On the pier.

"This box contains a trace of spell energy I've embedded. Once opened, it will transform into a raven and fly back to me. That's how I'll know you've made contact, and our strategic deployment will begin. We'll tear open an escape route."

Fen carefully handed Li Site a wax-sealed wooden box about the size of a palm.

"Damn, that's awesome! Let me see that."

Shadi reached for the box.

"Keep your hands to yourself! Sven, keep an eye on him and don't let him touch the box."

Fen warned sternly.

Sven nodded, adding cautiously: "Just in case something goes wrong during the pickup and we get trapped, relying only on this doesn't seem reliable."

Fen rejected the concern: "The Moonwheel Swordsman and Punisher aren't pushovers. As long as the Arlan Military Police are still searching, they'll definitely make it here—they're just lying low for now. Besides, Sven, you haven't been with us long enough to see Li Site in action since he's rarely needed. If he were just some small-time player, I'd be captain of Black Sails instead. Honestly, I'm the one writing the ship's log too—he's basically just a hands-off manager."

Li Site's forehead creased with annoyance. "You shouldn't say that to my face, you know. My Qilin Arm is about to activate!"

Li Site pretended to be in pain, acting like he was on the verge of losing control.

"Wait, seriously?"

Shadi took two steps back, wary of Li Site's potential outburst.

Fen smiled without commenting. Li Site had once boasted that he injured a qilin in Cloud Rift Cave, with its blood splashing on his arm—thus gaining the "Qilin Arm." People on the Western Continent didn't even know what a qilin was;

they probably imagined it as something like a deer mixed with a dragon.

But the truth was different. Fen had read about such things in the Arcane Academy library in Pedan Kingdom—it was actually a cursed weapon called the "Sovereign's Blade."

Seven hundred years ago, there was a nation called the Radiant Kingdom that had long since vanished. Its ruler was a woman, one of the few female emperors in history, who essentially ruled as the top power in the Western Continent at that time.

The so-called "Sovereign's Blade" wasn't actually the empress's weapon. Fearful that the thirty-three Radiant Knights who conquered territories for her might rebel, she ordered the strongest mage of that era to forge thirty-three cursed swords named Sovereign. These were bestowed upon the knights to demonstrate both favor and authority—while secretly designed to steal their souls.

According to historical records, the moment someone grasped a Sovereign's Blade, it would merge directly with their flesh, its overwhelming curse instantly obliterating the soul.

Then the empress essentially engineered her own downfall.

Thirty-two knights were indeed killed, but one knight's soul didn't belong to this world, causing the cursed blade to fail. Instead, it absorbed the resentment and hatred of the other deceased knights. Ultimately, this knight used the Sovereign's Blade to kill the empress and end the kingdom's reign.

The thing inside Li Site's left hand was precisely that Sovereign's Blade.

Fen had mostly deduced Li Site's origins but had tactfully never brought it up.

"It's really activating now! Qilin Arm, Cloud-Parting Palm, Peerless Great Sword—first mate, you'd better watch out. After you die, I'll make Kill-brother the new first mate."

Li Site clutched his arm, speaking with conviction.

Every joke contains some truth, and Fen detected the underlying message but didn't care. The rules were already set in stone—anyone trying to leave the ship would be killed by the others. Bringing it up now was pointless.

"This isn't the time for nonsense." Fen had long been tired of Li Site's brain-dead comments. Ren had been quite serious when he first joined, but look what he'd become now—always talking about "activating this" and "activating that." "It'll take time to reach Lavender Town. Cloud and his group can't ride horses either, or they'll alert the enemy. Once you make contact, whether they're being pursued or not, open the box immediately. All deployments will begin operation. Good luck to you all."

"No sense of humor at all. Let's go."

Li Site left with Shadi and Sven.

Approximately forty-five minutes later.

The distance to Lavender Town was too far to walk, so Li Site and Sven bought two good horses at the official road post station for one hundred eighty silver coins each—almost equivalent to one gold dragon. But this wasn't the time to save money.

