The grand hall of the merfolk palace was deep and cold, illuminated by the eerie blue glow of coral lamps that cast shifting reflections on the shell-tiled floor. Dan walked at the front, his expression calm, even carrying a hint of nonchalance. Luna and Leo followed closely behind him, their movements deliberately slow, but in their hearts, they had already prepared for the worst.
At the center of the palace, upon a raised throne, sat a regal merfolk woman. She wore a deep blue robe, and her long silver hair drifted gently with the currents. A crystalline ornament on her forehead shimmered with a soft glow. Though her face showed no overt anger, her sharp gaze carried an undeniable authority.
Dan stopped several meters away from the throne and bowed slightly. “Greetings, Chieftain.”
Th
