Chapter 220: Section 8: Become a Pirate
They must clear their names!
This was a consensus among everyone.
No one was naive and arrogant enough to think that they could fight against the Empire.
In their group, the strongest was only at the peak of silver, whereas the Empire, not to mention the high and mighty deities and legends, had hundreds in the Holy Domain, not to speak of the Golden Level Transcendents.
Holy Temple Knights, Blood Light Sanction Court, various sects, Magic Academies, and guilds… These were all forces that the Empire could mobilize.
If the truth of Mysterious Monster Island were to be discovered in the future, they could only hope that the Empire would not pursue them. It was like ants walking at the feet of an adult, the adult disdaining to step on them.
But this possibility was very low.
Because once the secret was exposed, the Empire would know they possessed two Divine Artifacts and the War Merchant’s alchemy technique. This was no ordinary ant, but an ant dragging a golden apple. The adult would be quite pleased to stop their step, bend over, and crush this little ant to pick the golden apple into their embrace.
Just imagining being wanted by the Empire frightened everyone.
Bai Ya expressed his concerns with a frown, “I wonder if the death of the King of Flame Dragon will be attributed to us? After all, we didn’t save it at the time and let it perish together with Mysterious Monster Island.”
Mu Ban shook his head, “We had to do it, otherwise we wouldn’t be alive right now. Once the King of Flame Dragon had escaped from the Alchemy Array, none of us could have escaped; it would have slaughtered us all. We did negotiate with it, didn’t we?”
Lan Zao comforted him, “The Empire probably won’t know. We did not kill it ourselves, we used the Alchemy Array. That was the power of the War Merchant. So, as long as we don’t speak of it, the Empire can’t blame us for its death.”
The knight youth fell silent.
After executing Jia Sha, there had been a debate on how to deal with the King of Flame Dragon on the fourth level of the alchemy core.
Because time was tight, the knight youth proposed negotiating.
Thus, they all returned to the Molten Lava Battlefield.
However, the negotiation with the King of Flame Dragon did not go smoothly. Upon seeing them return, the King immediately realized that the War Merchant had died. Proud as it was, it was unwilling to share any credit with these opportunistic bugs.
From its perspective, this was reasonable.
The death of the War Merchant was caused by a strong team from the Blood Light Sanction Court. The group of knight youths just happened to be there. Also, if it weren’t for being compelled, these people wouldn’t have come back to negotiate with it.
“You scum, you have no choice!”
“You want to negotiate with me?”
“Hahaha, ridiculous! On what basis? The freedom you have now?”
“Without my help, you will all die! Even if you don’t help me escape, I can break free from this Alchemy Array, and then you will face my fury!”
“Now, I command you to open the Alchemy Array and allow yourselves to kneel and beg for mercy. Perhaps if I am in a good mood, I will spare some of your lives. Hahaha.”
The negotiation with the King of Flame Dragon completely failed.
In their desperate straits, the knight youth suddenly suggested that they could try using the Alchemy Array to kill the King of Flame Dragon.
The reason the War Merchant hadn’t acted was that he wanted to capture this legendary Magic Beast alive.
The War Merchant was a goblin, inherently greedy.
But the Alchemy Array actually possessed the power to annihilate the King of Flame Dragon.
They had no choice but to try.
Thus, under the red glow of the knight youth’s Blood Core, the attitude of the King of Flame Dragon changed greatly before its death.
“No, no!”
“You can’t do this to me!”
“You damn insect… alright, alright! I admit you have the right to negotiate with me, we can have a proper talk.”
But the red light covered its entire body, quickly dissolving it.
The King of Flame Dragon roared in anger, hurling endless curses at the knight youth. Eventually, its bloodline essence was absorbed by the Blood Core, used by the youth.
This process of annihilating the King of Flame Dragon was done behind the backs of everyone else.
He concealed the fusion with the Blood Core, and continued to hide the terrifying power of the Blood Core.
As for the new Dragon-man transformation after leaving the island…
He didn’t explain, nor was there any need to explain.
The youth remained silent, while Zong Ge hesitated.
Because he had another channel, through which he could contact the high-ranking members of the Empire.
That was his father!
However, Zong Ge did not wish to do that.
According to this method, the merit obtained by dedicating the Divine Artifact was not the honor he desired.
He didn’t even need to think to know how his brothers and sisters would judge him.
He’s just gotten lucky.
Picked up a huge bargain.
