Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1954: Exchange program

A grand festival was staged in the Merman Empire’s capital just a few days following the arrival of the initial group.

Unity served as the official theme of the celebration, yet those privy to the truth understood that the reality was far different.

Ultimately, the entire event was merely a performance put on for the benefit of the Merman Empire’s populace.

"Through the tireless work of our son-in-law, the enigmas of the taboo zone have been unraveled, and ancient species long trapped within have been rediscovered. Today marks a historic reunion with those who were lost to us for ages."

Such was the proclamation made by the Merman King, though the other aquatic races found it incredibly difficult to truly embrace the thunderous cheers that followed his words.

The issue remained that they were forced to endure these cheers regardless of their feelings.

This, after all, was the prerequisite for their arrival here.

One could argue they were being utilized as a spectacle for the citizens of the Merman Empire. Nevertheless, they submitted to this treatment, recognizing it as the sole path toward gaining acceptance from the local population.

Driven by curiosity regarding the world beyond their confined pond, they bit their tongues and played along with the charade.

That group included...

"Presenting the emissary of Aestum, the God of Tides."

"Hmph, a great deal of time has passed since we last laid eyes upon you all."

These words from the kraken could be viewed as a sign of respect, considering the creature likely had much more to say. It restrained itself only because I had requested its cooperation with the Merman King.

I had, at the very least, managed to persuade the kraken to participate for the sake of the others involved in this exchange program.

However, they weren't the only ones suppressing their true emotions.

The ministers who were aware of the actual facts also wore expressions that betrayed their deep displeasure with the current state of affairs.

Their discomfort was predictable, as the situation directly contradicted their long-held convictions. They had wished to keep these matters hidden, yet here was the Merman King, broadcasting everything to the masses.

Because the Merman King had altered the narrative of the situation, they were left with no choice but to find a middle ground.

They remained plagued by anxiety, fearing what might happen if the truth were ever unearthed.

Neither party felt at ease, but both were forced to tolerate the circumstances and move forward.

"This truly reflects the essence of life. There are times when people simply must make compromises."

I was fairly certain, however, that things would not remain so simple.

A compromise of this nature was unlikely to be sustainable in the long run. It was the type of tension that simmers beneath the surface until it eventually reaches a breaking point.

I stayed back to observe, curious to see how the inevitable explosion would manifest.

More specifically, I wanted to witness how Aquaron would ultimately respond.

It was unthinkable that Aquaron would remain idle while the races he had once exiled returned. There was no doubt in my mind that Aquaron would take action to prevent the reversal of the past.

The peculiar thing was that Aquaron had shown no signs of intervention thus far...

It appeared as though they intended to do nothing, even as matters reached this critical stage.

"Would a god truly stand by while the very things they worked so hard to achieve are undone? It doesn't seem like the behavior of a deity..." I pondered silently while watching the events unfold.

Once the ceremony concluded, the visitors from the exiled races were paired with mermaids assigned to act as their guides.

While they had been given tours of the Merman Kingdom previously, they had been kept under heavy surveillance to prevent any incidents. Now, however, they were supposedly free to explore at their leisure.

That would have been true, if not for the fact that their "guides" were actually guards. Even though they were presented as ordinary mermaids, the Merman King was not about to lower his defenses just yet.

"The time will come, but we must remain vigilant until everything is settled."

While that was a sensible perspective, I felt he was being excessively cautious, especially since the guards he chose were actually the royal family's elite shadow guards.

These individuals were the best of the best...

I remained silent as I watched them depart, then followed the Merman King back inside.

I had another appointment to keep today, after all.

...

"It was quite unkind of you to summon me back so abruptly. I was finally making some headway in the struggle for my future, and then you just dragged me away."

I was at a loss for words upon hearing this, but I could see that someone else was even more pained by her statement than I was.

The former crown prince sat moping in a corner as he listened to his daughter's complaints.

No father, after all, enjoys hearing his daughter lamenting over her romantic pursuits.

Looking back, Dicus’ love life had been nothing short of a chaotic ride.

She had initially set her sights on me before shifting her focus to Noah, my brother-in-law. Her chances were slim, considering Noah already had his heart set on someone else and was preparing for marriage.

Even so, observing how things would turn out was quite entertaining.

After all, monogamy wasn't exactly the standard in this world to begin with.

"Alright, that's enough. It looks like your uncle has something he needs to say," Zyra remarked with a weary sigh.

Dicus might ignore her father, but she eventually yielded to her mother’s authority.