Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Nangang Bu Island
Lighthouse Association, located on Nangang Bu Island.
As a trade guild operating in the shadows, Nangang Bu Island might be seen as a chaotic, tumultuous place rife with gun attacks in most people’s minds.
But during these past days at sea, Fang Yu went to check the forum specifically and suddenly discovered...
That place is chaos coming into order...
Even renegade pirates actually need a place with structure and rule-following.
And Nangang Bu Island is precisely such a place.
On it exist not only the Lighthouse Association but also various associations spontaneously organized by the pirates.
Although the entire island is beyond the control of the Ocean Court, the pirates surprisingly have self-organized to form some kind of order and rules here.
It’s likely these pirates have had enough of anarchy and lies, surprisingly self-organizing tacit rules and order on Nangang Bu Island.
This has unexpectedly altered Fang Yu’s perception of Nangang Bu Island.
Once safely out of the sea region, Fang Yu immediately had Wang Qing stand on the lookout post to keep watch.
Even at night, Fang Yu arranged for another crew member to alternate watches with Wang Qing, preventing Wang Chen from making a move at sea.
Yet something unexpected for Fang Yu...
The voyage was uneventful, even beyond safe sea regions, as though Wang Chen’s threats were mere words.
Instead, Fang Yu became even more vigilant.
At times the enemy doesn’t strike openly, possibly covertly preparing something big.
The calmer it seems, the likely fiercer the underwater currents.
Fang Yu hesitated, then ordered the crew to cover up the ship’s markings with some paints and decorations bought at Qiyun Port, for simple disguising.
Ensuring the ship no longer appeared as Salted Fish from outside, Fang Yu felt relieved, steering Salted Fish into Nangang Bu Island’s port.
"Let’s go, Mr. Pirate, now take me to meet your old friend. If we succeed in obtaining the Lighthouse Association’s transaction records, I might consider freeing you."
Fang Yu casually spoke to the pirate leader captive in the cabin.
The pirate leader now had on no bulky security shackles, replaced with alchemical technology’s basic energy suppression handcuffs.
Not costly, priced at one thousand Copper Coins each, they can suppress Transcendents at energy levels below 30, even after the pirate leader’s matters conclude, Fang Yu could reuse them in the future.
These work somewhat like devices draining one’s energy.
Hmm... A Transcendent’s extraordinary ability requires stamina and energy.
This drains the energy, making the pirate leader now seem like having had a dozen times daily, listless and pale-lipped like a renal failure look.
Renal failure dude... not, the pirate leader now had sunken eye sockets, weakly glanced at Fang Yu: "I have a name, I’m called Li Feng!"
"Alright, Li Feng, where’s your friend?"
Fang Yu couldn’t help but glanced around, Nangang Bu Island’s residents looked fierce, yet it wasn’t as violent as imagined from stereotypes.
Rather... Everyone seemed restrained, as if knowing each other were not to be trifled with and didn’t act overly ostentatious.
"Could you briefly take this off? Rest assured, your ship still has water element Transcendents, I can’t escape."
Li Feng pointed to the energy suppression handcuffs, spoke weakly.
"Uh... alright!"
Fang Yu thought about it, now on board were two water element Transcendents with ability matching Li Feng’s, indeed no worry of Li Feng escaping.
Removing Li Feng’s handcuffs, letting him breathe slightly.
Afterwards, regaining some spirit, Li Feng extended goodwill: "Before this!"
Gesturing at a dark-skinned, lean teen about eleven or twelve nearby, instructed Fang Yu: "You best give him some money, Nangang Bu Island here abides by rules, under one condition, you’re willing to pay!"
Fang Yu curiously questioned Li Feng: "Why’s that?"
"You see that child, the port has many such kids, they’re local gang members sent here to collect docking fees."
"Pay the docking fee, and the collecting gang protects your ship, other gangs also silently don’t cause trouble."
"Else once you leave, immediately someone comes harassing, it’s quite normal."
"Even seasoned pirates must obediently pay docking fees, local ruffians’ capabilities aren’t those pirates could match."
Li Feng casually spoke.
Listening to Li Feng, Fang Yu nodded, summoned the far-off kid: "Kid, how much is the docking fee?"
This kid, dark-skinned and lean, had skin rougher from prolonged sun exposure, raised his head looking at Fang Yu, eyes round yet full of innocence.
But Fang Yu recognized, in a shadowy area’s upbringing, the kids’ notion of innocence remarkably differed from those in lawful society.
Consider these kids as harmless, could end fatally without knowing how...
"Captain Sir, the fee is one thousand Copper Coins per day, five thousand weekly for better value."
The kid crisply spoke.
Upon the kid’s words, Fang Yu turned towards Li Feng, seeing Li Feng silently nodded, immediately retrieving five thousand Copper Coins from his coat handing to the kid.
Luckily, Lu Kun deliberately provided support with one hundred thousand Copper Coins for Fang Yu going to Nangang Bu Island, otherwise paying docking fees would fail.
Indeed, Fang Yu handing over Copper Coins, soon two men appeared seemingly out of nowhere, casually affixing a label with special emblem onto Fang Yu’s ship.
Nearby other Nangang Bu Island residents, upon spotting the label, withdrew their gazes, no longer staring at Fang Yu’s vessel.
...
Ensured the ship’s safety, Fang Yu instructed Du Ran and others to remain aboard, bringing only Luu Yuan and Luo Kuan to seek Li Feng’s friend.
The group advanced, Li Feng leading ahead, while Luu Yuan and Luo Kuan flanked the rear, preventing his escape at any moment.
"Is your friend reliable? Certain he’d assist us in risking to obtain the Lighthouse Association’s client data?"
Fang Yu casually queried.
Hearing Fang Yu’s inquiry, Li Feng turned smiling: "Rest assured, we’re very close, grew up in the same split pants, blood brothers with life-or-death bond."
"However... need to borrow your handgun shortly."
Li Feng hesitated to say.
"Borrow a handgun?"
Luu Yuan and Luo Kuan instantly tensed up, but Fang Yu wasn’t concerned, casually handed a standard handgun to Li Feng.
This is mere toy for him now.
Even should Li Feng point the handgun at Fang Yu’s head, he wouldn’t flinch, clueless that Li Feng might be up to.
Li Feng unexpectantly found Fang Yu’s generosity.
No comment, taking the handgun, solemnly led on.
Soon, arriving at a slightly dilapidated small courtyard.
He knocked on the door ahead.
Soon, the door discreetly opened a crevice, a mechanical prosthetic eye unveiling from behind, cautiously surveying outside.
At this, Li Feng promptly raised the handgun, aimed at the person behind the door:
"Open the door, let me in, or I’ll blast your brains!"
Fang Yu: ...