The chilling murderous intent surrounded Hert, creating a sense of unfamiliarity between Lebius and Hert. Lebius then realized that after so many twists and turns, the Hert in front of him was no longer the sa person he used to fish with.
A slightly sorrowful expression flashed across his face, and Lebius returned to his calm deanor, like a machine, precise and thodical.
"For the sake of my colleagues and the interests of the Order Bureau."
Lebius’s voice was emotionless; the nostalgic chat ended, and now it was ti to exchange benefits for benefits.
"If you can help , the Order Bureau is willing to repay your debts on your behalf."
Debts.
Upon hearing this word now, Hert felt indescribable feelings inside, and he smiled wryly, "Repaying debts? That certainly sounds tempting... I need to know what’s really going on."
Hert turned sideways, leaning his entire back against the railing. Despite the seemingly relaxed action, he positioned his whole body facing Lebius in a defensive posture, with a cold long knife across his front.
"Don’t lie to , Lebius, you’re not soone who’s good at lying."
Hert drank the remaining liquor in one gulp, suppressing his hallucinations and pain. Sothing that could make Lebius travel such a long distance to get here must be very important, and he needed to stay clear-headed.
"One of our action teams was attacked, and according to intelligence, they should be hiding within Free Port. I need to find them."
Lebius added, "This incident is quite special, and if possible, we hope to avoid catching anyone’s attention, even the Tidefolks."
"Trying to avoid the Tidefolks’ attention? That would be quite difficult. As soon as the action team entered Free Port, they should have been noticed."
Lebius paused midway, "That’s why I ca to seek your help..."
"But you didn’t imagine that the forr Navigator candidate, Hert Motley, would beco like this, right?"
Hert laughed hoarsely.
Lebius reminisced about the old tis, "Yeah, I really didn’t expect it."
"But you still ca to see ," Hert suddenly said, "instead of turning around and leaving... why?"
Lebius said, "You’re my friend, and I wanted to personally see you, even if I don’t gain anything from you."
Hert slowly stood up, straightening his back with complex emotions, realizing that it’s been a long ti since anyone had such expectations and trust in him.
"Is it the Tenth Group that’s missing?" Hert pondered, "They’re the only ones active in the Narrow Countries."
Hert expressed surprise, "The Tenth Group, that’s an entire legion, and they’ve been attacked and had to hide all the way here?"
"They were ambushed by the enemy, which is why they ended up like this. You don’t need to fight; I just need to know where they are, and the rest will be handled by the Order Bureau."
"I don’t know about the Tenth Group, but Free Port has indeed been a bit uneasy lately," Hert continued, "I need so ti."
"Go to Wrecked Ship Shore; I still have so influence there. The rats in the cesspool exchange information and smuggle goods, with so Tidefolks also present. You should find what you need there."
"Influence?"
Lebius looked at Hert with curiosity, and Hert understood the intent behind his gaze. To be honest, he had been hoping for this look from Lebius for a long ti.
"Don’t forget who I am. I’m Hert, once one of the Navigator candidates, the Butcher of the Tidefolks."
Hert displayed a reckless smile, "Even if I’m trapped in a pond, I’m still a shark."
Hasty sounds ca from around them, as if a swarm of rats was crawling across the ground. Bologue imdiately beca alert. With his rich work experience, he knew this wasn’t any ordinary rat but deliberately slowed footsteps.
Countless gazes shot from the surrounding shadows, like crisscrossed arrows falling on Lebius.
"Hoo... Should I say this is the Hert I’m familiar with?"
Lebius glanced over the shadows filled with black figures on high alert. He should have expected this; no matter how Hert had fallen, his abilities wouldn’t fade with changes in the environnt. At sea, he was the Navigator facing the storm directly; in this broken junkyard, he was the leader of the rats.
"Not too bad," Hert lit another cigarette, "It took a long ti to unify the shadows of Free Port, but they’re just shadows, surviving only on the fringes of my brother’s influence.
