Chapter 690
Forced Marriage!
"Eastern Empire, Eberon..."
Emperor Wilson slowly repeated the two words, a chill flashing deep in his gray-blue eyes.
Prime Minister Winston's words do indeed explain the unusual growth of the Scarlet Raiders and reveal a larger and more complex land-based power struggle behind this maritime conflict.
The issue of the merfolk is no longer just a problem of deep-sea races; it also involves geopolitical competition with the Eastern Empire.
The emperor remained silent for a moment, processing this possibility that he had anticipated.
Then, he turned his gaze back to his eldest son:
“Gregor, you’ve been on the front lines.”
You saw the pirate, you saw the mermaid queen, you felt the pressure, and you analyzed the threat.
You've talked so much today, from history to reality, from divine favor to ambition… So tell me, what is your plan?
His Majesty the Emperor's eyes, which seemed to see right through people, were fixed on Greg:
"Faced with a reborn mermaid queen who possesses divine artifacts, has unified her race, and is ambitious, plus a cunning and ruthless pirate king who is suspected of having the secret support of the Eastern Empire, and the worst-case scenario they might bring—a unified ocean empire."
"You, my son, commander of the Imperial Navy's 'Blue Spear,' what are your thoughts?"
Greg clenched his fist tightly and said:
"Father, I have a grand plan. If the plan succeeds, it will not only solve the crisis of the Sea Clan Alliance's establishment once and for all, but it will also bring the Merfolk under our control."
However, my current strength is insufficient to accomplish this.
Wilson nodded and said, "Tell me your plan, and we'll all brainstorm together. If it works, I'll give you what you want."
Greg became even more excited; the emperor's promise to "give you what you want" stirred up a tidal wave in his young and ambitious heart.
"Father!"
His voice rose slightly with excitement, but he quickly suppressed it, maintaining the composure expected of a frontline commander. However, his urgency still permeated every syllable. "My plan is to divide and conquer, and capture the leader of the enemy."
The target was none other than Claire herself—the one who united the merfolk as one, and also the most dangerous destabilizing factor in the entire Sea Clan Alliance!
He took a deep breath, temporarily calming the surging blood in his chest:
"The Merfolk are not a monolithic entity. Before Claire forcibly unified them with the power of the Trident of Poseidon and her strong-arm tactics, there was a situation of three royal families standing side by side within the Merfolk: the Tide Royal Family, which is Claire's direct descendant, the Lan Clan, and the Azure Wave Clan."
The Lan and Bitao tribes have a long history and their influence is deeply intertwined. Before Claire's rise, they rivaled the Tide Royal Family.
Claire unified the merfolk by relying on the power of her divine artifacts and her decisive, swift actions.
The Lan and Bitao tribes outwardly submitted, but the pride accumulated over thousands of years and the resentment stemming from the loss of their interests never truly disappeared.
Under our continued military pressure, especially with resources being blocked, territory being squeezed, and the number of our people dying and being injured, this discontent and division is widening.
Within the merfolk, not everyone was willing to follow Claire down a dark path and challenge the authority of a powerful empire.
I have already established contact with the chieftain of the Lan tribe through secret channels.
He had long harbored resentment towards Claire's autocratic rule, especially her dragging the merfolk into a perilous confrontation with the Empire.
We can use him to set a trap for Claire, as long as Claire leaves the Pearl Palace, away from the protection of the Royal Court Array and the Ghost Ship... Father, this is our chance.
Concentrate our most elite forces and strike with lightning speed to capture Claire alive.
If the plan succeeds, the threat from the merfolk will instantly disintegrate, the sea race alliance will lose its most powerful and influential core, and its so-called dream of 'establishing a nation' will vanish into thin air.
And we will gain a deep-sea outpost with vast resources that we can control, solving our problems once and for all!
After listening, Prime Minister Winston's voice, tinged with worry, rang out:
"His Highness's plan sounds quite ambitious."
However, have you fully considered the risks and uncertainties involved in directly targeting Claire herself?
Claire is not only the chieftain of the mermaid tribe, but she is also recognized as the 'most beautiful woman in the sea tribe'.
This title may sound like the idle boasting of a bard, but within the sea tribe, in the eyes of those ancient siren nobles who value tradition and symbolism, she represents a certain...image and dignity of the sea tribe.
In a way, she could even be considered a 'calling card' for the entire loose sea creature alliance to the outside world.
Our conflict with her can currently be explained as border friction, resource competition, or even... what we publicly claim is 'cleaning up the remnants of the sea demons'.
But if we use force to arrest her directly, the situation will be completely different.
This is no longer a conflict between two forces in a disputed area, but a near-insulting political kidnapping and coercion by a land empire against an important figure of the sea race.
