Chapter 225: Section 13: Long Fu and Lion Flag
Holy Bright Continent.
Big Military Port.
The weather was clear and cloudless, the sky a pristine azure, free of any impurities. The sun shone upon the harbor’s surface, casting a diamond-like dazzling luster.
Numerous warships were docked at the pier, massive in size, uniform in design, sails all furled, with the naval flag atop the mast fluttering in the wind.
The Big Military Port was not a trading port but a military port specially established by the Holy Bright Empire. To enter the bay, one must pass through a narrow cliff-lock gate. Huge gate doors flanked by towering sandstone cliffs, with a dense array of cannons placed upon them, and the specially constructed robust gates, once shut, could obstruct Golden Level demon energy ships.
Here lay a location that was easy to defend but difficult to attack; the terrain itself was a natural shelter from the elements. Over a hundred years ago, the Holy Emperor himself issued an oracle, and the Empire spared no expense to construct the grand Big Military Port as it stood now.
The port was not only the largest naval base but also housed the Empire’s most prestigious Naval Military Academy.
Duke Yan Tan was the person in charge of the Big Military Port and was also the principal of the Naval Military Academy.
However, it was often not easy for his subordinates to find him, as was the case right now.
After receiving the report from 006, intelligence personnel needed to consult higher authority.
“Earl, sir!” The intelligence officer bowed slightly.
This was Yan Tan’s study.
But the man presiding here was not the Duke, but Earl Wei Sheng of the Empire.
Wei Sheng was youthful in appearance, with short golden hair that was tough and sturdy, each strand standing erect like his own personality—sharp and direct.
His eyebrows were particularly striking. Long and thick golden eyebrows, connected at the center and extending diagonally upward to the brow ends and temples. Overall, his golden eyebrows resembled a large “V.”
The windows of the study were open, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of the sea as it drifted in and occasionally stirred the white gauze curtains.
But the sea breeze couldn’t ruffle Wei Sheng’s hair; nor could it ease the troubled expression on his face.
“Damn it!”
Wei Sheng cursed to himself.
He was not sitting in the armchair behind the desk but on the sofa intended for receiving guests.
Even the plush sofa couldn’t induce a moment of laxity in the ambitious young man, evidenced by his ramrod straight posture.
On the coffee table between the sofas, there was a chessboard.
Wei Sheng’s gaze was locked on the chessboard.
In the chessboard, light and shadow shifted as armies formed by various races battled each other.
It was indeed a War Game.
A millennium ago, this magical game originated from the Holy Bright Duchy and had persisted until the Duchy became the Empire, uniting the whole Holy Bright Continent. The War Game had become the most popular noble game throughout the Empire.
“Still no good, why do I always lose to him?”
Wei Sheng’s lips were tightly pressed as he continually pondered how to break the deadlock in his mind.
He had tried many methods, but in the end, he could only watch his Human Race Navy suffer defeat and retreat under the encirclement of pirates, leaving wreckage in their wake.
“Earl, sir?” The intelligence officer gently reminded again.
Wei Sheng hmphed coldly, his gaze shifting unhappily from the chessboard to the intelligence officer, “Speak, what’s the matter?”
The intelligence officer instantly tensed, not daring to meet Wei Sheng’s gaze, quickly lowered his head and presented a report with both hands, “This is the latest report from 006, their battle with Rou Cang has ended, and their casualties and losses are substantial, they are seeking supplies from our side.”
“Oh?” Wei Sheng immediately remembered, approximately a week ago, 006 had sent information that there had been a drastic change on their end.
They had encountered the Grey Rat on the sea, but suffered defeat and capture. The cause of their defeat was the sudden appearance of two Silver Level Transcendents.
These two individuals, named Long Fu and Lion Flag, originally intended to go to the Wilderness Continent but the ship they were on encountered a disaster.
Taking the opportunity to disembark on an island for treasure hunting, they sneakily infiltrated the Grey Rat, and their surprise attack succeeded, subduing Long Fu. Long Fu resisted to the end and did not submit.
Facing attacks from Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, and the external crisis, they had to compromise and fight together. Long Fu first attracted the main attention, deliberately showing weakness, greatly underestimating 006’s force, and ultimately relying on the strong combat capabilities of Long Fu and Lion Flag to win.
Although 006 was captured, upon hearing Long Fu’s words on deck, they risked revealing their identities, successfully persuading Long Fu and Lion Flag to participate in the Empire’s secret mission.
Consequently, Long Fu had no choice but to also join forces with the Empire.
And thus, 006 made a great contribution.
It seemed that after two successful surprise attacks, Long Fu had acquired a taste for such tactics and so didn’t want to reveal himself directly. After discussion, they decided to still outwardly follow Long Fu as the lead, using him as bait.
