Chapter 299 Great Writer
Executing an assassination in Pirate City, particularly against the owner of the "Nagano-ya Geisha House", was bound to attract serious trouble.
After all, it was one of the local powers of Pirate City.
That "Demon Sword", Yachi, wasn't weak himself, let alone he represented the country of Mountain Hermit.
Su Lun also guessed that this was probably why Qian Tiao did not want to get involved herself.
Even so, there might be more complicated situations involved.
Su Lun had learned a secret from stripping the soul of "Cyclops" Sock: the "Rune Old Man" was not a native of Mountain Hermit, but a defector from Ruying.
That was the problem.
Why would a foreigner become a more powerful person than the daimyo of the Mountain Hermit country?
Something like the Geisha House, one of the most important cash flow channels, was in the hands of the Old Man's son, which was quite puzzling. The untold story behind this was probably why the geisha Koike was so reluctant to talk about it.
....
A sudden battle broke out in the Geisha House, and a large number of Mountain Hermit country's samurais flooded into the building.
Unfortunately, before they could swarm in, the battlefield shifted.
After searching around and finding no one, the samurai could only leave the matter unresolved.
But with such a commotion, watching tea ceremonies and sword dances naturally could not continue.
The brothel's Madam also understood people's feelings and waived the expenses of all the guests.
But Su Lun still gave the tip that he should to Koike.
The geishas of Mountain Hermit country may seem glamorous, but their lives are not necessarily good.
In a short while, Koike, wearing her traditional wooden footwear, escorted Su Lun out of the Geisha House.
It was at the cherry blossom grove that they finally said goodbye.
She looked at Su Lun, her face full of tender smiles, and asked politely, "Sir, will you come again next time?"
Seeing her earnest manner, it seemed hard for anyone to bear saying a single word of "no".
Su Lun smiled and thought it would be nice to visit again when he was free, so he replied, "I'll come again if there's a chance."
"Mhm."
Koike nodded and said no more.
Insisting is meant to leave a longing, not a burden; just right is best.
Something crossed her mind, and she smiled sweetly, "Koike has never met anyone quite so exceptional as you, sir..."
Su Lun couldn't detect the slightest pretense in her tone and responded with a polite smile, "I've also enjoyed the company of Miss Koike very much."
Hearing this, a joyous smile spread across Koike's face as she curtsied, "Sir, that is the finest compliment I have ever received..."
As Su Lun was about to leave, Koike hesitated for a moment. Her demeanor became a tad more bashful, and for the first time this evening, her voice a little less smooth, "If... sir wishes to stay tonight... that is also possible."
"I'll pass for today."
Su Lun raised his eyebrows with a smile, only then realizing that she had genuinely noticed something different about him.
He wasn't strictly upright, but he didn't want to make anything too special of it.
A mere pirate had no right to stay overnight in a geisha house.
It's always right to be cautious.
Hearing his response, Koike didn't press on, a hint of regret flickering in her eyes as she bowed in farewell, "Take care, sir."
...
Feeling refreshed, Su Lun walked out of the Geisha House as if his spirit had been cleansed, washing away the irritations of his days adrift at sea.
He was walking through the streets of Pirate City once again.
The fortress was vast, its streets winding and deep, its entertainment venues so abundant it would take weeks to visit them all. Not to mention the surrounding islands and floating buildings, each with their own unique features. This place had developed the entertainment industry to its utmost.
If it weren't for the sight of children rummaging through trash cans for food, the emaciated beggars with hardly any clothes, and the stinking pirate corpses in the alleys... Pirate City's boisterous scene was comparable to the most prosperous territories in Ruying.
Su Lun was strolling through the city at a leisurely pace, intending to familiarize himself with its pathways.
Thinking that in case of an emergency, he would be well-prepared.
He had already stripped some memories before and walked the paths again, so he was fairly acquainted with the area now.
About an hour later, he finally received a communication from Qian Tiao.
The gambling-addicted woman was still vague about what she was doing, but she revealed her plans to go to the country of Mountain Hermit.
Su Lun had some guesses, but since she did not say, he did not ask further.
As long as she was fine, that was what mattered.
...
Having spent a long time on the ship and not feeling particularly tired, Su Lun continued to wander around the city for a while longer.
When he reached the gambling street, Su Lun also ran into some pirate companions from the same ship on the road.
Those guys had just come out from the pleasure quarters and still had some money in hand, so they decided to gamble a bit.
Saying they were going to the coliseum, Su Lun followed suit.
The four countries of the North Continent each have their own characteristics.
Just like the geisha houses are a feature of Mountain Hermit Country, gladiators are a specialty of the Roman Empire.
