Chapter 1: Internal Strife of the Snake Clan

The vast swamp, overgrown with mud and aquatic plants, was like the very gates of hell. The seemingly gentle terrain held hidden, unknown threats, and a single misstep could plunge one into an abyss of eternal damnation.

The Snake Clan living in this land were naturally undeterred by its dangers, but for Mels and his companions, who were entering the great swamp for the first time, it was utterly terrifying.

When the Snake Clan squad leader's reed flute echoed melodiously, Mels and the others immediately understood that the Snake Clan's reinforcements would arrive soon. However, as these young warriors apprehensively prepared to face the Snake Clan's counterattack, they found that within their line of sight, there was no sign of any Snake Clan members at all.

Sha Luo already disliked these bizarre-looking Snake Clan creatures, but she detested the foul stench of the swamp even more.

As Mels ceased his attack and nervously scanned their surroundings, Sha Luo unconsciously moved closer to him and whispered, "Brother Mels, let's leave this place. Even though those monsters haven't appeared yet, no one can predict when they might emerge from the swamp and surround us. Judging by their earlier tone, it's clear that stinky parrot deceived us; it never intended to negotiate for peace."

After hearing Sha Luo's words, Mels frowned slightly and replied, "We still don't know exactly what's happening. Since we were ordered to come here, we must meet with the Snake Clan's king no matter what. If the truth isn't as these Snake Clan warriors claim, what can we do even if we return to the Birdmen Clan? With just our group, it's impossible to forcibly seize the Wind Ship from the tens of millions of Birdmen. Without the Wind Ship, we can't continue our journey, so..."

"Boss, stop talking—their reinforcements are approaching!" Just as Mels and Sha Luo were conversing, Kaslo suddenly shouted to Mels.

Upon hearing his warning, Mels immediately looked around, yet he still saw no trace of the enemy. After a moment of confusion, Mels's ears suddenly picked up the sound of countless things scraping and slithering. These sounds made him realize that these ugly Snake Clan creatures were rapidly closing in from beneath the water, using the swamp as cover.

"Everyone, be careful! The Snake Clan reinforcements are approaching from underwater!" No sooner had Mels's warning fallen than countless Snake Clan warriors suddenly emerged from the muddy pits of the swamp all around them. Directly west of Mels, several particularly tall Snake Clan warriors wielding massive long blades leaped out.

Although these Snake Clan warriors didn't announce their identities, the fact that the leaders wore leather armor indicated they held high positions. Among the Snake Clan warriors facing Mels, one glanced around briefly. When his gaze fell upon the corpses of the Snake Clan warriors killed by Mels and his companions, his expression instantly changed.

"Patrol Captain, what happened here?" the imposing Snake Clan warrior roared.

"General Moka, we just discovered these strange creatures and were about to question them when they suddenly attacked us. It was unexpected, and we were completely unprepared, so many of our brothers were killed or injured. I feared we couldn't hold them, so I requested reinforcements from you!" the Snake Clan squad leader nervously reported to the Snake Clan general.

Hearing the squad leader's distorted account, Mels immediately spoke up: "General, that's not what happened! Actually, we..." Before Mels could finish, the Snake Clan squad leader anxiously interrupted.

"General, don't listen to these strange creatures—they are very cunning!" the squad leader said.

"Silence! Since these humans have come to our land, they must possess extraordinary abilities. Step aside now, and if you speak out of turn again without my order, you won't live to see tomorrow's sun!" General Moka was clearly different from ordinary Snake Clan warriors—not only was he imposing, but his insight far surpassed that of the other ugly creatures.

After reprimanding the squad leader, Moka turned to Mels and said, "Human, I'll give you one chance to explain why you killed my subordinates. If you speak a single lie, don't even dream of leaving here alive."

Although the Snake Clan general's words were arrogant, Mels remained unfazed and replied, "Thank you. Actually, we came here as envoys of the Birdmen Clan. To avoid your clan misunderstanding us as attackers, we landed here to prevent directly entering your central territory and sparking unnecessary conflict.

However, as soon as we landed, your subordinates surrounded us. When I stated our purpose, they immediately labeled us as assassins and attacked us. To defend ourselves, we were forced to fight back, which led to accidentally injuring your subordinates."

