When Sea Tiger saw that Shen Lian had accepted their submission, the smile on his face became a little more genuine. Rubbing his hands together, he spoke tentatively:
"Young Master, since we've settled the matter of submitting to the Sun-Moon Empire, I have a few small requests. I wonder if I may mention them?"
Shen Lian picked up the rough earthenware teacup on the table and ran his fingertips along its rim. It appeared to have been polished from the bone of a sea beast, with unpolished marks still visible on its sides. It truly carried the crude air of pirates.
He glanced at Sea Tiger and said calmly:
"Go on. I'll decide whether they're reasonable after I hear them."
Sea Tiger's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly steadied himself.
Sea Tiger considered that the two requests he intended to make should not be excessive for a colossal power like the Sun-Moon Empire. Taking a deep breath, he said:
"Young Master, first, aside from helping us deal with that old bastard Sea Dragon as you promised, we also hope the Empire can provide some Soul Tool support."
As he spoke, a trace of longing flashed through his eyes.
"We make our living on the sea, and we've long heard that the Sun-Moon Empire's Soul Tools are unmatched in the world—from small hand cannons that can be tucked into one's robes to warships that can fly over the sea. They're a hundred times better than the scraps of metal we have. If the Empire could support us with some Soul Tools, not only would it be easier to defend Pirate Continent, but we could also deal with those blind little pirate crews nearby much more efficiently."
As Shen Lian listened, his fingers paused against the rim of the cup.
Soul