Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 237

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 237
Will you help us?
“Help with what?”
“Our Snake beastkin are currently in danger.”
I’d thought Palaya was being excessively formal, but it seemed there was a reason for it.
According to Palaya’s explanation, the imperial family was currently pressuring the Snake clan in the capital.
For the past three years, various disputes—both large and small—had been initiated by another clan located nearby.
But it turned out the imperial family was behind it all.
The disputes didn’t stop there; their scale gradually increased.
Eventually, the imperial family itself stepped in directly.
“The crux of the matter is that they’re claiming the land where the Snake beastkin have lived for centuries originally belonged to the imperial family, and all members of the Snake clan are being forced to leave their territory. …We’ve even received a warning notice.”
“So they send us an invitation, but you get a warning letter.”
“Pardon?”
“No, continue.”
Currently, the Snake clan’s leader is quite resourceful and managing to hold out well.
But if the imperial family resorted to force, the outcome was obvious.
“Fortunately, the Snake clan has many capable warriors, and this generation has particularly many. However, we lack the strength to face the imperial family alone.”
“Of course. Those bastards aren’t thugs and gangsters for nothing.”
“….”
Palaya wore a bewildered expression but didn’t refute my words.
Hmm, was there even a sense of catharsis in this?
It seemed the Snake clan had been thoroughly beaten down by the imperial family.
“The problem is that we currently have Lili in our clan.”
Reflecting on my past life, the Crown Prince would want Lili for any reason whatsoever.
“If word spreads that Lili is with us, the Black Panther side will also step in aggressively.”
Palaya spoke of the Black Panther as if he were a stranger.
“I don’t wish to be driven from the land we’ve inhabited, nor do I wish to lose Lili. Please, will you help us?”
“….”
“I beg of you.”
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
Those who emerge victorious in every power struggle always possess ‘justification.’
In other words, to legitimately intervene in a conflict, one needed adequate justification.
And we needed justification—either to prevent the Crown Prince from accepting the invitation.
Or to clash with the imperial family.
“For now, withdraw. I’ll hold a meeting to discuss this.”
But seizing an opportunity the moment it arrives would be foolish.
So I decided to take time.
A moment to make a judgment.
* * *
After consulting with my retainers, while some were skeptical, most were positive about the proposal.
Those who remembered Lili like Atlant were even more positive.
“We brought a vassal with the special ability to discern truth and questioned them again, but they confirmed it was genuine.”
“I thought it would be.”
Unless it concerned something else, Palaya would never deceive anyone regarding matters involving Lili.
“I accept the proposal.”
Color returned to Palaya’s face. On the other hand, I sensed a hint of suspicion.
It seemed he thought I was accepting far too easily.
“Of course, it won’t be free.”
“…Yes, we understand that part as well.”
“What you need—is it firepower? Or military force?”
“…”
“If it’s neither of those, then political maneuvering?”
Palaya fell silent for a moment, then regarded me with utmost respect.
“All of it.”
“My, how greedy.”
“…”
“You’ll need to provide fair compensation in exchange for our cooperation.”
Instead of answering, Palaya bowed deeply. If his initial greeting had carried desperation when he first entered,
this bow seemed to come from genuine sincerity.
He probably had no idea that we were searching for an appropriate justification.
That the business he’d brought was not merely suited to our tastes but something we would actually welcome.
Well, what of it? In the end, as long as both sides benefit, that’s all that matters.
‘As the saying goes, preparation is never wasted. Indeed, there’s no harm in being prepared.’
Because we had been preparing for when we might storm the imperial palace or for war to break out,
we could move immediately once an opportunity arose.
Two days later.
When Palaya returned to the Snake Family, we decided to select and send the first contingent of personnel to accompany him.
Since I volunteered to join this group, there was considerable back-and-forth trying to dissuade me.
But thanks to Father’s unexpected support, I was able to join.
“Time is pressing. We don’t know when a full-scale war will break out, so I have to go.”
“…I do wish the Matriarch would abandon the notion of participating in every single battle.”
“Hope all you want. Hope all you want.”
Besides regular knights and soldiers, the group included Levai and Hauser, Lirivel, Atlant and Bellus, and Whale.
Finally, the Dragon Duke joined us.
There had actually been minor discord over the Dragon Duke’s participation.
Rather, Father had vehemently opposed it, but surprisingly, Whale supported the Dragon Duke’s inclusion, so he was able to join us.
“Calypso, the imperial palace already knows the Dragon Duke is here, doesn’t it? They might attack this place. If the Dragon Duke weren’t here…”
“We could let them drink seawater? Not a bad idea.”
After various large and small commotion, we set out.
While it took considerable time to reach the Snake Family’s territory, everyone who had joined possessed excellent stamina, and
Thanks to my swift pace, I arrived at the Snake’s territory in no time.
A grand fortress wall built of brown brick welcomed us.
