Somewhere in the ocean, within a secluded stronghold in the Windless Zone, surrounded by the habitats of sea beasts and demon monsters, someone had built an enormous estate, installed all manner of arrays and restrictions, and fortified it into a domain as impregnable as an iron barrel.
This place belonged to a member of one of the ocean's merchants' alliances. Originally an outlying holding discovered by chance after straying from a shipping route, it had later been converted into a warehouse, then put to use handling secret transactions that could not be made public. Hundreds of years had passed since then.
Now, the slightest rustle outside the stronghold set nerves on edge, every blade of grass and tree seeming like an enemy soldier. Powerfully built guards of unusual races and martial arts experts had all been mobilized to patrol diligently. Cultivators could also be glimpsed standing watch on high ground, closely monitoring every direction from which anyone might approach by sea.
Inside, in a spacious courtyard, people carried out coffin after coffin and set them before a group of living humans.
There were men and women, old and young among them, all refugees abducted from mortal kingdoms. Some were trafficked women and children, brought here specifically and kept for a time.
Now, the people in charge had finally bared their savage fangs and were about to act.
"Behave yourselves! Unless you want to be buried alive like those fools a few days ago, stand still and do as you're told!"
The men, women, old, and young had some inkling of what was about to happen. Horror appeared on their faces, but even more of them merely looked numb.
Years of suffering had broken their backbones and worn away their will and courage, leaving them like walking corpses.
Even in the