Black Sail

In the Admiral’s office.

As soon as Liszt appeared, the Admiral put on Sima’s face, clearly intending to leech off him for a lifetime.

"The entire crew of Black Sail wishes Admiral a Happy New Year!"

Liszt made a congratulatory gesture that was completely foreign to the Admiral.

"This is ten Gold Dragons, take it and head back to Pirate Nest, have a good new year, and wash your hands clean as soon as possible."

Some rumors had reached the Admiral that next year, the Beima Duchy would make major moves. After years of draining its resources, the entire country had turned into a haven for robbers, but taxes kept soaring, and the military vigour surged. The Beima Duchy was almost at the limit of its military expansion, and now, like a mad dog, it was uncertain who it would snap at next year.

The pirates who actively disrupted trade on the East Shore might not have good days ahead.

But it also wasn’t out of the question that Beima would bite at Aran, re-establish a National Bank, reclaim currency issuance rights, change from a Duchy to a Kingdom, and follow Lostra in adopting a credit currency system, directly betraying their allegiances.

Heaven Port might also get conscripted. Those three bosses, along with the fleet of the ruler of Heaven Port, weren’t easily pushed around; they represented a force worth courting.

Liszt looked at the ten Gold Dragons the Admiral pushed across the table and could not help but laugh. Was this little money meant to shoo away a beggar?

"Admiral, you’re really not doing so hot right now, are you embarrassed to hand over such a small sum? Bro, I’m not here for the money; I’m here to talk business."