Shadi would later guide Cloud's group to Lavender Town on foot. Their group was too large, and everyone riding horses would be too conspicuous.

As a major trade city, Linden City had stone-paved roads throughout the surrounding area that remained passable even during rain. Reaching Lavender Town to the southwest would take about an hour.

Once Cloud's group arrived in Lavender Town, they would purchase horses locally. After making contact, everyone would ride back to Secret Port.

Black Sails had already thoroughly investigated Lavender Town. This wasn't some poor village—they cultivated large quantities of special red lavender, distilled essential oils, and blended them with other ingredients to create high-end perfumes sold to wealthy Arlan citizens. Luxury goods businesses were always the most profitable. The town needed carriages for freight transport, so horses were definitely available.

One hour later.

After traveling along the road, Li Site and Sven had arrived at Lavender Town.

The great plains showed virtually no elevation changes, presenting a breathtaking vista of red and purple lavender fields standing about waist-high, with fragrant aromas filling the air.

The central town featured entirely purple and red brick-tiled roofs, housing approximately six to seven hundred families—a world of difference compared to impoverished inland villages.

Due to the numerous giant celestial bodies in this world's sky, they remained visible even during daylight, making navigation exceptionally easy.

The group had already scouted the location once before.

Now familiar with the route, they headed directly toward the eastern mountain forests. About two miles past there stood a lakeside villa. All they could do now was wait.

First, they would wait for Cloud's group to arrive, letting those experienced regular army soldiers serve as scouts to search and keep watch within a several-mile radius for coordination.

Finally.

They would wait for Carolso and Gloria to arrive—and most importantly, the mysterious individual. Then they would charge straight to Secret Port and successfully set sail.

If only it were that simple.

Li Site thought to himself.

At the rendezvous point.

The Count's vacation property was extravagantly luxurious. Amid the verdant green foothills stood exquisitely mortared walls, Gothic-style wrought iron gates with pointed arches, recently maintained garden fountains, and a magnificent three-story lakeview mansion designed by a skilled architect. The small lake's water was exceptionally clear, revealing white sand, aquatic plants, and freshwater fish that could be caught for sport.

Li Site and Sven tied their horses to trees in the woods. Talking about calm composure was impossible—this area would become a battlefield before long.

"Let's wait for Shadi to arrive. We'll have to camp out for these few days."

Li Site didn't know when the others would come, but arriving early was definitely better. He had brought several days' worth of dried meat.

"Yeah."

Sven spoke even less than Ox.

After searching the house and confirming no one was present, they relaxed slightly. But they were walking a tightrope now—maintaining extreme vigilance was absolutely necessary.

Neither felt like resting inside the villa, remaining instead by the lakeside with restless anxiety.

Li Site hoped Shadi would arrive soon. He had nothing to say to this tiger man—the guy was too withdrawn. Probably from spending too much time with the Thieves' Guild, he'd become downright gloomy.

"So your hometown is in the Eisnoel Province area too?"

Li Site forced conversation. That region had been an Arlan province even during Old Arlan times—you could say he was true old Arlan stock. Wolman was from the Great Wetlands, Ox from the distant Mirror Sea eight thousand miles away, and Ren from some high-altitude plateau with ridiculously thin air.

"Yes, that's where our ethnic roots are."

Sven replied calmly.

Li Site pressed his tongue against his cheek. Why not talk about Eisnoel's beautiful scenery or women instead? With such heavy topics, how could they possibly keep talking?

Li Site squatted down like a street thug smoking, feeling the agony of waiting. He really wanted to have a go with Gloria.

Although Li Site talked tough about the Thieves' Guild, the organization was... problematic. Too corrupt and foul—you never knew when they might stab you in the back.

"Have you ever met Diaz in person?"

Li Site asked. The man definitely had skills—managing to spread his influence across multiple nations without fragmenting showed he had methodology for controlling people.