Chapter 246 Love Rival Arrives

The afternoon was quite busy.

Yesterday, I had only arranged for two passengers with the captain of the Nisan ship, but now there were three large water tanks filled with algae nuclei to transport, which required renegotiating with the captain. Additionally, I needed to go to the Navy headquarters to file the commercial taxes.

Maritime transportation costs are indeed not low. Taking two people to the Azure Kingdom would cost only about a hundred euros, but adding these three large water tanks could easily push the cost into the thousands.

The bulk of the maritime expenses, however, came from the commercial taxes. Leaving the island and entering the port in the Azure Kingdom, the Navy would inspect the cargo, imposing at least an equivalent tax on the value of the goods, doubling your costs. Some high-profit items might even require paying two or three times the tax. But this is where identity matters.

As a Holy Sanctuary hero, this title is virtually useless in the underground trade at sea, but it can exempt you from taxes in public. This truly counts as Dago's legitimate investment. Otherwise, Old Wang wouldn't be able to come up with another 800,000 in taxes.

By the time all these various errands were taken care of, it was already evening. After enjoying dinner with Dago at the hotel, she went back to her room to rest, but Old Wang's nightlife was just beginning.

He was too tired yesterday, and they were leaving tomorrow. Since they had come to this so-called gold mine, the Free Island, it would be a waste not to experience its unique attractions.

When he went to the shipyard in the afternoon, he had already met Lao Sha and made arrangements. It was just getting dark, and Lao Sha, dressed like a wealthy merchant and accompanied by two henchmen, came to the hotel to find Old Wang.

According to him, the most interesting places in the Krodia Archipelago are the various bars in the southern part of the city, right next to the docks. These aren't just favorites of pirates; local fishermen and even Navy personnel often visit them for fun.

"Life at sea is tough; many make money, but more lose their lives," Lao Sha, who was very attentive to his brother in the captain's crew, explained with a smile along the way. "Living day to day, most people with some money in hand love to visit different bars, enjoying fine wine, women, gambling, and gladiatorial fights. The pirate bars here have everything you can imagine, and if you have the money, you can indulge in any thrill."

Unlike the small, secretive orc bars in Aurora City, the pirate bars on the Free Island are truly brazen and opulent.

These are several massive ships moored by the sea, anchored with huge iron stakes and secured by dense iron chains. Despite the constant waves, these ships, being extremely large, remain perfectly still.

They appear to be former Navy ghost flagship battleships, decommissioned after years of service. The Navy removed some core components, and the hulls were purchased by merchants.

These hull-only ships are obviously incapable of sailing, and even 'floating' on the surface is challenging. Most have supports cast into the bottom that rest on the seabed, making them look like they're floating but actually fixed in place, more like boat-shaped houses by the sea.

The ships are brightly lit and lavishly decorated. As soon as you step onto the deck, you see barbecue grills, bonfires, lounge chairs, and tables. There are many people gathered here, and at the bow of the ship, various performances take place—knife throwing, fire breathing, and other traditional pirate acts, as well as captivating performances that get the blood pumping. The atmosphere is bustling and lively.

Old Wang and the others boarded the ship, where there were three more decks below the main deck. Old Sha, with a grin, introduced to Wang Feng: "The first deck is a dance floor, packed with girls in the flesh trade. If you fancy any of them, you can take her upstairs directly. The second and third decks are for mingling; the rent is fifty euros an hour. If you want something more thrilling, you can even bring them up to the deck for some action, as long as you pay enough. It doesn’t matter if it’s in public or if they care whether you’re human or not."

Old Wang wasn’t particularly interested in such matters, thinking to himself, "Am I here to spend money?"

"What about below deck?"

"Below the deck, there are three more levels, with even more entertainment options—casinos, beast arenas, and a gladiatorial arena, all converted from the original crew quarters," Old Sha explained. "The gladiatorial arena here is quite intense, with deaths every night..."

Old Wang had heard of gladiatorial arenas before, where one only leaves after death, but he had never seen one firsthand and didn’t really have a clear idea of what to expect: "We came here to broaden our horizons. Let’s head to the gladiatorial arena!"

He went down with high spirits but came out feeling a bit uneasy.

To be honest, Old Wang wasn’t unfamiliar with death. Back in Ice Spirit City, during the Ice Bee siege, he had walked through the sea of corpses piled beneath the city walls. But the deaths in the gladiatorial arena were different...

Having been through nine years of compulsory education, watching violence on TV was one thing, but experiencing it in a sealed cabin was another. Despite the daily cleaning of bloodstains, the cabin was still filled with the stench of blood and the sweat of the frenzied audience, making Old Wang feel a bit nauseous.

This was inhumane. After just one show, he dragged the excited Old Sha, who had just won some money, out of there.

He felt a bit sorry for the young man who had died, knowing he couldn’t stop it but at least choosing not to watch.

Why bother watching people die when there were singing and dancing women on the deck? Wasn’t that much more pleasant?

After taking a few deep breaths of fresh air, he felt much better. He found a spot on the deck for Old Sha, ordered some fine sea wine, and Old Sha even picked out two attractive mermaid women. These were women from the sea snail clan, with bodies as soft as silk, speaking in gentle, shy tones, exuding warmth as they sat beside Old Wang, bringing a refreshing sea breeze.

The slightly salty sea wine, the tender mermaid women, and Old Sha’s constant chatter.

This was the life... wasn’t it more comfortable than watching those violent fights?

Old Wang squinted his eyes, ready to enjoy some music, when suddenly his eyes lit up. Feiku

Hey, I actually ran into someone I know here!

