Chapter 178: Germain and the Three Female Pirates

In the lavishly decorated office, Su Lin regarded the employee before him with a hint of helplessness.

In the mysterious world, advancement through the Ranks has two scenarios. One is to follow rituals and sequences by consuming serums, growing step by step; the other is to drink directly—success means not going mad or becoming a monster.

The girl before him was purely one who got lucky, having unknowingly drunk someone else's Rank Seven serum without going mad.

Su Lin flipped through the information on the desk about the Original Moon Worshippers, silently noted it down, then looked up and said:

"You're a supernatural being—why do you do these things?"

"Don't speak to me in that cloying tone, and don't use your supernatural abilities to manipulate me into letting you go."

McCauley answered without hesitation: "Because it's the fastest way to make money!"

"And you don't have to risk your life joining any organization…"

Su Lin took a cup of coffee from the historical projection, sipped it lightly.

McCauley's serum came from an accidental ingestion; though Su Lin didn't know where such a thing could normally be found, he didn't care—he wasn't some super detective who loved solving cases rigorously; an employee who generates profit is a good employee.

"I don't know whether your former boss was too lazy to notice or simply didn't see it, but if you keep doing this, you'll eventually meet someone you can't hypnotize." Su Lin leaned back in his chair, glancing toward the door—tonight's supernatural visitors were more numerous than expected; there were already three Saints.

"I've already paid you a very high salary." Su Lin pulled out the financial expenditure report from the drawer, grateful for Rosell's "invention" of the DuPont analysis chart, which allowed him to quickly understand the financial details of this world: "I strive to be an entrepreneur rather than a capitalist, so I distribute sixty percent of the profits to my employees."

"Logically, you're earning more than before—you just need to subtly guide customers to spend, like serving a fruit platter that costs three pence but sells for a shilling."

"Or selling branded beer that costs ten pence but sells for a pound."

McCauley didn't understand what Su Lin meant by "entrepreneur" or "capitalist"; she was merely nervous and uneasy, gazing at him pitifully: "Please, Boss, just forgive me this once!"

She knew little about the supernatural circle, but McCauley knew this new boss who had appeared was someone she couldn't afford to anger. As a psychologist, she detected from his unhidden details an innate indifference.

It wasn't that he was cold-hearted—rather, he had ample confidence; many things seemed unimportant to him, and what he cared about more was an experience? Like a nobleman with profound cultivation, refinement, and knowledge.

They were lucky—this nobleman happened to be benevolent.

Su Lin glanced at her and waved his hand; McCauley, as if freed from a heavy burden, bounced up like a child and happily left the office.

Until 4 a. m. before dawn, the Nightingale Tavern gradually emptied out.

McCauley changed into her usual plaid shirt, threw on a coat, tied her hair with a ribbon, collected her weekly salary at the front desk, and quietly erased her presence.

Her colleagues paid no attention as McCauley left with them; even at work, they found her unremarkable, lacking presence—though the girl was beautiful, they always unconsciously avoided excessive interaction with her.

Some people just aren't sociable; they didn't want to waste time socializing with her—it was perfectly reasonable.

McCauley stepped onto the street, her high heels tapping against the cobblestones; outside, the night remained foggy. She walked toward the suburbs, guided by the dim glow of streetlamps; the cold wind blew against her face, making her instinctively pull her coat tighter and quicken her pace.

After more than an hour of walking, she arrived at a house on the outskirts of Beckland, its walls covered in green vines. She looked back at the sky—thankfully, the sun hadn't risen yet, or today's good mood would have been ruined.

She stared at the sky for several seconds, then finally understood what had made her uncomfortable about this new boss.

McCauley pulled out her key and inserted it into the lock—but before she could turn it, the door opened; her face twisted in disgust.

"Sister."

The door opened, revealing five or six children dressed in Jiude Mayi, aged roughly between one and eight years old.

McCauley bit her lip, forced a stiff smile, and said gently: "I'm back."

"What's going on with McCauley?" Su Lin fiddled with a silver harmonica—this was a sealed item given to him by Doren Esso, named "Darknight."

This harmonica lures anyone who hears its song into eternal slumber; the longer it's played continuously, the louder the sonic storm becomes, summoning nightmares. Its side effect is that after use, it must consume a soul—or else it will play strange melodies beside the user's ear, driving them insane.