The natives of the Roman Empire are all belligerent, both men and women.
They worship the "God of War" and various ancient deities that represent strength and valour. Everyone has genes that thrive for combative and competitive spirits; dying in the coliseum is considered an honor. It is said that the country possesses many ancient war technique engravings that even a monkey, after watching for a long time, would master various combat skills.
Because of this tradition, the Roman Empire is also the strongest gladiator training base and exports a large number of gladiators. Even many slave merchants from the two great empires send people here for training.
The people around Barrett, like Lolo and others, were previously trained in the Roman coliseum and then sent to perform for nobles in Lington as slave gladiators.
After watching a few gladiator matches, Su Lun witnessed real gladiators.
Although the deities worshipped by the believers in Roman seemed to have fallen, certain mysterious power systems have been passed down. This gave the gladiators, even without following the alchemy system, formidable combat strength comparable to magical beasts.
A group of people stayed at the coliseum until late at night, some lost, some won.
Those who won money went to the bathhouses to enjoy a pleasant latter half of the night; those who lost all their money went back to the ship at the dock, disheartened, and slept in the cabin.
Su Lun wasn't particularly lucky or unlucky, with no significant losses or gains.
After spending nearly half a month on a ship, he had no intention of spending the night in the cramped, foul-smelling cabins.
So he found a hotel in the city for a good night's sleep.
....
The next day, the weather was nice.
Su Lun opened his eyes from meditation.
Outside the hotel window, the view of Pirate City was unobstructed; the sea breeze gently caressed his face, and the island scenery was beautiful with shimmering waves – indeed, a sight to behold.
But the City of Gold during the daytime was like a beauty without filters. Although still attractive, it lacked the radiant charm.
As a pirate underling, it was another plain and unremarkable day.
Rich pirates would sleep through the day in the arms of pleasure, or go to taverns and gambling halls for entertainment.
Those without money would sleep in the ship's cabin for the day.
Su Lun was not idle; he left the hotel, changed his outfit, and continued to stroll around the city.
In Pirate City, there were many shops that only opened during the day.
Su Lun knew that Pirate City had seen a large influx of Mafa mechanical equipment and items from Old Lington, so he planned to look around the boutique shops to see if he could dig up some treasures.
And also to see if there were other good finds.
Pirate City is never short of fine things.
Following the direction in his memory, Su Lun crossed several covered bridges and then took a rickety ropeway to a rocky pirate market beside the Golden City.
It is called the "Rainbow Conch Market."
This place was somewhat like the underground black market of Old Lington, with all buildings supported by wooden poles against the rock walls, resembling stilt houses. The rooftops were colorful, like the variegated mushrooms growing on the stones.
The black market Su Lun visited yesterday was a bulk trading market; this place was more like a flea market.
There were street stalls and shops selling all sorts of odd and curious items.
And there were boutiques selling high-end alchemy items.
Those treasures salvaged from the seabed, unearthed from ruins, or plundered were mostly gathered at this market.
As long as one had money, they could always return loaded with goods.
Those who strolled in the pirate market during the day were mostly professional merchants among pirates.
Even non-pirates, such as middlemen from certain gray areas of Lington, were present.
Pirates seem like a disorderly bunch of robbers, but in fact, some pirate groups were covertly funded by major forces in Lington. Royal spy networks, merchant pirate groups suppressing competitors, and even noble-sponsored adventurer groups...
Everyone tacitly understood, which is why these factions have not been wiped out over the years and have only grown larger.
The plundered items would be channeled back to Lington through these gray channels.
As Su Lun strolled from shop to shop, he found pleasant surprises.
Not only did he dig up some finished mechanical products, but he even found many laboratory-grade research instruments! Pirates are adopters and have almost no R&D capabilities. To them, these precision instruments were almost as good as scrap metal, gathering dust in the shops. Su Lun managed to buy these genuine treasures at very favorable prices, treasures that couldn't be bought even with money.
It was also fortunate that he didn't arrive too late in Pirate City; in another year or so, those items would probably all flow into the two great empires.
But once he started buying things, money became a bit short.
Su Lun sold off the spoils of war he had collected previously. Although the price was a bit low, exchanging them for some urgently needed items was considered worth it.
....
Su Lun strolled along and came upon a shop called "Three Bird Residence."
It was a specialty store of the Mountain Hermit Country that sold swords, samurai armor, and a variety of unusual items.
The weather doll hanging at the entrance swayed gently, and having glanced at it, Su Lun walked in.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man in a kimono with the typical polite demeanor of someone from the Mountain Hermit Country. Upon seeing a customer, he bowed respectfully and said, "Welcome to my humble shop."
