"Excellent. If the Zheng Clan can truly accomplish this,I believe no one in Great Yi will overlook the merit you earn."
"Once you officially join, all such merit will be recorded directly under your name.According to what I've heard, the court is currently discussing the establishment of Prefectures and Prefects.A City Lord ranks third grade, while a Prefect would be second grade, governing an entire prefecture."
"All Immortal Cities within a prefecture would fall under a Prefect's jurisdiction, including oversight and evaluation powers.Promotion, of course, requires sufficient merit and talent.Who knows—maybe Lord Zheng could rise that high."
Mao Sui let the information drop as if casually, but it struck the Zheng family like a thunderclap.
The creation of Prefects had only been circulated in limited court circles.With Great Yi's territory expanding rapidly, and Immortal Cities multiplying, it was becoming clear that centralized management alone was unsustainable.
Even with teleportation arrays and the StarNet, communication delays were becoming more frequent. Prefects would act as regional governors—intermediary power centers between local City Lords and the central court.
They would also serve as launchpads for greater political careers.
"Prefects?"Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Chenggong's eyes lit up with longing.
To be the ruler of an entire prefecture… to wield such high status and real power… that was a dream worth chasing.
Their ambition surged uncontrollably.
Mao Sui, of course, noticed. But he didn't mind.
Let them dream.Great Yi can accommodate ambition. So long as one has the skill to match the role.
"Lord Zheng may very well have the opportunity," he said with an encouraging smile.Of course, whether it came to pass depended entirely on their own merit.
The feast continued, with both parties growing increasingly cordial.
Zheng Zhilong deliberately extended goodwill, while Mao Sui was determined to draw the Zhengs fully onto Great Yi's ship.
As the wine flowed, Mao Sui finally revealed something important:
If the Zhengs were to join Great Yi, Coconut King City would have to be restructured.All buildings would need to be reconstructed with Xuanhuang Bricks,and integrated with standard Great Yi formations—same as every Immortal City in the Sacred Court.
There was no need to publicize it.Great Yi artisans would arrive discreetly to handle the transformation.
Once the time was right, the city could instantly transition into the Great Yi system.
Before long, Mao Sui took his leave.
This meeting was issued under strict confidentiality.No one outside the Zheng Clan knew Mao Sui had even visited, let alone what was discussed.
At the same time, other emissaries like Zhang Tong had already entered neighboring islands,visiting other human factions and deploying the same persuasive methods.
With the intangible might of Great Yi behind them,and the harsh environment filled with constant pirate raids,these factions' psychological defenses crumbled quickly.
Especially when they heard that:
They could keep their current positions.
They could be transferred elsewhere if desired.
Or remain and be formally appointed City Lords within Great Yi.
"Of course we agree!"
"Becoming a City Lord in Great Yi—even if the post is re-evaluated every ten years—would give us a solid foundation."
"Even if we're removed, that decade of status can establish a lasting family legacy.
"And most importantly: as long as we have human blood, even partial human blood, we'll be treated equally."
This last point was crucial.
Even nomadic tribes, or mixed-blood subraces, were welcomed by Great Yi without discrimination.
They were excited—not ashamed—at the chance to join.
It felt like fortune falling from the sky.
The Caribbean integration plan was proceeding at full speed.
Meanwhile, in the Demon Sea Region...
On a nameless island, shrouded in thick mist,a new Immortal City had silently taken root.
It was identical in structure to every other city in Great Yi—because it was, in fact, one of them.The city's formation drew on the island's dragon veins and natural energies, cloaking the island in natural fog.
This island was remote—far off all known sea routes.
In the City Lord's Manor stood a middle-aged scholar in white robes: Jia Xu.
Surrounding him were brilliant strategists—none other than officials from the Heaven Strategy Pavilion.
"Lord Jia, the bait has been deployed.It won't be long before the targets reach the designated zone and discover what we left behind," said Wu Yong with a smile.
"Good," Jia Xu said calmly, eyes gleaming."The key is guidance. We're not here to control events—only to push them in the right direction."
The target this time?
A pirate group known as the Ugly Freak Pirates (Chou Ba Guai Hai Zei Tuan).
Neither weak nor strong—mid-tier.
They had:
One flagship: the Great Ugly.
Seven pirate ships, named Second Freak, Third Freak, up to Eighth Freak.
A crew of about 100,000 pirates.
Their captain was the notorious Clown King Buggy.
"He possesses a Devil Fruit: the Chop-Chop Fruit (Four-Limb Severance Fruit)," Wu Yong explained."He can split his body into parts, and his attacks can tear enemies limb from limb. Ruthless and unpredictable."
This entire plan was designed by the Heaven Strategy Pavilion,with full mobilization of their strategic talent.
According to countless simulations, the success rate was very high.
Somewhere on the open sea...
A massive pirate fleet sailed forward at full speed.
On their sails was a comical flag: a clown face surrounded by seven monsters—the crest of the Ugly Freak Pirates.
"Did you find that damn whale yet?!"roared Buggy, dressed like a clown, arms waving furiously.
"It swallowed three Devil Fruits we spent so long gathering!Until I get them back, I can't eat, can't sleep, can't even touch a woman!"
A while back, after retreating from their failed invasion of Great Yi,they stumbled upon an island where they discovered three Devil Fruits.
But before they could celebrate—disaster struck.
A massive whale emerged from the sea and sucked the treasure chest into its belly, then swam off.
Buggy nearly coughed blood in rage.It was like having a chunk of his soul ripped out.
He ordered the fleet into a frantic chase.
Luckily, they had embedded a tracking spell on the chest.Without it, they would've lost the trail long ago.
"We're close. It's up ahead," said a pirate."Soon, those Devil Fruits will be ours again!"
"Captain! Look—an island! Never seen that one before!"
A mysterious new island had appeared.
It glowed faintly, white light radiating outward, visible for miles.Clearly, something extraordinary lay hidden there.
"The Devil Fruit chest stopped moving—it's beneath this island!"
"Captain, the treasure light is visible from 100 miles away. There must be something priceless here!"
The pirates' eyes gleamed with greed.
"Full speed ahead!" Buggy shouted."Whatever treasure is on that island—it belongs to the Ugly Freak Pirates!"