Pausing for a mont, Hert continued, "Emily, that’s my daughter’s na."
Lebius didn’t understand why Hert ntioned this at the mont.
"She’s a very cute girl, smiles like a flower. You’d like her, but she’s not healthy, taking after . You know, the Motleys have so hereditary issues in their heads."
Hert pointed to his own head, his emotions a bit agitated, but when he thought of his wife and daughter, he seed trapped in a sweet dream, his expression distorted and struggling.
"To be honest, dealing with these rats often makes feel a sense of sha. At sea, I hated this group of rats the most."
Hert said with disgust, "I take a bath every day, repeatedly scrubbing my body, yet I still can’t wash off this strange sll... I don’t want Emily to think her father is a filthy rat."
"I have no choice. I need money, a lot of money, so I can hire people to take care of them, to provide them with the best dical care and the most perfect living environnt."
Taking a deep breath, a weak fla traveled along the cigarette as Hert took a few quick puffs to finish it, exhaling a long stream of smoke while he looked down below, his face obscured by the smoke.
"I can help you, Lebius. I can even help you eliminate everyone in our way. You’re aware of my strength. As for the price, there’s only one thing I want."
Through the smoke, Lebius saw a pair of shark-like eyes, hollow and lifeless, with a chilling aura.
"I need the Border Sanatorium to provide the best dical care for my daughter. Can you do that?"
Relief washed over Lebius’s tense expression, "You’ve really changed, Hert."
"What do you an?"
"Nothing. As for your condition, it’s really straightforward."
Lebius stood up as well, his anxiety finally eased. The deal was made; all that was left was to follow the plan.
Hert stared into the distance, lost in thought, and lit another cigarette for himself.
"You should quit smoking, Hert, or you’ll get lung cancer."
"I’ve let everything slide over the years, except for the Etherealization. A bit of tar can’t kill ."
Hert cast a sidelong glance at Lebius, "That outfit doesn’t suit you."
"What’s wrong with it?" Lebius said, "I think this motley attire suits the beach well."
"A motley Lebius, huh? I never noticed your sense of humor back then."
"I’ve beco a team leader now, with mbers of my own," Lebius pondered, "Sotis I want to be more approachable, just like my team leader used to be."
"Ha ha." Hert laughed, recalling Lebius’s team leader.
"How’s Geoffrey doing?"
Hert glanced back at Bologue, who stood there silently like a guard.
Lebius said, "Sa as always, why?"
"Nothing, just curious. You two were inseparable, but I didn’t see him this ti. Instead, there’s this new face."
"Almost a decade has passed; a lot has changed."
Lebius felt it was ti to leave. He told Hert, "I’ll wait for your news."
Hert nodded.
Lebius and Bologue said goodbye to Hert, walking through the dark, foul-slling land. Bologue thought the air quality at the Crossroads was worse, but it was far more disgusting here.
The tal was covered in corroded rust, mold was everywhere, and filthy spots resembling insect eggs dotted the area. Rats scurried in unseen corners, their rustling audible in swarms.
Bologue and Lebius maintained a mutual silence, only relaxing slightly upon returning to the bustling city.
Bologue said, "You lied."
"I didn’t lie, just withheld so truths," Lebius responded.
"Why hide Geoffrey’s involvent?"
"Hert isn’t entirely trustworthy."
Lebius’s voice was cold and unfeeling. Bologue looked at him in confusion, but soon understood, quietly mumbling, "Ten years can change many things."
"I never expected Hert to turn out this way, but he’s the only connection I have here... at least I prefer dealing with him over his brother."
Bologue asked curiously, "Who is his brother?"
"Nolen Motley, currently the Navigator of the Tidefolk and the CEO of the United Company, the current administrator of Free Port."
Lebius stopped speaking, for even from a distance, he could see the large ship docked at the harbor, with the faint lettering of the United Company on its side.
No doubt Nolen was there, overseeing the city like a King.
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