Black Sail

The shopping street near the adventurer's guild.

The stone-paved road is crowded with people, filled with blacksmith shops, leather shops, equipment shops, and travel goods stores.

Equipment, such a thing, is the lifeblood of an adventurer.

Twenty years ago, many investors set their sights on this market, consolidating blacksmiths and creating brands.

But they messed it up.

They underestimated adventurers' regard for their own lives. In the end, money wasn't tied to life; adventurers only trusted their own judgment, not brands.

As a result, the equipment store market returned to the situation where a blacksmith operated a single shop.

"Don't bother, if you want to buy really good equipment, you won't find it on this street. Even if you do find some, the price is way too high. You'd have to go to the black market at the Gate of Truth, where they sell stuff from illegal trades, thefts, stripped off big shots who died, or official goods from court mechanicians. That's where the good stuff is, this street only serves adventurers below Honor Level."

Meredith thought bitterly, actually, that constructed armor made from magic beast shells was pretty good, but last year in Duguli, it got wrecked by that disfigured face.

Liszt was speechless.

Thinking about it carefully, the Junlin Sword is a super rare Red Name level equipment, and has a unique, non-reproducible status. This street is all White Name, Blue Name, it's indeed not up to par.

"So, where is this black market then?"

Liszt had long heard of the Gate of Truth's reputation, it's quite a mysterious organization, on par with the Thief Guild. Diaz was the mysterious one on the filthy side, this Black Mage organization was the mysterious one on the underworld side, quite eerie.

If he wanted to contact Taylor and Plank, they could definitely connect him, after all, they're the big shots in Heaven Port fencing, but unfortunately, they weren't around.

"No need to think about places like the Cross Alliance, I've only been to the black market in Aran Floating City, I don't know about nearby ones."

Meredith looked at Goria. Now that the commission has been released, she had some clues, Goria also perked up, Meredith was like a husband-like role, giving Goria's nose a tweak.

Bastie already felt on the ship that these two women hanging out together all the time was a bit unusual, only now discovering the clue,

astonishing.

Scis...Scissors Legs! It's against the teachings!

"You're surprised by this, do you know that Liszt's wife is a Vampire?"

Celeste was giving Bastie a heads-up.

"Caroso never told me!"

Bastie knew that the church's mission this time was tough, didn't expect it to be this tough.

Liszt's main aim wasn't exactly to arm himself.

Instead... to cut-dress a girl!

Except for Celeste being relatively avant-garde, Goria and Meredith, however, were roughing it in the wind and rain not caring about fashion, and Bastie was also a taciturn type, that magic robe increased attack speed in critical moments, but on ordinary days it looked rather boring.

Liszt wanted to revamp fiercely, damn it, patch the cool MOD.

But now they had to go to Pedan urgently, they wouldn't want to carry extra weight, only when they reached Pedan could they make adjustments.

"Agent Seventeen, you used to be in the Intelligence Bureau, you must know where the Gate of Truth's black market is in Pedan, right?"

Liszt asked.

"Of course."

With just a phone call, Celeste had enough influence to get through anything.

Liszt truly started his different world life from max level.

"Very well, then, we should hurry to Pedan now, otherwise Sister Faf is really going to turn the Pedans into mince meat."

Liszt was only concerned about the safety of General Fen's fellow townsmen.

Heaven Port's B2 bombers wiped out the main force of the Eternal Sect, who would dare provoke her?

The group headed to the horse market, preparing to buy fast horses to rush north into the Pedan border.

...

...

...

Two days later, September 16th.

Lostra.

Wind Anchor.

A standalone hotel contracted by East Sea International, on the first floor.

Luxury permeated the whole spacious room, with a floor-height open space and a large pool in the center. The dome was adorned with a giant crystal chandelier, with thousands of cut crystals refracting bluish hues, illuminating the mountains and rivers mural on the wall.

The background walls of the four states were made of large slabs of stone, exuding cool tones, embedded with champagne gold decorative lines and glowstrip lights.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of cigarettes, the scent of top-tier wine, and mixed with the perfume of trendy women.

At the end of the room was an aquarium with giant glass in front, under the refraction of light, it filled the entire space with a cold, shimmery glistening light, slightly swaying to a murderous intent.

Under the giant glass, on a black magic beast fur sofa, Ox sat imposingly, with a muscular, sinewy upper body bare. The Special Large Sword hung on one side, watching the Merfolk brothers from Dead Man Bay partying without a care.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed it. There was nothing he could do about the current situation, couldn't make any move.

Having chopped down a guild boss before, Ox was nearly nabbed by the locals under the charge of engaging in underworld activities. It was only because Celeste made a call that he got out, short term, hard to make any move.

"They're here."

A merfolk leaned over to Ox and whispered.

Even Ox let out a long breath. If no one came, he wouldn't know what to do. Things here aren't the same as in the East Sea; many matters require finesse, and brute force alone won't work.

The messenger had just finished speaking.

A group of people emerged from the corridor around the corner.

"Hmm?"

Morison was furious, "Damn it, Second Officer, damn you!"

Thought Brother Ox was at Narrow Sea dividing up spoils, but ended up throwing a damn Rag Party. Although it wasn't that wild, the merfolk brothers from Dead Man Bay were just getting drunk with these escort girls, maybe under Ox's watchful eye, still maintaining some decorum.

