Black Sail
Chapter 104: CIV. Undying

Chapter 104: CIV. Undying

Outskirts.

Muddy roadsides flanked by buildings of various styles, seemingly constructed without permits, each standing out under the glow of neon lights and fluorite lamp tubes used as signs. A thorough mess of scattered discarded newspapers and advertisement signs contributed to the apocalyptic wasteland vista.

Shadi’s girlfriend was the bar owner of Squad Four, but the business was hardly thriving due to it being a sober bar without the appeal of bunny girls dancing.

"Are you not going to look for those other vixens?"

Flicking her hair, the bar owner appeared more genteel and tender in comparison to the tawny-skinned adventurer. With her svelte figure and considerable bust, coupled with her neat shoulder-length black hair and captivating bright eyes, she exuded charm.

Her voice, cold and indifferent, showed that she did not take to Shadi and had already decided to cut ties with the scumbag.

Liszt was the kind of guy who wouldn’t get things done, breaking the unspoken rules of the streets. Charging such low prices, playing the good guy for public favor—how do you expect others to make a living? It’s a wonder how he survived till today.

Shadi, foolishly mixed up with him, never taking care of himself, might one day drag even Heaven Port, their last refuge, into his mess.

"What vixens, they’re just friends."

Shadi starting his typical douchebag spiel, her bar was nearly out of business, desolate enough to be closing down, but she just considered it a hobby. She had some money to spare, though how long her savings would last needed checking.

"Heh..." she scoffed coldly, "This customer, what drink would you like to have? This shop barely makes ends meet, please don’t interrupt my business and leave."

Shadi was speechless, why was this woman acting so high and mighty? In Li Si’s "Immortal Emperor’s Divine Power, He Transmutes Freedom Method," this was described as tsundere attributes; it’s time to play the sympathy card.

"I haven’t eaten yet, was thinking of grabbing a meal here."

Shadi started his act.

"I can’t cook, but I can get you some bread if you want."

The bar owner just wanted Shadi gone quickly.

"No, no... Made a fruitless trip recently, didn’t earn much, was thinking about having a good meal here."

Shadi began blathering on.

Internally, the bar owner felt anxious. A fruitless run by the pirate ship meant the situation on the island was dire. How to cope now? Shadi...

"Damn... it seems my wound has reopened."

Shadi clutched his chest. He had been injured in a fight with Edmond, and Markus from the secret port inflicted even crazier, whirl-like wounds.

"Where?"

Unable to resist, the bar owner stepped forward, lifting Shadi’s shirt to look.

"Ha, just kidding, it’s already healed, and I didn’t make a fruitless trip either. Came here to catch up."

Shadi felt he nailed it; the Transformation Skill really was fucking awesome.

Under Mika’s medical care, all injuries were treated, and after so many days, it wasn’t even possible for the wounds to persist.

Unexpectedly, the plan worked better than he thought, causing a huge impact.

The bar owner’s eyes filled with tears, her fingers touching his chest where scars accumulated over the years, some as big as her fingers. It was only Shadi’s tough luck that kept him alive.

"I’ve long told you not to hang around Liszt, he’s a madman, but you never listened," the bar owner closed up shop for the day, wiping her eyes, "You must be hungry, I’ll cook some noodles for you."

Dragging Shadi to the second floor, she shared some rumors she heard this morning, advising him not to go back before tomorrow noon as something big was about to happen.

Shadi was speechless, how come it’s always after he left that he found out?

Inside the Black Sail Inn.

"Where the hell is Rein? Fucking hell, Black Sail is almost wiped out, and he is still out enjoying himself."

Liszt was speechless, ever since disembarking, apart from a glimpse in a cafe, it was as if Rein had evaporated. Hopefully, he wasn’t dead somewhere.

"God damn wipeout, but really, how to handle it, that’s indeed the issue."

Yawning, Wolman wasn’t truly bothered, having been to the City West Warehouse too many times. It’s not that their opponents were particularly vicious; they just loved being a nuisance.

"I’m not raising the price; I need to seek benefits for our folks, not stoop to their level and pollute myself," Wolman muttered, seeming out of sorts.

Liszt had made up his mind long ago, it was just time to implement it, and no big waves were coming.

Fen sighed deeply; it was indeed like pollution, a few brothers had killed who knows how many people just to get to this haunted place at the table.

"Everything will be okay, right?"

Goria asked with concern, having heard the situation seemed quite serious just now. It wasn’t that she cared much about Liszt’s well-being. Should he fall, without protection in Heaven Port, even thinking about staying with Fafna would pose many dangers.

"You just relax; it’s merely a splash of water."

Liszt already made his decision.

An hour later.

Liszt arrived at the Undead Pirates’ territory, accompanied only by Wolman.

This wasn’t a fight he had come for, merely bringing the imposing Wolman to show he had been there.

Now that the plate was so big.

Moreover, it was a long-term stable income. Making seven or eight hundred Golden Dragons a year, he’d give half straight to you, manage together, only a fool would refuse.

Liszt had already chosen his cooperation target, looking for the most robust partners. Skull Club was too bogged down for his taste, Twin Pirates too middling and risk-averse, and Old Aran people, stuck in thinking nothing should be done rather than make a mistake, harmful and uninspiring.

He decided to give this piece of cake directly to the Undead Pirates.

The two entered the administrative lounge on the second floor of the Undead Hotel, diving deep into the dragon’s lair.

Inside the lounge, every desperado looked unfriendly.

Their pirate captain, Qi Li, once a Great Knight, had a burly figure with his dark golden curly hair under which lay a dignified face, even somewhat regal—hardly resembling a pirate at all.

Wearing light Chain Armor, he gave Liszt and Wolman a cold look.

Then the tense atmosphere was quickly ruined.

Bang!

Wolman, bending his body, got hit in the head by a chandelier.

"What kind of silly light fixture is this, hanging so low?"

Wolman was speechless.

Qi Li’s deputy looked dumbfounded, "Boss, can you just stay outside? I’m afraid you’ll blow this place up later; the furniture is expensive, Big Guy!"

The deputy tried to speak but was stopped by Qi Li.

"It should be nighttime when we meet at the City West Warehouse. The city folks are pretty unhappy with you right now."

Qi Li didn’t understand Liszt’s intentions. The only reason he respected Liszt was that he’d once shown guts, leading a strike movement, so he gave him a bit of respect.

"So what if they’re unhappy? Soon they’ll be unhappy with you too. You think you can run?"

Liszt shamelessly picked up someone else’s cigar from the table, lit it, and started smoking.

Qi Li’s deputy again looked dumbfounded. How could the boss of Black Sail behave like a common thug, with his casual posture and leg propped up, a typical ruffian look.

"Huh? Why would they be unhappy with me?"

Qi Li pondered.

"Let’s put it this way. My setup is really big now. You might need to bear it for a while. We’ll manage it together, splitting it fifty-fifty. How about it? No deposit needed, just jump in, just the two of us talking this out."

Liszt got straight to the point.

Qi Li’s eyelid twitched, causing a stir in the crowd.

Say give...

And just give?