Published: March 12, 2025
Zhao Hai didn't even glance at those people. He simply looked at the wine cup in his hand and said softly, "What's the matter? Are you all here to see me?"
The members of the vassal races noticed that Zhao Hai's voice was very calm, and he didn't seem to have any imposing aura about him. However, for some reason, they still felt tense, especially those who had been shouting earlier; they kept swallowing hard and couldn't utter a word.
Zhao Hai raised his head and glanced at them before turning his gaze back to the wine cup in his hand. He gently lifted the cup, facing the sun, and the blood-red liquid inside appeared even more striking. Yet, to the vassal races, it seemed strangely eerie.
Finally, one of the vassal races could no longer hold back. He stood up, looked at Zhao Hai, and said loudly, "Mr. Zhao Hai, we would like to talk to you."
Zhao Hai turned to look at the man, then swept his gaze over the crowd of vassal race members surrounding the Darkness King. He said softly, "Talk? So many of you want to talk to me at once? Your way of discussing matters within your tribe is quite unique."
The man's face flushed, and after glancing at the people behind him, he seemed to find some courage. He said solemnly to Zhao Hai, "Mr. Zhao Hai, first of all, we want to thank you for saving us. If it weren't for you, we might have starved to death by now."
Zhao Hai did not respond but merely shook his wine cup and said, "I never intended to save you. It was Xiao Bingya who said you were their allies and asked me to save you. What does it have to do with me? If it weren't for Xiao Bingya, why would I save you?"
The man was momentarily taken aback. He had originally planned to use courtesy before force, but now it seemed that with Zhao Hai not accepting the courtesy, they had to resort to force directly.
The man's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "Since you put it that way, then we won't bother thanking you anymore. Just return our food to us."
Zhao Hai felt even more disappointed in these people. He looked at the man and said in confusion, "Food? What food? Do I owe you any food?"
The man maintained a serious face and said, "Don't play dumb with us. You plundered the food of the divine race, and now you should return that food to us."
Zhao Hai looked at the man's expression and suddenly smiled slightly, "First, I need to confirm—are you from the divine race? Even if you are from the divine race, I can't give you the food because the divine race is my enemy. Have you ever heard of returning the enemy's plundered food to them? If you admit that you are not from the divine race, then you have two identities: my allies or not my allies. If you are my allies, then I will naturally give you the food, but my allies must follow my arrangements. If you are not my allies, then why should I give food to people unrelated to me?"
Zhao Hai's words were flawless. Those people indeed had no reason to demand food from Zhao Hai. If they admitted they were from the divine race, they would be Zhao Hai's enemies, and he wouldn't give them food. If they claimed to be Zhao Hai's allies, Zhao Hai's implication made it clear that there was no way to demand food aggressively like this. If they said they weren't allies, they were just bystanders, and why should a bystander demand food from Zhao Hai?
The members of the vassal races were momentarily stunned and couldn't say a word. At that moment, one vassal race member suddenly shouted, "Zhao Hai, I ask you, is it true that our people never fought against the divine race? This is all just a lie you made up, right? You just want to trick us into serving you, don't you?"
Zhao Hai looked at that person as if he were an idiot. After a while, he said solemnly, "What are you talking about? I have no idea what you're saying. What's the benefit for me in deceiving you? You want to serve me? I don’t need that. Your lives are worth less than the food. My undead army doesn’t need food to fight for me."
The person who had just spoken was one of the members of the vassal races that Zhao Hai had asked Cai'er to keep an eye on. By bringing this matter up at this moment, he aimed to stir up the feelings of hatred against Zhao Hai within the vassal races.