Aquinox. The City of Currents, the Pearl of the New World. The Azure Paradise. Or, for some, the Mercantile Kingdom of the Sea. With its numerous waterways where tourists can ride on gondolas within the stone archipelagos. Its architecture is famed worldwide; even its simple stone buildings beside the mossy waterways were considered little works of art amongst the gallery of stony magnificence within the ocean. Its bridges and stone arches decorated the waterways. The wet roads on the bottom of the canal walls and the walkways beside the canals were connected with stairs. The fishes under the crystal-clear sheen of the waterways swam. The sky was always blue, with so few clouds because of the [Fisher King's] Skill, [Edict of Oceanic Tranquility]. Tourists, [Merchants] and locals alike walked on the bridges and roads beside the canals. Goods were brought without complications, aside from [Hagglers] and [Merchants] battling with each other with their wills and Skills. Restaurants dotted the streets, dispersing the scent of good seafood throughout districts, a rarity in many kingdoms of the New World. Good food and drink were served in excess. Stores were always full of customers, with a combination of Skills and untainted quality.

Within the center of the city, the capital district of Aqui, the roads and buildings are hewn out of white and blue marble, and smooth grey granite, and colorful Coralstone, a kind of stone made out of gigantic coral. From the smallest store to the Azure Palace of Aquinox, all of the buildings have sculptures worthy of the fine arts. Luxury stores decorated the streets, a rarity in most kingdoms. The nobility roamed the streets, with their wagons and servants walking hand in hand, flaunting their wealth to the [Merchants] passing by and other lesser nobility like peacocks flaunting their brightly colored feathers to assert dominance. The place emanated opulence, with its marble and granite buildings gilded, lined with gold and silver, and floored with ivorywood and Dalbergia.

Under the islands of Aquinox is an equally beautiful part of the city-state. The underwater city-state of the Seafolk mirrors that of Aquinox, with their own buildings hewn within the foundations of the neighboring city and lit by glowing corals. Seafolk swims instead of walking within the spaces between islands that they call roads, although they can rest on jutting stone platforms from the hewn cities within the island's bottom.

The harbors were packed with roundships, caravels, the junks of the Oriental countries, and the dhows and patches of Lemuria. [Merchant] Ships and Warships from the Republic of Aurum, Rominian Empire, Lainian Empire, Krowanh Khanate, Shura, Amos, Ayzor, and the Sultanate Rhrundi are all packed in the twenty harbors of Aquinox. There are ships from even as far as Azuma, as far as the remaining Dragon Nations of El-Mira, and the League of Coasts of Coastelin. One of the rarest moments was when enemy nations, such as the Ayzorian and Amosian [Warriors], we're on the same harbor, sharing drinks in the taverns in the port.

The blue skies, the mossy canals, the clear waters, the calm waves, the impressive architecture contributed to the serene and calm atmosphere of Aquinox. Indeed, there was no city like it.

The Pearl of the New World was a paradise of the present times, like the City of Wonders of Magnarost, the Undying Megalopolis in Mundoc, the Domain of Thasdrane: the Lotus of the White Lake of the remaining Elves, The Pristine Spheres in the Underworld by the Dullahans and Dwarves, The Infinite Sky Towers of the Harpies of Vabel, The City of Giants of the Helmand Empire, and the Halls of Heroes within the Obscure Ocean. These are the Eight Cities of Wonder of the New World.

But just like every paradise, there are problems.

Namely, housing. In Aquinox, dozens are homeless due to the lack of space. To mitigate this, expansions are being made, but some of the corrupt nobles are still opposed to this due to the lowering of housing prices when it is built. As a result, the expansions were severely delayed. There is political infighting within the Blue Court, which is currently orchestrated by three lords.

Now the opposite of the political struggle is led by the Tenth Prince of Aquinox.

The Tenth Prince slumped on his soft velvet chair, smiling. The day had come for him to claim what is rightfully his.

