Black Sail

Interrogation room inside Wind Anchor police station.

"You guys are the damn hooligans."

Archer was cuffed, the chain locked to the iron ring on the table.

The interrogating glasses asked all night but still figured nothing out, he wasn't being interrogated for hooliganism, the concern naturally was about the electorship, a major affair of the Western Continent.

Wind Anchor being one of Lostra's largest ports, a financial hub, has very complex factions, the police chief and Celeste are not on the same side.

A large nation often has overlapping law enforcement functions, also for mutual checks and balances, the Intelligence Bureau for foreign affairs and local police systems for domestic affairs naturally overlap in functions.

The police chief clearly doesn't fear Celeste.

Previously, Ox killed someone, got released by a call, that was before Alicia's incident emerged, all family matters, what can I say? Mirror Sea's international friends didn't know better, did it for fun, release them, then release.

But now it's speculated that Liszt's group reached cooperation with the Intelligence Bureau people, Alicia might be heading here, if Celeste, the East Sea Commissioner, gains power in congress, funding will definitely tilt toward their faction, leaving less for the national police system.

It's well known that truth defies common sense, in the Western Continent, national enterprises are often private, while private enterprises are national.

Thus it's not without reason that Lostra breeds the underworld, the Empress can't directly control the country over the Prime Minister and congress, but her influence remains deeply rooted domestically.

At such a level of game, there are no oppositions, only ecosystems, without the first Prime Minister, Lostra couldn't have reversed into a stronger position than Gureg, against the elder brother.

The imperial order always exists, but the Prime Minister can be impeached.

A rule that establishes an ecosystem acceptable to all sides is a good rule, it can't be said the Empress and Prime Minister are enemies, for now, it's an automatic script, if the Empress doesn't want cheats, she can weaken vassals and rebuild, the Empress herself possesses an army, not just a pretty face, but for Lostra to recover, it can't rival Aran.

Managing numerous private enterprises and various commercial supervisory departments are not to be mentioned, all are just assistants to the Governor, one leg, the main supporter has to be the police system, the Minister of National Security.

In Lostra, national security and national defense are separate departments, national defense is a real military.

The problem arises because there's overlapping functions between the Ministry of National Security and Celeste's Intelligence Bureau belonging to the Ministry of National Defense.

It's just that the top people still want to prevent a hand, afraid that someone with ulterior motives in congress might mess it up and accidentally make someone's idiot the elector.

Thus today this situation arose.

The interrogating glasses didn't get anything out of Archer all night, because Archer seems to be a madman, currently, the conjecture has been turned into a conclusion, the Descendant of the Overlord is indeed heading this way.

But because Liszt's group is protected by people above, the glasses dare not use harsh punishment, although he wears handcuffs, he is treated well with food and drink.

Shadi has already informed Liszt, and Celeste has been told to make a call.

Initially thinking to keep Archer, the idiot, in the station for ten days or half a month, to let everyone relax a bit, but can't be kept, who knows if this nutcase will say nonsense, if he confesses truthfully, it's easier, but the problem is that he can't confess truthfully, his mind is dumb, saying some absurd things, causing others to misjudge, that's what's tricky.

Shadi rushed from Phantom Sea One to pick him up.

Seeing Shadi rush into the interrogation room.

Archer couldn't hold it together, after all these years, when had he been treated like this? These Wind Anchor cops really want to shoot me.

"Damn it, Shadi, where's my 300,000 army at sea?"

Archer, due to clear-headedness, experienced withdrawal symptoms, he was already in a manic state, really wanting to use a gun on these policemen.

Shadi looked confused, having no idea what Archer was talking about.

"Unlock the handcuffs."

Shadi issued the order.

But the interrogating glasses remained unmoved, only glancing at Shadi, waiting for the senior police officer who came in with Shadi to speak, before unlocking Archer's handcuffs.

As soon as the handcuffs were unlocked Archer tried to hit, intending to throw himself at the glasses, but Shadi stopped him, take it easy, buddy, still on their turf here.

Shadi didn't know what Celeste told her superior, but the outcome was good, anyway, some agreement was reached, Archer could be released.

