Engage in Commerce!

Lance's abode had unfortunately fallen under the control of the squid lady, a peculiar yet not entirely disastrous situation. After all, the lady of the deep, being a ruler in her own right, was bound by the unspoken laws of the oceanic monarchs. In their realm, equals did not prey upon each other's followers, thus his dog and turtle remained unthreatened.

In the vast, shadowy depths around Black Dragon Island, three formidable deep-sea kings reigned. Upon claiming a portion of this murky domain, he had wisely initiated dialogues with these titanic neighbors. It was crucial first to ascertain their strength, for in the oceanic courts, weakness relegated one to the status of prey.

He was a creature who cherished the serene side of life, shunning conflict when possible. Recognized by the trinity of deep-sea rulers, he often visited them, bearing gifts from his island – a gesture of diplomacy and friendship. Over time, these offerings kindled a semblance of camaraderie, though the concept of reciprocal exchange was alien to their simplistic, survival-driven minds, which only recognized the dichotomy of predator and prey.

Yet, he persistently reminded them about the art of gift-giving, educating them through example. When they failed to reciprocate, he would collect trivial tokens from their territories, subtly teaching them the value of exchange. Under his guidance, the squid lady eventually grasped the concept, her gifts growing increasingly generous, each time presenting him with one of her own tentacles as a mark of gratitude.

Through his patient mentorship, the neighboring deep-sea kings gradually began to comprehend the notions of friendship and alliance. Consequently, they ventured into his waters with respect, careful not to disturb his aquatic family.

"Why have you left the darker waters of the Black Sea to visit my island?" he inquired one day.

"I wish to explore the human world with you," the squid lady replied earnestly, a hint of distress in her voice. "Also, I can't seem to remove this stubborn ink stain from my face. Could you help me cleanse it?"

Her dilemma stemmed from a bout of ink she had accidentally sprayed upon herself, which no amount of her tentacles' suction could remove. Desperate for a solution, she thought of the black dragon, known not only for his voracity but also his vast knowledge. Perhaps he could propose a remedy.

Arriving at his lair, she found the dragon absent, greeted instead by the quiet company of his loyal dog and the watchful turtle.

When the puppy spotted her, its tail wagged furiously as it dashed to a small stone and pressed it. In a flicker of light and shadow, the black dragon transformed into a charmingly pale and delicate young man, materializing before them.

"The little man there is the black dragon," the puppy announced, adding to the surreal scene.

Perplexed by the transformation, the squid lady couldn't help but find the little man oddly appetizing. "Just speak, but please stop making it look like you're about to drool over me," he chided gently.

To her, the diminutive, soft-looking form of the black dragon resembled a scrumptious treat, a notion that slightly disrupted his peaceful demeanor.

"I can't help it; you look strangely delectable in this form," she confessed. "By the way, are you adventuring in the legendary human world now?"

Her eyes twinkled with curiosity. She wondered if the black dragon had kept the human world to himself, fearing she might outshine him in acquiring its delights.

"I'm not the glutton you think I am; I merely wish to sample its wonders. If that's too much, perhaps finding a cute little man like you to nibble on would suffice," she pondered aloud, her tone playful yet pointed.

"Yes, I've been showing the young dragon the vibrancy of the human world," the black dragon replied, sidestepping her teasing.

"Then perhaps you could instruct the young dragon to spare some of these 'little men' for me to taste," she quipped.

The black dragon paused, his expression unreadable.

"As for the ink on your face, I'll attend to it upon my return. Unless there's anything else, I'll have my dog end this projection."

"But wait, when will you return? Can't you take me with you next time? You speak of friendship and shared experiences," she pressed, her tone growing earnest. "You said friends fulfill each other's wishes. I've shown my friendship by offering my legs. If you consider me a friend, you'd share your world with me. If not, perhaps I should reconsider my generosity and, instead, become a frequent, unwelcome visitor in your waters."

Lance, feeling the weight of her words, reached for a goblet of red wine and took a soothing sip.

"Believe me, the human world isn't as enchanting as the depths of the sea," he tried to assure her.

"Is that blood you're drinking?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar crimson liquid.

"This is red wine, a cherished beverage in the human world, not blood," he explained, a hint of amusement in his voice despite the mounting frustration.

"Bring me some on your return, and I'll consider it a fair trade for my legs," she bargained eagerly.

Lance sighed deeply, pondering the peculiar terms of their friendship. He wondered if he had unwittingly painted himself as a dragon more interested in her offerings than in her companionship. He had never intended for the squid lady to view herself merely as a source of exotic treats. The complexity of their interspecies friendship, while challenging, was something he valued beyond mere exchanges of quirky gifts.

He gracefully waved his right hand toward the hovering black dragon statue, directing the projection onto the bustling street across from the café. The one-way transparent glass allowed the squid girl in the projection to observe the lively human activity: people mingling, savoring drinks, desserts, and various street foods. She could also glimpse the baby dragons, so preoccupied they couldn't even pause for a sip of freshly squeezed juice.

The characters of Joanna, Louis, Dalton, and Bazel, meanwhile, seemed delectably intriguing to the squid girl.

"Do you think the human world, as seen from this small corner, rivals the vibrant, colorful depths of the sea?" he asked. "Now that you've glimpsed the human world I spoke of, do you still wish to explore it yourself?"

The wonders of the deep sea, he reflected, were no less dazzling than the most glamorous human cities, perhaps even surpassing them in splendor. Yet, not every creature could appreciate the deep sea's beauty,bits allure was lost even on the king of the mermaid kingdom, reserved only for the most formidable sea monsters who dared venture beyond the shallow mermaid territories.

"I plan to show the young dragon the mesmerizing scenery of the deep sea soon," he continued, "to broaden her perspective and remind her that breathtaking sights exist beyond the human realm. Some vistas are so serene they could make any intelligent being momentarily forget their troubles and lose themselves in the beauty."

"Once we've indulged her curiosity about the human world, I'll take her to places that exist only in the wildest human imaginations."

The squid girl, however, was still captivated by the scene before her. "Look at all these adorable little humans! Black Dragon, when you return, I must visit the human world. I dream of holding these cute little people with the suction cups on my tentacles."

"If you approach humans like that, you'll find yourself on a barbecue grill within a day," he warned humorously, trying to inject a sense of caution.

"Then, how should I interact in the human world?"

"Follow the young dragon's example: engage in commerce, sell things, make a living."

"What should I sell? Perhaps my legs?"

He paused, the suggestion catching him off guard, and managed only a strained smile in response.

Her curiosity and naiveté about the human world amused him, yet it underscored the vast cultural chasm she needed to bridge before she could safely navigate it.