Black Sail
Chapter 94: XCIV. Protection Money

Chapter 94: XCIV. Protection Money

"She hasn’t even come out yet, how come the girl I ordered isn’t here, ah! Are they all dead?"

Archer, looking at the bodies on the ground, suddenly began to cry loudly, tears streaming down and snot bubbling up.

Morison had told him his girl was here, so he had followed, otherwise nothing would have made him come.

Swan had gradually become accustomed to this completely muddled drunkard and thought nothing of it.

With Swan’s professional instincts, he knew this was not a simple vendetta.

Swan tried to find clues on the bodies, searching all of them, but found nothing except five Golden Dragons on the leader’s body.

"Wow? That’s a large sum. These hallucinogen peddlers were nearly wiped out before, just scraping by here at Heaven Port. They couldn’t have had so much money. Someone else must have directed this."

Morison speculated.

Swan handed the five Golden Dragons to Mika, considering it his spoils of war.

"I feel the same way."

Swan had always been wary of the Thief Guild members coming after them, but this method was not theirs. Assassinations require a swift escape if the initial strike fails, prioritizing one’s own situation before the kill.

They solely focus on complete Stealth, quick and accurate, taking life in the dark, be it with poison or a knife.

"Damn it, this gives me the creeps. What if I don’t dare to come to a brothel anymore?"

Mika took off his mask and fiercely kicked the leader’s body, truly feeling cursed.

"True to Mika’s style, more concerned about your possessions than the danger to your life?"

Morison’s awareness of the terror contained in the "Military Firearm List" Bai Xiaosheng intensified again. Only this man deserved to be connected with the expression Heavenly Emperor. Immortal Cloud rises, the supreme appears, and where does the majestic Dragon coffin go? The vast prehistoric era unknown. Holding myriad laws, stepping on Heavenly Dao, traveling through time, unbeatable forever. Not to become an Immortal, just wishing to wait for you in the brothel.

Morison, stroking his chin, couldn’t grasp the situation. Besides the recently arrived Claude and Swan, he was the last to arrive, about twenty months.

This incident was unlikely related to the Dragon or the Stele. It was an enemy that Black Sail had long established.

The reason they targeted Mika was because he is a doctor, seemingly easier to kill compared to the others, an attempt to intimidate Black Sail.

"Could it be that Fish Seller Fei and Mad Tiger stirred someone else’s cake?"

Morison asked Mika, now guessing as that was all they could do. Those two always obeyed Liszt unconditionally and were separated from Black Sail, although the casino was also purchased through Black Sail Crowdfunding, they employed people from a different system.

"Impossible. They only do what Liszt orders, all rescued by Liszt from a ship long ago, fully loyal to Liszt, they would never overstep."

Mika responded.

Fish Seller Fei and Mad Tiger only listened to Liszt, but they also respected Fen, showing the unique reverence that people of culture and high talents command.

"Perhaps that’s the case. Anyway, let’s go back to the inn and ask Fen."

Swan made the decision.

Before leaving the brothel, Morison fiercely questioned the person in charge, making sure there were no entanglements, then returned to the inn.

Fen, Ox, and Claude were all extremely cautious and careful people, saint-like figures, completely uninterested in wine and women, focusing only on how to make money, grow stronger, and pursue their great ambitions.

The three of them had remained in the inn the entire time, not moving at all, fearing something might happen to Dragon Lady upstairs.

After Mika and the others returned and recounted the incident, Fen seemed unsurprised, as if he had already guessed as much.

"Do you know who sent them?"

Mika, still covered in blood, asked the composed Fen.

Despite being bloodied, the waiters and the Dark Elf bartender in the pub on the second floor were used to such sights and paid no mind. This is Heaven Port, where no one comes after you for killing, with no law, only factions, different ships, different pirate gangs.

"I don’t know who it is, but I know what caused it."

Fen pulled out a sack from beneath the table, placed it on the table, and untied the rope, revealing the gleaming Golden Dragons inside.

Mika had a bad feeling.

The one thousand and two hundred Golden Dragons paid by the Count of Londen had been distributed, and the public funds were securely locked by Fen, unavailable except for necessary occasions.

Mika opened the sack and roughly counted it, almost cussing, as there were nearing two hundred coins.

"How come there’s so much money?"

Swan realized something was amiss.

"You should know, Liszt charges protection money focusing on small profits but high volume. The aftermath has arrived, with protection fees far below the average, disrupting the market. Now, about one-eighth of the outer town is under our protection, and here, solely in protection fees, there are a total of one hundred seventy-six Golden Dragons, covering three months."

Fen closed his eyes and pondered deeply, trying to find the best solution, "Now, we roughly have two choices. The first is to immediately hike the prices, keeping Black Sail from becoming the target of everyone. The second option is to lower it a bit more, and whoever disagrees, just let them come."

"Truly... New Heavenly Port now."

Swan’s eyelids twitched.

"You guys decide however you want."

Morison, only interested in the unknown and indifferent to the known, continued chatting with the Dark Elf bartender, who in their right mind mingles with low EQ fugitives?

"I’m more inclined towards the latter," Ox stated coldly.

Fen shook his head; it’s not that simple. The pirates on the island were nastier than one another, and those who couldn’t beat Black Sail would start targeting the people under your protection.

People paid protection money, but if they get killed, how do you maintain credibility? Who would respect you afterward?

If everything is well-handled, New Heavenly Port has a chance. If not, Black Sail will quickly vanish from Heaven Port.

After more than half an hour, Liszt finally arrived late, looking in quite a good mood.

"Holy shit, so many people here, even Mika is present, it’s like the Holy Spirit is showing a miracle."

Liszt went to the bar to get a drink from the Dark Elf signboard girl and gulped it down, feeling truly refreshed.

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat oppressive and silent.

"Uh..."

Liszt had a premonition that something big was amiss.

Fen told Liszt about the accounts received yesterday and the recent events.

"Damn, I thought it was something serious. Those bastards on the island, that’s all they’re good for, bragging about how fierce they are until they face me."

Liszt made a decisive decision.

"Swan, right now go to Fish Seller Fei and the others, start spreading the word; if anyone dares to mess with the people who have paid protection money to Black Sail, threaten them and break their legs, if they go further, they will be chopped up directly, the whole gang responsible, even if the junior did it, the senior pays the price."

Liszt’s tone was calm, as if he was discussing something trivial.

Claude took a deep breath, aware that mingling with pirates involved many horrifying things, but he hadn’t anticipated anything this terrifying.

Swan received the instructions and immediately went to act.

"Also, stop all the gloomy faces, everyone focus on me, I’m announcing something, we are having a celebration!"

Liszt started banging drums and clapping the bar, formally mediating himself, matching Baron’s fiancée with Goria.

"Goddamn celebration."

Fen was speechless; at times like this, Liszt was never serious. Can this truly keep Goria around? Considering she’s lesbian, it’s probably just talk, fooling you horny guys, so don’t bother her.