Black Sail
Chapter 605: CCXXI. Ecstasy

Chapter 605: CCXXI. Ecstasy

[Holy Spirit Calendar Year 2690, September 1st.]

[East of the Narrow Sea, Silver Moon City, under rain and snow.]

[Zote, dead.]

Fen was assigned during the army’s defeat and ordered in times of crisis to hold on until Fafna returned.

The strategic value of the dragon, let’s put it this way, Heaven Port has its own B2 bomber.

He succeeded.

The firelight still stained the horizon of the night sky, the wind broke the already withered flagpole, even the Madmen of the Eternal Sect, their bodies, with hands not yet closed, seemed to still try to grasp the smoke. No one knew if, in their final moments, they truly believed they would enter the Eternal Hall of the Dragon Lord.

Heavy Priests, shattered and frozen under dragon breath, dissipated with the wind and snow, melting in the scorching heat of Mulong’s exotic realm in mid-September.

Blood drenched the soles of boots, everyone took a tour at the gates of hell, those thick iron and flesh piles, illuminated by the city fires at night, showed a chilling rough black and the splattering crimson, dense and unyielding.

"This place looks too evil; quickly clean up and sweep the battlefield."

Wolman, battered and bruised, sat on the corpse of a Heavy Giant can, without the ecstasy of victory, just the weariness accumulated from years of fighting as the Wetland Rebel Army and the desperate path through the East Sea, swept over him with listlessness.

"I’m really fucking fed up, it’s the same line every time, how righteous do you think you look?"

Rein was too exhausted to make any remarks, his usual sharpness severely dulled.

This was a narrow victory.

The price was heavy casualties for the East Sea Bandits.

Adding to that were the mercenaries "Dumb Iron Brigade" hired by Nashano from Drifting City, Black Sail’s force was nearly three thousand strong, several times the number of the Sect’s people.

But after being crushed by what was akin to a living guillotine and pulverizer, only around three to four hundred wounded and remaining soldiers were left scattered.

Many were slain by the Heavy Priests, and many fled on horseback midway through the battle when morale collapsed; it was beyond control during the battle.

If not for Fafna’s reinforcement, even though Black Sail’s core was made up of outstanding talents, they would have been worn down by these cans in face of the Church Court’s iron army, now at its peak on the Western Continent.

Fen also realized one thing from all this, to return to Pedan and contend with those guys in the Elder Council, it was necessary to militarize and discipline the dredged deseradoes coming from all around.

Small companies can abandon their workers for short-term benefit, but a behemoth cannot. It must establish an orderly promotion path and evaluation system, and distribute the money that needs to be spent generously.

People’s spirit is also a kind of real estate; only by establishing such a system can ideological land annexation be completed, thereby truly ruling a region and constantly consolidating power.

"Register the names of the surviving brothers of the East Sea who participated in this battle. Carry the radio equipment over here; we need to contact Golden Palm Port now, see Morison’s status, deserters need to be purged. The east has the frontier of Aran Affiliated Country, the west is cut off by the Kelor Highlands, and Boneyard has treacherous terrain. Given Mulong’s geography, they have nowhere to hide; they are likely to escape to Golden Palm Port."

After Fen arranged everything including clearing the battlefield, a slight curve appeared unbidden at the corners of his mouth. He deeply understood what this victory meant, pirates had already reported, the matter in the city was settled, Zote was dead. Even he showed a trace of a smile, albeit sinister and terrifying.

Fen was a former noble; his information channels far surpassed those of the others on the ship. He had also heard some secret historical stories during the transition of new and old regimes in Aran.

Who was Zote? The No. 1 Wanted Criminal in Aran.

The current President of the Aran National Bank, Cicero, walked with a limp due to a prosthetic leg, which Zote had removed.

Did they really kill him?

Fen was barely holding on, his steps somewhat floating, feeling somewhat unreal.

The events in Silver Moon City today, once spread, would make Black Sail’s influence reach its pinnacle. He could return to Heaven Port and micro-manage the economy, potentially making it into the world’s top profit-driven criminal organization.

The surviving East Sea bandits did not feel much sense of victory. When they came to their senses, they were drenched in cold sweat and fear.

However, two people were laughing even more brightly than Fen.

Chuan Che was indifferent; his laugh was not restrained because he was nailed down by Black Sail. Plus, there was Celeste to restrain him; his dossier was placed with Lostra, nowhere to escape.

The other person was somewhat different.

"These brothers are blessed."

Zargong, the leader of the Dumb Iron Brigade, had been beaten terribly, his head wrapped in bandages, his hand set in a plaster cast. An hour ago, he raised his price, wanting to become a founding shareholder swiftly, and Fen had no choice but to agree.

Zargong was savvy; those who survived this battle and returned to Heaven Port had their future secured. Black Sail, on the rise, needed a group of people as examples, seeing these people feasting and enjoying themselves, frequenting massage parlors, as the railway developed, it became increasingly difficult for highway robbers to make a living. Seeing the prosperity here, wouldn’t they naturally submit?

"You are blessed too."

Fen said with a smile, though he had already harbored murderous intent. After preparations were made, he would discuss with Liszt to find a way for Zargong to back down; B shares were acceptable, if Zargong did not recognize the opportunity, he could be cut off.

Even two thousand or so Golden Dragons would do. Although he wanted to enter the founding shareholders and had to pay Black Sail, that’s not how the accounts were settled.

After Mulong’s victory, Black Sail’s founding shares couldn’t be bought with money!

Don’t look at Archer, that fool, acting like a drunken fool after the battle. As one of the founding shareholders, his worth wasn’t even comparable to that of viscounts with actual territories in smaller countries.

If you really want to buy in, you have to offer an Oath of Loyalty. It’s not like the time on SS Fuma Keqing Revenge, killing someone, stealing from a noble, and having legal issues before you can work together.

The current Oath of Loyalty requires you to gut someone like Giant Whale Guest Diaz to meet the stipulations.

"All are blessed, all are."

Zargong laughed slyly, being astute, he sensed something. Being a founding shareholder might be challenging, but it didn’t stop him from gaining more benefits. If he wanted to become a founding shareholder, these people would surely disagree. Maybe they’d offer him a step to retreat, depending on what conditions they presented. If feasible, he’d go along with it.

Not to mention securing the rest of his life, Liszt might be removed by someone unknown, but at least for the next four or five years, he was sorted, and he didn’t have to be some lousy mercenary anymore.

Everything was wrapping up orderly, with the Beastman Ang Shan promoted by Liszt bringing Fen the radio, contacting Golden Palm Port.

Zahak had left Morison in tatters in front of his cronies, got Morison into trouble, let him off once and he didn’t take it well. Now, he got himself into a repeat offense.

The Vice Admiral, who was so illustrious last year, was captured by pirates. Zahak in this lifetime was also "accomplished."

Upon hearing the victory news, Fen couldn’t contain himself anymore, his joy showing, immediately contacting Celeste in Drifting City and the headquarters in Heaven Port, Mulong’s pacification.

Celeste also brought good news, that the western line with Uborio was progressing smoothly, preparing to return home in triumph, ready to enter Lost with a knife.

Now the private capital will be frantically flooding into Heaven Port.

"Damn, it’s scary; I’ve never seen General Fen so happy."

Rein just felt an overwhelming fear, as if affected by the Valley of Joy effect. General Fen had always been quite anthropomorphic, with a perpetually poker face, like the entire world owed him something, finally seemed to have collected some debt now.