For years he had been placed last on the throne. He thinks that his step-brother doesn't deserve the throne because he's a bastard child of the royal family. He can’t accept that he is more competent and higher-level than him.

And besides, he's a Seafolk. That's an undeniable fact. For centuries, the Kingdom of Aquinox has been ruled by the true descendants of the [Fisher King], the Humans. And so, he stood up, sipping a golden goblet of wine. A ten-year aged Alcsa, aged in Sweetwood barrels by the finest [Winemakers]. He left the Alscan grape stems on his silver platter and placed the goblet beside it. He took one last look at the garden outside his room before he left.

He walked inside the oceanic blue hallways of the palace. His aide, a green-haired human woman, walked beside them.

"Assemble my [Canal Lords]. We'll force the [King] to make an audience." He ordered his assistant.

The doors of the apartments of the western wing of the palace burst out as his Aura started to emanate from him. The majority of the [Canal Lords] of the Blue Court walked alongside him, following in his footsteps. The ones closest to him are a tall mustached man with slick hair, donning a red tunic: Jalieri Pesce the [City Lord], Ciriaco Lanzone, a balding, pudgy man with a monocle, and a young but ambitious blond-haired Human [Merchant Lord] named Mortarano Prosperi.

Along with the lesser [Lords] of the Palace following them, they stormed the King's Court. The [Sentinels] were unable to block them or move or even object to their presence due to their formality-Skills.

They had barged inside the grand blue hall of the palace. At the far end was the current [Fisher King], sitting on his throne, expecting them. His [Steward] was beside him, pouring him a goblet of wine.

"We request an audience, your Majesty." The [Prince] declared. The combined Auras of the [Lords] filled the hall with a combination of formality Skills, making the air heavy. The [Royal Sentinels] were unable to move, not even an inch.

[Authority of the King]. The air around the king overpowered the Auras of the [Prince] and the [Lords].

"I permit you all. Entertain me." The Seafolk [King] challenged the [Prince] and the Lords under their faction to make their move.

The [Lords] was shaking on their boots. Their brazenness made them forget the [King]'s power. They cannot stand; no, they are unable to. It’s like a giant's hammer was slowly crushing them. Only the [Prince] stood. A work of a Skill, perhaps? Or the Class or Levels?

"I ask of you my [King], no, my step-brother. Will you continue to rule, knowing that atrocities are swimming within our waterways?" He activated [Immediate Indictment] to force the [King] to answer. Even with the [King] Class, the [King] himself was forced to answer.

"What atrocities? For all of my trials ruling Aquinox, I have brought good to our people." He cannot accuse the [Prince] yet of insubordination because he needs a piece of evidence to do so.

The [King] guessed his motives, even without a Skill, before he spoke.

"Ah, I see. You are accusing me of corruption, is that it?"

"Indeed. Here is the evidence." The [Prince] smiled smugly. The servants of the [Lords] carried financial statements, written in books bound by fine parchment. A Seafolk Coastwalker with the head of a pufferfish opened the scroll in front of the [King]. Their [Royal Treasurer] had been bought by the anti-[King] faction, unbeknownst to the [King] of Aquinox.

"To begin, in the Third Moon of Nativity, Seventh Day of Earadul, 29,950th Trial..."

The defected [Royal Treasurer] recites the expenses that the palace had made. It includes financial reports that indicate that the palace had redirected the funds towards luxuries provided by other nations that had traded with them.

"And that concludes the financial reports." He concluded, and he shamefully disengages himself in his presence, faces distraught.

"Dear Caldato, how much did they bribe you?" The [King] kindly asked the [Royal Treasurer]. The man was unable to answer, despite his best efforts. An effect of a Skill.

"I see a Skill. [Unspeakable Bribe] perhaps?" He rhetorically asked. "I'll remove that despicable Skill for you. [Bring to Light]. [Null Contract]." In an instant, the [Fisher King] of Aquinox and the people inside this palace hall received his memories. Memories from when he was bribed. He saw the poor [Royal Treasurer] being bribed by the [Prince] and his noble lackeys. They explicitly said they will make his family disappear if he does not forge documents for this event.

