The Heavenly Port Inner City CBD, illuminated by bright lights, is a territory under Doringger. Grand high-rises glistened splendidly, and the streets lit dimly by fluorite neon lights. Brothels, casinos, and Leaf Stores enveloped the central plaza, making it a veritable resort destination.
Refuge-seeking tycoons, novelty-seeking nobles, and excitent-seeking magnates all lived life in a blur here, until they were bled dry.
Doringger even made sure the area was cleaned regularly, with soone diligently clearing snow from the Doringger sculpture within the grand fountain daily.
Liszt and his entourage happened to pass by this place on their way back.
Liszt stared at the Boss’s statue in the center of the fountain while pulling out a cigarette to smoke.
"Damn, that’s terrifying."
Liszt deeply inhaled, unmoved by the others around him. But Old Beden had been watching him intently—the man who had slain a sea monster, exuding an overwhelmingly terrifying presence.
Many Magic Beasts frequented the waters near Heavenly Port, but none were considered sea monsters, which could drag massive ships hundreds of ters into the sea.
Whether it was a squid or so other monster that was beaten to death with fists, damn, when the ti cos, they’d probably have to call upon General Fen to put it on the Stele, or use poison or sothing.
"Brother Li, you really were fierce just now; your presence was as formidable as that monster’s."
A Captain, promised employnt by Liszt, flattered him, hoping with Liszt’s backing he could also taste the fruits of the New Continent.
"Stop, I’m hardly a Boss yet."
Liszt misunderstood the remark and felt sowhat elated, quite pleased with himself. He adjusted his cuffs, putting on the airs of a Boss, pretending to look profound, a man with dominion over the world.
Shadi was speechless, wondering if Liszt was still pretending? If he kept this up, he might as well play the role of Emperor. The others were watching too.
Taylor and another influential figure wore complex expressions, pondering deeply.
"The matter isn’t completely resolved yet. Doringger might have the representatives stay overnight and use so ans to continue entrapping them."
Taylor had planned to ride on Liszt’s coattails to maintain a ’one ultra, three greats’ power structure. However, Liszt’s scheming ran too deep, and Taylor was having trouble keeping up with the ga, now fully committed to fighting alongside him.
Liszt waved his hand dismissively.
"My people are top-tier talents."
Liszt was well-prepared; Ben and Swan were still in the castle. Ben was responsible for finding Doringger’s weaknesses, while Swan had another important task.
He had prepared envelopes beforehand.
[For business cooperation, please contact the Black Sail Inn, Black Sail Trading Company, at Heavenly Port Inner City.]
Liszt wanted Swan to use his skills to plant these in the garnts of the representatives while they slept at night, ensuring they would discover them co morning.
In terms of influence, he and Doringger were rely on par, both capable of moving people with words alone. Suffering a verbal loss sotis didn’t really an losing.
Doringger stayed in a castle, well-defended by his fortress. Where could Liszt invade?
But I can confront Doringger, I can bring in many Captains, so why can’t I enter the castle? I co and go as I please.
This way, the representatives would surely be terrified to their core. Even if they didn’t fear for themselves, they would suspect that Doringger has a traitor in his midst, and consider themselves dood.
The art was complete.
Liszt explained his strategy to the two bosses, who listened as if hearing a tale. Liszt’s rise to this point was not without reason, but future issues would be dealt with in the future; failing to cooperate now would only get them crushed by Doringger.
The two bosses left one after another, showing no particular favors towards Liszt. After all, none could afford to be without the other, and Doringger wouldn’t dare to act rashly in the short term. If he strained himself, how would he face external threats?
Today’s achievents weren’t solely crafted by Liszt’s strategies; Shadi contributed as well, and Wolman conducted strategic analysis.
Wolman, often referred to as Little Zhuge.
Could you imagine such phrases coming from a three-ter tall Black Big?
With external enemies/traders present, Wolman terd the current situation as mutual boosting for self-importance, a macro-level view of balance among three powers, a stable state unlikely to erupt into conflict anyti soon.
This was truly a masterstroke.
"Wait, I think it’s better to hand this over to you."