Those old guys from the Sea Clan Alliance, those Naga High Priests, Siren Mistresses, and Deep Sea Giant Elders who have lived for countless years and wield immense influence in the deep sea.
They might be pleased to see internal strife among the merfolk, or they might be wary of the merfolk's ambition to unify the ocean, or they might even secretly welcome our attacks on the merfolk. But…”
Winston paused, making his next words carry more weight:
"However, they will never sit idly by while a land empire so openly and brutally interferes in the internal affairs of the sea people, and even takes action against their 'calling card,' a recognized royal leader."
This undoubtedly crossed the line and violated the dignity of the sea creatures as a whole.
This could trigger the worst possible scenario for us—not helping the merfolk unify, but forcing those sea creatures that were originally hostile to each other to temporarily unite against a common enemy due to shared fear and anger.
Then, what we will face may no longer be a divided merfolk, but an angry and briefly united sea-folk alliance that we ourselves have brought to power.
Prime Minister Winston's concerns are not unfounded.
The Southern Empire's current actions against the Merfolk are carried out under the guise of "clearing sea routes," "striking down pirate accomplices," and even "eliminating the pollution of ancient demons."
This falls into the category of friction and limited warfare, and other members of the Sea Clan Alliance can turn a blind eye, or even secretly rejoice.
However, if it escalates to a "decapitation" or "kidnapping" operation directly targeting the opponent's supreme leader, it would be tantamount to tearing off all pretenses and openly trampling on a certain "deep-sea dignity" of the sea race, which could very likely trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction.
Greg's plan was like a sharp double-edged sword; it could cut through the mess, but it could also hurt him.
A confident glint flashed across Greg's face, clearly indicating he had considered this beforehand, and he quickly spoke:
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, your concerns are entirely reasonable."
But I've also considered that.
Moreover, this is precisely the crucial step we take in turning crisis into opportunity.
He leaned forward, placed his hands on the edge of the table, and scanned his father, the prime minister, and two other senior officials with piercing eyes.
"As long as we act quickly and covertly enough, we can control Claire in the shortest possible time, take her away from the designated sea area, and bring her to a place that is completely under our control."
Therefore, before the news spreads and before those old fogies of the Sea Clan Alliance can react, we can preemptively release the information.
He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, but the light in his eyes burned even brighter, a light that contained not only cold political calculation but also an unspeakable personal desire:
"We can announce to the public that Her Highness Claire, the Queen of the Merfolk, after a series of sincere secret contacts and in-depth exchanges with our side, has come to realize that the Southern Empire is the key force in maintaining the long-term peace and prosperity of the Endless Sea."
To resolve the long-standing misunderstandings and conflicts between the two races, and to seek a brighter future for the creatures of the sea, she voluntarily entered into a sacred... marriage alliance with the Southern Empire!
A marriage alliance!
The Merfolk and the Southern Empire form a marriage alliance!
Greg continued:
“She will voluntarily marry…” Gregor’s gaze seemed to glance quickly at his imposing father, but then settled firmly on a point in the void, “…to marry a member of the royal family of the Southern Empire of high status.”
Taking this opportunity, the Merfolk and the Southern Empire will put aside their past grievances and forge an eternal alliance.
The merfolk will gain safety and development under the empire's protection, while the empire will gain the merfolk's friendship and loyalty.
By then, the die is cast.
Claire is in our hands, whether she truly wants it or not, the covenant is made.
Within the merfolk, those factions dissatisfied with Claire's rule would be the first to jump out in support, because it meant getting rid of the war and possibly even profiting from it.
With the loss of their leader, the presence of the Imperial army, and the fait accompli of the Queen's voluntary marriage, how much trouble can the remaining loyalists of the Tide Royal Family stir up?
And the other members of the Sea Clan Alliance…
A cold smile curled at the corner of Greg's lips:
"When they see that the Merfolk have voluntarily surrendered to the Empire, see our promises of peace and protection, and see that the deed is done, what reason do they have to confront the powerful Southern Empire head-on for the sake of a neighboring queen who has already married?"
Their only worry is whether the next race to form an alliance with the empire and reap the benefits will be their rival race.
An alliance? Hmph, it'll probably only lead to further division.
The core of this plan is to give a cold-blooded "military kidnapping" a glamorous "political marriage" cloak.
Brutal acts of force were packaged as a romantic political union.
This was not only to silence the Sea Clan Alliance, but also to pave the way for the Southern Empire to completely control the Merfolk in terms of law and public opinion.
A mermaid queen who willingly agrees to a marriage alliance will be the most legitimate banner the empire can plant in the endless sea.
