Zachak frowned deeply, not believing it was any kind of guidance but rather Marcus's doing. All high-ranking members of the sect understood techniques, and Marcus was certainly no weaker than them.

Seeing Marcus still so stubborn, and knowing he couldn't actually kill him, Zachak nevertheless felt relieved - this was actually perfect.

"Since you're so obsessed with guidance, fine then. I'll take my men and complete all remaining search operations. If this guidance proves wrong, Marcus, you won't have an easy explanation when you return."

Zachak said no more and left with Isumi.

Though Marcus was blind, he could still sense the direction of the blood hand. While his face showed no expression, internally he was experiencing tidal waves of shock because... the Dragon Lord had actually manifested.

His head turned toward that direction - precisely where the Black Sails Pirate Crew was docked at Secret Port.

On the road back to Linden City with the Military Police team.

The horses' hooves clopped steadily as they walked at a relaxed pace. After all, they were animals and couldn't maintain a gallop indefinitely.

"I really wish I could ride on those trains that'll be carrying passengers soon. Such a shame we can't go back. If I were forced to become a pirate and got... violated by a whole ship's crew... that would be too cruel."

Isumi's nerves were stretched to the breaking point. The priest situation was heading toward disaster.

"You don't need to worry anymore. The Commander has treated me well and knows perfectly that if this mission fails, we'll certainly lose our noble titles. That's why he dragged the Church into this - to share responsibility. Luckily Marcus is playing his mystical games, so we can report him. If this operation fails, we can still return to Arlan. Though our prospects would be dim and we'd definitely be demoted to maintain appearances, we'd still have official salaries to live out our days. Then the Commander can report to the Emperor that this so-called Dragon Lord is unreliable and damaging Arlan's affairs, giving us grounds to challenge the Church and settle all accounts with them."

Zachak made his assessment.

"Finally I won't be getting passed around..."

The heavy stone in Isumi's heart finally dropped. The East Coast was vast - even if they set up an impenetrable net, there would always be gaps.

"Stay focused. I didn't say this to make you give up. If you get demoted again, you'll be the lowest rank of Military Police. You want to live like that for the rest of your life? That said, we can only succeed, not fail."

Zachak felt he had been too harsh with his words yesterday and scared this young woman senseless. That wouldn't help get things done. He wanted her calm, not making her abandon all hope.

The reason the Commander cultivated him was for his own benefit - having a trusted subordinate in the Imperial Guard made various methods easier to implement.

Moreover, he absolutely could not fail. He could not stop here.

"Settle accounts with the Church? Do you mean to establish other faiths as the state religion?"

Isumi asked blankly.

Zachak was completely speechless. This wasn't just about whether she could navigate political circles - she completely lacked common sense. With this mentality, she should never have entered government service.

"The Eternal Sect has been rooted here for over a thousand years. During that time, Arlan has split and reformed countless times, yet they still stubbornly exist. Our generation cannot eliminate their influence. At minimum, we need to replace the Pope with a normal person - someone from the Emperor's side, not a genuine charlatan."

"The Eternal Sect has been rooted here for over a thousand years. During that time, Arlan has split and reformed countless times, yet they still stubbornly exist. Our generation cannot eliminate their influence. At minimum, we need to replace the Pope with a normal person - someone from the Emperor's side, not a genuine charlatan."

"There's still no news from the other side. We must hold the coastal areas firmly. It's all happening in the next couple of days. Drop your careless attitude - this is far more than just capturing someone. The other side definitely has people waiting to receive them. Killing intent lurks everywhere. This foreign land might also become our burial ground."

Zachak said coldly.

Isumi swallowed hard. Being an official in Arlan was truly terrifying.

The other side of the East Coast.

Lavender Town.

Lakeside cottage.

Cloud and Li Site were fishing by the lake.

Cloud still hadn't completely severed his past because he hadn't yet killed any Arlan people with his own hands.

But having made the decision to become a pirate, he unexpectedly felt relaxed, as if he had found some kind of release.

It seemed like from now on he wouldn't need to watch his words and actions so carefully.

Li Site was nearly driven insane listening to Cloud constantly pouring out his bitterness - something about how difficult it was to navigate the court intrigues, then suffering grievances from the Church. He really didn't want to hear some middle-aged man's complaints. If he kept fucking talking, he'd have to charge him for psychological counseling.

"Stop rambling. Whatever Emperor or Pope - pure idiots. You think I give a fuck about them? Once you're a pirate, forget the past. What fucking dragon? If it's got temper, come down from heaven and deal with me? One, two, three... not brave enough, huh? If it dares come to the East Coast, I'll rip its hood off and slap its face. The Eternal and Timeless Dragon is just a fucking joke."

Li Site was nearly driven insane listening to Cloud constantly pouring out his bitterness - something about how difficult it was to navigate the court intrigues, then suffering grievances from the Church. He really didn't want to hear some middle-aged man's complaints. If he kept fucking talking, he'd have to charge him for psychological counseling.

Cloud was somewhat surprised. These kinds of statements were earth-shattering heresy. If spoken in Arlan, believers would stone him to death in the streets.

"This shithole place is far from the emperor's reach - speak openly, act openly. You could run naked and nobody would care." Li Site watched as Cloud caught several fish while he still had empty hands, feeling somewhat irritated. "Fuck."

Li Site stood up, collected his fishing rod horizontally, and directly broke it in half with his knee. No more fishing.

Cloud's subordinates were all veterans who had received military training and survived several battles - incredibly experienced. To reach Lavender Town from inland, they had to take one of two roads to the northwest, already forming a search line. Gloria and the others would know they were coming before they even reached here.

"What's Heaven's Port like?"

Cloud's subordinates were all veterans who had received military training and survived several battles - incredibly experienced. To reach Lavender Town from inland, they had to take one of two roads to the northwest, already forming a search line. Gloria and the others would know they were coming before they even reached here.

Shadi laughed, saying: "The center of the universe. Reach the universe's highest port - Heaven's Port. If it's called Heaven, it must be an auspicious place."

Li Site, who was drinking water, almost choked. The center of the universe part wasn't exactly false, but auspicious? Not really that auspicious.

"The Count told us to arrive on the tenth day. That's almost here, but still no movement?"

Li Site and the others had already stayed here for two nights, sleeping restlessly. It was utterly draining. If they died halfway here while we waited foolishly, wouldn't that be a waste of time?

Though if they died, it wouldn't be a total loss - twelve hundred gold dragons for nothing. He just didn't know how long it would take to transition.

"What if they never come? What do we do then?"

Sven was quite cautious because Black Sails wasn't just involved in this job now. The Thieves' Guild had already taken notice. If they stayed longer, the Guild wouldn't send scouts but experts in political assassination - people no weaker than himself.

"Don't rush. Tomorrow is only the tenth day. We'll wait two more days. If we pass the night after tomorrow with nothing, we're out."

Li Site had to consider the morale of the entire ship's backbone members. Even cautious people like Ox and Fen couldn't wait that long.

Cloud frowned deeply, then quickly relaxed, his emotions extremely conflicted. He didn't even know whether he hoped they would come or die halfway.

Perhaps to sever the violent anxiety in Cloud's heart.

Cloud frowned deeply, then quickly relaxed, his emotions extremely conflicted. He didn't even know whether he hoped they would come or die halfway.

Perhaps to sever the violent anxiety in Cloud's heart.

This person quickly reined in his horse to report. It wasn't the expected scenario of three people arriving together discreetly - something big had happened.

"Where are they?"

Li Site asked. All four people by the lakeside tensed their heartstrings.