The four seas of the cave, the three kingdoms of merfolk.
For any native of the cave, even if they didn't interact with them daily, they would never be unfamiliar.
Due to their geographical location and overall strength, the Mermaid Kingdom did not maintain good relations with any human, orc, or demon kingdoms.
As a result, even matters between various kingdoms would invite the King of the Mermaid Kingdom to arbitrate.
Over time,
The Mermaid Kingdom was branded with a label.
Justice!
Without any favoritism.
The cave natives placed absolute trust in the Mermaid Kingdom.
Across the kingdoms of the cave, the Mermaid Kingdom would also establish diplomatic departments. If local issues were unresolvable, they would invite the Mermaid Kingdom to mediate.
"You contacted the Mermaid Kingdom?"
Giles looked at Kimura with some surprise, not expecting him to possess such capabilities.
The Mermaid Kingdom was indeed just, but because they always maintained neutrality, they were reluctant to overly interfere in the internal affairs of other kingdoms.
If it weren't for some owed favors, it would be very difficult to get the Mermaid Kingdom to intervene.
"Since I dared to invite everyone here, I must have had absolute confidence," Kimura's expression was tinged with arrogance. "Otherwise, why would I waste everyone's time? I am well aware that everyone present is exceptionally busy."
"Then, will the people from the Mermaid Kingdom truly help us?"
"Why wouldn't they?"
Kimura narrowed his eyes and smiled, looking at the assembled leaders.
"Everyone, please consider what that foreigner has done – maliciously plundering surrounding resources and disrupting the healthy development of our cave's periphery. Mr. Giles, you and young master Tony were also extorted and extorted by him, owing millions of gold coins in debt, weren't you?"
"Extortion and malicious plunder, aren't these crimes?"
"I invited everyone here not because I want your subordinates to attack the city. We are in the right. As long as the people from the Mermaid Kingdom arrive, they will naturally uphold justice for us."
"Compensation will be given where compensation is due, and apologies will be made where apologies are due."
"I don't believe that no matter how well that foreigner has developed, he would dare to oppose the Mermaid Kingdom? If he dares to disrespect the envoy of the Mermaid Kingdom, it would be even better for us."
All the leaders' eyes lit up.
It made sense!
They were the victims, and the Mermaid Kingdom had always upheld justice. As long as an envoy from the Mermaid Kingdom appeared, they wouldn't be afraid that the foreigner wouldn't comply.
"I never thought Mr. Kimura had such connections. I am impressed."
Even Giles, who disliked Kimura, genuinely praised him upon hearing that Kimura had invited an envoy from the Mermaid Kingdom.
"After traveling in the cave for so long, who doesn't have a few friends?" Kimura smiled proudly.
Little did they know, Kimura actually didn't know the envoy from the Mermaid Kingdom.
He had simply employed a bit of cleverness.
Having been plundered clean by Chen Yu, he had been contemplating how to make Chen Yu suffer a severe setback. With his current strength, it was impossible.
He had no choice but to seek external help.
The Mermaid Kingdom was the embodiment of justice, but with his low status and voice, it was almost impossible to contact an envoy of the kingdom. He needed to consider who could reach an envoy of the Mermaid Kingdom.
The City Lord's Mansion could be a point of contact.
However, with his status and position, he still couldn't get the City Lord's Mansion to take him seriously. Even as a gold-level mage, he was still nothing in the eyes of the City Lord's Mansion.
At this moment, he thought about what a city needed most?
Strength, economy!
Since Kimura couldn't achieve his goal through strength, he had to focus on the economy. For this, he sought out Tony, who had a feud with Chen Yu.
Tony, having been extorted by Chen Yu, must have harbored resentment towards him.
If they were to retaliate, they would immediately reach an agreement.
The Ska family was a prominent clan within the town, with deep foundations. At this time, all he needed to do was to rally under the banner of the Ska family and find influential figures in various towns willing to extend an olive branch to the Ska family.
