I Opened It First!

The Soekarno Family's level of depravity ranked among the very worst, even in a hellhole like the Endless Sea.

Originally the smallest city-state among the Seven Cities, Luocheng had risen through three generations of unscrupulous accumulation of wealth and status, becoming the strongest free port and the most formidable contender for the alliance leadership. Its path to prominence had been a fortune built from countless deaths, blood, and tears.

Even "too numerous to record" would be putting it mildly when applied to their family. By comparison, murder and arson every day would practically count as kindness.

Now, in that debauched den of extravagance, anything money could buy was available—and perhaps even things money could not buy, if you were willing to try... From sexual services to human trafficking to organ trading, those were merely the most insignificant branches at the very end of that vast chain.

The Venom Fleet, which burned, killed, plundered, and robbed, was merely one link responsible for procuring goods, doing dirty work, dealing with business partners, and earning extra cash.

"How wonderful."

Ji Jue sighed sincerely. "Incredible."

Minkler fell silent for a moment on the other side of the screen, then looked at him strangely.

"What is it?"

"No, nothing." He shrugged. "I thought you were... not the sort of person who cared much about this kind of thing."

Both Ji Jue's usual style and the Artisan's reputation for having a moral chasm instead of a conscience were far too misleading. So when he noticed Ji Jue's tone, he found it particularly unbelievable.

"No, you misunderstand." Ji Jue smiled indifferently. "I'm merely considering Cost-Effectiveness... The fiercer the material, the fresher it is. And materials with such terrible reputations tend to be much cheaper."

They were economical and effortless to handle. No matter how many he killed,