Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 237

237. Help?

“What are you talking about?”

“Our snake people are currently in danger.”

Palaya was overly polite, and it seemed there was a reason for it.

Palaya explained that the imperial family was currently pressuring the snake family in the capital.

For the past three years, they had been facing petty squabbles from another family located nearby.

It turned out that the imperial family was behind it all.

These squabbles gradually increased in size.

Eventually, the imperial family stepped in directly.

“The main point is that they are claiming the land where the snake people have lived for hundreds of years originally belongs to the imperial family, and they are forcing all members of the snake family to leave the territory. …We have also received a warning.”

“An invitation for us, and a warning for them.”

“Pardon?”

“No, continue.”

The head of the snake family was quite capable and had been holding out well.

However, it was obvious what would happen if the imperial family used force.

“Fortunately, the snake family has many talented warriors, especially in this generation. But it is not enough to face the imperial family alone.”

“That’s right. They wouldn’t be bullies and thugs for nothing, would they?”

“…….”

Palaya looked bewildered but did not argue.

Oh, I even feel a sense of satisfaction?

It seemed they had been thoroughly harassed by the imperial family.

“The problem is that Lily is currently in our family.”

Reflecting on the past life, the crown prince would want Lily for some reason.

“If the fact that Lily is here becomes known, the black panther side will also actively step in.”

Palaya spoke of the black panther as if they were strangers.

“I do not want us to be driven out of the land where we have lived, nor do I want Lily to be taken away. Would you please help us?”

“…….”

“I implore you.”

I stroked my chin.

Those who win in all power struggles always have a ’cause’ [a justification or reason for their actions].

In other words, to legitimately intervene in a fight, a proper cause was needed.

And we needed a cause to prevent the crown prince from accepting the invitation.

Or to clash with the imperial family.

“Stand back for now. I’ll hold a meeting.”

But even if an opportunity comes, grabbing it right away would be foolish.

So, I decided to take some time.

A moment to judge.

* * *

As a result of the meeting with my vassals, some were doubtful.

But most were positive.

Those who remembered Lily, like Atlan, were even more positive.

“I brought a vassal with the ability to discern the truth and asked again, and they say it is true.”

“I thought so.”

Palaya would not deceive people about matters related to Lily, if nothing else.

“I accept the offer.”

Palaya’s face brightened. On the other hand, suspicion was felt.

It seemed they thought we were accepting too easily.

“Of course, it’s not free.”

“……Yes, we understand that part.”

“Do you need firepower? Or military force?”

“…….”

“Or is it a political fight?”

Palaya remained silent and then gazed at me politely.

“All of it.”

“Oh, you’re greedy.”

“…….”

“You will have to pay a fair price for receiving our cooperation.”

Palaya bowed deeply instead of answering. If the greeting when he first came in was filled with desperation.

This time, it seemed like a sincere greeting.

Perhaps this guy didn’t know that we were looking for a suitable cause.

And that the matter he brought was not only perfectly suited to our taste but also welcomed.

Well, so what? In the end, it’s all about a win-win situation.

‘Preparedness is key. Indeed, there’s no harm in being prepared.’

Thanks to preparing for when we might invade the imperial family or when a war might break out.

We could move immediately when a place to use it arose.

Two days later.

When Palaya returned to the snake family, we decided to select the first group of people to go with him.

I volunteered to join this group, so there was a struggle to dissuade me for a while.

But thanks to Dad unexpectedly supporting me, I was able to join.

“They say time is running out. We don’t know when a full-scale war will break out, so I have to go.”

“……I wish the head of the family would give up on participating in every fight.”

“Wish for what’s possible.”

Excluding ordinary knights and soldiers, the group included Levi, Hauser, Riribel, Atlan, Velus, Whale.

Finally, Duke Yong joined.

In fact, there was a minor dispute over Duke Yong’s joining.

No, for some reason, Dad strongly opposed it. But Whale unexpectedly supported Duke Yong’s joining, so he was able to join.

“Calypso, the imperial family already knows that Duke Yong is here, right? They might attack this place. If Duke Yong isn’t there then…….”

“We can trick them? Not bad.”

After various minor commotions, we departed.

It took quite a while to reach the snake family’s territory, but everyone who joined had good stamina.

And thanks to hurrying our steps, we were able to quickly arrive in the snake’s domain.

A magnificent castle wall made of brown bricks greeted us.

‘Oh, a jungle?’

We saw lush forests and jungles around the castle.

