Chapter 223: Saint (I)

The Maliujia Haixia, once a golden waterway, has become the gateway to hell. Merchants would rather detour, spending half a month more time and several times the cost, than dare to lightly set foot in this region.

At the Wang family's garrison, inside the cabin of the flagship Universe Ship, the atmosphere was so oppressive you could wring water out of it.

Wang Tie slammed his fist on the table, making the sea chart and tea cup on it jump wildly.

"Damn it! These cowardly turtles of Sanfoqi!" His eyes blood-red, "If you've got guts, come out and fight me! Sneaking around behind our backs stealing chickens and dogs—what skill is that?"

Wang Kai sat opposite him, his face equally grim. In the ledger before him was recorded the past month's "toll" income. That figure had plummeted linearly from over a thousand taels a day at the start to zero now.

"Just getting angry won't help." Wang Kai's voice was calm, but those who knew him knew this calm was a volcano about to erupt. "Sanfoqi is trying to play a war of attrition with us. They can afford to drag it out; we cannot. The eldest brother sent us here not to guard an empty strait and bask in the sun."

"Then what do you suggest?" Wang Tie paced irritably in the cabin, "We only have this many people and nine ships. This sea is vast, with as many small islands as sand in a sieve—how can we defend? We can't just scatter our men to play hide-and-seek with them on the islands. If we actually landed, losing our artillery advantage, our handful of people wouldn't even be enough to stuff between their teeth."

Wang Kai said nothing, merely tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop, his gaze falling on the position of Sanfoqi's capital—Giant Harbor—on the sea chart.

Just then, a guard reported at the door.

"Captain, outside there are several merchants requesting an audience. They're the ones led by that Muslim merchant who brought gifts last time."

Wang Tie and Wang Kai exchanged a glance.

"Let them in."

Moments later, seven or eight merchants led by that bearded Muslim merchant hurried in nervously, their faces filled with anxiety and fear. As soon as they entered, the Muslim merchant fell to his knees with a "thud."

"Lord Wang, please, do justice for us!" he almost shouted through tears.

The several merchants behind him also followed suit, kneeling on the floor.

"My lord, if this continues, our businesses will be completely ruined!"

"Those damned pirates, they specifically rob those who have paid! My whole ship's silk was burned by them!"

"Three of my crew members died…"

In the cabin, for a moment all that could be heard was the merchants' wailing. They still clutched heavy boxes filled with gold, silver, and jewels.

"This is a little token of our goodwill." The Muslim merchant lifted his head, eyes bloodshot, "We know the Wang family has its rules, but now it's not about tolls—it's about our lives! We're willing to pay, to pay double, triple the amount! All we ask is that the Wang family utterly exterminate those pirates and restore a safe passage through the Maliujia Haixia."

Wang Tie watched the sniveling merchants, then glanced at the opened jewel boxes, and his anger flared even more.

"Damn it, I came to expand territory, not to be your bodyguard!"

He was about to erupt, but Wang Kai stopped him with a glance.

Wang Kai rose to his feet and personally helped the Muslim merchant up.

"We accept your goodwill and understand your difficulties." His voice gentle: "Please rest assured, the Wang family will handle this matter."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over all the merchants.

"However, exterminating the pirates will take time. I need your help."

"Please speak, my lord! If we can do it, we'll die a thousand deaths without hesitation!" The Muslim merchant immediately declared.

"It's simple." A barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of Wang Kai's mouth: "Starting today, go to sea and conduct business as usual. If you encounter pirates again, do not resist—give them the cargo, give them the ship, as long as you save your lives. The Wang family will compensate you double for all your losses."

The merchants were stunned.

Double compensation?

Wang Tie also furrowed his brows, looking at Wang Kai in confusion.

Wang Kai offered no explanation, merely patting the Muslim merchant on the shoulder.

"Go back. Within three days, I guarantee you won't see a single pirate's shadow in the Maliujia Haixia."

The merchants left half-believing, half-doubting, leaving only Wang Tie and Wang Kai in the cabin.

"Are you crazy?" Wang Tie finally couldn't hold back, glaring at Wang Kai. "Double compensation? Do you know how much a ship's cargo is worth? Even if we bankrupted our entire fortune, it wouldn't be enough! And settle it in three days? What will you use to settle it? Are you going to sail the ship and bombard Giant Harbor?"

"Bombard Giant Harbor?" Wang Kai gave a light chuckle, sat back down, picked up the already-cold tea, and took a slow sip. "With our few people, sailing to beneath Giant Harbor's walls, one spit from each of them could drown us. Warfare can't rely solely on brute force."

"Then what do you propose?" Wang Tie plopped down opposite him, asking irritably.

Wang Kai didn't answer directly, but threw the question back: "Do you still remember Mr. Wenyan of Dongying's 'purification facility'?"

"The purification facility?" Wang Tie blinked, then his face showed a complex mix of disgust and dread: "You mean… that place that keeps a bunch of madmen?"

He had too deep an impression of that place. Wang Wenyan, that gentle-looking scholar, employed methods even crueler than this butcher's. He wasn't killing people; he was destroying their hearts. He could turn a living person into a monster that craved death and embraced destruction.

"They're not madmen." Wang Kai corrected, "In the Head of Family's words, they have a new name—Saints."

"Saints? Bullshit saints!" Wang Tie spat, "Just a bunch of brainwashed fools who aren't afraid to die!"

"Exactly." Wang Kai nodded, wearing an approving expression, "I intend to use these 'fools' who aren't afraid of death."

Wang Tie's pupils contracted sharply; he wasn't an idiot, and he instantly grasped Wang Kai's meaning.

"You mean… to use them to…"

"The king of Sanfoqi doesn't like to play dirty, does he?" Wang Kai's finger jabbed hard at Giant Harbor on the sea chart, "Then we'll play a big game with him—he sends people to harass our trade routes, we'll send people to greet his palace."

Wang Tie sucked in a breath of cold air, looking at Wang Kai and feeling that this usually gentle and refined clansman was, at his core, even crazier than himself.

"Can… this work?" Wang Tie hesitated, "Those Japanese may not fear death, but they're bare-handed—how would they reach Giant Harbor? Swim over? Besides, Giant Harbor's defenses are tight; they couldn't even get through the city gate."

"Who said they're bare-handed?" Wang Kai gave a mysterious smile, rose, walked to a corner of the cabin, and opened a wooden crate tightly wrapped in oilcloth.

The crate opened, and what was revealed made Wang Tie's eyelids twitch.

Those were some pitch-black earthenware jars, varying in size, their mouths sealed tight with wax. Beside them lay bundles of fuse.