January 5th.
Noon.
Heaven Port was still imrsed in the festive mood of the new year. After the Start of Spring, it was the first ti that the overcast skies of smog cleared, revealing a cloudless Clear Sky that stretched for miles. It was still cold though, as the sun shone like a light bulb in a refrigerator, incapable of lting the snow and ice floats—it’d be another month or two before that would happen.
The extortion team had arrived at the battlefield!
Gawain was no saint. In the Southern Wetlands, he made his living as a "Headhunter," which inevitably involved so shady dealings.
Gawain had so friends, who were even more adept at committing cris; they just hadn’t been caught yet. They were all convicts who avoided jail, doubling as robbers and assassins, using the identities of adventurers to blend into various nations.
They also called upon a few of their brothers.
A total of nineteen people ford the majestic extortion team.
Among them, there was a Female Mage and a Female Archer.
Societies with more mountains and forests tended to foster more "sisters."
The Female Archer smoked a cigarette, with tattoos covering her arms, wheat-colored skin, wearing Leather Armor, tall in stature.
The Female Mage was even more alluring, completely undaunted by the severe cold, dressed in a high-slit cheongsam with suspender stockings. She was a genuine Magician, ard with a staff that used Magic Energy Material as a dium, her bone structure and skin exuding a naturally enchanting charm.
The leader of the team was nad Fisher, Gawain’s "good buddy," who worked as a Bounty Hunter across the Narrow Sea, specializing in killing pirates.
Fisher had a trendously fierce countenance, with ssy brown hair combed back, a few strands falling over his forehead, and a muscular build. It seed as though he was influenced by the culture of the Far East Islands, fond of their style, with cryptic pictographs tattooed on the back of his hands, and a snake tattoo that spread from his neck to one side of his face. His sharp, nacing features would have made earthly auxiliary police hesitate to approach him—they’d probably call the drug enforcent squad instead.
They took the main roads, moving quickly. It took them half a month after the train was robbed to react, closing in on the ti it took for Liszt and his group to return.
Having paid a hefty sum to a fishing boat at a transfer station, they finally set foot on the shores of Heaven Port.
The dock was lined with seven to eight hundred ships, matching the standard of a first-class port. From the dock, one could also see the imposing castle constructed by the Emperor.
"This is the Eastern Expedition Bridgehead, now the Pirate Republic, Heaven Port," said the Female Archer, still smoking and chewing sothing like betel nut, spitting a mouthful of red-tinted saliva onto the ground, her legs robust and wild, her appearance attractive but exhibiting surprisingly low quality.
"You’re the Boss, how should we proceed?" asked the Female Mage to Fisher.
"Sothing doesn’t taste right..." Fisher, who mingled everywhere, had an eye for detail. Although it was still the new year period, the number of people didn’t match the multitude of ships docked. Sparse and few, so diligent pirates should’ve started their activities by now.
He had a hunch that sothing had happened here, perhaps the Pirate Nest on the island was in turmoil, engaging in fierce clashes or similar strife.
Just then,
Fisher felt the light dim slightly—not because clouds had obscured the sun, but because a monstrously tall creature had stepped before them. It was a Beastman over three ters tall, from the Undead Pirates, a subordinate of Qi Li.
"Who are you, and what is your business here? You need to state your identity and intentions to enter," the Beastman said coldly, instinctively feeling that sothing was off with this group. By their apparel, they seed like adventurers, but deep down, he sensed great danger.
"Has the rule changed? Isn’t everyone allowed to stay on the island for free? After all, this is the foundation upon which the port was established," said an Honor Level adventurer.
Not all nineteen were Heroic Level, among them Gawain’s four friends, Fisher, the Female Archer, the Female Mage, Demon Swordsman, and two temporary Heroic Level characters. The rest were Honor Level adventurers, friends of Gawain’s friends.
