On the path to Secret Port.

"Who's there?"

Ren immediately dropped the bounty posters upon detecting movement in the trees.

A thunderous explosion erupted, the sheer sword wind bending nearby grass blades nearly to breaking point, rustling violently.

Ox drew his greatsword and delivered a horizontal slash with mountain-splitting force - a tree thicker than a washbasin was cleanly severed, its cross-section perfectly smooth. With a prolonged crashing sound, the tree toppled sideways, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"It's me."

Sven nimbly leaped to another tree branch before landing silently on the ground like a feather.

Recognizing the newcomer, Ren eyed Sven with disdain. This guy probably had dirty secrets, hiding his Thieves' Guild origins. Who knew what trouble he might bring later.

"What are you doing here?" Ox remained wary of this tiger man with unclear background.

Sven updated them about the city situation - the job was done, payment secured. The first mate and Shadi were right behind with a group of laborers, while the captain and Kill-brother handled final matters. Hearing commotion here, he came to investigate, only to find Ox and Ren.

"Which gang did these corpses belong to?" Sven asked, eyeing the severed body parts and one particularly mangled corpse.

"Just some overambitious bounty hunters." Ox scrutinized Sven as if trying to see through him.

After assessing the situation, Sven put two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply.

Soon Fen and Shadi arrived with a group of laborers.

Seeing their heavily laden state, Ren spread his arms in dramatic welcome:

"Return to us, General Fen, my proudest faith~

Magic clear before my eyes, tears flowing without reason~

Still remembering Blue Bay Port, and those badass necromancies~

Driving enemies away, slaughtering all the navy men~"

Ren burst into song.

Ox's face soured like he'd bitten a lemon. Even Fen looked like his head might explode - this guy was too damn abstract, pure brain damage. If Li Site didn't rein in his speech soon, the whole Black Sails crew would turn into these rabid dogs. Truly, rotten leadership spoiled the crew.

Rubbing his temples, Fen dismissed the nonsense and asked Ox for details. After hearing Ox's analysis, Fen agreed these bounty hunters likely acted independently for wealth rather than being hired.

The laborers, already nervous about taking backroads, grew terrified seeing the corpses - when had they ever witnessed such violence?

"Sirs, please keep the payment. We can't go further," the lead laborer begged fearfully, especially intimidated by the towering non-human figures Ox and Ren presented, their weapons still bloodied.

The exhausted laborers, drenched in sweat from carrying heavy loads, lost all strength at the gruesome sight. One collapsed weakly, unable to continue.

Ox sheathed his greatsword and eyed the laborers. Since Secret Port wasn't far, he grabbed a rope from one laborer, tied six large sacks together, his muscles bulging as he effortlessly slung the massive bundle over his shoulder.

The laborers gaped - each sack weighed at least 80-90 pounds. Even Shadi remained awed by this monstrous strength every time he saw it. While Wolman's insectoid bulk looked most terrifying and indeed possessed raw power, it was dead muscle. Ox's physique was equally frightening - pure lean muscle with near-zero body fat. In two words: absolute dominance.

Fen wouldn't withhold payment - pirate or not, his noble upbringing remained.

"You carried heavy loads over miles. Of course you'll be paid."

Generously, Fen produced ten silver coins for the lead laborer to distribute.

"This...this is too much! We normally get three copper coins per trip," the laborer protested nervously.

"Shut up and take it, then scram," Ox coldly commanded.

"Thank you, sirs! Thank you!" The laborers bowed deeply, fingers interlaced in supplication, practically running away after glimpsing the corpses.

"Big haul! How much in total?" Ren asked excitedly.

"Need proper counting aboard. Too many loose coins. Combined with your take, roughly over 400 gold dragons, maybe 430-440," Fen calmly replied. Not Black Sails' biggest score, but certainly their most efficient - low investment, short cycle, high returns, minimal risk. A bloody jackpot.

"Fuck me..." Ren was speechless. Just messing around in Linden City yielded this? Why bother being pirates? No decent folk drifted at sea. Might as well become highwaymen here.

"That's nothing." Shadi briefly opened a sack, revealing jewelry glittering in sunlight before retying it.

"Holy shit! Lord Guan Yu bless us!" Ren crossed his fingers skyward in prayer - the deity had truly manifested this time.

Most East Coast residents worshipped the Tide and Storm Saint of the Holy Spirit Church, also called Lord of Endless Azure. To Ren, universal belief meant no belief at all. If everyone prayed to the same god during conflicts, who would the deity help? Would it descend as mediator? How arrogant to think gods would care!

Thus it was better to worship another deity. With fewer followers like themselves, the Saint might show face to this god - celestial colleagues helping each other out.

Ren didn't know which pantheon Guan Yu belonged to - just that it came from Li Site's homeland. Though Li Site claimed atheism and discouraged superstition, mocking West Continent religions for outrageous claims about universe-shaking deities - after a millennium of recorded history in Saint Aran's meticulously documented annals, nothing had happened - he still kept a statue in his cabin.

When questioned, Li Site only said "ancestral ways cannot change," hypocrisy evident. He'd commissioned an expert woodcarver for multiple attempts at that statue. This convinced the crew Guan Yu truly worked - hence their own worship.

"Can't rule out more bounty hunters. I'll return to assist the others - they don't know the situation yet. You stay with the goods," Fen decided, casually tossing the 300+ gold dragon pouch to Ren, who caught it deftly.

"Alone?" Sven questioned.

"You underestimate General Fen, my proudest..." Ren began, but Fen had already left, unwilling to endure more nonsense.

Sven told Shadi, "He said earlier he wouldn't bail them out."

Seeing two remaining sacks, Shadi easily lifted one: "Now you understand - these guys say one thing, do another."

He threw the other sack at Ren, who preferred traveling light.

"You were main force - scouting and skinning. You should carry loot," Ren tossed it back, referencing Shadi's claimed "qi cultivation" from myriad kingdoms study - his combat skills suggested truth.

"No no, as both rigging master and boatswain, your contributions warrant it," Shadi returned it.

"Ah yes yes, your seniority aboard deserves this honor."

"Ah yes yes, collecting debts from tough customers in Linden City, especially as winter comes - your burden is greater."

"You take it."

"You take it."

"After you."

"After you."

"Bro Shadi - superior."

"Bro Ren - solid."

This went on for a minute until Ox had enough.

"Stop wasting time." He shouldered all remaining sacks, exasperated by these idiots.

Ren and Shadi chorused: "Bro Ox - superior AND solid!"