Chapter 488 The Tavern, Gang Backgrounds, and the Tailor Shop

Wave-Breaking Wharf, despite being located within Barracuda Bay's largest and most neglected area—the Lower Saltwater District—enjoyed a very high status throughout the town due to its function as a dock.

Barracuda Bay was, after all, a port city.

Its growth to its current scale ultimately came down to its status as a vital southern port for the kingdom.

The transport and transit of goods, its role as a crucial starting point connecting the inland hinterlands, commodity exchange, domestic and foreign trade... to some extent, Barracuda Bay could almost be considered the heart of the Southern Archipelagos.

Under these circumstances, no matter how terrible the security in the Saltwater District was, or how much sin bred in its dark, cramped alleys, there was at least a considerable degree of order in the small coastal area of Wave-Breaking Wharf.

The Governor's Mansion, the Church, and the Bay Chamber of Commerce—the three major organizations in town—jointly maintained stability on the wharf. Naturally, this was primarily to protect their own interests.

In practice, this meant guards and soldiers patrolled the wharf far more frequently than the rest of the Saltwater District, or even the Cormorant District.

Even the gang organizations that ran rampant in the shadows of the Saltwater District had to tuck their tails between their legs and keep their heads down when encountering these official factions wielding Transcendent Tier power.

But if it were that easy to make these money-grubbing gang thugs abandon the most lucrative spot in town, they would seem far too cowardly.

After years of gambling against the major factions, these small organizations had long since grasped a unique method of survival.

First and foremost were naturally the town's three major organizations.

Occasionally, under special circumstances, these underworld factions were even willing to act as guards to ensure the interests of the Church, the Governor's Mansion, and the Bay Chamber of Commerce.

After all, if a major incident truly occurred, drawing the attention of these official organizations and triggering a "great sweep," everyone who relied on the gray-market income of the wharf to survive would be ruined.

Second were the adventurers coming and going through the wharf.

This was especially true for experienced, veteran Class Holders.

Years of battling monsters had, to some extent, stripped these adventurers of their humanity. The freedom and unregulated nature granted by their status meant they truly dared to kill in the streets over a single disagreement.

There were countless cases of gangs being wiped out overnight after accidentally provoking a powerful figure. The organizational factions still active around the wharf today had all learned their lesson.

So how did they earn their income on the wharf?

It was actually quite simple.

Just as Hogen had done before, they would first disguise themselves as the most ordinary of commoners, waiting at the inevitable chokepoints near the wharf's exits.

Then they would patiently and carefully observe, searching the crowd for a fat sheep vulnerable to being fleeced.

Once a target was confirmed, there were plenty of methods to follow.

Deception, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and even human trafficking...

A single successful score could often cover a gang's expenses for months. After a few scores, it was pure profit.

These staggeringly lucrative profits made countless small and medium-sized organizations in the Lower District covet this fertile land, where gold coins seemed to flow even in the air.

But the wharf was only so large. After subtracting the areas controlled by official factions, the space left for everyone else was limited.

The countless conspiracies and the winds of blood and rain of gore over the years—the shifts in power, the changing of leaders, and all kinds of sordid affairs—could not be fully recounted even in a few days.

Only the most well-informed figures in town could untangle the spiderweb of complex relationships between the organizations near the wharf.

"It should be the Ebb Tide Gang. They've been running that street lately."

Hera rested her hands on the counter, leaning slightly forward. Strands of dark green hair, resembling seaweed, fell on either side of her cheeks. Her crystalline emerald eyes, carrying a hint of interest amid their usual laziness, looked at Xia Nan across from her.

"What, did they mess with you?"

"Not really, to be honest. We didn't interact much," Xia Nan said, shaking his head.

He didn't look up, his eyes fixed on the seafood cream mushroom stew exuding a tantalizing aroma in front of him.

The sweet, savory scent currently filling the air was already making him swallow his saliva unconsciously.

The seafood cream mushroom stew at the Three-Legged Sea Dog Tavern had no fixed ingredients; the daily recipe depended entirely on the catch purchased at the wharf that day.

It was unclear whether this tavern owner, who controlled a vast network of information channels in town, knew they were returning to port today, but the cream mushroom stew prepared was exceptionally hearty.

The featured ingredient in the stew was a massive lobster, as long as an adult's forearm.

The shell had been thoughtfully removed in advance, leaving only two reddish claws and the lobster head as garnish on the edge of the bowl. Plump, glistening, translucent lobster meat was submerged in the thick, cream-colored broth.

