The Ocean Lord Is Unusually Powerful

Chapter 455: The Resilience of the Indigenous People: Haughtiness of Hademan, Only War Can Make You Sober (3)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“These, all represent significant expenses.

We never expected that repelling the Sea Beast Tide would require such exorbitant costs, nearly depleting our wealth,” Hadman said with a pained expression as if they had truly paid a heavy price.

Then, a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and he continued, “Moreover, if it weren’t for our substantial expenditures and the valiant efforts of the Starshine City soldiers, Your Excellency might not have been able to successfully lure the Sea Beast Tide into the trap and inflict damage upon those sea beasts, right?

Therefore, we jointly believe that the value of what Your Excellency has done does not equate to the previously agreed-upon reward. After our discussions and calculations, these rare resources and gold coins are your compensation for this occasion.”

Ji Chen’s gaze turned ice-cold.

lladman’s hypocritical and shameless explanation was enough to challenge his moral compass.

The expenses for underwater mines and alchemical cannonballs were not insignificant, but based on the Ocean Crown’s experience, they would be worth at most a few hundred thousand gold coins. The imported top-quality meat was even more ludicrous, as it was clear that it was just ordinary frozen sea creature meat.

Furthermore, the later part of Hadman’s statement was pure nonsense. The crucial factor in repelling the Sea Beast Tide was the Ocean Crown’s forces, while the others played a secondary role. Otherwise, could their private army have withstood the sea beasts?

It seemed that this group of legislators was determined to default on their agreement. It was no wonder they had cooperated so actively before, delivering underwater mines and ammunition and generously providing large quantities of meat. They had clearly planned to use these excuses to default on their payment.

Well, it looked like they had chosen him as their target to swindle, hadn’t they?

Hadman observed Ji Chen, who stayed quiet, and slyly grinned, with a subtle trace of arrogance showing on his lips.

Outsider, do you think you can challenge me that easily? Do you really believe you can seize Hadman’s wealth so effortlessly?

Other legislators also wore smug expressions, their eyes revealing a sense of mockery.

Before agreeing to the terms, they had prepared two contingency plans in secret. The first was the current excuse, which was apparent to anyone with a discerning eye, but what did it matter?

This was a game of cunning!

Their confidence and assurance in making this statement came from the fact that the Ocean Crown’s army was severely damaged after facing the Sea Beast onslaught. They no longer possessed the formidable deterrent force they once had.

A quick glance revealed that the current strength of this battered army was only around three to four thousand units, with more than half of them carrying injuries. Only a small portion could still operate at full combat capacity.

The Thirteen Council Families’ private army numbered as many as 35,000, fully organized, well-armed, and highly trained.

They were not the mindless sea beasts that had been lured into traps!

Furthermore, with the private army now surrounding this battered force, leaving them with no room to maneuver, a barrage of artillery fire would undoubtedly turn them into souls beneath the cannons.

And with 35,000 against 3,000 to 4,000, both sides having nearly equal numbers of fifth-tier units, they had no idea how they could possibly lose.

The advantage was clearly on their side!

If this man had any sense, he would take these resources and leave quietly, or they wouldn’t take it lightly!

Their long-standing dominance and authority over the Starshine Islands, spanning hundreds of years, had seemingly distorted these legislators’ perception of external military strength.

They were unaware of the significant differences in power between fifth-tier units and the variations among them.

Moreover, the indigenous inhabitants had no ability to analyze unit stats; they relied on their eyes and experience for observation, which these legislators clearly lacked.

Therefore, when they made these statements, the players who were observing from the sidelines were shocked.

Wow, are these Starshine City legislators really that audacious?