In truth, from the moment Moka identified them as humans earlier, Mels knew he was dealing with a perceptive commander, which is why he tolerated his arrogance and offered an explanation.

After hearing Mels's words, Moka glanced back at the squad leader and asked, "Tell me, is what he said true?"

Perhaps due to Moka's innate authority, the squad leader trembled and replied, "Yes... but..."

"Enough! I've already issued orders that during this special period, no attacks are to be launched until the true intentions of any intruders are confirmed. Were you unaware, or did you knowingly violate this order?" Moka interrupted loudly.

"General, spare me! Have mercy!" The squad leader, terrified by Moka's words, immediately prostrated himself on the ground, begging for forgiveness.

"Get up. Considering your loyalty to our nation, I'll spare you this time. But don't let there be a next time!" Moka's tone softened, and he turned back to Mels. "I can overlook you injuring my subordinates, but you must tell me why you came here. What exactly do the Birdmen Clan want you to do?"

Hearing Moka's words, Mels felt fortunate to have encountered a reasonable Snake Clan commander. He quickly replied, "Our ocean-going ship was seized by the Birdmen Clan. To retrieve it, they demanded we deliver a message of peace. They hope your king will meet with the Birdmen Emperor and sign a peace treaty to end the centuries-long conflict between the two clans. That's why we've come to your land—to meet with your king."

Upon hearing Mels's response, not only did the Snake Clan warriors erupt in murmurs, but even General Moka looked shocked. He waved his hand to silence the commotion behind him and asked, "The cunning Birdmen Clan wants to negotiate peace with us? Is this true?"

"Absolutely true! However, we heard from your subordinates earlier that your emperor was attacked by Birdmen assassins. Could you tell us what exactly happened?" Mels carefully observed Moka's expression as he raised his most pressing concern.

Hearing Mels's question, Moka's expression changed, and he said loudly, "We'll explain all that once we confirm your identities. Since you claim to be envoys of the Birdmen Clan, we Snake Clan will grant you the status befitting envoys. For now, follow me back to the capital. Everything will be handled by the king. However, I cannot guarantee whether the king will agree to see you. You'd best prepare for the possibility of returning empty-handed!" With that, Moka ordered his troops to sheathe their weapons and produced several rattan-woven sedan chairs. After Mels and his companions boarded them, they headed westward into the vast depths of the swamp.

Sitting on the sedan chairs carried by four Snake Clan warriors, though not particularly comfortable, at least they didn't have to worry about sinking into the bottomless swamp. Gazing at the endless, monotonous swamp scenery around them, Mels finally understood why the Snake Clan had waged centuries of war against the Birdmen Clan over a relatively small forested area. After all, this swamp held too many dangers and made food acquisition extremely difficult. Perhaps the struggle for the best living environment was the reason for their bloody battles.

After about half an hour, as Moka's Snake Clan troops had moved far from the border, Moka suddenly approached Mels's sedan chair. When he was almost parallel with Mels, he whispered, "Human, are you from the Caxiu Continent?"

"Huh? How did you know? Yes, we are from the Caxiu Continent," Mels nodded, answering honestly.

"Heh, actually, decades ago when I was a child, I once met humans from the Caxiu Continent. They even saved me from the Birdmen Clan, which is why I am who I am today," Moka said with a smile. Hearing this, Mels immediately understood why Moka had been so friendly toward them.

"I don't know what happened between you and the Birdmen Clan, but I know you must be most concerned about whether the king was actually attacked by Birdmen assassins," Moka said, changing the subject. Hearing Moka finally address his concern, Mels eagerly nodded and listened intently. As if still hesitating whether to tell Mels everything, Moka remained silent for a while before slowly explaining, "The truth isn't what those soldiers know. The king wasn't attacked by Birdmen assassins but was besieged by rebel forces.

After we arrived in time to rescue the king, to avoid letting the common people know about the internal strife in the kingdom, we pinned all the blame on the Birdmen Clan. We originally thought that since the Birdmen have been our enemies for centuries, slandering them wouldn't matter much. We never expected you to arrive at this time, nor did we anticipate it would lead to a conflict with the border guards."