This would connect him to the Mermaid Kingdom's envoy.
From beginning to end, he had not paid anything. At most, he had spent some time traveling between towns, with no other unnecessary expenses. His plan was functioning perfectly.
As for contacting these natives of the cave's periphery, it was purely to bolster his influence.
Simultaneously, he would use the oppression Chen Yu exerted on them to further magnify Chen Yu's misdeeds, so that the envoy from the Mermaid Kingdom would make a decision that satisfied him.
Up to this point, everything was proceeding according to Kimura's plan.
"Calculating the time, the envoy should be arriving soon," Kimura murmured softly, looking at the time on his wrist. Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the spatial portal of the wilderness plane glowed, and several figures appeared in the wilderness.
"They've arrived."
Seeing the arrivals, Kimura's eyes filled with joy, and he hurried to meet them.
"Are you the envoy from Gal Town?"
"You are Kimura?" a person in robes looked Kimura up and down. "A hyena tribe mage. Your tribe actually possesses magical talent."
"Please forgive my impudence, envoy."
Kimura smiled obsequiously, glancing left and right.
"Earlier, I contacted..."
"The person you contacted has been disciplined for personal misconduct," the human whispered, pausing specifically when mentioning the misconduct, and stared at Kimura for a good while.
Kimura, under scrutiny, dared not look up. He had actually bribed some people when contacting that person.
"However, considering the severity of the issue you reported, our city-state is willing to help you resolve this problem. Your case is now being handled by me."
"So that's how it is."
Hearing that the robed human did not mention his bribery, Kimura couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Let me also introduce you. These two are envoys from the North Sea Mermaid Kingdom. We specially invited them here. You should also know about the Mermaid Kingdom. With them present, the absolute fairness of this case will be guaranteed," the robed human said softly, gesturing towards the two envoys.
The envoys also smiled and nodded at Kimura.
"Which one is from the Ska family?"
Suddenly, a somewhat arrogant young man interrupted the city-state envoy's introduction. The envoy, who was in the middle of explaining, frowned but said nothing.
"I am."
Giles walked forward with a solemn expression. In front of the mermaid envoys, he still dared not act presumptuously.
"So you are from the Ska family. My uncle has always spoken highly of nobles, saying that the patriarch of the noble clan is a bold and visionary merchant." The arrogant youth grasped Giles's hand with a full face of smiles. "Tell me, what is your position within the clan?"
"I am merely a guest elder."
Giles explained with a smile. The smile on the face of the arrogant youth who was holding Giles's hand instantly froze. Then, in the next second, he let go of Giles's hand with a look of disgust and took out a handkerchief from his pocket, incessantly wiping his palm.
"So, you're a commoner."
The youth muttered softly while wiping his palm. Giles, being a gold-tier expert, had keen hearing and naturally heard the youth's insult.
Instantly, Giles's gaze became unfriendly. Meanwhile, the two mermaid kingdom envoys exchanged glances and smiled.
"Don't mind him, he's our City Lord's nephew. He insisted on coming this time and will not be involved in the subsequent case handling," the city-state envoy said with a smile. The youth then frowned. "What do you mean? I am the City Lord's own nephew, you had better be polite to me."
"I've already been polite enough to you. If it weren't for the fact that you're the City Lord's nephew, I would have beaten you up long ago."
The city-state envoy's expression was cold. The youth clenched his fists and stared at the envoy for a long time, but ultimately remained silent. He silently released his hands and glared fiercely at the envoy's retreating back.
This tense atmosphere, however, seemed to have no effect on the city-state envoy.
"Don't mind him. Let's talk business. Since you are the informant, please elaborate on the details of your case," the envoy whispered with a smile. Kimura coughed and tentatively asked, "Before that, what should I call you?"
"Me?!"
The envoy was momentarily stunned, then smiled slightly.
"Roy."