Chapter 229: Waga's Secret!

Gervas smiled lightly, stood up, and said, "Chief Bomi, my request is indeed excessive, but... remember this: I am not negotiating with you now; I am ordering you!"

"Of course, if you refuse today, that is fine. I, Gervas, keep my word, and I can guarantee your safe departure today!"

"But you must think carefully: whoever refuses and leaves will be an enemy of the Buwa Clan, and also an enemy of me, the Grand Elder!"

"Then my human warriors will immediately go to annihilate their tribe. At that time, will you still think this request is excessive?"

Gervas's gaze swept across the faces of the assembled fish-people chiefs, finally landing once again on Bomi.

Bomi's body trembled. Feeling Gervas's piercing gaze, his body began to stiffen. "N-no... it's not excessive!"

"Excellent!" Gervas nodded in satisfaction and shifted his gaze away.

Hoo!

Bomi immediately felt as though his body had been drained dry, slumping back against the chair.

"What about you?" Gervas looked at the crowd.

How could the other fish-people dare to act rashly now that even Bomi had been subdued?

"N-no... it's not excessive..."

"Very well. Since everyone has no objections, sign this submission contract now! Then, swear an oath before the Sea God, my lord, in front of everyone."

After that, things became very simple.

Under the gentle 'gaze' of the guards, the chiefs completed the signing of the contract.

Naturally, this contract was based on the template of the human suzerain state and its vassal states.

Of course, strike with a stick and offer a date.

After signing the contract, benefits must certainly be given.

Otherwise, if those few fellows turn around and seek other great patrons, it will be even more troublesome.

Therefore, there must be an interest binding that keeps them inseparable forever.

"Since you have signed this contract, from now on you are Buwa Clan's own people!"

"And since I, Gervas, am the Grand Elder of the Buwa Clan, I am never stingy with my own people. From now on, I permit you to trade with me just like the Buwa Clan does."

"Trade?" Several fish-people chiefs obviously did not understand the Buwa Clan as well as Chief Lada did, so they had not deduced how the Buwa Clan had become wealthy.

"It seems you are still unclear. Then let Chief Toca explain it to you personally!"

Chief Toca had been impatient long ago. Hearing Gervas mention him, his spirits immediately lifted; he straightened his back and chest and looked at the assembled chiefs.

"Do you know how our Buwa Clan became wealthy? We became wealthy by trading with Grand Elder Gervas's territory!"

"We Buwa Clan exchange our cheapest sea fish, shells, and other goods with Gervas, receiving in return precious supplies including beer, wheat, hoes, woodcutting knives, hammers, and so on!"

"Therefore, being able to trade with Grand Elder Gervas's territory is absolutely a fortune for us fish-people tribes!"

"So, Toca, you became wealthy this way? Then... then can we become as wealthy as you in the future?"

Several chiefs suddenly widened their eyes and looked at Gervas excitedly.

At this moment, in their eyes, how could Gervas still be that fierce and terrifying human? He was practically a fortune-bringing boy shining all over.

"That's right. Following Grand Elder Gervas, your good days are about to arrive!"

The several chiefs returned, fully satisfied.

Although they were forced to become vassals of the Buwa Clan, it gave them a bright path toward wealth and a good life.

This made the chiefs completely forget the unpleasantness of submission, especially when, according to Gervas's instructions, Chief Toca gave each tribal chief a barrel of beer as a gift, along with a set of tools including hammers, woodcutting knives, and other ironware.

The eyes of the several chiefs all began to gleam.

Although fish-people do not rely on farming for survival, that does not mean they do not need tools.

For example, building houses, hunting sea fish, prying open sea shells, cutting sea grass, and so on.

All of these require good tools to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

And in the past, these iron tools were absolutely scarce items among fish-people tribes.

Because their source of ironware was either from the powerful Northern Sea-people Kingdom or from some sunken human sea vessels.

But no matter which, these were not things that fish-people like them could easily obtain!

After the several chiefs left, Gervas also bid farewell to the Buwa Clan.

Of course, before leaving, Gervas personally formulated the primary development task for the Buwa Clan for the coming period.

That was to strengthen military power!

He ordered Toca to specially select a group of strong and loyal fish-people to serve as full-time soldiers.

Before this, fish-people tribes had no full-time soldiers; after all, they were too poor to afford such high-end operations.

But now that they can trade with Gervas, and in the future can collect taxes from several other tribes, they certainly will not be so poor anymore.

Therefore, specialized full-time soldiers, plus the fact that Gervas will specially forge a batch of weapons and equipment for the Buwa Clan in the future, will enable the Buwa Clan to become the most powerful fish-people race in these nearby seas.

"Waga! That is enough! You may return!"

"Yes, Gervas!"

Waga watched Gervas's warship sail farther and farther away, yet he was reluctant to leave for a long time.

After pondering for a moment, Waga seemed to make a certain decision.

Immediately, instead of returning to the tribe at once, he swam toward the deeper, more dangerous outer sea.

After swimming for about two hours, Waga arrived at a deep ocean trench.

The trench was dark and profound, as if a huge sea beast might burst out at any moment to select a victim and devour it.

Waga felt no fear; controlling his body, he carefully swam down along the rock wall.

After swimming carefully for more than twenty minutes, avoiding several caves hiding terrifying giant eels, ferocious lanternfish, and other sea beasts along the way, he finally reached the seabed.

Pushing aside a familiar rock, a small crack appeared below, just large enough for a fish-people's short stature to pass through.

After walking along the crack for a few seconds, the path suddenly opened up into an underground cavern.

In this cavern, a strange, faint blue glow shimmered; upon closer inspection, it came from a beautiful blue coral.

Hanging from the coral tree was a small, seven-colored fruit.

But the fruit's glow was still dim at present.

And this was the secret behind Waga's ability to communicate with any race.

Of course, the other seven-colored coral fruit had already been eaten by Waga; this one was the smaller one left behind back then.

Waga had never told anyone this secret.

First, he knew the fruit was certainly extremely valuable.

Second, the fruit was not yet ripe; even if he told others now, it would do them no good.

Originally, he had planned to wait until the fruit ripened, then keep it for his father.

But after repeatedly receiving Gervas's help, he felt he could never repay him, so he decided to give this fruit to Gervas.

After all, Gervas had become the Great Elder of the Buwa tribe—after eating this fruit, he could speak directly with them!

Of course, the fruit should still take a few more days to ripen, so he would come back then to personally pick it and give it to Gervas!

……