Soon after, they lured Rou Cang.
They had devised a battle plan, intending to use the Sea Stone Reef to set up a trap to deal with Rou Cang’s pirate group.
With the strength of their five Silver Level Transcendents, they should have been able to take down Rou Cang.
After the naval strategists learned of this matter, they also made calculations based on the intelligence reports, concluding that this battle plan was very likely to succeed.
Thus, the Navy, according to 006’s request, urgently transported a batch of Magic Contract Scrolls using Swift Eagle.
“So you’re saying they won?” Wei Sheng extended his hand.
The intelligence officer hurriedly handed over the report to him and replied, “No, sir. They were defeated.”
Wei Sheng took the report, and upon hearing this outcome, lost the desire to read it.
He placed the report beside the magic chessboard, his brow slightly furrowed, his gaze once again fixed on the chessboard, “They didn’t kill Rou Cang? According to their combat power, they actually had a good chance of winning. Do they think that just by putting up a bit of a fight, they can deceive the Empire’s support?”
“That’s not the case, Earl. We have discussed this battle and have always believed that we can support the 006 line more strongly. Please, sir, take a look at the detailed battle report,” said the intelligence officer.
Wei Sheng picked up the report again and quickly skimmed through it. His eyebrows raised slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.
After a moment, he pondered, “According to 006’s report, Rou Cang’s strength has surged, and he is now top-notch even among Gold Level fighters. It’s normal to be unable to beat Rou Cang.”
“Although they were defeated, they managed to destroy more than a dozen of Rou Cang’s pirate ships. The Rou Cang pirate group suffered heavy losses, and their fleet was reduced to only six ships. Indeed, they have achieved military merit.”
“The key point is, throughout the entire battle, only three Silvers engaged Rou Cang. Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady did not fully participate in eradicating Rou Cang, and they still have potential to be tapped. Hmm… indeed worth supporting.”
Wei Sheng acknowledged the intelligence officer’s perspective.
He suddenly asked, “Have the identities of Long Fu and Lion Flag been clarified?”
The intelligence officer was momentarily taken aback, shaking his head, “Not yet.”
“Not yet clarified, or not yet investigated?” Wei Sheng pressed.
The intelligence officer asserted, “We have not investigated.”
Wei Sheng hummed in acknowledgment, nodding, but did not criticize.
Because not investigating was not considered a dereliction of duty.
These secret missions had only recently begun when Yan Tan assigned Wei Sheng, commanding him to take full charge of the matter. Therefore, Wei Sheng knew very well: among the many covert operations, the 006 line was actually quite inconspicuous. Even now that they had reached five Silvers.
You must know that other lines were in contact with Gold strongmen, Holy Domain fighters.
The Empire’s might was universally recognized, and coupled with the considerable rewards it offered for recruitment, pirates who were commonly driven by profit were more willing to utilize the resources of the Empire to aid their struggle for the Pirate Throne.
Thus, the progress of other covert operations was significant.
Had it not been for a name covered in gray suddenly rising to the first place on the Holy Tablet, Wei Sheng wouldn’t have remembered the 006 line.
The reason for the surge in the ranking of the person in gray had already been reported by 006—it was because he had obtained the bone finger of the fourth-generation King of Pirates.
There were too many covert lines to be responsible for, to track, and to monitor, and the manpower on Wei Sheng’s side was actually very limited.
It was not worth it to spend precious manpower to investigate two Silvers.
But in Wei Sheng’s heart, there was always an inexplicable feeling that investigating these two people was necessary.
At this time, the intelligence officer asked, “Earl, do we need to start investigating them?”
Wei Sheng shook his head, “No need.”
There was no evidence to suggest that it was worthwhile to investigate these two.
One was a Half-Beast mastering military Combat Skills. The other possessed Bai He’s Fighting Energy—his ability to manifest as a Dragon-man was likely due to a mutation in his Bloodline.
They had achieved Silver Level and traveled together, aiming for success on the Wilderness Continent.
Such situations were common.
In recent years, a large number of people had poured into the Wilderness Continent. Among them were Gold strongmen who had not achieved success, even exiled Holy Domain warriors, and many others harboring dark intentions and hiding their true identities.
Long Fu and Lion Flag were not noteworthy.
“It’s clear that they come from humble origins. Whether it’s military Combat Skills or Bai He Fighting Energy, these are common things that have been widely disseminated.”
“If they were given better equipment, Combat Skills, and Fighting Energy techniques, their strength would noticeably improve.”
The Empire could even recruit pirates; what more of these two?
With that thought in mind, Wei Sheng made a decision, “Let’s handle it this way, I approve. Let them head to New Moon Port for resupply.”
“Understood, sir.” The intelligence officer respectfully took his leave.