Black Sail
Chapter 248: CCXLVIII. Breaking Out of the Cocoon

Chapter 248: CCXLVIII. Breaking Out of the Cocoon

"Mixing with the underworld requires influence, Doringger is just a small fry," Beima echoed.

Taylor was noncommittal, these people likely had never encountered Doringger.

Although Liszt was audacious enough to coax the Boss of Turbid River Dragon out of retirement, the storm-ready atmosphere had already spread on the island without anyone voicing it. Yet, for Doringger, it was merely a minor irritation.

The threats from external forces, wolves drawn by the New Continent, were the real trouble for Doringger.

Although it was unclear how much they had looted, it was still necessary to educate them about Doringger’s ecological niche in Heaven Port.

Doringger was surrounded by capable people.

The remnants from the former kingdom of Beima Duchy, due to the old king’s defeat and subsequent suicide, which reduced it to a duchy, included a former army general and a magician renowned across the continent.

"You must have heard of him, he is also famous for his Spells, known as the ’Coffin Bearer,’ Mo’er,"

Taylor said to Fen, who should be aware.

"Hiss..."

Fen gasped. The existence of the Tower Alliance was partly for academic exchanges and rule-setting, but a significant part was also to sanction those who abused Magic Techniques recklessly.

This Mo’er was a notorious Black Mage, definitely among the top thirty on the Tower Alliance’s urgent list; unexpectedly, he was hiding in Heaven Port, serving Doringger.

Fen was also on this urgent list.

"Is he really that powerful?"

Liszt was somewhat stunned, wondering what caliber a former army general was. Although Beima had fallen swiftly, it had held out for half a year. If it weren’t for those people standing firm, the forces of the Emperor’s Heavenly Army would have swept through in a wave. This Mo’er, as Fen’s expression suggested, sounded formidable.

"He is a wanted criminal of the Tower Alliance, who killed a Tower Master’s son and slaughtered several villages, a man of extreme cruelty,"

Fen pressed his monocle; however, having the Stele in hand was a significant advantage. They would avoid direct combat if possible; ideally, Swan or Ben would obtain a drop of his blood and a strand of his hair, enabling Fen to curse him to death.

"These three are quite famous; one used to be a Hall-level adventurer but was expelled six years ago. For some reason, he obeys Doringger’s every command, likely due to being blackmailed."

Taylor instructed his maid to brew another round of tea for the distinguished guests, continuing,

These three were well-known, but some things aren’t determined by mere reputation; the profound depth behind it was unimaginable. Liszt didn’t know his own capability; in Heaven Port’s power structure, Doringger held the overwhelming majority.

It had only been a few years since Liszt and the others had risen in power, while Heaven Port had been established for some time. Throughout, many pirate gangs who once stood equal to Black Sail, ambitious and aggressive, wanted to challenge Doringger but eventually followed a three-step process: invite, behead, and recruit.

Nearly ten cycles had already passed.

Doringger controlled more than just Heaven Port; several surrounding islands seemingly belonged to other countries, but as for taxes...Doringger set them.

He was the tax collector.

The so-called tax collector referred to territories beyond easy reach where collecting taxes was difficult. He’d state a figure, and if it was delivered on time, the territory was yours to manage.

He was the actual ruler of four large islands.

Liszt was stupefied, having thought Doringger was merely a local tyrant of the dilapidated Heaven Port, only to realize he was genuinely the East Sea King, a ruler of a world’s corner.

"What the hell, the Three Great Marshals, Four Emperors, Seven Martial Seas, all wrapped up, right?"

Rein felt somewhat discouraged; earlier, he thought recruiting with fifty thousand Golden Dragons was certain, but now it seemed doubtful, not even a question of possibility, but merely an entry fee.

Liszt, tongue against cheek, realized this was a disparity in information; Doringger was that kind of dog that bites without barking.

In the outer world, he appeared somewhat harmless, as seen from his hiring of ghostwriters for pirate novels to shape ideology—a person not caring for face or life, an invincible individual.

Taylor stated this was all he knew, then commenced a funny anecdote,

"After the Emperor withdrew his troops, this port transitioned into a commercial hub; later, a massive brawl broke out, Doringger put it down. During that time, I was also here, I personally saw him..."

