Black Sail
Chapter 393: XXVIII. Expert Difficulty

Chapter 393: XXVIII. Expert Difficulty

Inside the captain’s quarters on the battleship.

This place also functioned as an office and bedroom suite. Liszt had official matters to attend to, requiring daily reports from key personnel in the fleet, as well as reviewing the logbook and checking the navigation status.

The tasks were not many.

According to the most recent report, they would arrive at Kersuna Island tomorrow morning.

For some unknown reason, Liszt felt a restless despair brewing within him. The more respectful those people were during their reports, the more it seemed like his soul was being gradually drawn out.

It was slowly isolating him from the human world, making him feel like he was no longer alive but slowly turning into a symbol, a person nearing death.

"Perhaps... I’m not cut out to be the Boss."

Liszt couldn’t hold it together anymore. He dropped all pretenses, threw his legs on the desk, his stubble grown out after some time becoming rough and vigorous again. He struck a match and lit a cigarette, deciding also to shake off his long fur coat. He wasn’t one of those people.

Especially after seeing Asenxiuo’s corpse.

Entering the Narrow Sea, he finally unveiled what had happened seven years ago.

He was not the East Sea King—not even close. He had merely escaped death by luck, a living dead who had cheated the Death God.

Only Dreya’s identity was peculiar.

Even if he died, it wouldn’t really affect her. That mad woman could profess undying loyalty verbally, but decades or centuries later, she could easily find someone new.

Otherwise, Liszt, whose life was always at risk, could not make such an absurd decision as to marry.

It was merely a mutual play, with clergy merely certifying the intent.

Realizing this, Liszt suddenly felt enlightened.

I remain utterly without weaknesses, an invincible scoundrel who could die at any moment without a second thought, and that was enough.

This trip involved a dozen members of the Seventh Amendment, heading inland. Once at Golden Palm Port, Liszt and the others just needed to wait. These twelve would inform others, and the leader of the Seventh Amendment would extend the hospitality of the land. They would send a significant member of their organization to Golden Palm Port to discuss the collaboration details with Liszt.

They would stay at Golden Palm Port for at least ten days, which would also allow other work to unfold.

In the great age of seafaring, any port city that supported the import and export of goods wouldn’t lag economically.

Though not significant internationally, Golden Palm Port was still a major harbor with a considerable population. An adventurer’s guild was established there, signifying it as a qualified city recognized by the guild, capable of stacking up business volume in KPIs.

"You’ve got a split personality, haven’t you?"

Celeste watched Liszt alternate between sullenness and cold laughter, unpredictable in mood. She had been ready to continue with his topic, possibly making Liszt a citizen of Lostra with a worry-free life once he surrendered his power, but this guy acted like he had a mental disorder.

"Not ruling out that possibility, aren’t you a high-ranking intelligence agent who understands everything? You must have learned about psychological warfare, so you might also know how to give some comfort. You can comfort me."

Liszt hadn’t used the Emperor Skill for a long time; he was preparing to practice on Celeste as they must control everyone once inland.

Lelouch, often referred to as Little Liszt.

Celeste exhaled, her actual task being to monitor Liszt and see when he was planning to touch the Junlin Sword. The events aboard the Sea God had taken her by surprise.

Obviously, Liszt was not a Magician, uneducated, yet he could use the Junlin Sword without hindrance. There was an unknown aspect about him, and she decided to study him thoroughly.

"I can offer some consolation... I can sing ’Miss Mary in her Flower Dress’ for you."

Celeste raised an eyebrow slightly, her smile coquettishly charming, her sleek black hair and icy blue eyes quite enticing—further enhanced by the curves under her tight clothes, also teasing Liszt.

"You think I’m an idiot, don’t you?"

Liszt was exasperated. That was a nursery rhyme from Lostra, also quite famous in the Western Continent with a high singalong factor, used to lull children to sleep.

"Why not try and see? You might actually like it."

Celeste was sitting on the office desk.

