Chapter 119: Leaving Home

On the third day after the New Year, Lin Qi and Arthur each set off with their respective teams.

The rare fine weather had cleared the dark clouds in the sky, and golden sunlight shimmered across the sea, casting a splendid pale gold hue over the rippling waves—just like Lin Qi’s favorite gold coins. It was a good day. Sailing upstream along the Seine River, Lin Qi could safely return to the imperial capital in just two days.

For Arthur, however, this was the worst possible weather. Those living along the northern coast well knew that every clear day in the dreadful winter was followed by a terrifying blizzard capable of obliterating everything in its path. Lin Qi only needed two days to reach the safety of the imperial capital and avoid the storm, but Arthur had to lead a fleet of twenty armed ships across two thousand miles of sea, heading toward the territorial waters once fiercely dominated by his father, the Red-Haired Ghost.

The thought of sailing two thousand miles amid a blizzard sent chills down Arthur’s spine.

Having spent years with the Black Tiger family, Arthur had lived a life of ease and luxury. He was a pampered young master, accustomed to wealth and comfort. The mere thought of leaving the luxurious suite of the Green Gem Hotel, parting from the warm embrace of beautiful ladies, and setting sail with over a thousand fierce pirates to endure hardship and battle on the sea—just like his father, the Red-Haired Ghost—made bitterness rise in his mouth.

But Arthur had no choice.

Blackbeard was fair. On the third day after the New Year, he sent his biological son out of Dunkirk to open new territories and expand the Black Tiger family’s influence in the imperial capital. As Blackbeard’s adopted son, Arthur had to do the same.

It was impossible for the biological son to go out and fight for territory while the adopted son remained at home living in luxury.

Even the black-clad butlers of the Night Alliance would agree that Blackbeard’s decision was entirely justified. On the same day and at the same time, a biological son and an adopted son set off to strive for their futures. It was fair, just, and transparent. Who could deny Blackbeard’s reasoning?

The cold wind filled the sails. Arthur stood at the bow of the flagship, forcing a smile as he waved repeatedly at Blackbeard and his entourage bidding farewell.

Behind Arthur’s flagship were twenty armed warships nearly fifty meters long each. These ships appeared civilian on the outside, but their construction and materials were on par with warships. Their speed and combat power closely matched that of the empire’s regular navy. With over a thousand pirates aboard, this force was terrifying on the sea. Unless it was a heavily armed imperial fleet, no cargo or passenger ship could escape their plundering.

The farewell port was not the official harbor of Dunkirk, where a pirate fleet could never boldly appear.

This was the Black Tiger family’s secret harbor, located thirty miles outside the outskirts of Dunkirk. Flanked by sheer cliffs and densely covered with trees, the small bay was heavily fortified. The Black Tiger family had stationed dozens of small warships here year-round, and with several formidable fortresses atop the cliffs, the harbor could withstand attacks from local Dunkirk garrison fleets and even the empire’s Northern Sea fleet.

On one side of Arthur’s twenty armed ships was a large passenger ship preparing to take Lin Qi and his party to the imperial capital. Seventy meters long, it was purely a civilian vessel. Lin Qi, draped in a massive bear fur coat like a black bear, stood at the bow, smiling warmly at Arthur less than fifty meters away.

Arthur did not glance at Lin Qi. Instead, he looked deeply at Blackbeard standing on the dock, bowing deeply: “Father, I will work hard. When I have the chance, I will come back to visit you.”

Blackbeard smiled and nodded, wrapping an arm around the slender waist of Black Rose, his beloved. He waved at Arthur, saying, “May the Sea God bless your harvest, dear Arthur. Take care of yourself, and consult the elders if you encounter anything.”

After giving Arthur a few words of advice, Blackbeard turned to Lin Qi, squinting his eyes and speaking sternly, “Lin Qi, remember what you are going to do in the imperial capital. Don’t mess around. Get things done properly. If you dare to make a mistake, I will teach you a lesson!”

Lin Qi casually puffed on a cigar, exhaling thick smoke with a grin as he waved at Blackbeard: “Don’t worry, old man. You stay here and enjoy yourself with Aunt Rose for a few more days. I’ll handle things in the imperial capital. With this many people and this much money, if I can’t accomplish something great there, then I truly am useless!”

Laughing heartily, Lin Qi turned to Arthur and waved: “Arthur, I wish you a smooth journey!”

Arthur smiled too, though hatred burned in his heart like dripping blood. Still, he forced a smile.

A smooth journey? Tomorrow or the day after was the blizzard. How could anyone wish him a smooth journey? Yet Arthur had to keep his cheerful face. He could not let anyone see his hostility toward Lin Qi. He must wait for the day when Lin Qi was dealt with—that day, he would naturally inherit everything of the Black Tiger family!

Even as an adopted son, on the Western Continent, adopted sons had the right to inherit the family.

With a radiant smile, Arthur clenched his fist toward Lin Qi: “Lin Qi, do well. Don’t bring shame to Father!”

Lin Qi laughed. Shame Blackbeard? He couldn’t care less. Looking at Arthur’s smiling face, he suddenly felt a pang of pity for this flower nurtured in a greenhouse by Blackbeard. Could he truly endure the harsh climate of the Northern Sea?

Out of some kindness for Arthur’s fleeting luck, Lin Qi magnanimously forgave his past mistakes.

“Why waste anger on the dead?” Lin Qi cheerfully tossed his cigar into the sea, waved at Blackbeard, and shouted loudly, “Weigh anchor, set sail, head to Dunkirk, then follow the Seine to the imperial capital! Arthur, have a smooth journey—you really must have a smooth journey!”

Basking in the dazzling sunlight, Lin Qi once again wished Arthur well. The large passenger ship slowly departed, carving an arc in the small bay before plunging into the narrow strait leading to the open sea.

Arthur saluted Blackbeard, drew his sword, and shouted sternly, “Weigh anchor, set sail, head for Black Magic Sea Cape!”

Following closely behind Lin Qi’s passenger ship, the twenty armed vessels also slowly left the small bay.

Blackbeard tightened his hold on Black Rose’s waist and muttered softly, “Alright, both my beloved son and my damned son have left. Now I can finally relax. Hmm, how about you stay here with me for a month?”

Black Rose laughed coquettishly, swaying her waist like taffy as she nestled into Blackbeard’s embrace.

In front of thousands of subordinates on the dock and ships, Blackbeard laughed uproariously, scooped Rose into his arms, and eagerly retreated into a small guard post at the dock.

Hammer stood on the quay with his hands behind his back, leisurely remarking, “Spring is coming. The master is in heat again!”