Black Sail

By logical reasoning, Aran Country had a Royal Court’s direct supervisory department, making the citizens nominally belong to the state. Hence, officials in Aran were extraordinarily cautious.

Ake, often called a minor Aran official, preferred doing nothing to making a mistake, representing the typical greeting among Aran officials.

What you think of as palace intrigue—oh, the Emperor loves it immensely! Wanting one concubine over another, secretly mixing abortion drugs into the food when a dragon child gets conceived, ensuring general tranquility among the harem.

Real palace intrigue, however, I greatly admire the first person who secretly surveilled, casually wiping out entire families. Time...it was about to speed up: a storm of eavesdropping, multiple spies, scheming, forming cliques, constantly shifting allegiances, manipulating from the shadows. With that said, there’s no escaping the dark patterns.

Therefore, whether it’s the Imperial City’s Royal Court or local provinces, Aran officials wouldn’t entangle themselves unnecessarily, trying to stir up trouble only to get caught by the supervisory department or someone else grabbing their tails—it’s not as simple as serving prison time; at best, it’s a collective punishment system, at worst, a ride to the Northern Realm, reserved noble boxes, and luxurious double-storey suites in the diplomatic guesthouses of the Upper House.

Unlike places in the Beima Duchy where gambling, prostitution, and drugs thrive, and taxes are evaded using secret ports—these things are completely off-limits.

Logically speaking, Aran should be a Heaven on earth, fundamentally saying goodbye to the Triad Gang.

But in reality, it is not so; hidden grey venues in countless cities are still common.

Although these related industries are certainly monopolized by big fishes, these people never show themselves, and they are impossible to trace.

If you want to join the Black Society, you don’t need much support – often, a low-level public servant inside providing information will suffice.

You think you’re clever? What use is that? Out here, even if you’re an official, you need a background, some power. People with shallow roots and pale shoots won’t let you show your worth during times of accomplishment; those opportunities are reserved for the confidants and cliques—bit players are all they need, or otherwise, you recognize the situation and desperately suck up to some faction, or you’re stuck there for life.