Chapter 136: Volunteer

Chapter 136: Volunteer

On the second floor of the Sweet Lemon Bar, inside the room belonging to the owner.

Bilt Brando held a cigar between his fingers and stood by the window, staring outside with unfocused eyes. His expression was frighteningly gloomy.

At that moment, a bodyguard entered, bent his waist slightly, and said carefully, “Sir, Sotos has returned from the east.”

“Let him in.” Bilt did his utmost to adjust his expression.

Sotos Young was his deputy and an important member of the loose organization known as the Adventurers’ Mutual Aid Association.

In less than a minute, Sotos entered. He wore a linen shirt, a brown jacket, and a dark-red headscarf wrapped around his head. His appearance was that of a man in his thirties. His complexion was bronze, his eye sockets deep, and dark whiskers grew over his upper lip and chin. At a glance, one could tell he was the sort of person who drifted across the sea year-round.

Sotos offered a not-especially-formal salute and sized up Bilt Brando.

“Boss, did something happen?”

“Mm. There was an accident. It seems the matter will fail.” Bilt did not conceal it. He sighed. “I do not even know how to explain it to that major figure.”

Without waiting for Sotos to respond, he turned and asked, “Have there been any changes in the east?”

“Still the same. Pirates chase every ship worth plundering and even treat one another as prey. The navy can only defend each colony, barely maintaining the shipping routes and protecting the relatively important ships. Naval battles break out often, with both sides winning and losing.” Sotos shrugged.

“The eastern Sonia Sea truly is a chaotic paradise for pirates…” Bilt sighed in agreement.

Sotos thought for a moment and added, “Recently, some news appeared on the islands in the east. It is said to have first spread from the Black Death.”

“Vice Admiral Ailment? What news?” Bilt asked, becoming more alert.

With a mixture of gravity and excitement, Sotos said, “Vice Admiral Ailment was indeed assassinated and was seriously injured. The person who did it was the adventurer Gehrman Sparrow!”

“Gehrman Sparrow?” Bilt blurted out.

“Yes, him! He truly is a pirate admiral-level powerhouse. Even if it was a sneak attack, it took place on the Black Death, surrounded by many famous pirates. Yet he still heavily injured Vice Admiral Ailment and escaped smoothly. Afterward, he even hunted down the Silver-Tongued Misor.” Sotos gave an emotional and affirmative answer.

Bilt paced two steps and sighed.

“This is major news.

“Among adventurers, pirate admiral-level powerhouses are already extremely rare. Someone capable of seriously injuring a pirate admiral aboard their own flagship is even rarer—perhaps only this one. An operation like that requires not only absolute confidence in one’s own strength, but also enough madness. Only a lunatic would directly infiltrate a pirate admiral’s flagship and attempt an assassination, rather than look for another location!”

At this point, his expression shifted slightly.

“Last night, I met an adventurer who claimed to be Gehrman Sparrow.”

“Real or fake?” Sotos’s eyes narrowed as he asked in a low voice.

“I cannot be certain. I have never seen the true Gehrman Sparrow, nor his photograph or portrait.” Bilt shook his head.

Sotos considered briefly and said, “We can gather the Rorsted Archipelago newspapers and confirm it. So many days have passed that travelers should have brought over the corresponding News Report and Sonia Morning Post. Government offices, police stations, Churches, and charity organizations all subscribe to the important newspapers from the Rorsted Archipelago.”

The Rorsted Archipelago was the Loen Kingdom’s largest and most important colony in the central Sonia Sea, and its influence radiated across the surrounding region. Oravi Island, only three days’ sailing away, was undoubtedly within that range. Official institutions and Church organizations all subscribed to newspapers and magazines…