piratefiction Chapter 204 The Price
Chapter 204 The Price
Chapter 204 The Price
"So you just killed them all?"
Dila's voice was soft, yet it pierced to the bone like an ice pick.
He leaned back lazily in the chair covered with precious animal hides, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, a rhythm that made the heart of the man kneeling on the ground clench.
"Yes—they put up a stubborn resistance, and we had no choice—"
The man tried to explain, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Unavoidable?"
Dila interrupted him, a cold smile curving her lips.
What I need are people, laborers who can go into the water to harvest black algae, not a bunch of useless corpses. You've turned Gray Rock Island into a dead zone; who will harvest the black algae there? You?
The man was so frightened he almost collapsed, repeatedly kowtowing: "My lord, please forgive me! My lord, please forgive me! We—we can transfer people from other islands—"
"waste."
Dila uttered two words and stopped looking at him, as if he were just an eyesore of trash. His gaze turned to Oman, who had been standing to the side with his head down.
"Oman".
Oman immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Madame Dila."
"Things don't seem to be going well on Black Reef Island either?"
Dila's tone was unreadable, but Ouman instantly felt a cold sweat break out on his back. The message from the seagull had indeed arrived faster than he had expected.
"It's because my subordinates are incompetent."
Oman didn't dare to look up.
"Erm—Elder Erm of Black Reef Island, he threatened his life and demanded three days to prepare."
Considering that a forceful suppression might lead to chaos on the island and affect the black algae harvest, I—temporarily agreed to his request.
He tried to keep the account of the process brief, emphasizing the weighing of benefits and concealing his struggles and the humiliation he felt at the time.
Dila listened quietly, the tapping of her fingers ceasing. Only the heavy breathing of the kneeling man and the sound of waves crashing against the hull filled the cabin, creating a suffocating atmosphere.
"Erm—I've heard that name before."
Dila seemed to be deep in thought.
"He's a tough nut to crack, and he has some influence on the nearby islands. You and he seem to have some old ties?"
Oman's heart tightened; he knew Dila was targeting him.
"Yes—we were old acquaintances. But I, your subordinate, would never prioritize the interests of the dynasty above all else, and would never dare to let personal matters interfere with public duty!"
"Yeah?"
Dila chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in her laughter.
"Then tell me, did he really need these three days to prepare for harvesting black algae, or was he preparing for something else? For example—"
Should we unite with other islands, or hide the elderly, women, and children?
Oman's throat felt a little dry.
Dila hit the nail on the head, expressing his biggest concern.
He could only bite the bullet and reply, "My subordinates have already sent people to closely monitor the movements on Black Reef Island. Any unusual activity will be reported immediately."
Dila stood up, walked slowly to the window, and looked out at the dark sea.
His figure appeared exceptionally tall and dangerous in the dim light.
"Oman, do you know why I sent him?" She didn't turn around.
"Because—I am familiar with this place and can serve you, sir."
Auman answered cautiously.
"Because you're smart enough, and realistic enough."
Dila turned around, her gaze sweeping across Oman's face like a blade.
"You know when to be firm and when to be yielding. But sometimes, being too clever can lead to hesitation. Look at the example of Gray Rock Island."
He pointed to the man on the ground who was still trembling.
"The methods were a bit brutal, but at least they made the other islands around us understand what happens when you resist."
The majesty of the Eternal Night Dynasty was not established through negotiation and compromise.
We need black algae, but we need absolute obedience even more. Efficiency? Before order is established, bloodshed is the highest form of efficiency.
Oman felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet.
Dila's words couldn't be clearer—her patience with Black Lagoon was limited.
"Understood."
Oman lowered his head deeply. "If Zorm cannot provide a satisfactory explanation in three days, I know what to do."
"very good."
Dila nodded in satisfaction, and then, as if casually brushing the dust off his sleeve, he gently raised a finger toward the man kneeling on the ground.
"ah!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream shattered the oppressive silence in the cabin!
The man's body suddenly arched, as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, his eyes bulging and his face drained of all color.
He frantically scratched at his throat with both hands, but there was nothing there. His bones made a sickening "crackling" sound, and the veins under his skin bulged out, turning an ominous purplish-black.
