Chapter Sixty-Four: The Meaning of Strength

A few people exchanged glances, and the fox-eared young man with the most experience spoke solemnly.

“If we strictly follow the laws of the Ost Empire, without the above certificates, we would be deemed illegal immigrants from overseas—mildly, we would be expelled and not allowed to land, and in severe cases, all our ships and supplies would be seized by the state, and the crew would be imprisoned and interrogated for espionage.”

“Originally, through the connections of the Lingyin Merchant Association, I had arranged for someone to meet us at the designated landing port of Layira. They could help the caravan avoid a series of troublesome checks and smoothly enter the port, but I never expected… to encounter the navy fleet of the Empire just as we were about to arrive. This is quite the problem.”

The Priestess raised her brow slightly.

“You mean these bureaucrats would actually take the time to check the certificates of the ships they encounter? Are they that bored?”

“Typically, they wouldn’t check small boats along the way…”

Nitira scratched her smooth scales on her face, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

“But this ship currently has a large number of warriors from the Merman Tribe aboard, and its size is very noticeable. The Empire is always strict about the passage of overseas races. Unless the fleet commander is engaged in some urgent mission, they will definitely approach us and conduct a search.”

“As you know, this is already the territorial waters of the Empire. Legally, we have no right to refuse their search, and the Ost Empire is known for its strong diplomacy, meaning there’s even a possibility of a military conflict arising if things go badly.”

“I’m really sorry, Miss Vilyric. I initially planned to… escort you to about a hundred kilometers from the coastline and then bring the troops back to avoid unnecessary conflict with the Empire’s coastal patrols. That distance was supposed to be very safe, but now… why has the main fleet of the Ost Empire suddenly set sail?!”

“Alright, this can’t all be blamed on you.”

After simply reassuring the somewhat anxious and helpless princess, the Priestess turned her gaze back to the massive fleet array that was steadily approaching.

“So, my lady… what should we do now? At this distance, the size of our ship must have already attracted attention. Should we turn and avoid them? The Noah’s Ark has a fast sailing speed that ordinary warships cannot catch up to, and the other side, as an official navy, wouldn’t be able to pursue us for long without orders.”

Considering Ming Lan’s suggestion that only the two could hear, Vilyric quickly shook her head.

“Don’t forget, there are Merfolk in the sea as well. The Ost Empire’s warship might not catch up to the Noah’s Ark, but can they not catch up to those swimming in the water? Even if all the Merfolk boarded the ship, it would take a lot of time. By then, turning to leave would definitely be too late.”

“Moreover, our ship is too recognizable. If we awkwardly flee from here, the Empire’s coast will likely post wanted notices in no time, and at that point, the people you’ve arranged might not even help the Merchant Association land smoothly. That’s a last resort.”

“So what do you mean…”

“Let’s observe the situation. We haven’t done anything wrong. As long as we reveal the name of certain powers, the Ost Empire should save some face, after all… the navy also needs money to function, right?”

With a glance at the Grand Steward, who understood her intent and nodded before leaving, Vilyric turned to Nitira beside her.

“Princess, the situation is urgent. Please gather the Merfolk in the sea quickly and have them hide in the ship’s cabin, out of sight from the enemy. As long as we aren’t seen as carrying heavy armed foreign forces, our position will be much easier.”

“Okay, I’ll go now! Qiqi, Hong Yan, please help relay the orders too!”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Alright!”

Seeing the Priestess make a decisive decision, Nitira didn’t hesitate and immediately jumped off the deck, splitting into three directions to dive into the sea. Thanks to the Merman pearls gifted by Queen Anies and their practice over time, the two could now move freely underwater.

Once her subordinates and companions left, the Black-haired Girl walked to the edge of the deck, leaning on the railing as she gazed at the massive fleet array visibly adjusting its direction and speeding toward them. After a moment of silent thought, she turned around and smiled at the Golden-haired Little Girl who had appeared by her side.

“Did I wake you? Sorry, it seems there was a sudden situation.”

The newcomer was, of course, the Little Dragon Daughter, who, having just been “born,” currently had an above-average need for food and sleep compared to ordinary beings. With little else to do, her days mostly consisted of foraging, eating, and listening to Vilyric teach her various knowledge, with the rest of the time spent sleeping.

Vilyric wasn’t sure how long this state would last, but since her pet needed it, she tried her best to provide the best conditions. Just a moment ago, the little one was dozing comfortably on the deck, basking in the sun, but considering the commotion they just had…

Like a little cat, the small dragon rubbed her cheek against the Black-haired Girl’s hand. She shook her head, and in the golden light of her fierce eyes, the giant ships approaching in an orderly manner looked like tiny marching ants, leaving behind only faint reflections that quickly vanished.

Soon, she asked with a hint of confusion.

“Master, why do you seem so cautious and wary of those frail metal blocks? With the magical power they possess, you could easily turn them into scrap floating on the sea, right? Or do they actually hold some hidden trump card I haven’t noticed?”

Clearly, Xiao Guang had been awake for a while and had heard most of the conversation. Although she hadn’t regained her main memories yet, her ability to judge the enemy’s strength remained sharp, even sharper than before.

Hearing this, Vilyric smiled in a somewhat doting manner, gently moving her palm up to caress the Little Dragon Daughter’s golden hair, which was softer than silk.

“You really haven’t changed at all. I remember you asking me similar questions before, like why to make friends with beings much weaker than yourself, why could we solve things directly with force, yet we choose to communicate and negotiate as equals instead…”

“Xiao Guang, you might not remember it now, or perhaps you never truly understood and accepted my explanations. So, I’ll say it once more.”

“Take our current situation as an example, yes, if we really went all out, we could likely annihilate this Imperial fleet in front of us, but what would that bring me? A senseless slaughter, a sea of flames and broken ships, or perhaps the worship or fear of others on the ship?”

“The more unparalleled strength one possesses, the more one needs to maintain a proper respect and moderation towards that strength. While brute force can solve most problems in the world, our lives cannot simply be filled with harm and violence.”

“You must remember, in most situations, using force is a last resort, a backup plan rather than the best choice, because we possess intelligence and live in civilization, not merely know how to bite and drink blood like beasts, understand?”

“Strength is not meant to create disaster… but exists to protect what is beautiful.”

   

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