Takumi and Enel were unaffected by the earlier scene, but for Cathy, seeing such brutal violence for the first time left her terrified. Her pupils constricted, her body trembling uncontrollably, and her gaze towards Takumi and Enel now held a hint of fear.
Takumi gave Enel a look.
Enel lazily summoned a small bolt of lightning, easily severing the ropes that bound Cathy.
Once freed, Cathy tore the cloth from her mouth, covering her face with one hand. She looked at the fried fish-men in horror before cautiously approaching Takumi and Enel.
"Th-thank you," Cathy said, her face pale.
Just as she said this, a boat surrounded by a bubble and pulled by a massive eel appeared in their line of sight.
"That's… the Royal Army's boat!" Cathy exclaimed.
"These guys are the Royal Army?" Enel smirked. "They always come just in time after Thunder God has taken care of everything. Their timing is truly impeccable."
Takumi turned his attention to the Royal Army's boat, immediately recognizing the figure standing atop the giant fish's head. A male merman with a blue wave hairstyle, pointed teeth like a shark, and a golden trident in his hand—Shark Prince, the eldest son of the Ryugu Kingdom.
This guy was Shark Prince, the crown prince of the Fish-Man Island's Ryugu Kingdom. His personality was just as his looks suggested—upright, composed, and dependable. He was a prince with a good sense of responsibility.
Upon seeing Shark Prince, Cathy's face regained some color, and she enthusiastically waved her hand. "Oh, it's Prince Shark! Are you here to save me?"
"Prince?" Enel scoffed, looking at Shark Prince, clearly dissatisfied. "This is the prince? And he looks like this?"
Shark Prince had initially been on his way to Waterwheel Town on royal duty when he heard about some innocent mermaids being abducted by rogue fish-men. Determined to take action personally, he had rushed over, only to find three electrocuted fish-men, a bunch of untied ropes, and removed gag cloths.
Shark Prince quickly grasped the situation.
He jumped down from the head of the giant fish and strode confidently toward Takumi's group. His first words were directed to Cathy: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, really! They saved me!" Cathy nodded energetically.
Shark Prince then turned to Takumi and Enel, bowing slightly. "Thank you for coming to her aid."
"That's it?" Enel scoffed. "Just a verbal thank-you?"
Shark Prince blinked, clearly taken aback. He hadn't expected this reaction. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "How would you like me to thank you?"
Enel chuckled. "Do we need to spell it out for you? Honestly, no sincerity at all. I overestimated you, 'Prince.'"
"Thunder God?" Shark Prince frowned thoughtfully, finding the title familiar but unable to place it.
"What, do you have a problem?" Enel challenged.
"No, not at all…" Shark Prince replied. He was a fairly easygoing person and understood his duty to honor those who protected the kingdom's citizens. "How about this—I treat you both to dinner?"
"Just one meal?" Enel grumbled, ready to push for more.
Takumi cut him off, casually replying, "Alright."
Enel looked at Takumi, surprised. "When did you become so generous?"
Takumi glanced at him with a grin. "You have a problem with that?"
Enel's forehead broke out in a sweat. "N-no, no problem."
Takumi turned back to Shark Prince. "I'll decide where and what we eat."
Shark Prince frowned slightly.
Seeing the tension in the air, Cathy tried to ease the situation with an awkward laugh. "My saviors, please allow me to treat you instead—the Prince has many responsibilities…"
"What? Regretting your earlier words already?" Takumi chuckled.
Shark Prince sighed, raising a hand in placation. "I said it, and I'll keep my word. Alright then, tell me what you want to eat and where."
"I want to have a meal at the Ryugu Palace," Takumi said without hesitation. "You can decide what to serve."
Takumi's statement shocked both Cathy and Shark Prince.
Enel laughed heartily. "As expected from my captain—only a place as grand as Ryugu Palace could be worthy of serving Thunder God."
"Uh, Prince, I'm really sorry," Cathy quickly tried to smooth things over. "They just arrived today and don't really understand the customs here. The Ryugu Palace isn't a place that just anyone can visit—please, my saviors, let me treat you instead. I'll do my best to make sure you're satisfied."
"What are you doing?" Enel snapped. "My captain already made it clear—it's not up to you to decide what we do. So just keep quiet, alright?"
Cathy's eyes welled up, and she bit her lip, looking like she was about to cry.
Shark Prince paused, contemplating, then asked, "How about this—if not today, how about tomorrow at noon?"
"Fine," Takumi replied indifferently. "You come find me tomorrow."
Shark Prince nodded. "Alright, let's meet here tomorrow at noon. I'll take care of those fish-men's bodies."
He gestured to his guards on the boat, and the merman soldiers disembarked to carry away the charred fish-men bodies.
"I have to continue to Waterwheel Town, so I won't stay long. See you tomorrow."
With a nod from Takumi, Shark Prince turned and, with the aid of his bubble flotation device, gracefully returned to his giant fish, sailing away.
After Shark Prince left, Enel couldn't contain his laughter. "Captain, you're amazing! Even the prince has to do as you say. Hahaha!"
Takumi simply looked at him.
Cathy sighed softly. "The prince actually agreed… Well, as long as he didn't get angry, I suppose it's alright."
After a moment, she suggested, "I haven't bought the groceries yet, but Coral Hill is nearby. Let's go there to pick up some ingredients. Oh, and there's a lovely little café there. Why don't I treat you to some coffee? The owner is famous for her fortune-telling—it's almost always accurate. If she's in a good mood, she might even do a free reading for you!"
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