Deep Sea Hunter, but Deep Sea Titan

"However, that's enough."

Chapter 161: W Knowledge Explosion

W originally didn't have a valid reason to board the airship, but Lotin didn't give her a chance to sneak away.

Therefore, a simple classroom was set up not far from Lotin's temporary room.

This was used for "private tutoring" of W.

"You're working very hard."

"Once you've learned enough, give yourself a name you like."

As long as W doesn't go too far with his madness, Theresa can still maintain a fairly gentle attitude towards this young follower.

Basically, Theresa herself no longer sees anyone as her follower; she is dead, and people should not dwell on the illusions of the past.

Sitting in front of her was just a young, illiterate Sarkaz woman, nothing more.

"what."

W has a terrible headache right now. In a small notebook that she always carries with her, there are a few Sarkaz characters—or perhaps they can be considered words—written crookedly.

She tried very hard to memorize the symbols, and she strongly suspected that this learning opportunity provided by His Highness was actually part of the torture Lotin was inflicting on her.

"Who invented these characters...?"

Upon hearing W's complaint, Theresa instinctively wanted to recount some history of the Sarkaz language and writing system, but W saw through her intention.

This historical knowledge also gave her a headache.

"Your Highness, Nautilus, why are you being treated this way?"

W was well aware that since she wanted to blow the other person up, it was perfectly reasonable for the other person to want to kill her, even though the other person spared her life out of some kind of perverse pleasure.

"..."

Theresa silently watched W, who was as curious as a baby. It wasn't that she couldn't talk about this topic, but rather that she didn't know how to explain it to W in a way that W could understand.

After all, this silly child can't even listen to historical stories.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Your Highness, I shouldn't have asked."

W lowered her head in shame, thinking she had reminded Theresa of some painful memories.

Theresa's actual state is completely open; given her current situation, being open is indeed the best option.

"In the end, I still touched something I shouldn't have."

Theresa let out a soft sigh.

"You no longer need to call me Your Highness. The Highness you should serve is the [Conqueror]."

"This way, it's better for both of us."

Theresa gently closed the book; at least for the future of Sarkaz, she felt at ease.

However, compared to her, Lotin would certainly prefer to train more warriors and hunters, but that would at least prevent the Sarkaz from becoming homeless again.

W slumped lazily on the table and sighed, like a schoolchild who hated school. She was more relaxed than ever in front of Theresa.

"Will he make all Sarkaz sit in class like I do?"

W tilted her head and asked her teacher—not the Demon King, but "teacher" Theresa—a question.

"He will. But that's not his ultimate goal."

Theresa knew that the Conqueror's protection of the Sarkaz was so that this warlike race would forever pay him a tithe through war.

She couldn't agree with this on principle, but given the current situation, the Sarkaz had no choice but to sign this contract of servitude.

[Conqueror] never breaks his word; this "contract of servitude" truly guarantees the eternal continuation of the Sarkaz.

"Is he really that good?"

W also wanted to blow up Theresa as soon as they met, and Lotin's actions were just a response to her hostility, which W knew perfectly well.

The various tortures that Krotin inflicted on her did indeed instill in her a fear of the Conquerors.

But those were all things Luo did when she was having a fit of madness; Luo Ting wouldn't simply take pleasure in tormenting W for no reason.

"A balance scale, with chips placed on top, if the chips are right, you can gain its power."

"However, not everyone is qualified to place their bets."

For example, Theresa and her brother's actions of tinkering with Originium touched upon a matter of principle.

With nothing better to do, Theresa did reflect on a lot.

"I don't understand this person."

W shook his head and began practicing strokes in his notebook again, albeit in a crooked and messy manner.

When Hadley and Ines, who were passing by, saw that W was actually sitting obediently and learning to read, they showed expressions of disbelief. Lotin was quite impressed by their reactions.

"So, those who stay in Kazdel, well, are all old guys."

Lotin could already see Kazdel from the deck; it was more of a ruin than a city.

"They were both members of the military council and warmongers who ran the Scars Mall to monopolize the mercenary market."

Hedley revealed the intelligence without reservation. He was smart; he understood that Lotin was highly efficient as an output agent.

The more detailed the intelligence he provides, the better.

"So, we can also consider the remaining forces of the Military Council as remnants of Theresis, right?"

The Doctor was also listening to Hedley's intelligence report. She was not accompanying Lotin on this trip for Rhodes Island.

The Rhodes Island office can wait until the new regime in Kazdel stabilizes before making contact.

This time, she was only following the person who mattered to her because of her own wishes.

Rhodes Island will, as originally agreed, respect its principles and course of action.

"That's basically it, except that there were also some former nobles who compromised with the Regent because of Theresis's repression."

"Among them are some quasi-separatist forces that have emerged from the free villages of Sarkaz."

"Without the regent's pressure, they will become restless."

Hedley had a lot of intelligence about them.

"What about the Senate?"

