January 26th.
Southern Wetlands.
What shocked Wolman was that in just over half a month since he had returned to the Great Wetland to rally for support, the situation at the East Sea had completely changed.
While stopping to rest and drink at an adventurer’s guild.
The adventurers inside were discussing events concerning the East Sea, and rumors had erged of a figure more formidable than Doringger, a Divine by the na of Liszt, who was supposedly the mastermind behind the Northern Prison riot ten years ago.
This affair had been tightly concealed by the Aran officials, with little to no news about it for a decade. A year after the riot, the officials claid they had captured the mastermind and even carried out a public execution.
However, anyone with a bit of sense found this dubious. It’s likely they just found a scapegoat to close the case.
Because the show just didn’t seem convincing.
When the ringleader gets caught, and a public execution is planned, considering the way those underworld types operate, even if they lacked the ability, they would at least send a few to disrupt the proceedings. Even if they couldn’t succeed, they’d try to create a scene.
The concept of a mastermind is akin to a mafia ssiah.
But on the day of the so-called execution, everything was too magnificent and proper. A procession perford the beheading to the cheers of the crowd, an elegant execution t with universal delight, altogether too smooth to be credible.
It seed unreliable.
But now, with the Seventh Andnt, the Cangshan Tobacco Company, and other old powers occupying the top spots backing the move, and being invited by Hened to the East Sea for a common cause, many responded.
So, Liszt’s position was affird beyond doubt.
Now, truly, whenever he called to arms, followers would co from all directions.
The old gang was still around, just scattered in different places. The organization behind the Seventh Andnt controlled the strategic points of minor function states around Aran, the Cangshan Tobacco Company operating within Pedan’s Cangwu Mountains, northern Beastman gangs, and southern Dark Elf’s Recovery Association, had all been coordinated perfectly, just waiting for Liszt to suddenly raise the banner of justice.
"Damn, your captain is that incredible?" exclaid one of Wolman’s forr rebel associates when he overheard the conversation at the next table. He found it incredible that even in such a remote and neglected place as the Great Wetland the rumors were spreading, which ant other places must have been buzzing even longer.
The word "chaos" was epitomized in the Great Wetland. Fugitives here only had to worry about Bounty Hunters coming to kill them; no one else cared. The Benevolent King Murphys was too busy exploiting his brethren’s surplus value to bother.
Even when Wolman and a group of forr rebel officers were drinking and dining in the adventurer’s guild hall, no one interfered.
"I only found out myself just now."
Wolman was stunned. Unlike Mika and Shadi, who were intimately aware of Liszt’s plans, he had joined the crew later and was unaware that Liszt had been involved in such a matter. It seed that everything was kept concealed until the ti was right to unleash the power move.
He had been back in the Great Wetland for a while now, intending to visit his holand, but fearing that familiar sights might sway his Will, he did not return. Instead, he had rallied several old comrades hiding deep in the woods, joining together to strive for a great cause.
With their influence, mobilizing the still-active local rebels to gather a few hundred or even a thousand people was no trouble at all.
These rebels’ combat capabilities were on a completely different level than pirates; they were fueled by revolutionary idealism and the young spirit of fighting for their beliefs, imparting a demoralizing blow to their enemies’ morale.
Although the Dawn Breaker had a crew of one hundred to two hundred people—enough for normal operation—making room for a thousand or so passengers by offloading so cargo wouldn’t be a problem.
Wolman hadn’t been idle during his ti in the Great Wetland. Since the rebellion years ago was suppressed and his forr leader was executed by Murphys, it was ti for him to take up the mantle.
He had missed the train heist, so for the operation against Doringger, he had to exert significant effort; otherwise, it would be difficult for him to hold his own in the Black Sail boardroom.
He was also keenly aware of his abilities and reputation. In the later stages, he would need to persuade various tribes and assemble a grand army to overthrow Murphys.
Furthermore, to prevent Murphys from rallying support, it was essential to worsen the relationship between him and Aran.
