"With you included, that makes seven factions in total. There are too many of them to introduce one by one."

"Our Stormsea Mercantile Nation fleet has three Divine Chosen in total: Marianne, Shelley, and Airkly. Although two of them are Tier Three Divine Chosen, they’re not particularly suited for land combat."

"According to historical records, the mausoleum of the Empress of the Ancient Moon Empire is filled with danger and bizarre horrors. Of course, it also contains treasures that no ordinary person could ever resist."

"A few days ago, we dispatched a large number of scouting teams. Very few returned alive. Have you ever seen people who can walk along the bottom of the sea? Or flying heads? My goodness, they aren’t Corrupted Creatures. They’re genuine horrors."

"Flying heads? I remember those."

A bad memory immediately surfaced in Phield’s mind.

Back in the underground tunnels beneath the salt mine outpost, he had encountered one of those deathly pale floating heads. Its appearance had been grotesque, and it had viciously tried to break through the sealed gate.

"Your tea has arrived."

Two graceful young maids approached and poured each of them a cup of tea. The warm drink gradually eased Phield out of his unpleasant memories.

"That’s right. Those horrifying creatures are said to be the very reason the Ancient Moon Empire fell."

Phield’s hand trembled slightly.

"Could it have been a Calamity?"

"I don’t think so."

Riemann shook his head before pulling an ancient book from a drawer and handing it to Phield.

"It’s nothing more than an old legend. I’m a merchant, so I have no interest in stories like that. The only thing on my mind is charging into the mausoleum, slaughtering every monster inside, and walking away with every last piece of treasure."

"So am I."

Phield was equally curious about what lay beyond that door.

The underground gate already had numerous cracks. At this rate, it would only be a matter of time before the monsters broke through.

Instead of waiting for disaster to arrive, it would be better to strike first.

"As for dividing the spoils, any treasures found along the way belong to whoever discovers them. As for the final treasury, we’ll discuss that when the time comes."

Riemann produced a temporary alliance agreement.

After signing the agreement, Phield returned to the deck.

The banquet had already begun.

A lively band made up of sailors missing arms and legs sang and danced enthusiastically, filling the ship with excitement.

Long banquet tables on both sides overflowed with food. It might not all taste good, but most of the fruits and fish were unlike anything Phield had ever seen.

Firomina happily wandered around stuffing anything that caught her interest into her mouth. Every now and then, she brought something back for Phield as well.

"It’s pretty interesting getting to experience the culture of another country."

"Yes."

Tisiana nodded.

"If we ever get the chance, I’ll take you to my homeland. It’s beautiful there too."

Phield picked up a piece of bright orange fruit, intending to feed it to his little angel.

Before he could, an unpleasant voice interrupted him.

"What a lovely, pitiful little woman. I never imagined this empire would have someone so beautiful."

A slightly drunk young man swirled the crystal goblet in his hand as he approached Firomina with a wicked grin.

He reached out to grab her, but she dodged him.

Laughing, he said, "What a lively little deer. You’re mine tonight. Perfect timing too. That old woman Airkly isn’t around."

Firomina’s ability to think was extremely limited. She could only wave her hands in panic as she stumbled backward in circles, repeatedly calling out in fear.

"Master... Master..."

Miku burst into laughter and spread his arms wide.

"Oh? So you have a husband... Hmm? Master? Are you calling me? Even better."

His smile grew even more malicious.

"It doesn’t matter who comes. I’m a naval commander. I’ve got plenty of ways to deal with this."

"As expected of Lord Miku."

"I heard he’s the adopted son of the Governor of the Stormsea Mercantile Nation. He once threw a woman’s husband overboard right in front of her and fed him to the fish."

"No wonder he’s so arrogant. This is going to be entertaining."

The surrounding rabble eagerly gathered around, cheering as they anticipated a spectacle.

"She is my Divine Chosen."

Phield frowned deeply as he strode straight toward Miku, making no attempt to conceal the killing intent radiating from him.

"Not for much longer."

Miku answered casually, reaching toward Firomina again.

Before his hand could touch her, he suddenly felt someone seize him by the hair.

The next instant, the world spun violently.

Phield slammed him into the deck with tremendous force, nearly knocking the breath out of him.

"You bastard."

Fury blazed in Phield’s eyes.

"You actually dared to provoke my people right in front of me."

He snorted coldly before planting his foot squarely on Miku’s face and grinding it back and forth.

"If you don’t want your face anymore, donate it to someone who actually needs one."

"Waaah..."

Firomina threw herself into Phield’s arms, quietly sobbing.

"There, there. I won’t let you out of my sight again."

His heart ached for her as he gently stroked her head.

In her Moonlight Form, she had virtually no ability to take care of herself. She needed constant protection.

Although she did possess an instinctive defensive mechanism that would transform her if she truly encountered danger, he still couldn’t bear seeing her frightened.

"You worthless piece of trash. You drink a little alcohol and suddenly think you’re brave enough to mess with me?"

Seeing his little moon so terrified only made Phield angrier.

To hell with etiquette and international diplomacy.

He slapped Miku, who had barely managed to stand up, sending him crashing to the deck again before driving several vicious kicks into his stomach.

"Give him hell, my lord!"

Even Tisiana was trembling with anger, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

She desperately wanted to beat him up herself.

However, considering that someone like him might actually enjoy being kicked by her, she simply remained at the side, enthusiastically cheering Phield on instead.

"Damn you! You actually dared to hit me! Do you even know who I am?"

Miku clutched his head and shouted with all his strength.

"Do you know who I am? I’m your father."

Phield yanked him back up and began slapping him across the face over and over again.

What a joke.

The Sacred Griffin Empire might have rotted to the core, but it was still far beyond anything the Stormsea Mercantile Nation could compare to.

The entire Stormsea Mercantile Nation was only about the size of two imperial provinces.

Trying to use the adopted son of a small nation’s naval governor to threaten a ruling baron of a great empire was nothing more than failing to understand who truly held power.

"Please stop, Sir Phield!"

Riemann had just emerged from the cabin when the scene before him nearly scared him senseless.

"Please stop! He’s a lord! He’s Lady Airkly’s lord, and he’s also the adopted son of our Navy Governor!"

Airkly was the same Divine Chosen whom Ashina had nearly killed in a single strike.

Phield let out a cold snort.

"It doesn’t matter who comes."

"I already gave him a chance."

"If he refuses to value his own life, then he deserves to go to hell."

Cold sweat poured down Riemann’s back.

He had never imagined Phield could be so domineering.

During their earlier conversation, he had thought the man was quite gentle.

He didn’t want to offend Phield, but for the sake of his own future, he could only plead.

"We’ll compensate you. Please spare him."

"The main force of our fleet is stationed off the coast of Dawnfall Domain. Please don’t damage the relationship between our two nations."

"And besides, Airkly was injured during the expedition a few days ago, so she wasn’t able to keep Mr. Miku under control."

"Please, for the sake of our temporary alliance, show him mercy this once."