Chapter 305: Ten Trillion

After Odette left, Rhea looked at Cassian in confusion.

"Lord, aren’t we enemies of Western Beacon?"

He gave her cheek a light pinch and smiled.

"The Concord Society, the Skull faction, and Free Will compete with one another. The Bloodkin represent the Skull faction in Western Beacon. Why wouldn’t they make a little trouble for their rivals?"

He paused.

"Besides, I’m interested in the River of Blood."

Like the Worldwood and the River of the Dead, the River of Blood was an Eternal Wild Troop Building, with power far beyond anything an ordinary Lord could imagine. Supposedly, its upper reaches allowed the direct recruitment of Mythic Blood Emperors.

For now, this was only a connection worth keeping. He was far from ready to set his sights on the River itself.

He was not even a Bloodkin.

——

The Ghost fleet continued north, raiding through the Black Banner’s home waters.

Before long, its destination became clear.

[They’re heading for the Gildwake Banks!]

[First our shipping, now our greatest fishing grounds? They think they can take anything they please!]

[Gather every troop that can fight at sea. We defend the Banks to the last soldier!]

[I have a squad of Epic Eight-Armed Naga. Count me in!]

The Gildwake Banks were one of the four great fishing grounds discovered in the Homeworld’s newcomer sector. They stretched for more than a thousand kilometers, teeming with fish of every kind. Even Legendary fish could be caught there.

In a single month, the Banks generated tens of billions of Aether in economic activity.

For once, the Black Banner’s Lords seemed united in their resolve.

Cassian was hopeful too. If they gathered another army, he could gather another rich harvest of Battle Essence.

A day later, Liora’s fleet reached the beautiful golden waters.

There was no enemy fleet. Not even a fishing boat remained.

The Black Banner had abandoned the Gildwake Banks without a fight.

Cassian was disappointed.

He assigned part of the fleet to patrol the fishing grounds and hunt the local monsters. The rest continued sinking vessels belonging to Lords who thought they might slip out to sea unnoticed.

The Crystal Maidens made that hope a dangerous one. Spread among the fleet’s groups, the casters swept the sea with Echo Survey and guided the ships toward their targets. With little more than a hundred warships moving along the coast, Cassian imposed a blockade across nearly a hundred thousand kilometers of shoreline.

He had heard plenty about the Gildwake Banks. Now he wanted to see them for himself.

Cassian paid for passage through Ghost One’s existing Gate to Forgotten Shrine, then opened the registered link to an older Carrier with Liora’s force.

A Legendary fishing boat arrived through the Exchange. He released it and paid its growth costs, then brought dozens of the Domain’s Legendary Farmers through the paid Gate passage to work aboard it.

The first net came up heavy.

One Legendary Golden Wyrmfish. More than thirty Epic Silver Wyrmfish. Rare fish in such numbers that the Farmers were still sorting them when Cassian came to look.

The Golden Wyrmfish was only five meters long, with a narrow, ribbonlike body and whiskers a meter in length. Golden light shimmered along its scales. It radiated rich spiritual power.

A creature like this was born to be an exceptional ingredient. It granted more attribute benefits than the meat of a monster of equal Quality, and its flavor was better by far. That was why Golden Wyrmfish sold for three to five times the price of Legendary sea-dragon meat.

"The boat and the Farmers certainly helped," Cassian said, looking over the catch. "But these Banks deserve their reputation."

He took a picture and posted it in the Homeworld Channel.

Black Banner Lords stared at it in fury.

Their enemy was displaying his catch from their own home waters. Precious resources that had belonged to their nation were lying on his deck, and all their leaders could do was watch.

They were learning exactly what it meant to be the weaker side.

One of Divine Province’s officials was quick to reply.

[Boss, when do the rest of us get to taste Black Banner seafood?]

[Cassian Vale: Right now.]

In an excellent mood, he listed the entire catch at Epic Quality and below on the Exchange at reduced prices, available to Divine Province’s Lords.

He limited each buyer to one fish. Everything still sold almost at once.

[I didn’t get one!]

[Delicious. Taking it from them makes it taste even better.]

[Cassian Vale: Don’t worry. The Gildwake Banks are big enough for everyone to have a share.]

Then he opened the management group.

[Cassian: Come to my Domain tonight. We’re having Golden Wyrmfish.]

Nessa and the other food lovers answered with a burst of delighted messages.

——

Ten more days passed.

Divine Province’s leaders were still fondly recalling the taste of that dinner when the Black Banner finally gave in.

Nerissa Vaust spoke on her nation’s behalf.

[Nerissa Vaust: Lord Cassian, are you here? The Gildwake Banks are well over a hundred thousand kilometers from Divine Province. Even if you occupy them, your fishing boats cannot work those waters on a large scale. Why waste your military strength guarding a place you can’t fully use?]

A nation appealing to a single Province was humiliating enough. Having to do it in public made it worse.

The Black Banner’s leaders had tried to arrange private talks. Cassian had ignored them.

His meaning was clear. If they wanted to negotiate, they could do it in the Homeworld Channel, where everyone could hear.

The Channel fell quiet. Lords across the Realm waited for his answer.

[Cassian Vale: That’s fine. As long as your people can’t fish there, I’m happy.]

Crown Lords broke into laughter.

Nerissa swallowed her anger.

[Nerissa Vaust: There have been misunderstandings between our nation and Divine Province. But the Crown has always taken pride in its courtesy and civilization. We hope you will uphold those traditions and show mercy now that you have the advantage.]

Corven Talcrest joined her appeal.

[Corven Talcrest: The Crown is an ancient and noble power. Divine Province’s banditry disgraces us all.]

Angry replies poured in. Darian’s was among the first.

[Darian Frost: Ever since that little bitch Celestine took charge, the Jade Court has done nothing but crawl at other people’s feet.]

Corven seemed unable to believe what he had read.

[Corven Talcrest: You dare insult the Dowager? A Sovereign?]

Plenty of Crown Lords resented the Jade Court. Few had ever spoken with such open contempt.

[Lana Whitmere: Well said, Darian! Though why "little"? Surely "old bitch" would be more accurate.]

[Corven Talcrest: You...]

He said nothing more. Whether rage or fear had silenced him, Crown Lords found the result deeply satisfying.

Nerissa had hoped the Black Banner’s allies would speak up. They might pressure Divine Province together, or at least appeal for leniency.

Apart from the Jade Court, every nation’s officials remained silent. Even the western alliance offered nothing.

No one wanted to draw Cassian’s attention. If his fleet turned toward their own home waters, they would have only themselves to blame.

Nerissa finally abandoned the appeals to virtue.

[Nerissa Vaust: Lord Cassian, what are your conditions for withdrawing the fleet?]

Cassian smiled. That was the question he had been waiting for.

[Cassian Vale: Hostile powers led by the Black Banner have attacked Divine Province repeatedly. Those invasions have inflicted lasting harm on us.]

[Cassian Vale: According to our preliminary assessment, the economic losses alone exceed ten trillion Aether.]

Nerissa interrupted before she could stop herself.

[Nerissa Vaust: Wait. Lord Cassian, have I read that figure correctly?]

[Cassian Vale: You have. Ten trillion. And we haven’t finished counting.]

The Black Banner’s leaders were stunned. They had expected an outrageous demand. None of them had imagined an appetite this large.