‘Who is it?’

The Emperor mulled over the question in his head over and over. He too, like many others on the three continents, was suspecting an incredibly powerful backer behind this young man, who for some reason chose to not reveal themselves, letting Wu Long take the limelight.

Wu Long’s sudden rise and seemingly apparent, even glaring vulnerability to the true powers of this world seemed too much like a bait to lure an attack.

‘Mind games are not my favorite tactic, but desperate times…’

The man in question, in turn, calmly looked back at the Emperor, reading his thoughts like an open book despite the latter’s masterful concealment of his thinking and emotions alike.

Wu Long knew that no one of this fractured world’s genuine superpowers believed that there was truly no backer behind him, using it to his advantage and deliberately escalating his actions to make himself look like a flashy bait.

He once already explained this logic to his ladies while they were leaving the empty husk of the Clear River Pavilion.

Though he did not put his full trust in this screen of mysteriousness, it was, nevertheless an extra layer of protection in case people he could not handle safely yet decided to make the move personally.

He did not need an elaborate plan or to spread any rumors, which would only accelerate the moment the ruse would be exposed. The mere doubt is all he needed to keep those people at bay.

‘Heh, truly, we fear the unknown’

Wu Long chuckled inwardly as he clearly saw fear in the Emperor’s eyes. If he came up with a fake backer, it would no longer become the ‘unknown’, and thus would not cause such fear.

Even if that fake backer was someone immensely powerful, there would appear room for logical analysis. But the unknown was different, the unknown always had a grip on the hearts of people, giving them constant anxiety until they knew what it was.

In the short moments the two looked at each other, the surrounding people’s faces finally started changing from shock to indignation, but they all waited for the command to continue the attack, the command that never came as certain individuals among the crowd looked at Wu Long with caution.

“Well, then, since there is no more meaning in my staying here, I will take my leave, Your Highness, you have my support if you need it”

Wu Long smiled, and turned to Song Minfu, who was as astonished at his previous words as the others, before turning on his feet and leaving the throne room.

‘Uhm, that support he just gave effectively tied my hands’

The Emperor’s mind stirred at Wu Long’s words. The latter first cut off any attacks on himself, and once he dealt with it, expressed?his willingness to support the Crown Prince.

‘He did not play by our rules of the game, and yet he used those rules to his advantage’

Was the thought of those who looked at Wu Long with caution from the crowd as they clenched their teeth.

Wu Long left the palace and arrived in the Soaring Feather Trading Company, where Sui Luxiao was preparing to depart. The hall below her office was still as busy as ever, with clerks working. But there were also clerks who were packing.

“Wu Long”

She saw him coming in and stood up with a smile.

“I have made you wait, is the company ready for moving headquarters?”

“Yes, though this will still stay a major branch so I leave some personnel here, many agreed to move with the company”

She nodded to his question, both excited and slightly nervous about the new future that was about to unfold.

“I have a lead on a travel security agency that you could use to counter the meddling of the Golden Ox”

Wu Long then said and she widened her eyes.

“Have you heard of the Pirate Queen?”

“Of course, she is an influential person in the Southern Archipelago, though I am fairly certain that she is aligned with the Golden Ox since her blockade lets their ships through” .𝘤𝘰𝑚

Sui Luxiao became perplexed why the conversation turned to someone who seemed to be aligned with the opposition.

“Heh, she indeed had some dealings with them, but she is my woman now. Due to the reorganization of her fleet, they are currently left without work or purpose, since the blockade of the Southern Sea has been lifted”

Wu Long chuckled and Sui Luxiao became flabbergasted at the revelation.

“T-The Pirate Queen Cao Xiang is your woman?”

He nodded at her question and she put her hand to her chin as thoughts flashed through her head.

“Do you intend to start a transport and travel security company with her men?”

She asked as her mind quickly was filled with possibilities.

“I was indeed thinking of helping her accommodate her people, but I lack the experience or knowledge on how such an enterprise would operate. You, on the other hand, can help her reorganize her men”

Wu Long looked out of the window at the workers below who were tending their duties in organized and orderly fashion.

“She already has their loyalty, and they are already experienced to having a dangerous job. But they lack the structure and connections”

He continued as Sui Luxiao stood next to him, looking down as well, already envisioning a new plan.

He smiled as he slightly turned to look at her, her brilliant mind already going through the possible scenarios of making that a reality.

“But, will the Pirate Queen agree to reorganizing her pirate fleet into security agency?”

She then asked as all her calculations have reached one chokepoint, which was the notorious Pirate Queen’s attitude toward such an idea.

“Haha, she was not really a pirate, but a civil servant who led a revolt, so she would likely welcome this change, since it would return her people to the lawful side.

Seeming as you look at this idea positively, I will ask her about it. I just didn’t want to get her hopes up in case you decided that creating a transport and travel security agency would not be feasible”

“She is not a pirate?!?!”

Wu Long chuckled and Sui Luxiao once more became dumbfounded.

“You can ask her about her story later when you two meet, I think you will get along”

Sui Luxiao slowly nodded, still slightly dazed from the shocking revelation. But as she thought about the new possibilities if she could expand her trade beyond the continent to the Wood Spirit Empire, her eyes became shiny.

Wu Long had a glint in his eye as he saw that expression, finding her incredibly alluring at this very moment. He then thought to the first time he saw her in this room, and the thoughts these big windows gave him.

“Say, how about making one more fond memory in this office?”

He chuckled and she widened her eyes as she turned to him. Her heartbeat became slightly elevated as she looked into his eyes. She then turned and slowly approached her desk, touching an array on it that locked the doors and activated the formations.

Wu Long, meanwhile placed a few porcelain bottles from his spatial ring on the low bookshelf not far from him.

As she turned to look at him in her black dress, there was already a fire lit in her eyes. He smiled and beckoned her, as she approached him by the window with a seductive gait, her hips moving from side to side with each step as her beautiful legs in dark tights could be glimpsed when coming forward from the long slits on the sides of the dress.

They met in front of the window and their lips touched, a kiss so sweet and tender, yet so passionate and deep making her mind dizzy.

𝑖𝘦𝑎.𝗇t