Chapter 253: Leaving Fish-Man Island
Hearing this, Jiang Qize's lips curved slightly.
"So, what business does the King have in summoning me?" he asked, directing his gaze toward Neptune with a smile.
"Why don't we go inside and talk while eating?" Neptune suggested.
Jiang Qize nodded.
The three of them walked into the main hall.
Seated at the royal dining table, it was laid out with an abundance of delicacies.
They began their conversation.
"Summoner, do you think the fish-men of Fish-Man Island can coexist peacefully with humans?" Otohime asked, a trace of hope in her voice.
Her life's goal had always been to help her people break free from their cage and live harmoniously on the surface alongside humans.
"As long as your strength is sufficient, humans will coexist peacefully with you," Jiang Qize replied pragmatically.
Hearing this, Otohime asked further, "Is there no other way besides this?"
"You should understand the level of acceptance fish-men and merfolk receive in the seas. Because you lack strength, countless slave-catching groups dare to raid and capture merfolk to sell to nobles.
"In the eyes of those nobles, you are merely slaves. Do you really think… they will coexist peacefully with their slaves?"
Upon hearing this, anger flashed across Neptune's face—but it quickly subsided.
Indeed, this was all due to their own lack of power.
Jiang Qize smiled faintly.
Fish-Man Island possessed natural advantages, yet its leaders had one glaring problem: they were too timid.
If it weren't for that, with their ability to traverse the seas, they could easily be the scourge of all pirates.
Instead, they relinquished this advantage, choosing to compromise with humans and even dreaming of peaceful coexistence—a laughable notion.
Fish-Man Island had a population of five million. Even if just one-tenth of the male fish-men were organized, with their formidable physiques, many pirate crews—would stand little chance, as long as they avoided direct land confrontations.
After exchanging a few more casual words, Jiang Qize departed.
His vision was completely different from theirs.
If he were to rule Fish-Man Island, he would make it a force that struck fear across the seas—perhaps even reducing the number of pirates significantly.
…
Two days later.
The Dragon Flame was fully equipped with its protective membrane.
Jiang Qize, having no further reason to linger, chose to depart.
"Set sail!"
Camon shouted.
The Dragon Flame moved forward.
Vroom!
The Dragon Flame burst out of Fish-Man Island, diving again into the shadowy depths of the ocean.
"Moo~" the Canglong called, ramming upward with the Dragon Flame atop its head.
The descent had been slow, but the ascent was extremely fast.
Within ten minutes, the Dragon Flame broke through the water's surface.
Splash!
Tap tap tap…
Rain began to fall, hitting their faces.
The sky above was heavy with black clouds, the land below shrouded in darkness, exuding an oppressive aura.
A few hundred meters ahead, rows of ships lay at anchor. Each mast bore a flag—marking them all as pirate vessels.
"Boss! The Dragon Flame Crew… has arrived!"
Seeing the massive Dragon Flame, pirates aboard several ships began shouting.
From within the pirate ship cabins, crew after crew emerged.
"Hahaha… after waiting so long, it's finally time!"
"Destroy the Dragon Flame Crew, and the White Python Pirates will dominate the seas!"
On one ship flying a serpent-skulled pirate flag, a tall, pale-skinned man covered in scales glared at the Dragon Flame Crew, grinning menacingly.