Black Sail
Chapter 444: LXXVIII. Visitor from the East Sea

Chapter 444: LXXVIII. Visitor from the East Sea

The Thieves’ Guild was sprawling and entrenched like a virus, its capillaries reaching across many nations; it had strongholds in almost every country on the Western Continent, varying only in scale and number.

It had almost become a widespread ideological faction.

Wealth, reputation, strength.

The man who had gathered the most odious of names into his fold.

Diaz’s words had made becoming a thief the goal of people the world over.

Do you want someone else’s treasure? If you do, then it’s yours for the taking—just steal it.

I’ve placed all the wealth of the world right there.

The foul legacy passed down through generations, the changing of times, the silt of humanity—none of it could be stopped as long as people continued to search for the answers of a scurrying rat; this would all go on forever!

The world had entered the great era of thieves!

Thief King—that would be me! Rubber rubber · Theft Premonition Machine Gun!

Due to the thorough systematic training provided for the up-and-coming thieves, in the Western Continent, this profession flourished everywhere, with robbers being mere assembly line workers screwing in bolts, and even the worst-off thieves akin to skilled blue-collar workers.

Engaged in a wide range of business—from deception and cheating to human trafficking, arson, and plundering—the infamous Konoha Trio did it all.

Even some functional small nations, smaller in area than a single province of Aran, would always have a Thieves’ Guild stronghold, serving as a rapid information relay station, albeit slightly rougher.

Three days later.

Unbeknownst to Kai Deng,

she was being anchored by a spell from Saleret. Although her exact location couldn’t be pinpointed, it continuously guided Saleret in her direction.

Flushed with success and full of spirit after this immensely lucrative job,

Kai Deng was at a Thieves’ Guild stronghold in one of Aran’s affiliated countries, boasting and shooting the breeze with Little Kami below.

As for the legendary Netherworld Envoy, these small fries had never seen the likes of one and treated her as an honored guest; whatever she wanted, they provided.

Inside the dimly lit stone chamber,

a bunch of scurvy thieves huddled around a rickety wooden table by candlelight, listening to Kai Deng tell stories, with the table laden with good liquor and cold dishes.

And Kai Deng, in her travels, generally didn’t use her own face or voice, preferring random simulations, with her favorite being a rugged face and a magnetic voice.

"How did you do it? To precisely imitate someone else’s voice, and how can a person not make a sound when they’ve been stabbed?"

A crowd of small-time thieves surrounded this legendary figure, hoping she would share some tips.

"Voice mimicry isn’t something you can master overnight," Kai Deng said, tapping the left side of her head with a finger. "Stab a knife right here, in the left brain. Don’t even talk about shouting—there won’t be the slightest noise. I didn’t know why before, just from experience, until those guys at the Northern Prison said it’s because the left brain controls the language center; pierce it and you completely lose the ability to speak."

Kai Deng leaned back tactically.

The shrimp were all in awe; there was science to killing.

Amidst the adulation.

Kai Deng was now facing a worldly dilemma.

Diaz’s secret letter had arrived, requesting a personal meeting; Kai Deng could finally see for herself the so-called Emperor of the Night.

Within the Western Continent—no, the entire world—the chief of one of the top-tier, strongest underworld forces.

It seemed like an excellent choice.

In the past, no one had ever had the honor of meeting Diaz, who existed only in rumors.

But...

There seemed to be a better path.

Who knew if Diaz would go back on his word, and what kind of shenanigans he might pull off after meeting him in person.

Kai Deng made a decision that went against her forebears.

The power struggles within the Royal Court were intricate, and it was not without people who would deceive their superiors.

The Double Dragon Society, with its dominance over the East Sea—how could that person turn a deaf ear to it? Surely, someone must be using their position to deceive the emperor, keeping that individual in the dark.

The Dragon named Fafna, which was also taken away from Aran, belonged to Aran in the first place.

Additionally, the final main event.

That person must be looking for an opportunity to burst out in anger.

