Charlotte took only a single day to command the fleet into completely blockading the waters around Arcadia Port.
From high above, one could see a ten-kilometer-thick wall of mist curving around the port city, enclosing it from the sea.
Romios knew that the New Continent Council currently occupied only South Seraph. On land, it bordered only the Behemoth region, Mosred Territory, and Charlotte's Mecklen Territory. If Charlotte sealed it off from the sea as well, supplies would inevitably grow scarce. He made a prompt decision and sent Charlotte a letter of challenge, proposing that each side send ten warriors to duel at sea and determine the future of Nansera Territory through the outcome.
Upon receiving the challenge letter, Charlotte immediately refused. His reply to Romios read: "South Seraph is my lawful territory. You cannot determine the fate of my territory through a duel. If Mr. Romios wishes to settle certain demands by dueling, I suggest that both sides stake their populations instead. Each victory will be worth one hundred thousand people."
If the New Continent lost, Charlotte could reduce the population under its control and thereby diminish its war potential. Although decisive factors in battle, whether on the Old Continent or the New Continent, remained Transcendent combat power, ordinary people were in fact extremely important as well—only most noble lords overlooked that fact.
If Charlotte lost...
Well, he had undead sailors when he needed undead sailors, Great Ling Demons when he needed Great Ling Demons, and if there truly were not enough, ordinary Ling Demons could be supplied without limit...
Romios did not know Charlotte's true capabilities, yet he still made the correct choice and rejected Charlotte's proposal. The two sides exchanged documents and argued for a week before finally reaching a consensus: exchange prisoners first!
Charlotte had accepted the