Chapter 93: Politics Requires a Show
External views on Fish-man Island can be roughly divided into three categories.
The first category consists of extreme racists who discriminate equally against everyone except themselves—namely, the Celestial Dragons and similar types.
There is nothing much to say about this group. Except for a very few special individuals, there is no possibility of reconciliation; they are enemies that need to be struck down and eliminated.
The second category is the group friendly towards Fish-man Island. They hold no prejudice and interact normally.
The most numerous group, however, is the third category: those who know nothing about Fish-man Island and understand the outside world only through newspapers and legends.
The merchant who sought out Nereus was also one of the sources of news about the deep sea for this third category of people.
The danger brought by the natural barrier of the deep sea is not low. People who conduct commercial trade despite such risks naturally do so for profit. As long as the profit is high enough, there will always be merchants willing to undertake actions incomprehensible to ordinary people.
A stable business environment affects not only the reputation in the eyes of ordinary people but also the economic development of Fish-man Island itself.
Since he had heard about an unstable factor like Vander Decken, Nereus naturally couldn't ignore it.
"I naturally believe your words. May I ask how long it will take? I still need to discuss this matter with my other partners."
The merchant breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, merchant ships being robbed was not uncommon on this sea. In most cases, one could only accept bad luck.
After all, they were robbed on the way to Fish-man Island, not on local territory.
Even human nations on land might not bother with such matters.
On islands occupied by pirates, even if protection fees were paid, the other party choosing to act as a deterrent might not guarantee the retrieval of one's goods.
The loss of goods was their own affair. When someone else defeated the raiders and retrieved the goods, although the goods remained unchanged, the nature of the goods had become spoils of war.
As for the Marines, if encountered during a patrol or if the mission target happened to be a certain pirate crew, the Marines would indeed intervene.
But if the Marines didn't originally have this mission target, extra money would be required. Even member nations had to pay if they wanted the Marines to help execute additional missions.
The merchant came to Nereus purely with a try-and-see attitude. His investment this time was too great.
If he couldn't retrieve this batch of goods, only ruin awaited him.
As a fellow merchant, he knew best what kind of virtue his partners possessed. Usually calling each other brothers, but when someone was truly in trouble, let alone helping each other, not kicking someone while they were down would be considered good behavior.
"Sebastian, find me information on that Vander Decken."
After the merchant left, Nereus instructed Sebastian beside him.
"Big Bro, it's already prepared for you. Actually, it's not just in recent years that these people have been operating around Fish-man Island.
However, they only rob passing merchants and rarely conflict with pirates, nor have they violated your ban, Big Bro. The original Royal Family couldn't even manage domestic affairs, let alone these people wandering around the deep sea all day."
Ghost Ship, Flying Pirates—these were the records in Fish-man Island regarding Vander Decken. And not just in recent years, but tracing back several hundred years.
This ship seemed truly like a ghost ship, always circling around Fish-man Island, as if waiting for something.
"Just a guy who bullies the weak and fears the strong. Big Bro, give me three days, and I'll definitely handle this matter well."
"No need. I'll go personally this time."
"Big Bro, such a small character doesn't require your personal action."
"True, you guys should also have the ability to handle this kind of thing. Just treat this as a 'show'. If I act at a time like this, the effect will be better.
Aren't those original Neptune Army soldiers still employed? Let them mobilize too, act like they are conducting a search, and make the commotion a bit bigger."
Nereus's arrangements were quickly carried out. The next day, merchants staying on Fish-man Island heard the news that Nereus had personally gone out to pursue their stolen goods.
"Personally taking action..."
A King should be high above; this was the inherent perception of the vast majority of people on the sea.
The requirements for a good King were even lower. As long as this King didn't mess things up, he was already a good King.
There were Kings with strength, but those who personally took action for such matters were extremely rare.
"So what if he goes personally? The ocean is so vast; where will he find them? I think we're done for... If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have made this trip..."
"Even if it's a show, it shows he values us enough. Even if he ignored it, what could you do? There are so many merchant ships needing to pass through Fish-man Island; they won't miss just one of ours..."
"Of course I hope he succeeds... As long as he can retrieve our goods, I'd even set up a shrine for him at home! But..."
Looking at the gloomy ocean far from Fish-man Island, a sense of powerlessness rose in the heart of the merchant's partner.
...
Land merchants ultimately didn't understand the ocean environment. For land merchants, tracking the traces of Vander Decken VIII's Flying Pirates was indeed difficult.
They didn't go to the surface either, just drifting in the deep sea. Even the Marines couldn't do anything about them.
But the Flying Pirates never strayed far from Fish-man Island, the only source of light in the deep sea.
And ships sailing in the deep sea could only follow the currents. Following the nearby currents, it didn't take long for Nereus to discover a dilapidated wooden ship wrapped in a bubble film in the deep sea.
Two thick chains were connected to a Sea Beast, providing forward momentum for this dilapidated ship.
[Good boy, bring that ship to me, how about it?]
[Roar?]
The Sea Beast pulling the ship suddenly stopped but couldn't find the source of the voice.
[To your right.]
The Sea Beast couldn't describe what it felt, only that this voice was trustworthy. It immediately shifted direction and swam over proactively.
By the time the people of the Flying Pirates realized the Sea Beast had suddenly changed direction, a strange figure had already appeared on the ship.
"Gentlemen, can you tell me where Vander Decken VIII is?"
The old deck made a decaying sound, seeming as if it would shatter at any moment. The Fish-man pirates on the ship were stunned instantly. After seeing the person clearly, they were even more dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond.
"Um... Lord Nereus, do you have business with the Captain?"
A round Fish-man, so fat his neck wasn't visible, asked carefully from the side, drawing everyone's gaze to him.
Upon hearing that Nereus came because of the merchant ship's cargo, two loud bangs instantly came from the deck.
The deck let out a mournful groan. The person who was just asking questions was now kneeling on it. He was Vander Decken VIII.
"Lord Nereus! This is a misunderstanding! Please listen to my explanation!!"
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