I! Cleaner!-Chapter 1184 - 1085: Schemes and Additional Agendas (Part 2)

Although in his view, the treaty signed by The Twelve Kingdoms was already quite "excessive," what the Food God wanted was far from just that. For him, this gathering was not a full stop marking the end, but rather a trumpet heralding a charge.

"Isn't he your older brother?"

When Leon noticed her gaze and looked over suspiciously, Miss Salted Fish hurriedly turned her head away, immediately covering her mouth with her hand, and whispered to William behind her:

"As his younger brother, shouldn't you help him hide these plans? Why are you telling me this?"

"It's what you traded the chocolate for, isn't it?"

"..."

"Also, do you have any concrete evidence for what I just said?"

After putting away his notepad, William blinked and said:

"If you are dumb enough to tattle, how are you going to answer when other kings ask for your source? Say you traded five slabs of cream chocolate with the Food God's elementary school-aged brother?"

"..."

"Besides, don't you have something important you want to ask my brother for? If you do, how could you tattle?"

?!?!!

Hearing William's words, Miss Salted Fish was shocked.

"How did you know? Did I make it that obvious?"

"Yes, it's almost like you said it directly."

Seeing the obviously startled Miss Salted Fish in front of him, William smirked and said:

"Since the gathering began, you've been staring intensely at my brother. Even the Northern Queen and the Witch Kingdom's Queen, who have a fondness for him, haven't glanced at him as much as you have."

"But what if I'm just..."

"But you're only looking at my brother and not my sister-in-law... Look that way."

Interrupting Miss Salted Fish, William motioned with his mouth towards the Cat Queen not far away, indicating for her to observe how the real queens of scandal conduct themselves.

"Just watch her, you'll see. Every time she can't help but want to look at my brother, she'll first sneak a glance at my sister-in-law to make sure she's not looking before stealing a glance at my brother.

Similarly, the Northern Queen, who's always eating, is about the same. If she has thoughts about my brother but feels embarrassed about others noticing, that's exactly how she appears.

But you're different. Every time you look at my brother, you do so openly and confidently, without any worry about my sister-in-law catching you. So you probably don't have any thoughts about my brother, or if you do, they're not strong—mainly, you have something you want to ask him for help with."

"..."

You can see through it so clearly? And in your notes about negotiation tactics, you wrote about using male charm to... seduce opponents? So that note was just to trick me into giving you chocolate?

What else would it be? Who would write notes seriously if not to trick people?

Faced with Miss Salted Fish's glance, which was three parts surprise and seven parts annoyance, William puffed up his small head and gave her a disdainful look.

Knowledge is the sort of thing that, the moment it's acquired, must be etched firmly into your mind, becoming an instinct that surfaces as soon as you think. That's the only time when it truly becomes yours.

If you still need to review it from a notebook, that's not called knowledge. It's just the residue of thoughts clumsily poured onto paper through your fingers after your stubborn brain refuses to think or remember anything.

"..."

This damn child!

Stung by the disdainful look from William, Miss Salted Fish felt her pride wounded and gritted her teeth, reaching out to pinch his cheeks, only for William, who was prepared, to evade her. He then commented disdainfully:

"Childish, I stopped pinching others' cheeks when I was six!"

"You?!!!"

"For the sake of the chocolate, I'll give you another tip... If you've got something you want to ask my brother, now's the best chance."

"Huh?"

"Didn't you write it all down on your agenda list?"

Pointing to the agenda list in Miss Salted Fish's hand, William leisurely reminded her:

"Agenda item four: Strengthening deep cooperation between The Twelve Kingdoms and the Bureau of Cleansings, enhancing efficient, timely, quick, and transparent feedback mechanisms to ensure large-scale anomalies are nipped in the bud.

I don't know what help you want from my brother, but you're still the Queen of the Kingdom of Saio, part of The Twelve Kingdoms. So the trouble you're facing can probably be counted in.

If you make your request now and it aligns with the agenda, it provides a good example of deepening cooperation, and there's a high chance my brother will agree...

Prepare quickly! They're all discussing supplementary agendas now, and soon it will be your turn to speak. It will be too late once the gathering is over!"

Huh? Bring it up directly here?

Seeing that the situation is indeed as William quietly reminded her, and as the West Kalavin Queen to her left had finished speaking, Miss Salted Fish clenched her fists and resolutely stood up, saying:

"Wait! The Kingdom of Saio has an additional agenda!"

Finally couldn't help speaking up?

Glancing behind her at the "all set" signal made by William, Leon nodded slightly, approvingly giving him a "well done" look, then calmly saying:

"Please speak, Her Majesty Wendy."

"I..."

Since the exchange between Leon and his brother wasn't hidden from her, Miss Salted Fish suddenly realized she might have been tricked. But since she was now already standing, plus William's suggestion seemed reasonable, she gritted her teeth and said:

"Our Kingdom of Saio has recently made some contacts with the Sea Race and discovered they are massively relocating from their original dwellings, moving closer to the waters we operate in.

Considering the alliance between the Kingdom of Saio and the Sea Race and some economic reasons, we are contemplating... contemplating allowing some Sea Race members to join the Kingdom of Saio, becoming regular citizens of our Kingdom of Saio and part of The Twelve Kingdoms!"

What did you say?!

Hearing Miss Salted Fish's additional agenda, not only did the kings unfamiliar with the Sea Race get shocked, but even the Cancer and Scorpio directors were taken aback.

Although among the Great Ten Races, the Sea Race has the most interaction with humans, with occasional intermarriages resulting in many hybrids, the Sea Race is ultimately the Sea Race, not humans!

Whether in terms of habitat, physical attributes, social structure, or mindset, the differences between the Sea Race and regular humans are significant.

And considering the increasingly frequent human activities over the past three hundred years, along with the rise of transoceanic routes and maritime trade routes, the Sea Race's living space has been severely squeezed.

Adding to it the unsustainable fishing practices of a few coastal kingdoms and the excessive wastewater discharge by industrial kingdoms led by Crolock, the relationship between the Sea Race and humans is actually deteriorating rapidly.

Local branches of the Bureau of Cleansings often receive reports of ports or sea lanes being attacked by the Sea Race. Aside from the Kingdom of Saio, which has long intermarried with the Sea Race, the remaining eleven kingdoms of The Twelve Kingdoms can be said to have a severely strained relationship with them.

And now, this group, which isn't exactly hostile to humans but isn't particularly friendly either, unexpectedly wants to join the Kingdom of Saio, and even consider becoming a part of The Twelve Kingdoms?

"Her Majesty Wendy."

Glancing at the visibly nervous Miss Salted Fish, seemingly awaiting a "judgment," Leon, equally surprised, hesitated for a moment. Without directly revealing her mermaid identity, he asked:

"Could you explain a bit more clearly? For instance, why is the Sea Race relocating massively from their original seas, and what are the reasons behind your proposal to accept them into the Kingdom of Saio?"

"The reason is..."

Gazing at the reluctance on the faces of the kings and the vigilance on the faces of the two directors, Miss Salted Fish felt a wave of regret. But since she had come this far, and knowing the Bureau of Cleansings would investigate if she didn't speak, she bit the bullet and confessed:

"The oceans... are starting to freeze from the deepest parts!"