Su Lun nodded and looked at the merchandise displayed in the showcase,
Famous swords were produced in the Mountain Hermit Country, and many were prominently displayed throughout the shop.
The middle-aged owner was holding a long sword and introduced it, "Would you like to buy a sword, sir? This is 'Third Generation Valley,' the work of Forging Master Kurosawa. It's indeed a rare and fine blade..."
The blade gleamed coldly, visibly sharp to the eye, and truly a fine item.
Unfortunately, Su Lun was not a swordsman, and thus the item was of little use to him.
If used on puppets, the poor quality would be somewhat inadequate, while the high quality would be too extravagant.
He recalled the "Chrysanthemum Patterned Shrine Keeper" he had seen the day before and casually asked, "Do you have any swords from the Twelve Artisans?"
The middle-aged owner chuckled and said, "You must be jesting, sir. Such famous swords, naturally, our small store doesn't carry. You could say that no shop has them."
He looked at Su Lun, who did not appear to be joking, and laughed again, "It seems you have very high standards for weaponry. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there are only four remaining swords from the Twelve Artisans, all of which are in the hands of very formidable swordsmen..."
Su Lun merely shrugged noncommittally, thinking that if he could afford it, it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy one as a gift for Senjo.
The gambling-addicted woman had taken good care of him, and it was only proper to give her a present.
The middle-aged owner then began to introduce the shop's other items, "Sir, would you be interested in looking at other things?"
The shop was more like an antique store, with many old and ancient items in the showcase.
The armor worn by Hattori, the Grand General of the Mountain Hermit Country, when he died in battle; a black jar with a sealed lid claimed to be "Mouth Chewed Sake" made by shrine maidens; a "Great Tengu Mask," said to summon monsters and make all evil spirits flee; talismans...
The items were nice, and Su Lun appraised them, finding that the majority indeed had some special effects.
However, they were of little use to Su Lun.
At that moment, Su Lun noticed some ancient manuscripts in the corner of the shop and asked, "Do you have any documents about monster legends?"
The middle-aged shopkeeper replied, "Yes, we do. When it comes to stories about monsters, in the recent hundred years, none is better than the grand writer, Fujiwara Hayato's 'Fairy Tale.' Coincidentally, I've collected a few of his manuscripts. Shall I show them to you?"
Su Lun nodded.
Monsters were rampant in the Mountain Hermit Country, unlike magical beasts or mutated monsters—a very special existence.
He was indeed very interested in learning more.
The shopkeeper was searching on the shelves when suddenly, the chime of the windbell at the door sounded, signaling the arrival of more customers.
It was normal for a shop to have customers as long as it was open,
But Su Lun sensed something about these people and furrowed his brows slightly!
A group of seven, five remained at the door, and two entered the shop, all shrouded in alchemical cloaks that obscured their faces.
Such an arrangement looked like the entourage of a Big Shot.
Moreover, in Su Lun's perception, the souls of these individuals were elusive and difficult to fathom.
If it wasn't for the interference of high-level cursed items, then they had to be very strong high-tier professionals.
Either way, they did not seem like the sort one would want to provoke.
"What's the background of these people? If they were major pirates, they'd have no need to hide their identities so thoroughly."
Su Lun muttered to himself, displaying no sign of suspicion, acting like an ordinary customer examining the items in the showcase.
"Shopkeeper, do you have any manuscripts by Gustav?"
The person speaking sounded like an old lady, her tone very amiable.
The middle-aged shopkeeper looked puzzled, "Gustav?"
The old lady said, "Perhaps it's another name, known as 'Fujiwara Hayato'."
With sudden realization and a hint of pleasure, the shopkeeper replied, "Oh, of course we do have them. I was just about to show them to that customer. My shop probably has the most comprehensive collection of Mr. Fujiwara's manuscripts."
Upon seeing the manuscripts, the old lady didn't even ask about the price and said, "If you don't mind, I would like to purchase them all."
The middle-aged man appeared somewhat troubled and looked at Su Lun before asking, "Sir, what do you think? After all, you were the first to ask to see them."
Su Lun glanced at them, showing an uninterested expression, "Of course I don't mind."
The manuscripts were appraised as just "ordinary manuscripts," and without any special effects, it certainly wasn't necessary to buy the originals.
For Su Lun, who merely wanted to learn about Mountain Hermit customs, having a transcribed copy would suffice.
Besides, the grand writer's works were outrageously expensive, nearly matching the price of "Isaac's Alchemy Manuscript."
