Chapter 688
The Southern Empire's Worries, the Future Ocean Queen
Cohen seemed oblivious to their subtle expressions and continued speaking to himself:
"All the draft plans for this operation, after being integrated, were submitted to the Queen for approval."
In short, all matters concerning the specific implementation of this strategy, on-the-spot decisions, and resource allocation can be ultimately decided by the Queen, without needing to go through me.
Adeline wasn't surprised to hear this, as Cohen had already exchanged opinions with her before coming.
Hermann hesitated for a moment before finally asking:
"Your Majesty, although you repelled the Central Empire's Noble Council this time, the Eastern Empire and the Southern Empire joined forces."
But the hatred between them has also deepened. With the mainland in such chaos, where are you planning to go this time?
Upon hearing this, Cohen gave a somewhat subtle smile and said:
"The covenant of the gods is like pouring a ladle of water into boiling oil; the whole continent is about to explode."
A world of nations vying for supremacy, a nation chosen by the gods... How could such a once-in-a-millennium upheaval possibly be confined to just a corner of the northwest?
The Southern Empire has been acting a bit too aggressively lately. I'm planning to cause them some trouble, and maybe see if there's an opportunity to get involved myself.
Angus, Arnold, Holt, and Hermann, these four high-ranking officials of the empire, raised their heads almost simultaneously. Their gazes met for a moment with complex emotions before quickly returning to Cohen's calm face, which even carried a faint smile.
His Majesty spoke casually, as if he were merely going to pick a flower from his neighbor's garden and, incidentally, kick over a few unpleasant flowerpots.
But those present knew their emperor all too well.
This young emperor, known for his ruthlessness, cunning, and unpredictable methods, never engages in trivial trouble-making.
More importantly, they all knew Cohen's other identity—"The Pirate King".
Your Majesty is going to the Endless Sea again.
Moreover, its target is the Southern Empire's interests along the coast and even in the deep sea.
Given his well-known "deep friendship" with the mermaid queen Claire, his intentions are self-evident.
Indeed, this was the case. During the founding ceremony, Claire secretly visited and brought the latest developments of the Southern Empire in the direction of the Endless Sea, especially the pressure on the Merfolk.
With the announcement of the Covenant of the Gods and the loosening of the old order, ambitious individuals are bound to stir. Gregor Alvis, the ambitious eldest prince of the Southern Empire, will certainly not let go of this opportunity to expand his maritime hegemony.
Increasing control over the ocean, especially putting pressure on the merfolk who possess ancient heritage and unique resources, is almost an inevitable choice.
Cohen's journey to the Endless Sea was not only to help the mermaids, but more importantly, it was to fulfill his long-held ambition about the ocean.
For Effie, the Southern Empire's attack on the Merfolk was a perfect opportunity to deeply embed its influence and even control into the vast strategic territory of the Endless Sea.
Moreover, Cohen has another ambition.
The Southern Empire currently publicly supports a marine deity whose power originates from the legacy of the ancient pirate king.
The legendary Pirate King is the partner of the current Sea God, and they share the authority over the seas.
Cohen had no intention, nor any need, to confront the two ocean rulers head-on.
Therefore, he prepared to personally discuss with the two Poseidon leaders a grand plan he had been considering for a long time.
After a pause, Cohen began to state his next plan:
"I am prepared to support Claire of the Merfolk and unite the entire Sea Clan Alliance."
"It's not just about integration; I want to push them to establish a sea-dwelling alliance nation with a clearly defined territory and political structure in the Endless Sea."
He raised his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over the astonished yet thoughtful faces of Angus, Arnold, Holt, and Herman.
"This move is called 'drawing the firewood from under the cauldron'."
What is the reason why the Southern Empire can swagger around the coast, project its influence into the deep sea, and even put continuous pressure on ancient sea races like the Merfolk?
It wasn't just their fleet and magic; more importantly, they had the explicit or implicit support or tacit approval of most of the gods in the ocean pantheon, especially those who had risen from the ranks of sea monsters.
The authority and belief in the sea are the cornerstones of their maritime hegemony.
But what if the sea creatures united and established their own country, a nation ruled by the sea creatures themselves?
The will of this nation will fundamentally clash with the will of the Southern Empire.
"At that time, will those sea gods, born of sea monsters and connected to the sea race by blood, still support a land-based empire as steadfastly as they do now?"
The answer is almost self-evident.
In fact, the reason why the Southern Empire has been stirring up trouble within the Sea Clan Alliance at all costs in recent years and playing the so-called "offshore balance" game is that
They bribed and sowed discord among various sea monster races, causing them to quarrel incessantly within the Sea Clan Alliance and preventing them from forming a united force.
