Endless Debt Chapter 645 - 156: The People of Xitao

Due to the power struggle between the Kagader Empire and the Rhine Alliance, the Narrow Countries, which serve as a buffer zone, seem neutral but have long been under the control of both forces. Some countries lean towards the Kagader Empire, while others side with the Rhine Alliance.

Geoffrey, like a worried parent, repeatedly emphasized, "Stay vigilant, everyone. In the Free Port, we have no stronghold to hide."

The Order Bureau has established numerous strongholds in the Narrow Countries as a means of monitoring them, which can also be used as safe houses when necessary.

"Does the Order Bureau not have a stronghold in such an important place as Free Port?"

Palmer wondered, considering the intensity of the conflict between the Order Bureau and the King’s Secret Sword. If the Narrow Countries were a chessboard, it should be filled with pieces, yet there’s a blank space in this crucial area of Free Port.

Palmer thought of the worst possibility, "Is this place controlled by the King’s Secret Sword?"

"It’s not. If you’ve carefully read the mission intelligence, you’d understand that it’s another Extraordinary Organization that controls here."

Bologue explained from the side; he had long anticipated that Palmer wouldn’t read the mission intelligence carefully.

If they were to travel, Palmer would definitely be the kind of person who ignores everything and just enjoys the journey, while Bologue is like the nanny who makes a tight schedule and thoroughly plans the itinerary.

Fortunately, the team has Geoffrey, who, compared to Bologue, is like a personal butler with years of experience, far superior.

"Is Yuriel not joining us?"

Aimou occasionally looked back, but there was no one at the end of the group.

Yuriel did not follow the team; she remained in the special carriage.

"Yuriel has her tasks," Geoffrey added, "We may not have a stronghold here, but that doesn’t mean we lack influence – yet don’t expect too much. Both we and the King’s Secret Sword have extremely limited influence here."

After the few left, Yuriel stayed quietly in the special carriage. Workers followed orders to detach the hooks and connect the special carriage to another train, disappearing along the tracks in the low rumble.

As a communicator, Yuriel herself has almost no combat capabilities; she usually stays inside the Order Bureau to provide assistance for team members’ operations. Being away from the Order Bureau, her priority is to avoid dragging down the team’s actions.

Yuriel locked the carriage tightly, the thickened steel plates turning it into a cage, which is also a sturdy fortress.

After finishing all this, Yuriel returned to her room, where a simple Secret Core Ceremony device was set up. She could use it at any time to connect with the team members.

But the connection range of the Secret Core Ceremony is limited; Yuriel couldn’t cover the entire port with her Secret Energy.

The train dragged the special carriage and didn’t leave Free Port but circled and interwove within it, continually keeping in motion.

By relying on this point, every so often, the members overlap with Yuriel’s Secret Energy range to exchange information; in cases of necessity, Yuriel could also stop the train, acting as a mobile communication station, continuing to provide aid.

Taking a deep breath and then exhaling, Yuriel rolled up her sleeves and inserted the syringe into her arm, slowly pushing the Alchemy Potion into the bloodstream and gradually affecting her body.

In the days to come, unless unexpected, Yuriel would remain in this dark iron cage. It is a severe test for both mind and body, but compared to members on the battlefield facing life-and-death crises, Yuriel felt these were nothing.

After organizing her supplies and medicines for the coming period, Yuriel closed her eyes in the darkness, and shortly after, a faint light flickered at the corner of her eye.

...

"Sigtau people."

Bologue recalled the content of the mission intelligence and repeated it to Palmer.

"Their structural form is that of an Extraordinary Clan, just that this Extraordinary Clan is composed of multiple tribes. The Sigtau people have long wandered over the Seven Seas, enjoying conquering various marine areas and exploring the New Continent."

It’s said that when Scott pioneered the unknown, he received help from these Sigtau people."

When mentioning Scott, Bologue paused. He remembered the dark box Belphegor held and then the eternal stone statues within the Undying Club.

If Scott still had consciousness, would he be indulging in the joy of immortality or be fragmented by the prolonged imprisonment?

"The Sigtau people seldom delve into the land, so Free Port was their sole foothold on the mainland where they could rest, supply, and trade."

Palmer said, "Sounds like a group of... Extraordinary Boatmen?"

"Extraordinary Boatmen? A fitting label. Indeed, they couldn’t compare to the Clarks, residing in castles... but best not let them hear this comment."

Bologue then countered Palmer, "The Sigtau people have been living in Free Port for over a century, what do you think they did a hundred years ago?"

"What did they do?"

Palmer still had no clear understanding of the Sigtau people, not due to any educational inadequacies but because the Clarks rarely interacted with them.

The rugged and perilous environment of Wind Source Highlands severely limited the outward movement range of the Clarks.

"Pirates. What else did you think? Navigators? Merchant fleets?"

Bologue said, "Hundreds of years ago, people were not as civilized as now. The Sigtau people relied on Extraordinary Power to guide water currents and summon gales, ruling the seas and sometimes even going upstream along the Rhine River to raid coastal cities."

Palmer’s expression showed some surprise.

"During the Rage of Scorched Earth, the Sigtau people also got involved. The Kagader Empire and Rhine Alliance burned Free Port to ruins in a fight for its naval passage, and the Sigtau people ambushed both fleets, even plundering along the way.

When both sides prepared to counter the Sigtau people, they had already sailed deep into the Seven Seas and disappeared without a trace. "

Bologue emphasized, "The Sigtau people are thoroughbred pirates. Only with modern reorganization of order and economic growth did they realize that trade is more profitable than looting."

To restore the history shrouded in mist, Bologue read many books even without higher education, and he mastered most of the knowledge through self-study.

It’s quite reasonable that Palmer didn’t know much about the Sigtau people. After all, Palmer wasn’t particularly studious, plus there was quite a distance between the Clarks and the Sigtau people. If they were very familiar, that would be more of an issue.

Located in the plateau area, the Clarks rarely came into contact with the Sigtau people, even if the latter wanted to go upstream along the Rhine River, it would be hard to reach the Wind Source Highlands. To approach by sea, they’d have to circumnavigate half the continent while being wary of the Angry Sea near Wind Source Highlands, a true Death Zone.

"Various Extraordinary Organizations have historically sparked conflicts within Free Port, but the ultimate victors have always been the Sigtau people," Bologue continued to narrate the history of Free Port, "Since the establishment of Oath City Opus, the core of multiple forces’ conflicts gradually shifted to Opus."

Bologue and Palmer were quite fortunate in this respect, as they joined after the secret war had ended for many years, and Oath City Opus was entirely under the control of the Order Bureau.

According to Geoffrey, before the secret war, multiple forces divided Opus into several parts, with ongoing conflicts in secret, and micro-wars erupting constantly.

"Over time, Free Port came under the complete control of the Sigtau people, yet they have been quite sensible, always maintaining absolute neutrality and never leaning towards any side."

Bologue added, "In this, they are quite similar to the Gray Trade Association, focusing solely on business and not involving in conflicts."

"Wow... what’s that smell."

Palmer covered his nose, looking around for the source of the strange odor.

Aimou sniffed, and the halo twisted into symbols Bologue couldn’t decipher before returning to normal.

"Just the usual fishy smell."

Palmer was surprised, "Can you actually analyze air components?"

Aimou said, "In experiments, there are many stages where gases need to be analyzed."

Bologue stared sharply at Palmer, unable to hold back, grabbed Palmer’s collar and questioned, "Were you listening just now?"