"So that's it. I didn't expect the Snake Clan to have power struggles too," Mels nodded in understanding.

"Actually, wherever living beings exist, there will be conflicts. Not just our Snake Clan—even wolf packs fight over the position of alpha. Although our Snake Clan has always maintained a hereditary bloodline rule, disputes within the royal family have never ceased. The king is no longer young but remains wise and decisive. In the conflict over territory with the Birdmen Clan, the king has consistently tried to reconcile with them, seeking new living space through peaceful means. However, within the royal family, especially the New Faction led by the Crown Prince, there are radicals who completely reject the king's political philosophy. They arrogantly believe the Snake Clan's strength is enough to conquer the Birdmen by force, without considering how severe the consequences would be. It was precisely because the king saw the Crown Prince's ambition that he delayed passing the throne to him. But he never expected the prince to secretly gather a group of radical warriors to pressure him with force, delusionally trying to force the king to abdicate.

Three days ago, the New Army led by the Crown Prince surrounded the palace, completely sealed off the news, attempting to force the king to submit through force. Fortunately, I and several other generals had received news ten days earlier about possible unrest in the capital, so we mobilized in time to rescue him. It was also the king's great fortune that several Imperial Guard generals originally belonging to the New Faction defected during the rebellion, switching sides to join the fight to protect the king. It was their bravery that bought us three days, allowing us peripheral forces to arrive in time to quell the rebellion.

Now, although the Crown Prince's New Army has been defeated and the king is safe, this is still a disgrace to our clan. Therefore, the king ordered the secret pursuit of the Crown Prince and the remaining New Faction members, while publicly attributing the siege of the capital to a large-scale attack by Birdmen assassins. The warriors you fought earlier were border troops who had no knowledge of what happened in the capital. When they heard you were envoys of the Birdmen Clan, they naturally associated you with the assassins, which is why they attacked you suddenly." Moka spoke to Mels with a somber expression.

After hearing Moka's account, Mels understood everything that had happened in the Snake Clan, and his earlier doubts about the Parrot Emperor vanished.

"General Moka, since this is your clan's highest secret, why are you telling me?" Mels suddenly asked.

"If you were mere travelers, I certainly wouldn't reveal such secrets. The reason I'm telling you is precisely because you are envoys of the Birdmen Clan. To be honest, whenever a major war breaks out, the royal family might only care about whether we've defeated the Birdmen, but I have personally experienced countless battles. Tens of thousands of warriors die in combat. Regardless of victory or defeat, when I return to the capital, I cannot face their families. The war has lasted too long, and the casualties are too high. If we could end the war sooner, I would gladly return to the countryside and become a farmer." Moka looked up at Mels as he spoke.

Hearing Moka's words, Mels felt deeply moved. Although he hadn't experienced many wars himself, he understood the pain of losing loved ones all too well. A great general must face not only enemies on the battlefield but also the hundreds of times more ordinary people behind the lines. A victory might bring the most glory to the general and the rulers, but what do the warriors who die on the battlefield gain? And what do their loved ones, waiting for their return from afar, receive?

"Don't worry. As long as there's the slightest possibility, we will strive to the end. The Birdmen Emperor is determined to negotiate peace with the Snake Clan. Since this attack wasn't launched by the Birdmen Clan, I believe these peace talks will succeed," Mels said.

"I hope it goes as smoothly as you say. Everything is in your hands now." With that, Moka left Mels and moved ahead.

The Snake Clan's capital was not as grand as Mels had imagined. Compared to human cities and architecture, this capital was even less impressive than a small town. Built in the center of the great swamp, the capital was oval-shaped. At its center stood a three-story semicircular structure made of clay, from which eight roads radiated outward in all directions. Countless small, low clay buildings were constructed along these eight roads. At the outermost edge of the city stood a clay wall about three meters high and one meter wide, encircling the entire city. Snake Clan soldiers stood guard on these earthen walls. Unlike the Snake Clan soldiers elsewhere, the capital's guard troops were clearly better equipped. Whether it was spears, swords, or even bows and crossbows, they were far superior to the border patrol troops Mels and his companions had encountered earlier.

