Chapter 115: The Black-Clad Butler

Lin Qi changed into a sturdy outfit, armed himself with a finely crafted sword, and followed Blackbeard out of the ancestral mansion's grand gate. After all, three black-clad stewards of equal standing to Blackbeard himself were visiting, so the reception had to be conducted with the highest protocol, and naturally, Lin Qi could not be absent.

The Night Alliance was a grand coalition of all the dark forces along the northern coastline of the Western Continent. The Night Alliance had no single leader; its highest authority was the Night Alliance Council, composed of thirteen black-clad stewards including Blackbeard. The Night Alliance was a loose confederation, exerting little binding power over its members. Its main role was to mediate internal disputes and resolve conflicts within the coalition.

For instance, if two major factions were on the brink of open war over some issue, whether those factions themselves or other neighboring powers, they could submit the matter to the Night Alliance for judgment. The thirteen black-clad stewards would each voice their opinions and attempt to mediate the conflict as fairly and reasonably as possible.

If both parties accepted the Night Alliance’s mediation, peace would be restored, and they would lay down their arms to live quietly. But if they refused, they were free to engage in brutal, bloody warfare as they pleased. After all, every member of the Night Alliance was a ruthless dark force; if two major powers clashed and severely weakened each other, others would seize the opportunity to swallow them whole.

The dark world followed the brutal law of the jungle without mercy. The thirteen black-clad stewards were the most fearsome beasts at the top of the food chain in this shadowy wilderness. Their formation of the Night Alliance was essentially to uphold the jungle's rules and prevent the forest from becoming so chaotic that it would attract unwanted attention from outsiders.

A vast procession of several hundred men marched toward the ancestral mansion’s main gate. Blackbeard, clad in black battle attire with a magnificent golden silk cloak draped over his shoulders, laughed heartily, swaying his massive body like a giant bear as he stepped outside.

“Brothers and sisters, this is the very first day of the New Year, the first day! What brings you interest to visit me on such a day?”

Outside the gate, three carriages rested, each unassuming and low-key in appearance. Nearly a hundred guards in battle gear surrounded the carriages. Each guard was muscular and fierce, their eyes sharp and piercing—undeniably elite warriors. Among them, several radiated a palpable aura of menace, likely possessing the strength of the Heavenly Rank, just like the likes of Iron Hammer and Butcher.

Whether prearranged or not, as Blackbeard led his men out, the doors of the three carriages opened simultaneously. Before anyone emerged, laughter spilled forth. One laugh was sharp and piercing, another smooth yet frail, and the third sweet and charming, as if a dollop of rich cream had been stuffed down one’s throat, making one feel an involuntary wave of cloying delight.

The sharp and piercing laugh belonged to a rotund, round man who looked like a ball. Lin Qi clearly saw that when this fat man rolled out of the carriage, the entire carriage rose more than an inch. Butcher whispered beside Lin Qi, “Fat Bird Kirk. He’s got a hand in all the smuggling along the northern coastline. Because of him, the coastal nations lose over twenty million in tax revenue annually!”

The smooth and frail laugh came from a tall, slender man who resembled a measuring worm. His head appeared as if carved by a blade—sharp at both ends, rounded in the middle, like a jujube pit. He was almost as tall as Blackbeard but was so thin that his body was probably slimmer than Lin Qi’s leg. Despite his lanky frame, he had a pronounced hunchback, giving him an odd appearance.

Butcher continued softly, “Mantis Dawn. He’s linked to at least thirty bandit gangs. Hundreds of kidnappings in the northern continent each year are connected to him. For example, last year, the Duchess Shefiya of the Ruili Kingdom was kidnapped and ransomed for five million, which was eventually negotiated down to three million before she was safely returned. That was Dawn’s handiwork.”

Lin Qi grinned. Fat Bird Kirk was bad enough, but Mantis Dawn dared to kidnap a duchess from a kingdom. His audacity was considerable, and his methods ruthless. Especially after abducting such a high-ranking noblewoman and still managing to survive—his strength was beyond doubt.

The last laugh, sweet and alluring, belonged to a woman as enchanting as her voice. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a tall, mature figure resembling a ripe peach that begged to be bitten into. Her tight, black gown accentuated every curve perfectly. At first glance, her face seemed as young as thirteen or fourteen, but a closer look suggested she might be in her thirties—mature and refined. By the third glance, one would completely lose track of her age, utterly captivated by her eyes.

Such a stunning woman was introduced by Butcher as the Black Rose Lady Ross, the largest slave trader in the northern continent. Her reach was vast—strong men from the Black Spirit Continent, strange tribes from the Five-Connected Islands, earth spirits and demons from the Earth Spirit Continent—all but the mysterious Eastern Continent, which she dared not touch, were found as specimens in her dungeons.

“There are reliable reports that a year ago, the Saintess of the Black Spirit Continent was kidnapped. It’s believed to be her doing,” Butcher said with a cold sneer. “The Saintess of the Black Spirit Continent—who knows how her people managed to escape from there?”

Saintess of the Black Spirit Continent? Lin Qi instinctively thought of the ancestral spirit warriors who self-ignited their souls and lives to save Ya and Ling.

“Hahaha, dear brothers, especially dear Rose, it’s been a long time since you’ve visited me!” Blackbeard spread his arms wide to welcome them. He ignored the grinning Fat Bird Kirk and Mantis Dawn, focusing instead on embracing the coquettish Lady Ross. His large, rugged face rubbed vigorously against her delicate, beautiful features, as soft as a peeled egg.

Lin Qi rolled his eyes and mumbled quietly, “Dad must have quite a few lovers, huh?”

Butcher smirked and whispered, “Indeed, the master has many lovers, but since young master has returned home, the master doesn’t dare to meet any of them.”

Lin Qi nodded. “That’s because he’s afraid I’ll tattle to mother. Tch, he’s scared she’ll sneak out in the middle of the night and strangle him.”

Butcher’s face darkened; he awkwardly turned away, unwilling to continue this conversation. Who else but Lin Qi would dare to greet his own father like this on the very first day of the New Year? Even Enzo had stepped aside a few paces to distance himself from such a wild son.

Blackbeard held Lady Ross for a full two minutes before finally releasing her. As he moved to embrace the other two, Lin Qi’s expression suddenly stiffened.

From Fat Bird Kirk’s carriage, a bruised and beaten Arthur slowly emerged.