Mobius had long since decided where the Apophis would be stationed for the foreseeable future.
He knew what people across the seas were saying, and he wasn't surprised.
It was exactly what he wanted.
He hadn't come off badly in that battle, and he didn't believe he was weaker than Newgate.
Even against the Sea Emperors of the New World, he didn't think anyone could defeat him.
His fighting style differed from almost everyone else's.
Trading blows until his opponent ran out of stamina, then winning through sheer endurance and willpower—
That approach didn't suit him.
Even Hades had a fighting style built largely around head-on clashes.
But Mobius?
First, an opponent would have to touch him.
"Send someone with a formal challenge, Psykos."
"Set it for three days from now."
Inside the Apophis's luxurious Palace, Mobius slowly opened his eyes and gave his orders.
He lay with his head in Psykos's lap, enjoying her massage.
The other members were busy preparing for the Apophis's grand opening.
Running an entire entertainment complex required a large staff.
Ten Thousand Serpents had made those preparations during its year in Kronos Kingdom.
Protection from a major power and decent wages were more than many people could hope for.
Besides, this was the New World. Recruiting people from its lawless islands and seas was easy enough.
They could also buy large numbers of slaves at sea.
As the Slave Trade flourished, even the market price of an ordinary person had fallen.
An ordinary person now cost just four hundred thousand.
That was a drop of one hundred thousand from before.
The growing number of slaves was quietly changing the seas.
Demand for them was rising too.
Especially among certain kingdoms.
It was as though the times were moving backward, toward a slave society.
So