Doren Esso had voluntarily offered this sealed item upon hearing Su Lin wanted to collect interesting ones; no wonder he'd risen to this position—his emotional intelligence was maxed out.

"An unlucky lucky one," Doren Esso carefully chose his words. "She encountered a Rank Eight mind-reader. Mind-readers have a natural talent for understanding girls' thoughts, so she fell into love."

"That mind-reader was a psychological pervert—he enjoyed tormenting these girls before selling them off. Yes, he also liked telling them the truth before selling them. McCauley's previous girl just happened to earn enough money on the black market for his Rank-up materials."

"But his kidnapping methods were unprofessional—McCauley broke free and drank the serum he treasured like a treasure."

Doren Esso found McCauley while investigating the mind-reader's human trafficking ring; originally, he invited her to join his supernatural team—but this girl was too timid, so he introduced her to a new business: she only needed to hypnotize ordinary merchants and nobles to complete each job.

Su Lin fell silent, then said to Doren Esso: "Human trafficking?"

"Yes. Human trafficking." Doren Esso nodded, letting out a bitter laugh: "My people have been investigating human trafficking for over a year—there were countless cases, large and small. Any involving supernatural beings were reported to me."

"Turns out this was connected to a royal family member—you know, that Imperial Prince."

"I was severely reprimanded by Your Majesty for failing to act promptly."

"The ministerial competition probably has nothing to do with me anymore."

Do you know your king is the biggest buyer?

This guy doesn't seem to be a core member of the king's faction.

"Collect interesting sealed items for me—Rank doesn't need to be too high. Focus on information related to the Original Moon Worshippers—the higher the Rank involved, the better. If you can't handle it, come to me." Su Lin glanced at the middle-aged man with deep lines on his forehead; his words had just added two more wrinkles to this long-suffering deputy minister.

"In a while, I'll give you the formula for a Rank Three serum. Based on your performance, I'll help you find the ingredients." Su Lin spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, Doren Esso's pupils dilated sharply, then his forehead relaxed, his features softening slightly.

Su Lin said nothing more. Doren Esso bowed deeply to Su Lin, stepped out the door, and slipped away silently.

First floor of the Nightingale Tavern

Doren Esso summoned his trusted subordinate—the waitress with wavy, dark hair—and said solemnly:

"Esha, you must handle all the trivial matters for that Lord during this time."

"He has ties to the Church of Night, but he's not one of them. Regardless, this is my opportunity—and yours."

Esha nodded, understanding that her superior had finally made his decision.

Within just two days, the tavern rose from underground to the surface; more celebrities came to visit than ever before. According to their investigations, the Church of Night played some role—their gold pounds had become legitimate, legal income.

That Angel had unknown motives, and his appearance seemed like an "accident." But as this leader said, it was an opportunity—a chance to advance further.

Doren Esso, without deep background, becoming deputy minister proves he has exceptional ability—but that's likely his limit. It's been thirteen years since he reached Rank Four, the Half-God; the Ruin Royal Family probably won't offer him a chance to ascend to Rank Three.

Not to mention her—unless something extraordinary happens, she'll never reach Rank Four through normal means in her lifetime.

Since this matter doesn't involve the royal family but instead connects to the universally despised Rose Sect, why not take it?

There's risk, of course.

Since the day they stepped onto the supernatural path, risk has been with them—awake with the sunrise, asleep with the sunset.

Three days until the Fusak Empire's massive bombing of Backlund.

"Jack says he loves the captain more than you do, but Brother Bunian, the whole Fourth Fleet knows you're the one most obsessed with the captain!" Lu Mingfei put on an indignant look, and combined with that harmless face, he looked like a pure-hearted young man standing up against injustice.

Thud—

A wine bottle filled with liquid slammed hard onto the wooden table, producing a heavy sound.

"Jack doesn't count for shit!" Bunian said viciously. "Back when I was fighting alongside the captain in the Sonia sea region, he didn't even know where he was sucking milk yet!"

The headscarf-wearing pirate grabbed a glass and poured a mouthful into his mouth, cursing Jack as he went, spraying a few flecks of saliva.

