Chapter 64: Go Die, Player 6

Right, that's how protagonists are—fearless and reckless, protected by plot armor anyway.

Walking up to the throne, Xining smiled faintly. "Brother, settle in first. Once you change into the attire, sit here and give it a try. Vulko, my royal advisor, will teach you how to be a good king."

"Come, help my brother change." After giving the order, Xining left.

Through the surveillance monitors, Xining watched as Arthur put on the glittering golden armor and actually took his seat upon the throne, looking every bit the dashing and lofty monarch.

Vulko found it all utterly incomprehensible. Why had Orm suddenly brought up abdication and warned Arthur to be careful, yet made no mention of waging war against humankind?

Happy now?

Surprised? Shocked? Delighted?

Hehe, this is just the beginning. Soon, I'll make you even more comfortable... Xining issued the command to prepare a grand feast to entertain Arthur.

Seated at the head of the table, Arthur looked somewhat out of sorts in his gleaming golden armor.

Opposite him in the guest seat, Xining wore simple, casual clothes, appearing far more at ease. "Brother, rest easy here and apply yourself to learning the art of statecraft. Should anyone dare raise an objection, I still have the power to shut their mouths!"

Xining then reminded Vulko, who was keeping them company, "Aside from managing the waste disposal crews, you must instruct him thoroughly. Do not let an abundance of refuse cause you to neglect my brother."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Vulko, of course, was ecstatic. For years, he had dreamed of how to put Arthur on the throne; yet now that reality had shifted so abruptly, he still felt as though he were dreaming, though a lingering suspicion remained that this might be one of Orm's traps.

"Is there really that much garbage?" Arthur asked.

Xining remained silent, merely turning her head to look out the window.

Just past the transparent window, crafted from high-strength oceanic crystal, a white styrofoam takeout container drifted lazily by.

Xining had attendants play a documentary on marine pollution obtained from human environmental protection organizations, earnestly inviting Arthur to continue his meal as the footage rolled.

Dishes were served one after another. Looking at the vast array of seafood—raw seafood—Arthur was dumbfounded.

"Brother, please partake. If there is anything else you desire, just name it. I would gladly have my own mount slaughtered and sliced up to be served to you. Similarly, should you wish for shark fin, Vulko would surely be willing to sacrifice his mount as well." Xining's attitude was exceptionally gracious, offering the throne and whatever else he wished.

Arthur used a fork to spear a slice of raw fish, popped it into his mouth, chewed twice, and forced himself to swallow. "Is this what you eat every day?"

"Of course! As king, one naturally dines quite well." Xining broke into a wide grin. "The ocean is simply overflowing with seafood."

Yet it was all raw! Arthur was not entirely foolish; he quickly realized that since there was no fire in the ocean, they had no choice but to eat everything raw.

Xining adopted the contented expression of a family member reunited. "How wonderful that you could come, Brother, to take my place for a few days. As king, one must be diligent and conscientious every single moment, never daring to leave the ocean and the kingdom. I've been longing for a vacation—to bask in the sun, enjoy beer and barbecue, frequent bars, and live like a land-dweller for a few days. I leave everything here in your capable hands. Don't worry, Vulko will guide you."

Arthur stared blankly for a moment. "I don't want to inherit the throne."

*I know you don't want to inherit it. I heard that more than ten times in my past life, and yet in the end, you still seized the throne and became the Ocean Master.*

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xining's expression dropped instantly as she deliberately reprimanded him. "As the eldest son of the former Queen of Atlantis, how can you be so irresponsible? This throne is yours to claim. Even if you don't intend to keep it, you must at least try running things for a few days. How will you ever know if you're fit to be king if you don't try?"

Vulko parted his thin, wide mouth slightly, entirely at a loss for the situation. Had the sea gods manifested and fried King Orm's brains?

Well, he would just have to try it out. Arthur had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree. Xining's expression softened instantly, returning to a smiling countenance.

Looking at the table full of raw delicacies, Arthur asked with difficulty, "Do you have any alcohol?" Strong spirits might help him choke these things down.

Xining turned to look at Vulko, who could only reply, "It is impossible to consume alcohol in the sea."

Wonderful. Prohibition it was, then.

No leaving the ocean, no drinking, no visiting bars... Let's see how long you can last! Thus, in the original plot, although Arthur ultimately became the Ocean Master, he steadfastly refused to rule Atlantis, preferring instead to remain on land—drinking, frequenting pubs, and basking in the god-like reverence of the local fishermen.

At that moment, a guard rushed in to report that a tsunami had struck the land.

Arthur immediately leaped to his feet in alarm.

"Brother!" Xining's stern gaze checked Arthur in his tracks before she turned to the messenger. "What of the lighthouse keeper on the shore?"

The guard replied, "Princess Mera rescued him. He is unharmed."

Hearing that his father was safe, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down.

Vulko frowned slightly. He lost his composure at the first sign of a major crisis—how could such a man ever rule as a monarch?

Only then did Xining ask calmly, "Who caused the tsunami?" The host had been keeping Arthur company all afternoon, so naturally, she couldn't admit to being the culprit herself.

The guard answered, "It was His Majesty Nereus of the Kingdom of Xebel."

If the host hadn't done it, Nereus simply couldn't restrain himself anymore.

Xining remained unfazed. "Is not His Majesty Nereus Princess Mera's father?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Very well, I understand. You may withdraw." Xining smiled inwardly.

Turning back to Arthur, she said, "How could His Majesty Nereus do such a thing? He has been incessantly urging me to rally our forces for war, and now he unleashes a tsunami, plunging countless lives into misery. Who knows how many will perish this time? Fortunately, Mera rescued your father."

Arthur's expression turned decidedly grim. After all, he was the male lead—half-human, filled with a universal love for humanity on land.

Xining sat quietly, granting Arthur ample time to reflect. At this point, Arthur did not yet know Mera's name; they had merely crossed paths without a formal introduction. With Mera's father having unleashed a tsunami, how could he possibly harbor any romantic sentiments toward the daughter of an enemy?

Breaking the silence a moment later, she added, "Oh, I forgot to mention. Mera is my betrothed. She is exquisitely beautiful, and in time, she will join me in expanding our territories. I intend to grant her the status of queen. So, Brother, rest easy. As long as you apply yourself and govern as a responsible, capable king, it will justify my relinquishing the throne to you!"

Once again, Arthur protested, "I do not wish to be King of Atlantis."

Hearing him say he didn't want it now, Xining was half-inclined to believe him—all his previous refusals had been pure hot air!

Feigning deafness to his words, Xining maintained her beaming smile. "Brother will surely prove to be a responsible and wise sovereign. Do your best!"

Vulko was utterly speechless. What kind of situation was this? Could anyone explain what was happening? Even he, the wise counselor, could no longer fathom what King Orm was plotting. Having accompanied him for so many years, he had always held every move of King Orm's in the palm of his hand; yet now that things were unfolding precisely as desired, he found himself almost unable to believe it.

Finally, Arthur could hold back no longer. "But I heard you want to wage war on humanity!"

"Where did you hear such a thing, Brother?" Xining asked with a gentle smile, though her eyes drifted toward Vulko.

Vulko immediately chimed in, "His Majesty has no intention of waging war. Where on earth did you hear that?"

*Naturally, from that red-haired, busty, wasp-waisted, long-legged little green-suited bitch!*