There is a worry, even a fear, that the sea creatures will truly unite and establish a powerful and unified maritime nation.
After all, the Southern Empire harbors an irreconcilable hatred for Leonard Augustus, the husband of the Sea God and the ancient pirate king. (See Chapter 83, "Her Majesty's Conditions")
However, in order to maintain the superficial unity and stability of the ocean pantheon, the sea god had to temporarily put aside his personal grudges.
Even under pressure from some forces within the ocean pantheon, it had to provide a certain degree of support to the Southern Empire in order to appease those ocean pantheons whose interests were deeply intertwined with those of the Southern Empire.
However, this support is based on the fact that the sea creatures are a disorganized bunch, since these bloodthirsty sea monsters can never form a unified demand.
To avoid any unforeseen complications, the gods were more inclined to bet on the human empire.
But once the sea creatures established their own nation, voiced a unified opinion, and demonstrated their will to be strong...
Therefore, the sea god and those other ocean deities who also harbored no goodwill towards the Southern Empire, or even resentment, had sufficient reason and motivation to reconsider their stance.
By then, the Southern Empire will probably have no say in who to support and who not to support.
Silence fell in the council chamber once again, but this time it was filled with sudden realization and profound shock.
The group realized that Cohen's plan was not just about "causing trouble" for the Southern Empire.
They are playing a grand game of chess, a game that involves not only the struggle for imperial supremacy and the ownership of maritime dominance, but also the belief in gods and the fate of races.
By directly starting construction on the "Ocean God's Favor," the very foundation upon which the Southern Empire depends for its survival, Cohen is essentially digging up the roots of the Southern Royal Family.
This is far more ruthless and far-reaching than sending a fleet to harass its coastline.
Cohen looked at his key ministers and concluded:
"This plan is extremely risky, involves deities, and has many variables."
But the returns are equally huge.
If successful, we will gain a powerful and stable ally at sea, completely weakening or even eliminating the Southern Empire's greatest advantage.
It might even bring the entire Endless Sea under our strategic influence.
This is the real 'grand plan' in my heart.
Of course, Cohen didn't mention that the Arcane Empire's backup civilization was located in the Miracle Sea at the southernmost tip of the Endless Sea, not far from the South China Sea where the Merfolk lived.
He intends to resolve this issue as well!
The group nodded slowly, their eyes no longer filled with doubt, only with solemnity and anticipation for the magnificent ocean chess game that was about to begin.
……
The heart of power in the Southern Empire, the imperial capital Whirlpool Fortress, is located in the southern part of the Endless Sea, in a place called the Roaring Strait.
This magnificent and unique fortress blends seamlessly with the rugged sea cliffs, and its outer walls are adorned with enormous, swirling magical runes.
Echoing the ceaseless raging waves below, the entire castle seems to be an extension and manifestation of the ocean's power on land.
Since the “Covenant of the Gods” that shook the continent spread far and wide, the atmosphere of the entire Southern Empire has changed.
Deep within Whirlpool Fortress, in the "Deep Tide Council Hall," the atmosphere was unusually tense.
The empire's top brass have been working here tirelessly for several days and nights.
Bright magic crystal lamps illuminated the huge nautical charts and intelligence files on the long table, as well as the faces around the table that determined the empire's course.
The Southern Emperor, Wilson Alvis, sat high on the main seat.
Staring blankly at a spot on the table, his expression unreadable, this emperor, known for his ambition and iron fist, was facing what might be the greatest opportunity and upheaval of his reign.
Prime Minister Winston Smith sat first on the left side of the Emperor.
He was a bit older, dressed in a dark purple grey robe embroidered with a gold anchor pattern, and had a refined appearance. The meetings that had lasted for several days did not seem to have made him look too tired.
The eldest prince, Gregor Iavis, sat to the emperor's right. He was young and dashing, inheriting his father's striking features and his mother's azure eyes.
He sat upright, his eyes burning with an urgent desire to make a name for himself in the great era to come.
Edmund Dantès, the Director of the General Intelligence Agency, is a middle-aged man with a faint presence and an ordinary appearance that makes him easily overlooked.
He sat quietly in a dimly lit corner, rarely speaking, but listening attentively, occasionally jotting down a few notes in the notebook open in front of him.
He would only slightly raise his eyelids and whisper some necessary and crucial information when the emperor's or prime minister's gaze swept over him.
Commander-in-Chief Timothy Henderson was like a mountain of flesh forged from cables, armor, and the salty sea breeze.
His large, imposing figure occupied the spacious chair on the other side of the table. His face was ruddy, and he sported a thick beard. His muscular fingers were impatiently fiddling with a bronze model representing a fleet formation, seemingly growing restless from the lengthy discussion and longing to return to the deck of his warship.
