Finding Lindley

Angus's remarkable research skills played an indispensable role.

"The royal and the mermaid seem to have a deep connection, according to what we've discovered," Angus explained. "The current King is believed to be the son of the Queen of Estoc, but I've come across some inconsistencies in the information."

"What kind of inconsistencies are you referring to?" Ophelia asked as she sat beside Angus, examining the printed information.

"The age," Angus pointed to a specific section. "The King was supposedly born just ten years ago, on the same date that the Pearl went missing."

Ophelia gazed at the portraits of the King. There was an air of regal grace about him that demanded attention from everyone around him. His strong jawline and well-defined features were framed by a cascade of rich, chestnut hair that fell in gentle waves. His eyes, as profound and enigmatic as the ocean, held a mixture of wisdom and authority. His royal attire only accentuated his innate charisma.

"Why is the King an adult?" Ophelia suddenly realized the inconsistency after being captivated by his appearance. "If he's only ten years old, he should be a child!"

Angus presented several news articles praising the King as the God of the Ocean, claiming that he possessed extraordinary powers from birth that allowed him to mature in just one day.

"A God?" Ophelia stammered. "Dell, an experienced guide from my previous world, warned us that if we were up against a God, we wouldn't stand a chance."

Angus chuckled. "It's certainly questionable whether the King is truly a God." He indicated the section describing the King's personal life. "Why would a God be interested in ruling over a small island? Or in marrying women of diverse backgrounds?"

As Ophelia considered the fact that the King had taken eighteen wives and fathered over fifty children in the span of a decade, her astonishment grew.

"Your first point makes sense, but about the second point..." Ophelia intended to offer a sensible critique, yet a relevant thought crossed her mind. "Hold on, if the King's interest lies in women, could that explain why Irvette and Lindley were captured?"

Angus's eyes lit up. "You're onto something, Ophelia." He continued, "I shared this information about the King with you to suggest that he might be connected to the mermaids. I'm inclined to believe that rather than being the God of the Ocean, he could be linked to the merfolk, having exchanged his merman form for a human one. But you've identified a truly valuable piece of information."

They decided to embark on an adventure within the palace that very night.

---

Mermaid Land Palace.

Two servants who had been returning from town, laden with resources, made their way back to the palace.

Thwack! Thwack!

With Ophelia's control, two nearby waste bins were propelled to strike them forcefully on the back of their heads, rendering them unconscious.

Ophelia and Angus discreetly moved the two servants to a public restroom. A minute later, they emerged wearing the slightly ill-fitting servant uniforms and entered the palace.

"ID?" a guard inquired, examining their photos. "You appear younger than your pictures," he chuckled before allowing them entry.

The first phase was a success.

"The palace is immense. Where should we begin?" After walking for a while, Ophelia felt as if she were navigating a labyrinth.

"We should focus on the areas with the highest security. Those are likely places where the King keeps things he wishes to keep hidden, like women he's acquired through dubious means," Angus suggested.

They remained vigilant, doing their best to avoid encountering others.

As they ventured deeper into the palace, the ambiance shifted noticeably. The air became more humid, heavy with a pressure that unsettled them.

"Human intruders?" a voice resonated, uncannily resembling the handsome young man from the museum. Ophelia could elude human security with her heightened senses, but mermaids, being able to appear without warning, were a different matter.

The individual materialized, exuding a stunning aura while grasping a spear. He immediately lunged at Angus without affording them a chance to explain.

In an instant, Ophelia shoved Angus aside, causing the spear to miss its target. Drawing on her abilities, she envisioned her needles soaring through the air, precisely aimed at the assailant.

Directing ten needles simultaneously proved challenging, yet Ophelia was determined to strike him and unleash a potent attack.

Ophelia's needles streaked through the air, aimed with precision at the mermaid assailant. The needles whizzed toward him, weaving intricate patterns as they closed in on their target. The mermaid's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected assault, and he barely managed to twist his body to avoid a direct hit. One of the needles grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.

Reacting swiftly, the mermaid spun his spear around and thrust it towards Ophelia. She deftly sidestepped the attack, her movements fluid and practiced. In the confined space of the palace corridor, the clash of their abilities was electrifying.

