Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Oh? You mean kidnapping to turn your people into slaves?" Rain asked while rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Can you guys survive out of water for long?"

"You should know that!" The merman shouted again.

"I am not deaf, so don't bark in my ears," Rain said. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking, retard."

The merman shared that his people had been dealing with kidnappings for many decades, and this was the reason for his attack on the port city. He explained that these incidents had occurred and his kind had to pass through this area.

Rain found this revelation quite puzzling. He couldn't recall any reports of slavery in the human country, so the idea of the sea folk being kidnapped for such a long time raised doubts. However, he couldn't completely dismiss the merman's claim, as it was a plausible scenario given the complexities of the world.

This disclosure prompted a moment of contemplative silence among the group, and their collective gaze eventually landed on Orcis. As the leader of the port town, Orcis bore the responsibility for what happened within its borders. The accusations made by the merman were serious and warranted thorough investigation to uncover the truth.

"Please, don't look at me like that," Orcis said. "Why would I risk my port city knowing that you would attack us and our ships?"

"Your ships have always been prepared and have countermeasures against us," Ther merman said. "What were those preparations for then?"

"They were just us exacting our caution," Orcis said and then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Have you guys heard of anyone being enslaved in our country? We didn't even have the chance to capture the magic people since we were always on the defending side, barely winning."

"Yeah… for that to happen, one side needs to be a lot stronger than the other," Branden said. "Besides, they would be hard to control, but the sea folk get weaker out of water. Some might resist forever, but they will become much weaker and unable to use their true strength."

In Rain's head, people were usually enslaved for three main reasons. First, they could be used as soldiers in battles. Second, they might serve as laborers, doing various types of work for others. The third and darkest possibility was often connected to activities that occurred during the night.

When Rain considered the sea folk's situation, he tried to assess how they might fit into the concept of slavery in this world. The sea folk were powerful in water, but their abilities seemed to weaken significantly on land. This made them less suitable for battle, and it would likely require external control, such as the authority magic wielded by dragons, to make them effective fighters.

Using them as laborers for tasks on land also appeared impractical due to their unique physical characteristics, which were better suited for underwater tasks. Forcing them to work on the land would likely result in inefficiency and resistance. read this on m _v _l _e _m _p _y _r

As Rain thought it through, he couldn't help but conclude that the sea folk might have been targeted for a much darker and sinister purpose, one that aligned with the third use of slaves in his world.

The sea folk being used for illicit nighttime purposes seemed like the most plausible explanation. From an objective standpoint, despite the sea folk's unique blend of fish-like and reptilian features, they had an intriguing and captivating appearance.

This distinct beauty might have made them targets for those seeking forbidden desires, and this troubling thought cast a dark shadow over the situation.

"I can't speak for the country and say that we don't have slaves here. It is up to you, Branden," Rain said. "What are you going to do?"

"I can't do that either since I am not sure… the best I can do is investigate this matter," Branden said while showing a complicated expression. "Please, give us some time. We will help you solve this issue, and those involved will be handed to you to do as you please."

It seemed that Branden was willing to throw some of his countrymen away for the sake of the greater good. That was probably for the best since the ones involved in the kidnappings were scum anyway. Still, things wouldn't be that simple.

"As if we would believe you!" The merman said.

"This guy sure is noisy…" Rain furrowed his eyebrows. "He seems to be a big shot, so we can't kill him, but they will retreat for a while if I kill the giant monsters, right?"

"They might be important for them, so we have to avoid that," Branden said and then began to think for a short while. "Can you give us at least one week? If you do it, we will find some people involved in the kidnappings with irrefutable proof."

"You will only fabricate the proof," the merman said.

"We are running out of time," Rain said while looking at the monsters getting closer and closer. Aside from the piles of rubble, they were also destroying other buildings. "Just send someone that will come with us then. We will release you to call for someone else to do that for you. If you don't, then it will be up to you to continue this battle.

A lot of people will die, but you will have some losses as well."

The merman appeared to believe Rain's words. He recognized that Rain's combat skills and magical abilities made him a serious threat. The idea that Rain could infiltrate their territory, defeat some sea folk, and escape without suffering consequences was entirely believable.

Moreover, the merman knew about Rain's substantial mana reserves and powerful magic. He understood that Rain could gradually eliminate the colossal sea monsters, one or two at a time, which posed a significant risk to the sea folk. Engaging in a prolonged battle with Rain and his group could result in substantial losses for the sea folk.

This assessment influenced the merman's decision to opt for negotiations rather than escalating the conflict further.

"... We will accept your offer," The merman said.