After hearing the price, Su Lun was certain he wouldn't waste his money on such an unwarranted expense.
But the old lady didn't bargain at all and spent nearly ten million Lirath to buy those manuscripts.
This group, having made their purchase and asked a few questions related only to the grand writer "Fujiwara Hayato," found nothing more and then left.
The shop was quiet once more.
The few visitors had arrived abruptly and left just as suddenly.
Su Lun remained at the counter, murmuring to himself, "Here for the collection, perhaps? Seems like a big noble..."
Some people could be immediately recognized as well-mannered just by their tone of voice.
That old lady didn't talk much, but Su Lun could tell that her background was far from simple. Besides, a pirate wouldn't get egg on their face by spending so much money on a few manuscripts.
Moreover, Su Lun couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but when those people left, did that old lady's accompanying person glance at him one extra time?
....
Su Lun spent most of the day wandering around Seashell City and had a good haul.
He then returned to the Golden City, lucky as ever, the materials he had reserved the night before at "Sister Atang's Magic Materials Shop" were gathered ahead of time.
After paying the balance, he had the materials, which filled over a dozen storage rings, in hand.
Su Lun had intended to take the materials back to the hotel to craft new intriguing dolls, but seeing it was still early, he happened to pass by a store that he recognized.
It was a small hut with a sign reading "Sea God Divination."
A witch who could perform divinations lived there and was also one of the most well-informed information traders in Pirate City.
Su Lun lifted the magic-sealed curtain and walked in.
The magic lamp was dim and grey, and he could see a dark-skinned woman tinkering with tarot cards, using them for divination. Her face was adorned with some fish scales, said to be a hybrid of human and fish folk.
The pirates all called her "Black Beauty" Amalys.
As soon as Su Lun entered, she started mumbling, "The divination tells me that a very special visitor would come today."
Su Lun didn't take it seriously, as this was just professional jargon used for anyone who came.
He cut straight to the chase, "I need to inquire about a few pieces of news."
Upon hearing this, Amalys knew she was dealing with a knowledgeable person and dropped her usual spiel meant to deceive.
"Have you heard about 'Cyclops'?"
"I'm looking for information on a certain Holy Grail, one that's rumored to have come from a non-human tribe..."
"Ever heard about 'Black Sam's Cursed Gold Coins'?"
"I'm looking for some advanced spatial materials, do you have any recommendations?"
"..."
Su Lun presented all the pieces of information he wanted to inquire about, none of them particularly sensitive.
He had thought to cast a wide net, indifferent as to whether he'd actually get any leads.
But unexpectedly, this Black Beauty did know quite a bit!
Amalys said directly, "The Cyclops, in our sea folk's legends, inhabit an island deep in the western sea. However, that place isn't meant for humans to tread. Only the great adventurers who are not afraid of the wind and waves might catch a glimpse of that mythical race's true form. As for 'Black Sam's Cursed Gold Coins,' I think you might need to ask someone who happens to have one in their possession. Regarding spatial materials, I've heard there's someone in the black market who has them. If needed, I can inquire for you, but the price might be a bit steep..."
As Su Lun listened, his delight grew stronger and stronger.
Indeed, professional matters required professional handling!
These information traders had their hands on a lot of astonishing news.
Even the Roan officials had their own "rat trading" of military supplies, so what of the pirates? As long as there was a profit to be made, any "Spatial Gear," no matter how confidential, was definitely being traded!
Before coming to Pirate City, Su Lun had speculated that there might be information on "Void Gear."
Upon asking, it turned out there indeed was.
After some discussion, Su Lun spent two hundred thousand to pry the wanted information from Black Beauty's lips.
As for the Void Gear, after hearing the exorbitant price quoted, he didn't ask any further.
If news had leaked, it would gradually become less valuable.
Now that he had joined the Northern Sea Fleet, there was no rush at all.
....
Pirate City was large if you said it was large.
But it was also small if you said it was small.
For instance, when it came to selling materials, there were only so many major markets.
It just so happened that while Su Lun was inquiring information at the fortune-telling shop, a commotion broke out in the black market with sounds of fighting.
Normally, a scuffle or a fire fight among pirates was nothing unusual, but when Su Lun stepped out to watch the commotion, one of the fighters caught his eye, someone he had seen before.
The guy with one arm missing turned out to be the same commander of the Roan Sacred Judgment Army he had seen in Cursed Valley, the "Ferocious Beast" Alek Barrett!
"How could this guy come to Pirate City?"
Seeing the scratches on Barrett's military rank, Su Lun was also quite surprised.
It was the mark of desertion.