Dahei had originally donned the Strike Armor to deal with those sitting-duck airships.
Then he spotted Cade Watson, who clearly looked like an important figure. Operating on the principle that capturing the ringleader was key, Dahei blasted him with a cannon shot and snatched him up.
Once Cade Watson heard the name "Ultraman Tiga," he stopped struggling altogether, letting Dahei haul him aboard the Black Tide.
The moment he entered the cabin, an aura of darkness washed over him. A male and a female undead stood before him.
The man was presumably Master Ultraman Tiga. As for the young woman glaring daggers at him, Cade had no idea who she was, but she was unquestionably an exceptionally powerful undead—one who felt as though she could crush him with a single finger.
Sure enough, not struggling had been the right choice; he had no desire to ascend to the heavens at such a young age.
Anbaixiu studied the man carefully. Dressed in chainmail and carrying a warhammer, he was clearly a cleric of light, but his facial features struck Anbaixiu as remarkably familiar.
"Sir, you bear quite a resemblance to a friend of mine. Do you happen to know Alan Watson?"
Cade Watson offered a bitter smile. "Alan is my younger brother. I am Cade Watson. It is an honor to meet you, Master Ultraman."
Anbaixiu said with a hint of surprise, "You should be aware that my imperial pardon has already been revoked."
A Ryan citizen acting so polite toward an undead? This was the first time in Anbaixiu's life he had ever witnessed such a thing.
Whether it was Alan or his father, James, both habitually treated Anbaixiu with hostility.
Yet Cade Watson genuinely harbored none—at least none that Anbaixiu could sense.
Cade Watson said, "Forget the imperial pardon; I'm practically on the verge of becoming a Ryan fugitive myself."
"Implicated by Alan?"
"We're family—how could there be talk of blame? Besides, isn't it precisely because of Alan that I'm able to have a pleasant chat with you right now?"
Anbaixiu couldn't help musing to himself: this fellow truly had things figured out.
He had never expected that stubborn old James Watson could raise a child like this. Was he adopted?
"Though I don't know why you brought me here, Master, if it's a hostage you're after..." Cade Watson said helplessly, "I'm afraid you picked the wrong person."
Cade Watson gave a brief overview of his current predicament.
Hearing this, Anbaixiu sighed with a touch of melancholy.
James Watson had served as Supreme Arbiter for many years, and outsiders all knew how much merit he had accumulated. Yet now that he had stepped down, the tea had grown cold, and his own son was even being kept under surveillance.
Ryan had truly fallen from grace.
"I didn't intend to take any hostages. I originally just wanted to do some advertising. As you know, several dozen red dragons have appeared, unbound by the ancient pact. Ryan hasn't fought dragon flights in over a thousand years, so it's guaranteed to take a beating. That's why I wanted to sell some weapons and equipment to Ryan.
"Things like individual flight packs, aerial warships... Though looking at things now..."
Cade Watson could barely save his own skin; how could he help pitch anything?
To Anbaixiu's surprise, Cade Watson grew instantly excited upon hearing this and asked, "Are you talking about the golem puppet that just brought me aboard?"
Cade Watson had just witnessed Dahei's combat prowess with his own eyes. Not only was it blazingly fast in flight, but it was exceptionally agile, and its weaponry packed tremendous firepower.
If these could be purchased in bulk, dragons would hardly pose an issue.
Anbaixiu shook his head. "Hastings is undead. The moment he steps into a Ryan city, he'd be vaporized by the Holy Light. The only things I can sell you are some of the equipment." Anbaixiu produced a flight pack and handed it to Cade Watson, letting him test it directly, unconcerned about him trying to flee.
Cade Watson was no fool. It was clear his life wasn't in danger; trying to run now would be courting death. Leaving aside whether he could even get away, making a break for it would be pure stupidity, turning himself from a guest into a prisoner.
After testing the flight pack, Cade Watson's blond hair was blown into a messy birds-nest, but he had truly grasped the item's significance.
This was an indispensable strategic asset for any aerial force. Only with gear like this would anyone be qualified to fight dragons.
Ignoring how disheveled he looked, Cade Watson urgently asked, "Master, how many of these flight packs do you have? What's the price?"
Anbaixiu replied, "Equipping a thousand-man aerial brigade won't be a problem. The unit price is ten thousand gold coins per flight pack, buy ten get one free. But can you make the call?"
Cade Watson nodded. "Though my current status is awkward, I know people in Ryan who can strike a deal with you. You might not know this, Master, but morale across Ryan is unstable right now, and every faction is scrambling to secure its own survival. Your merchandise will have a massive market."
"Ryan has already fallen into such disarray?"
Cade Watson said, "On the surface, appearances are barely held together, but a single spark is all it will take to blow it wide open."
Blame could only fall on the young emperor's performance on the battlefield, which had been so abysmal that the people of Ryan simply couldn't stomach it.
In any other country, an emperor wetting his pants out of terror during his first battle might have been tolerated, but not in Ryan.
From childhood, they were indoctrinated with extreme zealotry; fighting to the last breath was their creed. Yet as emperor, he had fled out of sheer cowardice, even trampling a vast number of Ryan soldiers to death during his flight.
Not to mention, this had been a war instigated by the emperor himself, and he had insisted on personally leading the imperial expedition.
How could anyone endure that?
It had dealt a devastating blow to Ryan's morale.
Public outrage against the emperor had grown so vociferous that it was slipping beyond control.
That was precisely why Ryan hadn't uttered a peep when the Githyanki withdrew. With unrest brewing at home, how could they possibly keep fighting?
Had it not been for the lingering Githyanki threat, Ryan would have erupted into civil war already.
Anbaixiu chuckled. "The Ryan royal family has spent ages brainwashing their subjects, and now comes the backlash. Being the emperor of Ryan comes with far higher standards than in other kingdoms. Intriguing—I'd really love to see that little emperor's expression."
Still, Anbaixiu did not immediately agree to Cade Watson's proposal. Instead, he posed one final question: "Cade, you seem to place a great deal of trust in me. This is our very first meeting, and I am a lich. Tell me your reason."
Cade Watson laughed. "Master, you are far too modest. Is there any living person in this world more kindhearted and benevolent than you? How many wars have you averted? The lives you have saved would put my father to shame.
"Besides, as a cleric of light, I have an even simpler method for judging right and wrong."
Cade Watson raised his right hand. Holy Light gathered upon his fist.
"You see? The Lord of the Dawn hasn't revoked my power. That proves my choice is right."
Anbaixiu's appreciation for Cade Watson grew even greater. This was the wisest Ryan citizen he had ever encountered.
"Very well. In that case, I am willing to do business with you. I can give you a few samples first."
Anbaixiu pulled out a dimensional pouch and handed it to Cade Watson. Inside were several jetpacks, informational brochures on combat airships, and a magic mirror capable of long-distance communication.
Anbaixiu said, "Contact me whenever you have news."
Cade Watson hastily tucked the small pouch away, then turned to Anbaixiu. "One final request, Master Ultraman. Could you please corrode my body with dark magic? After all, I can hardly escape your airship completely unscathed."
Chapter 360