The Military Police captain never imagined he would be subjected to such severe torture by pirates.

"I already said I'd tell you everything, let me finish speaking!"

The Military Police captain was tied to a large wooden board with hemp rope, the board placed flat on two benches with his limbs and torso bound tightly, only his head able to lift about five or six centimeters.

"We're all honest men here, afraid of being deceived."

Ren grinned viciously, his tormentor attributes activating as he had Haywood bring him a carpenter's hammer and large nails.

Fen, wanting to be absolutely sure they were getting the truth, allowed Ren to mess around like this.

A large group of pirates on the deck watched Ren's actions with their scalps crawling.

"The boatswain really plays in some twisted ways."

A green-skinned orc pirate whispered while drinking with several friends he'd met on the ship, observing the officer's operations.

The Military Police captain shouted from the wooden board as Ren hammered nails from beneath the board, positioning them between the back of his head and neck.

Bang bang bang...

The sharp nails were driven five centimeters upward—he had to constantly strain his neck muscles to keep his head lifted, otherwise touching the nails even slightly would be explosive.

Micah, having nothing better to do, came up to watch the show. He was impressed yet again by the same old three methods: teeth with lemon, board with nails, stuffy bedding. With his healer's compassionate heart, he found it somewhat boring without any new techniques, so after coming up, he went back down to read.

"You see, it's not difficult. The hard part is lasting three hours, five hours. The current record is seventeen hours. And you, my friend, can you become a true hero?"

Ren looked calmly at the Military Police captain who kept his head six centimeters above the board.

Wolman stood nearby as well, watching with interest—this soldier, probably in his forties, might have invaded Beima Principality or the Great Wetlands before.

"Now begins Heaven's Port Million Q&

A! Special winter edition. For every question answered correctly, we'll reduce your burden by one hour. First question: what is the bust measurement of the famous wandering minstrel Qili? You have ten seconds to answer."

Ren began hosting the show with complete seriousness, hammer knocking against the board with loud clangs.

Fen had had enough of this idiot—serious business took priority.

"The Military Police have already started searching. When their base realizes people have gone missing here, they'll definitely come to investigate. It's only a matter of time, though later is better. But the people they want to capture aren't on our ship. This isn't Arlan—it's the East Coast. Even a mighty dragon can't suppress a snake in its own habitat. Even if we kill these twenty men, they won't risk a full-scale battle, but they'll definitely send more people to monitor this place. Carolso and the others will come eventually. The captain has been gone for two days—they should be arriving soon. Everyone should be ready to act according to the plan at any moment."

Fen spoke calmly. Even if they didn't kill these twenty men, having just a few broken-down ships and one proper vessel docked here would inevitably attract attention. Better to kill them early and be done with it to avoid complications with communications later.

"You should be a squad leader. Now I want to ask about your strategy, the names of key figures, your highest-ranking officer, and who actually gives the orders. What are their characteristics, backgrounds, and combat abilities?"

Fen interrogated him this way—the informants in the city couldn't access this kind of information, so they could only get it from this man.

"Not bad, very clear thinking."

Archer, knowing something big was coming in the next two days, hadn't been drinking but started acting like he understood everything.

"Just rest, big brother."

Ren had had enough.

Though the torture wasn't physically painful yet, the psychological pressure was skyrocketing.

The Military Police captain told them everything he knew.

They were holding firm along this coastal area.

Overall commander Zachak, born into a noble family, once studied swordsmanship under the Arlan Sword King. His skills were astonishing—he had destroyed several cult strongholds within Arlan territory, earning merits. Quite adept at political maneuvering too, he was promoted to field officer rank.

There was also a former runner-up in one of the Imperial Arena tournaments—a two-and-a-half-meter tall leonin with peerless strength and terrifying combat skills, exceptionally skilled with a massive blade, serving as a field officer.

Another was an Isumi woman, also a field officer, Zachak's trusted subordinate with unknown abilities.

Most importantly, there was a priest named Marcus. Because he neglected military orders, the task of searching Secret Port fell to the unfortunate Military Police.

Besides these people here.

There was another group relentlessly pursuing Carolso and the others—one field officer, one field officer, leading hundreds of troops.

After hearing the Military Police captain's words.