That was a giant five meters tall, who could rip off huge ship bulwarks and wield them as weapons with his bare hands.

Doringger himself had an aura... of a king.

It was hard to describe.

Facing a giant more than twice his height, it was unimaginable how he managed to lift it horizontally, then knee it in the spine, snapping it in two, and tearing it apart alive."

Taylor clicked his tongue in amazement, and was actually warning Liszt not to be too arrogant.

The conflict had not fully erupted yet, there was still room to maneuver, and if Liszt put the plate back now, then the matter would be settled, Doringger didn’t care about the protection money, he cared more about what this incident meant.

He advised Liszt to think thrice before acting, it was best to wait until the banquet tomorrow, where Taylor would be a guest, to find out what Doringger planned for the New Continent.

"Old Deng... you underestimate me."

Liszt lit a cigarette and started puffing clouds of smoke.

To say he wasn’t intimidated was definitely false, damn it, raising the strongest pirate gang like raising gu, then taking them in as dogs, it had been almost ten cycles, one could only say that when the Emperor had just withdrawn his troops, the seasons were shorter, and when he himself was in the match, it had already reached the late stage of the game, the situation had stabilized and the seasons had become very long. It was damn awesome, with one hand covering the sky, fearing no overturning of heaven and earth, the sword breaking eternity, sitting and watching the Era fluctuate.

He didn’t particularly like this position, but he had to do it.

His base was in Heaven Port, and not being the spokesperson there would be damn miserable; Diaz was darker and found the place, Lostra’s dragon-seeking team came, not to mention the follow-up to the train case, Old Aran’s Upper Three Flags got snatched, ostensibly locking down the news but privately must be sending people too, otherwise those nobles wouldn’t reach the heavens with their complaints, petitioning until an inspector from the Eight Provosts was sent, even more fucking terrifying.

Doringger, a businessman, definitely wouldn’t make enemies he could avoid; a little pressure from outside, and he’d just hand over his assets to them.

Then, both internally and externally, he’d be surrounded by enemies, no fun at all.

It wasn’t that Liszt liked being the Boss and felt badass, but he had to, in order to carve out a path to survival in the current high-pressure environment.

It was a big job, a tough job, beyond description.

This time it was a metamorphosis, a carp leaping through the dragon’s gate, jumping out, no longer a creature of the ordinary.

He barely had the capital to counteract that Mysterious Wizard.

"Tomorrow... I will attend the banquet, and see Doringger’s true face, still don’t know what he looks like."

Liszt announced his decision, bringing Qi Liwenkui and Hened with him, would Doringger dare not give them face?

No matter how big you are, in the end, you’re still from the streets. A nobody can ignore morals, but you, Doringger, cannot, we’ll meet first then talk.

Not for anything else, just to mess with you, how about that? Representatives from the company, nobles with titles coming to see that your island isn’t peaceful, might lessen the interest in cooperation.

Taylor’s eyelid twitched, he knew Liszt was bold, but didn’t expect him to be this bold, you weren’t invited, you break in, that’s asking to be chopped.

"I know you’re anxious, but don’t be too hasty right now." Taylor spoke in Liszt’s tone, adding: "You should first prepare, buy several more ships, a few hundred cannons, I have some government supplies here I can sell to you cheap, cheaper than last time, I also have many recruitment channels here."

Seeing Taylor skirt the immediate issue and talking business.

Liszt thought now was not the time for him to be squeezing money.

"You’re old, if a pirate is not in a hurry, can he even be called a pirate? Tomorrow I have to stir up Doringger’s guts. I’ll say it straight, Taylor, my power now matches yours, tell me if we can make it or not, stand with me tomorrow night, I have more money than I can use, I’ve decided to establish the Black Sail Trading Company, you can invest too, let’s expand and strengthen together. You’re not the only fence on this island."

Liszt started laying out his tactics, leaning back strategically.

Taylor frowned.

"You got with my daughter, then you talk to me with this attitude?"

He seemed about to turn hostile.

Liszt immediately spit out blood.

"Buy! I’ll buy!"

Liszt understood, he talked a big success, but Taylor hadn’t seen the money, first threaten him with a thousand to check his power, as for negotiations, they could be done slowly.