However, just as Greg was painting this "wonderful" picture, Edmund Dantès, the Director of the General Intelligence Service who had been sitting quietly in the corner like a shadow, had a strange expression on his face.
Dantès knew this eldest prince all too well. He knew his ambition, his methods, and his not-so-secret personality.
Claire's title of "the most beautiful woman of the sea tribe" was not something a bard made up out of thin air.
It was a beauty universally acknowledged by multiple races and aesthetic standards, a legend born from the deep sea, imbued with a mysterious and dangerous allure.
Greg was so eager and meticulous in planning his actions against Claire personally, even considering "marriage" as the core solution to subsequent problems...
How much of this was truly for the stability of the empire's maritime borders, and how much stemmed from the Crown Prince's own distorted possessiveness?
Greg seemed completely oblivious to the subtle change in Dantès's expression, or rather, he simply didn't care.
His entire attention was focused on the emperor—the one who would ultimately approve his plans.
After proposing a "marriage" proposal that could solve a political problem and subtly cater to some personal desires, he immediately steered the conversation back to the most fundamental purpose of his suggestion: to reach for power and resources.
"Of course, the core of this plan is to capture Claire alive."
Claire is not only a reborn individual wielding the divine artifact Trident of Poseidon, but according to our latest assessment, her personal strength has firmly reached the high end of the legendary tier, and she may even be on the verge of reaching that threshold.
Given that the current sealing rules on the mainland still exist, and that even saints and demigods cannot easily intervene directly in mortal battles, a high-level legendary character, combined with a complete divine artifact, is virtually invincible.
To ensure a foolproof capture of her, not only is meticulously planned traps and absolutely reliable inside help required, but also... overwhelming power.
I need the Empire's most elite assault force, archmages skilled in deep-sea warfare and spatial blockade, and ancient relics or forbidden magic arrays capable of interfering with or even temporarily severing the connection between artifacts and their wielders.
We also need a fleet that can hold off Yann Hughes, the pirate captain, and any potential merfolk reinforcements during our operation.
This is a task that my current 'Deep Blue Spear' task force is absolutely not capable of completing independently.
I need authorization, the highest authority to mobilize the corresponding resources within the Empire, and... to concentrate forces and launch a swift and decisive decapitation strike!
A brief silence fell over the Deep Tide Council Chamber.
Only the eternal sound of the waves outside the window, tirelessly crashing against the rocks, seems to be providing accompaniment for a momentous decision that will soon shape the future of the endless sea.
Emperor Wilson Alvis, a ruler who had dominated the southern regions for decades and was accustomed to weathering storms, sat quietly on the throne.
His grey-blue eyes, like the deepest abyss, reflected the cold light of the magic crystal lamp, as well as the ambitious and eager face of his eldest son.
He listened to Greg's entire plan, from dividing and weakening the enemy, to setting up an ambush with an inside agent, to capturing the leader, and finally settling on the "marriage" arrangement.
He sensed the risks, the opportunities, and his son's unspoken but obvious ambition.
Finally, Emperor Wilson slowly nodded:
“Gregor, your plan is risky, but it also has its value.”
The budding trend of the sea people establishing a nation must be nipped in the bud.
The merfolk must not become the spark that ignites the fuse.
I, in the name of the Emperor of the Southern Empire, now formally authorize you.
You are authorized to mobilize all forces within the Empire, except those protecting the capital and maintaining minimum defenses in other key areas.
Navy, Army, Royal Magus, Royal Guard... Submit a detailed list and plan to Commander Henderson, Prime Minister Winston, and Director Dantes for all the resources you deem necessary.
They will cooperate with you to gather and allocate forces as quickly as possible.
Your goal is singular: to completely suppress all the merfolk's treacherous attempts with the fastest speed, strongest power, and most decisive action, and to extinguish any possibility of the sea races uniting to establish a nation.
Bring Claire to me. As for what happens next—marriage, imprisonment, or something else… bring her back, and we can discuss the rest later.”
Greg's heart pounded in his chest, but before he could even feel happy, Emperor Wilson's cold voice rang out:
"But you must also be aware of the cost of failure!"
Do you... understand?
Greg shuddered, realizing the meaning behind Emperor Wilson's words.
He's been given so much power and resources this time; if he fails...
Greg took a deep breath, straightened his body abruptly, clenched his right fist, and pounded it heavily on his left chest, right at the location of his heart:
"In the name of Alvis, in the name of the Empire, I will not fail you, Father!"
The roaring waves outside the window seemed to become even more intense at this moment.
……
Crimson Island, once a pirate's lair lurking in the shadows of shipping lanes in the northwest seas, has now been completely transformed.