General Moka's status was evidently high. Upon entering the capital, not only did all Snake Clan warriors salute him, but even Mels and his companions were exempt from any inspection. Following him into the city, Mels realized that the so-called Snake Clan capital was merely a surface marker. The true dwelling places of the Snake Clan were deep underground. Whether it was the tall imperial palace or the low houses of ordinary civilians, countless cave entrances of varying sizes were distributed around them. After inquiring with Moka, Mels learned that these caves were entrances to the underground city and also served as natural defensive facilities against sudden attacks by the Birdmen Clan.

Mels initially thought they would follow Moka deep underground, but Moka showed no intention of taking them to see the underground world. Instead, he led his troops directly toward the massive clay structure at the center. Perhaps due to the special period just after the internal unrest, the closer they got to the central clay building, the more guard troops there were. In the final few kilometers, ordinary Snake Clan civilians had completely vanished. On both sides of the street, a fully armed warrior stood approximately every two meters.

"General Moka, please stop. From here onward, this area is under the guard of the Imperial Guard. May I ask your purpose for seeking an audience with the king? And why are you bringing these bizarre-looking creatures with you?" When the group reached an area about a kilometer from the palace, their unimpeded progress finally changed. A Snake Clan warrior also clad in leather armor blocked Moka's path forward.

"General Remas, these humans are envoys of the Birdmen Clan. They request an audience with the king under diplomatic protocol. I am merely responsible for bringing them here and now hand them over to you. I hope you can relay this to the king. Additionally, regarding the pursuit of the assassins, I have important military intelligence to report to the king. Please convey this as well." Moka saluted as he spoke.

After hearing Moka's words, Remas instinctively scanned Mels and the others before saying, "Very well. I will convey your message now. However, I cannot guarantee whether the king will agree to receive these envoys."

"Thank you for your trouble," Moka said with a smile. After hearing this, Remas excused himself and immediately turned to swiftly slither toward the clay palace. Meanwhile, Moka stood to the side with his hands at his sides, seemingly waiting for news.

Looking up at the blazing sun high in the sky and recalling the hardship of waiting when they first met the Parrot Emperor, Mels and his companions silently prayed not to encounter situations like the Snake Clan emperor eating, sleeping, or attending to other personal needs. Fortunately, this time their luck held. Before long, Remas returned with news that the Snake Clan king was willing to receive Moka, Mels, and the others.

Disembarking from the sedan chairs and following behind Moka, a young man handed over his personal weapons to Remas and was about to proceed when Remas suddenly stepped back several paces and shouted loudly, "Arrest the traitor Moka and the Birdmen spies immediately!"

Hearing Remas's shout, the several dozen soldiers Moka had brought stood frozen in shock, unsure what to do. Meanwhile, the Imperial Guard soldiers swarmed forward, immediately restraining Moka with their swords. Although Moka was large in stature, he offered no resistance, only loudly demanding why Remas was arresting them.

Initially, Mels also considered resisting with force, but he quickly remembered they were in the heart of the Snake Clan capital. Attacking recklessly might truly brand them as assassins, which would harm their objective. Therefore, he decided not to resist for now, waiting to see how the situation developed before planning their next move.

Seeing that Moka, Mels, and the others offered no resistance, the numerous Snake Clan Imperial Guard soldiers promptly produced ropes and bound everyone tightly. Remas, who had been standing to the side, didn't approach until everything was settled. He slowly walked up to Moka and said with a malicious smile, "General Moka, for all your scheming, you probably never anticipated that this moment would be your downfall."

"Remas, I, Moka, have always been loyal to the king. Why would the king suddenly order my arrest?" Moka demanded loudly.

"Heh heh, you were indeed loyal to the 'former king,' but you have committed treason against the current king! Isn't that alone enough to sentence you to death?" Remas suddenly let out two sinister laughs, then said with a smug expression.

"Former? Current?" For a moment, Moka didn't understand what Remas meant. But after pondering carefully, he immediately grasped the implication and shouted in alarm, "What happened to the king? What have you rebels done to him?"

