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Chapter 382: Defeat

This reduction effectively meant five thousand fewer mouths to feed.

For a tribe of their moderate size, such a drastic population decline could offer a grim chance of surviving the harsh winter.

Compared to the underground demihumans of Gloomhaven, the Sea Lizard tribe had a greater sense of compassion and unity.

Otherwise, in dire circumstances such as famine, the sheer size of these five thousand Sea Lizards, each about three meters long, could have provided crucial sustenance.

The melancholic sound of the conch signaled the Sea Lizards’ deep sorrow.

Yuri ceased her pursuit and returned to Sein’s side with her mecha.

The metallic disk under Sein’s feet kept him afloat above the surface of the sea.

Sein’s space ring was now filled with numerous corpses of Sea Lizards, including two that were still alive but frozen by a cryo magic spell.

These low-level aquatic creatures were Sein’s trophies from this event.

Although Sea Lizards were not particularly valuable, Sein, having never encountered them before, found them a noteworthy addition to his collection.

The battle between the Sea Lizard chief and Kurt persisted. As the Sea Lizards began their withdrawal, the chief smartly pulled back deeper into the ocean.

Although Kurt was a Rank One knight, he was not all brawn but no brain.

As the Sea Lizard chief continued his retreat, Kurt prudently decided against further pursuit, understanding that once they traversed this area, the Sea Lizards would stop chasing them.

Aquatic races were fiercely territorial. While they generally avoided confrontations with mages and knights, they met any trespass by other aquatic races into their territory with unyielding hostility.

Both annexation and slaughter were rampant in the seas of the Magus World.

It was a mistake to assume that conflicts like the Nation War Plan and the Regional Inter-Divine Tower Academy War were limited to land.

The Sea King Palace spread throughout the depths of the vast sea remained indifferent to the skirmishes and tensions among the lesser aquatic races.

After delivering a powerful kick to the Sea Lizard chief, Kurt withdrew smoothly back to the safety of his ship.

It was only then that his weapon became visible to the others aboard.

The blade of the short sword Kurt wielded resembled flowing water gleaming with a frosty light. Hydro elemental energy swirled around its hilt and Kurt’s wrist.

Sein, with his alchemist’s insight, recognized the sword’s distinction among ranked magic artifacts.

While it did not surpass his “Verdant Flame Heart Rod”, it was still undeniably exceptional.

The weapon Kurt wielded proved the lucrative nature of partaking in gray-area activities, which potentially contravened the orders of the knights’ regulations.

Undoubtedly, the substantial profits this venture promised were what compelled Kurt to be willing to put his life on the line for the business.

After all, the income of a registered knight in the order of knights, even after a decade of service, likely would not match Kurt’s earnings in just a single year.

Kurt’s return and the Sea Lizards’ retreat signaled the end of this confrontation.

Yet, it was at this moment Sein made his move.

Having abstained from the fray until now, he steered his metallic disk toward the retreating Sea Lizards.

Yuri trailed closely behind as Sein’s dedicated guard.

Although she joined the battle late, her prowess rivaled that of Kurt and the goateed elder.

The pursuit by two Rank One beings definitely alarmed the Sea Lizards that had initiated their retreat.

Despite bleeding profusely and having no time to care for his wounds, their chief quickly appeared to block Sein and Yuri’s advance. Even the tribe elder, who oversaw those Sea Lizards, joined in.

Yuri alone was more than the Sea Lizard chief could contend with. The addition of Sein by her side significantly intensified the worry reflected in the Sea Lizard elder\'s deeply furrowed brow.

Despite the tense atmosphere around them, Sein spoke without a hint of hostility. “I have no interest in continuing the fight. Perhaps we could make a deal?”

He fixed his gaze on the old Sea Lizard. It was clear from the battle earlier that the elder was the authoritative voice within the tribe.

Although not all of the Sea Lizards understood the common language used in the Magus World, the Rank One chief and elder seemed to understand Sein’s proposal.

Besides, the elder was speaking in their language when he demanded fifty magicoins from Kurt earlier.

The Sea Lizard chief was heavily wounded and panting heavily. On top of that, he seemed like an impulsive guy.

The old Sea Lizard stepped forward and stopped the chief with his grayish-white coral cane, and asked, “May I know what sort of deal it is?”

As the other Sea Lizards scattered into the ocean’s depths, Sein explained, “Your kind must have lived in this part of the sea for ages. I seek rare materials endowed with elemental power. You can also offer underwater flora and fauna of value for my collection of specimens. Payment will be made in magicoins.”

The sudden shift from combat to negotiation left the old Sea Lizard to wonder whether this was contempt or a display of overwhelming confidence on Sein’s part.

A sudden spurt of dark blue blood burst forth from the chief’s chest wound, prompting the elder to intervene once again.

With nearly seven centuries of life, the elder\'s wisdom was undeniable.

In contrast to the chief, who had lived for only less than two centuries, the elder had witnessed the majority of their tribe’s millennium-long history.

He seemed to understand what “specimens” meant and could discern the sincerity beneath Sein’s indifferent facade.

“Our clan occupies a barren stretch of sea, and we yield most underwater resources to the Sea King Palace and our neighbor, Sea Crab Clan. I’m afraid we don’t have what you seek,” the Sea Lizard elder replied honestly.

That made sense. Had they possessed resources in the first place, their current plight would likely have been averted.

“It’s fine. I’ve come to Boundless South Sea for exploration. I’m interested in any undersea lifeform, as long as they have value for research,” Sein explained.

“Moreover, I’m extremely intrigued by your race. Despite collecting several specimens of your kind, I still lack hatchling data. Could you trade me some Sea Lizard eggs? I’ll ensure fair compensation,” he offered with a soft chuckle.

“Our clan will never trade our offspring!” the elder stated firmly.

“What if I offer you a magicoin for an egg?” Sein countered.

At this, the elder fell silent, while the chief, unable to contain his anger, growled menacingly and advanced toward Sein with his trident in hand.