The towering bastion stands on the steep cliff, overlooking the deep-water port below, which has been widened by human intervention.
Within the harbor, masts stood like a forest, but the most striking and chilling sights were not the conventional warships with black or scarlet sails, but rather several ghost ships shrouded in a tangible, greyish-white mist.
They lay silently at their designated berths, the invisible force of death making the surrounding seawater appear viscous and murky.
On the island, disciplined armed personnel replaced the boisterous and unruly pirates of the past, and scarlet scimitar flags with a distinctly predatory style flew side by side with administrative flags representing more efficient governance.
This place is no longer a den of filth and bandits, but an authoritative symbol that commands respect in the Northwest Sea, and the undisputed core of power in the entire Northwest Sea of the Endless Sea.
However, about a month ago, General Van Ze, the head of the Crimson Island main base, along with deputy commanders such as Babos, Will, and Beckman, had quietly left Crimson Island.
They personally commanded the main force of that fearsome ghost ship fleet, traversing the vast and unpredictable endless sea, casting their blades and shadows towards the distant southern waters.
At that time, the Merfolk were facing their most difficult period under the intense pressure of the "Deep Blue Spear" task force of the Southern Empire, led by Prince Gregor.
The Empire's warships, like sharks smelling blood, relentlessly squeezed the Merfolk's living space, eliminating outer outposts and blocking resource routes. Marines even nearly reached the outer defense perimeter of Pearl Palace in several daring assaults.
Despite their bravery, the Merfolk warriors' defenses were crumbling and struggling under the systematic attacks of the Imperial Navy.
The arrival of the Crimson Raider fleet, especially the participation of those ghost ships that disregard certain patterns and launch bizarre surprise attacks, instantly altered the balance of power.
They took the cunning and ruthlessness of pirates and the supernatural characteristics of ghost ships to the extreme.
They attacked the Southern Empire's supply convoys, harassed lone patrol ships, and even severely damaged a small Imperial squadron in a well-planned ambush.
The Imperial Navy attempted to encircle and annihilate them, but these ghost ships and veteran raiders, who came and went like the wind, always managed to escape by taking advantage of the complex sea conditions and the secret routes provided by the merfolk, and even set traps for themselves.
It was the addition of this new force that greatly relieved the pressure on the front lines of Pearl Palace, thwarted Gregor's attempt to achieve a quick victory, and finally stabilized the precarious Merfolk lines, giving them a precious respite.
Meanwhile, the Southern Empire, after confirming the large-scale intervention of the Ghost Ship fleet, seemed to realize that continuing the offensive would lead to a quagmire of attrition. Therefore, it took the initiative to withdraw most of its main warships to the more controllable island chain defense line.
The front lines then became a site of intense standoffs and small-scale skirmishes between Gregor's troops.
The battle thus fell into a tense and strangely stable state.
Beneath this tense yet tranquil facade, a meeting is being held in a secret conference room deep within the Pearl Palace to decide the next course of action.
The hall was not the ornate palace decorated with seashells and corals that the merfolk usually used, but rather a practical wartime command post.
The walls are made of glowing deep-sea minerals, providing soft lighting, and in the center is a huge sand table that displays the vast sea area and the situation of both sides in real time.
It features miniature, glowing ship models powered by magic and color blocks representing different factions.
On one side of the long table was the core of the merfolk, led by Claire.
This "most beautiful woman of the sea tribe" did not wear too much jewelry today, but wore a simple and well-fitting dark blue armor, which still could not hide her breathtaking curves.
Her long, deep blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the ends shimmering with a pearly luster.
Her stunning beauty still possesses a perfection that would leave even the most demanding artists in awe.
Slightly behind her was the high priestess of the merfolk, Sharin, who held a staff inlaid with a large pearl and closed her eyes as if sensing something.
The chieftains of the Lan tribe, Bamos, and the chieftains of the Bitao tribe, Grean, sat on either side, their eyes gleaming.
On the other side of the long table were the high-ranking members of the Crimson Raiders, led by Fan Ze.
General Fan Ze sat upright, maintaining the disciplined demeanor of a soldier even deep underwater.
Sitting next to him were the three deputy commanders, Babos, Will, and Beckman.
Although the Crimson Raiders were the main force of this support, and their ghost ship fleet was key to turning the tide of the battle, the group led by Van Ze adopted a very humble, even respectful, attitude in front of Claire.
This respect was not merely out of courtesy to the leader of an ally, nor entirely because of Claire's legendary strength and her status as the wielder of the Trident of Poseidon.
The deeper reason was clear to the core members of the Crimson Raiders present—this beautiful, almost ethereal mermaid queen most likely had an unusually close relationship with their emperor! (End of Chapter)