Chapter Ninety-Three: Returning to Harbor

In the cabin of the Sea Windmill, Lin Qi and Lieutenant Colonel Navy drank and laughed together. Since the ship was about to sail back to Dunkirk, Lin Qi gave all the surplus supplies aboard to Lieutenant Colonel Navy, much to the delight of the navy officers and sailors in the patrol squadron. After all, the provisions issued to them by the Imperial Navy Ministry were nowhere near as generous as those carried by the Sea Windmill.

Lieutenant Colonel Navy also took a moment to inspect the small scrap of paper Lin Qi had slipped into his hand: an unremarkable little note, a bearer draft issued by the Bank of the Golden Lettuce Family of Dunkirk, payable on sight, bearing a line of figures that made even his heart tremble: twenty thousand gold coins.

With the military merit of a stone titan, combined with the credit earned in the Dragon City campaign against Viking Axe Gorge, and with twenty thousand gold coins in private income, by the time the port of Dunkirk finally came into view, Lin Qi and Navy had become friends—very close friends.

When Lieutenant Colonel Navy returned to his flagship and resumed command of the squadron’s patrol, Lin Qi and he embraced warmly, bidding each other heartfelt farewell. Lin Qi cordially invited Lieutenant Colonel Navy to visit the Black Tiger Family whenever he had the time, and Navy in turn assured Lin Qi that any vessel connected to Lin Qi’s family would receive the squadron’s absolute protection on the waters near Dunkirk.

Standing at the Sea Windmill’s bow, Lin Qi waved again and again to the departing patrol squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Navy stood at the stern of the flagship, gazing long and hard back in Lin Qi’s direction. Both men knew they had found a good friend.

When the squadron’s sails had gradually vanished into the sudden blizzard, Dragon City appeared silently at Lin Qi’s side.

“I’m very curious,” he said. “In this damned place of yours, what is the punishment for bribing a military officer?”

Lin Qi widened his eyes in innocence. They were clear and pure, like those of a newborn infant. “Bribing who? By the gods, honored Sir Dragon City, even if you are a mighty celestial knight, you cannot slander me like this! Where is your evidence, or is this nothing but a false accusation?”

Dragon City curled his lip. He had no evidence in hand; by now that gold draft was probably hidden by Lieutenant Colonel Navy in the most secret corner of his flagship cabin. Where was he supposed to find proof? With a cold snort, Dragon City gritted his teeth. “Viking Axe Gorge and those two temple mages were my achievements. You handed those achievements to your friend, so I want a larger share of the profit from that big fish.”

A flash of gold suddenly crossed Lin Qi’s pure eyes, and then they turned fierce, like those of a wolf that had gone ten or half a month without food. He bared his teeth and growled in a low voice, “Even if you are a powerful celestial knight, you cannot go back on your word. Don’t even think of taking another copper from me!”

Dragon City fixed his gaze on Lin Qi and said darkly, “But I was the one who killed them!”

Lin Qi replied shamelessly, “Yes, you killed them—but what good does that bring you? Sir Dragon City, we must pursue maximum benefit. My most respected mentor, Professor Cohen, taught me that in everything we do, we must pursue maximum benefit!”

He even reached out politely and brushed a little snow from the collar of Dragon City’s blue fox-fur coat. Smiling, he said, “You are not one of our Empire’s people. Killing them brings you no advantage at all. But if you hand this merit over to me, I can give you other benefits. Not gold, of course—but what about beautiful women? I can introduce you to a few lovely ladies!”

Dragon City’s eyes lit up at once, and they took on the same predatory glint as Lin Qi’s, like a wolf that had gone hungry for half a month. His pupils seemed almost green. A faint smile touched his lips, and he straightened his chest, clasped his hands behind his back, and said with lofty pride, “Don’t try to fool me with those cheap painted dolls. Lin Qi, I, Dragon City, am not that kind of frivolous man. You should understand that I am not the sort who can casually let my spotless body be defiled by others. I...”

Lin Qi understood Dragon City’s nature all too well. This was nothing but an arrogant, narcissistic bastard. Impatiently, he waved him off and interrupted with a smug laugh. “On that point, rest assured. The western continent is certainly not as wealthy as the east, but beautiful women are never lacking. Right here in Dunkirk, I can find you several lovely girls!”

With a soft sigh, Lin Qi narrowed his eyes and said in an odd tone, “You’re a few days too late. A few days ago, there was a pair of exceedingly beautiful women here, beauties so lovely they seemed almost divine, unlike anything one could ever expect to see. It’s a pity you came too late. I believe that if you had seen them, you would not have been able to resist taking them by force.”

Dragon City said nothing. He looked up at the sky with an air of haughty indifference, as though to tell Lin Qi what beauty had he ever not seen? Yet the ears he had unconsciously pricked high betrayed his true thoughts: could there really be women that beautiful? Were they truly worth Dragon City taking them by force?

Lin Qi smiled maliciously. “Their names are Aileen and Aiya, twin sisters. They are skilled in divine arts, and fire divine arts at that. They were still in Dunkirk a few days ago, but they have already left these past two days. Perhaps you’ll have a chance to run into them!”

The Sea Windmill drew ever closer to the harbor, and guide boats had already come out from port, towing her in by ropes. The docks in the distance were packed with people—citizens of Dunkirk who had rushed over upon hearing the news to welcome back the Sea Windmill. They could scarcely wait to see what the ship, having gone to sea only a few days earlier, had managed to bring back.

Dragon City looked at the foreign buildings, so different in style from those of the East, and a strange smile flickered across his face.

A pair of twin sisters skilled in divine arts seemed like very interesting prey indeed. Dragon City suddenly felt himself growing excited. If he truly encountered such a pair, he would definitely make his move. Even if he could not take them back to the East, sampling their fragrance would not be impossible.

Seeing Dragon City’s interest, Lin Qi gave an inward, sinister smile. Very good, very good. Perhaps Dragon City would never meet those two wretched women in his entire life, but what harm was there in planting this seed in his heart? And if Dragon City did meet them someday? Then heaven itself would be blessing him. With that villain’s temperament, those two women would be in for a tremendous surprise.

Lin Qi stood brazenly at the Sea Windmill’s bow, waving cheerfully at the crowd on the docks.

The dockside erupted in cries of astonishment. “My God, isn’t that Lin Qi? Wasn’t he supposed to be recuperating at the mountain villa? Why is he aboard the Sea Windmill?”

Blackbeard, cigar in mouth as he stood on the dock to greet the Sea Windmill’s return, was completely caught off guard by Lin Qi’s move. Hearing the shocked cries all around him, he looked toward Lin Qi in utter embarrassment.

As savage as a wolf and as cunning as a jackal, Blackbeard decided that he would absolutely have to teach Lin Qi a proper lesson.

The piggy has gone to sleep. I still have to eat dinner with relatives at home today, oink oink.

Sleep, sleep. Good night, everyone, sweet dreams!

C!