Verusha grumbled as she looked up into the sky. "It's no fair that only air cultivators get to fly."
Tirto chuckled. "That's your main complaint?"
"Yeah, obviously. We could have chased down that hag and killed her if we could fly."
Tirto followed her gaze towards the Sky Islands, just barely visible above the horizon. "That might be so. But we're not really strong enough to kill her as we are."
"That's dumb. We beat her together!"
"And she survived. So we're not quite strong enough yet," Tirto explained. "Though we will be soon. I'm quite sure of that."
"You felt it too?" Verusha asked. "lanthina and Nik are gonna be so annoyed if they're the last ones."
Tirto chuckled. "Tough for them. Now then… we need to figure out our next moves."
"Well, my plan is to burn down the Fourth Peak," Verusha said. "I've heard they're not that big, I could probably set the whole thing on fire."
"I appreciate your enthusiasm," Tirto said. "But we have so ships and sailors to deal with first."
"Oh, that's easy. We sink 'em."
"Aside from the fact that the cultivators would survive to cause more trouble… we need to resolve things for the Gloom Desolation and our allies. I just need to figure out a fair split of captives."
"Just pick one," Verusha said. "Tell them how it is, and they'll accept it."
Tirto wanted to reject that idea, but it would be more expedient for him to make the decision, and he believed he could be fair. Besides, political maneuvering was most of his training.
-----
Though it was slightly out of their way, the fleet sailed onward until it reached Port Dawn, the easternmost port in the Gloom Desolation. There Tirto t with the governor. He kept things short and to the point.
Along the way they had learned a few things from their prisoners- among all those they had it wasn't difficult to find a few who would give up simple information like the na of their sect.
"You have heard of our coming from Tenzing, the governor of Port Dusk. Two days ago we ca across three ships from the Stormy Sea Sect, hailing from the Windswept Sea to your south and east. We sank two of their vessels, and captured the third. You will receive one ninth of the total prisoners to further investigate, and you may study the captured ship for the duration of our stay."
The governor was sowhat older than Tirto and he'd likely had plans for how their eting was going to go, but he found it difficult to say anything. Instead, he could only ask, "Why one-ninth?"
"There are three regions we are aware of affected by this blight of pirates. The Gloom Desolation has three major ports, so we will be distributing prisoners equally among them."
"I see," was all the man could reply. "Is this… all of them?"
"You wonder if they have further accomplices. That is for your investigations to uncover. The question might best be answered by coordinating with the Glass Hills and the Wuthering Steppes. All we know for certain is there were three vessels traveling together, with one clear outsider."
Tirto didn't na Morana not because he didn't want to cause her harm, but because he didn't think a conflict between the Gloom Desolation and the Sky Islands could possibly go well for the forr. Besides, he already had plans to handle the situation. He wasn't going to just leave things with Morana having run off into the sky.
Once back in allied territory they could send ssages ahead, but even if he trusted the Gloom Desolation to carry such a ssage nothing was likely to arrive faster than their own vessel. Unless they happened to have built up a rapid communications system contained within their own region. It was possible, but even if they had it they might not wish to reveal it. The ssages to various ports arriving ahead of their flotilla was likely only possible because they were searching the area thoroughly.
Tirto personally believed they had gotten all of the culprits, given the number of attacks. Either way, he didn't expect any others to be found on their return route, so they would be moving with greater speed.
-----
They stopped in Port Midnight and Port Dusk, repeating much the sa exchanges. Tenzing expressed his surprise. "Even having witnessed your strength, I hadn't expected such rapid success," he admitted.
"It was a small part luck," Tirto said. "Another part was timing. And a large part a leviathan, able to spot ships far before they get close."
"Indeed, that fellow is quite large," Tenzing confird, having seen Carl angrily counterattack their own port.
"As the closest port to our alliance, I hope you will strongly consider cooperating with us for your investigations. I believe the situation is at an end for now, but there are still so details to resolve."
"Such as the consequences for the Stormy Sea Sect."
"Indeed," Tirto said. "I am certain the Gloom Desolation would wish proper vengeance, but I must remind you that your forces will not be optimal against them in a naval battle. Not alone, at least."
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Tirto couldn't necessarily speak for their whole alliance here, but the Brandle Clan's influence within the Shimring Islands was sufficient that with just what he knew he could gather and the two affected regions he knew they could make a proper showing. Even if they didn't know the true might of the Stormy Sea Sect, he was quite confident they could successfully retaliate. Not doing so would only open up further trouble.
-----
Once back in friendly territory, Tirto was able to arrange for ssages to be sent to explain the situation. There were various factors in play, and people needed to know what was going on. He wasn't entirely certain how they would handle Morana, but there was no way they would stand idle. It wasn't like the previous tis when Sitora pushed an army through continental territory- now they had official treaties, and it was a direct attack by a mber of the Sky Islands. The proof they had was a great number of witnesses and… so of Morana's war darts. They might also get confessions from their captured prisoners.
