Black Sail
Chapter 138: CXXXVIII. Time and Tide

Chapter 138: CXXXVIII. Time and Tide

Hened’s old friend sensed something was amiss, so he looped his hand around Lu Chen’s neck, resting it on his shoulder as a declaration of ownership.

She had encountered Lu Chen four years ago when she had just arrived at the Great Wetland.

Back then, Lu Chen was a "chef" in another garden area, which had some minor conflict with his. Almost all the combatants were gone, leaving only the technical staff, whom she couldn’t bear to kill.

To her surprise, she discovered that Lu Chen was a treasure, not only possessing a world-rare mastery of alchemy but also excelling in other intellectual talents.

Over the years, he had become her right hand.

To control him, she found a woman for him to marry. Once he had a child here, she wasn’t worried he would run off.

He could be called the scar-faced woman’s external brain.

"Do you know each other?"

The scar-faced woman asked with interest, only then remembering who this group was. The Cross Alliance had post Bounty Orders in all coastal areas of the Western Continent. The most rampant pirates had to be guarded against.

These people were from the East Sea Domain. It made perfect sense for Hened to be mixed up with pirates.

"Let’s just say we were classmates."

Lu Chen replied, his eyes flickering with a trace of reminiscence. At that time, they were all studying in California. Regarding Liszt, the relationship wasn’t good; they were just dorm mates from the same floor.

Upon arrival in a Foreign Country, Lu Chen didn’t waste his studies and was diligently working. Liszt, on the other hand, was completely acclimated, a friend of the young women of North America. Every day he was either partying here or there, causing trouble for countless female classmates. They were simply from two different worlds.

His thoughts drifted back to ten years ago when Liszt and a few seniors strangled the Warlock Apprentice with a chain.

He hadn’t expected to meet again in such a manner after so many years.

"Fuck."

Liszt calmed down. He had thought that upon meeting an old friend, they would surely have a big drunk, not parting until wasted. But times changed, the years passed quickly, and very soon, there was no special feeling. They were no longer students, and long since become different people.

And damn, this guy still looked all cultured and frail, living a good life, his hair and beard well-groomed, wearing a vest and looking like an intellectual.

"Fen, it’s in your hands."

Liszt dropped this comment and headed out the door, motioning for Lu Chen to come out.

"Since you are old friends, then have a good catch-up."

The scar-faced woman said calmly to Lu Chen. His daughter was already two years old and couldn’t leave this place.

With the scar-faced woman’s consent, Lu Chen followed Liszt out of the reception room to a secluded spot outside.

Fen’s eyes flashed with contemplation. The unknown language was spoken, and this person seemed very delicate—probably not combat personnel, confirming some of his previous conjectures.

But a significant matter was at hand; Hened’s influence was valuable, but seeking help meant gifts were necessary. With Liszt gone, it was Fen’s turn to handle things.

Fen took out a gift. Liszt had gotten seventy Golden Dragons from the Admiral of Kersuna Island, which he now took out as a gift. It wasn’t just about making connections. He also needed help with other matters and began to negotiate the details with the scar-faced woman.

Outside, by a decorative pond,

Lu Chen began to recount his experiences over the years, from fleeing the Northern Prison to an Affiliated Country in Aran, then how that same Affiliated Country scrambled to impress Aran by conscripting strong men, forcing him to fight in the Great Wetland. He knew working under official powers would one day expose him; hence, he had become a deserter, scraping a living on this side ever since.

As the conversation unfolded, they gradually became more animated.

Liszt clicked his tongue in amazement, a true Breaking Bad, it seemed. This guy was supposedly in the field of materials chemistry, but who knew he had this skill as well.

He also roughly explained his situation, of course, leaving out a lot of details—about the past three years, about Sharon, or about dragons and the Stele, not a word was mentioned.

"It’s incredible... I have seen your Warrant, but it never occurred to me, that it was actually you."

Lu Chen said with a bitter smile. How unpredictable life was; Liszt had become a notorious figure in the underworld, as if they were back in school again. They were from two completely different worlds, separated by a vast barrier.

Moreover, looking at him now, he was thoroughly a gang leader, every move carrying an air of murderous nonchalance. His aura was dangerously potent.

