Black Sail
Chapter 126: CXXVI. Dust Settles

Chapter 126: CXXVI. Dust Settles

"Really? I don’t have to separate from my sister anymore? And I don’t need to... wear a mask either?"

Fafna was so happy that she couldn’t stop grinning, spinning around gleefully on the high bar stool.

"Of course, this will be your home from now on."

Aunt Dreya, smiling, patted Fafna’s head, finding the girl irresistibly adorable. She thought that this child was so innocent that she probably couldn’t even kill a fish, let alone a person.

Now everything had come out into the open.

This was the first time Fen had met the Dragon Lady; he had only heard about her from Swan before and was now seeing her true appearance, which gave him quite a scare.

As a former member of the Magic Energy Industrial Committee, Fen was involved in many areas. He had not seen Fafna’s true form, but he knew that her ability to transform into a human shape, while still retaining many of her dragon features, was due to the fact that those parts richest in energy simply couldn’t be hidden.

Luckily, Fen had some stock on hand.

He gave Fafna a necklace inlaid with six magic stones the size of nails, a limiter that shielded one’s aura. This necklace was made from Secret Energy Material and had six rare ether medium gemstones. It was a "red envelope" Fen had received during his tenure.

Back when he held significant power, his word could decide on Magic Energy Industry contracts. Bidders looking to be selected would fawn over him with gifts, but that was all in the past now.

The necklace did not only mask energy fluctuations.

It also increased the concentration of magicians when they meditated, making it a precious item.

When casting magic, it could also ensure that one’s "concentration" wasn’t wasted.

Of course, with Fen’s level of accomplishment, he no longer needed it.

After Fafna put on the necklace, her silvery hair no longer shimmered and lost its luster. Her dragon scales and dragon horns disappeared, leaving her looking like an ordinary girl.

Perhaps not so ordinary, for she was an incredibly beautiful, big-chested girl.

"Wow! This is amazing..."

Fafna looked at her reflection in the glass case of the liquor cabinet; indeed, all her unique features were gone, but she could still feel them with her hands, they had just become invisible.

Fen was speechless, thinking, ’Amazing my ass, you’re the one who’s amazing. It’s a good thing you haven’t fully matured yet. When you grow stronger and become so powerful that you conceal the sky and cover the earth, this necklace definitely won’t work.’

"Let’s go, I’ll take you shopping for clothes on the street. This black robe you’re wearing is all dirty. You look like a madman from the Church Court."

Dreya cast a meaningful glance at Caroso, who was standing by coldly, suggesting that he’d better be sensible.

Caroso had nothing to say, feeling a whirlwind of complex emotions. Now he was completely at the mercy of Liszt in every sense. Heaven Port was Liszt’s territory. Fafna had now concealed her features and had protection; it was very safe to say she was safe.

He didn’t bother to make a fool of himself any further, just felt mentally and physically exhausted, and went back to his room to sleep.

"Yeah! I want to wear the same clothes as that uncle, with lots of weapons, it looks so cool!"

Stars sparkled in Fafna’s eyes.

Goria was dumbfounded, finding her taste quite strange. She had been interacting with pirates lately; could it be that she had been unduly influenced by those desperadoes?

"Who’s your uncle? Keep talking, and I’ll roast you and eat you."

Morison took a swig of his drink and scared the child with his words. That was not the kind of attire one should aspire to wear.

Fafna, frightened, hid behind Dreya.

"He’s just teasing you. We’d only roast Aran people to eat."

Wolman said so.

"You can’t eat people."

Fafna said timidly.

"Aran people aren’t humans; they’re just animals that look like humans, especially the Emperor—plump and juicy, perfectly delicious in every aspect. Eating any part of him would make you immortal."

Wolman said this with eyes sparkling joyfully.

"Really?"

Fafna drooled at the idea.

Upstairs on the staircase, Caroso was utterly shocked. Good, just like that, keep teaching.

"From now on, none of you are allowed near her."

Goria was so furious she felt like she might explode. What kind of nonsense were they teaching? She grabbed Fafna’s hand, ready to take her outside for some fresh air.

After running for so long, they could finally relax and enjoy themselves.

Although Heaven Port was a weird place, the commercial street in the Inner City still had everything, though it was relatively more dangerous.

Liszt had just come up from the cellar when he saw Dreya being led away by Goria. The two women were laughing and chatting, holding Fafna’s hand like a couple with their daughter, as they went downstairs.

"So, it’s settled then. This big job is finally done."

Ox wiped the wine stain from the corner of his mouth, feeling somewhat relieved. It had been unstable since Londen City, and finally, they could have a few days of peace.

"It could be said so, but we’re still pressed for time," Liszt said as he looked at Fen, "It’s already the end of the thirteenth month, and there are only three months until the New Year. Taylor has already made preparations on his end. When do you think we should set sail?"

Although Liszt was Captain, he couldn’t make unilateral decisions. Giving orders lacked proactivity compared to orders imbued with a charm—not the same concept at all.

Additionally, this trip to Aran meant he could... meet with Sharon.

"Let’s set sail in five days. I’ll consult with Claude to plot a course."

Fen had been studying the maps for the past two days.

The fastest route would surely be to sail directly to the Inner Sea Golden Waters and disembark at an Affiliated Country port of Aran, entering Aran straightaway.

But the other Affiliated Countries around Aran were markedly different from the Beima Duchy. Due to the idiotic King of Beima Duchy’s betrayal and the enormous natural barriers, it stood practically as an independent nation.

However, the countries closer to Aran weren’t the same; those Affiliated Countries next to Aran would love nothing more than to be directly incorporated as provinces, all eagerly adopting Aran’s system like it was their own father’s. Nobility competition was intense; they all hoped to be transferred to Aran without leaving any dark history, so there were no secret ports to evade taxes.

The Aran Army’s military strength was formidable; they didn’t issue privateer certificates like other nations and their anti-pirate measures were incredibly severe. Anyone caught was publicly executed to vent the coastal residents’ frustration.

The moment SS Fuma Keqing Revenge docked, it could be sunk by the navy before it even managed to get close.

But if they took the old route, returning to the East Shore, crossing the Duchy, passing through several small countries via the enormous barrier, it would take quite a bit of time. By the time they arrived in Aran, there wouldn’t be much time left for robbery.

The fastest way was always by water.

Currently, Claude was secretly meeting with his fiancée, Baroness Swan. Fen planned to drag him back tomorrow; after all, in Aran, they would all rely on him, and a meticulous plan was necessary.

Mika, although formerly an Aran official, had only been a lowly clerk. For the first half of his life, he hadn’t strayed from home—it was Claude who knew Aran best.

"Five days, then? Any objections from anyone else?"

Liszt noticed that Shadi, Mika, and others were also coming out of the cellar, and he asked while most of the crew were present.

"I think I should go; I’ll just be idling around here otherwise," Wolman suggested.

"Brother, we’ve already decided on the crew; you should stay behind. We need to keep some people here. If we all leave and come back in three months, we might find our home wiped out. You and Ox should also take time to bond with the kids, understand? You need to become a family of heroes."

Now they had to look out for both sides; if there were problems here, it might be better not to rob the trains and just stay in Heaven Port to develop.

"Since there are no objections, then let’s do as the First Officer suggests. Rein and Swan, you two notify the other crew members on board that we will depart punctually in five days."

Liszt still had things to do; tomorrow, that adventurer would come to collect his reply.