Adzima pov
We all gathered in the hologram room after a short break to discuss the next person.
Adzima:"So, where to next?"
Falco:"Atlantis"
We were all surprised when we heard that name, so Anjas asked Falco.
Anjas:"Atlantis? Isn't that a fairy tale? Don't tell me you believe it"
Falco:"Atlantis is real, Anjas"
Aditya:"Even if the kingdom exists, it must be located at the bottom of the sea"
Falco:"Right"
Adzima:"So, how do we go to the places located in the depths of the sea?
Falco:"Come with me"
Falco then took us to his garage, but this time we didn't go to the car but to the room under the car garage, which apparently contained various types of water vehicles such as jet skis, boats, ships, and even submarines. We were all dumbfounded since we were so taken aback by this.
Fian:"Mate, who are you?..... Really"
Fian:"I bet you also have aeroplanes here"
Falco:"Yes, upstairs"
After hearing it, we all became silent once again.
Fian:"You know what? Nevermind, I won't ask anything else"
We then boarded the submarine and set sail for the mythical kingdom of Atlantis.
Only Fian, Aditya, Ina, and Qori joined me and Falco this time. Others, in the meantime, did not participate for a variety of reasons, including a dislike of confined spaces such as submarines, a dislike of being under water, and an inability to swim. When we got around the Indian Ocean, I looked at the coordinates of Atlantis on the hologram map behind the Helmsman's chairs. Because the distance was still quite far, I decided to gaze out the window to indulge myself in the underwater scenery, because it's not every day that I get to witness something like this.
Falco then appeared beside me and spoke to me.
Falco:"Charming, isn't it?"
Adzima:"Truly"
Falco:"Mother Nature truly is beautiful, but humans always pollute it and destroy it without a single care"
Adzima:"Not all humans are bad, you know"
Falco:"Yes, but the bad guys always manage to gain power and authority, forcing the good guys to do nothing"
Adzima:"Do you hate the humankind?"
Falco:"Yes"
To be honest, what he stated confused me because it was the polar opposite of what he did.
Adzima:"Then, why are you trying so hard to save it?"
Falco:"Because it is my responsibility and my atonement for what I have done"
Adzima:"What do you mean?"
Falco remained silent and didn't respond to my question. I then realised something.
Adzima:"Wait, who's driving the submarine if you're here?"
Falco:"Relax, princess, I have it set to autodrive"
We then heard Qori scold Fian and Aditya.
Qori:"Fian, Aditya, don't you dare touch anything"
Fian:"What do you mean, Qori? I don't even want to do anything"
Aditya:"Neither do I"
Qori:"I know that look you two, you are planning something stupid, aren't you?"
We then approached them to see what they were doing, and we noticed that Aditya and Fian appeared to want to do something.
Qori:"Adzima, good timing! Can you help me stop them?"
Adzima:"What did they do this time?"
Falco:"Let me guess, they were planning to do something to the torpedo, weren't they?"
Fian was shocked to hear Falco's guess, which caused Fian to unintentionally reveal his and Aditya's plans.
Fian:"Wait, how do you know?"
Aditya:"Fian!"
Fian:"Ah, shit"
Qori:"So, I'm right, I don't want to sink to the bottom of the sea, so you idiots better not do something stupid! Or else...."
When Fian and Aditya heard Qori's threat, they both quickly nodded and were very terrified. We soon heard the sound of sirens. Qori and Ina glared at Fian and Aditya because they thought Fian and Aditya had done something, while Fian and Aditya solely shook their heads in confusion and panic, sweating profusely. I then looked at Falco, who immediately calmed everyone down.
Falco:"Guys, relax. The siren indicates that we are getting close to Atlantis"
Falco then escorted us to the wheelhouse to see the view of Atlantis.
The entrance to Atlantis is an underwater waterfall, and after going over it, we were presented with a breathtaking view of the underwater kingdom.
At first, I assumed that even if Atlantis existed, it was merely a ruined kingdom, but what I saw was a kingdom with sophisticated technology that was very different from the technology on the surface. And, despite being in the depths of the ocean, the place is not dark because of the lighting from various types of coral and algae, which emit various types of light in various colours, giving the kingdom the appearance of a city at night.
Falco:"Welcome to the Atlantis"
All:"Woah"
Falco then docked his submarine at one of the piers near what appeared to be a palace. As we prepared at the rear of the submarine, Falco gave each of us an uniquely designed mask.
Falco:"Here, this will help you breathe underwater"
Adzima:"What is this?"
Falco:"Oxygen mask"
Aditya:"What about the oxygen tanks and other diving necessities?"
Falco:"This mask draws oxygen directly from seawater, so we don't need heavy stuff like oxygen tanks"
Falco:"If you're worried about getting your clothes wet, don't be, this mask will also produce a thin, invisible layer that will protect your body from the water while also keeping you warm"
After hearing the explanation, we put on the mask and activated it right away. Falco then opened the submarine's rear door, and we all prepared to dive. However, I noticed that Falco wasn't wearing the same mask as us and was wearing his usual black mask instead.
Adzima:"Aren't you going to use the same mask as us?"
Falco:"No, my mask has the same function, princess, and it has even more than that"
As Falco mentioned, when we stepped off the submarine, our clothes weren't wet at all, and even though I felt slightly cold from the water, my body warmth was really maintained.
We were soon welcomed by a group of Atlantean guards who bowed towards us, or perhaps more specifically towards Falco, who stood in front of us.
Atlanteans:"Welcome back to Atlantis, Sir Falco"
Falco:"How many times do I have to remind you that you don't have to bow to me and that you shouldn't address me as sir?"
Atlanteans:"My apologies, it's an old habit"
Falco then observed the guards for a moment before asking.
Falco:"Is something wrong?"
Atlanteans:"Please follow us"
The guards then invited us into the palace, which we followed. When we followed the guards, Ina asked Falco something.
Ina:"So, you've been here before?"
Falco:"A few times, yes"
We noticed a big bubble surrounding the palace like a barrier as we got closer to the palace entrance. I felt that the atmosphere around us changed after passing through the bubble and entering the palace, the guards also quickly put on their water helmets.
Falco:"You can take off your mask, the bubble outside has the same function as the mask, but on a larger scale"
Aditya:"So why are the guards wearing helmets?"
Falco:"Because they can only breathe underwater, just as we can only breathe on land"
Falco:"Only royal-blood Atlanteans can freely breathe both within and outside the water"
We took off our masks and were able to breathe normally, as if we were on shore.
Adzima:'Hmm.... Interesting'
We kept following the guards until we arrived at the throne room. We then noticed a guy and a girl sitting on the room's two thrones. And it turned out that those two people were Dwiyan and Dela, two of our friends. When they saw us, they were surprised, but then they smiled. Falco then quickly asked them a question.
Falco:"Where are Arthur and Mera?"
After hearing it, their smiles disappeared.