The Future of the Fishmen

"Clan Leader."

Inside a grand hall built from translucent crystal, the Domain Lord Fishman knelt respectfully before the towering throne.

Yellow crystals embedded in the surrounding walls emitted a faint glow, their light refracting through the crystal and illuminating the entire hall.

Seated upon the throne was a tall but somewhat weary-looking fishman. He held a scepter in his hand, its tip set with a dazzling gem that radiated mysterious power.

He was the king of the Fishmen—the Clan Leader of the Fishmen.

"The outsiders have been sent into the Sea Abyss as you instructed," the Domain Lord Fishman said.

"Mm. Well done," the Fishmen Clan Leader said blandly.

"Kashel, are you curious why I told you not to touch those outsiders?" The Fishmen Clan Leader noticed a trace of dissatisfaction in the Domain Lord Fishman's movements.

"I would not dare!" Kashel's heart tightened, and he hurriedly admitted his fault.

"Never mind. Since matters have come to this, there is no harm in telling you."

With a wave of the Fishmen Clan Leader's hand, three more Domain Lord Level fishmen entered the hall.

"Over a million epochs ago, the Divine Lord perished," the Fishmen Clan Leader said, enunciating every word.

"What?" Kashel's face was filled with disbelief.

That was an immortal, indestructible Divine Lord! How could he have fallen so easily?!

"The Divine Lord provoked someone he should not have provoked and was killed. Before his death, he bestowed the Sea Suppressing Pearl upon our clan, and it has been passed down through our people for generations. It was only because of this treasure that this world was able to endure for so long after the Divine Lord's fall."

"Isn't the Sea Suppressing Pearl something our clan created to monitor changes in the sea?" Kashel asked in confusion.

"They merely share the same name. The true Sea Suppressing Pearl is not something that trinket can compare to." The Fishmen Clan Leader gave him a casual glance and continued.

"The Sea Suppressing Pearl's power comes from the outside world. In truth, we should all be members of the Human Race beyond this place. But due to certain changes and the Divine Lord's fall, we lost contact with the outside world."

"Only the Clan Leaders of each generation have known these matters. Kashel, you are the last hope of our Fishmen."

The Fishmen Clan Leader spoke.

"My lifespan is nearing its end, and the Sea Suppressing Pearl's power weakens with every passing year. The talents of the Fishmen have declined generation after generation, and even this world itself is no longer stable."

"My final wish is for the Fishmen to leave this place and enter the vast universe beyond. Only there lies a path forward for our Fishmen!"

"Kashel, among the younger generation of our Fishmen, you are the one most likely to enter the World Lord Level. I now pass the position of next Clan Leader to you. From this day onward, you are the Clan Leader of the Fishmen!"

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

Upon hearing this, the other three Domain Lord Fishmen immediately knelt before Kashel.

"What?"

Kashel was still immersed in the Fishmen Clan Leader's words. He had never expected that, in the next moment, he would become the future hope of the Fishmen.

"Come, my child." The Fishmen Clan Leader stepped down from the throne and came before Kashel.

"This King's Scepter is the symbol of the Clan Leader, as well as the key to opening the treasury beneath the Sea Abyss. The Sea Suppressing Pearl is there. As long as you retrieve it, our Fishmen can leave this world."

"Those outsiders all possess extraordinary status and standing. They are the backup I have left for you. When necessary, you may use their lives in exchange for the help of the outside humans. I believe you can lead the Fishmen out of this place and make them ever stronger."

"Clan Leader, you..." Kashel was confused. "Aren't you still alive? Why are you in such a hurry to give this thing to me?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you led us out? I'm only a mere Domain Lord."

"..."

Their eyes met. After a brief silence,

the Fishmen Clan Leader awkwardly said, "Ahem, ahem. I am not important. As long as you hand over those outsiders, the humans outside will definitely help you find a new territory for the Fishmen."

"When that time comes, the Sea Suppressing Pearl can naturally absorb power from the universe and slowly recover. Perhaps one day, you may even become a new Divine Lord."

"Of course, if necessary, it is also acceptable to abandon the Sea Suppressing Pearl in exchange for the safety of our Fishmen. After all, this thing is nearly useless already."

"For millions of epochs, the Sea Suppressing Pearl has protected the Fishmen. Now that its power has been exhausted, it is time to let it rest."

"Clan Leader!" Kashel shouted, but he still could not stop the Fishmen Clan Leader from leaving.

The remaining three Domain Lord Fishmen looked at one another, then exchanged glances before lifting Kashel onto the throne.

"You all teamed up to trick me?"

Kashel understood everything, but it was already too late.

He had already sat on the throne, and the scepter was already in his hand. He was now the Clan Leader of the Fishmen.

A Clan Leader burdened with the lives of tens of billions of Fishmen.

Gu Ce had no way of knowing what had happened in the hall.

But the good news was that, through Rimuru, he had entered the Virtual Universe and contacted Hafa and Aidera.

"Don't worry. My teacher will find a way to save you. The fact that Divine Kingdom Humans exist inside means the Ku Hai Divine Lord must have left behind some treasure capable of stabilizing space." Hafa said, patting his chest.

He had not been entirely certain before, but now it was settled.

Hafa thought.

"Those fishmen do not seem to want to make a move against us," Gu Ce said.

"That's normal." Hafa waved dismissively. "Someone among them most likely knows about the outside world. If they dare attack you, the destruction of their entire clan will be unavoidable. Even if they have a World Lord, it will make no difference."

"My guess is that not only will they refrain from attacking you, they may even take the initiative to protect you. After all, you are the last hope of their entire clan—the bargaining chips that can take them from the Divine Kingdom into the universe."

"Divine Kingdom Humans whose potential has practically been locked away, hehe." Hafa shook his head. "Forget facing Universe First Bank—even any random mid-level civilization would be confident of wiping them out."

Gu Ce fell into thought.

"You can use this as leverage to swindle some treasures from them." Hafa gave a half-smile.

"I reckon all the good stuff in the Kuhai Divine Kingdom is in the hands of the Fishmen. Even the treasure suppressing the Divine Kingdom may be with them. If you can get your hands on it, my teacher would be willing to pay a huge price to trade with you."

"Is that so?" Gu Ce neither confirmed nor denied it.

"Of course." Hafa did not continue the subject.

"You should go back. Remember to tell them not to do anything foolish. There is news from Bai Zhou's side as well—they have been captured too."

Hafa ended the communication.

Gu Ce, meanwhile, began considering how he could swindle treasures from the Fishmen.

Taking them by force was unrealistic.

A seventh-stage Stellar Level cultivator killing a Domain Lord across levels?

The difference in power was so vast that it could hardly be measured with simple numbers.

If Gu Ce had that kind of ability, why would he participate in the Genius Battle? Those great beings would have taken him as a disciple long ago.

Swindle them?

How?

Gu Ce racked his brains.

"Master." Rimuru offered a suggestion at just the right moment.

"What the Fishmen want is territory. If we give them territory, or even the protection of powerful experts, how should they thank us?"

"That could work, but where would we get territory? Put them on Earth?" Gu Ce said helplessly.

"Isn't there still a Prince of the Cuimu Empire outside?" Rimuru said.

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