“You got your kidneys frozen in the northern cold nights,  

While I slaughter like crazy under the southern blazing sun.”  

Li Site altered the lyrics, hoping the underground bank’s treasury would have more money. If he had three hundred Gold Dragons, at least he could live very comfortably for half a year, enjoying himself in Heaven’s Port.

“Please, stop speaking your hometown dialect.”  

Ren’s head felt like it was about to explode. He was so disgusted it was as if he had eaten a lemon, almost crying. On top of that, Li Site’s singing was terrible, and he was singing in an unknown language. It was extremely irritating.

“After this, do we stay in Linden City for a while, or return to Heaven’s Port?”  

Ox cut to the chase. Everyone on the ship had wanted posters regardless of life or death, and the Black Sails Pirate Crew’s reputation was notorious. Li Site’s bounty was especially hefty; sometimes Ox even wanted to kill him himself.

Who knew how soon bounty hunters would pick up their scent? The longer they stayed, the more dangerous it would be. It was safer at sea, so it was best to return quickly to Heaven’s Port.

“Well…”  

Li Site pinched his chin, pondering.

About twelve thousand nautical miles from the eastern coast of the Beima Principality was a vast island called Heaven’s Port. The name wasn’t particularly auspicious; another nickname was the “Pirate Republic.”

Heaven’s Port allowed any ship to dock free of charge in any weather. It was a perfect hideout beloved by pirates and plunderers.

In the year 1274 of the Saint Arlan Calendar, the empire launched an eastern campaign. The Great Wall Battle crushed the Beima Kingdom, the defense collapsed, and the imperial army stormed in without mercy. Facing the complete loss of his kingdom and harsh monetary terms, the Beima king vowed never to surrender.

Yet the imperial forces, like heavenly soldiers, slaughtered all the way to the coast. The king was besieged in an isolated city and defeated, committing suicide to avoid the city’s destruction and harm to civilians. His legitimate son, Philip VI, knowing no help was coming, surrendered and went to the Arlan imperial capital to negotiate but was treacherously assassinated inside the imperial palace.

Eventually, a distant relative of the Beima royal family was installed as a puppet duke, and the Beima Kingdom became the Beima Principality.

That should have been the end, but the Arlan emperor was ambitious. They cut trees to build ships, smelted metal to forge swords, continued their eastern campaign, and even tried to conquer the Far Eastern Archipelago. These islands combined were even more vast than the already enormous Western Continent, also called the Myriad Nations.

Initially, Heaven’s Port was constructed as a military fortress, a frontline base for stockpiling supplies. But the supply lines were stretched too thin, and even if landing operations succeeded, they could only conquer a few countries as beachheads. As the allied forces rallied, the Arlan emperor was repeatedly defeated, ending the eastern campaign without resolution.

Later, Heaven’s Port transformed into a commercial port. Due to its distance, the emperor’s control was weak. Unexpectedly, the puppet prince they supported was rebellious. Several attempts to station troops there failed, and soon it was overtaken by lawless seafarers.

Over the years, relying on the fortress’s ease of defense, Heaven’s Port became a stronghold for pirates, raiders, and shipwreck survivors. These people gave Heaven’s Port a notorious reputation, also known as the “Pirate Republic.”

They often forged “lighthouses” on isolated cliffs in the eastern sea, luring ships to run aground and then robbing the cargo.

Li Site… was one of them.

In the deep blue, black sails fluttered.  

Gold and silver treasures, blood-stained blades ringing.  

Burning, killing, plundering, with no respect for gods.  

Youth fades away… all turned to wine and meat.

This was Li Site’s life.

“Let’s talk after we get the money. We can’t stay ashore too long. My deal with the local sheriff here has a time limit, at most a week.”  

Li Site thought for a moment, then steadied Ox. He knew Ox was cautious and meticulous. Ox had never messed up a job, not once. That was why he was the helmsman, effectively the first mate. The rest had all made mistakes at some point.

He was also preparing to recruit some sailors. The last time they hired, they got a reckless traitor who tried to seize the ship. Several dozen fugitives from all over stirred up a mutiny. Fortunately, the first mate, Ox, and Ren—these hundred-man enemies—were able to quell it. They killed them all and threw the bodies overboard to feed the fish. As for the ringleader, Ren tormented him endlessly.

After that incident, aside from the ten main members, the rest who went ashore all ran away. Now the funds were tight, and they urgently needed manpower. The East Coast Idea King, Shadi, came up with this brilliant plan to catch two birds with one stone.

Over the years, Li Site had recruited countless people, many of whom had died. Only the toughest survived and became the core backbone with high combat ability. Wherever they went, they could make their mark, speaking with authority. But they were all fugitives without a place to belong, just like him, forced to “do business” at sea.

“Arriving at the highest city on the East Coast! Linden City!”  

Ren suddenly burst out an incomprehensible cheer.

