Black Sail
Chapter 269: CCLXIX. The Joker Squad

Chapter 269: CCLXIX. The Joker Squad

January 5th.

Noon.

Heaven Port was still immersed in the festive mood of the new year. After the Start of Spring, it was the first time that the overcast skies of smog cleared, revealing a cloudless Clear Sky that stretched for miles. It was still cold though, as the sun shone like a light bulb in a refrigerator, incapable of melting the snow and ice floats—it’d be another month or two before that would happen.

The extortion team had arrived at the battlefield!

Gawain was no saint. In the Southern Wetlands, he made his living as a "Headhunter," which inevitably involved some shady dealings.

Gawain had some friends, who were even more adept at committing crimes; they just hadn’t been caught yet. They were all convicts who avoided jail, doubling as robbers and assassins, using the identities of adventurers to blend into various nations.

They also called upon a few of their brothers.

A total of nineteen people formed the majestic extortion team.

Among them, there was a Female Mage and a Female Archer.

Societies with more mountains and forests tended to foster more "sisters."

The Female Archer smoked a cigarette, with tattoos covering her arms, wheat-colored skin, wearing Leather Armor, tall in stature.

The Female Mage was even more alluring, completely undaunted by the severe cold, dressed in a high-slit cheongsam with suspender stockings. She was a genuine Magician, armed with a staff that used Magic Energy Material as a medium, her bone structure and skin exuding a naturally enchanting charm.

The leader of the team was named Fisher, Gawain’s "good buddy," who worked as a Bounty Hunter across the Narrow Sea, specializing in killing pirates.

Fisher had a tremendously fierce countenance, with messy brown hair combed back, a few strands falling over his forehead, and a muscular build. It seemed as though he was influenced by the culture of the Far East Islands, fond of their style, with cryptic pictographs tattooed on the back of his hands, and a snake tattoo that spread from his neck to one side of his face. His sharp, menacing features would have made earthly auxiliary police hesitate to approach him—they’d probably call the drug enforcement squad instead.

They took the main roads, moving quickly. It took them half a month after the train was robbed to react, closing in on the time it took for Liszt and his group to return.

Having paid a hefty sum to a fishing boat at a transfer station, they finally set foot on the shores of Heaven Port.

The dock was lined with seven to eight hundred ships, matching the standard of a first-class port. From the dock, one could also see the imposing castle constructed by the Emperor.

"This is the Eastern Expedition Bridgehead, now the Pirate Republic, Heaven Port," said the Female Archer, still smoking and chewing something like betel nut, spitting a mouthful of red-tinted saliva onto the ground, her legs robust and wild, her appearance attractive but exhibiting surprisingly low quality.

"You’re the Boss, how should we proceed?" asked the Female Mage to Fisher.

"Something doesn’t taste right..." Fisher, who mingled everywhere, had an eye for detail. Although it was still the new year period, the number of people didn’t match the multitude of ships docked. Sparse and few, some diligent pirates should’ve started their activities by now.

He had a hunch that something had happened here, perhaps the Pirate Nest on the island was in turmoil, engaging in fierce clashes or similar strife.

Just then,

Fisher felt the light dim slightly—not because clouds had obscured the sun, but because a monstrously tall creature had stepped before them. It was a Beastman over three meters tall, from the Undead Pirates, a subordinate of Qi Li.

"Who are you, and what is your business here? You need to state your identity and intentions to enter," the Beastman said coldly, instinctively feeling that something was off with this group. By their apparel, they seemed like adventurers, but deep down, he sensed great danger.

"Has the rule changed? Isn’t everyone allowed to stay on the island for free? After all, this is the foundation upon which the port was established," said an Honor Level adventurer.

Not all nineteen were Heroic Level, among them Gawain’s four friends, Fisher, the Female Archer, the Female Mage, Demon Swordsman, and two temporary Heroic Level characters. The rest were Honor Level adventurers, friends of Gawain’s friends.