The thanks from the Glass Hills and Wuthering Steppes were heartfelt, but also filled with so amount of surprise. Even Tirto hadn't been certain they would be able to resolve the issue in a single trip, though he didn't tell them that. Just that the alliance had their backs… and that they should consider promoting so naval factions along their shores.
-----
lanthina was surprised to receive an ergency missive, and even more surprised at the combination of direction and the sender.
"What is it?" Nik asked, imdiately catching onto the unusual nature of the ssage.
"It's from Tirto," lanthina said. "He just resolved an issue with pirates in the Crystal Sea." She gave the ssage another thorough read before handing it over to her husband. "He suggests that soone should make official contact with the Gloom Desolation."
Nik nodded. "And that soone would be you."
"Indeed," lanthina said. "Who better than the sister of soone they had vaguely positive interactions with? Though apparently there was a bit of trouble with Carl."
"They brought along the leviathan?" Nik said, surprised.
"It seems he invited himself. Nitza was with them."
Nik was just about to reply to that when Ereli popped out of nowhere. "If Nitza was part of the mission, I should join the diplomatic mission as well."
"It's impolite to eavesdrop on conversations," lanthina said.
Ereli just shrugged. "You just said not to get caught doing it. And you were just standing out in the middle of the hall, hardly sowhere private."
"You did get caught, though," lanthina pointed out.
"Revealing myself should not count," Ereli argued.
lanthina shook her head. "We both noticed you before that, and you didn't realize. Your new stealth techniques are fairly good, but not that good."
Ereli sighed. "I understand. So… can I participate?"
"Of course," lanthina said. "You need to take over for eventually. Practical experience is important. But I'll remind you of what I previously said. Don't spy on people."
"Or at least don't get caught," Ereli nodded. "I will be properly cautious, do not worry."
-----
John's initial reaction to receiving the ssage was to wonder what it would take to tear a Sky Islands out of the sky. Maybe a few determined earth cultivators- obviously with so way to mitigate the effects of the fall. Simply destroying the crystals that provided the buoyancy effect should be sufficient… and the Fourth Peak wasn't that large.
But that was probably an overreaction. He was glad Ursel was away, or she might actually try to do that- though she'd have problems reaching the Sky Islands to begin with.
Aside from overreactions due to the lives of his son and daughter-in-law being threatened by Morana, he still needed a response. He just needed to determine what was most appropriate. Since Tirto had been on alliance business, it wasn't sothing the Brandle clan and the Milanovic clan should be left to handle alone.
John briefly worried about who else might receive the ssage… but he knew that Tirto was smart enough to do things right.
-----
"I can definitely set that island on fire," Steve said.
Yustina soothed her husband by patting him on the head. "I'm sure Verusha said sothing quite similar. But there's no need to act impulsively. They're all quite alright." Flas rippled around Yustina. "Though if Nitza had been hurt, we'd be scorching their land already. But we must properly express our displeasure. Without violence."
"You really think that will work?" Steve replied.
"Oh, don't get wrong. There will be threats of violence. But I'm sure they'll be smart enough to do the right thing."
-----
The last person to receive any sort of ssage, despite technically being one of the closest, was Sitora. That was because of the complexities of delivering a truly private ssage. A mber of the Wuthering Steppes had co to visit the Sky Islands, but not the Peaks. Instead, Sitora had received a ssage asking her to co visit one of the smaller islands. She wasn't the sort who could be ordered around and had almost disregarded the ssage, but it intrigued her just enough to walk into a possible trap.
She was quite pleased she had paid attention, because she was treated to quite a thorough explanation morized by the ssenger. "The final piece of the ssage is thus- 'Perhaps visiting the northern Sky Islands can help confirm the veracity of our information.'"
Sitora decided she already believed the ssage. However, it would be good to independently verify a few things. Morana had been suspiciously absent as of late, then she showed up suddenly and tried to pretend nothing was going on. If she had retreated from a battle, she would have had to stop on the northern islands, even with her power at the Ascending Soul Phase. Flying many tens of kiloters was not so easy, especially without the influence of the Sky Islands themselves supporting flight.
This would be an excellent chance to get rid of Morana. It might even weaken Abritt's position, given the ties they had. Or she might cast away her lackey, finding her without further value. Either way, Sitora could begin maneuvering to place a more preferred individual in the position of an Island Master. While nominally it was based only on strength, and the ability to hold on against challenges… political backing was necessary for anyone who wanted to hold onto the position long term. Unless they really were overwhelmingly strong, like Abritt had once appeared.
But her single loss… well, it had been devastating to Abritt's image. Sitora didn't suddenly believe she could defeat the woman and take her position, but she could gradually wear away at her base… and perhaps it would be worth it to finally break through to the late Ascending Soul Phase herself. She certainly found herself more motivated, no longer dealing with the stale air that had filled the Sky Islands for so long.
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