The whole room froze. Especially the faction that opposed the [King]. The [Royal Treasurer] fell on his knees, sobbing. With the power of that Skill, the fact that they bribed the [Royal Treasurer] became undeniable.

"Now, let's verify the contents of the documents that you brought." He announced.

"Wait a minute-"

"Silence." The Seafolk [King] forced the [Prince] to kneel with two Skills, [Aura Amplification] and [Aura of the Ocean]. The gravity within the hall magnified until they can’t stand it. They feel like they are being swallowed by the ocean. The anti-[King] faction was forced to kneel. They have severely underestimated the power of a [King].

"[Royal Scribes], come forth." A throng of men and women in blue and yellow-lined robes come forth from doors behind the dais. They verified the documents with their Skills. They made quick work of the piles of financial statements that the anti-[King] faction had brought.

"All of them are forged with the Royal Seal." One of the high-level [Royal Scribes] answered.

"As expected," The [Steward of the Waves] answered. The [Steward] jolted, receiving a [Silent Report] from the [Royal Spymaster]. In an instant, he received the information that he had. The [Steward] leaned in closer to his [King]’s earhole and whispered.

The [King] gripped the golden armrests of his throne, slightly bending the gold with his strength. He sighed, catching his breath, keeping his calm despite the audacity of these impertinent fools.

“You dare try to extort my friend?” The Orca Seafolk gritted his teeth, trying to not murder them in the throne room this instant.

“What are you talking about?” The [Prince] asked.

“Trying to assassinate me was offense enough. Extorting my [Royal Treasurer] too. But kidnapping a child belonging to my [Champion] is unacceptable. I should throw you all in the dungeons for this.”

He sighed, calming himself down.

"Your plan has failed, Arigo Venezio." The [King] verbally hammered that fact to his head. "Now for the punishment." The three main [Lords] that had started this stood up. Jalieri Pesce the [City Lord]. Ciriaco Lanzone, the [Harbor Lord], and Mortarano Prosperi, the [Merchant Lord], stood up in defiance against the [King].

"We object-"

"Kneel."

The Aura of the [King] made them kneel.

"I have proof against your traitorous acts." He spoke. "But I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves."

The [Lords] and the [Prince] were shaking, anticipating what will happen.

"As for the three [Lords] who orchestrated this debacle, I will increase your tax to all of your holdings by 40%."

"40 percent-"The [Lords] gasped.

"[Levy of the Besmirched]. As for the [Prince], I will give you a slap on the wrist." He figuratively spoke. "As of now, I will confiscate 10% of the revenue of your holdings and bar you from using the royal coffers."

The [King] sighed. "Begone from my sight, traitorous [Lords]."

The [Lords] was literally pushed back from the hall, tumbling outside the palace grounds. They were now spread about, disorganized.

The Tenth [Prince] was the only one left in the hall, aside from the [King] and his subjects.

"You know, I really wanted to give you the throne." The [King] sighed.

"Then why-"

"You are not ready yet for the throne." The [King] interrupted the [Prince].

"What do you mean?" The [Prince] asked.

"Ruling is not all about Skills and Auras, nor the folly of politics and schemes. A [King] is higher than that. An ideal. You must inspire and serve your subjects yet indulge and display your luxury in moderation. You must be willing to be open to new ideas but be guarded against infectious thoughts. You must shake hands, fins, paws, or claws to our allies while honing your mind to battle against them." The [King] spoke.

"You're saying that I'm not suitable for the throne yet?"

"Yes."

"I'll ask the men and women in your employ on how you treated them later."

"I will take my leave, your Majesty." The [Prince] stood up, miffed and partly ashamed.

"Next time, don't listen to the three stooges." The [King] warned the [Prince] of the three [Lords].

"Them -"

"I permit you to leave."

The [Prince] abruptly left. He wondered if he was playing to the three [Lords] tune all along. They're the ones who proposed the plan after all. But why did it fail?