"The rules haven’t changed. It’s still the same. However, it is necessary to state one’s identity and intentions, otherwise you’ll be treated as... someone coveting the New Continent. Anyone wishing to explore the New Continent must obtain our approval. As for ’us,’ you should know. Don’t oppose Heaven Port," the Beastman didn’t lose any ground in the exchange of aura. Sensing something going on here, several core members of Qi Li’s subordinates, along with the crew, also approached.

Fisher furrowed his brow, his intuition was right after all, there was no need to provoke these people. He didn’t come to cause a bloodshed. His buddies knew that someone named Liszt on the island had hijacked a train and was asking for some cash, not much, just ten or eight thousand would do. Otherwise, he was ready for both scenarios.

"If we chop you up, the money is ours anyway. Or we could let the news spread—there will be plenty of people coming to kill you. No need for a fuss, just pay some money and we can settle this peacefully."

"Is that so? We were indeed planning to take a look at the New Continent, which means, are you saying that now the New Continent is under the control of Heaven Port, and if others want to go without permission, you’ll... kill them?"

Fisher wasn’t particularly afraid.

The Beastman nodded. That was the reality.

"Alright then, we are adventurers from Aran, and we have some strength. Who should we talk to?"

Fisher decided to remain polite. It was someone else’s territory after all, and they were isolated on a deserted island with no place to run, so it was better to keep a low profile. When the money was in hand, everything could be discussed.

"Is that so? I’ll take you to meet our Captain."

The Beastman believed this group was quite strong. Now that Qi Li, the Boss, was siding with Liszt, it truly showed how the world changes. Nowadays, Liszt had become the only person in Heaven Port who could compete with Doringger.

Just the day before yesterday, a heavy piece of news was released—all merchants on the island were exempt from protection fees. "No one" could charge them anymore.

But the so-called "no one" was just one person, meaning if Doringger had any new plans, you come to me, and as long as the talk was good, it would work.

And the uproar that Liszt caused was beyond what most could imagine. He had transformed from a Pirate Gang into a company. Knowing there were many gods on the island who shunned the centers of power, he conveyed that they could invest in shares. It was a phase of growth and the returns were excellent.

His own Boss, Qi Li, and Wen Kui had invested money as well, firmly aligning themselves on the same side.

In addition, Liszt was also recruiting heavily, not looking for pirates, but those with educational qualifications. Anyone with official paperwork and at least a middle school diploma could go for an interview. The salary was better than inland, starting at fourteen silver coins a month, varying based on abilities and subsequent performance.

The most outrageous part was that official employees of the Black Sail Trading Company could enjoy free medical care.

Since the evening of January 2nd, the situation on the island had undergone a radical transformation.

Fisher nodded and asked the Beastman to lead the way.

Forty minutes later.

The group arrived at the Undead Hotel.

Qi Li was very anxious these days. Logically, Doringger should have taken some action, but there was absolutely no response, which was the scariest situation. Heaven knows what big move the Boss was planning.

"Hello, you must be the leader of the Undead Pirates. I’ve heard of you. I’ve even seen your warrant in the Narrow Sea. The folks of the Cross Alliance are afraid that you’ll come over too, so they’re on guard," Fisher said.

Qi Li treated Fisher as a guest, instructing his subordinates to serve wine to the large group of people.

"I heard you came to explore the New Continent... but it seems you don’t have a ship. I could lend you one."

Of course, Qi Li didn’t want to always be controlled by Liszt; he had to expand his influence as well.

"Let’s not talk about that for now. May I ask you something? Do you know someone named Morison? He’s a friend of my little brother here; we need to find him for some matters."

Fisher asked calmly.

Morison had once been a power-leveling agent, helping some adventurers rank up from silver to gold, and from gold to Honor Level. One of the members of their team had been leveled up by Morison.

"Morison? He’s one of Liszt’s men. You know who Liszt is, right?"

"Who?"

"Even Doringger gives him way."

"What?"

Fisher was stunned.

He was quite fond of Fisher’s phrase, "What?"

Did he just carry his head there on a thousand-mile journey?