"It’s just a pity that my business doesn’t extend to this place. If I’d known earlier, I would have come to the South Sea Domain sooner and brought you to enjoy the good life at Heaven Port. Of course, it’s not too late. This lousy park has no future; hang with me. With our relationship, as fellow countrymen, shouldn’t you have my back?"

Liszt started to act grandly. His old classmate hadn’t done too well, but Lu Chen was a high-end talent, that must turn a profit, right? A bit of technology, huh?

Materials chemistry wasn’t just about concocting potions. It involved high-tech composite materials, for aerospace no less. Wouldn’t that create a Curvature Interstellar Ship, turning the Emperor into a two-dimensional character with a square forcefield?

"Heaven Port’s luxury is something I’d rather pass on," Lu Chen declined, a serious expression crossing his face. That place was notoriously well-known, and not even as "safe" as the Great Wetland here, "I can’t leave anymore. My daughter is already two years old, and it’s not suitable for us to keep moving about. This place is quite stable."

Liszt’s hand trembled slightly as he held his cigarette, Damn! I thought the guy was doing poorly and was just pretending, but Zhou Ke’er turned out to be myself, others are enjoying their familial bliss, the bastards! A family of three settling in this town to live their days, how energetic that must be.

I’m still the lowest of the pirates, despised by profession. If I were to drop out, Fen and the key members would be fiery mad at me.

I’ve been propped up, forced to keep running on the path of a desperado. Who would be a pirate if they had a decent life to live?

"You’ve started a family, when I think about it, it’s true, we’re no longer young."

Liszt hesitated, he wanted to say that wasn’t an issue, the scar-faced woman was controlling you, we could have just killed her on the way back, even considering Hened’s face, we could have bought your freedom, take your whole family over, but that wouldn’t be right.

Heaven Port... certainly is no place for people.

Lu Chen now has a child.

Those bastards on the island, they don’t have any laws protecting minors, there’s a big event after the New Year, bringing him back now would be his downfall.

But there’s no rush, just keep in touch. The scar-faced woman has some influence here, wait until Heaven Port settles down, then we can collaborate and use some technology to get you over.

The two of them started talking about their schooldays, one cigarette followed another, completely lost in their memories, oblivious to the time.

Half an hour had already passed.

Fen had finished negotiating with the scar-faced woman; she would send two people to guide fifty from the Black Sail into Aran’s territory.

Once in Aran, with Claude leading, there would be no obstructions.

When it was time to return, they would simply take the same route back.

There was no time to delay, and staying over was not an option. Otherwise, upon reaching Aran, the trial operation would be over, and it would have been just a pure leisure trip without earning a penny.

After coming out, Fen saw Liszt and Lu Chen chatting away spiritedly.

"It’s time to head out," Fen reminded.

Liszt realized he couldn’t stay longer, he needed to rush back before the New Year, not a moment to spare. If he doesn’t, Taylor couldn’t be kept under control, territorial disputes would flare, Dreya had means but leaving it to a woman made him look foolish.

"You take care, you know about William’s situation. Those dogs are still hunting us, you better hide well, we’re bound to meet again."

Liszt patted his shoulder and left with the main force.

All the pirates who had mooched food and drink followed suit, leaving the compound.

Watching the group’s imposing departure diminish into the distance, Lu Chen was filled with mixed emotions. The Great Wetland also had an adventurer’s guild, and he had seen the notices about William, but his fighting spirit had been eroded away long ago.

"What’s the matter with you, looking so out of it?"

His wife, the adopted daughter of the park’s boss, was worried seeing Lu Chen like this.

"Nothing, is our daughter asleep?"

"Yes, she’s finally asleep."

"That’s good."

Suddenly.

Lu Chen’s wife didn’t know what had happened, she hadn’t seen him like this in years.

Seeing old friends, he also remembered the homeland he couldn’t return to.

Long suppressed emotions caused him to nearly break down, Lu Chen started to choke up but pressed his hand against the upper part of his face, not wanting to look weak in front of his wife.

His wife held him, not knowing what had happened, but it was so out of the ordinary, yet maybe it was for the best. He had always been as emotionless as ice, pretending to live life, and it was exhausting.

The scar-faced woman’s gaze was fixed on them at that moment.

Lu Chen took a deep breath, forcibly held back.

"It’s nothing, let’s go back, there are too many mosquitoes outside."

He knew he’d have to fabricate a place in the Far East Islands that didn’t exist, an imaginary school, to explain his relationship with Liszt.

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