Fen judged them to be true—an ordinary person couldn't fabricate such a detailed command structure under such intense psychological pressure in such short time. These were people who could withstand scrutiny and be entrusted with important tasks by Arlan's higher-ups, especially this so-called Marcus. Since the mysterious person's guards included the Holy Spirit Church's Punisher, this definitely involved religious faction struggles.

"Fuck, we're in deep shit now, blocked from both sides."

Ren sucked in a cold breath—this was more than just a big job, no wonder the Count gave twelve hundred gold dragons without hesitation, handed out letters of marque so readily. This was leading the crew into a trap—a massive operation indeed.

"Kill-brother... what do you say?"

Even Archer wasn't being stubborn now—he wanted the invincible Kill-brother to come up with a solution.

"I'll give it a try. I can meet this so-called Sword King's disciple."

Morrison said casually.

"We're solid." Ren nodded, beginning to deliver his assessment. "When Kill-brother says it's difficult, it means he wants to play around for a while for fun. When Kill-brother says it's barely manageable, it means total domination. And this 'give it a try'? Let me put it this way—Zachak? One slash is all it takes."

"We're solid." Ren nodded, beginning to deliver his assessment. "When Kill-brother says it's difficult, it means he wants to play around for a while for fun. When Kill-brother says it's barely manageable, it means total domination. And this 'give it a try'? Let me put it this way—Zachak? One slash is all it takes."

Morrison was speechless. Were you fucking opening champagne at halftime and putting a target on my back? The Sword King's disciple—that's at least somewhat respectable.

"Heaven's Port Million Q&

A has concluded. Do you have... any last words?"

Ren looked at the Military Police captain on the board, preparing to offer some final comfort.

"I've told you everything I know. If I don't go back, I can join you!"

The Military Police captain's neck was already getting sore. Seventeen hours? That would take a real tough man.

Ren put on a fake mournful expression. "My friend, I really want to help you, but this gentleman here... he doesn't agree."

Wolman slowly stepped forward.

"Uncle here..."

Crack!

A clean waist chop, then he instructed several sailors to improve the diet of the fish in the water.

Fen gazed at the sky beyond the cave—it was almost the agreed time, but the raven still hadn't returned. He wondered how Li Site's situation was progressing.

Fen gazed at the sky beyond the cave—it was almost the agreed time, but the raven still hadn't returned. He wondered how Li Site's situation was progressing.

Meanwhile.

Sixty li northwest of Lavender Town.

Li Site, Shadi, Sven, and Cloud—all four of them whipped their horses to full speed, stirring up clouds of dust on the forest official road.

"This is really going to be the death of me."

Li Site's head felt as big as a bucket. He understood it wasn't as simple as just picking someone up and leaving quickly—there would definitely be ambushes along the way. But he never expected they'd have to stage a rescue mission too. This meant their small group would have to face off directly against one of Arlan's Military Police field officers, one field officer, and hundreds of elite soldiers.

This was truly a life-or-death situation.

"Why couldn't Gloria break through instead of you, old man?"

Li Site was exasperated.

The vanguard of the pursuing troops had already caught up with the three of them. During the chaotic battle, Carolso killed over thirty people to break through, but became separated from the other two. Gloria was with the mysterious person eighty li away at Windrest Valley, evading the pursuers.

Caroslo looked no different from a wandering swordsman—ragged gray cloak, broad greatsword, shoulder-length curly hair with short beard, grim-faced. He knew deeply that if he went back now, it would be complete disaster. He had to fetch reinforcements. Gloria possessed extraordinary strength, and that person shouldn't be underestimated either. If they just focused on escape and evasion, they could hold out for quite a while.

"Should we open the box?"

Sven was slightly tense—he had always operated through stealth and assassination, everything under control. He had never dealt with such chaos before.

"No, we absolutely cannot open it now. Not until we've rescued them."

Li Site's eyes turned icy. All their plans on that side were predicated on them receiving the person at Lavender Town. Opening it now would ruin everything.

It seemed like the final reward for this job was the letters of marque, but that wasn't actually the case. With such massive movements happening now, Li Site began to entertain other thoughts—it had become a choice between the letters of marque and the mysterious person.