Chapter 713.1: Loopholes, Loopholes Everywhere!

At the southern section of the ceasefire line between the Xilande Empire and Port Gallon, one of the tributaries of the Everflowing River emptied into the sea, connecting to a small bay.

The bay possessed nearly 10 kilometers of coastline. Peninsulas with higher terrain on both sides shielded most of the wind and waves from the waters within, naturally forming a small but excellent harbor.

Because the southern peninsula resembled half a banana on the map, nearby survivors simply referred to the place as “Banana Head Bay.”

Thanks to its abundant freshwater and calm waters, many fishermen 100 kilometers around it treated it as a storm shelter. Whenever violent weather approached, they would sail their fishing boats from the bay into the tree-lined inland rivers on both sides for refuge, while they themselves hid in shelters prepared nearby.

Some cargo ships rounding the southern tip of the Poro Province also chose to hide from storms there. Although they could not sail into the Everflowing River’s tributaries, the twin peninsulas surrounding the bay were enough to shield them from rough seas.

Over time, a modest fishing village gradually formed. A large-nosed fellow suspected to be a Wislander even used a stranded abandoned cargo ship to open a hotel called Land of Abandoned Ships, providing cheap alcohol, food, damp moldy bedding, and aging prostitutes for nearby fishermen and passing merchants and sailors.

Perhaps because Port Gallon was too dazzling, or perhaps because the land was unsuitable for farming and sparsely populated most of the time, the Xilande Empire seemed to have selectively forgotten this territory and never dispatched a governor to manage it.

As the years passed, the place gradually became a paradise for fishermen, sailors, fugitives, and runaway slaves.

Recently, however, things had changed considerably.

First, New Alliance soldiers planted a flag on the northern peninsula before casually leaving again. Not long after, a group of soldiers from the Xilande Empire carrying tiger banners followed over. After inspecting the area, they began cutting timber, clearing land, and digging trenches on the southern peninsula.

The lower-lying Banana Head Village thus ended up sandwiched between the two armies. Although New Alliance machine guns could not be seen, machine guns from the Xilande Empire were already aimed directly over their heads.

The local fishermen had never witnessed anything like it before. There was no need for the soldiers to even issue orders. Terrified, they all jumped into their little boats and fled the bay, some heading south along the coastline, others north, each returning to their own villages and homes.

As for the sailors, with ships no longer docking here, they too gradually vanished.

Now, only a handful of desperate souls with nowhere else to go still lingered here, staring endlessly at the sea while waiting for ships that might never come...

...

They had already crossed the border of Port Gallon some time ago.

Ever since entering this hidden fishing village tucked within the bay, Kunal could feel his heart pounding violently. Sweat continuously seeped into the palms gripping the burlap sack he carried.

As a native-born local of Port Gallon, and someone raised in the slums near the harbor, he had naturally heard of Banana Head Bay and the fishing village here. He had simply never visited before.

Axin walked calmly beside him, his hand remaining buried in his pocket the entire time.

Behind him followed more than 20 young men, all former neighbors from the same streets. They carried all kinds of improvised weapons. Wooden clubs, hoes, even fishing rods, all wrapped in woven plastic sacks once used for corn, making it impossible to tell from the outside whether they contained guns or something else.

Glancing at Axin beside him, Kunal felt somewhat reassured by that composed expression and finally began cautiously observing the surroundings.

Most of the shacks had already been abandoned. Only the stranded old ship still emitted a faint flickering light. What should once have been a village of 200 or 300 people held less than half that number.

And those who remained were either emaciated runaway slaves or ruthless killers carrying blood debts on their backs.

While Kunal secretly observed them, the locals were likewise watching the obviously dangerous newcomers with caution.

Several fierce-looking men turned into narrow alleys between the shacks, while curtains suddenly shut behind several pitch-black windows by the roadside.

Every tiny movement made Kunal tense instinctively. Swallowing nervously, he edged closer to Axin and whispered, “Boss... a lot of people are watching us.”

“They can look wherever they want. Besides, we stand out enough already,” Axin replied softly while glancing at him. “Relax. Act natural, like you come here all the time. The more scared you look, the more tempted they’ll become. Now take a deep breath.”

Kunal did as told, inhaling slowly.

Axin hooked an arm around his shoulder and pointed with the other hand toward the only brightly lit establishment in the village. It was the stranded Land of Abandoned Ships sitting in the middle of the beach. “Imagine that place belongs to us. Not just the ship, but the entire stretch of beach too. Of course, we’ll take it step by step. Once we make our first fortune, I’m buying that wreck first.”

Now calmer, Kunal looked at his boss in confusion.

If Axin wanted to buy residential property near the Governor’s Manor, he could understand that. Plenty of citizens and merchants who smelled opportunity had already started inquiring there. Some idiots were even throwing money down before seeing what the houses looked like.

But at Banana Head Bay, it was just an abandoned fishing village. He genuinely could not understand what was worth investing in here. New Alliance and Xilande Empire positions sat practically next door. If the emperor of the Xilande Empire waved his hand the next day, the place would instantly become the frontline of the battlefield.

Even the fishermen who once lived here had abandoned it. Only hopeless drifters remained, blankly staring at the sea.

Sure, Kunal had once mentioned wanting to buy a ship. But he definitely had not meant a stranded piece of junk obviously beyond repair...

While Kunal remained baffled, the group had already arrived beneath the village’s sole remaining light source. Through the rusted hull and cabin door, they could already hear clinking glasses, laughter, shouting, and drunken curses coming from within.

Waving away insects buzzing around the light, Axin stepped forward and gently knocked on the door. Soon footsteps approached, followed by a creak as the door opened.

As expected, a soldier from the Empire carrying a rifle stood there.

The large man glanced at Axin and the scrawny youths behind him before letting out a mocking snort and waving dismissively. “Fuck off. The place is booked out tonight. Go beg somewhere else.”

Ignoring the mocking tone entirely, Axin respectfully bowed slightly, imitating the attendants outside the Triumph Grand Hotel. “... Please send my regards to your commanding officer. Tell him a businessman named Axin has brought something he may find interesting.”

Before the soldier could laugh at him, Axin withdrew the right hand hidden in his pocket and slipped a note worth 100 Xilande Coins into the soldier’s hand.

Surprise clearly flashed across the soldier’s face before he discreetly pocketed the money.

“Wait here.”

Axin nodded calmly, watching the heavy cabin door shut again while listening patiently to the hurried footsteps retreat deeper inside.

The footsteps returned not long after. The heavy door opened again. This time the soldier skipped the mockery and merely beckoned. “You, come in.”

Axin asked politely, “May I bring my servant?”

Perhaps because of the bribe earlier, the soldier did not refuse outright, merely speaking impatiently. “One at most.”

“Thank you.” After he spoke, Axin shot Kunal a glance.

Understanding immediately, Kunal turned back and gave a few hurried instructions to the nervous youths following them before trailing behind his boss through the cabin door they had just bought passage to for a hundred Xilande Coins.

...

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