Blackbeard's Ambition

Amidst Lin Qi's wild, unrestrained laughter, Blackbeard's face turned as dark as his beard. He clenched his fists, staring intently at Lin Qi, who was rolling on the ground clutching his stomach. After a long moment, he roared, "What are you laughing at? What's so funny? Me becoming mayor, is that hilarious?"

Lin Qi laughed for a long time before managing to stifle his giggles. He gasped for breath, lying on the ground and pointing at Blackbeard, laughing, "Dad, I believed you when you said you were going to kill Mayor Dunkirk's entire family; I believed you when you said you were going to seduce the mayor's wife; even when you said you'd hook Dunkirk's daughter to be my stepmother, I could barely believe it!"

Taking a deep breath, Lin Qi burst into laughter, "But you're going to run for mayor? Hahaha, look at yourself, where do you look like a mayor at all?"

Iron Hammer and Butcher Knife suddenly burst into laughter. Iron Hammer roared with laughter, spitting far, "Master, Young Master is right. The last time you said you wanted to run for mayor, I thought it was too ridiculous. If you wanted to kill and set fires, we brothers would follow you, but as mayor, you're not cut out for it!"

Butcher Knife was more somber. He merely covered his mouth and cackled, not laughing as wildly as Iron Hammer.

Blackbeard was furious. He let out an angry roar, his eyes glaring, and backhanded a punch towards Iron Hammer. Across a long table wide enough for a hundred people to dine together, a blast of energy whistled out from Blackbeard's fist. The energy, pale black on the outside and deep purple within, shaped like a black tiger, struck Iron Hammer in the stomach, sending him flying a great distance to crash heavily against the wall behind him.

Even after being sent flying, Iron Hammer was still laughing heartily. Blackbeard's punch had immense power, but it used soft, yielding force, merely blasting Iron Hammer away. The actual impact on him was minimal. Iron Hammer's body convulsed with laughter as he pointed at Blackbeard, "Master, see? Young Master says the same thing. You really don't look like a mayor!"

Enzo didn't find it funny at all.

Blackbeard's punch was not only not funny, it was utterly terrifying, so terrifying that Enzo's body stiffened, his mind going blank.

The Western Continent spoke of nine colors and nine heavens, dividing knights into three ranks from top to bottom: Heavenly, Earthly, and Human. The color of a knight's Dou Qi was classified by these nine colors. However, besides the common cultivation methods, there were many secret ones, such as family secrets or even bloodline inherited special techniques.

Undoubtedly, Blackbeard's punch just now was a genuine special technique. The deep purple core of his Dou Qi proved he was a true Heavenly Knight, and he would soon break through to a purple-gold color, becoming the most formidable Grand Heavenly Knight among Heavenly Knights.

But the thick layer of black energy surrounding his punch was an added effect from his special technique. Some special techniques could make Dou Qi as hot as fire, some could make it as cold as ice, and some even carried potent poison or corrosive power. Blackbeard's black punch had unknown additional properties, but any unique technique was absolutely extraordinary.

Did Lin Qi also practice this technique? No wonder Lin Qi, who was only a few months younger than Enzo, and usually busy managing the affairs of the Iron Fist Brotherhood and earning gold coins, had a Dou Qi progress that was significantly faster than Enzo's.

Shocked, utterly shocked. Lin Qi's father was actually a Heavenly Knight, and such a powerful Heavenly Knight at that. Even more critically, he practiced one of those legendary special techniques! Tsk, the Iron Fist Brotherhood truly had an incredible leader!

No wonder Lin Qi dared to oppose the Round Table Knights so recklessly. With such family backing, such a father supporting him, and experts like Iron Hammer and Butcher Knife by his side, the Bavier Family seemed like no real challenge anymore.

Lin Qi and Iron Hammer's uproarious laughter enraged Blackbeard. But one was his only son, and the other two were brothers who had faced life and death with him for decades, their families having been loyal subordinates of the Black Tiger Family for generations. No matter how angry Blackbeard was, he couldn't do anything to them.

Hmphing in exasperation, Blackbeard took a deep breath. The foot-long cigar he held in his mouth burned rapidly, consumed in a single breath. All the smoke was inhaled into Blackbeard's lungs. After the pungent smoke seared his lungs, Blackbeard exhaled two streams of smoke from his nostrils, a gust of wind spreading outwards, forcefully sweeping Lin Qi up.

Only then did Lin Qi stop laughing. He looked at Blackbeard with a serious expression and asked, "Dad, are you serious?"

Blackbeard puffed out his chest. He also looked at Lin Qi with a serious expression and said, "Of course I'm serious!"

Stepping back and sitting on the Black Tiger Throne, Blackbeard grunted heavily, gritting his teeth, "I'm doing this for the family's interests."

He slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne and snorted, "Over the years, the family has prospered, our brothers have grown in number, and our territory has expanded. But business has become difficult! Thirty consecutive years of favorable weather, and not even a small-scale war of a thousand people has occurred on the continent for thirty years. Money is hard to earn, Lin Qi, money is hard to earn!"

Lin Qi recalled the hardship of earning every copper coin in Berely. He couldn't help but nod repeatedly, "Yes, dear Father, it's true, money is really hard to earn! Alas, every copper coin is steeped in sweat!"

Blackbeard nodded vigorously, speaking profoundly, "We can't just live off our savings. Not only can't we live off our savings, but we must have a substantial surplus each year to ensure the family's continued prosperity. But now, those traditional businesses are difficult! Tsk, the last time we robbed two gold transport ships of the Vias Commercial Federation, although the haul was rich, many brothers were injured or killed!"

Enzo's calves twitched violently. Vias Commercial Federation's gold transport ships? That was the infamous case that shook the continent half a year ago!

Looking at Blackbeard with immense reverence, Enzo couldn't help but sigh, indeed, like father, like son. Lin Qi's father was truly extraordinary. This venture was many times larger than Lin Qi's!

Blackbeard waved his arm with great spirit, laughing, "Therefore, we must find new profit drivers beyond our traditional family businesses! We need to expand the scale of our family's operations, expand the scope of our family's business! What's a Dunkirk mayor? In the future, I'll contend for the position of provincial governor, and even, I could obtain a noble title!"

Lin Qi looked at Blackbeard blankly, "But, what does this have to do with new profit drivers?"

Blackbeard glared at Lin Qi with disappointment, angrily saying, "Don't you know that the Empire subsidizes local areas with a large sum of administrative funds every year, and that the local administrative expenses and all tax revenues are decided by the local administrative head alone? You idiot!"

Lin Qi's eyes suddenly lit up, as bright as two gold coins.