Chapter 387 - 287: Cooperation Finalized, Preparing to Depart

Chapter 387: Chapter 287: Cooperation Finalized, Preparing to Depart

Orlando Bell arrived in York City in the wee hours of the morning.

He had been in Metropolis, over a hundred kilometers from York City, handling clan affairs. Upon receiving his daughter’s message, he set out immediately and traveled through the night without stopping.

"What’s the situation?" Orlando asked immediately upon seeing his daughter.

He had a general understanding of the situation before arriving, but he was unclear on the specifics and needed a detailed account.

Annabelle held nothing back, recounting the entire series of events from start to finish.

After listening, Orlando’s expression grew grave. "Are you sure the impression he gave you was exactly as you described?"

"I’m sure." Annabelle nodded firmly.

Orlando let out a long breath, his grave expression now tinged with a hint of excitement.

"If that’s the case, then this man’s power truly cannot be underestimated. However, judging by his actions, he seems to be someone worth recruiting."

In fact, he had already made up his mind on the way to York City.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have traveled over a hundred kilometers through the night to handle this matter personally.

"Is the reward money ready?" Orlando asked his men.

An old steward immediately stepped forward. "It is all prepared."

"Good. We’ll rest here and go to the docks at dawn," Orlando said, giving an order that took Annabelle by surprise.

"Aren’t we going tonight?" Annabelle asked, confused.

After all, her father had come all this way personally for this matter. Going now would be the best way to demonstrate the full sincerity of the Bell Clan.

So for her father to decide to wait until dawn was truly baffling.

Orlando simply smiled. "My dear, you don’t understand. If we go now, it will make us seem too desperate. That would put us at a disadvantage in the coming negotiations."

"You must remember, no matter what happens, you have to keep your composure. You can’t afford to be flustered. Only then can you find the best way to turn the situation to your advantage."

Orlando patiently explained to his daughter, a habit he had formed over many years.

Although Orlando had many children, Annabelle was the most outstanding and his absolute favorite.

That was why he would patiently explain the reasoning behind many of his decisions to her.

Annabelle nodded.

"Still, you handled this well. You’ve successfully solved a major problem for our clan," Orlando added, not forgetting to praise Annabelle.

In truth, he had come for another reason, beyond just helping his daughter with this problem.

The Bell Clan might seem prosperous, but in reality, it was beset by hidden dangers.

With no strong heir besides Annabelle, the clan’s status among the nobility was in an inevitable decline.

This, in turn, had triggered a chain reaction.

Especially in the last two years, as Orlando Bell grew older, the shipping routes under the clan’s control had begun to suffer frequent incidents.

The route to the Cape of Heaven, in particular, had been hit by pirate raids no fewer than ten times this year alone, resulting in devastating losses.

Moreover, Orlando knew full well that the pirates’ frequent attacks on the Bell Clan’s ships were not simply for plunder.

There had to be other powers pulling the strings, aiming to force the Bell Clan out of these waters and make them surrender the route.

It wasn’t that Orlando hadn’t tried to find a solution, but the pirates were incredibly cunning. The moment they encountered a large fleet, they would vanish.

Furthermore, the clan lacked the overall strength to sustain long-term fleet escorts, so they could only rely on the merchant ships’ own defensive capabilities.

But a strong escort team for a merchant vessel was expensive, and more importantly, it was purely a defensive measure that couldn’t solve the root problem.

It was under these circumstances that the value of Wu Liangchen, who had captured Hoffman single-handedly, became apparent.

This was precisely why Annabelle, after personally experiencing Wu Liangchen’s powerful aura, had immediately changed her approach and decided to recruit him.

And Orlando had come for the very same reason.

He held nothing back, laying his request bare before Wu Liangchen.

When he finished listening, Wu Liangchen remained expressionless. "So, you want to hire me?"

"You could put it that way, but I see it as more of a partnership with you, sir." Orlando deftly avoided the word "hire."

After all, while that word might be acceptable for an ordinary Martial Artist, for someone of Wu Liangchen’s caliber, it was tantamount to an insult.

"A partnership... So what’s in it for me?" Wu Liangchen asked.

Wu Liangchen wouldn’t have minded teaching any pirates he met on the way to the Cape of Heaven a lesson, but since Orlando had framed it this way, he certainly wasn’t going to do it for free.

Orlando’s eyes lit up. "As long as you can eliminate all the pirates we encounter along the route, we are willing to use the connections our clan has built up over many years with the overseas merchant fleets to secure a good position for you. And to offer you protection."

"Protection?"

"That’s right, protection! Please don’t misunderstand. I know your power is astonishing, sir, but you have no idea how dangerous the voyage from the Cape of Heaven to the overseas secret realms is."

"Aside from the perpetual, year-round fog, there are also countless powerful and dangerous sea monsters that attack passing ships. In such conditions, a good position aboard can help you avoid most of those risks."

"Furthermore, the hierarchy on the ships sailing to these secret realms is extremely rigid. Even an esteemed Grandmaster such as yourself would start at the very bottom. We, however, can ensure you receive patronage from the higher-ups. This is crucial."

Wu Liangchen was intrigued.

From what Orlando was saying, it was clear he had some knowledge of these overseas merchant fleets and the route to the secret realms.

"I hear that even the ordinary guards on these overseas merchant ships possess considerable strength. Is that true?"

"Correct. And that’s not all. There are also masters with unique and extraordinary abilities among these merchant fleets," Orlando said.

"What kind of masters?" Wu Liangchen immediately asked.

A look of fascination appeared on Orlando’s face. "They are beings who possess special skills and are immensely powerful. Those people are the true leaders of the overseas merchant fleets, but even I have only caught a glimpse of them a few times."

Then, Orlando said to Wu Liangchen, "So, what is your decision, sir?"

Wu Liangchen didn’t hesitate. He nodded. "Deal."

’He had no reason to refuse. After all, it was just a trivial display of force in exchange for invaluable information and assistance.’

Orlando seemed to have expected Wu Liangchen’s agreement all along, and he extended a hand with a broad smile.

"To a successful partnership!"

Wu Liangchen smiled as well, reaching out to shake Orlando’s hand. "To a successful partnership."