The Mermaid Queen’s expression changed, and she reflexively took a few steps backward to maintain some distance from the Dragon King. Even though he spoke in a slightly ambiguous way, how could she not tell what he was really implying?

The Dragon King’s meaning was very clear. Taking on the alien monsters as an enemy was a huge risk for him. He needed a reason to take this risk, which would be her. If she married him, only then would he have have enough motivation to face these things.

She couldn't help but become a bit angry when she realized these things. “Dragon King, I came here not for personal reasons, but rather for the future of the entire Ocean races. How can you bring up such a thing now?! Isn’t the Dragon King’s behavior a bit too poor in taste?”

The Dragon King’s face darkened. Just then, his trusted aide Tortoise Minister said with a chuckle, “The queen says that it is for the future of the Ocean races, that it is being done for everyone, but have you thought through how much risk and sacrifice our Dragon King needs to face?

“We are only asking the queen to sacrifice a bit of personal freedom. Furthermore, marrying the Dragon King is what countless women yearn for even in their dreams, so how is that not happiness in itself? The queen only needs to agree to a small thing in order to save the lives of countless creatures, and yet no such agreement has been reached. That could be considered a bit hypocritical, no?”

The Tortoise Minister's immediate rebuke made the Mermaid Queen’s expression change several times. She knew that he was using sophistry, but she couldn't really find the words to retort right now.

Just then, the Dragon King said, “Tortoise Minister, do not speak nonsense. The Mermaid Queen’s beliefs are lofty and her character is noble. How can she be the type of person you are talking about?”

The Tortoise Minister immediately bowed and apologized. “The Dragon King’s rebuke is deserved. This humble minister was lacking in manners.”

The Dragon King then said to the Mermaid Queen, “Queen, please do not blame him too much. The Tortoise Minister was merely momentarily anxious, and that was why he ended up offending you.”

The Mermaid Queen calmly watched as these two echoed each other, but she was laughing coldly inside. This Dragon King hadn’t stopped his subordinate all this time, and instead waited until he said everything before finally putting on this act. Did they really believe that she couldn't tell that this Tortoise Minister was merely voicing the Dragon King’s thoughts? She was incredibly beautiful, with countless men pursuing her. If she weren’t smart, she would’ve probably already been devoured countless times over.

She didn’t expose them and instead said gently, “I already understand the Dragon King’s difficulties. It’s just that because the things you have said today are too sudden, I haven't been able to prepare for any of it at all, and need some time to think about how to reply.”

The Dragon King couldn't help but feel happy. “Please take your time in making your decision, Queen. Take your time!”

He was smiling from ear to ear. This was the most beautiful woman in the Ocean races, and perhaps even the entire world. She was now about to fall into her arms, so how could he not be happy?

What Fiend Emperor? He was so insufferably arrogant and powerful, and yet he still perished in the end. The woman he chased so madly still ended up becoming mine!

He laughed coldly inside. He'd tried all kinds of different methods to pamper and coax the Mermaid Queen, and yet he couldn't soften her heart of stone in the slightest. But this time, the alien monster situation had become his opportunity. This really was the best result. He even wanted to give the alien monster emissary a few kisses.

…

When the Mermaid Queen returned to her own residence, she locked herself inside and refused visits from anyone. Many people wondered what had happened recently and if someone had ended up ruining her mood. Many of them were filled with righteous indignation. They wanted to find out who had angered the queen to immediately help her vent her anger.

When she heard those individuals’ ‘confessions’ like the spreading of peacock tails, the Mermaid Queen became more and more annoyed. How could she not know that these guys were all lusting after her body? If they knew that the Dragon King was the main culprit, would they still dare to make any noise?

“Queen, that Dragon King really is too hateful. He is actually using something like this to threaten you!” The delicate and pretty maid at her side couldn't help but curse. This was the Mermaid Queen's personal maid, so she naturally knew what had happened just now in the palace.

The Mermaid Queen rubbed her head. “My head is a mess right now. Just what should we do going forward?”

That maid was surprised. “Don’t tell me you’re really going to satisfy that Dragon King?”

The Mermaid Queen shook her head. “The Dragon King just wishes to use this chance to obtain me, and he doesn’t really want to help me. I can tell that he's still biased in favor of the alien monsters inside.”

“But if even the Dragon King surrenders, who else can your respected self ask for help?” the maid asked with an anxious and miserable expression. “Perhaps your respected self shouldn’t worry anymore. The alien monsters might really fulfill their promise.”

The Mermaid Queen’s expression grew serious. “I’ve studied the way the monsters behave. They are cruel, bloodthirsty, cunning, and fickle. They will go back on any agreements with their so-called allies after they get what they want. After the fact, if our Ocean races don't experience extermination, then it will be slavery. I definitely cannot give up here.”

“But the Dragon King is already like this. Who else can we even seek?” The maid’s brows quickly furrowed. She was already close to the point of despair.

The queen actually had a lot of friends, but to some extent, most of them lusted after her looks.

Going against the monsters was definitely no small matter. Those who didn’t have much ability would be unhelpful even if they agreed, while those with ability would often suggest improper things like the Dragon King. This seemed like a completely hopeless situation!

The Mermaid Queen’s expression remained calm. “When I was little, I frequently had a dream in which I saw a man shining with golden light, but I could never see what he looked like. However, I believe that he will definitely save this world.”

The maid couldn't help but roll her eyes when she heard this.

The queen really is beyond saving. The perfect goddess in everyone’s eyes was actually someone who believed so much in her dreams.

She had already heard about this dream countless times. At first, she had been full of wishful thinking like the queen, but over time she came to the conclusion that this was just a delusion of the queen.

The queen had refused countless of the world’s best men because of that individual’s existence. She had even rejected this world’s previous number one, the Fiend Emperor. The Dragon King, who was just as formidable, had been refused countless times more. That had made it so that people even started wondering whether the queen actually liked women.

And as part of the rationalization for that, the queen's personal maid had become a leading character, since she was one of the ones the queen doted on the most. She'd been a bit disgusted and angry at first, but when she thought about how beautiful the queen was, just the thought of them really being with each other was wonderful.

But she knew that the queen was a woman among women, and that her heart already belonged somewhere. If the most outstanding men in the world learned that they had lost to a man from a dream, just how many of them would die from anger on the spot?

“What are you laughing at over there?” The Mermaid Queen noticed her slight change in expression and felt a bit unhappy.

The maid quickly frowned. “I didn’t laugh, the queen must’ve seen incorrectly.”

“You were clearly laughing. Were you laughing at me?”

“I really didn’t. Ah, spare me!”

…

In another area of the Dragon Palace, the one inside couldn't bring themself to laugh at all.

A white-clad guard bowed toward a beautiful young lady, his expression incredibly serious as he said, “Princess, the Dragon King has already given us the cold shoulder for many days. It seems he has no intention of allying with our Fiend races!”