Chapter 431 - 340: Danger Is Approaching

Chapter 431: Chapter 340: Danger Is Approaching

"Is that cargo ship still sailing?" Shire asked, looking at the map in his hands before turning to Pazani beside him.

Pazani, the Naga Prince—or rather, the soon-to-be Naga King—nodded. The sharp movement pulled at a wound on his chest. A long, diagonal scar ran down his torso to his abdomen. The reddish mark, clearly recent, was stark against his deep blue scales.

"My people are watching them from the Darren River." Pazani leaned in to look at the map in Shire’s hand. "Are they really coming here?"

"I think so," Shire said calmly. "You probably don’t know the reputation of the War God Church’s Holy Order Army, but I know a little. They’re a bunch of battle fanatics. It’s said they’ve all sworn a Blood Oath to the God of Battle and Glory. Their combat strength is on par with, if not greater than, many High Tier Knight Orders. Plus, they use Divine Spells, so they don’t just rely on brute force."

"With that kind of power, the only reason for them to enter the forest would be to hunt large Magical Beasts. They could even take on High Level Magical Beasts with ease." Shire glanced up at Pazani. "Right now, their only possible targets are the Feathered Serpent Evil God... and, of course, your Naga Race."

"Us?" Pazani froze. "They can sneak into Darren Lake?"

"It’s hard to say. I don’t know much about Divine Magic." Shire smiled. "But I’m glad you’re helping. It proves our alliance treaty is still in effect."

"Helping you is helping ourselves," Pazani said, lightly tracing the scar on his chest. "If you were all killed, we’d probably be next. That’s how it was with the Feathered Serpent Evil God, and it’s the same now with these humans and their Holy Order Army."

"My race has been hunted by humans for millennia. The elders are well aware of their insidious tricks. When they can’t conquer us, they offer to trade or ask to learn from us. But as soon as they amass enough power to defeat us, they move straight to capture and slaughter."

"You certainly know a lot," Shire said, shaking his head slightly. "Humans can be very greedy."

"No, I’d say all races are greedy," Pazani sighed. "The elders say our records show that humans aren’t a race suited for learning Magic. It’s rare for individuals to be born among them with the Magic Talent needed to harmonize with the Magic Field. But my ancestors were greedy, too. They weren’t satisfied with living in the ocean and foolishly coveted the land. Unfortunately for them, humans at the time wanted to use the Naga Race’s Magic Potions to alter their bodies and gain the ability to practice Magic."

"Is that right?" Shire raised an eyebrow. He’d never heard that before. "What happened next?"

"Then," Pazani said with a bitter smile, "it was just as you said: the best hunters often appear as prey. When our ancestors swaggered onto the land, they walked right into human traps. By the time they realized what was happening, many had already been captured or killed. And the very thing that killed them was the Magic humans had just learned."

"After that, humans, Elves, and Dwarves hunted the Naga relentlessly, so we had to keep moving," Pazani shrugged. "You know the rest of the story."

"No wonder some humans are now born with Magic Talent. It’s the result of millennia of bloodline modification." Shire smiled. ’A lot can happen in a few thousand years. Those modified individuals must have influenced the next generation, which then led to the current situation through various forms of ’exchange’.

’Just like Vivian. She has astonishing Magic Talent, yet I know for a fact my family hasn’t produced a single Mage for generations.

’It’s like genetic evolution—a game of dominant and recessive traits.’

"Anyway, when do you become King?" Shire asked with a smile, changing the subject as he rolled up the map.

"I don’t know. Probably won’t have time," Pazani sighed. "I was hoping to rest for a few days after finishing my trial. But when the elders found out I’d completed it ahead of schedule, they were thrilled. They said that since I’m going to be King soon, I can start taking over the Kingdom duties they’ve been handling."

"I never expected a Naga King had to manage so much. I even have to oversee the hatchery! I’m starting to regret taking the coming-of-age trial. I’m beginning to think my father didn’t die of desalinization sickness... he was probably worked to death."

"That’s why I told you to get in touch with the Frogmen. You can hire them to handle some of these things. The Frogmen prefer to live on the shore, so they won’t compete with you for territory in the lake." Shire waved his hand dismissively, consoling the Naga Prince. "The weather is still a bit cold, and this area hasn’t been completely cleared yet. I’ll have the Frogmen move over in the spring. You can get in touch with them then."

"The Frogmen?" Pazani thought back to his previous encounter with them and nodded. "Will they agree?"

"Of course they will. After all, you’re the ’savior’ who passed through the Egg-Birth Gate," Shire said, patting Pazani’s scales. "On a different note, what did your elders say about the alliance with the Goblins? Aren’t they afraid the Goblins will become the next ’humans’?"