It was early morning, and the golden sunrise perfectly outlined her mature, confident, and exceptionally graceful face.

Facing those hundreds of ferocious bandits and merchants, she smiled faintly, moving with ease as if taking a leisurely stroll. The black sword in her hand blossomed like a rose, her Heavenly Pivot Sword Technique casting a dazzling array of shadows.

She was so noble and untouchable, so radiant and free from vulgar charm, so mature and exceptionally graceful!

Love knows no reason; her faint, confident smile was like a mesmerizing vortex that drew Allen in at first sight, making him believe that their encounter yesterday was predestined, the true pursuit he should seek all his life!

His eyes reflected the campfire and wine, and the crowd on the deck, while his ears were filled with the noisy music and dance, and the casual chatter of his two Navy friends. They had been playmates since childhood, now serving in the Navy, both already holding the rank of major general at a young age.

Meeting old friends should have been a joyful occasion, but Allen's heart was not in it at all. His mind was preoccupied with the dazzling sword shadows and the peerless beauty he had seen that morning.

"Your Highness? Prince Allen?" Major General Luther finally managed to get Allen’s attention. He teased, "Your Highness looks troubled. Could it be you've taken a fancy to some girl?"

Before Allen could reply, Major General Kaka burst out laughing, "Old Luther, do you think the prince is like you? If he really took a fancy to some girl, would he need to pine away here? Not just in Debon, but throughout the entire League of Blades, which girl wouldn't dream of marrying Prince Allen? Unfortunately, his eyes are only for swords, breaking the hearts of countless maidens in our League, ha ha!"

Luther laughed heartily, "That's true. Being around the prince, even I have started to abstain from women. When have you ever seen me not look for a girl on the Sea Joy ship? It's only because the prince doesn't like it, how dare I bring those common beauties to bother his eyes... But speaking of which, there are a few mermaids on Old Jin's ship who are not exactly common beauties. To be fair, they are one of a kind, I..."

"Hold it, hold it, stop right there." Major General Kaka said, half-laughing, half-crying, "You can't go three sentences without mentioning your trade. Can't you live a day without women? Tonight, we're accompanying the prince, no talk about women, only swordsmanship, the Navy, and state affairs! One more mention of women, and you drink three cups!"

"I'll try, I'll try!" Luther lightly slapped his mouth, laughing, "Just afraid I might slip up. If we follow this rule, I might have to crawl out of here tonight."

Allen smiled faintly.

In the thirty years of his life before this, he believed himself to be a prisoner of the sword. From the moment he touched a sword at the age of two, he never thought of anything else. Women, to him, were nothing more than a meaningless term, and even power was but a fleeting cloud. What he pursued was the ultimate martial path, a pursuit so intense that his father never dared to consider him as an heir. But after yesterday, he understood.

His first half of life was merely a wait, and the second half was destined to be a prisoner bound by her chains.

... Nisan, setting off at dawn tomorrow.

He recalled the information he had gathered at the shipyard management center and imagined that remarkable figure, a smile involuntarily spreading across his face again. He wondered if the gift he had prepared could win her a smile.

Hmm?

After thirty years of sword practice and six years as a bounty hunter, despite being immersed in sweetness, Aaron's vigilance did not wane. He sensed someone was watching him.

Aaron’s gaze swept over the deck, but there were too many people around, bustling about, and both men and women frequently glanced at him. After all, the two men beside him in naval colonel uniforms were quite conspicuous. It was only natural for others to be curious about who he was to be accompanied by two naval colonels.

Aaron found no one suspicious and did not pay much attention. With his strength and here in the Crode Islands, there were few in this world who could pose a threat to him.

He exhaled, and his mind soon filled with thoughts of that rose-like figure, a smile playing on his lips without his even noticing.

...

Damn, he’s pretty alert... Even though I didn’t dare use my soul power and didn’t try to control it, the concealment of the Worm Deity seed is among the best. Just a slight hint of displeasure from me, and he almost noticed. No wonder he’s some kind of little hero.

But... seeing this guy daydreaming with such a blissful look, it’s obvious he’s secretly coveting my wife in his heart. While this dim-witted fellow doesn’t pose any real threat to me, having my woman ogled by another man is like seeing flies buzzing around your breakfast cake. They can’t steal your cake, but you can’t just ignore them either.

"Old Sha." Old Wang narrowed his eyes and asked casually, "Do you know that guy?"

"The one dressed like a Crodian?" Old Sha glanced at the smiling Aaron. There were many people dressed similarly in the Crode Islands, so he didn’t recognize him immediately. But the two men sitting next to him, in naval uniforms with the rank of colonel, stood out: "Oh, naval officers. Judging by their ranks, they’re colonels..."

He paused and smiled, saying, "To become a colonel at such a young age, they must be from prestigious families, sent to the navy to polish their image. These types are all bark and no bite, lacking true skills. We pirates love encountering these kinds. If we run into them at sea, they’re easy prey, a surefire ransom."

Old Wang said enthusiastically, "That would be a windfall. Why don’t we gather our brothers from the ship, capture these guys, and make a fortune?"

"Huh? Well..." Old Sha’s face turned awkward. He had only been boasting. As long as it wasn’t a large naval force, pirates weren’t afraid of naval encounters in the deep seas; retaliatory attacks were common. But this was in the Crode port. Even if Captain Sessus brought the entire Half-Breed Pirate Crew, they’d have to keep a low profile here. Causing trouble here would be courting death.