Ever since Souks left, Danio swept away the previous gloom.

He called back his companions scattered in various inns and informed them of the good news.

Although the process was fraught with difficulties, at least the result was good.

Trading with the Holy Tree faction vampires cleared the trade route.

Once the spices were sold, and the ship’s materials’ transport to Pearl Harbor was ordered, he would return to the Xilan Islands himself.

Maybe he could even bring back a group of "loyalists overseas" to the Holy Alliance, having collected vampire intelligence.

Holy Father, bless him, he actually made it happen.

However, due to Danio’s drastically reduced credibility, Aisu’an personally went to confirm.

In any case, everyone had renewed hope and was no longer as muddled as before.

Danio even paid for everyone to go to the public bathhouse in Black Tower Harbor, to experience the bathing culture of the Royal Court and the vampire women who were cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

After a brief moment of joy, as night fell, the time for the arena’s opening drew near, and anxiety gripped him once again.

What if Souks deceived him? What if the Governor disagreed? What if that Commissioner Hafari intervened again?

Danio paced back and forth in the inn, Aisu’an quietly prayed on the side, while Paolina leaned against the window, watching the street.

The louder the noise from the distant arena grew, the faster Danio paced.

Aisu’an finished his daily prayer, looked at the anxious Danio, and comforted him: "Don’t worry, this time it was our intelligence that was wrong, beyond human control."

"Heh heh." Danio forced a couple of laughs, wanting to say something but couldn’t speak.

He always felt that every attempt to accomplish something on this trip failed, each time hovering on the brink of success.

Could this time be successful? What exactly was going on?

The noise echoed continuously in Danio’s ears and mind until midnight, and there was still no news from the Holy Tree faction vampires.

On the contrary, the noise in the street grew louder, and when he looked out, he could even see guards running.

What on earth happened?

Quickly walking to the window, Danio frowned at the distant direction of the Governor’s mansion, thinking they should have arrived by now.

In the distance, the city skyline was covered with overhanging dark clouds, hazy and drifting.

The moonless night sky was like a giant wall pressing down hard on Danio from both sides.

Quiet yet suffocating.

For a moment, he was a bit distracted, barely breathing.

Before he could calm down, a rapid knocking sounded at the door, and Aisu’an stepped forward to open it.

Souks, bloodied all over, stumbled in, nearly falling.

"What happened? What happened? Speak up!"

Collapsing to the floor, Souks grasped Danio’s arm: "There’s trouble, trouble, you all need to run.

An assassination occurred at tonight’s arena, the Governor was hit in the face by a blood-contract gun, his life unknown.

The city is full of rebels, and people hunting rebels. You are from the Holy Alliance; you’ll be the first to be caught. Run now."

Danio couldn’t hear the latter half of the words; he seemed to lose his breath, standing there stunned.

No, no, there’s still a chance.

He rubbed his cheeks vigorously. The city was in chaos, so they should go straight to the docks and take back the ship!

Yes, yes, that’s the plan!

But before Danio could clearly organize the entire plan, he heard Paolina’s soft scream by the window.

"Danio, Danio, look over there!"

Danio turned his head, and with the blaze of fire, the smell of burning drifted into his nose.

In an instant, his pupils shrank dramatically, and he was stunned on the spot.

The direction of the docks was ablaze.

...

Around four or five o’clock, having helped fight the fire the whole night, Danio despairingly collapsed beside a wooden crate.

In the water, masts were sticking out in all directions, and the jetty was covered with charred marks.

The water surface was still lit with fiery light, illuminating the port like daylight, but the acrid smoke was mixed with a spicy smell.

Without saying, Danio knew it was the scent of the spices burned out.

A whole shipload of spices was gone, visibly marking the end of Danio’s career prospects and even his life.

The position was gone, the spices burned, leaving him covered in ash; everything was over.

Even Aisu’an sat in a slump beside him.

Using the flame from burning leaves nearby, he lit a pipe: "Danio, this trip was for nothing."

"I know."

"What do you think Lord Madlan will do with us?"

"I don’t know."

"Danio, be honest with me, do you really understand business?"

Danio turned his head and let out a self-deprecating laugh, just as he was about to fish out a crumpled confession from his pocket, he was interrupted by an angry shout, "Danio, where are my spices?"

Acreius coughed, waving away the billowing black smoke as he walked in.

Danio had no mood to pay attention to him, he merely pointed towards the sea, "Go fish them out yourself."

Acreius’ crimson eyes scanned the empty sea, finally landing on Danio, "Are you playing me?"