He dipped his spoon into the broth and gave it a gentle stir, letting the sweet and savory aroma permeate his nasal cavity.

Xia Nan scooped up a spoonful and brought it to his mouth.

In an instant, a rich, savory sweetness exploded in his mouth. Through careful cooking, the essence of the lobster's umami had perfectly melted into the broth. It gave the initially sweet cream mushroom stew a more grounded and robust flavor profile, perfectly balancing the taste.

The plump, firm lobster meat rolled tremulously over his tongue. As his teeth clamped down, its astonishing elasticity and crispness allowed Xia Nan to almost hear the faint snap of the meat's fibers breaking. Juices burst forth with every chew, the concentrated oceanic sweetness of the lobster weaving together with the milky aroma into an unparalleled delicacy.

With just one bite, Xia Nan felt all the pressure and fatigue accumulated from this mission rapidly melting away in the sweet fragrance of the cream mushroom stew.

He couldn't help but narrow his eyes in pure enjoyment, his entire mental focus seemingly immersed in the long-lost delicious broth.

It took a long while before he slowly snapped back to his senses.

Gently stirring with the iron spoon in his hand to search for the large chunks of lobster scattered in the stew, Xia Nan casually told Hera about his and Alton's recent encounter.

"Well, it's no wonder..."

Knowing how deceptively harmless the halfling Alton's youthful, lively face and short stature appeared to outsiders who didn't know his background, it was hardly surprising that a dockside gang had targeted them.

Xia Nan, on the other hand, was currently unarmored, wearing only a thin, dark undershirt. But if there really was a gang so blind as to choose him as a target...

With that level of judgment, even if they had seized control of the blocks near the wharf, they likely wouldn't last long. They would soon vanish into the ceaseless waves on the shore.

"It's fine, don't worry too much about it."

A smile graced Hera's lips. Looking at the black-haired young man who had gradually carved out a reputation despite having arrived in Barracuda Bay only a few months ago, she took the initiative to share the intelligence she knew.

"This Ebb Tide Gang isn't a major organization. They don't have many Class Holders in their ranks and only recently became active near Winding Alley. A lot of surrounding factions have their eyes on them. They'd be too busy hiding from you to cause trouble for no reason."

"Speaking of which, this Ebb Tide Gang... actually has a bit of a connection to you."

As if recalling something, a glint of amusement flashed in Hera's eyes, and she paused deliberately to build suspense.

"Oh? How so?" Xia Nan asked, his brow twitching slightly as he swallowed his mouthful of soup.

"Remember the Horned Shark Gang?" Hera asked, her lips curving into a smile as she tapped her fingertips on the table.

"Of course. The underworld gang that kidnapped the baron's daughter. What, was this Ebb Tide Gang founded by someone from the Horned Shark Gang?"

Not much time had passed, so Xia Nan naturally hadn't forgotten the organization that earned him the moniker "Sea Fang" in Barracuda Bay.

However, he remembered wiping out the entire upper echelon of the Horned Shark Gang in one fell swoop. He had even chased down the ones who tried to flee by boat, severing their heads with a single sword strike in the sea. There shouldn't have been anyone who slipped through the net.

This so-called Ebb Tide Gang...

"Heh, it's not as complicated as you think," Hera said, shaking her head with a light chuckle as she explained.

The Ebb Tide Gang and the Horned Shark Gang had no actual connection. From their high-ranking members down to their structural systems, they had absolutely nothing in common.

The reason Hera had said that was because, to some extent, Xia Nan had lent a hand in the Ebb Tide Gang's rise.

Though the Saltwater District was vast, its total area was still fixed, and the officials had no short-term plans for expansion.

Over the years, almost every single alleyway had its own de facto controller.

If a gang wanted to expand its territory, it could only do so by buying it with gold coins or seizing it by force.

The Horned Shark Gang hadn't been large; the territory they occupied lay roughly between Winding Alley and Cable Street.

After being eradicated by Xia Nan and the others, not a single high-ranking member survived. Their subordinate thugs scattered, and the territory they once controlled became ownerless.

The Ebb Tide Gang seized this opportunity to expand aggressively. They swallowed up most of the Horned Shark Gang's territory while recruiting personnel, resulting in a massive boost to their organization's strength in a short amount of time. They expanded their sphere of influence from a small area near Wave-Breaking Wharf directly to the vicinity of Cable Street.

Their leader was quite smart, knowing better than to push too far after a wave of expansion. Right now, they were keeping a low profile to consolidate their gains.