Oman was closest and could clearly see the extreme pain and incomprehensible fear in the man's eyes, his gaze seeming to question why.
He could even smell the stench of incontinence spreading instantly.
The whole process was incredibly fast.
In just two or three breaths, the man's screams stopped abruptly, his body slumped to the ground like a lump of mud, his eyes wide open, devoid of any life, a gruesome death.
Dila didn't even flinch, as if she had just crushed an ant.
He picked up a silk handkerchief from the table and slowly wiped the hand he had just raised, even though his fingers hadn't touched anything at all.
"Get rid of it."
Dila gave the order to the shadows.
Two black-clad guards, as swift as ghosts, appeared silently and dragged away the still-warm corpse. The filth on the ground was quickly cleaned up, as if nothing had happened.
But the lingering smell of blood and death in the air weighed heavily on Orman's heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
His face was pale, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.
He had witnessed Dila's methods firsthand, but each time he experienced them firsthand, he still felt a chill run down his spine. This was not a battle, but a pure, crushing annihilation.
Dila casually tossed the silk handkerchief she had used to wipe her hands onto the ground, her gaze returning to Oman, her expression eerily calm.
"See that, Oman? That's efficiency."
Dila's voice remained calm.
"Someone needs to be held accountable for the failure of Gray Rock Island."
Most importantly—he dared to kill the dynasty's assets without permission!
His death will make others more clearly understand what is permissible and what is not, and also the consequences of failing a mission.
He walked up to Oman. Although he was shorter than Oman, the invisible pressure he exuded made Oman involuntarily lower his head.
"I hope that in three days, the situation at Black Reef Island will have an efficient outcome."
I don't want to use this method to "motivate" others anymore, especially—you, Orman.
Dila's words were like an icicle, piercing through Orman's last glimmer of hope.
He understood that Dila was giving him a final warning in the most direct way possible.
Three days later, if Erm does not yield, Black Reef Island will face not only military suppression, but also a devastating blow personally dealt by Dira.
If he himself shows any hesitation or weakness, his fate will be no better than that of the person in charge of Gray Rock Island.
"Understood!"
Oman's voice trembled slightly as he knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.
"I will give you a satisfactory result in three days!"
"Go and prepare."
Dila waved his hand, sat back down in his animal-skin chair, and closed his eyes, as if everything that had just happened was just a minor incident.
Auman almost staggered out of the cabin.
Once on the deck, the cold sea breeze made him realize that he was shivering slightly.
He gripped the cold gunwale and gazed into the distance at the dark sea, the direction of Black Reef Island.
Erm—his brother.
Three days later, when they meet again, it will no longer be a reunion, but a life-or-death confrontation.
Dila's shadow had already descended as if it were a tangible entity, leaving no way out.
He could almost see the Black Reef Island dock stained red with blood three days from now.
And his hands may have to be stained with the blood of his former brothers.
Oman clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, but the pain was nothing compared to the coldness and despair he felt inside.
Oman stood on the deck for an unknown amount of time, until the icy chill seeped into his bones and his limbs became numb, before he suddenly came to his senses.
The pungent smell of blood from inside the cabin still seemed to linger, mingling with the salty sea breeze to create a nauseating odor.
He turned stiffly and walked toward his cabin.
Every step felt incredibly heavy, as if my feet were wearing invisible shackles.
The cabin door closed, shutting out most of the outside noise from the wind and waves.
Oman leaned against the cold wooden door and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.
He raised his hands, looking in the dim light of the cabin at the hands that had once practiced witchcraft and talked about ideals with Erm.
Now, these hands may be about to destroy everything that Erm has been protecting.
Dira's words, like venomous snakes, swirled and echoed in his mind.
"Bleeding is the highest form of efficiency."
"I don't want to use this method to 'motivate' you anymore, Oman."
The image of the Gray Rock Island leader's bulging eyes and agonizing screams before his death kept flashing before his eyes.
Fear coiled around his heart like vines, tightening ever tighter.
He had no doubt that if the results three days later did not satisfy Dila, his fate would only be worse.
The Eternal Night Dynasty never lacks substitutes, and countless eyes are watching Dila's position.
Either Erm dies, or I die!