"Hahaha... Actually, there's no need to worry. After all, the retired emperor is the king's father; the king won't mistreat him. Now, I'll take you and these spies to where the retired emperor is quietly residing. I'm sure you'll be willing to stay there for the rest of your life!" With that, Remas casually waved his hand and loudly ordered his subordinates, "Take them all to the underground prison!"

"Boss, do we make our move now?" Kaslo asked nervously as the Snake Clan warriors prepared to take them to some unknown prison. Meanwhile, Sol looked at Mels with pleading eyes, hoping he would immediately attack these damn Snake Clan soldiers.

However, Mels shook his head and said, "Let's wait and see. Now's not the time for us to act." After speaking, he fell silent and obediently followed the Snake Clan warriors toward the Wu Ming Prison deep beneath the capital.

The prison Mels and the others were heading to was clearly a secret prison of the royal family. Its entrance was not only located within the clay palace but also heavily guarded in the surrounding passageways. Pushed and shoved by the Snake Clan Imperial Guard soldiers, Mels and the others were soon forced into a narrow passage, where a nauseating stench quickly enveloped them.

"Humans, I'm sorry. I got you into this mess. I never imagined that those Imperial Guard commanders only switched sides to gain better control over the king. After we withdrew our respective legions, they immediately imprisoned the king here! Sigh... This is the most fortified prison in the entire Snake Clan. It seems we really have no chance of escaping," Moka said.

"Shut up! No talking!" Although the passage was too narrow for the soldiers to use their fists to silence Moka, they still shouted arrogantly. Clearly, Moka didn't want to continue speaking either, so after the soldiers' outburst, he fell silent.

At this moment, Mels wasn't most concerned about whether they could escape this so-called prison. The environment might be extremely secure for the Snake Clan, but for Mels and the others, who possessed Summoned Beasts, it was a piece of cake and posed no real threat. What Mels was most concerned about now was whether they could meet the Snake Clan king. Only by establishing contact with him could Mels gradually implement the plan he had in mind and ultimately retrieve his Wind Ship from the Parrot Emperor.

After silently following the Snake Clan soldiers for nearly thirty minutes, the path gradually widened. By the dim light around them, Mels and the others discovered that the so-called prison was actually an underground palace. Compared to the clay structures above ground, this place was indeed much more secure. The surrounding walls were mostly constructed from bluish-gray stone, and the prison entrance featured a thick bronze door. It was clear that, given the Snake Clan's capabilities, breaking through these defenses would be no easy task.

"Jailer, these people are with the Old Fellow. Put them together," the leading Imperial Guard soldier shouted into the prison. After his voice echoed for a while, a small hole finally appeared in the bronze door. The Snake Clan guard inside peered out for a moment before impatiently opening the door.

"What the hell, I don't know what's been going on these past few days. Even trying to sleep, I've had several batches of people thrown in here!" the jailer grumbled as he opened the door.

"Don't blame us. We have no choice—it's orders from above. These five are yours," the soldier said, herding Mels and the other four like ducks into the prison before turning and heading back up the passage.

As soon as they entered, Mels was about to break free from his bonds and attack the jailer when he heard the jailer whisper, "General Moka, I never thought you'd end up here too. Sigh... I sent you a message earlier, warning you that those scoundrels were about to make their move. How could you be so careless? Now it's over. Along with you, three other generals and the king have all been imprisoned here!"

"Who are you...?" Moka clearly didn't recognize this Snake Clan member and asked in confusion.

"Heh, you're a big shot, so of course you wouldn't remember me, but I'll never forget your kindness. Thirteen years ago, when the military police were conscripting men in my hometown, I deserted because I had no one to care for my elderly mother. I was caught and should have been executed, but you secretly released me and even arranged a job for me," the jailer said as he untied Moka.

"Oh, I remember now! Weren't you supposed to have returned to your hometown? How did you end up here as a jailer?" Moka asked.

"That's a long story. First, go see the king and the other generals. And who are these people?" the jailer asked, looking at Mels and the others. After Moka explained their identities, the jailer kindly untied them as well.

Led by the jailer, Moka and the others soon made their way deeper into the prison. It was only then that Mels realized there was only one jailer guarding this underground prison. Clearly, the Snake Clan had great confidence in the security of this place, which was why they didn't assign more guards.