Prime Minister Winston finally spoke again, breaking the silence in the room:
"The Covenant of the Gods has been announced."
In the future, conflicts between nations will no longer be battles between ordinary people.
The bets of the gods and the power of faith are the core elements in the struggle for supremacy among nations.
In this respect... our foundation is far more solid than that of most land-based countries.
Our Southern Empire is the most extensive and profound foundation of faith for the Ocean God system in the mortal world.
Our people, from fishermen to sailors, from merchants to nobles, the vast majority of whom offer their faith to the Venerable Ones on the waves.
More importantly, the history of our empire is closely intertwined with the sea, and the paths to godhood of many powerful sea deities are all inextricably linked to our Southern Region.
This bond of blood and faith is our unparalleled advantage.
Therefore, in the upcoming grand game centered on the 'Chosen Kingdom,' we possess an inherent advantage in securing the support of the ocean pantheon.
Prime Minister Winston's words resonated in the chamber, giving everyone present a strong sense of confidence.
Emperor Wilson turned his grey-blue eyes to his prime minister, signaling him to continue.
Prime Minister Winston's tone remained unchanged, but his next words subtly cast a shadow over the confidence and assurance that had just risen in the room:
“But,” he uttered, a word that made everyone’s spines involuntarily tighten, “what we must be wary of is not our land-based adversaries, but… the ocean itself.”
Or rather, the forces in the ocean that are not entirely under our control.
As you all know, Her Majesty the Sea Goddess of today, and her consort, the legendary Pirate King of ancient times, Leonard Augustus, have a considerable historical grudge against our Southern Empire.
When Prime Minister Winston mentioned the name of the ancient pirate king, the air in the council chamber seemed to suddenly drop in temperature.
That was a shadow in the history of the empire that it was unwilling to mention too much, yet could not truly be erased.
Winston paused, then continued:
"Indeed, in order to maintain the stability and internal balance of the faith of the ocean pantheon as a whole, and given the deep foundation of our empire among the ocean gods, most ocean venerables, including that sea god, still choose to stand on the side of the empire."
This support is the cornerstone of our maritime hegemony.
However, the foundation of this support is not indestructible.
The biggest variable is not on land, but in the deep sea.
Because the essence of the divine bodies of many ocean deities, when traced back to their origins, is that of sea monsters.
They were born from the waves, are members of the sea race, and are connected by blood to the thousands of people in the deep sea.
Therefore, we must be extremely vigilant, and wary of whether the loose alliances of sea creatures in the Endless Sea, which we have divided by various means, will develop any inappropriate thoughts during this once-in-a-millennium upheaval.
Will they attempt a genuine union, or, driven by a powerful will, try to establish a unified nation belonging to the sea people?
If such a thing really happened... if the sea people were no longer a scattered bunch, but instead united into a nation with a common will, a common territory, and common aspirations.
So, when that time comes, those ocean lords who are born from sea monsters and share the same bloodline as the deep sea will have to choose between a 'land empire with a solid foundation of faith' and a 'newly formed sea kingdom with whom they share blood ties'.
Will they continue to pour their unwavering support into our Southern Empire as they do now?
Prime Minister Winston did not provide an answer.
But as he calmly narrated, a chill seemed to creep down everyone's spine.
Outside the window, the waves relentlessly pounded against the foundation of Whirlpool Fortress, their roars seeming to carry some ominous premonition, penetrating the thick walls and faintly echoing in this secret chamber that would determine the fate of the empire.
Emperor Wilson's grey-blue eyes turned to the man in the corner who was almost blending into the shadows—Edmund Dantès, the Director of the General Intelligence Service.
Dantès immediately received the emperor's will.
He raised his ordinary face, and his voice, like him, was flat and monotonous, yet strangely captivating.
"His Excellency the Prime Minister's concerns are reasonable and deserve the highest level of vigilance throughout the Empire."
But based on the information we have right now, things might not be... that serious yet.
He opened an unassuming black-covered notebook in front of him, his gaze falling on a page densely covered with tiny symbols and abbreviations, and continued:
"Within the Great Alliance of the Seafolk, as we have long known and exploited, the conflicts and struggles among the people have never ceased."
Merfolk, Naga, Sirens, Deep Sea Giants, and other sea monster tribes... racial differences, historical grudges, territorial disputes, resource struggles, and conflicts are intertwined and deeply rooted.
Over the past century, our 'offshore balance' strategy has been remarkably effective. The key ethnic proxies we have supported have played a vital role as our mouthpiece and disruptors in the Alliance Council.
Their messages were quite timely.
