Deep Sea Hunter, but Deep Sea Titan

"coming."

Lotin received messages from Laurentina and the Doctor through the system chat interface; the Terra global broadcast, which had been adjusted multiple times, had begun to play.

“Agor makes a declaration to all land civilizations. We have received the revelation of the Creator, and now we invite all people to put aside prejudice and hatred and jointly build a line of defense for civilization.”

"The matrix has broken through the blockade and reached the sea surface. The necessary information will be transmitted later."

"The challenges we face far outweigh those between us and natural disasters; we must form a community..."

"Some information will be limited to the land-based civilizations that jointly build the defense line."

The artisans (actually engineers) of the Conqueror Knights were so astonished by the global broadcasting technology itself that they didn't even have time to consider the global geographic information of Terra and the basic information of the Sea King contained within it.

"Those who are chivalrous enough to build a defense line for civilization will receive more technical 'perks' than those who stand by and watch coldly."

Lotin knew that immediate benefits were not enough to maximize the enthusiasm of these Terrans, so he forced the Agor authorities to share more non-military technologies with land-based nations willing to participate in coastal defense.

"While it's not impossible for you to force a team to march to the Iberian coast with your current influence, it would certainly be more acceptable to the domestic sentiment."

Margaret could certainly see the long-term benefits, but most people were forced by their current living conditions to prioritize immediate gains. This broadcast gave the Kazimierz a direct understanding of Agor's technological capabilities, and its allure was clearly more compelling than the distant threat of the unknown monster.

Margaret quickly announced the principled bill through the National Assembly. The descendants of the Tidehunter Knight cooperated in the publicity, which reduced many of the obstacles that might have been encountered. Agor's communications and the sea treasure depicted in "The Last Knight" made even the most vulgar citizens believe that this was a profitable treasure.

Will the Sarkaz come too?

As a former member of the "Apostles," Margaret couldn't possibly have any prejudice against the Sarkaz. On the contrary, she missed her former partners and comrades after not seeing them for many days.

On the one hand, she hoped to fight alongside her best friend again; on the other hand, she did not want her best friend to put herself in danger.

"The Sarkaz are a race that cannot survive without war; they need an outlet for their frustrations."

“I am now the protector of Kazimierz, but I am also the demon lord of the Sarkaz. I have a duty to ensure that their destructive desires do not endanger themselves or the entire Terra.”

"Fighting against the common enemy of civilization is a way to gain both fame and fortune."

Lotin believed that Margaret was now able to keep her army at bay and maintain a relatively peaceful coexistence with the Sarkaz.

"Quisassina and Liz will surely offer to fight alongside you again, Radiant Knight. I understand your concern for your dear friends, but conversely, they feel the same way about you."

"I am about to travel to Kazdel, and I will give them my regards."

The teleportation cooldown was over, and Lotin bid farewell to the Radiant Knight. The Sarkaz Demon King was about to return to his loyal Kazdel.

Without external pressure, the reconstruction of Kazdel progressed quite rapidly. The return of some Stonewing Demons accelerated the clearing of the ruins, and these ancient, naturally born builders supplemented the excellent engineering force while industrial equipment was still lacking.

The once chaotic streets have been transformed, presenting an unprecedentedly clean appearance. The shacks have been renovated and reinforced, with their safety and insulation performance greatly improved.

New farmland was cultivated, factories resumed operations, and Scar Market gradually opened up the international market. After all, the Sarkaz mercenaries, who were no different from bandits before, were organized by a formal commercial organization for the first time, which gradually made up for the Sarkaz mercenaries' long-standing lack of credibility.

Perhaps after completing her support for Iberia, she will also teach the local people some essential agricultural techniques, since hunger and poverty are also major enemies of civilization.

Two people stood before the shrine of the conqueror.

One is the Blood Demon Lord, a conservative and tormented ruler who hopes the conquerors will quickly bring him the promised war and bloodshed. He has already been very restrained, targeting only the rebels and remnants of the Regent's faction.

But as his material life improved further, the scattered rebels disappeared, and he could hardly bear it anymore.

The other is a devout pardoner, and the only one left now, who comes here regularly out of gratitude and worship to behold the conqueror's power.

