Princess Shirahoshi suddenly rushed in, looking around at everyone in the great hall with great curiosity.
"Shirahoshi," Queen Otohime called out, her expression full of affection. "Come here to Mother."
"Mother!" Princess Shirahoshi smiled happily and hurried over to her side.
Watching the two of them, King Neptune's expression grew increasingly grave. "Minister of the Left… what exactly is going on?"
"Your Majesty, the sky above Fish-Man Island has suddenly turned pitch black. We have already sent soldiers to investigate."
The Minister of the Right stepped forward, his face etched with worry, and added: "Your Majesty, it is currently two o'clock in the afternoon on the surface world. If this is not a natural occurrence from above, then something must have happened to the Sunlight Tree Eve!"
"How could that happen?" The eldest prince, Fukaboshi, spoke with a heavy tone.
"Our people have lived here since ancient times. The Sunlight Tree has never once failed us. According to historical records, there were only a few eclipses in the past, where darkness lasted for just a few minutes. But this… it has already been more than ten minutes…"
Hearing this, everyone's faces turned pale with concern.
Shirahoshi, sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, stopped smiling and looked up at her mother with confused, wide eyes.
"Could someone have… destroyed the Sunlight Tree?" suggested the second prince, Ryūboshi.
"But that's impossible! It is a colossal existence — Fish-Man Island is like a speck of dust compared to it. Who could possibly damage it?"
"Do you have any other explanation?" asked the third prince, Manboshi, who was not very quick-witted, staring blankly at the others.
Neptune took a deep breath and fell into deep thought.
"Send people to investigate immediately and wait for the report. Whatever the cause, this is a major crisis… one that concerns the survival of our entire civilization…"
Before he could finish his sentence, a figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the hall.
He manifested out of thin air, without any warning or sound — so sudden that no one even reacted at first.
It took a full three seconds before King Neptune's pupils abruptly contracted in recognition.
"Mr. Sea Dragon!"
Over a year ago, Neptune had met the Sea Dragon, and had been forced to pay a heavy price back then.
"I am not the Sea Dragon… I am Vladimir."
Vladimir stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking straight at Neptune. When his eyes fell upon Shirahoshi, he paused slightly, then smiled faintly.
"Princess Shirahoshi… it has been some time."
"Huh? Big Brother… you know me?" Shirahoshi blinked her large, round eyes, full of confusion.
"I know of you, though you do not know me."
Vladimir smiled, then turned his gaze back to Neptune and spoke calmly. "You need not investigate any further. I am the one who took down the Sunlight Tree Eve."
"The Illusory Emperor Vladimir?!"
Neptune was stunned. Although his kingdom lay ten thousand meters beneath the sea, how could he not know the name of Vladimir?
He was the true pinnacle of power in this era!
"Why did you do such a thing?!" Neptune demanded sternly.
"Fish-Man Island has never offended Phantom in any way!"
"That is information you do not need to know."
Vladimir scorned deception and had no desire to explain himself. He spoke plainly.
"However, out of consideration for Princess Shirahoshi, I will not stand idly by and watch you perish. Since I was the one who caused this, I shall give you a chance to save yourselves. There are two options."
"First: I shall move your entire island up ten thousand meters to the surface, turning you into a nation upon the sea. Under the protection and name of Phantom, you will remain safe for one full year."
He paused, then turned his right hand over. Instantly, a dazzling miniature sun appeared in his palm, shining with blinding brilliance.
"Second: I shall create an Artificial Sun for you. It will restore your light. However, this artificial light will not distinguish between day and night, and it can only last for three months… perhaps six months at most."
With a flip of his hand, he made the sun vanish just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Make your choice, Neptune."
...
"Make your choice."
Hearing this declaration, everyone in the hall was frozen in shock.
Move an entire island from ten thousand meters deep up to the surface?
Or… an Artificial Sun?
Either option sounded completely fantastical and impossible. Had these words come from anyone other than the Illusory Emperor Vladimir, no one would have believed even a single word.
Only the young Princess Shirahoshi stood there with her big innocent eyes wide open, unable to comprehend the danger her kingdom was in, nor fully understanding what Vladimir was saying.
Now free from the constant harassment of her unwanted suitor, Vander Decken, she no longer needed to hide away in her isolated tower. For the past year, she had lived a carefree, happy childhood.
Vladimir glanced at her and couldn't help but smile. "Time is limited. I will give you exactly one minute to decide."
"Wait!" Neptune spoke hurriedly. "Lord Vladimir, what you say is simply too unbelievable. I cannot accept this so easily."
"Is that so?" Vladimir remained unmoved. "In other words… you decline both of the options I have offered? If that is the case…"
"No!"
Queen Otohime suddenly interrupted, her voice clear and firm.
"Great and honorable Emperor Vladimir… I believe every word you have said. Though I do not know why you destroyed the tree, I must ask: is there any possibility of repairing it? Can the Sunlight Tree be restored to shine upon us once more?"
Her question hit right at the core of the matter — indeed, Vladimir had considered that possibility as well.
"It cannot be restored," Vladimir replied after a moment of silence, shaking his head.
"Perhaps in a few decades… or even a century, it might grow back. But certainly not now. By the way… thirty seconds remaining."
Queen Otohime looked hesitant. She turned to her husband and said: "Your Majesty… things have come to this. We have no choice but to move Fish-Man Island to the surface."
"Mother!" The eldest prince, Fukaboshi, quickly objected.
"Every year, many of our people — Merfolk and Fish-Men alike — are captured and sold by human traffickers! If we move the island to the surface, things will become extremely dangerous for us!"
A young and beautiful mermaid could fetch an average price of seventy or eighty million Berries on the black market. It was a profit so immense that every force in the underworld coveted it.
Living ten thousand meters deep in the ocean had been their natural protection. Once on the surface, that protection would vanish.
"Fukaboshi…" Queen Otohime sighed softly. "Next year is the time for the Levely. We cannot remain silent or run away forever. We must stand tall and fight for equality for our people. This world should be a place of freedom, free of discrimination. Humans and Fish-Men, humans and Merfolk… we should all be able to live together in peace. This time… this is our first step forward."
Hearing her words, Vladimir chuckled softly as he looked at this idealistic woman.
"Queen Otohime… I have nothing but respect for your ideals. However… I would advise against the first choice. Phantom will protect you for only one year. After that, you will face calamities far greater than you can imagine. Compared to that, the second choice is much more prudent."
An Artificial Sun would grant Fish-Man Island a buffer period of three to six months.
With that amount of time, the Merfolk and Fish-Men could easily find new sources of light — such as glowing pearls or other alternatives.
They wouldn't be as bright as the Sunlight Tree Eve, or even my artificial sun, of course… but at the very least, your island would not be plunged into total darkness, and you could continue to survive.
"One minute has passed."
Finally, Vladimir looked directly at Neptune and asked: "What is your choice?"
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"