Because of this, Hera felt it was impossible for them to take the initiative to provoke Xia Nan over such a trivial matter.

Furthermore... the Horned Shark Gang served as a cautionary tale. In terms of high-level combat strength, she reckoned the Ebb Tide Gang wasn't much different. No matter who they provoked, they would never make an enemy of the "jinx" sitting right in front of her.

"Put it that way, they should be thanking me, then?" Xia Nan said with amusement.

"If you want, I can help get in touch with them," Hera said, nodding slightly, her tone serious. "I imagine they wouldn't mind offering a little help and a few gifts to their benefactor."

It had just been a small joke. Seeing the tavern owner across the counter speak so seriously, Xia Nan waved his hand, signaling there was no need to go that far.

He was just an adventurer passing through Barracuda Bay. Once the grand feast ended, he would leave. He had no desire to get involved with the local factions, especially these underworld organizations mingling in the gray areas.

He only hoped they would have the good sense not to bother him again.

Swallowing the last mouthful of cream mushroom stew, Xia Nan stood up, took a few coins from his belt pouch, and handed them over.

Then, he said his goodbyes and left the tavern.

As for his destination, it was naturally the tailor shop he had been waiting so long to visit.

...

...

As a high-end bespoke tailor shop located in the White Cliff District—the highest tier of Barracuda Bay—business at [Pearl Spun Yarn] was generally slow. However, a single sale was often enough to match the annual income of an ordinary shop.

Right now, as Xia Nan walked into the shop, it was as quiet as ever.

Not a single customer was in sight. There were only neatly arranged rolls of fabric in premium materials and soothing colors lying quietly on the shelves.

There wasn't even anyone visible behind the counter, making the entire shop feel completely empty.

Perhaps hearing the bell chime as the door was pushed open, Xia Nan could faintly make out the sound of hurried footsteps coming from behind the wooden door leading to the back room.

As the footsteps neared the door, they suddenly slowed, accompanied by the faint rustle of clothing. One could easily picture the shop owner deliberately slowing his pace to strike a composed pose while frantically adjusting his clothes.

"Click."

The door was slowly pushed open from the inside.

A well-fitted, light gray silk shirt was buttoned all the way up to the collar, revealing the faintly fluttering gills on both sides of his neck. Five fingers, longer and more slender than a normal human's, gripped the doorknob. A metal bracelet engraved with a wave pattern gleamed under the sunlight.

The owner of [Pearl Spun Yarn], the half-elf Celianne—a mix of sea elf and human blood—kept his chin slightly raised. With a posture that would be considered highly decent and proper even among nobles, he slowly stepped out from the back room.

"[Pearl Spun Yarn], how may I help..."

The next second, the reflection of the black-haired young man appeared in his pale blue eyes.

His voice faltered.

"Xia Nan?"

A look of surprise appeared on the half-elf's face. The posture he had deliberately struck vanished in an instant. Before Xia Nan could even finish his greeting, Celianne turned around and walked briskly back into the inner room, leaving only a single sentence lingering in the air.

"You're finally here. Wait a moment, I'll fetch your things."

After waiting for about half a minute, another series of footsteps—even more hurried than before and carrying a faint hint of excitement—rang out from behind the door.

This time, there was no slowing down. He pushed the door open directly.

However, compared to before, Celianne was now carrying an oak box in his arms—understated in appearance, yet exuding an undeniable sense of class.

He placed it gently on the counter. Resting his hands on the corners of the wooden box, he carefully turned it around so that the opening faced Xia Nan.

"The equipment you commissioned was finished a few days ago. I even sent someone to the Three-Legged Sea Dog to look for you, but they said you hadn't returned yet."

"Heh, I was just wondering last night what I would do about the remaining balance if you had left directly, but I don't have to worry about that now."

"Go on, open it. You should be satisfied."

Although this was what Celianne said on the surface, the pride and sense of accomplishment on his face at this moment couldn't be hidden at all. He was clearly immensely confident in the set of equipment he had crafted.

Since it was tailor-made, Xia Nan had participated in the vast majority of the equipment's crafting process. He had only missed the final stages because he needed to leave for a mission. He already had a good idea of the armor's quality in his heart, so he wasn't worried, only expectant.

Hearing the other man say this, he took a deep breath.

He then reached forward, placed his hands on either side of the wooden box, and flexed his wrists to slowly open it.

Buzz—

Accompanied by a dense burst of water vapor rushing into his face was a massive Attribute Panel composed of semi-transparent characters that nearly filled his vision.

(End of Chapter)