noting that raw fish tasted quite different when dipped in the sauce.
Unknowingly, the time came for the third day.
In the central hall of the fortress, King Nereus of Xebel stood upon his throne. To his left stood Princess Mera, followed by the King's Guard and the Princess Guard.
The Fisherman Kingdom delegation stood below the steps. Luke Shaw and Carol stood opposite them.
A suppressed atmosphere filled the room. The Fisherman Kingdom members stared fixedly at Luke Shaw, especially Kamils, whose gaze was sharp and intimidating, as if intending to pierce him like a sword.
The challenge was a sacred Atlantean tradition, related to life and death, and stood above them. Even disputes over the throne were often resolved through challenges.
However, this type of challenge was limited to Atlanteans; a battle between a surface-dweller and a sea person was a first.
Compared to the cautious Fish Men, Luke Shaw appeared very relaxed, occasionally covering his mouth and letting out long yawns. One might think he had been "up all night" again.
Mera hesitated. "Father, are you really not going to stop this?"
Nereus remained silent, his eyes occasionally scanning the sphere of liquid metal suspended behind Luke Shaw's back.
The surface-dweller's armor?
It can actually transform into this shape!
Maria stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
"Time is up, Your Majesty."
While speaking, she subtly winked. Nereus understood. Although he felt a bit ashamed, he held it in, rose from the throne, and swore an oath to the Sea God statue.
"Following the sacred tradition of Atlantis, I, Nereus, King of Xebel, shall be the arbiter and witness of this battle. Guards, open the battleground."
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The crowd raised their weapons and roared. Amidst the violent shaking, the hall floor slowly opened, and a rush of hot air hit them. Below was a river of magma.
No wonder the fortress glowed year-round; they used the heat from the magma for energy.
Above the lava river was a circular stone pillar about twenty meters in diameter—that must be the place of battle.
Carol was worried and couldn't help but ask,
"Are you really going through with this?"
"Didn't we agree last night?"
Carol smiled wryly. "You are too bold. If you fail, the entire Atlantis will hunt you down."
Luke Shaw laughed heartily.
"If I can't even deal with a mere Atlantis, how am I fit to be your man?"
The girl's face flushed with embarrassment. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, feeling both happy and helpless. "Alright, I'll stick to the plan. As for Mera..."
"She will be fine. I guarantee it."
Carol said nothing more, transformed into her battle form, left the air bubble, and floated in the seawater.
Luke Shaw raised his hand, and the liquid metal sphere flowed up his fingers, enveloping his body, transforming into the Float Armor.
An invisible force field spread outwards, and spiderweb cracks appeared on the floor.
The surrounding guards couldn't help but gasp. The hall floor was designed to resist magma; never mind water-jet guns, even heavy artillery couldn't shatter it. Yet, the surface-dweller merely stomped his foot, and such a large crack opened up.
"Such immense power!"
Atenel muttered to himself, then sneered, "But compared to the Sea God Prototype Battlesuit, it's nothing."
"Let the battle begin! Kamils, let the surface-dweller witness the highest technology of Atlantis."
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