Suddenly, the conqueror statue before them was surrounded by a purple, radiant halo, and they knew this was a sign that the conqueror was about to appear.

"Welcome back, immortal conqueror, the only demon lord of Sarkaz."

The two men appeared at the shrine for different reasons, but they probably guessed why Lotin was there.

“Ducarre, I have brought you what you desire most.”

"The Regent once described to you the monstrous creatures in the abyss, and now they are about to emerge in droves."

"The Iberians could not withstand the desperate counterattack of these abhorrent flesh and blood on their own. Without the help of the Sarkaz warriors, they would be helpless. Only by hunting such a powerful enemy can the Sarkaz's bloodthirstiness be honed and their glory be demonstrated."

He knew exactly what to say to whom, and Lotin had the Blood Demon completely under his thumb long ago; he knew Ducarre had a thing for this.

"You wish for the Blood Demon King's Court to lead an expedition against Iberia on your behalf?"

Ducarre's excitement was palpable. He was thrilled to finally be able to end his boring life in Kazdel. Lotin didn't need to worry about him much; the Blood Demon would organize a highly motivated expeditionary force on his own.

"That's right, the Carrion King's Court should also join the expedition."

"I will issue a decree to Niezley later."

While the carrion eaters are more rational than the blood demons, they also become weak in the daily grind of peace, and the venting opportunities provided by the Scar Marketplace are merely a drop in the ocean for the entire royal court.

"Quisassina, how have you been? I, on behalf of Knight Radiance, extend my greetings to you and Liz."

Luo Ting originally thought that after being freed from the cycle of sin by the Undying Demon King, she would gradually return to her previous cold and rational state, but now it seems that she still retains that gratitude and worship for herself.

"Thanks to you, Liz's health has improved a lot, and there has been progress on the final outcome regarding the Regent. However, there are still some ancient sorcery that needs to be deciphered. Nevertheless, the remnants of the Witch King's faction within Kazdel have been completely wiped out."

During this time, she also established the initial healthcare system in Kazdel with the help of Rhodes Island, thus gaining a high reputation among the people.

“Your Highness, will Margaret also lead the expeditionary force of Kazimierz? I implore Your Highness to allow me to accompany the Carrion Court on this expedition.”

“Approved. You will be responsible for coordinating the relationship between the Sarkaz army and the Qazimir expeditionary force with Margaret. Although the deep-rooted prejudice cannot be eliminated, the bond of the apostles and your current prestige can control the influence of this prejudice.”

Lotin had intended to bid farewell to Quessina and head to the Carrion King's Court, but he couldn't help asking another question, because he had noticed something strange about Quessina.

"Quisassina...do you often come here to perform prayers or similar activities?"

“Although mercenaries are the ones who come to you most often to beg for your protection, Liz and I come here at least twice a week. You are undoubtedly our benefactor, and I think it is only right to do so.”

"Kazdel's present day has proven your great achievements as a Demon Lord. Even if the tithe contract ends, I am willing to continue serving under you."

Aside from her personal gratitude towards Quesasina, she was genuinely convinced of the protection Lodin provided for the Sarkaz, as it aligned with her original beliefs and ideals. She was willing to continue serving Lodin as the Demon King's subject.

Besides Quessana, Theresa was quite satisfied with the current state of Kazdel and was full of expectations for the future. She excitedly floated around the clean and orderly streets of Kazdel and even secretly watched the literacy classes being held from the school window.

Lotin wasn't directly involved in Kazdel's development plans, but there was one thing only he could give the Sarkaz: time for development.

“Your loyalty will be rewarded, Quessana, it was the right choice.”

"Quisassina, please have Niezile come here to see me."

Lotin was also satisfied with the Sarkaz's current attitude. The two sides were heading towards what belonged to them. The W in his hand was a microcosm of the relationship between the Sarkaz and him. He put a collar on a beast, but also gave the wounded beast a chance to recuperate.

Chapter 254: The Demon King Returns to His Loyal Kazdel

In the newly established Royal Council of Kazdel, the Carrion King Nezire, as the most rational leader among the warlike Sarkaz and the most warlike leader among the rational Sarkaz, wields considerable influence. It is no exaggeration to say that he is now the de facto head of the Sarkaz's daily administration.

