Chapter 873
The minister spoke. "We're sending Kakin's strongest Nen users to the fifth deck to repair the breach. Only Nen users can handle that kind of work."
Nasubi's expression did not change. "And the second option?"
"The second option is to completely cut off the passage between the fifth and fourth decks. It's the simplest solution, but it will mean that everyone left on the fifth deck will die."
"Which option has the higher success rate?"
The minister hesitated. "The second option has a slightly better chance."
"Then go with the second one."
The minister froze, surprised that Nasubi had decided so quickly, as if he hadn't thought about it at all. "The second one… Your Majesty, that will kill many people."
"Are they our people—citizens of Kakin?"
"No."
"Then that settles it. I'm the king of Kakin. If they aren't my people, why should I concern myself with whether they live or die?" Nasubi waved his hand impatiently. "Go. Carry out my order."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The minister bowed his head. He could not disobey the king, even knowing that this decision would mean countless deaths. There were tens of thousands of people on the fifth deck, and only a few thousand might escape to the fourth. The rest would die as seawater poured in.
Before long, the minister arrived on the fourth deck with a contingent of private soldiers. "Close the passage!"
At his command, several soldiers stepped forward and activated the mechanism. The massive iron gate began to rise.
A chorus of screams erupted.
"What are you doing?"
"Are you trying to stop us?"
"You're closing the gate to trap us all on the fifth deck?"
"Do you even understand what that means for us?"
People surged toward the passage in panic, trying to squeeze through to the fourth deck. But the iron gate was already halfway up, the gap shrinking fast. Those who tried to push through found themselves pressed together, struggling desperately. Some were caught in the narrowing space; a sleeve or collar snagged in the crack between the gate and frame.
Puchi!
Blood sprayed.
Crack!
Bones shattered as bodies were split in two.
A shriek even more piercing than before echoed through the corridor. The minister turned his eyes away. The sight was unbearable, but there was nothing he could do. Nasubi had given the order, and the seawater was still rising.
A middle‑aged man from the fourth deck stepped forward. "What are you doing? There are still so many people down there! Closing the gate like this will doom them all. Can't you give them a chance to live?"
The minister frowned. He felt pity, but pity could not change the situation. "You don't understand. The seawater is already flooding in. If we don't close the gate now, it will reach the fourth deck, then the third, and eventually the entire Black Whale will sink. The fifth deck can't be saved. Do you want everyone above to die as well? Can you bear that responsibility?"
The man hesitated, speechless.
The minister swept his gaze across the others who looked ready to protest. "Can any of you stop the seawater from rising? If you can, I'll open the gate right now. If not, get out of the way. What I'm doing is saving all of your lives. I'll take the blame alone—unless one of you wants to share it."
To rise to the position of minister in Kakin and earn Nasubi's trust, he was no fool. With only a few words, he silenced them all.
............
.......
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The gap grew narrower, yet the people below still pushed upward in panic. Another group was caught between the doors. The private soldiers operating the mechanism hesitated, glancing at the minister.
He clenched his jaw. "Continue!"
Puchi!
A sharp, wet sound rang out as those trapped in the gap were crushed flat, their bodies bursting like overripe fruit.
Boom!
A heavy impact shook the metal gate. The minister's face went pale. "Reinforce it—now!"
The seawater had reached the space between the fifth and fourth decks, battering the newly sealed gate. The soldiers poured their Nen into it to strengthen the barrier.
.......
.....
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A surge of information flowed back to Ron through Specter's link.
"That aura has grown stronger," Specter reported.
The aura clearly referred to the Ascension Relic. Ron raised his head. The relic's energy couldn't have intensified on its own—it had to be tied to the progress of the royal succession war.
Just then, he felt the Zodiac card at his side vibrate.
"Ron, are you there?" Morena's voice came through. "Something serious has happened."
Ron picked up the card. "Morena, what is it?"
"The Black Whale was struck by a storm. A breach opened on the fifth deck, and seawater flooded in. The entire fifth deck is submerged now. Are your people safe?"
Ron frowned slightly. "They're fine. They've already returned to the second deck."
"Good. As long as they're safe. The situation's under control now. Kakin's troops have sealed the passage between the fifth and fourth decks completely. The gate's solid—no water is getting through. As long as nothing happens on the upper levels, the ship should remain stable."
"Morena, keep yourself safe. A lot of people from the fifth deck must have escaped to the fourth. Things will get messy. If you need help, tell me anytime."
"I will. Don't worry about me. With the new options you gave me, I can always walk away from the Heil‑Ly Family if it comes to that."
Ron set down the Zodiac card.
"So it's as I thought. The appearance of the Ascension Relic isn't tied solely to the succession war. The deaths of a few princes aren't enough. It feeds on something else—on the deaths of many more people."
The timing made sense. The rise in the relic's aura must have come from this disaster.
Which meant the Black Whale's breach was very likely no accident at all.