But the lavish decor here, and the bikini-clad beauties of all sorts.

Made Morris realize that the Black Sail is now called East Sea International, a colossal organization.

"Brother Ox! Eternal legend!"

Chuan Che was just here for leisure, and as a bikini-clad escort passed by with a drink, he gave her a slap on the butt without hesitation.

The beauty turned back without surprise and directly linked arms with Chuan Che.

Rein was sent flying two meters back.

Mr. Archer had already fully integrated into the scene, sitting with the escort girls and drinking in a carefree manner.

"Why are you all so skilled? Am I the only innocent type?"

Rein lay sprawled on the ground. Ox! Betrayed the Black Sail! I still need to warm up my emotions; I can't just dive right in. Is this the dark world of adults? I don't want to see it!

Shadi circled around the pool and went to the large aquarium, the radio already mentioned, Brother Ox can't make a move now, which is quite normal, besides, if you don't let your men enjoy, who the hell would risk their life?

A group of women noticed a super handsome guy had arrived, and even if they're not used to serving alien races, upon seeing this guy who looks as impressive as a High Elf from the Ancient Divine Continent, they couldn't hold back, wearing skimpy bikinis they swayed over, hips swinging and chests heaving.

Yoshikawa Chiyoda twitched an eyelid, blocking beside Shadi, signaling these women not to misbehave.

"Will Liszt come?"

Ox was somewhat relying on past experiences too; after experiencing the Dorlinger Manor evening, he could handle this place, would be a pity not to be involved.

"He's busy with something big as well, Fafna went missing, he's off to Pedan to find out. What's the current situation?"

Shadi also sat on the sofa; it's rare to see Brother Ox, eternally poker-faced, looking so frustrated. Must have been tough lately.

"The radio mentioned it too. I've been receiving intel from headquarters. How they wreaked havoc at Heaven Port, how many they cut down, I can just chop them up and be done with it. But a fortnight ago, they killed a pretty influential guild leader, and I got locked up overnight. It was Celeste who got me out through connections, but I can't stir trouble anymore, the local Judicial Hall and navy are watching me. But right now, the Giant Whale Guest's people are still causing trouble at Heaven Port, and someone came to me yesterday, said the Giant Whale Guest wants Liszt to meet him at Xilan Island, or else he won't stop."

Ox understood, if Liszt went to see the Giant Whale Guest, it would mean acknowledging his claim, can't let that happen.

"The Giant Whale Guest wants to see Liszt, the Emperor does too, really grown big. But never mind, the guys are all here, let's topple this damn Giant Whale Guest."

Shadi dismissed it, Pirate Radio, crank it up to rock, against Black Sail's smarts, the Giant Whale Guest stands no chance.

We can discuss this plan later, gotta launch the radio soon, can't kill, so gotta play with economics, ideology, scare tactics.

"Who is he?"

Ox pointed at the unfamiliar face.

"On the streets, called 'Living Dead', met by Mulong, this guy, let's just say, can kill the Giant Whale Guest's whole damn clan."

Shadi lit a cigarette, bragged boldly.

"Really? The Giant Whale Guest's cronies, it's the Narrow Sea's gambling industry, cruise line, real estate moguls, such associations. I looked into it, throughout Narrow Sea, forty percent of associations have Giant Whale Guest involvement, it's deeply rooted, even those uninvolved in business need his nod to proceed. Maritime trade is the foundation for nations, that he can't touch, but he's infiltrated all other gray industries, you could say he dominates Narrow Sea's entire underworld."

The others didn't understand the weight the Giant Whale Guest carries, Ox, having faced over these days, finally grasped how terrifying the forces were.

Even just accounting for Lostra, Wind Anchor, Celeste's words don't fully hold sway, Lostra Government also had people leaning towards the Giant Whale Guest.

The situation is difficult.

And East Sea is lawless territory, Giant Whale Guest can run wild, he just hopes this lawless state continues.

Things here in Narrow Sea are all about legality, far too passive.

"Golden Family huh, really badass, some micro-managing, no big problem."

Shadi mimicked Liszt's tone.

"Currently, the main issue is dealing with the Pirate King here in Lostra, he's aware that Lostra plans to depose him, replace with us, naturally aligning with Giant Whale Guest, all kinds of interests exchanged, now Lostra can't easily oust him either, still we gotta rely on ourselves."

Ox pointed out the current main goal, securing this position, becoming a pirate representative with a privateer certificate, to officially mix in.

"Got it, what industries does he have here?"

Shadi asked.

"Of course, the pirates here aren't like ours over there, they don't heavily rely on hijacking merchant ships, mainly survive on shore industries."

Ox handed Shadi a list of the Pirate King's current industries.

Shadi glanced at it, quite a lot indeed, took a deep drag from his cigarette.

"Brother Ox, I understand your difficulties, because of Mirror Sea people's identities, causing controversies when acting in the Western Continent, I get it, at unnecessary times, Dead Man Bay brothers can rest, leave it to us. From tomorrow, hundreds or thousands of brothers, daily go patronize his businesses."

Limited edition Shadi version of the spirited young man returning, but first need to contact the big backer Celeste, to align, soon after topple this Pirate King.

"Heading to hell, huh."

Morison smirked insincerely, pulling over an escort girl, causing her considerable pain.