Upon hearing that Lotin had returned to Kazdel, the ever-composed old man, true to his nature, came to pay his respects to the Demon King of Sarkaz. Lotin promised not to directly interfere in the daily affairs of Kazdel.

But precisely because of this, Nertzre, as the de facto head of administration, must be even more careful in leading the parliament to govern the Sarkaz nation, ensuring that his work satisfies Nautilus. If Nautilus loses his protection, all the life the Sarkaz have achieved will vanish.

"Your Highness, welcome back to Kazdel."

Guided by Quessina, Niezley also arrived at this relatively deserted shrine, which was not fully open to the public because it was to be used as a teleportation point for Lotin.

"Let's skip the formalities; your respect and sincerity are already evident in your actions."

"Nietzrei, is the Carrion King's Court ready to devour the filth of the ocean?"

The ancient sorcery of the Carrion Eaters, which extracts the life force of their enemies, ultimately relies on Originium for its power. They do not simply devour corpses directly, so Lotin need not worry that the biological contamination from the Sealings will directly affect the Carrion Eater warriors.

"Your Highness, the Carrion King's Court is ready at any time."

"Whether in the present or in the future, it is necessary to launch expeditions against the common enemies of civilizations."

Unlike Dukare, Niezre seriously and carefully analyzed the content and information contained in Agor's broadcast. He concluded that this expedition would greatly benefit the Sarkaz in terms of security and people's livelihood, and even have the opportunity to gradually break the deadlock in the Sarkaz's international diplomatic relations.

"However, more importantly, this is His Highness the Demon King's decree."

Niezilei's implication was that even if the short-term benefits of the expedition to Iberia were smaller, he would still organize a powerful army for the Demon King; however, the morale of ordinary soldiers might be slightly affected.

"It was worth it for getting the Agorians to share more non-military technology with you; this is a privilege that only countries that adhere to the principle of participation can enjoy."

Loting did not elaborate on the fact that what they would most likely face was the aftermath of his fight with the large group; sometimes, a bit of reckless courage can have a surprising effect.

Lotin enjoys genuine loyalty from others and is generous in rewarding such loyalty. However, Lotin is not blindly indulgent; he is very discerning in judging whether he has the strength to accept such "loyalty" and carefully assesses whether such "loyalty" is questionable.

Clearly, the modern Sarkaz do not belong to this category.

In the royal council, Lottin listened to the work reports from the councilors. Theresa wandered around the streets, and what she saw helped Lottin confirm whether their reports were true.

Compared to the National Assembly, where Margaret's office was located, the Royal Court Parliament was much more simply furnished.

"At least this place is clean and tidy enough to meet the needs of handling daily government affairs."

This wasn't Lotin trying to mock the young knight-king Margaret for being corrupted by power and becoming vain, because those wealthy merchants and national representatives did indeed spend a lot of money on the appearance of their offices; rather, he was genuinely lamenting the Sarkaz's past plight.

Once upon a time, the artifacts of the former kings here were sold off by some greedy Sarkaz black marketeers. At least now it can be used as a modern office space.

Is the Banshee Royal Court still observing?

Quessina's last report was two months ago, in which she told Lottin that the Banshee Court had still not responded and showed no sign of leaving the Banshee Valley.

"But the Cyclopes expressed their desire to return to Kazdel, only the threat of the monsters prevented them from leaving."

"What about the liches? I remember they also had some affection for their homeland."

"They remain in Letania, and their attitude is similar to that of the Banshees."

After the Witch King's death, the old lich should have fulfilled his obligations to his confidant and close friend. According to the original plot, he should have stayed in Kazdel after the Regent's whereabouts became unknown.

But he remains in Letania.

Well, in the process of completely resolving the demon problem, Loting believes he will also uncover the secrets of the Witch King, and he will have the opportunity to meet this old lich.

"Issue an ultimatum to these royal courts that have not yet submitted: if they still do not respond by the time I have resolved the threat from the sea, I will banish them from Kazdel forever in the name of the Demon King."

“We can’t let them only share the good times but not the bad. They didn’t contribute when building Kazdel, but now that the reconstruction is progressing, they want to come back and reap the benefits.”

