Three days later.
Inside the castle.
In the Black Sail main financial office.
"These are the workers’ wages, they must be properly implented. Last ti you all did a very good job."
Mo Yutong, in her silver and black striped suit, donning gold-rimd glasses, closed the ledger.
"As the boss lady said, I’ll arrange for my people to distribute it, and if anyone dares to skim off the top...,"
The suit-and-tie-clad One-eyed Dragon made a throat-slitting gesture.
Beside him, the tattooed burly man, together with the Beastn, Dark Elves, Yisu people, and over a dozen other middle managers all nodded in understanding.
"You can rest assured about us handling it. If anyone dares to line their own pockets, it will only be blood in, blood out."
The tattooed burly man expressed utmost respect towards Mo Yutong, being the big boss’s second wife.
"No, no, no..." Mo Yutong quickly gestured with her hands, but did not know what else to say, "We need to look at the big picture here. Sotis the people below might be too busy and haven’t thought things through, accidentally overpaying or underpaying soone by a little—it just needs to be corrected. A warning or a suspension would suffice; it’s not that serious."
No matter how long she stayed on the island, Mo Yutong could never get used to the way these people conducted themselves.
"You don’t understand these bastards on the island; many won’t shed a tear until they see the coffin."
The One-eyed Dragon often visited the worksites, occasionally catching snippets of gossip.
Even the Boss of Heaven Port was always a thief at heart, unlike the Emperor who commanded respect from all. Even at the world’s end, no one dared breathe a word against him, silenced and fearful, not even uttering his na, lest they be struck by invisible forces.
When Doringger was in office, there was plenty of idle gossip about him too.
Much of it ca from middle-aged n plagued by a sense of over-power, those who would point fingers and speculate—speculating who wanted to surrender, who was planning an attack, and how much longer the current leadership would last. The chatter was endless.
Liszt was the sa.
Because of his excellent reputation, one might even call him a philanthropist; his urban planning projects for New Heavenly Port had sustained countless idle vagrants.
Good people always had guns pointed at them.
Many believed Liszt’s generosity was suspect, that he really managed to drive down housing prices, linking offers as they were posted but located in Heaven Port.
Good people never last long.
However, after Liszt took charge, many aspects had seen imdiate improvents.
The island’s security was much better than before.
Do you think you’re smarter than the ancestors? With three simple laws in place, there were no violent incidents anymore.
It seed so on the surface, but Liszt was actually a very dark and calculating person, mired in murkiness.
He was subtly altering the ideological beliefs of the people.
The founding principle of the port was that every ship could dock for free, and everyone could arrive without charge; it was a lawless place.
Should Liszt attempt to prevent low-quality individuals from coming over, such as many old, washed-up, retired female soldiers seeking reemploynt or those whose lives had crumbled due to gambling debts and sought refuge on the island,
All had co to the island to et their demise. Why did you co here? Please, I’m begging you, stop coming. It’s affecting the city’s image. How will the noble Lords take viral selfies then? If the tourism pillar falls, will you take responsibility?
To prevent such scenarios, suddenly imposing regulations for port entry checks would be undermining the very foundation of the state.
Petty criminals may not care about legitimacy, but substantial figures must.
Heaven Port had always been a place of freedom of entry and exit since ancient tis. Who are you, Liszt, to change that? If Liszt dared to make changes, instantly there would be pirates raising their banners for a new season, swords in hand, storming the island to express their grave concerns.
But when the new district was established, it would be different; the entire island would have been developed, all belonging to Black Sail—private property is sacred and inviolable.
To all those planning to pitch tents and wait for death, please look elsewhere for treasures.
"Alright, just... don’t go overboard."
Mo Yutong said weakly. She estimated that Liszt would probably leave around noon, and she didn’t know if she could handle it.
Also...
That couple was having a roaring fight over travel plans. Dreya insisted she must accompany him, while this trip for Liszt was ant to pick up Sharon, and he wanted Dreya to hold the fort in the castle.
She had no idea what the outco would be.
At this very mont.
Fen had already taken Gu Yue Mo’er to Sea God Shipyard Island, Wolman had gone to a fishing island, and Ox had returned to Dead Man Bay.
Now there was no shortage of hands.
For any matters, the people below could handle them directly. There was no need for the board of directors’ bosses to worry personally.
The five ships Liszt needed had been stocked with supplies for a long journey, and the sailors and rope masters on board were all well-prepared.
Ready to go at any mont.
Doringger used to have his own passenger route, providing one-stop services including dining, whoring, and gambling for the visiting young masters and nobles. Liszt, of course, had taken over this route and his passenger ships.
Although Liszt was the Boss, there were still many things he couldn’t change. To bring in foreign capital and keep the economy circulating, you had to let those individual vendors do as they please, and the Inner City continued to be a place of casinos, brothels, and revelry night after night.
You couldn’t drive those people away, cutting off the lifeline of Heaven Port.
He really liked Su Xunzong’s way of doing things, allowing oneself to live while letting others live as well.
This way, one could secure their position.
This was the doctrine of the an.
Those who are extre could never handle politics, at most they could only stage a military coup.
This route was still operating, allowing those with a curiosity to co and play on the island, and also letting outsiders see the bold reforms of Heaven Port.
Wait until the new district was completely up and running, once there was a solid base.
Only then could Liszt make a huge profit, doing to others what he pleased, eliminating the unworthy. Right now, he was an old horse who knew no howard path, yet he was determined to eradicate the petty n like Doringger. At the mont, what he needed to consider was not how to expand his influence, but to first bring his influence in the East Sea up to the sa level as Doringger.
Right now, there were still those who claid to be Doringger’s friends and family, hopping around and causing Liszt endless annoyance.
On the rooftop of the main city building.
The open-air terrace pool.
Sumr had arrived, and the core mbers of Black Sail were entertaining themselves by the pool, enjoying the sunbath.
"In all fairness, this should be the place for a silver party."
Mika suggested.
"Don’t we have the Yisu Girl maids? Call a few over."
Morison made an explosive comnt.
"I asked, and they said they weren’t interested."
Mika replied with a look of regret.
"Surprising, show the spirit of a pirate, doesn’t it? You know what I’m saying, rip and tear live."
A clown joined in the excitent. How could these pirates be so upright? What was there to talk about when taking what they wanted by force?
"That would make look pretty stupid, don’t you know what being an East Sea Righteous ans? Upholding justice?"
Shadi said as such.
Ben was completely startled. He was being taught manners by the scum of Heaven Port! The things Liszt did, sitting in that position, they called it upholding justice?
"What about the courtesans?"
Morison was ruthless; without the will to risk catching a disease, there was no right to enjoy entertainnt.
"The mad woman won’t let the ladies co in."
Mika whispered.
anwhile, indoors,
Dreya’s eyelids twitched furiously.
"You should kick these people out. Aren’t you the Boss? This is supposed to be our private pool."
Dreya figured this pool was no longer salvageable unless it was disinfected and refilled with fresh water. Indeed, that should have been done long ago. Who knows how Doringger had used it before; it was necessary to clean it up for future privacy.
"Uh... that would make seem very autocratic."
While Liszt indeed wanted to turn it completely into his own territory, he rose to his position differently than Doringger, and excluding others would just make him look foolish.
"Let’s go, to the Western Continent."
Liszt decided to cut the Gordian knot and left Dreya behind in Heaven Port.
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