Chapter 61: Establishing Order on the Seas

Chapter 61: Establishing Order on the Seas

Mork, the most confused party in all this, couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

While pirates often engaged in black-on-black shenanigans, this was the first time he had heard it framed this way according to Airael.

“It seems you don’t quite get what I’m saying, so let me clarify.”

Airael noticed their bewilderment and spoke up: “This sea police you can think of as an organization, a formal organization recognized by me, your Elven Queen.”

Mork nodded.

It seemed he was beginning to grasp Airael’s meaning.

This Queen, it appeared, was going to extend an olive branch to him.

But she seemed to be thinking a bit too simply about it.

After all, they were all sinners of the Elven Race, expelled from their own kind.

Seeing the smirk in Mork’s eyes, Airael chuckled: “I know what you’re thinking, but although I do have certain intentions, what I’m about to propose isn’t exactly what you imagine.”

“Then let’s hear it.”

Mork responded, still maintaining that mocking glint in his gaze, yet it was clear he was invested.

“I’m not asking you to return to the Elven Race and become a part of its inner workings; you’ll continue to operate outside of it. However, while I recognize you, you’ll have to pay a price.”

“Is that the price you mentioned earlier?”

“No, that’s only part of it.”

Airael shook her head.

Then she looked at Mork with a teasing tone and said, “By the way, I’m quite interested in the title of Pirate Queen. Of course, from now on, you’ll be sea police, no longer pirates.

You’ll be responsible for cleaning up the pirates and maintaining order on the seas.

Meanwhile, passing ships will need to pay you a certain fee as your reward.”

Mork frowned, pondering Airael’s words.

There were aspects that were enticing, and others that raised suspicion.

What drew him in was Airael’s recognition as an Elven Queen.

This would grant them, the Dark Elves, a legitimate status, taking them out of the shadows of the dark world.

Though it looked like there wasn’t immense profit at first glance, one shouldn’t underestimate such a shift in identity.

For creatures who uphold order, having a rightful status is crucial.

With a legitimate identity, it would make various activities much easier.

For instance, the idea of cleaning up pirates, functioning as sea police, and collecting protection fees from passing ships.

When they were pirates, these actions were just black-on-black crime.

But with a proper title, those actions would be seen as legal income, a product of their labor.

In due time, the sea would be their territory, and any ship sailing across it would have to “pay taxes.”

While this was enticing to Mork, he also harbored doubts.

Firstly, Airael’s offer was too generous, making him wary of potential traps.

Secondly, this was a big cake, and he wondered if he could eat his share.

Despite Mork’s strong personal capabilities, the Dark Elven faction was quite weak.

Essentially, if it weren’t for Mork holding them up, the Dark Elves wouldn’t even stand on the world’s main stage.

After a while, Airael noticed Mork still hadn’t responded and asked: “General Mork, I’m curious about what’s still concerning you; if you’d like, feel free to share, and I’ll do my best to clarify.”

“What exactly do you stand to gain from all this? Surely it’s not just the trade issues you mentioned at the start.”

Mork was now certain that Airael wasn’t here merely for the Elven trade problems.

She definitely had other motives.

In this regard, Mork acknowledged he had underestimated Airael.

Today, he hadn’t anticipated her dropping this bombshell on him.

“I mentioned earlier that I’m quite interested in the title of Pirate Queen,” Airael said with a smile.

However, her tone was no longer playful.

She appeared serious.

“But you being Pirate Queen doesn’t exactly suit your identity,” Mork snickered.

“That’s why I changed it to Sea Police.”

“You mean you want to make us submit to you and pledge loyalty?”

Mork’s voice turned icy.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.

“You could understand it that way. While I can’t restore your Elven status for the time being, no one said I couldn’t become your king of the Dark Elves, right?”

Airael’s question was met with silence.

She smiled slightly and continued, “And I am an Elven Queen; in a sense, aren’t Dark Elves still kind of Elven?”

Mork couldn’t deny that fact.

Though they’d been stripped of their Elven identity and had to call themselves Dark Elves, they indeed still belonged to the Elven Race by blood.

This undeniable truth weighed heavily on Mork’s mind; Airael had done her homework for this conversation.

She had laid out a very tempting proposal to entice him.

But she still underestimated him.

Mork looked at Airael and said with a grin: “Your Majesty, I must say you’ve considered everything quite thoroughly. However, it seems you’ve overlooked one thing: we Dark Elves are not those delicate Elves living in a greenhouse. We are pirates who’ve fought on the seas; winning our loyalty won’t be that easy.”

“Just not easy, huh?”

Airael smiled at Mork, asking lightly.

If it’s not easy, that means it’s possible.

In that moment, Mork’s smile froze.

The remarks he had intended to hurl at Airael not only missed their mark but were turned back on him.

That feeling was truly discomforting.

After contemplating for a moment, Mork decided to sidestep the topic.

He could no longer afford to underestimate this Elven Queen; when it came to scheming, she was a master, sharper than any human—like a crafty little fox.

“Your Majesty, I think it’s best you stick to being Elven Queen. Avalon is quite peaceful, but the seas are far from calm.

Chaos and slaughter abound here; many creatures lose their lives daily in pursuit of wealth in these treacherous waters.”

“Precisely because the seas are currently filled with chaos and slaughter, I want to establish order upon them,” Airael responded, gazing back at him, undeterred by Mork’s remarks.

“So naive!” Mork scoffed.

“Perhaps I am a bit naïve, but if I have the courage to do something, there’s a chance I can succeed; if I don’t try, it’s sure I won’t,” Airael replied, remaining unfazed by Mork’s words.