In the undersea world, the Trench Kingdom.
The fragrant barbecue, divided into three portions by Woz the robot cat, was being heartily enjoyed by Mera, who had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Lothar's actions.
Lothar wasn't pleased about this: "Woz?"
"Please wait, Your Highness Lothar."
"A new portion will be ready shortly."
Woz, wearing a white chef's hat, ignored Lothar's unfriendly gaze. It pulled out several bottles of seasoning from its abdominal pouch and continuously sprinkled them onto the rotating Golden Trident.
To be precise, onto the meat skewered on the Trident. A small leg from the giant sea beast Karathen was detached by Woz and placed in front of it, making it convenient to slice and grill on the spot. After all, Lothar's appetite was enormous.
"Om!"
Lothar bit into the last piece of meat on the plate, his gaze sweeping over Mera and Atlanna nearby, his expression intensely "friendly." That was supposed to be his meat, now it was being shared.
"Here you go."
Mera immediately noticed Lothar's unusual behavior, and an indescribable sense of shame made her push her plate towards Lothar. It was still piled with the meat Woz had given her, untouched.
"Tsk, no need."
Lothar subtly pouted and leaned back onto the tree vine.
"I understand now, Lothar. I will definitely become a true King."
"Even without the Golden Trident's recognition."
"I admit, my previous thoughts were indeed cowardly."
"I wanted to stop my father, yet I had extreme self-doubt about my own abilities, which often led me to want to nominate others to be king."
"Arthur, or you, were both products of this personality and way of thinking."
"So, thank you."
Holding the plate in her hands, Mera hesitated for a long while before finally taking the first step to apologize to Lothar. Sitting quietly and reflecting, Mera's self-realization was timely.
Lothar, lying on the tree vine, simply closed his eyes, no longer bothering to look at Mera: "Woz, let me know when it's ready—"
A movement on his cheek made Lothar snap his eyes open. The first thing he saw was Mera's exquisite face. Her red tail, wrapped around her waist, hung limply.
"I told you, this is my way of apologizing," Mera said with a smile, leaning in to whisper in Lothar's ear.
They were so close that Lothar could even feel his earlobe enveloped by her breath. It was a little ticklish.
"Mmm..."
Woz, dressed as a chef, wiped its hands repeatedly on its checkered apron. It immediately turned its back, yet couldn't control its instincts as a chronicler. It pulled out its small notebook and began writing in "A Comprehensive History of Romance."
"Well then, I'll take this broken Trident."
"Even without its recognition, I still need to leverage its influence to convince my father and the others."
Mera smiled, passing by Woz. Silent currents of water, controlled by her will, cleaned the broken Golden Trident.
"Let's go, Queen Atlanna. Atlantis needs you now." Holding the now two-piece Golden Trident in her hand, Mera extended an invitation to the dazed Atlanna to return home.
Orm was dead, and Atlanna had sufficient reason to return and rule a nation for her son. Most importantly, Mera needed an ally, and Atlanna was precisely that ally, one who believed that the Atlanteans could coexist peacefully with humans.
"See you around, Lothar."
Before leaving, Mera turned back and promised Lothar she'd see him again.
Whoosh!
Mera leaped down, leaving the island that had solidified her resolve, with Atlanna.
"Your Highness Lothar, aren't you going after them?" Woz, having put away its notebook, came to Lothar's side.
"That's her own business; no one can help her."
"However, Steppenwolf might take this opportunity to capture Lady Mera and interrogate her for the exact location of the Mother Box," Woz continued, subtly pushing Lothar. This was a reasonable deduction. After all, Steppenwolf had already tried once before.
"..."
...
"Are you sure you want to go back like this?"
Above the boundless territory of the Trench Kingdom, Atlanna looked at the child she once considered her daughter, her gaze then falling on the two broken pieces of the Golden Trident.
"Lothar was right, the Golden Trident is, after all, just a weapon."
"As long as I become the true King, then even a broken Golden Trident can become a symbol of royal authority, can't it?"
Mera smiled, countering with a question. Before her words even faded, the two pieces of the Trident in her hands suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light!
"Mera!"
Atlanna's terrified cry was abruptly cut short as an ancient and mysterious bell chimed in her ears.
Rumble!
The calm water currents seemed startled, suddenly rippling violently!
'What is that?!'
Atlanna's pupils sharply contracted.
'Ancient Atlantis?!'
Images of magnificent Atlantean architecture slowly emerged in the golden glow, finally converging into a brilliant crown that settled upon Mera's head. Her red hair billowed, and an uncontrollable surprise was etched on Mera's exquisite face.
"This is..."
Majestic golden armor covered Mera's body the moment the crown descended. The broken Golden Trident fused back together under the surge of mysterious runes, restoring itself to a complete and undamaged symbol of royal authority.
"Moo~~"
"Lee~~"
"~~"
Countless marine creatures spontaneously let out resounding roars. In just a few seconds, the Trench Kingdom's territory, which marine life usually avoided, was filled with figures coming to pay homage to their new King.
The new Queen of the Ocean, clad in golden armor and wearing a crown.
'Queen! Queen! Queen!'
'Queen! Queen! Queen!'
'...'
Mera, holding the Golden Trident, was surprised to find that she could hear the heartfelt cheers of these undersea creatures.
"That gold is ugly."
Lothar, with his arms crossed over his chest, floated quietly at the exit of the distant small island, critically assessing Mera's new outfit.
"Indeed," Woz readily agreed.
"Your Highness Lothar's gold is much nicer."
"Let's go."
An ineffable joy touched Mera's lips. Through the Trident, she sensed everything beneath the sea, including Lothar floating far behind her.
Invisible currents of water, at her will, instantly transformed into a sphere, enveloping her and Atlanna, and heading straight for the territory of the Xebelian Kingdom.
...
Meanwhile, on the surface, Gotham.
Steppenwolf's descent from the sky plunged the entire city into panic.
"Hand over the Mother Box, Amazons!"
Steppenwolf, wielding his battle-axe, shocked the entire world!
That was Gotham!
Batman's Gotham!
The Gotham with the most talented people in all of America!
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