When Johnathan reached the Mermaid Kingdom, the First Sea Power Battle had reached its end. The mermaids had been defeated at sea. When Johnathan arrived at the dock, he saw countless blackened warships and groups of wounded soldiers. It seemed as though dark clouds covered the sky of Plunburg.
Johnathan journeyed through the kingdom any trouble thanks to Marina Bossa’s principal badge, but many citizens glared at him with hatred and fear as he passed.
Humans had taken their ships, declared war on them, enslaved and traded their brothers and sisters, and turned the peaceful Mermaid Kingdom into chaos. After the battle, the mermaid’s dislike of humans had grown to a fuming hatred.
Johnathan crossed more than half of the Swirl Continent and headed to the capital city of Adara. It was his first time visiting the Mermaid Kingdom. Johnathan was a key founder of nautical age as well as a legend in the shipbuilding industry. Since his trip to the Yalan Continent, however, he had not traveled across the sea.
The Mermaid Kingdom was quite similar to the Sean City-State Alliance. Its influence could be seen in many aspects; architectural style, art, language, and politics.
“Look at that statue! It looks like the style of master Bren!” said a man in Johnathan’s crew. “It feels like coming home!”
“Of course, at home, we are welcomed by cheers,” refuted another crew member. “Here all we get is cold water and cold eyes!”
There was a lot of discussion among Johnathan’s delegation along the way. Despite the pressure and hatred, they arrived at the city of Adara without any problems.
Giant water channels could be seen everywhere in the city. Waterfalls and rivers flowed down from the top, and buildings and houses were built around them. Mermaids and Koutao sahagins came and went.
On top of the water city of Adara was the royal palace. Fountains and bridges stood in the center. Enormous Caryatids and Atlantes stood on the side, simple but magnificent. Rows of Koutao sahagins guarded the gates. Jonathan walked through an archway.
He met the Mermaid Queen Gina, who was no longer the girl once she was. Johnathan understood, Marina wasn’t either.
They were once innocent girls, naïve and young, but now their paths were changed. One had become the legendary alchemy warlock and headmaster of the Akkad Alchemy College, and the other the Queen of the Mermaid Kingdom who brought hope to her people.
Jonathan was not an emissary of the Sean City-State Alliance, but he was there on behalf of the legendary alchemy warlock, Marina Bossa. He passed the letter to Gina once the music and ceremony had ended.
Queen Gina sat on the throne with her crown on her head. She opened the letter, read it, and then closed her beautiful blue eyes gently as if she was recalling a distant, more pleasant memory.
After a long while, she moved her hand from her forehead as if she’d just traveled back to reality. She sighed.
“What else did she say?” she asked Johnathan.
“She said she was sorry,” he replied sincerely.
The queen laughed quietly but her voice was tinged with sadness.
“It is as she once told me. I am a mermaid, and she is human. I belong to the Mermaid Kingdom and she belongs to the Sean City-State Alliance. Nothing can change that.”
Gina waved her hand and to send Jonathan away. He hesitated, and then his eyes filled with determination.
“Queen Gina,” he said. “I may have an idea which could help you resolve this crisis!”
Gina looked at Jonathan and laughed once again.
“The Sean City-State Alliance is at war with us, and you wish to help us resolve our crisis?”
“The Sean City-State Alliance speaks for the Sean City-State Alliance. I speak for myself. Of course, I wish for generous rewards!”
“Tell me about your idea.”
“The Barast Isles!”
—
The Barast Isles held the entrance to the Sea of Storms. They consisted of a dozen islands both large and small. It was the territory of the Adventurers’ Business Alliance and was once the home of pirates.
About a dozen years ago, the mad warlock Isaac had taken over. Isaac owned a huge fleet and an alchemy tower, and many alchemy warlocks followed him. More importantly, he could control the alchemy sea monster, Hellem.
With this gigantic sea monster and its godly powers, the mad warlock Isaac ruled the sea. He was called the Ruler of the Sea of Storms and the Pirate King.
The fleets of the human kingdoms could not do anything to stop him and ended up signing an agreement that made him the ruler of the Barast Isles, the natural hub of the Sea of Storms.
The Sea Power Battle had gone smoothly for humanity because the Barast Isles had been established as bridgeheads. Massive amounts of supplies and soldiers were sent there. Fleets were restocked and repaired there. Armies rested there. The Barast Isles were key.
All parties gathered in the Barast Isles. Pirates, soldiers, alchemy warlocks, priests and wizards. Even some saints from the dark side were there. Countless ships anchored off the bay on the main island. The City of Adventures, also known as the City of Pirates, was illuminated by revelry throughout the night.
The victory of the Sea Power Battle brought euphoria and joy to everyone. Sailors, officers, mates, and saints who’d participated in the battle were now gathered in the Bistro of Blood and Romance in the City of Adventures. Buckets of alcohol were brought to the tables. Mesmerizing music, shouting, laughter, and the sound of gold coins dropping on tables filled the bistro.
All the shops inside the city were packed. The Bistro of Blood and Romance was the biggest and most famous venue in the city. Its name had traveled across the sea, to the ears on Alan Continent.
“Now that we’ve defeated the Mermaid Kingdom, we will have an unimaginable fortune!” shouted many happy soldiers.
“Thanks to queen Monar!”
“And King Hubert!”
At this moment, the drunk, one-eyed, mad warlock Isaac stood high and made an introduction to everyone around him.
“I present to you with great honor, my brother, Jonathan Brown!” he yelled.
Isaac put his arm around Jonathan’s shoulder. All his people cheered and stomped their feet. They were rowdy like pirates.
“I believe everyone has heard his name. He is Jonathan Brown, the man who opened the new channel, the patriarch of the Brown family, and the favorite student of my teacher Marina Bossa! Let us give him a great welcome!”
The bistro burst into cheers. Jonathan Brown was a big name in the Sean City-State Alliance, and an even bigger one at sea.