Liszt said after Alicia landed, she must immediately hand over to designated personnel, as for who the designated personnel are, still unknown.

Temporarily a sigh of relief, just afraid Liszt might take the impulsive decision to hold this hot potato called Sister Ai, seems Liszt still understands self-preservation.

Shadi was utterly convinced, after such a thrilling year, it's clear the toughest job is personnel handover.

But it can't be avoided, those Aran people from Wesker are watching.

A rough count shows three factions want to find Sister Ai, within Lostra, the faction Celeste belongs to and Chandler's faction, Aran has Wesker.

Later it will surely become even more chaotic, Giant Whale Guest might want to take advantage, maybe there's still those five big villains from Pedan Gureg watching.

"Let's go."

Shadi pulled Archer and left.

Due to withdrawal symptoms, Archer started saying absurd things, tears streaming down, "It was Horus who killed the Emperor! He also wants to mourn the Emperor!"

Shadi just felt pissed off, Archer keeps drinking, seriously he's going to end up with liver problems.

In any case, went through the motions, finally the hooligan charge was not established, took Archer back to Phantom Sea One.

Chandler and Celeste sent the glasses now both restrained, although the Black Sail in Wind Anchor are mostly odd players, even they can't match the state machine, caution in all matters.

After returning to the base.

Shadi immediately contacted Liszt via radio on what to do next, piles of issues, Whitman Giant Whale Guest wants to act, but if snapped by Lostra first, it wouldn't be good.

Must align on their territory, but the power distribution in Lostra isn't clear presently.

Heaven Port is closer to Aran, Beima Duchy is closer, the constitution of these territories is clear, but it's complex west of Narrow Sea.

At this moment.

Liszt's group has crossed Liexue Pass, formally entered Pedan's border, the first stop is Pedan's southern city Halingler, but still several days away.

One of the eleven towers Nashano mentioned, Tower of Winterless, in the forbidden Winter Palace Snowfield, is further than Pedan Capital.

At this time, two men and four women tethered their horses in a pasture, taking a break.

Liszt was irritated by the Pedans, here the unwritten rule of not hitting a smiling face fails, smiling at Pedans as strangers is seen as hostility, each has Sima's face, just like General Fen.

Sitting beside Liszt observing him was Celeste, Alicia's transfer is serious business, currently her superiors have reached an agreement with congress on how to handover.

Yet Celeste at her level doesn't know exactly how the handover should occur, the superiors just said wait for notification.

The urgent matter is ensuring Liszt doesn't change his mind.

"What did Archer say?"

Liszt asked through the radio, smoking.

[Didn't say much, just repeatedly saying Horus killed the Emperor, he wants to mourn the Emperor. What should we do now?]

This damned scary adventure looks nothing like Dragon's exhilarating journey!

He inhaled smoke, glanced at Celeste watching him.

The decision was in mind.

Lostra's top is also vying, Liszt intended to keep Alicia himself, this mishmash was merely a delaying tactic.

Once I reached Tower of Winterless, Junlin Sword fully assembled, then bringing back Fafna, Diaz's shards and Holy Spirit Sect's shards gathered, everything solidified!

But Celeste is watching now, Liszt can only speak diplomatically.

"Just follow the previous plan, however they should handover, just handover."

But Liszt already calculated their battles, let them battle, Sister Ai won't be handed over, elector won't be handed over, damn it, none will be handed over!

[If you say so.]

Liszt also put down the radio, Celeste also withdrew her gaze.

"We've rested enough, let's move."

Bastie mounted her horse, saying it.

Liszt looked at the mountain ranges lining Liexue Pass behind, then faced the infinite cedar forests ahead, being the birthplace of the Magic Energy Industrial Revolution, roads are exceptionally smooth, with the severe weather, maintenance teams repair roads at intervals.

Pedan's highest governing institution is the Elder Council, which oversees various military industries and many departments clustered with magicians.

"Magic Energy Industrial Committee hmm."

Liszt found the name impressive but still must settle glasses' matters, another purpose of coming to Pedan was to owe General Fen a favor.