Ophelia didn't relent. She adjusted her mental focus, causing the needles to alter their trajectory mid-air. They swerved and curved, converging on the mermaid from multiple angles. He parried some with his spear, but others found their mark, leaving shallow cuts on his arms and torso.

The mermaid warrior was skilled and agile. He twirled and leaped, his movements akin to a dancer engaged in a deadly performance. With a flick of his tail, he propelled himself off the ground and somersaulted, evading a particularly close needle that would have struck his chest.

Ophelia seized the opportunity, channeling her power into the needles still in flight. As if guided by an unseen force, they homed in on the mermaid's every evasion, a relentless barrage that left him with fewer avenues of escape. He managed to deflect most of them, but a couple pierced his side and shoulder.

Growling in pain and frustration, the mermaid warrior responded with a surge of his own power. Water seemed to gather around him, forming a protective barrier that repelled the incoming needles. His eyes glowed with determination as he launched a counterattack.

Water whirled around him, solidifying into sharp icicle-like projectiles. He shot them towards Ophelia, who had to dance nimbly to avoid being impaled. The icicles embedded themselves in the palace walls, leaving behind a glimmering frost.

Ophelia knew she needed to end this swiftly. She concentrated, focusing on the needles embedded in the mermaid's body. With a mental command, she activated them, causing them to emit a brilliant light. The mermaid's eyes widened as the light intensified, momentarily blinding him.

Seizing the advantage, Ophelia launched a final onslaught. She controlled the glowing needles to converge on the mermaid, each one finding a mark despite his desperate attempts to defend himself. The needles pulsed with energy upon contact, sending shockwaves through the mermaid's form.

With a cry of defeat, the mermaid warrior collapsed to the ground, his shimmering form dissipating into the air like mist. The corridor fell silent once more, the residue of their battle lingering in the air.

Breathing heavily, Ophelia approached where the mermaid had been. Her needles had proven their effectiveness, and she marveled at the outcome of the confrontation.

Angus finally bore witness to the full power that Ophelia had introduced to him in the preparation room. It exceeded his wildest expectations, fueling his determination to acquire his own abilities. 

Nevertheless, he couldn't shake his concern about potential hidden requirements for unleashing this power, especially in dire situations where failure to do so might result in death.

The scant information provided by Ophelia didn't offer sufficient insight into the process of unleashing this power. The only deduction he could make was that an unwavering determination to survive served as the key.

As they delved deeper into the palace, they encountered several other mermaids. Drawing from her prior experiences, Ophelia grew increasingly adept at defeating them.

These mermaids primarily employed the power of water and their spears for attacks, but Ophelia's needles proved more than capable of penetrating their defenses and inflicting damage.

Upon arriving at an underground dungeon, the sound of women's cries reached Ophelia's ears.

"It appears we've found our destination," Ophelia remarked to Angus.

Two mermaid guards stood vigil by the entrance.

"Two of them..." Ophelia weighed her odds of success carefully.

Angus devised a plan. "I'll lure one of them away from here, leaving you to deal with the other."

Ophelia hesitated. "But the mermaids are significantly stronger than you. It's too risky for you to face one alone."

"I won't engage them directly, don't worry," Angus assured her. Swiftly, he grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it to a spot opposite to them.

"Who's there?" one of the mermaids immediately tensed, her gaze fixed on the source of the sound. Cautiously, she moved toward the distraction Angus had created. He flung another stone, this time farther away, successfully pulling her attention even further.

Witnessing Angus's simple yet effective strategy, Ophelia swiftly employed a similar tactic against the remaining mermaid using her needles. With growing familiarity with her weapon, she subdued this mermaid before he comprehended the situation, rendering him unconscious.

As the mermaid who had been lured away returned, she grew alarmed upon seeing her comrade sprawled on the floor. Ophelia aimed her needles, but the alerted mermaid's quick reflexes allowed her to evade Ophelia's initial shots, causing them to miss their mark several times.

Taken aback, the room's door swung open abruptly. In an unexpected turn, a blade hurtled through the air, impaling the chest of the mermaid who had been preoccupied with evading Ophelia's assault.

The perpetrator was none other than Lindley.