However, Kai Deng had already found it for him.

Wouldn’t it be a mockery for the Overlord Descendant to be adrift in the land of pirates?

To bring her back to the Imperial Palace and vindicate her.

By naming Alicia as the rightful elector of Cyrus, she could wage wars in all directions and reclaim the Overlord’s legacy.

Kai Deng decided.

She wanted to go to the Aran Imperial City.

To meet with the true sovereign of the world... the Emperor!

Meanwhile.

Within the bounds of Aran, in the Cast Province Capital, the City of Arts, Duguli.

Liszt once visited here for the Junlin Sword and now, half a year later, he had returned with an entirely different identity.

At Chenxi Port, Mika’s former tutor handed over case files to Liszt, which he kept in perfect condition. Although Mika had likely succumbed to brain atrophy, these could also be the clues to the truth he sought his whole life.

Through Liszt’s deduction, the matter was quite simple. Mika’s fiancée was actually Caesar’s woman, who cuckolded him and had him take the blame.

In these past days, Liszt had also learned about the so-called Caesar, certainly the illegitimate son of a Duke. The problem was, Caesar was the only male descendant of his family. They couldn’t just let a collateral line take over, as he was effectively the heir to the family.

A rather powerful fellow, not only a potential lord for a province in the northeast of Aran but also possessing the credentials to enter the Imperial Palace Council in the Royal Court.

It would be quite difficult for Mr. Mai to unravel this matter.

Liszt did not know that disaster was upon him. Not only was he hurrying to the Imperial City, but Kai Deng was as well, intending to inform the Emperor about the Double Dragon Society, the Stele, and Alicia.

However, Liszt still intended to stay in Duguli for a while as he waited for Sharon’s reply. To be extra cautious, he had sent a letter to her in English to check on the situation.

According to recent news from newspapers, the situation in the Imperial City is now extremely complicated, with conflicts arising between the Royal Court and the Eternal Sect, involving the Imperial City New Industrial Zone and the Advancement Movement.

The Eternal Sect also intends to create a missionary route along the railroad, building churches in key transshipment cities along the rails and installing Cardinals.

Sharon’s current predicament is extremely difficult.

Moreover, if the Eternal Sect gets involved too, the situation on Mulong’s side looks grim. Facing only the Aran Military Officials, the Black Sail, and the Seventh Amendment seemed manageable.

But once the Madman enters the fray, the situation will become terrifying.

Times have changed; when Liszt last saw Sharon, she was beset with internal and external troubles, but now she has pacified the East Sea and can stay at Heaven Port.

This time in Duguli, Liszt sought out a nouveau riche he had met at an art exhibition to network. He himself couldn’t appear publicly, so he had Galen go instead.

There has been significant progress indeed, borrowing plenty of Golden Dragons and finding a market for some ancient artifacts unearthed by the Gold Seekers on Iron Soul Island.

What’s most important is that Mo Yutong is now working on technology back home; the goods ordered by the Atomic Heart Church must surely have been delivered to Heaven Port by now.

Once Mo Yutong gets the transshipment factory up and running and products start flowing into the Western Continent piece by piece, Golden Dragons will become mere numbers.

But this requires capable dealers, and this wealthy nouveau riche brother is quite good at it.

Inside a high-class restaurant in Duguli.

Liszt and Isis were having a meal.

But there was a disturbance nearby.

Two groups of people were arguing.

"Even if you come from the East Sea, you have to pay homage. In Aran, we abide by the law," said the group dressed in sharp suits.

"Fuck the law," retorted the other group. They were the unmistakable ruffians and bandits, each with tattoos of dragons and tigers, scar-faced, dressed without care, and their speech was wildly uncouth.

Liszt almost spat out his water when he heard the words "East Sea."

Yes.

With people like Fen handling things, all sorts of artifacts and Magic Beast materials unearthed from Iron Soul Island were to be dumped into the Western Continent. If Liszt didn’t look for dealers, others from below would come to him.