Headed by a Snake

[Is that so?] Atlantea bowed her head, [Would you accept my gratitude? It pains me... but you should be treated as heroes amongst the Amphitrite Reef Tribe. The treatment you have endured thus far...]

"--is incredibly insulting," Tycondrius agreed.

The bluntness shocked Krysaos back to reality, "Whoa. Hold on. It ain't so bad."

Tycon groaned in frustration, "The sahuagin have literally pointed weapons at us, every step-- every... ilm swum..."

"Take your time, LT."

Tycon chose to change the subject, "Atlantea... your people seem to have amassed a great deal of resources to be armed so... thoroughly."

The enchanted arms and sturdy sets of armor wielded by the Amphitrite Reef Tribe were similar in strength and quality to that of Guild Letalis Serpentia... and in a much larger scale.

Besides a powerful military force, the settlement had displayed great wealth with their trade districts and the sheer amount of sentients loitering the waterways.

The crew of the Neptune's Revenge deserved some sort of compensation... in military equipment or valuable goods. If Krysaos was too distracted by Atlantea's shapely breasts to lobby for it, then Tycon would do so as a matter of principle.

...It was also possible that the Coral Boys would not request a substantial share of loot, as they saw combat as its own reward. Any financial gain they would forfeit could go towards repairing their ramshackle ship... or strengthening it against the crew's antics.

Atlantea grimaced as she crossed her arms... to Krysaos' disappointment.

[The Amphitrite Reef Tribe prepares for war... Perhaps they have heard the Sea God's whispers louder than that of other gods?]

...That was logical. Underwater, there was certainly more... sea than there were lakes.

Tycon placed his good arm behind his head, rubbing on his neck, "I'd imagine wars are as commonplace here as they are on the surface."

The Oracle pursed her lips as she folded her hands together... [And if this one told you... that my tribe prepares to war against the surface kingdoms?]

"Psh, fat chance o' that," Krysaos scoffed. "The Eastern Kingdoms are pretty well defended."

"The Eastern *States* are a confederacy, Brother-Captain," Tycon corrected.

"It's a democracy, ain't it?" Krysaos furrowed his brows.

"The nation is composed of several allied city-states," Tycon explained. "It is a confederacy."

"But... everyone gets a vote? And... everyone over there always talks about freedom o' speech?"

All of the Eastern State cities have adopted a similar election system for their leaders... but each was still beholden to their own esoteric laws.

...but why was Krysaos even arguing with him?

Tycon twisted his lips to the side, "Aren't you from the Holy Country, Krysaos?"

"YEAH!!" Krysaos placed a fist into an open palm, "You guys can attack the Kingdom of Tyrion!"

[Is Tyrion not a theocracy?] Atlantea hummed, [A nation led by the Church of the Eternal Flame?]

"Oh? You're well informed, Atlantea," Tycon nodded with a smile.

[Is that... praise, Outsider?] The mermaid girl averted her gaze, her cheeks reddening slightly.

"Intelligence is a quality I find attractive," Tycon admitted.

"WHATEVER!!" Krysaos swam between him and Atlantea, "I live by the law of the open sea!"

"Such a thing is an oxymoron," Tycon rolled his eyes.

"You're an oxymoron," Krysaos shot back.

Atlantea swam beside the two of them, again creating an even triangle.

[The Sea God seeks to recover the Swords of the Forgotten King... but for what reason? This one... is uncertain... afraid of the dangers the artifact may bring.]

Tycon pursed his lips. The swords did have a great power to them... and could be utilized to great effect by whatever potential enemy knew their secrets.

In the Holy Country, he had used the Frost Stone to empower Athena Vanzano. The Sons of Qotal had used the very same relic to raise their own army of caster Classes.

Most recently, the Black Crow Pirates had blackmailed Atlantea's tribe with the Aqua Lizard Idol-- and it seemed she was reluctant to allow her people to hold the same power with the Elven artifacts.

"You would act against your people, Atlantea?" Tycon asked.

The woman lazily drifted backward, her body facing the temple ceiling. With her gentle breathing and the gills on her neck opening and closing, so too did her bosom rise and fall... [I follow the Goddess of the Lake... If there is to be war... many lives will be lost.]

Tycon closed his eyes in thought... "Indeed, such casualties are inevitable... on either side."

[How much pain would be had?] Atlantea asked, [Women losing their husbands... Children without fathers?]

Tycon furrowed his brows... "Are females not allied to join the military?"

"I think she's being dramatic, guy," Krysaos offered.

"It's foolish to recruit combatants from only half the population," Tycon rolled his eyes.

"Becky's a girl," Krysaos argued. "Don't worry about it, LT."

[I might have been exaggerating... just a little?] Atlantea offered shyly.

"...Very well," Tycon averted his gaze. "Carry on."

The Oracle clapped her hands together as she whispered a prayer. Then, upon twisting her palms and pulling them apart, she formed a whirling mana-sword that lit the room in a silvery blue glow.

The ability was remarkably similar to Mina's process of creating a mana-weapon, though Atlantea was considerably less skilled at it.

All at once, the mana in the sword dissipated... and as the blue glow faded, a hexagonal opening appeared in the stone flooring.

It was a room hidden away from Atlantea's sahuagin peers.

Clever.

He liked that.

Tycon and Krysaos tacitly followed her as she swam below.

...

The secret room was dimly lit by phosphorescent moss covering the walls, a phenomenon seemingly in abundant supply in the depths.

Tycon pursed his lips as he gestured, "This is..."

"An oyster," Krysaos answered... "A big one, but uh... not really an... outside... thing."

[Have you considered... that what you seek may be safely hidden inside?] Atlantea fluttered her eyelashes.

"Hot mermaid girl?" Krysaos asked. "I've seen a painting of this before! It's a thing."

Atlantea crossed her arms.

"A half-decent meal?" Tycon chuckled. "And perhaps the company of a beautiful woman for a spell."

He had been trying to remain professional, but in Atlantea's temple and with the Oracle's presence, the duo were safe enough that humor seemed permissible.

[Perhaps that can be arranged?] Atlantea fiddled with a lock of her hair, smiling shyly.