-Vol 5: A New Life-

-Mermaids(5)-

[This is No.1, no movements on this side. Over]*Buzzat*

[This is No.2, no movements on this side either. Over]*Buzzat*

[This is No.3, no movements on this side either. Over]*Buzzat*

[This is No.4, no movements on this side either. Over]*Buzzat*

[This is bait, no movements on this side either. Wait! Just how long are we going to do this. Its already half an hour, I am already half swollen from the waist down. Over!]*Buzzat*

[Okay, just stay like that little while. Catching a fish always requires patience. It's only half an hour, and you are already impatient, even though you are only a bait!!] the voice of the old captain came from the intercome held by all five’s hands. His last sentence pissed the young man who was the bait, a great deal, who ground his teeth in anger. Just as he was about to retort, his eyes suddenly widened as he felt like somebody just checked him out.

Turning around he found a lady, with long luscious black hair tied in a bun, staring back at him, she had green eyes and a mole under her left eye. She was wearing a pair of spectacles, which actually accentuated her beauty a great deal. The lady gave him a seductive stare, as she fluttered her eyelids in a flirtatious manner. The young lad looked at the lady for a few seconds before he tremblingly stuttered to the intercom in his hands;

[Th-his is bait!! I-I can se-ee a mermaid taking the form of my lust…its seaming in front of me…!!]

[Yosh! Brat, don’t try to become smart. Just act natural and let it come near you. Since you already knew their identity, their mind control would no longer work on you, but still, you have to be careful. Don’t worry, I will guarantee your life!!] the old man hastily replied in order to appease the young hunter. He knew now is the most crucial part, if the hunter could act all natural here, then the fish would no doubt bite the bait.

[Easy for you to say that old man, here I can't help but shiver every time I look at this thing eye!] the young man was about to cry in fright. It's one thing if he was hunting it, but now he had to act all defenseless like a good bait. No wonder he was getting fidgety each time he sees that thing closing on him.

[No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4 get ready everyone. The target is now after the bait. On my signal pull the rope you are holding with everything you have.] the old captain barked order from his spot.

[Ok!] the four hunters in charge of the net also confirmed. They were also getting bored half submerged in water, so they want this to over as soon as possible. Holding the rope a little tighter, they eagerly waited for the old captain’s signal.

Back on the deck, Kenshin who was standing just near the old captain also got ready to act on short notice in case things goes south. He was already standing on the edge of the boat, with a single step forward he would be jumping into the water. The old man secretly smiled looking at him preparing like that. His rating on him went up a star immediately. Since he was already this old and had experienced many things, he understood that in battle, no matter how strong you are, there could never be too prepared.

The more prepared you are, the more likely you would survive the battle and live to see another sunrise. Unfortunately, not many hunters understand this. Once they achieve a certain power level, they started to become complacent over their powers and often subconsciously underestimate the enemy in front of them. This carelessness would often lead to their death, in some cases if they survive, 80% of the time they would become a cripple or a vegetable due to trauma.

The old man already first hand experienced just how strong was this boy. But seeing him taking action even against a weak monster like this, the old captain couldn’t help but think highly of him. But of course, how would the old man know that Kenshin had already learned his lesson from a bitter encounter not many days ago? The event was still fresh on his head, how could he forget that near-death experience at the hands of someone so much weaker than him? Although he had extra lives, how could that erase the fear of being at limbo and stared down by an unknown entity waiting for him to grad to the other side?

The mermaid swam slowly as it came closer to the young hunter who was trembling nonstop. Suddenly a pale yellow light flickered from the eyes of the monster and penetrated the young man’s head. The man who was trying with all his might to not shout and flail suddenly lost focus as his eyes looked glazed. He lost all power from his limbs and started to slowly submerge into the water bed.

[The monster had used the mind control on him again. This time it seems like it worked. Everyone get ready, on my signal, pull the rope.] the old man who was seeing all this form his spot whispered to his intercom. After that, he leaned towards Kenshin and whispered “Get ready. The moment, they start to pull on the rope, jump into the water and pull the brat out.”

“Okay!” Kenshin nodded his head and got ready for his act. The young man was only 24 meters away from the boat. He can cross that distance with just a single leap. With his speed, he could reach there in an instant. He had already handed his sword to the old man and got ready to jump in like a cheetah.

Like a snake, the mermaid slowly came closer and closer until it was just an arm’s reach away from the young hunter. But it didn’t attack immediately. With its pale hand, it touched the half-drowned young man’s face as caressed as if caressing her lover. The young man who had a silly grin on his face leaned to the touch and started to rub his head on her hands.

Actually, the four people on four sides were little far apart so they couldn't see what was happening. Not everyone had a perfect night vision after all. They were just eagerly waiting for the signal. But those who were standing on the deck and were a little stronger, they could see clearly what was happening. A few people’s legs were weakened from the mere sight of it. Even Kenshin’s eyes were widened from the eerieness of the event in front of him.

After caressing the young man, the mermaid then leaned forward as if to kiss him. Just when everyone thought that it would kiss the young man, the mermaid suddenly opened its mouth. From the corner of the lips to the middle of the chest, a parting line was visible. As the mermaid opened its mouth, its lower lips stretched down over the parting line, revealing rows of encircling razor sharp teeth. The visual spooked everyone present.

Just as it was about to bite off the young man, the old captain shouted on the intercom, [Now!!]

As the intercom buzzed, the four hunters in four directions pulled their ropes with their might. At the same time, Kenshin vanished from his spot in a flash. A few milliseconds before the sharp teeth touch the young man, Kenshin appeared behind him and grabbed his collar. Kicking the water once more, he jumped back, appearing in the middle of the deck in another flash. At the same time, a hard iron net appeared just beneath the mermaid and covered it before it could make any noise. With the help of the crane attached to the boat, the old man had the net lifted and brought to the middle of the boat’s deck.

“Success!!” seeing the mermaid flailing inside the net, everyone shouted merrily. Even though they weren't involved in the hunt, they still felt happy since the mermaid was being caught.