Chapter 122: Alliance

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Alliance

"A price Count Lumbar will remember for the rest of his life..."

Casli’s tone was very cautious. "What do you have in mind?"

"Dawei Province is currently the main battlefield between the Lanton Duchy and the Wata Duchy, so Lumbar must be at his wit’s end." Yavira seemed to have had a plan all along. The moment Casli asked, she laid her cards on the table. "If a series of disturbances were to break out along the coast, affecting the war effort at the front, don’t you think Lumbar would fly into a rage?"

Casli pursed his lips and didn’t respond immediately.

Yavira acted as if it were a matter of course, but from Casli’s perspective, she was being far too idealistic.

As a powerful Count of the Lanton Duchy, Lumbar came from a family that had been entrenched in Dawei Province for nearly three hundred years. The resources he could mobilize were simply unimaginable. Even with Dawei Province in a state of war, if they angered Count Lumbar, all he would need to do is withstand the pressure at the front and spare a hand to deal with two major Pirate Gangs. If that happened, annihilation would be their only fate.

"I’m sorry, Ms. Yavira, but I don’t believe our two navigation teams, even merged, could go head-to-head with Count Lumbar."

Casli hadn’t let hatred cloud his judgment the way Yavira had.

He knew very well that even though the major Pirate Gangs were currently running rampant in the coastal towns of Dawei Province, it was all just child’s play in the grand scheme of things. If they had ever truly threatened Count Lumbar’s core interests, they would have been exterminated or driven far out to sea long ago.

Seeing Casli’s expression, Yavira sighed.

She knew she didn’t have any more leverage to convince Casli at the moment.

Casli was no hothead. He understood the risks involved all too well.

"In that case, I can take a step back."

Though disappointed, Yavira had other arrangements. "If we can’t do something that will make Lumbar regret it for the rest of his life, then doing something that will leave a stain on his noble career will suffice."

"Such as?"

Casli was beginning to think this Yavira woman was a bit of an extremist.

"Such as completely destroying one of the lordships under his rule."

A flash of hatred passed through Yavira’s eyes.

Casli’s pupils constricted.

Destroying a lordship under Count Lumbar’s authority would indeed be a massive blow to his prestige.

A Count Lord could discipline his own Little Lords, and those Little Lords could be scattered and broken in open warfare. But they absolutely could not be wiped out by a band of roving Pirates. Such insignificant, fringe forces were beneath contempt, and for them to destroy a Lord would be an act of utter defiance and provocation against a mainstream power.

If something like that were to happen, Count Lumbar would surely be ridiculed by the other provincial Counts in the Lanton Duchy.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that proposal either."

Casli was a wily old fox, nearly impossible to sway.

Although Yavira’s proposal wouldn’t strike a major blow to Count Lumbar’s core interests, it was more than enough to send him into a rage.

They would no sooner do such a thing than Count Lumbar would come to settle the score. While the Count might not use his full strength to annihilate them, he would certainly raise the coastal defenses of the entire Dawei Province to a new level. When that happened, it would become very difficult for the major Pirate Gangs to survive.

"Don’t be so quick to refuse this time."

Yavira seemed to have anticipated this. She added, "As long as you accept my proposal, Casli, I guarantee that the merged navigation team will still be able to roam the seas freely."

"Oh?"

Casli looked skeptical.

"The continent is vast. Why must we remain entrenched near the Lanton Duchy?" Yavira’s tone was enticing. "I’ve already prepared a fallback in the overseas archipelagos of the Sosen Duchy. The Shell Pirate Gang already has several strongholds there. Once we finish our last job in Dawei Province, we’ll immediately retreat. With the strength of our merged navigation team, plus the preparations I’ve already made, we’ll have enough power to sweep away all the maritime forces in that region. When that happens, you will be the leader of a grand navigation team three thousand strong!"

Casli’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

It was just as Yavira said. The maritime forces near the Sosen Duchy weren’t particularly strong. If the Green Tree Navigation Team and the Shell Navigation Team were to merge, and with Yavira’s contingency plans in place, they might truly be able to create a massive navigation team on the level of three thousand men!

"I hope you’ll seriously consider my words, Casli. I am being completely sincere."

Seeing that Casli was tempted, Yavira added a timely reminder.

Casli fell into a long silence. Finally, he spoke. "How can I be sure that what you’re saying is true? And are you really willing to completely give up all your authority over the Shell Navigation Team?"

’Would the renowned Ms. Yavira really give up the force she had spent so many years painstakingly building?’

"I can give you ample time to verify all of this, Casli."

Yavira’s tone was firm.

Casli was completely sold. If everything she said was true, then this was truly a rare opportunity laid out before him.

"Is it worth it? All just for revenge?"

Casli looked deeply at Yavira.

"The root of my suffering will never decay on its own. Everything I am doing is worth it."

Yavira was expressionless.

Casli nodded gravely. "I accept your proposal..."

A flicker of delight showed in Yavira’s eyes. She was about to speak but was cut off by Casli. "But I have one more condition. There’s something else I want."

"What?"

Yavira asked. At this point, she was willing to pay any price.

Casli didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his appraising gaze swept over Yavira’s body.

"I said I’ll give you anything you want."

Yavira lightly licked her fiery red lips. She knew exactly what Casli wanted.

Receiving his unspoken confirmation, Casli laughed heartily and filled two glasses with red wine.

"To our successful collaboration!"

A sharp glint shone in Casli’s eyes.

"To a successful collaboration."

In Yavira’s eyes, the flames of revenge flickered.

Each with their own ulterior motives, the two of them drained their glasses of red wine.

"By the way, what target are you planning to destroy?"

Casli asked.

It would be troublesome if Yavira’s chosen target was one of the larger territories.

But he was clearly worrying for nothing.

Hearing this, Yavira didn’t answer directly. She stood, walked over to a hanging sea chart, and gently pointed to a circled area. The place name in that area was written in the Wuya Language.

Blue Whale Town!