Black Sail
Chapter 218: CCXVIII. Black Sword Netherflame

Chapter 218: CCXVIII. Black Sword Netherflame

The somewhat mottled street light cast a warm yellow cone, making the drifting fine snow even more tangible.

Despite her preparation,

all the thoughts she entertained on her way to the inn turned into loud firewood, burning to ashes in the flames of disillusionment.

Liszt didn’t know what to say, and he draped the coat he had pulled off Rein over her shoulders.

Tani stayed motionless, hugging herself with both arms, tilting her head to wipe the corner of her eyes and forcing a smile.

"He’s been quite good to me, I will marry him."

To avoid embarrassing herself, she also lost her cool a bit, trying to provoke Liszt.

Even if she hadn’t said it,

Liszt knew who it was, of course, it was Taylor’s adopted son, the man managing his large fleet on behalf of Taylor.

"That’s your business, but I still advise you to be cautious. That kind of man, without Taylor, he is nothing, living his whole life in the shadow of your father, what can he achieve?"

Liszt said calmly, Tani still seemed to be the same Tani, impulsive as ever, even after studying in Aran.

Tani couldn’t help but laugh with anger.

"You’re jealous."

"I’m just telling the truth."

"You’re lying."

Liszt wanted to say more, but her frail fists were already greeting him, pounding repeatedly on his chest.

Tani was putting all her strength into it.

But to Liszt, it was neither painful nor itchy; he just let her vent until she felt better.

However, after dozens of punches, Tani was far from done.

Goria, who was secretly watching, and company were utterly shocked. How on earth had he conquered her in the past? Instead of rebounding, it seemed like she might collapse in ruin or be swept away by a raging torrent.

Tani just went straight in for a hug.

Goria covered Fafna’s eyes; it wasn’t good for children to see this, they might get styed eyes, especially since they were about to start kissing next.

Meredith pondered how to leverage Liszt’s vulnerability for the greatest benefit, knowing he already had Dreya back home, he still didn’t know what was good for him; she would have to deal with him properly.

Liszt couldn’t embrace her nor walk away, so he just stood there frozen, still waiting for her to be done.

But Tani wasn’t done yet.

She tilted her head slightly, looking up with glistening eyes.

Liszt felt a bad premonition; trouble was brewing, and he was about to lose his composure.

At the same time,

in the cold winter’s night,

Heaven Port had hardly any beggars.

Except for during the New Year period.

One could see some people with missing limbs and prosthetics begging on the streets, holding signs asking for food, with a bowl placed by their side, slumped on street corners.

This was one of the two most common fates for pirates, the other was the gallows.

Even if dismissed from a ship due to disability and given a settlement, the amount—sometimes less than a Golden Dragon—no matter how frugal, would never last until the end of one’s life.

Boosted by the festive atmosphere, pirates were reminded of their potential fates, or what might happen when they were old. Some, drunk and in high spirits, might toss a copper coin or two.

It was less about charity and more about pitying their future selves.

Rein walked on the street and saw a beggar with an amputated leg fitted with a prosthesis, which was anything but precise—merely a crude wooden table leg, showing signs of splits, decay, and termite damage.

He hesitated for a moment, having just over ten copper coins in change, he decided to give them all.

Rein’s wealth converted to copper coins could have drowned someone.

Having given the money, he did not immediately go to find his lover Furry; he still needed to hear a sound, a few auspicious words were still necessary.

But to his surprise, the beggar was quite proud, merely nodding to acknowledge, a sign of thanks.

Rein’s face, crisscrossed with scars like steel needles, was exposed, and he felt somewhat displeased.

"Fuck, do you believe I’d even rob a beggar? Doing business requires proper service, wishing you peace for life, success in your career, promotions and wealth. Can’t you muster a few words?"

He lit a cigarette and began to smoke, counting nearly thirty copper coins in his own bowl. Business was pretty good today.

The beggar frowned, these were not words he knew how to say.

"My broken leg has quite a story behind it."

"I don’t give a damn about the story, I just want to hear some blessings, wrap it up quickly."

"It was chopped off by Black Sword Netherflame."

"I don’t care who chopped it, if not that you could at least bow down."

Reluctantly, the beggar complied with his benefactor’s wishes, crossing his fingers and raising them above his head.

Rein nodded in satisfaction and left, Black Sword Netherflame huh, a big shot indeed. He thought that if he ever wanted to find the man, he could easily, right at the Aran Royal Court. His gaze turned a bit colder.

His regular mistresses were the waitresses in the Inner City hotels. Owing to the New Continent business, the hotel trade had recently picked up. Adventurers might be penny-pinchers, but the traders and shipping company merchants were loaded.

As the saying goes, "Respect the robe before the person." You’re staying at a hostel; you have no business attending this meeting.

The number of business representatives might be small, but there were plenty of adventurers. All the hotels in the outer city were full, and some had no choice but to stay in the more expensive inner city accommodations.

Liszt, of course, was not interested in this money, better to follow the main troop and just close up shop.

Rein hadn’t yet reached the hotel, but on the way, he spied the sneaky Gawain, clutching an envelope, entering a Post Office run by Boss’s men.

Rein felt some surprise.

As number one, Boss would naturally have to take care of infrastructure, and it was also the only place on the island to buy newspapers, despite being one or two months out of date, and the place, just a little larger than a palm-size shop.

With the new year, and because of the New Continent, the adventurer’s guild might decide to set up camp there too, which might make getting news a bit easier.

Rein thought there must be something fishy. Temporarily setting aside his plan to find entertainment with his mistress, he watched Gawain from the corner of the alley.

Gawain entered the Post Office and was out in no more than two or three minutes, scanning about to see if anyone was watching him, prompting Rein to quickly hide.

After confirming that Gawain left, Rein showed himself.

Sending mail at this time, with no ships sailing out, the seas were empty during the new year celebrations, and it was only after that anyone would set sail.

Gawain was hiding something that needed urgent attention to prevent long nights filled with dreams. The core crew had just landed and looked forward to a good rest, naturally letting down their guard.

Rein felt his timing for coming out was just right, otherwise, he might’ve fucking got caught.

He too arrived at the Post Office.

"That letter the guy just mailed, show it to me."

Rein commanded the person inside the office, his manner brooking no refusal.

"Are you... from Black Sail?"

"Smart, I’ll speak plainly; the current boss of Heaven Port will stand up for his confidants, for those he values, but for a postman... you catch my drift."

Rein’s claws scratched against the wood wall, peeling back layer after layer of the veneer.

"Got it, got it."

The postman hastily located and handed over the letter Gawain had just sent.

There was a seal of red wax on the envelope, but this being no official post office, no records were kept. To mail it again, all he had to do was re-seal it.

Rein took the letter and immediately opened it.

The letter wasn’t long, just a few scant lines, but the content was explosive.

"Fuck!"

Rein had suspected from the beginning that Liszt, dragging three others into their car robbery, wasn’t reliable, and now the drawbacks were starting to show.

After Gawain arrived in Yunxi City, he learned that his four friends, upon receiving his letter, hadn’t made a move against Fen and the others; they just abandoned the plan.

Due to the extremely tense and thrilling process, Liszt had forgotten to debrief.

They might have abandoned the plan,

but now, after the train robbery, they were on tracks near Yunxi City.

Previously in the letter, Gawain had spelled out all of the information, linking it to a large group of pirates illegally entering the country and a Magician with three thousand Golden Dragons.

With a little speculation, those four could infer the truth.

Leaving a trail, knowing that Black Sail had a large bounty, it was very likely they would call friends over to Heaven Port for a share.

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