Ultimately, Lothar only trusted those Sarkaz who had been subdued by him and had been placed under his invisible collar. The Doctor's experience made Lothar quite wary of these Sarkaz who were still observing.

If they made a rather unfriendly statement at the time, Lotin wouldn't mind conquering these exiled Sarkaz in the style of the "Conquerors," to prevent them from causing trouble again.

"Your will is my command, Your Majesty. The Sarkaz will be unified and whole again because of you."

Nezire and Ducarre both agreed with Lotin's approach. Ducarre even believed that they should conquer these exiled Sarkaz courts that refused to submit without hesitation. However, Lotin was busy with the decisive battle against the large group and had no time to deal with it for the time being.

Afterwards, Lotin met his subjects again. Although in reality the relationship was more like that of a guardian deity and a believer, at least in law they were subjects of the Demon King.

All the inhabitants of Kazdel remember the enormous spoils of war and the triumphant royal army appearing at the coronation ceremony of [The Conqueror] Nautilus. In their eyes, this demon king, who suddenly appeared in reality from ancient stories, is the true protector of the Sarkaz.

"The Agorians promised a treasure, and the monsters of the abyss are stirring, attempting to cross Iberia and devour our newly built land."

“When I was exploring Tidestone Town, I met a fellow Sarkaz, a simple bell ringer, a mixed-race scavenger, who was tortured by cultists for protecting the townspeople.”

“Cultists who worshipped sea monsters subjected him to cruel experiments, turning him into a pitiful monster. He wailed and begged me to end his suffering!”

The Conqueror's passive ability can stir up the emotions of the Sarkaz around him. Now, the Sarkaz, who are eager to stick together for warmth, are filled with righteous indignation when they hear that their comrades are being treated like this by the lackeys of the Abyss Monsters. Their boundless anger further boosts the morale of the warriors of the Carrion Court.

Banners fluttered, a somber atmosphere hung heavy, and battle cries shook the heavens. The army of carrion eaters had regrouped, and they would make these wretched beasts understand the meaning of decay and death.

“I am very satisfied with your work, Quessassina. I did not expect you to voluntarily become my representative in the Sarkaz. Perhaps only Laurentina can surpass you in this regard.”

Skadi wasn't particularly skilled in this area, so Lotin didn't mention her, but in terms of her standing in Lotin's heart, Skadi, his original partner, still holds a unique position.

"However, you don't seem as calm as before."

Lotin could sense the suppressed fervor buried deep within Quessina's heart. It wasn't intense, but it was resilient and enduring enough—the lingering effect of defeating the Undead King and rescuing her from the cycle of reincarnation.

“It is my honor to be compared with Her Majesty the Sister, Your Highness.”

Quessina knew that Sister Agor, who was most valued by Nautilus, was named Laurentina, and being able to compare herself to her was itself a form of trust.

"I haven't felt this calm in a long time; I can even hear your heartbeat."

"That war robbed us of all hope, but you brought hope back to me and us. I think it's only natural."

“Liz feels at ease when she talks about you.”

Quessina closed her eyes slightly, gently pressed her hand to her chest, and calmly answered Lotin's question.

Lotin felt reassured by Nautilus in his Conqueror form, but he suspected that Liz was still somewhat abnormal.

"Then, see you again in Iberia, Quesasina."

At this moment, Luo Ting unfurled the Mountain and Sea Scroll. The Yan Kingdom was under great pressure from the evil demons, so Luo Ting did not expect them to be able to launch an expedition. Moreover, they were originally a coastal country, and their homeland would be attacked by the sea monsters. However, Luo Ting's main attack direction determined that the sea monster tides here would only be the aftermath.

Moreover, in terms of national strength, the Yan Kingdom is now much stronger than Iberia.

For them, Luo Ting only needs to reason with them and make them prepare. It would be even better if they could send an expeditionary force, but Yan Kingdom's homeland will also be attacked by Hai Si, so he will not force them. Given the direct threat from Hai Si, prioritizing homeland defense is reasonable.

Before entering the Scroll of Mountains and Seas, Skadi gave Quesasina a long, meaningful glance. The two exchanged no words, yet seemed to understand each other implicitly.