Black Sail
Chapter 315: CCCXV. Takeover

Chapter 315: CCCXV. Takeover

On another fishing island.

Qi Li was more of a seer compared to Wen Kui, who was simply focused on his prenatal education business.

Wen Kui’s series of actions would lead to many future complications.

Social structure is not binary; it is not simply right or wrong and cannot be easily defined.

Wen Kui had killed the entire management team on the island. Could he manage it himself? Clearly not.

Once the fishermen were unchecked and entered a frenzied state, bringing along a few friends for excessive fishing that depleted the resources, the ecological damage would be irreparable.

And these fishermen, having tasted sweetness, might form another Fishing Association No. 2 and go against Wen Kui.

It would result in a never-ending grand melee.

Just like a smartphone, although it might have the maximum hardware performance, without an operating system, it is merely a brick. Even with an operating system, if the UI is chaotic and full of bugs, it’s still worse than another system that might be slower but has a sensible, smoother functioning.

Sometimes, a weaker force would even defeat a more powerful force because of different operating systems.

Qi Li’s operating system was much stronger than Wen Kui’s, with continuous funding from Black Sail and countless desperados drawn by the scent.

Earning money in the New Continent was exhausting and uncertain. One might gather some resources only for others to hijack them midway.

But Black Sail was straightforward – cut as many people, earn as much money. Clear pricing, no deception.

The entire East Sea was a storm of blood and scent.

Qi Li was not afraid of losing; as long as Doringger did not provide support, the four fishing islands were ripe for the taking.

Having demonstrated his military might, it was now time for negotiation.

Qi Li had his own plans. Liszt paid him two hundred and twenty Golden Dragons every month and he had already invested as a shareholder, but his current say in the matters was far from enough.

He needed more funds to exchange for more power, to become a member of the decision-making layer.

And today, he had received an explosive piece of news.

Qi Li was on the fishing island, but the news traveled incredibly fast; he thought he had underestimated Liszt, yet there was more drama unfolding.

Inside the local Fishing Association.

Key members of the Undead Pirates sat at a conference table with many managers of the association.

Qi Li’s people were not only desperados but also former military officers at the court; they carried an aura unlike ordinary pirates.

However, Liszt’s moves were too cunning; otherwise, Qi Li could have been the potential champion of this season’s peak competition, repeating the cycle of being subdued by Doringger.

"You know it too, Liszt is financing the recruitment, aiming to take over all the fishing fields. I’ve settled one, and there are others doing the same as me. I know what you’re thinking, waiting for Doringger to cover you, but soon Liszt’s friends will also arrive here, his former cellmates."

Qi Li was actually somewhat speechless, never knowing what else Liszt could pull off.

In the underworld, the strongest ties are with those you’ve been through life and death with and, next, with cellmates, especially those Liszt had released himself.

The riot at the Northern Prison ten years ago tremendously influenced the Western Continent’s landscape; not just train robberies, Liszt was a real OG among OGs.

Even older members of the underworld would pay him respect when they met.

This is to say, even Doringger would pay him respect.

Doringger’s influence centered around the East Sea and radiated to all coastal regions, whereas Liszt’s influence, centered around the Northern Prison, extended globally.

One more crucial point.

Although times have changed and people now honor whoever feeds them,

the unwritten rules of the underworld dictate that entering prison is akin to entering the Dragon Field—it denotes a lifetime criminal record, symbolizing a person’s defiance against corrupt officials, akin to an educational certificate. Those who end up in Northern Prison, let’s just put it this way, they are like the academicians of the crime world, unparalleled thieves.

"I understand, what do you plan to do?"

The chairman of the association swallowed hard, having been terrorized by Qi Li and his gang over the past few days.

Qi Li only did two things.

One was to stop local fishermen and transport ships from fishing, imposing a total ban unless they had his permission—a warning the first time, chopping people the second.

The second was to slaughter the association’s security forces, that is, the enforcers, even if they worked clerically in the association, Qi Li would spare their lives.

He aimed to successfully take over the entire fishing area, control all sales and transportation channels, and, while providing welfare to fishermen, firmly grip power in his own hands.

Having once held a important position in the court, he understood the human heart well; greed could never be satisfied. Don’t assume the island’s fishermen are too evil, but also not too naive—they must be tightly controlled.

"I will give you a sum of money, take it and leave. I will take full control here, keeping all local management institutions intact. I will send my men to assist these managers until they are completely replaced. But this isn’t meant to drive all of you away. You can stay, and after gaining my trust, retain a partial post."

Qi Li spoke calmly.

"How much money?"

"This is for you personally, twenty Golden Dragons, should last you a long while."

"Twenty Golden Dragons... Doringger won’t let me go; he’ll hunt me to the ends of the Earth."

"Really, what do the rest of you think? I told you, I need you to continue to manage, earn my trust, and you can retain your positions, though the spots are quite limited."

After Qi Li spoke, he calmly placed a dagger on the conference table.

His key subordinates also stood up one by one, exuding an atmosphere of intending to slaughter everyone across the table.

"There are limited spots. There are ten of you here, all high-ranking officials from the association, but I only need five, understand? In fact, I might not need any, as it only be another ten or fifteen days before I take over completely."

Then Qi Li began to count down from ten.

Eight.

Seven.

So all the high-ranking officials from the association rushed to grab the dagger on the table and then began to slaughter each other.

Blood also splattered a few drops on Qi Li’s face.

At the moment, everything was going very smoothly.

Qi Li now controlled two islands, which was not without difficulty. Doringger’s men were tough, and some key supporters were injured. But Liszt’s budget of twenty thousand Golden Dragons was incredibly robust. Support from arriving pirates was incessant; their ships packed the waters—who could withstand that?

He planned next to turn the association’s under-the-table fishing vessels into his own people, solidifying his management team as airtight.

Qi Li’s efficiency, execution, and outcomes far exceeded Fen’s expectations.

Others, having taken Black Sail’s money to support, watched Qi Li dominate so autocratically. Everything was fought down together, but in the end, he monopolized all the gains.

Many pirate gangs were displeased with Qi Li. Some even contemplated getting rid of him. No matter how prestigious the Undying might be, in the end, they couldn’t cope with sheer numbers.

Qi Li was very smart and knew he had to win people over. He was willing to share the fishing ground benefits with everyone and also let slip that he was one of Black Sail’s shareholders. Managing this was only natural.

That’s how things fell into place naturally.

From the surface and in outsiders’ eyes, the Undying was clearly and completely integrated into Black Sail.