To give an example, it was like a vast tropical rainforest like the Amazon forest.

In fact, there was a huge river nearby, and the temperature was quite humid.

‘Was the snake family head an anaconda?’

I recalled my memories.

A person I had never directly interacted with in my long life.

“You can go in this way.”

As I was about to enter with Palaya’s guidance, I was soon greeted by a large manor.

The castle was also made of brown bricks.

As we passed by, the lined-up knights bowed politely.

As expected of snake people, most of them had narrow eyes and sharp impressions.

“There are quite a few water snake people living in the castle as well.”

They live in the same water, is that it?

I glanced at Palaya once and entered the castle.

Unlike the outside, the inside of the castle was hot and dry.

“The temperature is maintained at the most suitable temperature for snake people, so you may feel a bit hot and dry.”

“I do.”

We are basically water-dwelling beasts, so it wasn’t a good environment after all.

A unique point was that from the moment we entered the castle gate until we arrived at the manor.

No one looked at us strangely or sent contemptuous glances like the land dwellers usually did.

Moreover, although rare, aquatic animal people were also seen.

“Head of the family, I have brought the head of Aquasiadel.”

When I arrived at the office, I saw a large chair and a veil hanging around the chair.

With Palaya’s words, the veil was lifted, and a woman with a seductive impression revealed herself.

Narrow eyes and oval pupils unique to reptiles, like Ekion’s.

“Oh my, what a surprise. An unexpected big shot has come?”

She was the owner of the snakes.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Natasha. Young Orca family head.”

“You can leave out ‘young’. I’m an adult, even if I look like this.”

“Is that so?”

Natasha narrowed her eyes.

Oh, she really smiles like a snake.

“I’ve heard everything through your son. The one who is in need should use kind words, don’t you think?”

As she crossed her arms and tilted her head, the guards standing around made a hissing sound unique to snakes.

Natasha snapped her fingers and simply smiled.

“I see. I apologize. Orca family head.”

“Don’t mention it. I like that you admit it quickly. So, can we get straight to the point?”

“Of course, that’s what I want.”

“I heard you need our help, what kind of help do you need most right now?”

“Hmm, that’s a bit of a difficult question…….”

A difficult question? I asked lightly?

The moment Natasha was about to answer something, we turned our heads as if we had made a promise.

The ground was shaking.

“Oh dear.”

“…….”

“Would you like to see it in person?”

As soon as I nodded, Natasha nodded to one of the knights nearby.

The moment the knight flicked his hand, our bodies floated up.

At the same time, we were thrown out through the wide-open window, and Natasha was floating next to me.

“It’s the skill of a flying snake. Not a bad skill, right?”

“Yes, not bad.”

The moment I answered, a stream of water sprang up from the floor. At the same time, it supported my body.

“But I don’t like entrusting my life to someone else’s hands. I’ll go on my own.”

“…….”

Natasha was surprised for a moment, then gave a smile that meant nothing.

We remained floating in the air and reached the west wall, opposite the castle gate we had entered.

And.

We saw the blackening army.

“What is that?”

“They are crocodiles.”

“……Crocodiles?”

Those black guys?

“And poison sent by the imperial family.”

What I could see were people with overturned eyes and inhuman appearances.

Why, the crown prince’s doll came to mind. A doll made with the power of the earth.

With the eerie sight below, Natasha’s face hardened.

“Those things are slowly killing our warriors.”

“Um, I understand what you mean. The details can be discussed after we get rid of those things first, right?”

“Yes? Wait a minute……! Don’t go down recklessly, they have a strange poison!”

“Ah, so we shouldn’t touch them?”

Okay. Understood.

“Hey, family head, hey! Wait a minute!”

“You guys stay there.”

I tied up my subordinates who were about to follow me with water streams and landed on the ground.

Thump, thump, thump.

Wow, how long has it been since I faced so many people that the ground is shaking?

‘It’s been a while.’

Hundreds of people were running towards me.

The moment I smiled, countless streams of water sprang up from the ground.

“I’m also a professional at fighting without touching.”

The rising streams of water soon became a huge wave.

Shuaaaaaaak!

Everyone was trapped in this tsunami and swept away like trees facing a typhoon.

When the wave finally subsided.

Only countless unconscious people were lying in the place where the wave had struck.

I raised my head as it was. Towards Natasha, who was blankly looking down at me.

“So, what kind of help do you need next?”

I can sweep away anything.