‘Hmm, a jungle?’
Dense forests and jungles surrounded the castle.
If I had to draw a comparison, it resembled a vast tropical rainforest like the Amazon.
There was indeed a massive river nearby, and the temperature was quite humid and warm.
‘The Snake Matriarch was an anaconda, wasn’t she?’
I searched my memory.
A figure I had never directly dealt with in my long life.
“Please proceed this way.”
Following Palaya’s guidance, I soon came upon a grand manor house.
The castle itself was also constructed of brown brick.
As I passed through, the lined-up Knights bowed respectfully.
True to their nature as Snake Beastkin, most of them had narrow, slitted eyes and sharp features.
“Water snake Beastkin also reside quite abundantly in the castle.”
Creatures that dwell in the same waters, then?
I glanced at Palaya once before entering the castle.
Inside the castle, unlike outside, the temperature was high and the air dry.
“Since it’s maintained at the most suitable temperature for Snake Beastkin, it will likely feel quite hot and dry to you.”
“I see.”
We are fundamentally aquatic creatures, so this was hardly an ideal environment.
What was peculiar was that from the moment I entered the castle gate until now, arriving at the manor house.
Not a single Beastkin looked at us strangely or cast the contemptuous gaze that land-dwellers typically did.
Moreover, though rare, I even spotted a few aquatic animal Beastkin.
“Matriarch, I have brought the Matriarch of Aquasiadel.”
Upon arriving at the office, I saw a large chair and a veil hung around it.
As Palaya spoke, the veil was drawn back, and from within emerged a woman with an alluring impression.
Narrow, slitted eyes and reptilian pupils shaped like ellipses, much like Ekion’s.
“My, my. An unexpected big shot has come to visit?”
The mistress of the snakes.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Natasha. Young Orca Family Matriarch.”
“You can drop the ‘young’ part. I’m an adult myself, you know.”
“Is that so?”
Natasha narrowed her eyes.
Oh, she really does smile like a snake.
“I’ve heard all the circumstances through your son. The one at a disadvantage should speak more carefully, don’t you think?”
As I crossed my arms and tilted my head, the guards standing nearby made a hissing sound characteristic of snakes.
Natasha waved her hand and simply smiled.
“I see. My apologies. Orca Family Matriarch.”
“No need for such formality. It’s nice to see quick understanding. So, shall we get down to business?”
“Of course, I would welcome that.”
“I heard you needed our help. What is your most pressing need right now?”
“Hmm, that’s quite a difficult question….”
A difficult question? I’d asked so casually.
Just as Natasha was about to respond, we both snapped our heads around as if on cue.
The ground was trembling.
“Oh no.”
“….”
“Would you like to see it directly?”
The moment I nodded, Natasha gestured to one of the Knights nearby.
As the Knight’s hand swept through the air, our bodies lifted gently into the air.
Simultaneously, we were whisked out through the wide-open window, with Natasha hovering beside me.
“It’s the handiwork of a flying Snake. Not a bad talent, wouldn’t you say?”
“No, it’s quite impressive.”
The moment I answered, a stream of water surged up from below, supporting my body at the same time.
“But I don’t particularly enjoy entrusting my life to another’s hands. I’ll manage on my own.”
“….”
Natasha looked startled for a moment, then let out a laugh I couldn’t quite decipher.
We drifted toward the castle wall on the western side, opposite from the gate we’d entered.
And then.
We saw an army advancing like a dark tide.
“What are those?”
“Crocodiles.”
“…Crocodiles?”
These pitch-black creatures?
“And poison sent by the Imperial Palace, at that.”
What I could see were Beastkin with eyes rolled back, their faces no longer resembling anything human.
For some reason, the Crown Prince’s puppets came to mind. Puppets made from the power of earth.
With that eerie sight below us, Natasha’s expression hardened.
“They’re slowly draining the life from our warriors.”
“I see, I understand. So we should deal with them first, then discuss the details afterward?”
“Yes? Wait…! Don’t go down there recklessly, they have a strange poison!”
“Ah, so I shouldn’t touch them?”
Understood. Noted.
“Hey, Matriarch, hey! Wait just a moment!”
“You all stay there.”
I bound my Subordinates, who were about to follow me down with streams of water, then descended to the ground.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
It had been ages since I’d faced an army large enough to make the earth itself cry out.
‘It’s been a while.’
Hundreds of beastkin were charging toward me.
As I smirked, countless jets of water erupted from the ground.
“Fighting without making contact is also my specialty.”
The surging water columns swiftly transformed into a colossal tidal wave.
Shuaaaaaaack!
Every single person was trapped within this tsunami, swept away like trees caught in a typhoon.
When the wave finally subsided.
Only the unconscious bodies lay scattered across the ground where the wave had struck.
I lifted my head, gazing toward Natasha, who stared down at me in a daze.
“So, what kind of help do you need next?”
I can sweep away anything.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————