Impatiently, Danio stood up, "The dock’s on fire, all the spices were on the ship, they probably turned to ash."

Acreius sneered and pulled out a roll of parchment, rustling loudly, "The contract stipulates, even if met with force majeure, you’ll pay for delayed delivery at tenfold the cost!"

"No money." Danio was initially shocked, but then boldly clasped his hands behind his back, "I can stay with you, let my companions ransom me."

"I can’t wait that long." He stepped forward, fangs gleaming in the firelight, "How about this, pledge this lady of noble blood to me, then I’ll wait for you, how about it?"

Before he finished speaking, Acreius reached to grab Paolina’s arm.

Paolina swiftly retreated, her wings flaring open, ready to fly away at any moment.

Immediately, two blood slave servants behind Acreius took out crossbows equipped with rope hooks.

For flying vampires, the Royal Court has much experience in suppression, they even have specialized equipment.

As for Danio’s side, sailors also stood up and silently surrounded them.

"What are you planning to do?" Danio lunged forward, blocking in front of Paolina, "I already said I’ll gather the funds, I’m the person in charge, isn’t pledging me enough?"

Acreius laughed twice, as if hearing a tremendous joke.

He slowly approached Danio, leaning to his ear, "Who do you think you are? This is the Royal Court, you should be the one leaving.

The fire was started by us, who told you to anger Commissioner Hafali and still plan to report to the governor.

If the governor found out Commissioner Hafali intercepted a whole ship of spices, then it’s over, right?

You, a mere merchant, how could you compete with Commissioner Hafali, even if the governor himself dies, you wouldn’t stand a chance.

But I have to thank you, if it weren’t for you, how could I have connected with Commissioner Hafali?

Leave her and get lost quickly, that’s my final advice."

With a triumphant twist, Acreius waved to his two subordinates, "Come, take the..."

Before the last word could escape, Acreius’ voice suddenly caught in his throat.

Like he pressed a pause button, he froze in place.

Black-red blood slowly flowed from his mouth, he looked down, a military saber protruding from his chest.

His silk outer garb stained deep purple with blood, the tip of the blade dripping cold beads of blood.

This was Danio’s saber, how could he dare in the Royal Court?

Danio leaned to his ear, his voice cold as ice, "Originally wanted to interact with you as a merchant, but in return, received nothing but trouble and humiliation. I’m done pretending, I’m a military officer, I’ve laid my cards on the table."

With a fierce pull of the saber, Acreius’ body dropped heavily to the ground.

Danio flicked the blood off the blade, and for the first time since arriving at the Royal Court, he laughed heartily.

He almost truly forgot, he was never best at bargaining, but surviving in the midst of flashing blades.

Captain Danio, doesn’t do business, but best at warfare!

"Kill him!" The remaining two low-level vampire cronies roared, lunging forward with claws glinting in the cold light.

Danio swiftly drew a clockwork gun from his waist.

With a "bang," the vampire lunging first was sent flying backward.

The other servant saw things were amiss, immediately turned to call for reinforcements.

Beside them, Esuan suddenly reached out, retrieving an iron-plated gospel book from his luggage, hurling it forward with force.

The heavy book hit squarely on the servant’s back head, he groaned, falling to the ground.

Danio swiftly dashed forward, a kick knocking the servant attempting to rise back down.

Pulling up the servant’s collar, he pressed the military saber to his throat, "Speak! Where is Acreius’ ship with vessel materials docked?"

The servant, trembling with fear, teeth chattering, "It’s... at the governor’s private port..."

"Governor’s private port?" That was unexpected for Danio, "He’s just a merchant, how can he dock there?"

"He... he bribed the stewards," the servant stammered, "the governor goes there less than once a year, security’s tight, equipped with a fire brigade, much safer than ordinary docks..."

Danio released his grip, looking at the two nearby sailors with a knowing nod, "Tie him up, keep watch over him."

He turned to Esuan, his eyes carrying an indomitable resolve, "Comrade, let’s put aside past matters for now.

The city is in chaos, no backing down now, want to play big with me?"

Esuan began to laugh with him, "You call me comrade, what else is there to say? Let’s do it, tell me, what’s the plan?"

"Just the dozens of us definitely aren’t enough." Danio looked towards the sea, "We need to find allies."

Paolina finally stepped forward, gently leaning beside Danio, asking softly, "Who will be our ally?"

Danio’s gaze pierced the thick smoke, looking towards the direction of the coliseum where sounds of fighting faintly echoed.

"Whoever is oppressed, they’re our allies. I think those gladiators in the arena are quite oppressed, don’t you think?"