Don Teston paused, seemingly searching for more precise wording:
"According to the latest cross-verified intelligence from multiple channels, before the official announcement of the 'Covenant of the Gods,' the main issues within the Sea Clan Alliance still revolve around the allocation of hunting rights in several traditionally disputed sea areas and the disputes over several newly discovered underwater magic crystal veins."
Oh, recently there has also been a considerable dispute between the Naga Royal Court and the Siren Council, seemingly over the ownership of a certain coral forest.
Regarding nation-building, or any similar issue of high political unity, there has been no mainstream discussion among high-level dialogues among the major ethnic groups.
Dantes's statement, delivered with the calmness and objectivity characteristic of an intelligence officer, eased the atmosphere in the Deep Tide Council Room considerably.
Emperor Wilson nodded in satisfaction.
However, Prime Minister Winston did not show much optimism. He shook his head slightly, his gaze behind his spectacles remaining sharp.
"Director Dantes, your intelligence is timely, and your work is as excellent as ever."
But please note that what you are referring to is the situation before the 'Covenant of the Gods' was announced.
The will of the gods is like a boulder thrown into water, and the ripples have spread to every corner of the continent. Can the deep sea remain unaffected?
Are those lands beneath the waves truly oblivious to, or... utterly devoid of thought about, this cataclysmic upheaval sweeping across the land?
He had already stood up, his gaze sweeping over Dantès, and then over the others present, especially Emperor Wilson with his furrowed brow and Commander Henderson with his grave expression:
"The sirens may be keen on fighting among themselves, and may seem reckless or even bloody to some land races, but they are by no means stupid."
On the contrary, the wisdom and resilience of a race that can survive, thrive, and build a complex social structure in the harsh environment of the Endless Sea should not be underestimated.
Don't they ever think?
When the 'Covenant of the Gods' is proclaimed to the world, and when the future continental landscape is destined to be overturned by the arrival of the divine kingdom, will these races living in the ocean, these intelligent beings who also have a glorious history, a large population, powerful individuals, and even their own gods, be content to maintain the status quo forever?
Did they never consider that when the gods who uphold the divine realm descend upon their divine kingdoms, explicitly supporting their respective 'chosen kingdoms,' and dividing up the territories of faith on the land...
How can the sea people live without a kingdom entity capable of bearing the will of the sea gods?
Are they truly willing to forever remain subservient to land powers, playing a supporting role in the shadow of human empires—sometimes cooperating, sometimes being bullied—or even, in the words of some radical sirens, 'be their dogs'?
He spoke the last few words very softly, yet they sounded unusually harsh.
The phrase "serving as a dog for the human race" is not only disliked by the members of the Sea Clan Alliance, but also deeply resented by the high-ranking officials of the Southern Empire for such rhetoric that "undermines the excellent situation of stability and unity."
Dantès remained silent for a moment, and a hint of surprise finally appeared on his otherwise unremarkable face.
He nodded, acknowledging the possibility of the Prime Minister's reasoning:
“Your considerations are very thorough. Indeed, the old intelligence assessments need to be recalibrated based on the major variable of the ‘Covenant of the Gods’.”
Monitoring the political trends and ideological shifts within the Sea Clan Alliance must be elevated to the highest priority.
I will immediately adjust resource allocation and strengthen the collection and analysis of relevant intelligence, paying particular attention to any emerging information that may point to a 'demand for unification' or 'nation-building ideology.'
Just then, the eldest prince, Gregor, who had been keeping his lips tightly pressed together, seemed unable to contain himself any longer. He prepared to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to express his demands to his father, the emperor:
"It is important for Director Dantes to monitor the entire Sea Clan Alliance."
But I believe our focus must be on the most dangerous race, and the one most likely to ignite the powder keg—the merfolk!
He straightened his back, his azure eyes gleaming with undisguised fighting spirit and fervor:
"Tens of thousands of years ago, there was a precedent for unification in the Endless Sea!"
For example, that history sung by the sirens and recorded in our secret archives—the 'Deep Tide Empire'!
The ruler of that empire, the one revered as the 'Sea Emperor,' was a member of the merfolk.
Now look at the present, the current leader of the mermaid race, Queen Claire.
In a short period of time, she subdued the elders of her tribe, unified the three royal families of mermaids, consolidated her royal power, and even began to try to expand her influence within the sea tribe alliance.
Her ambitions were never limited to the Pearl Palace (the Mermaid King's Court) and the surrounding coral sea!
He took a deep breath and turned his gaze to his father, Emperor Wilson, who remained as silent as a rock:
"Moreover, and most importantly, her relationship with the current 'Pirate King' is extraordinary."
They share a close connection that we cannot fully comprehend. There's even intelligence suggesting that Claire's successful unification of the three major merfolk clans might be linked to the shadow of that 'Pirate King'! (End of Chapter)