Li Site frowned. Ren was mentally unstable but also a clever mimic. When ordering food at restaurants, he would watch what others ate and order the same. That flashy dark red leather coat was stolen from a fashion trendsetter.

The crew had picked up some catchphrases here and there.

Li Site didn’t know why these words remained popular even in another world—probably because they were versatile and their meaning had been extended to the extreme in the current context.

Linden City guarded a bay on the East Coast with relatively small tidal differences. The harbor was wide and deep, a natural shelter. It backed onto mountain foothills, lush with greenery.

Seabirds circled the azure sky. Outside the city were vast verdant fields. The main road was bustling with traffic, merchants and vendors swarming. Most were simply dressed. People like clerics or knights, or nobles and dignitaries, had special passages and never appeared here.

The city walls were made of gray stone, impenetrable, about ten meters high, with watchtowers everywhere. The entrance checkpoint was guarded by fully armed soldiers holding long spears.

With rampant lawlessness along the coast, the regulations became strict.

Adventuring parties and merchants had to show guild-stamped documents to enter the city. Even farmers selling crops needed certification from local officials.

The entrance was lively, soldiers stopping batch after batch to inspect documents.

Queues formed, and people exchanged heated chatter, extremely noisy. All races were present, including adventurers and mercenaries carrying weapons. Many were large, fierce-looking, trying to make a living in this prosperous coastal region.

Ox and Ren stood out among the tall crowd. Their racial advantages contributed, but even within their own races, they were exceptionally tall and imposing—people who spoke and took charge.

The three of them passed through, their dangerous aura impossible to hide. People instinctively stepped aside, though some were displeased and dared not say a word or even meet their gaze.

Li Site had no time to foolishly queue for inspection.

At the front, a muscular red-haired adventurer was presenting his adventurer guild document. Ox had no patience to wait a second and shoved him aside. The sheer force nearly knocked him over. He staggered several steps and crouched, steadying himself with his hands to avoid falling.

This man was an adventurer party leader. Realizing what happened, he searched for the person who pushed him and was about to lose it.

Ox seemed to notice and glanced casually. After seeing Ox’s massive sword on his back, which weighed over three hundred pounds, the leader didn’t dare move, glaring but keeping silent.

Several members of the adventurer party glared angrily. An archer prepared to draw an arrow from his quiver, confident he could shoot the giant’s eye, even pierce his head. But the leader stopped him, shaking his head.

The guards saw the three and immediately recognized they were dangerous, and somewhat familiar, though they couldn’t place them. Still, they didn’t dare block or just let them pass. They hurriedly summoned the captain.

The Linden City sheriff had given a heads-up. The captain knew the background but said nothing. With so many people outside, they had to maintain appearances and ask Li Site to show some proof of purpose.

Li Site: “…”  

But he had no paper documents or scrolls on him.

He put his hand inside his breastplate and fumbled, then produced this.

The captain was dumbfounded. Li Site showed his own wanted poster. The outlaw’s portrait didn’t match him exactly in details but was still strikingly similar, clearly the same person.

“G-go… go ahead.”  

The captain frowned but didn’t press further.

The three blatantly entered Linden City.

“Leader, why didn’t you let me shoot him with an arrow just now? He’s just a big guy with brute strength.”  

The archer was frustrated. They had come to Linden City hoping to make a name for themselves, but they immediately took a humiliating loss.

The adventurer leader felt embarrassed but swallowed it. He explained, “Before coming here, I made some preparations. I asked a local ship merchant about what to watch out for and who not to provoke. They are members of the Black Sails Pirate Crew. This coastal area is infamous. Stay clear of them.”

“Black Sails Pirate Crew… sounds familiar. Wait, aren’t they the pirates who killed the entire family of the Blue Bay Port lord two months ago?”  

A swordsman recalled. But the Blue Bay lord family wasn’t exactly innocent—they were members of some evil cult that performed child blood sacrifices. So this pirate crew’s reputation was mixed.

“How is that possible? They committed such crimes but still swagger around the city?”  

The archer’s voice accidentally rose, disbelief clear. Were the guards blind?

“Keep it down.” The leader whispered. “Linden City is a big city, an important port for the principality. It’s not a direct fiefdom; the power struggles among nobles inside are fierce. They probably need outsiders to handle some affairs.”

“I see.”  

The swordsman suddenly understood. These checks only blocked small-time crooks from entering, so the city wouldn’t become chaotic and affect business. The real tough guys were appreciated by nobles and given a piece of the pie. There was some deep water here.

The archer was silent for a while but still dissatisfied. He added, “So what? Once we make a name for ourselves and become hall-level adventurers, these pirate scum will just be lackeys.”

The leader smiled bitterly. Having such ambitions was good. There were many talented people on the East Coast. In such chaos, having any reputation was already impressive.

“Hall-level adventurers, huh? Let’s hope so.”  

The leader said no more, took out the guild certificate, and continued to cooperate with the inspection.