The Undersea Highway

Captain Julian sighed.

"You're right, Prophet Dio. When disaster looms, someone has to step forward. I may only be a merchant, but I'm willing to do what I can for the Human Allied Forces."

Bai Xiaowen smiled faintly. "A brave decision, and a wise one."

As captain, Julian held considerable sway over the army of human laborers, most of whom were sailors and merchants. Of course, Bai Xiaowen's standing as a prophet was higher. If the two came into conflict, the vast majority of the laborers would follow the prophet.

That was why Bai Xiaowen had made no effort to hide his identity as a prophet when he first entered the Black Tide Plane, even at the cost of revealing his ability to foresee events. He hadn't done it to show off.

The sooner he established himself as the prophet, the sooner he could command the tide of opinion. It was worth taking a little risk; the rewards far outweighed it.

Bai Xiaowen had taken the trouble to persuade Julian to avoid a split. Besides, Julian and his sailors were capable fighters. Letting them leave would be a loss.

If Julian insisted on taking his crew and risking the journey alone, there was little Bai Xiaowen could do. To preserve his image as a prophet, he would even have to show them a route out. Abandoning them over a personal disagreement would certainly damage his reputation.

That was one downside of becoming the prophet of the human faction.

Julian had put it well. Reaching an agreement was the best outcome Bai Xiaowen could have hoped for.

Two of the Wogata Tribe's Ghost Ships were "moored" outside the giant bubble that housed the base.

One belonged to General Deke, who had captured the crew of The Advance. The other belonged to