"The rules haven’t changed. It’s still the sa. However, it is necessary to state one’s identity and intentions, otherwise you’ll be treated as... soone coveting the New Continent. Anyone wishing to explore the New Continent must obtain our approval. As for ’us,’ you should know. Don’t oppose Heaven Port," the Beastman didn’t lose any ground in the exchange of aura. Sensing sothing going on here, several core mbers of Qi Li’s subordinates, along with the crew, also approached.
Fisher furrowed his brow, his intuition was right after all, there was no need to provoke these people. He didn’t co to cause a bloodshed. His buddies knew that soone nad Liszt on the island had hijacked a train and was asking for so cash, not much, just ten or eight thousand would do. Otherwise, he was ready for both scenarios.
"If we chop you up, the money is ours anyway. Or we could let the news spread—there will be plenty of people coming to kill you. No need for a fuss, just pay so money and we can settle this peacefully."
"Is that so? We were indeed planning to take a look at the New Continent, which ans, are you saying that now the New Continent is under the control of Heaven Port, and if others want to go without permission, you’ll... kill them?"
Fisher wasn’t particularly afraid.
The Beastman nodded. That was the reality.
"Alright then, we are adventurers from Aran, and we have so strength. Who should we talk to?"
Fisher decided to remain polite. It was soone else’s territory after all, and they were isolated on a deserted island with no place to run, so it was better to keep a low profile. When the money was in hand, everything could be discussed.
"Is that so? I’ll take you to et our Captain."
The Beastman believed this group was quite strong. Now that Qi Li, the Boss, was siding with Liszt, it truly showed how the world changes. Nowadays, Liszt had beco the only person in Heaven Port who could compete with Doringger.
Just the day before yesterday, a heavy piece of news was released—all rchants on the island were exempt from protection fees. "No one" could charge them anymore.
But the so-called "no one" was just one person, aning if Doringger had any new plans, you co to , and as long as the talk was good, it would work.
And the uproar that Liszt caused was beyond what most could imagine. He had transford from a Pirate Gang into a company. Knowing there were many gods on the island who shunned the centers of power, he conveyed that they could invest in shares. It was a phase of growth and the returns were excellent.
His own Boss, Qi Li, and Wen Kui had invested money as well, firmly aligning themselves on the sa side.
In addition, Liszt was also recruiting heavily, not looking for pirates, but those with educational qualifications. Anyone with official paperwork and at least a middle school diploma could go for an interview. The salary was better than inland, starting at fourteen silver coins a month, varying based on abilities and subsequent performance.
The most outrageous part was that official employees of the Black Sail Trading Company could enjoy free dical care.
Since the evening of January 2nd, the situation on the island had undergone a radical transformation.
Fisher nodded and asked the Beastman to lead the way.
Forty minutes later.
The group arrived at the Undead Hotel.
Qi Li was very anxious these days. Logically, Doringger should have taken so action, but there was absolutely no response, which was the scariest situation. Heaven knows what big move the Boss was planning.
"Hello, you must be the leader of the Undead Pirates. I’ve heard of you. I’ve even seen your warrant in the Narrow Sea. The folks of the Cross Alliance are afraid that you’ll co over too, so they’re on guard," Fisher said.
Qi Li treated Fisher as a guest, instructing his subordinates to serve wine to the large group of people.
"I heard you ca to explore the New Continent... but it seems you don’t have a ship. I could lend you one."
Of course, Qi Li didn’t want to always be controlled by Liszt; he had to expand his influence as well.
"Let’s not talk about that for now. May I ask you sothing? Do you know soone nad Morison? He’s a friend of my little brother here; we need to find him for so matters."
Fisher asked calmly.
Morison had once been a power-leveling agent, helping so adventurers rank up from silver to gold, and from gold to Honor Level. One of the mbers of their team had been leveled up by Morison.
"Morison? He’s one of Liszt’s n. You know who Liszt is, right?"
"Who?"
"Even Doringger gives him way."
"What?"
Fisher was stunned.
He was quite fond of Fisher’s phrase, "What?"
Did he just carry his head there on a thousand-mile journey?
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