Li Site picked up a flat stone and skipped it across the lake. Stealing someone's most prized possession was equivalent to killing their parents—Diaz would definitely come after Black Sails with everything he had.

"No one has ever seen him. Not a single person in the Thieves' Guild has ever laid eyes on him. He only issues commands and dispatches members through written letters. He could be anyone within the guild, or an unremarkable farmer in some village, or even a high-ranking official in the royal court. Diaz is just his pen name. Most of the time, he feels more like... an intangible concept, seeping into the dark underbelly of the Western Continent through written characters, carving out his place in the entire underground world."

Though Sven spoke these words, his emerald green beast-like pupils showed no trace of fear. He had always tried to uncover Diaz's true identity but had never succeeded.

Under Diaz's leadership, the Thieves' Guild had reached the pinnacle of what a gang organization could achieve—the absolute maximum, impossible to surpass any further.

A mature, large-scale gang organization.

It didn't need too many exceptionally skilled individuals;

that would only create fragmentation and empower subordinates with their own forces. It only required a very few key functional core members.

For a gang-style organization to grow powerful, it must make people realize that only by continuing to attach themselves to this organization can they form a fearsome "momentum."

But leave the organization, and they become nothing—just insignificant nobodies.

The Thieves' Guild had perfected this to the extreme. Among its formal members, there were no big names famous across the lands, nor were there small-fry cannon fodder. Even those with extraordinary skills remained anonymous, creating perfect balance—like parasites clinging to the capillaries of every nation in the Western Continent, all orchestrated by some shady bastard using the pen name Diaz, handling training, deployment, and funerals in one seamless package.

In Li Site's words, it was extremely murky. Even if you wanted to raise an army to wipe out the Thieves' Guild, there were no breakthrough points. Even if you took out a few hideouts, it would be like scratching an itch through boots.

You search for him across vast lands with no trace to be found, he strikes you like divine soldiers descending from heaven impossible to guard against.

It didn't need too many exceptionally skilled individuals;

that would only create fragmentation and empower subordinates with their own forces. It only required a very few key functional core members.

"Fuck."

For a gang-style organization to grow powerful, it must make people realize that only by continuing to attach themselves to this organization can they form a fearsome "momentum."

"Take a break. Staying mentally tense all the time isn't sustainable."

Li Site looked at his left hand. Everything came with a price. The materials consumed by the technique Fen had cast would cost gold dragons.

But what was the price of the Sovereign's Blade? He still didn't know. As long as it wasn't someone too incredibly powerful, this sword's evil energy could handle it.

They waited until evening when the setting sun cast its golden-red afterglow over the mountains and forests like a hazy veil.

Shadi finally arrived with Cloud and the others, coming later than expected. To maintain secrecy, they had walked here and bought over twenty horses from the local town's post station.

In Li Site's words, it was extremely murky. Even if you wanted to raise an army to wipe out the Thieves' Guild, there were no breakthrough points. Even if you took out a few hideouts, it would be like scratching an itch through boots.

They hammered wooden stakes to tether the horses. The Count knew how to pick locations—the lakeshore grew thick with purple clover, considered relatively high-quality fodder.

"Did you run into any trouble on the way here?"

Li Site needed to ensure everything was flawless.

Assassin's Creed Western Continent, Gothic mud bastard.

Shadi took off his bamboo hat and fanned himself with it. Riding horses here was exhausting.

Cloud had removed his full set of steel armor, carrying it on the horses, wearing only coarse linen clothes that revealed his sturdy, muscular physique.

"Captain, whatever it is, just speak plainly."

Cloud had previously accepted ten gold dragons. Though they were squeezed into tight quarters at the Dream Blue Hotel, after wandering destitute along the East Coast during his exile, and with no response from his connections back in Arlan, he had completely lost hope. After setting sail, there would be nowhere to spend money anyway. Since all twenty-plus men had become fugitives, they spent their days in debauchery, using up most of the money.

Even so, he still needed to ask for clarity. If they were being used as cannon fodder or bait, he would firmly refuse.

"Take a break. Staying mentally tense all the time isn't sustainable."

