Black Sail

How high-ranking is considered high? Celeste can now be considered the answer to that question.

Celeste faintly felt something was amiss.

"Ignore them, just as well, I have something to discuss with you."

Wolman was responsible for sending Celeste away to discuss the Great Wetland and Ox's current actions. It was said that Ox was going on a rampage over in the Narrow Sea, which indeed posed an issue, as Lostra had plenty of room for cooperation at the ports in the Narrow Sea and the East Sea.

"Alright."

Celeste's demands in the East Sea were indeed consistent with Wolman's, who would use his status to redirect resources towards the transformation of the Great Wetland to attack the sub-dragons, while the others were different.

Watching the beautiful woman walk away.

Fen noticed that the expressions of the rest were all off, each one full of fighting spirit, with sharp eyes, as if a crucial duel were about to begin.

"This is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly; we must strictly adhere to the plan."

Fen was somewhat uneasy, the more complex the plan, the more room for error it often entailed. As it stood, the outcome was completely unknown, unclear where it might break down, leading to an uncontrollable, runaway situation.

"Code name, Day and Night, initiate. I will give the Empress the perfect day."

"I will too, let the Empress (too dark to display) graduate."

"Watch it, there are kids around."

Fen was speechless, he no longer held much hope for this plan, only the attitude to give it a try, and would only resort to the backup plan if necessary. Even if the consequences were uncontrollable, offending many, he would seize it, even if it meant bold robbery, how could Uborio these people thwart Black Sail?

"It's alright, the men below in Heaven Port are like this. Taking a group of kids on a field trip really puts the adults in a tough spot."

Fafna feigned an air of depth, consuming sweets at lightning speed.

Everyone putting on tactical poker faces, Fafna, leveling up too fast, seemed already the most mature among them, Hajina, you fellow...

The group was stopped by the guard at the door.

Even if Black Sail supports Su Yizhana's restoration.

Formalities were still necessary, as Su Yizhana, dignified as a queen in title, was nonetheless a national symbol for today's Mulong. Any mishap would lead to a complete upheaval, triggering turmoil in already embattled Mulong.

If Archer were here, he might have exploded on the spot, but those present were rational, and the proceedings were non-negotiable.

"Please inform the Empress we have matters to discuss, just say it is the administrators from Black Sail."

Fen spoke with neither arrogance nor subservience.

The procedure delayed them two minutes, it seemed Su Yizhana took some time to mentally prepare, unsure what these desperados intended to discuss.

Current favorability with Su Yizhana was -40%, in a state of animosity.

Fen checked the time, it was 1:40 in the afternoon.

The door to the room slowly opened, with the guard standing protectively beside Su Yizhana.

After the group entered, the guard shut the door.

Su Yizhana had stayed for a while at the Black Sail Stronghold in Drifting City, but back then she was somewhat averse to foreign forces, increasingly secluding herself from view.

With time and leisure now available, the group witnessing her billboard silhouette of beauty felt only awe, considering her a female saint, self-critical of their own troubling thoughts.

Morison was already having second thoughts; starting a relationship would result in cartloads of trouble rolling over Geliheng multiple times.

Rein Azu sighed; he absolutely stood no chance, Su Yizhana didn't seem like someone who understood life.

Shadi attempted to show off handsomely, yet found his body completely uncooperative, unable to pose. What! I, the handsome Elf, also encountered a moment where I wanted to portray an unpossessed quality.

The originally composed trio found themselves momentarily crashing.

Su Yizhana was also rather stunned, as these hardened figures from the East Sea stood silently, unnerving her.

"May I ask, what matters do you have?"

Su Yizhana also felt a bit restrained, as these people could both restore her kingdom and obliterate the present.

"Here's the thing, according to the agreement, we will lease Golden Palm Port for ninety-nine years. Once the railway is completed, we will also receive half of the profits. There's also a clause that we will establish some workshops within Mulong, for investment, employing Mulong nationals at West Continent's average wages, comparable to their East Sea counterparts. The demand for construction is significant, providing numerous job opportunities."

Fen went straight to the point.

Lostra, of course, shared the same drawbacks as Aran, with one of the core points being to maintain a certain number of unemployed to boost motivation among grassroots producers. There were plenty of job openings, even seasoned adventurers could take dishwashing jobs, though no one would willingly take them. Good jobs were scarce, and cross-continental dispatching packages were top-notch.

Lostra would behave just like Aran, hiring domestically for railway construction, with the added advantage of training skilled workers.

In contrast, the conditions offered by the Black Sail mercenary group were even better.

But Su Yizhana had an inherent aversion to East Sea people, suspecting a trap and responding as she had with Celeste.

"Although I don't know exactly what the project entails, legally speaking, I do not have decision-making power right now. In a couple of days, during which I will consider it seriously."

Su Yizhana replied.

Fafna started operating, but her actions stunned everyone present.

"Isn't being Empress boring, just like being an official in Aran, these people are like cockroaches, always lurking in the shadows, you have to watch every move for negative impacts. It's the last day, what's your hobby, Lord Fafna will graciously accompany you."

Fafna chomped on a sweet, talking seriously.

Fen's pupils quaked, what a joke, Day and Night! Big failure! Words like cockroach, how impolite for someone of her status, damn it!

However, as Su Yizhana looked at the cake crumbs on Fafna's lips, she found it inexplicably endearing. Never expected the dragon, who could kill thousands on the battlefield, to have such a personality.

"Seems like it is indeed so, hobby..."

Su Yizhana seemed to be pondering, and the taut strings of her heart finally relaxed somewhat, as she did indeed harbor some fear for the days beyond tomorrow.

In everyone's hearts, the plan-triumphant faces emerged, Day and Night had entered the Second Rank.