Fen took out a Compass that had been used in Wind Breath Canyon, belonging to Caroso, to give to Taylor. This would allow them to quickly rally their forces in an ergency.
Taylor, however, was disdainful but instead summoned an attendant to hand another Compass to Liszt, saying to contact him if needed.
Liszt accepted the situation with mixed feelings. Although he was the main force today, if he really executed Doringger, those two big shots might not support him as the leader.
To put it bluntly, his current power was rely like a pirate version of the eighteen warlords; seemingly an alliance, but actually quite scattered. He still needed to micromanage.
Tani waved at Liszt and left with Taylor. Liszt was important, but Taylor was facing a crisis and needed support.
"What exactly did you do before?"
Qi Li rembered that during the previous banquet, Liszt’s ntal fortitude was incredibly strong.
ntal fortitude and fear of death are two different things. It’s normal for so people to act recklessly in the heat of the mont when blood rushes to their head.
Yet, in such a high-pressure environnt, to directly face that kind of man and still keep face, not acting like a petty hooligan but rather playing high-end ntal gas with clear logic and watertight speech, such people were extrely rare and ntally terrifying.
"How many tis have I told you, I am a university graduate. I have a very high level of education, hardly anyone on the island can compare."
Liszt took a deep drag from his cigarette.
Qi Li didn’t believe it at all; were there university graduates who got ahead by blowing their tops?
The two big shots were not very stable.
But Qi Li and Wen Kui had to stabilize, along with seventy or eighty other captains.
The number of captains at Heavenly Port was far more than what Liszt currently had; otherwise, they couldn’t support such a large scale on the island. There were also many miscellaneous groups and so deeply hidden players; who knows what they were thinking, whether they were watching or simply giving up. After all, the island was full of half-assed, crappy people, mostly just getting by with cut corners, dealing in shady goods, living in small houses, eating at every ten days or half a month.
The power dynamics on the island were also intricate; so people bought ships to dock here but didn’t engage in piracy. There were plenty of shady and filthy middlen, including small-scale platforms for hiring assassins and slave trading happening here.
With the advancent of great mariti voyages and Magic Energy Industry and the presence of nurous races, nationalism was prevalent, and the concept of family and country was deeply ingrained. Slave trade had been abolished hundreds of years ago and was forbidden by law.
But private slavery was not uncommon; there were those who bought wives and slave labor.
However, these businesses weren’t profitable in the current environnt; those who were doing well on the island looked down on them.
Qi Li and Wen Kui took their leave one after another.
"Wait, I’m not done talking yet."
Liszt was well aware that there were many independent rchants and residents on the island; this sector was very important.
"No more protection money, sa as the other captains, it’s a hiring system. But you two are powerful, I’ll hire you to explore the New Continent; a guaranteed two hundred twenty Golden Dragons a month, paid by . Of course, the things you obtain aren’t given to . I’ll buy them."
Liszt took a drag from his cigarette and spoke calmly.
Wen Kui, direct and frank, understood what this ant.
"Damn, Liszt, you’re really playing emperor here."
Wen Kui could intuitively feel that Liszt was up to no good; his scheming was chilling yet irresistible, and after so deep thought, it even seed honorable.
Qi Li chuckled bitterly. Having once been a Great Knight of the Imperial Guard, he was frad by scoundrels and knew all too well how dark the court intrigue could be.
He simply wasn’t skilled enough and got kicked out of the ga.
This ti, he had to be up to the task.
"I understand your point, I’ll follow your lead."
Fen had originally given a Compass to Taylor, but Qi Li took it and left without looking back.
"Damn, I’ll call you ’Brother,’ okay, Brother Li is freaking aweso..."
Wen Kui felt sowhat displeased and followed Qi Li at a distance.
Liszt then instructed the remaining captains one by one, hiring had already begun; they couldn’t be fence-sitters. On January 15, they could co directly to him to get an advance on half a month’s salary, then start working.
Liszt had other plans in mind.
Securing internal stability before repelling external threats wasn’t always right.
Sotis.
You must repel external threats first before securing internal stability.
Only then could the fifty thousand Golden Dragons in the cellar be moved, the Black Sail Trading Company be established, and he command respect, his words surpassing all key mbers.
This was... Emperor Skill.
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