Leon had already made up his mind, but outwardly he remained impassive.
"The matter is of great importance, I need time to consider it." Leon lowered his eyes. He really wanted to order the arrest of the Ocean Goddess Bishop and throw her into the underground prison beneath the volcano, but he managed to restrain himself.
Upon hearing Leon’s words, the tension in the Ocean Goddess Bishop’s posture relaxed immediately.
She had been prepared for sacrifice, never expecting that the powerful Red Dragon would bow down. The thought of such a mighty Red Dragon also submitting before her goddess brought a faint smile to her lips, and she said, "I trust that King Leon will make the right decision."
Leon gave a forced smile, watching the Ocean Goddess Bishop leave his study, then dropped the facade, instructing the Tiefling Maid to gather his key men from around Watchtower Port to the Volcanic Island.
Once everyone gathered in the parlor, Leon spoke about the issues facing the Zhen Dan Kingdom.
"How dare that fucking goddess?" Salovis fumed, "Brother, just give the order. I am willing to take the lead and crush the Ocean Goddess Temple."
As a legendary and ferocious Red Dragon, Salovis had long awaited war. She felt her blood boiling, completely unafraid even if the opponent was a mighty deity.
"If it were me—" Anglistra lounged back in her chair, her words ending with a hissing sound like a snake, "I would have torn that Ocean Goddess Bishop to shreds on the spot, and with a single flame breath, burned her to a crisp and eaten her... but you let her go."
Leon glanced sideways at his mother and sister, not sparing them, "Brains are for thinking, not just for display. I let her go with my own intentions in mind."
Salovis seemed to be pondering something.
Cecilia, a Green Dragon known for her scheming, understood why Leon chose to let the Ocean Goddess Bishop go. "The master must be aiming to lull the Ocean Goddess into complacency and buy time for preparations, right?"
"Unless the enemy is a fool, they will surely have prepared thoroughly for today." Leon glanced around the room, "In comparison, we are too passive. If I hadn’t told you what happened, you would still be unaware and clueless."
"So what should we do now?" Isily raised her hand. She wasn’t a saint; there was no reason to remain indifferent while being bullied.
"What are your thoughts?" Leon had a plan, but he wanted to hear everyone’s opinions first to fill in any gaps.
Each voiced their thoughts and a meeting-lasting for half a day was concluded, with Leon finally distributing tasks to everyone.
The Ocean Goddess and the Goddess of Wealth had always been at odds over matters of faith. The Ocean Goddess often clashed over faith, divine positions, and other issues with many deities. This aspect might be exploitable, and the specifics would be handled by Isily, the diplomat.
The Volcanic Island, upgraded with massive resources into a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, was not to be lost. Tassera’s task was heavy; she, along with her daughter Sharon, had to urgently set up defense magic for the Volcanic Island... not fearing the Ocean Goddess summoning her minions to attack the island, whether pirates or sea monsters were easy to deal with, but fearing the Ocean Goddess summoning hurricanes and tsunamis.
The number of Ocean Goddess temples and shrines in the Zhen Dan Kingdom needed to be investigated, personnel preemptively deployed, waiting for the chance to obliterate them all, leaving no room for the enemy to escape. Information on the Ocean Goddess’s faith situation within the Talia Alliance also needed collecting... This intelligence work fell to Cecilia.
"I’ve long wanted to say, Watchtower Port is home to various races, with numerous forces lurking beneath the surface, seemingly harmonious but ready to explode at any moment with just one fuse."
Leon tasked Fiora with governing the entire security and patrol team at Watchtower Port, ready to suppress any potential uprising.
Last-minute preparations, no matter how imperfect, would at least prevent disarray, whether it was fortifying city walls or repairing embankments. The Engineer Minister, the Brass Dragon, carried no less of a burden than anyone else.
"As for you two... Get some proper rest; your time to shine will come."
Leon wasn’t demanding much from Anglistra and Salovis; first, do no harm and be rested, ready for the charge.
Next were the tasks for Grianna and Laksha, their tasks being...
"That’s about it. If there’s anything unclear, speak now. If anyone slips up at a critical moment, don’t blame me for showing no mercy." Leon found that although he usually didn’t manage things, he could still take charge when it mattered.
After the meeting, Leon would not sit idle. He transformed into an albatross and a sailfish in succession, heading to the black trench of the Flash Sea to find the Kraken with a challenge level as high as 23. Throughout the Zhen Dan Kingdom, besides Leon, there was no match for the powerful Kraken. He hadn’t truly subdued the Kraken yet—Leon went to talk to the Kraken personally.
"After this matter is settled, I might consider granting you freedom. From then on, we will be partners." Leon was always uneasy about the Volcanic Island, asking the Kraken to protect it in his absence. As long as the Kraken made an effort, past grudges could be wiped out.
The tasks were fully assigned; it was now up to execution. For the hastily made arrangements, Leon had little confidence. Only a fool would assume the enemy would act according to his script.
"All the supplies in the Volcanic Island warehouse have been moved to a safe place."
"I had a meeting with the Bishop of the Goddess of Wealth today..."
"One of my druids hasn’t returned."
Deities weren’t easily fooled; the Ocean Goddess might have her eyes on Watchtower Port.
On the morning of the third day, the Ocean Goddess made a new move.
The originally clear skies above Watchtower Port were suddenly swallowed by dark clouds, quickly followed by raging winds, which grew stronger, unleashing massive waves. The waves crashed against Watchtower Port’s embankment with deafening roars, and merchant ships on the dock bobbed like fallen leaves amid the tumultuous waves...
Plans had long been laid out, and now it was about executing them step-by-step. Perfection wasn’t required, just not to fall apart.
Fiora led her men to maintain order, herding people indoors, while Anglistra and Salovis could now bared their sharp teeth and claws to attack the Ocean Goddess Temple, capturing Ocean Goddess clergy and fanatics, killing any who resisted...
Fighting couldn’t break out at Watchtower Port; even if they won, the loss would be disastrous. The flames of war must be carried to the enemy’s doorstep. Leon stood atop the Volcano Top, waiting for conflict to arise. A Long Rainbow Escape appeared in the sky over the Talia Alliance, diving towards Port City Savari, where the Ocean Goddess had her largest temple in the Talia Alliance.