Li Site believed it was better to tell him upfront rather than have him discover they were killing Arlan people at the critical moment and potentially fail when most needed.

Besides, once aboard a Black Sails ship, there was no room for half-hearted measures—Cloud needed to sever all ties with his past.

But directly telling Cloud to kill Arlan people would surely ruin the deal. Right now, he still dreamed of earning enough money to wait out the storm, leave the noble he currently served, redeem his title, and become a minor official.

If Cloud heard that, he would definitely turn around and leave. He needed to be gradually persuaded.

"Do you know what military ranks exist on a military ship under the Royal Navy of the Beima Principality?"

They waited until evening when the setting sun cast its golden-red afterglow over the mountains and forests like a hazy veil.

The Arlan system where military police, officials, and nobility could act with impunity was deeply ingrained in Cloud's mind. People there believed titles were more valuable than gold, prioritizing them above all else. No matter how much money you had, without a title, you were worthless. You had to secure a title to honor your wife, children, and ancestors.

This mindset couldn't be changed with just a few words. He had to appeal to Cloud's desires.

Cloud didn't understand why Li Site was asking such a question.

"I don't understand. Is this relevant to the matter at hand?"

Cloud didn't really care. Working with pirates inevitably meant killing people. Having fallen to such lows, he had no choice but to do it.

"Of course it's relevant. Honestly, we're handling a major operation right now. If we succeed, we'll become part of the Royal Navy. We have ships, and I'm the captain—I should at least be a commissioned officer. The ship's core members would at least be junior officers. Though not nobility, military ranks carry real authority. Receiving honors and titles is just a matter of time. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Li Site placed both hands on Cloud's shoulders.

Cloud was completely stunned by this sugar-coated bombardment. It was as if he wasn't a down-and-out knight responsible for the death of his loyal noble's heir, but an elite talent being headhunted as an executive at another company.

"Just what is this about?"

Cloud pinched the bridge of his nose, pressing for answers. He instinctively felt this initiation task was extremely dangerous—not some simple job of robbing a few nobles.

Li Site knew he was already wavering. He just needed to use reason and appeal to emotions.

"We're picking someone up. Their situation is similar to yours—also an Arlan fugitive." Seeing Cloud instinctively straighten up and pull away slightly, Li Site quickly dropped two names. "A high-ranking member of the Holy Spirit Church, Carolso, and a hero-level adventurer, Gloria, are protecting him. This is no lie. Once they arrive, you'll see I'm not deceiving you. We'll all be friends moving forward, part of high society. What I mean is, you should stop thinking about returning to Arlan."

"So that means we'll be killing Arlan people?"

Cloud's tone remained calm, but his hand unconsciously rested on his waist sword. He couldn't help but connect this to yesterday's major commotion at the port—the comprehensive searches and embargo. He had thought he wasn't important enough to warrant military police attention. During this week, he had naturally inquired about Li Site—the biggest local underworld boss in these East Coast parts. Putting it together, they must have taken on this huge job that attracted the Arlan military police.

"Yes, my friend. He who hesitates is lost. With so many men following you, where else can you go? Miss this opportunity, and you'll either become bandits somewhere or return to Arlan to face the consequences. That was a major noble's son—someone with a title to inherit, whose life was extremely valuable. Do you think they'll let you go? Pull off this job, and given time, you'll return home in glory, more splendid than before!"

Li Site said no more. He had said all that needed to be said, and he spoke loudly enough for the other twenty-plus men to hear.

Shadi was speechless. The captain's glib tongue—naval commissioned officers, honors and titles, he could let slide, but returning home in glory? More like returning to Heaven's Port. Do you even believe your own words? You could talk a rock back to life.

The setting sun was blood-red.

Cloud looked at the twenty-plus soldiers following him by the lakeshore, seeing the longing in their eyes.

His throat moved as he swallowed, then he heaved a heavy sigh and thrust his sword into the ground.

Li Site knew—it was done.

Those hundred-plus men scraped together from everywhere were just cannon fodder, expendable consumables who might not survive a few battles.

People like Cloud were what Black Sails needed to truly expand further.

Now, he had successfully recruited him aboard Black Sails.