However, this terror war machine that belonged to the nation astonishingly ended up in the hands of the Black Whale Group's pirates!
Unsure of how much time had passed, the pirates of the Black Whale Group finally calmed down, their exclamations of amazement ceasing.
And at that moment, a great pirate slowly emerged from the black seawater, causing everyone to involuntarily step back once the commotion had quieted down.
He was none other than the Black Death Doctor, one of the great pirates, charged with overseeing all research for the Black Whale Group.
Crow, also a doctor, could sense the terror emanating from this doctor even more acutely—he was a nearly mad doctor in possession of all naval research material discovered thus far.
He also stood as the chief supporter and initiator of the Sea Beast Mechanization and Aberrant Warfare. At the same time, he maintained close ties with the Hundred Diseases Association of the Golden Flower Bird Kingdom's Floral Appearance organization.
Against all objections, he combined the chain technology of the Black Blood Empire, the beast-controlling art of the Golden Flower Bird Kingdom, and the naval data, creating one horrifying mutant monster after another.
The Black Death Doctor walked out from a distant shoreline and spread his arms to declare:
"Gentlemen, I assume you've realized that after the 'Descent of the Smiling Moon', the difficulty of navigating the seas will increase exponentially!
Furthermore, Steam Hand, Magic Bullet Company, Bonfire Energy, and the Steel Furnace—companies that Shell Country takes pride in—are driving their terrifying tide of steel forward!
Look at the islands around Moonstone City, Maro Town, Devil Town, Moonstone Outer Island—those islands, which were once barren and desolate, are being transformed continuously. And now, they've become Mecha and naval vessel repair bases! They've become an impregnable steel wall surrounding Moonstone City!"
Walls, bases... muffled sighs arose from the crowd, few of whom paid attention to the affairs of the national archipelagos nearby.
Over the past century, those had been desolate lands that nobody cared for, not even interesting enough for pirates to visit.
The Black Death Doctor continued:
"You must have heard about the terrifying power on land, akin to steel deities, that even the natural disasters from the cracks in the earth ultimately couldn't overcome!"
Restlessness set in among the people. Shell Country's steel Mechas had always been a concern for the pirates, but amidst the ebb and flow of the tides, few had given much thought to this.
The Black Death Doctor contorted his face into a feigned grimace of fear:
"The massive might of Steam Hand, months ago, set their plans in motion.
And now, Steam Hand's steel deities, intending to challenge our Black Whale Group's dominance with their steel vessels, are attempting to come onto these seas and crush us!"
Mechas were Shell Country's most terrifying war machines.
Creating a Mecha required at least five B-class cracks, ten steel factories, and countless D-rank crack minerals, as well as a significant number of Transcendents with the Hammer Phase, to forge into being.
That power, comparable to a 'miracle', was beyond the Black Whale Group's reach.
Everyone went quiet for a moment.
Even after many years dominating the seas, they could not shake off their awe of the steel deities.
And now, the Black Death Doctor revealed a satisfied smile:
"And now, that problem has finally been solved."
Boom!
The Black Death Doctor sharply snapped his fingers.
A deep and prolonged rumble emanated from the depths of the ocean, as if the slumber of an ancient behemoth had been quietly awakened.
The waters began to churn uneasily, black waves tumbling.
One by one, figures resembling black marble-carved sea elephants slowly emerged from the water, their massive and majestic bodies housing immeasurable strength in every muscle.
Amidst dense fog, they rose like a range of mountains, casting shadows over the people.
The crowd stepped back collectively, unable to stop shivering at the sight of these black sea elephants.
At this moment, the Black Death Doctor clenched his fist excitedly:
"The Black Sea Elephant, the largest ones reaching over thirty meters in length, weighing more than five hundred tons, their colossal strength capable of propelling any steel ship! Their steel-like skin can deflect any shell! The high-pressure water jets from their trunks can easily flip a hundred-ton vessel! They will become the new masters of these seas!"
The crowd felt a surge of exhilaration, stirred by the Black Death Doctor's description.
"A fully refitted navy, Bonfire Energy Company's Hunter Group, and the Blood Blade Pirate Group—those who fancy themselves as kings! They can only shiver, waiting for us to crush them!"
"And all of this is thanks to Father Whale's strategy!"
As soon as the Black Death Doctor finished speaking, the pirates erupted in a roar that trembled the sea:
"Father Whale! Father Whale!"
"Conquest! Conquest!"
Boom! Boom!
The Black Sea Elephants began to advance into the mist.
Accompanied by relentless roars, the Black Death Doctor quietly raised his snapping finger and bellowed with a mad fervor:
"Warriors of the Black Whale Group! We've slept too long, slept until they forgot our terror, slept until they dared to covet our treasure!"
"Now, warriors of the Black Whale Group! It's time to set sail!"
"It's time to let those who don't understand high from low realize who owns the treasures and cracks of these seas!"
"It's time to show those who have offended us what the breath of a behemoth is like."
"It's time to let everyone know who is the master of these seas!"
"The master!!!"
In the midst of overwhelming cries and undulating waves, the ferryman of the Nether River raised his oar, creating giant waves, and the vast fleet of the Black Whale Group set sail towards the Crack Sea, towards Moonstone City, towards the Blood Blade Pirate Group.