Mermaids. Strange beings with human upper bodies and fish-like tails. It is said that those who consume their flesh live forever, and that they shed jewels instead of tears. Anyone who has lived by the sea has heard the story at least once. In the deep ocean, there live mermaids. For ages, many have recklessly headed out to sea to catch these mermaids, whose very existence remained uncertain. Yet, strangely and unfortunately, every time they were met with storms that sank their ships, or diseases broke out on board, killing everyone. Even if some did return, they lost their voices and could not dare to speak of it, usually dying shortly thereafter. However, an event occurred that shook the entire nation. A mermaid. A mermaid had been caught. As people looked at the mermaid trapped in a tank, the price of a mermaid soared day by day. To gain eternal life by consuming the flesh, to amass greater wealth by gathering armfuls of the jewels they shed, or to elevate one's own status. In this situation, several men took up harpoons and steered their ships toward the sea. . The blue sea was split by the ship. Waves rippled and spread along the path the vessel took. Atop the massive hull, he stood with a furrowed brow, glaring at the ocean dyed orange by the sunset. It wasn't as if a mermaid would appear just because he glared, though. "Not yet?" At those words, the sailor standing beside him spoke up. *"Yes. Not a single fish has been caught in the nets." Frowning even deeper at those words, he turned around and spoke. "We're heading back for today." The sun was already setting. Just as he was about to turn the ship, it shook violently, and the sailors began rushing toward the nets. Following the commotion, Jjung's gaze turned toward that spot as well.