I! Cleaner!-Chapter 1165 - 1068: The Fair Treaty

Despicable! Waaaa! Treating fish so unfairly!

Faced with the Japanese threat Veronica learned from a certain prince, the Mermaid, who had her weakness firmly grasped, couldn't even last five minutes before being forced to sign a series of unequal treaties, tearfully selling out the entire Thousand Sails Maritime Country.

And the contents of this "Traveling Thrush-Saiou Fair Cooperation Agreement" specifically include but are not limited to:

Agreeing, once safely returning to the country, to share the world sea maps surveyed over three hundred years by the Thousand Sails Maritime Country; agreeing in the name of the Saiou Royal Family to open five Golden Routes; promising to share the sixty-nine ports under the governance of the Thousand Sails Maritime Country, as well as usage rights to all servicing islands along the transcontinental route... 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

After signing this series of treaties that dishonored and humiliated the country, although the Thousand Sails Maritime Country could maintain a certain degree of autonomy and not entirely merge into the Kingdom of Lutung, their lifeline was essentially choked off by more than half.

The sharing of sea maps and good ports meant practically giving away the "core property" of the entire Thousand Sails Maritime Country. When the scholars of the Traveling Thrush Research Institute were free to act, and as soon as the large ships powered by new energy were launched, the "business" of the Thousand Sails Maritime Country would face unprecedented pressure.

"She actually agreed..."

Watching the Mermaid's despondent silhouette leave, Leon, who wasn't good at negotiation, clicked his tongue, incredulously remarking:

"Your demands were so harsh, I thought she'd at most agree to only two or three... but the result was exactly the opposite, where she agreed to everything except for the two or three she wouldn't budge on?"

"It's not that she didn't want to refuse, she just had no choice."

Blowing on the "fair" agreement in her hand, complete with fingerprint, signature, and private seal, which would have legal effect once published, Queen Veronica, having won a great victory in the negotiations, said with a smile:

"The 'business' of the Thousand Sails Maritime Country, aside from plundering, is those Golden Routes and large-scale cross-sea trade.

Their business partners are mainly the Green Shade Country Olaus, the Medicine Country Perdi, and they recently added us to the list, making six in total.

And plundering isn't a stable activity, so for the half-merchant, half-bandit Kingdom of Saio, the sea routes and large-scale trade are their most stable source of income, accounting for as much as sixty-five to seventy percent of their revenue, and just now..."

"Just now she thoroughly pissed off 'that side'?"

Recalling the gaze of the other kings in the meeting room directed at the mermaid, Leon realized:

"Of the six biggest partners of the Thousand Sails Maritime Country, Olaus, Perdi, and Haiclin are on that side, while Morna and East Calraven are with us.

By bringing us to the anti-Thrush Kingdom gathering, whether accidentally or intentionally, it means she's no longer 'reliable', and those three certainly won't dare to hand their core trade over to her; they will undoubtedly start to gradually disentangle?"

"That's right."

Shooting a glance filled with approval at the quick-witted Leon, Queen Veronica put away the agreement in her hand, speaking with a smile:

"In the short term, there might not be much impact, but over time, those three will certainly reduce their trade quotas. If we follow suit by constricting or even ceasing maritime trade, the only remaining trading partners for the Thousand Sails Maritime Country would be those smaller city-states.

The problem with maritime trade is that it can take months to complete a single run. The city-states' orders are scattered and cheap, frequently requiring rerouting to shore. If the earning efficiency is just one-fifth of large maritime trade, that's considered good. Tired out from running them, it won't sustain such a large kingdom.

Nearly seventy percent of the citizens and nobles of the Thousand Sails Maritime Country rely on these large trades for their livelihood. Without the pressure from higher orders, if maritime trade goes wrong, she as a person—whether human or mermaid—won't be able to hold the throne stably, so regardless of her reluctance, she had no choice but to agree to our conditions."

"But wouldn't this situation work in reverse, as well?"

Leon contemplated the matter for a moment and then questioned in some puzzlement:

"If we can coerce her using maritime trade, why can't those three kingdoms do the same?"

"That's thanks to your good reputation~"

"???"

As Leon looked on in bewilderment, Queen Veronica softly chuckled:

"Your habit of 'collecting queens' has almost spread throughout The Twelve Kingdoms. Those three are likely to continue cooperating with the Thousand Sails Maritime Country, but they won't trust the Saiou Queen, 'who's in a close relationship with you' and betrayed them. They'll probably demand a replacement.

And from the situation she's revealed in these two days, there are quite a few within the Saiou Kingdom opposing her. If she turns back to that side, as long as we spread rumors about you two having an affair, her position won't remain stable either, so she might as well lean towards us."

"..."

They can handle things like this?!

"Furthermore, leaning towards us isn't without benefits for her. Besides preserving her throne, it's also a good way out for the entire Thousand Sails Maritime Country."

Seeing Leon's speechless gaze, Queen Veronica, having won overwhelmingly, suppressed the faint bitterness arising in her heart with a composed smile and said:

"We've also promised her that if the upcoming Twelve Kingdoms assembly goes smoothly, the subsequent large-scale transportation work for balancing resources will still be assigned to the Thousand Sails Maritime Country, and we would also provide technology and workers to help construct and maintain harbors, upgrade sea vessels, and more.

Furthermore, as long as she controls her domestic situation well and reduces or even prohibits piracy problems, we would consider giving her a share in the sale and distribution of our industrial products. Calculating it this way, she not only can cover the gap in maritime trade but may even earn some profit, which means we haven't treated her too harshly."

"..."

But the precondition is that she must wholeheartedly lean towards us, supporting us at the upcoming Twelve Kingdoms assembly, and when it comes to suppressing the 'pirate' part within the Thousand Sails Maritime Country, she must inevitably rely on the military force of Traveling Thrush... This essentially equates to complete dependency, doesn't it?

No wonder you said I should hide my identity for now, sneaking in to observe quietly. So, this was your intention?

Observing how in a day and a half, Veronica had thoroughly grasped the mermaid's situation, exerting control over the entire Thousand Sails Maritime Country with a slight advantage in intelligence, Leon couldn't help but click his tongue.

The political games are just... hmm... by the way, you didn't seem to mention any of this when you two were negotiating, which means that naive mermaid was actually very clear about her predicament, hence her instantly bowing down?

"Alright, it's okay as long as you understand,"

Trusting that professionals handle professional matters, since Veronica was confident, Leon didn't say anything more. Instead, he began using his soul vision to scan around, searching for Anna in the bustling town, intending to go meet them, however...

Is that... the palace???

Staring at the coal-black and gold intertwined monument-like buildings in the hazy city center, Leon's eyebrows raised in surprise.

Weren't they just going to shop and possibly visit the trading post? How did they end up in the Morna Kingdom's palace?