As Soon As I Walked In, You Knelt Down For Me? (3/5)

Crash!

The moment Fish-Man Island surfaced, the membrane that shielded it from the depths of the sea fulfilled its final mission. Like a magnificent firework, it shattered with a tremendous explosion!

"What's happening?!"

"Your Majesty, it's terrible! Fish-Man Island has... surfaced!"

"A disaster indeed!"

The entire court of Dragon Palace scrambled to the throne room, reporting to King Neptune in a state of panic. Civil and military officials alike looked as though the weight of the ocean had fallen on their shoulders.

Neptune, equally stricken, rushed to the palace upon hearing the news. He sent scouts immediately to gather more information, and just then, a squad of shrimp soldiers and crab generals burst in, their faces pale as they knelt.

"Your Majesty, it's not good—there's... there's..."

"What is it? Speak quickly!" Neptune barked, his patience fraying.

"Sea Kings, Your Majesty!"

The shrimp soldier drew a deep breath before delivering the dreaded news: "A massive Sea King has carried Fish-Man Island to the surface!"

"Sea Kings?" Neptune's expression froze. "How is that possible? If a Sea King moved the entire island, how did we not feel it?"

The officials were just as baffled. How could such a colossal event go unnoticed?

"Your Majesty! This isn't just any Sea King... it's the legendary one!" the shrimp soldier stammered, trembling as the weight of his words sank in.

"That legend?!"

As merfolk and mermen, they all understood the gravity of the soldier's statement. The ancient emperor of the deep—the creature of legends!

"You mean... the Ancient Emperor Ao?" Neptune's voice shook with disbelief.

Xia Bing, another trembling soldier, confirmed it, though not fully convinced himself. "Y-yes, Your Majesty. We're not completely certain, but all signs point to that being the case..."

A gasp rippled through the throne room.

No wonder they hadn't felt a thing—if it truly was the Ancient Emperor Ao, a creature of such unimaginable size could easily lift Fish-Man Island without causing so much as a tremor.

But why? Why would this legendary being meddle with Fish-Man Island? Did it come to aid them? Or destroy them? The very thought filled everyone with dread.

"Send for Madame Shyarly at the Mermaid Café immediately!" Neptune commanded.

"Yes, quickly! We need Madame Shyarly!" The ministers scrambled to carry out the order, and soon, the famed fortune-teller was brought to the throne room.

Despite her young age of twenty-four, Madame Shyarly was deeply respected, and her title of "Madame" was a sign of that reverence. Neptune, clearly anxious, greeted her.

"Madame Shyarly, I know you've refrained from doing frequent divinations, but Fish-Man Island is in danger. Please, we beg of you..."

"You don't need to say more, Your Majesty," Madame Shyarly interrupted calmly. "Though I vowed to refrain from frequent readings, this is about our island's survival. I will perform the divination."

Producing her crystal ball, she began the ritual. The ball shimmered brightly, growing so intense that no one could look at it directly, save for Shyarly, whose gaze never wavered.

Time seemed to stretch as the throne room waited in breathless silence. At last, the light dimmed, and Shyarly opened her eyes.

"Well? What did you see?!" Neptune's voice cut through the stillness, his nerves on edge.

For a brief moment, a smile of pure joy appeared on Shyarly's face. The officials, noticing her expression, leaned forward in anticipation, their hearts pounding with nervous excitement.

"Your Majesty!" Shyarly exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "Great news!"

"Great news?! What did you see?"

"I saw Fish-Man Island basking in real sunlight, free and safe!"

Neptune leaped from his throne in astonishment. "Truly? But... what about the Ancient Emperor Ao?"

"Your Majesty," Shyarly explained, her voice filled with wonder, "in the vision, the Ancient Emperor Ao carries Fish-Man Island across the Calm Belt. It shields us from human threats, ensuring that we can live under the sun without fear. And even more astounding—the Deep Sea Electric Eel King is following the Emperor Ao, guarding our island like a loyal protector."

The room erupted in shocked gasps. The Deep Sea Electric Eel King? That notorious creature?

"Impossible!" one official shouted. "That monster has terrorized the deep, bullying even the Sea Kings! It has devoured countless merfolk and mermen... and now it's protecting us?"

The officials couldn't shake the absurdity of the situation. It was like a wolf suddenly deciding to guard the flock of sheep.

"Everyone, calm yourselves!" Neptune ordered. "There must be a reason these two deep-sea kings are helping us."

Shyarly nodded. "I saw it clearly, Your Majesty. It's all because of a young man—a human who has somehow gained control over these two kings. He's the one commanding them to help us."

A single name echoed in Shyarly's mind: Finn. The human who had done the impossible.

Neptune was stunned. "Who is this man?"

"I only know his appearance, Your Majesty," Shyarly admitted. "But if I were to see him, I would recognize him instantly. Alas, I fear I may never meet him in person."

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the throne room. In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared before them, moving so quickly it was as if he'd materialized out of thin air.

"Trespassing in Dragon Palace is punishable by death!" cried the guards, swords drawn as they charged at the figure.

But before they could strike, Madame Shyarly's voice rang out, loud and desperate. "STOP!!!"

Her cry stunned everyone into silence. The officials and soldiers turned toward her, confused. Shyarly, breathless with excitement, rushed forward and knelt before the figure, her mermaid tail folding under her as she bowed deeply.

Everyone was in shock. Madame Shyarly, who never even knelt to Neptune, was on her knees, reverent and filled with awe.

Shyarly raised her hands and, with the utmost devotion, asked, "My lord... may I kiss the back of your hand?"

Finn was utterly bewildered by the scene unfolding before him. But then, recognizing Shyarly, he understood.

"You've seen my future, haven't you?" he asked calmly.

"Yes, my lord," Shyarly replied, her voice trembling with awe. "Please forgive me, but it was the only way to protect Fish-Man Island."

"You're forgiven," Finn said, offering his hand. "If you wish to kiss it, go ahead."

Shyarly pressed her lips to the back of his hand, a gesture of pure devotion—a custom rarely seen, where a mermaid pledged herself completely to another.

Finn, unaware of the profound significance of this act, simply smiled and turned to Neptune. "King Neptune, I have come to speak with you... alone."