Black Sail
Chapter 213: CCXIII. Iron Rule

Chapter 213: CCXIII. Iron Rule

Liszt was planning to gather the core members for a meeting, but only the First Officer, Second Officer, Tiger-man, and Lizardman were left in the inn.

All of them were single and ridiculously idle.

Mika was suppressing the darkness at the end of the Boundary Sea, and folks like Rein and Shadi were off finding their partners. Morison enjoyed messing around with Archer.

Claude, being a family man, was planning to get married on January 7th.

"Didn’t you say we were going to have a meeting?"

Haywood, wearing his helmet, came up to the second floor and asked indifferently.

Liszt thought for a while before he even remembered that there was someone like Haywood, whose presence was so low that he had been forgotten.

This Demon just couldn’t get it together. If only you could undergo Demonization and ace aerial combat, but unfortunately, you’re just a piece of iron junk. As for the Otherworld aura he mentioned, it also couldn’t be found, so there was no chance of Promotion anytime soon.

"What meeting? Everyone’s out there partying for the New Year."

Liszt had a headache. Damn it, we had hijacked the train, and the sandwiches were almost eaten. It was supposed to be double the happiness. Why did it have to be like this?

Too many things were becoming too much for him to handle. Iron Soul Pirate Group had suddenly made big news.

The New Continent was just a piece of junk, all stones, basically just a big island. That part was manageable.

The scary part is if it turns out to be a treasure trove, considering the wealth Boss had accumulated over the years, his liquid assets might rival what I currently have.

He wasn’t short of money and had even proposed a peace offer to Beima Duchy years ago, but it was rejected.

If Heaven Port, from a pirate loot distribution center, transformed into a frontier outpost for exploring the New Continent and got sanctioned, what would become of his crew?

Despite having plenty of money, where could they settle and live? Everyone was a heavily wanted fugitive by the Cross Alliance. If this place turned into a city governed by law, they definitely couldn’t stay.

Buying a position in a small country was an option, but given the large foundation at Heaven Port, could they just give it up?

Absolutely not.

The only option before Boss transformed was to bite the bullet and take him down first—assassination, hostage-taking, whatever it took, just confront him.

Liszt made his decision.

Besides, if Boss wanted to transform and cut off all the pirates’ money routes at Heaven Port, then he would outrage gods and men alike. Who then could continue to govern?

Now there were two plans.

If the New Continent was trash, then everything would remain the same. Compensate for the difference, absorb the quota, stabilize his and Taylor’s channels, unite all the pirate leaders on the island, and take down Boss.

If the New Continent had something valuable, then activate the contingency plan. If you dare to switch business, I dare to sabotage your livelihood. Create chaos, see who would still want to collaborate with you, and once the rhythm is set, recruit troops aggressively. I’ll blow your damn head off.

"One week from now, on the 15th, let’s take a look at this New Continent."

Liszt expressed his stance.

"Just waiting for your word. Recently, many brothers from the Great Wetland have come to join me, all former military men who had revolted with me. Not to boast, but a call from me, and I can easily rally hundreds," said Wolman, changing his previous attitude, his tone serious, discussing genuine matters.

In the past, like a clay Buddha crossing a river, barely able to save himself, those brothers coming to join him as pirates, which is the lowest of the low, wasn’t that foolish?

Now Black Sail had more money than they could spend, plus there were Steles and Dragons. Damn it, New Continent? New stronghold!

Wipe out Murphys and his entire family.

Those present picked up on a different angle. Wolman, rallying hundreds and thousands of men, would they be provided for and paid from your share, or from where?

Thinking deeper, one could understand Wolman’s eagerness for restoring his country, but saying some things out loud could ruin relationships.

"If you need people, I’ve got more than enough here too. We couldn’t finish killing them even if we went on for days and nights," Ox mentioned flatly.

Wolman’s expression turned intriguing, his fingers tapping on the table, making noises, hard to say whether it was displeasure or something else.

Suddenly, the atmosphere turned a bit oppressive.

Swan unexpectedly said something ruthless.

"That Iron Law..."

Swan hadn’t finished talking.

"Alright."

Fen quickly stopped him, if he continued, it would mess everything up. The reason Liszt invested a large amount of money for Mika to lead the pirates into rampant debauchery was to convey a message.

Of course, Liszt understood that the core members each had their own thoughts.

People from the Black Sail, and outsiders.

There... was a difference.

This money could be used by people from the Black Sail, those under Liszt.

Now, there was more money in the cellar than they could spend; any core member could grab a handful and disband immediately.

Fen had to maintain Liszt’s position, the unified body of interests brought forth under Liszt. To escape, one would have to hand over their life.

If Liszt died.

There would inevitably be chaos.

Fen looked at Liszt, letting him speak a few words.

Haywood dared not speak. Sometimes, indeed, these things happened; many things only existed in imagination.

"It’s Chinese New Year, can’t we talk about something auspicious? It’s just a damned island, always focusing on the useless stuff."

Liszt pondered for a while.

He spoke some compromising words.

Although the others were not present, those cavemen did not have such large appetites; the real trouble was with a few people in this room.

"Currently, the core system of the pirate ship is indeed somewhat insufficient. Haywood, go to the cellar, take out four chests, seal the remaining thirty chests and the jewelry completely by the end of January. Nobody touches them, whoever does, dies. We have... six people here, not counting those who went out to sea, I count as two votes, making seven in total, all approved, thus settled. A new system will be introduced within a month, who agrees, who disagrees."

Liszt lit a cigarette and started smoking.

In some ways.

The fate of Black Sail was now being decided.

With the core system distribution, each person could get four to five thousand Golden Dragons. With this money, one could even buy mid-to-high-ranking officials, or even nobility with land, securing a life of luxury and high status, commanding wind and rain without issue.

After an extremely stern silence.

It was unanimously approved.

Fen breathed a sigh of relief.

"That settles it then. Haywood, go get the chests and then lock up the cellar. Damn it, each core member first uses three hundred, the remaining four hundred will still be confiscated for the collective to enjoy. No complaints, right? It’s Chinese New Year; don’t you damn well look gloomy."

Liszt pointed to the colorful lanterns and vertical flags outside the inn, truly exasperated.

Haywood quickly finished everything, and Fen also reinforced the magic techniques to prevent accidents.

Six people had nothing else to do; they stayed on the second floor drinking and playing cards. If they didn’t play cards, what kind of Chinese New Year would it be? They played a card game similar to "Exploding Kittens."

The stakes were incredibly high; the base was one Golden Dragon, doubling from two to four, four to ten, one round could lose several houses.

This was the biggest gambling table in Heaven Port tonight, bar none.

Except for Fen, the five were all smoking fiercely, because it was truly damn thrilling; even Ox lit up.

At that moment, a waiter from the inn came up.

He said someone outside was looking for Liszt.

"Who?"

Liszt asked with a cigarette in his mouth, spoiling his own luck.

"She said she’s Taylor’s daughter."

"Damn."

The ash Liszt hadn’t flicked burned his hand.