Stranger Danger

“There is something I must ask, Your Highness. The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and the humans have always shared a good relationship, but today, you dug out many a human’s heart and procured the blood essence of children to serve us. Aren’t you afraid that you would anger the humans and invite calamity to your Eastern Sea Dragon Palace?”

The Shark General asked meaningfully while savoring the human hearts on the table.

“Afraid?”

Long Ao scoffed when he heard this, “Hmph. In ancient times, humans were nothing more than the slaves and livestocks of dragons. Why on earth would I fear prey?”

“Besides, they will die in just a matter of months. They are the ones who should be afraid, not me!”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?” Madam Mer asked puzzledly.

“I mean what I said,” the third crown prince replied, “I’ll speak frankly. The day the Four Seas Summit takes place is also the day the humans bleed.”

“Oh my,” Shark General joked while chewing his hearts, “Are you saying that you’re planning to massacre the Four Seas, Your Highness?”

“Yes? What’s the problem?” Long Ao asked after enjoying a sip of wine.

Shark General laughed loudly when he heard Long Ao’s response. “I’m not looking down on you, Your Highness, but some of the greatest human elites and geniuses would be gathered during the Four Seas Summit. Assuming you really are trying to invade the Four Seas, I’m pretty sure you would be meat paste long before you even reach their walls.”

Long Ao did not fall for the provocation, however. He rubbed his fingers across his wine cup while saying slowly, “I can’t do it alone, naturally. But what if you and I join hands? What if we all work together?”

“Work together?”

It was at this moment Shark General realized that Long Ao might not be joking after all. A deep frown appeared on his face, “This isn’t an elaborate joke, Your Highness?”

At this point, even Ink Toad King, Madam Mer and the Blood Sovereign realized that something was amiss. They all turned to look at Long Ao.

“You tell me. Do I look like I’m joking to you all?” Long Ao drained his cup and said coldly.

The atmosphere inside the palace grew deadly oppressive and silent in an instant. For a time, the only sound that existed was the sound of the Blood Sovereign’s blood dripping on the floor and flowing back into his body.

“What’s wrong? You still don’t believe me?”

Long Ao asked in an indifferent tone while examining their expressions, “Or maybe, you aren’t willing to help me?”

“This isn’t funny at all, Your Highness.”

Ink Toad King said in his childish voice, “Even if we believe you are serious, even if we lend you our aid, the idea of massacring the Four Seas with just the four of us is still no different from committing suicide. We simply are no match for the humans.”

“I don’t know about you, Your Highness, but we aren’t done living yet!”

“I understand your conundrum.”

Long Ao continued in the exact same tone, “But what if my Eastern Sea Dragon Palace is involved? What if the Four Seas Dragon Palace is involved as well? Do you think that would be enough?”

This time, Shark General, Madam Mer and Ink Toad King all shot to their feet. The looks of astonishment on their faces were evident, “The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace? The Four Seas Dragon Palace??”

“Tell me this isn’t a joke, Your Highness!”

“I think I’ve told you before. I never joke.” Long Ao seemed very satisfied with their responses.

“So, this isn’t an idea you came up with? It’s the will of the Four Seas Dragon Palace itself?” Shark General exclaimed in disbelief.

“That is exactly correct,” Long Ao confirmed.

“But… but… I thought the Four Seas Dragon Palace and the humans share a non-aggression treaty with each other? The humans will govern the land, and the dragons the sea. Such is the case until eternity… isn’t it?” Shark General stammered.

“Non-aggression treaty? Eternity?”

Long Ao sneered. “Bullshit! Humans were our slaves and livestock. What right do they have to be our equals? Why should we share the world with them? All things in the world belong to us dragons!”

“Back in the day, the First Dragon was the king of the entire world, and all races submitted to his rule. Later, the three human monarchs slew him in the Sky Beyond Sky, and stole our fruits of labor. That was the only reason the humans were able to rise to power, the thieves and rebels.”

“For countless years, we dragons never forgot about our shame and worked hard to improve ourselves. We have never forgotten our oath to resurrect the glory of the dragons!”

“Nine hundred years ago, my honored ancestor, the Dragon Sovereign singlehandedly united the four seas and pushed back against the vile humans. Unfortunately, he was outnumbered by the cowardly humans and suppressed at the Deep Abyss. Worse, the humans slew all who are even remotely tied to him by blood in hopes of severing our roots forever. This is a blood debt not even the sea can wash away, and you think we can just let bygones be bygones?”

“Besides, the four nations make it sound oh-so-nice and pretty, but they really see us as slaves and servants. ‘Humans govern the land, and the dragons the sea’? Bullshit!”

“The Four Seas Dragon Palace may have acted submissive before the humans since centuries ago, but we have never forgotten about our vengeance, our oaths, and definitely our hatred. We have made great efforts to prosper our race and secretly gathered our strength to rescue the Dragon Sovereign from the Deep Abyss. We swore that we would make the humans pay, and massacring the Four Seas and annihilating the geniuses of the four human nations is the first step.”

Long Ao continued in an icy voice, “The Four Seas Summit is a grand event everyone in the world pays attention to. By massacring the Four Seas and annihilating the geniuses of the four nations, we would be humiliating them and dealing them a serious blow.”

“...”

For a time, Ink Toad King, Madam Mer, Shark General and the Blood Sovereign could only stare at the spirited Long Ao in silence. They hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of his declaration.

“We are most impressed by the Four Seas Dragon Palace’s lofty ambitions,” Madam Mer was the first to break the silence, “but we must ask: why have you brought us here?”

They already knew the answer. They just needed confirmation.

“The humans are strong and many. Naturally, the four seas must come together to fight them,” Long Ao said simply. “The reason I invited you all today is simple. I would like you to join my Four Seas Dragon Palace so we may toil for our grand ambitions, together!”

Madam Mer, Shark General and the rest of the group exchanged glances with each other. No one was talking.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you believe me? Or are you reluctant to join us?”

Long Ao continued tirelessly, “Don’t you wish you have an endless supply of humans you can feed on? Haven’t you suffered enough under the humans’ oppression already? Do you actually enjoy the endless days of fear and suffering?”

“Don’t forget. You are all repeat human eaters. There is no chance the humans would ever tolerate the likes of you. In fact, it is entirely possible that you may become the geniuses’ targets during this year’s summit. I may never see you again next year today.”

“Only by joining my Four Seas Dragon Palace do you have a chance of surviving.”

The Blood Sovereign said bluntly, “Cut the crap. I only want to know two things. One, what will we get if we join you? And two, do you plan to use us as fodder?”

“My Four Seas Dragon Palace is currently contacting all aquatic factions and powerful Strangers of the Four Seas. As for me, I am the overseer of this sea region. If you choose to join the Four Seas Dragon Palace, you have my word that you will receive the respect you deserve, and you definitely won’t be discarded like fodder.”

Long Ao smiled. “The aquatic races of the four seas are really one big family after all. Besides, there is no other way to defeat the humans and regain our glory except working together.”

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