Murdered a priest from the Holy Sect, a deceitful little man who turned against his own companions…
The success that Zong Ge needed was definitely not this kind.
He needed outstanding military achievements, a glory that would silence everyone, leaving no room for doubt or slander.
Also, if he followed his father’s path, he wasn’t confident that those people would survive. He could probably save his own life, after all, he was his father’s son.
But what about the others?
“Would my father generously reward these people and help them shake off their crimes?” Zong Ge felt that hope was slim, knowing his father.
Thus, the Half-Beast spoke, “Gentlemen, I have a different idea.”
“Always thinking of shaking off crimes is rather negative.”
“Recall how we struggled for life and death on Mysterious Monster Island, how difficult it was.”
“We didn’t really intend to kill Jia Sha and the King of Flame Dragon. We were just pushed into a corner. Our choice turned out to be right, and we have our captain to thank for that. Otherwise, we would have been abandoned by Jia Sha, massacred by the King of Flame Dragon, or destroyed along with the island.”
“How the Empire’s high-ranking individuals regard the ants beneath their feet is how they view us. Have you all forgotten the attitudes of Jia Sha and the King of Flame Dragon? These high and mighty beings will never recognize our efforts, nor will they listen to our side of the story.”
“We shouldn’t give up our gains. Although we can only utilize a bit of these two Divine Artifacts, even this scant amount of power is so formidable. Are you all willing to just give them up?”
The crowd fell silent.
Zong Ge’s words had struck a chord.
No one was willing to settle, but what could they do?
“Now, an opportunity lays before us,” Zong Ge said.
The Substitute Youth raised an eyebrow, “Are you referring to the position of Pirate God?”
Zong Ge nodded, looking at them honestly, “Using Pearl Bubble can only delay for a while, we will eventually be discovered.”
“I am very supportive of seeking redemption, because everyone knows that we have no possibility of resisting the Empire. Even if we escape temporarily, we would have to live incognito, constantly in fear and anxiety. Who would want such a life?”
“But seeking redemption is risky. The biggest reason is our lack of strength. Imagine, how would the Empire treat us if we were Legendary? The upper echelons would definitely try to recruit us, and if these Divine Artifacts were needed by them, they would opt to deal with us. In fact, they own many more artifacts than we do.”
“And what if we became gods? Became the King of Pirates, we could even negotiate and cooperate with the Empire to a certain extent!”
Bai Ya widened her eyes, “Become gods? Just us?”
Sanda however nodded, supporting Zong Ge, “In fact, the fourth-generation King of Pirates was just a Golden Level Transcendent.”
Bai Ya, filled with curiosity, “Is that so?”
Cang Xu nodded, “He was assassinated shortly after becoming the King of Pirates. Even as a god, the use of Divine Power varies from person to person.”
Bai Ya, “Uh.”
Cang Xu, “However, this is indeed a good idea. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needles is one path; we can also connect with the Empire’s spies. We might not necessarily become the King of Pirates, to be honest, the likelihood is slim.”
“But we can use the Empire’s support to strengthen ourselves as much as possible. The merit we gain will be an important bargaining chip for our redemption in the future and can demonstrate our loyalty to the Empire.”
“We can’t show our faces now, there must be many investigating our whereabouts. Disguising ourselves as an island and wandering through the vast ocean will minimize our risk of exposure.”
“If redemption fails, at worst, we can continue to live as pirates. That will be our last resort!”
Hearing Cang Xu’s final words, Knight Youth, Zong Ge, Bai Ya, among others instinctively frowned.
Nobody wanted to become pirates, but what Cang Xu said was right—it was a way out.
“006 is a key figure. We need to keep him under control. We must have him follow us,” Mu Ban proposed.
“How should we deal with One in Gray?” Queshan posed the question.
Cang Xu’s gaze turned ice-cold, “Kill him. He knows that his name is still at the top position on the Holy Tablet. The secret of the Mermaid’s Fairy Tale could be exposed because of him. We cannot afford such consequences.”
Zong Ge stroked his chin, “Golden Chin, Sea Snake Lady—those we can absorb.”
Sanda nodded, his expression complex, “We need people on the periphery.”
“As for loyalty, the Magic Contract can resolve this issue. Using 006, we can have the Empire provide,” Fat Tongue said.
A single mind has limited wisdom, many minds bring strength.
Power becomes authority.
Each person contributed one sentence, deciding the fates of others.