Liszt thought for a moment, truly a person from a great nation, playing the field wildly.

He pondered, since Celeste had been chosen as an intelligence agent, she must have passed the heavy selections of her motherland, certainly coming from a reputable background, wholeheartedly serving Lostra.

Such a person, even if temporarily controlled for a short period, would play both sides and could betray at any time, probably seducing her is far from enough, ideology must be played on.

"You have stayed here for so long and know what I am doing and what kind of person I am, what do you think?"

Liszt asked a strange question.

"The truth?"

"You’re a spy, who knows what’s true and what’s fake, just say it."

"You’re too idealistic, all your constructions, all your plans, are made under the assumption that there won’t be any sudden catastrophes, that everything can be implemented smoothly. Iron Soul Island, new districts, and the trial operations in Ship Traders Association... what are those called again, qualification certificates, with the certificate as a ticket, there wouldn’t be robberies. If any link in this chain breaks, your fund operations will become extremely difficult. I’ve been to the underground palace with you, and I know that the Dragon Girl is funding it, and if one day she changes her mind, or the money runs out, you guys will have no crisis handling capabilities, radical changes, those benefiting from the old East Sea system cannot handle it, and moreover, no one on the Western Continent wants to see such an important place as the East Sea become a lawless zone."

Celeste spoke each word clearly, Doringger had already realized that the era of ironclad warships was coming, aiming for a stable deployment, and Liszt’s energies were no less than Doringger’s, he obviously knew about the ironclad warships, but was not afraid of other nations, a pure madman. Lostra was using him as an expendable pawn.

"Wow..."

Liszt was somewhat shocked; Celeste was indeed seriously helping him analyze the situation. As a foreign spy, she was certainly not acting within her role, possibly mixing in some personal feelings, "I remember, I saved you once from Garscek’s hands, were you perhaps unable to forget that?"

Celeste rolled her eyes, capable of handling herself, Liszt at that time wasn’t actually saving her, but saving himself. If he hadn’t used the horrific Curse Artifact of the Binding Dragon on that strange Golden-eyed Demon Hunter and had used it beforehand, perhaps things would be different today.

Golden-eyed...

Life Weaving Society, truly an ominous term.

That organization targeted not just some magic beasts but truly terrifying beings which could be regarded as demons, some were appearing in this world through the otherworldly gate.

It was said those golden-eyed fellows were also half-human, with blood of extraterrestrial demons.

"A really cold and heartless person, I just wanted to ask the reason you joined the intelligence department, which might be somewhat presumptuous. Someone like you... a beauty with a nice figure, you surely also know, could have lived a completely different kind of life instead of coming to the East Sea and mixing up with scum like me."

Liszt stood up, took out a bottle of good wine worth thirty copper coins from the liquor cabinet, poured out two glasses, and prepared to turn the conversation ideological.

"Very boring, you wouldn’t want to hear it."

Celeste naturally didn’t make a sour face, implying this didn’t concern him, although she was inclined to do so.

What followed was still the classical strategic move.

Liszt clearly understood Celeste didn’t want to talk, stupidly pressing the issue would definitely make people disgusted, psychological defenses had to be broken down gradually.

"I’m just casually asking, pirates and politicians aren’t the same, we could say we have a friendship forged through life-and-death situations, Iron Soul Island, Doringger, huh..." Liszt let out a sigh, "all quite troublesome, if you’re discarded or lose your value, there will always be a place for you at Heaven Port."

He handed the glass to Celeste.

Celeste, a person of her stature, wasn’t shaken by these petty tricks at all, took the glass and just wet her lips, didn’t drink much, just making a gesture.

"Isn’t it a bit early to say that? After all, according to my prediction, who knows how long you can hold your position."

She said calmly.

"So it is, then let’s put it another way, it might sound a bit old-fashioned but I will always protect you," immediately, Liszt turned the conversation ideological, "speaking of which... in some way, we pirates are also fighting against authority."

Liszt laid out a series of moves.

Celeste’s head buzzed.