"You know what? The captain once rewarded me with a sleeve to bandage my wounds! How many people in the whole fleet got that kind of treatment?! Does Jack have it?"

"The one with the pattern on it?"

"That's right!"

Lu Mingfei wiped his face and said in surprise, "Eh? So that red sleeve was Brother Bunian's?"

"Hmph." Bunian lifted his chin, his eyes full of disdain and arrogance.

"That day I saw Jack come out of the room holding a red sleeve, I thought it was his." Lu Mingfei scratched his head, his tone somewhat puzzled: "But why would Jack take it to the washroom?"

Crash, clatter, bang.

The glass dropped to the ground and shattered.

Bunian staggered to his feet, his face flushing red then green.

"JACK!!!"

He ran out like a madman, and before long, a noisy argument rose from the deck, along with the sounds of fists hitting flesh.

More and more people gathered to watch, most of the pirates were there for the spectacle, some even drinking and egging them on, placing bets.

"Brother Bunian, hitting his face like that is useless, Jack said his face is as thick as a city wall."

Lu Mingfei's voice carried a hint of beguilement, piercing through the noisy heckling into Bunian's ears, as blood splattered onto the floorboards and seeped into the cracks.

Lu Mingfei felt his potion digest another notch; these guys weren't good people anyway, especially Jack and Bunian.

"Stop fighting! The captain's here!"

The pirates scattered in an instant, quickly lining up on both sides of the deck, standing in order from tallest to shortest, their efficiency and neatness no worse than a regular army.

Seeing this, Lu Mingfei immediately found a row to stand in as well, hands at his sides, standing ramrod straight.

A main ship larger than the Number Two ship pulled alongside, a plank was lowered from above, and a graceful figure draped in a white coat walked down from above.

Her eyebrows were long and straight, her azure eyes sharp and bright, her figure slender and graceful.

This was the first time Lu Mingfei had seen this fleet's captain since boarding, and even Lu Mingfei, who had seen many beautiful girls, had to admit that this captain was truly a top-tier great beauty.

Of course, not as good as his girlfriend.

'Way too exaggerated.'

Lu Mingfei saw the pirates opposite each looking as if facing their first love, their faces flushed red like children with their first crush.

Is her charm really that great?

This captain named Tracy holds the title of "Plague General" in these waters; on the sea there are Four Kings and Seven Generals, all powerful Beyonders pirate crews.

She glanced at Jack and Bunian, collapsed on the deck after their brawl, then swept her hawk-like gaze over the pirates on both sides.

"Hm?"

Lu Mingfei saw that the other party seemed to have paused her gaze on him, and his heart tightened. The Beyonders of this world have all kinds of outrageous rules and abilities, and the higher the Sequence, the more outrageous. Without knowing the full picture now, he really couldn't be sure of winning against her.

'So she saw through it?'

'If I shout out that I'm friends with Gehrman, will she go easier on me?'

Lu Mingfei recalled the rumors he'd heard of "Gehrman and the Three Female Pirates," and in his mind appeared an image of her learning he knew that heartbreaker Gehrman and feeding him to the sharks.

'Stay calm, deep breath, maybe it's because I look different from these ugly pirates beside me?'

The instant this thought flashed through his mind, Tracy walked toward him, a puzzled expression on her face.

'Loki! Save me! My good brother!'

'Hurry up and use your invincible The World to think of something!'

That guy inside him worked when he felt like it and didn't when he didn't, completely unreliable; he said he was going out this morning and now no one knows where he went.

"You—" Tracy's voice was very pleasant, light and ethereal with a hint of coldness, "Where are you from?"

"Reporting, Captain!" John Pluto stepped out from the side and said loudly: "He's a newcomer I recruited from Damir Port! He knows nothing about this sea and is currently receiving my training!"

"John, I didn't give you permission to speak, jump down and swim for an hour, no stopping." Tracy didn't look at John Pluto beside her, giving the order casually.

"Yes, Captain!" After John Pluto said that, he took a running start, pressed his hands together above his head, and jumped off the ship.

The sound of a splash hitting the water came, Tracy glanced at Lu Mingfei, then the corner of her mouth curved into a pleasant smile, "Come find me after you've digested the potion."

Having said that, she turned and left.