Loting knew very little about the current state of this ruin; it was a place outside the main storyline, much like the "Tide Stone Town," which was only mentioned briefly in the plot.

Loting would naturally patiently gather the necessary intelligence for such a place.

The Senate was only mentioned by Kosiché in the original storyline, but Lotin believes that Ducaré should know about it.

"That Senate, which can be compared to the kings..."

"After Kazdel was destroyed again, the Senate remained an empty revolving door, and Theresis promised to re-elect the Senate after the war was won."

"The ten most powerful royal courts will be among them."

Ducarre recalled the Regent's many promises, including the re-election of the Senate.

As long as these so-called "former elites" have decent abilities and attitudes, they can be spared.

If they still harbor any illusions, then invite them to a "banquet" in a reasonable place and ask them to "obediently leave."

As for the Senate... it's questionable whether they can even muster 10 royal courts right now.

What was the attitude of the banshees?

Lotin asked the doctor this question.

"You mean Rhodes Island's elite operator Logs? He didn't return to the ship from Banshee Valley during the operation."

"The attitude of the Banshee Royal Court is still unclear; it may be more of a cautious fear."

As one of the commanders of Rhodes Island, the Doctor confirmed the status of all Sarkaz elite operators when organizing the members of the Lontinium Special Operations Team.

The Doctor can easily analyze why the Banshee Royal Court was unwilling to let the operator Logs return to the ship at this point.

They probably already know that Rhodes Island and Nautilus have reached a series of agreements.

Furthermore, their understanding of "Nautilus," at least regarding the "Conquerors" aspect, is more comprehensive than that of Rhodes Island.

"The banshees have become so decadent and depraved, weary of war, that they huddle in the Banshee Valley."

Ducarre gave a disdainful look.

Lotin guessed that they, like the Regent, had received the ominous warning from the court regarding the Cyclops, which led them to adopt a passive and negative attitude.

This is probably because of Lotin's presence that the plot took a wrong turn.

"The liches are now serving Letania, and the Ominous Court of the Cyclopes is hiding in the North."

"There's no need to be fixated on finding all the royal courts."

Luo Ting intended to make things clear: "Come back if you want, or don't."

It's not like we can't build Kazdel without you.

His approach to this is somewhat similar to that of Theresis.

He and the scavengers could try to find a way to bring Bozokastie back.

"Let's land and see what the attitude of those old fogies who stayed behind is, waiting for the arrival and reunion of the King of Carrion."

Chapter 162: How to manage Kazdel while dealing with these insects?

Sarkaz society was not lacking in nobles with fiefdoms in the past, and even the most powerful Sarkaz dynasty had a rather loose system of centralized power.

Today, in the lands without nobles, many free villages are scattered around Kazdel, barely maintaining their basic survival through small-scale, self-sufficient agriculture.

The other industry, however, offers much higher returns.

The Sarkaz are known for their ruthless mercenaries, and the Scar Marketplace monopolizes Sarkaz mercenary orders, also known as the infamous but highly valuable "Pain Orders."

The Sarkaz, who control the mercenary black market "Scar Marketplace," are a force that even the Regent cannot ignore.

The ancient stone buildings built by the Stonewing Demon Clan are now riddled with holes, and the ragged Sarkaz commoners use rags and planks to shelter them from the wind and rain.

In the heart of the city, the most complete and "luxurious" buildings house the Military Commission. Currently, only the remaining personnel maintain the basic order established in the name of the Regent.

"Neither the Regent nor His Highness has responded. How many times have we sent telegrams now?"

"Manfred—can we get in touch with General Manfred?"

Long-distance communication has always been a headache for modern Terran civilization; otherwise, they would not continue to rely on messengers as a means of long-distance communication.

"Could it be that our army has been defeated?"

"The life-saving spine acted without authorization; that was the committee's last remaining asset..."

"If we don't come back, how will we resist the Victorian ironclad warships?"

The Sarkaz officers who remained were all former Sarkaz mercenary leaders who had a slightly more distant relationship with the Regent.

Among them was a representative from the Scar Market.

Their heads command a bounty in the Scarred Marketplace that rivals that of Erzula.

Some of these leaders were actually local warlords who controlled a region of free villages and towns.

"Sir, the radio has received a signal from the spine of life!"

A radio operator, on high alert, suddenly received a broadcast from "Life's Spine".

The radio operator, who had only received temporary training for a week, was constantly afraid that his own mistakes had caused the radio to malfunction.

The Sarkaz high-ranking officers, all ordered by the Regent to remain in Kazdel, exhibited different reactions.

The spokesperson for Scar Mall appeared quite calm, seemingly already aware of the changes on the front lines.

Meanwhile, the officers who supported the regent hoped that he would return victorious from the "spine of life".

Although they knew that the Regent's flagship was a different ship.

Former mercenary leaders, who had been forced to compromise with the regent, are now seizing the opportunity and gearing up for action.