Chapter 115: The Black Attendants

Lin Qi changed into his martial attire, strapped on a foil, and followed Blackbeard out the main gate of the Ancestral Residence. After all, three Black Attendants, who held equal status with Blackbeard, were visiting. They had to be received with the highest ceremonial honors, so naturally, Lin Qi could not be absent.

The Night Alliance was a grand coalition of all the dark forces along the Northern Coastline of the Western Continent. The Night Alliance did not have an alliance leader; its highest authority was the Night Alliance Council, composed of thirteen Black Attendants, including Blackbeard. The Night Alliance was a loose coalition that did not impose strong restrictions on its allies. Its primary role was to mediate internal conflicts and resolve disputes among its members.

For example, when two major forces were on the brink of a violent confrontation over some matter, members or neighboring forces could bring the issue to the Night Alliance for judgment. The thirteen Black Attendants would each voice their opinions and strive to mediate the conflict as fairly and reasonably as possible.

If both sides accepted the Night Alliance’s mediation, they would naturally lay down their arms and live in peace. However, if they rejected the mediation, they were free to engage in bloody battles openly. After all, all members of the Night Alliance were ruthless dark forces. If two major forces severely weakened each other in a fight, others would seize the opportunity to swallow them whole.

The Underworld followed the brutal law of the jungle. The thirteen Black Attendants were the mightiest predators at the top of the food chain in this dark jungle. They formed the Night Alliance to maintain the rules of this jungle and prevent excessive chaos that might attract unwanted attention from outsiders.

Hundreds of people marched in a grand procession toward the main gate of the Ancestral Residence. Blackbeard, dressed in black martial attire and draped in a magnificent golden cloak, laughed heartily as he swayed like a giant bear, stepping out to greet the visitors.

“Three brothers and sisters, it’s only the first day of the new year, the very first day! What brings you here to see me?”

Three seemingly simple and modest carriages were parked outside the gate, surrounded by nearly a hundred guards in martial attire. These guards were all brawny and fierce, their eyes gleaming with sharp intensity—clearly, they were all exceptional fighters. Notably, several among them exuded a strong, intimidating presence; they were likely at the Celestial Knight level, much like Ironhammer and Butcher Knife.

Whether it was prearranged or not, as Blackbeard led his men out the gate, the doors of all three carriages opened simultaneously. Before anyone appeared, laughter burst forth. One laugh was sharp and shrill, another was smooth but weak, and the last was sweet and charming, so cloying it felt like thick sweet cream was stuffed down one’s throat, making one feel nauseous.

The one with the sharp, shrill laugh, like a rooster’s crow, was a short, rotund man who looked like a ball. Lin Qi saw clearly that after the fat man “rolled” out of his carriage, the vehicle noticeably rose over an inch. Butcher Knife whispered beside Lin Qi, “Fat Bird Kirk. He has a hand in all smuggling operations along the Northern Coastline. Because of him, coastal nations lose over twenty million in tax revenue every year!”

The one with the smooth, weak laugh was a tall, thin man who resembled an inchworm. His head looked as if it had been carved with a knife—pointed at the top and bottom, round in the middle—like a date pit. He was almost as tall as Blackbeard, but his body was probably thinner than Lin Qi’s thigh. This tall, lanky frame was further hunched over, giving him a peculiar appearance.

Butcher Knife whispered, “Mantis Tang En. He’s connected to at least thirty bandit groups, and he’s likely involved in the hundreds of kidnappings that occur in the northern part of the continent each year. For instance, last year, when the Grand Duchess Sapphire of the Kingdom of Ruili was kidnapped and held for a ransom of five million, which was later reduced to three million before she was safely returned—that was Tang En’s work.”

Lin Qi curled his lip. Fat Bird Kirk, the smuggler, was one thing, but Mantis Tang En dared to kidnap a Grand Duchess of a kingdom—his audacity was immense, and his methods were formidable. Especially since, after kidnapping a Grand Duchess, he was still alive and well—his strength was undoubtedly remarkable.

The last one, with the sweet and charming laugh, matched her voice perfectly—a stunningly beautiful young woman with an indescribable elegance. Her tall, mature figure was like a ripe peach, making one want to take a bite. A tight black gown perfectly outlined every curve of her body. At first glance, her face seemed like that of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old, but upon closer inspection, she appeared to be a mature woman in her thirties. By the third look, one would forget her age and be completely captivated by her gaze.

Despite her stunning beauty, Butcher Knife introduced her as “Black Rose Madam Ross,” the largest slave trader in the northern part of the continent. Her reach was extensive—from the strong men of the Black Spirit Continent, to the Alien Races of the Five Great Archipelagos, to the Goblins and Elves of the Goblin Continent. Except for the mysterious Eastern Continent, which she dared not touch, samples of slaves from every other continent could be found in her dungeons.

“There’s reliable information that the Saintess of the Black Spirit Continent, who was abducted a year ago, was likely her doing,” Butcher Knife whispered with a cold laugh. “The Saintess of the Black Spirit Continent—I really don’t know how her people managed to escape from there.”

The Saintess of the Black Spirit Continent? Lin Qi instinctively thought of the Ancestral Spirit Warriors who had burned their souls and lives to rescue Ya and Ling.

“Hahaha, dear brothers, and especially dear Ross! It’s been so long since you last visited me!”

Blackbeard spread his arms and strode forward. He ignored the beaming Fat Bird Kirk and Mantis Tang En, instead wrapping his arms tightly around the coquettish Black Rose Madam Ross. He rubbed his bearded face vigorously against her delicate, smooth cheek, which was as flawless as a peeled egg.

Lin Qi rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, “Father has quite a few lovers, doesn’t he?”

Butcher Knife twisted his mouth and whispered with a laugh, “The master does have many lovers, but since you’ve returned home, Young Master, he doesn’t dare to meet them in secret.”

Lin Qi nodded. “That makes sense. He’s afraid I’ll tell Mother. Tsk, he’s scared that Mother might crawl out at night and strangle him.”

Butcher Knife’s face darkened with embarrassment. He awkwardly turned away, refusing to engage further. Who else in the world would “greet” their own father like that on the first day of the new year? Even Enzo took a few steps to the side, signaling that he did not know this extraordinary Lin Qi.

Blackbeard hugged and kissed Madam Ross for a full two minutes before releasing her. As he moved to embrace the other two, Lin Qi’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

From Fat Bird Kirk’s carriage, a bruised and swollen Arthur slowly stepped out.