These days, Wolman had executed quite a few Aran soldiers and instructors, as well as many of the Aran officers who had pushed for environntal improvents to make the land more habitable for humans.
He was getting ready to head to Red Tree Bay Shore next, to have a chat with so old acquaintances of Hened and to drum up so investnt in the various districts. Doringger had to die; only with him gone could he push his plans forward.
"Big brother’s specific position in Black Sail, what is it?"
The rebels, smoking their cigarettes, wanted to know as there had to be sothing they could take part in. They were no longer at the age of reckless abandon, using their lives to achieve the impossible—an act of supre ignorance and stupidity.
"Don’t worry, I’m a major shareholder. I’ve invested four thousand Golden Dragons, so my words carry weight."
Wolman had no choice but to protect the managent echelon led by Liszt. As long as Liszt was around, he didn’t have to worry about losing influence in Black Sail.
The web of interests centered around Liszt was incredibly stable, and Fen and Ox probably shared the sa thoughts.
After finishing their drinks, a group of Sub-dragon people left the adventurer’s guild and headed toward Red Tree Bay Shore.
It was now January 28.
Wolman said he would return in mid-February, and it seed ti to depart from Red Tree Bay Shore back to Heaven Port, perhaps even a bit sooner.
He left the impressive Sub-dragon people army outside and entered the district of Hened’s old acquaintance with a few comrades to discuss business.
It was still the sa villa as before.
In the parlor, not only was the scar-faced woman sitting there, but also Liszt’s old classmate, Lu Chen.
With the adventurer’s guild acting as a diator, unless it was so secret ssage, communications traveled quickly through a species of pigeons that flew at exceptionally high speeds.
Their newspapers were divided into public reports and district reports. Public reports were formal and global, while district reports took liberties, filled with sensuality, violence, and reckless comntary, pivoting on the latest hot topics.
The district report from the Great Wetland almost went as far as to declare Liszt the new Boss of the East Sea.
Lu Chen could never have imagined that his forr schoolmate would see such a day. What did that signify?
It was like a weak college student from a North Arica forum transforming into a kingpin who monopolized all the drug trade in South Arica in just a few short years—not rely ruthless but almost divine.
And the intelligence network of the Thief Guild was incredibly astute.
The staff chiefs from East Shore and the Southern Continent hesitated upon receiving the news, unsure of what Swan had stolen, no wonder he dared to skip the handover. Having mixed into such powerful circles, they were uncertain about continuing to carry out orders and considered consulting Diaz.
However, Diaz had turned dark!
His goal was to oppose Black Sail, even if it ant marring the face of the Emperor, to go after Liszt.
Let Aran deal with you; official personnel eliminating bandits, wouldn’t that be grand?
The great train heist.
The killer was none other than Liszt.
His na was already known across the world.
"You... you’ve ruined ..."
The scar-faced woman, massaging her temples, spoke to Wolman. Her na had been implicated by Liszt when he passed through that tunnel, and now her forces were barred from passing through, having to find alternative routes. Heaven knows how many of those people were off to risk their lives in Aran.
"How are you going to compensate ?"
The scar-faced woman, out of respect for Hened and also for Lu Chen, had not sent anyone to settle the score with Liszt at Heaven Port. Even though Liszt had left her two hundred Golden Dragons before his departure, could that really compensate? Her own situation was now precarious, pulled into the mire. And Liszt’s status had once again climbed, vaulting him to the ranks of top bosses, making it difficult to question him.
If not for the scar-faced woman having significant influence in the Wetlands, beyond just the Red Tree Bay Shore and other districts she had contracts with, others would have already co knocking for a reckoning.
"Compensation is, you can take a share in Black Sail Trading Company, and I’ll introduce you as a board mber."
Having been a rebel himself, Wolman knew well that there’s strength in numbers. So you’re good at fighting? What good does that do? In this world, you have to talk about influence.
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