"The young master came to the principality to discuss building railways with the king, hoping to breach a section of the Great Wall in the western part of the principality to allow railway access for trade between the two nations. Before negotiations could begin, the king's envoy arranged for us to stay in a guest residence overnight, planning to meet the next day. Unexpectedly, the young master suffered a heart attack that very night, alas..." Cloud grew increasingly distressed as he recalled the events, lamenting his terrible misfortune.

Fen also felt this man was catastrophically unlucky. If it had been due to inadequate protection, that would have been understandable. But dying in the king of Beima's own residence? That was absolutely disastrous. There was no possible justification, especially since they'd come to discuss no small matter. This mess was too complicated to explain away - even if he survived returning home, he'd be completely ruined. His life was effectively over.

"Could it have been poisoning?" Fen suspected something fishy.

"That day was indeed chaotic. Too many people, too many details now blurred. It's too late to speculate now - the catastrophe has already occurred." Cloud privately shared this suspicion but couldn't face the reality, preferring to shoulder the blame himself.

Li Site's focus was elsewhere. While these men were intelligent, they lacked historical perspective. The lessons from history books back home suggested something bigger was brewing.

"Damn it, you Arlan folks are planning to completely devour this eastern wasteland, aren't you? War's probably coming again." Li Site lit a cigarette as he made this prediction. This official's son was ultimately just a scout in the emperor's eyes - sent ahead to test the waters. He'd always said the current King of Beima was somewhat brain-damaged, and now it seemed collapse was imminent.

"It's just an envoy's death. Even if he was important, why would that start a war?" Archer, thoroughly drunk as usual, completely misread the atmosphere. Despite Cloud's darkening expression, he kept blathering about an envoy's death being insignificant.

"You should really rest now." Fen wanted to punch someone - this drunkard was truly despicable.

Li Site continued: "War isn't about who kills more people determining the winner. It's about rapidly integrating conquered territories into immediately usable resources. Once railways are established, they surpass canals by leaps and bounds - supply lines become lightning fast. Resources from occupied areas can be mobilized to the front lines through sweatshop exploitation, like how hand-sewing can't compete with textile machines. Beima Principality is already a bandit nation with refugees everywhere. If railways are completed, let's just say - ten days from the Great Wall to Linden City, about twenty times faster than the six months it took during the old king's defeat and suicide. Direct access to these ice-free eastern ports, cutting out middlemen profits."

Cloud hadn't actually understood the railway's purpose, naively believing it was just for trade convenience with the Far Eastern Isles. If convenience was truly the goal, conquest would be simpler. This reasoning made terrifying sense, making him even more afraid to return. How could he possibly report this?

"Your crew is quite impressive, having such insight. The first railway just opened, yet you've already thought this far ahead." Cloud spoke to Fen, mistakenly assuming he was the captain.

Li Site nearly spat blood hearing this.

"Uh...this is actually the captain - Li Site, from the Far Eastern Isles region." Fen introduced properly.

Li Site himself claimed his hometown was in the far east of the Far East - ridiculously distant.

Cloud laughed awkwardly, downing a cup in apology. Mainly because Fen carried himself with refinement in dress, manner and speech, while Li Site, being an extraterrestrial being, was sprawled comfortably in his gaming chair without any decorum - the epitome of "pirate" uncouthness, far less "modern" than Fen.

"Truly worthy of being captain, possessing such strategic vision." Cloud now regarded these pirates more highly. The informant had mentioned another group earlier - while they wouldn't dare take him in, he'd also looked down on those riffraff.

"If you'd accept our group - we won't kill civilians or righteous people, but otherwise we'll do what's needed. Not to boast, but my men could wipe out those port pirates in the time it takes to drink coffee. We don't seek rank, just survival until the storm passes, earning enough to redeem our noble status." Cloud spoke solemnly. Both Fen's demeanor and Li Site's earlier words convinced him this group was infinitely more promising than the last - like comparing clouds to mud.

As for the drunkard they'd brought - ultimately pirates were pirates. One couldn't make money by reciting poetry with scholars.

Fen gave Li Site a look - time to leave. Obtaining such information made the trip worthwhile. Major changes were indeed coming. If the emperor attacked, even Heaven's Port might suffer, leaving pirates like them unemployed. He'd been hesitant about seeking refuge with his old acquaintance the lord of Linden City, but now saw that "Official Chai" might be their best option.

"I operate by three principles. The third is: whoever has money pays. No bullying the weak, as you say. Truth be told, two months ago at Blue Bay Port, I slaughtered that entire family of twenty-some cultists who performed child blood sacrifices." Li Site took a drag, getting carried away.

Fen was exasperated - time to go, why brag like this? Were they really taking these men aboard?

Despite this, Cloud and his men sensed these eastern pirates operated differently from inland thugs - these were genuine desperadoes.

Li Site, however, had other plans to utilize these men.

"Joining us isn't impossible, but you'll need to prove yourselves. If you trust me, take these ten gold dragons first. Rest and enjoy the city at my expense - preferably staying at Dream Blue Hotel. In ten days or so, I may have work for you. Meet there. If successful, we'll sail the seas together as kings of the world." Li Site opened his purse, revealing coins stamped with the Eternal and Time Dragon's shimmering crest - the emblem far more popular than the dragon itself.

"Without having done anything, how can we accept payment?" Cloud hesitated - ten gold dragons was significant. "What kind of work? Please speak plainly."

Li Site was speechless - who was he supposed to ask? The lord hadn't specified yet. "What else? Just resolving some business disputes." He answered calmly.

Ten minutes later, the three left the alley.

"Captain, you're truly foolish. Give me ten coins to kill someone and I'll do it perfectly. Giving it to outsiders? They'll just take the money and run." Archer looked disgusted.

"What do you know? Sometimes money not spent directly is money best spent. Without demonstrating capability, who would respect you? Where could they possibly run? Let me be frank - in Linden City's underworld right now, yours truly reigns supreme." Li Site twirled his flintlock proudly.

Fen, however, understood Li Site's thoughts. Truthfully, even Li Site was uncertain about the coming "big job." Though somewhat unethical, they could send these men to scout first when the time came.