Chapter 6: Plotting the Chess Game

Morning sunlight shimmered over the sea, casting sparkling waves across the water’s surface. Li Chuan sat before a makeshift table inside the cabin, a detailed maritime map spread out before him. His finger traced several routes on the map as a clear strategy took shape in his mind.

“We cannot rely solely on brute force to win,” he said in a low yet resolute tone. “The Black Flag Consortium’s power is too vast—we must use their own network against them.”

Lana stood nearby, arms crossed, watching him intently. “What exactly is your plan?”

Li Chuan pointed to several red marks on the map. “These are their trade routes. We can fabricate internal conflicts within the Consortium to spark infighting, delivering a fatal blow.”

As Li Chuan and Lana discussed their strategy, Yue Shan entered the cabin, followed by a scruffy young man. He looked barely in his early twenties, worn and weary, but his eyes burned with stubborn resolve.

“This is Ivan,” Yue Shan introduced. “He was once an accountant for the Black Flag Consortium. After crossing the higher-ups, he was hunted and now has joined us.”

Ivan lowered his head, his voice hoarse. “I know many of the Consortium’s secrets, especially about their financial flows. As long as you keep me alive, I’m willing to share everything.”

Li Chuan’s eyes brightened. “This information is critical. Ivan, you’re right. As long as you help us strike the Consortium, I guarantee your safety.”

Using the intelligence Ivan provided, Li Chuan swiftly devised a meticulous plan centered on exploiting the Consortium’s internal trade nodes to create a “divide and conquer” scenario:

1. Fabricate internal strife: Deploy a disguised fleet to attack Consortium supply ships, planting false evidence to implicate a senior official.
2. Cut off reinforcements: Sow chaos at their supply points to prevent swift responses.
3. Gradually win over other factions: Demonstrate our strength with this operation to lay the groundwork for future alliances.

“The key is timing and rhythm,” Li Chuan analyzed coolly. “The Consortium reacts quickly. We must complete all actions before they even realize.”

Lana watched Li Chuan’s meticulous focus and smiled with a hint of complexity. “You seem to be adapting to this world more and more.”

As the group busied themselves with plans, Ivan and Yue Shan appeared to hit it off particularly well. Yue Shan showed genuine concern, even tending to Ivan’s wounds, which caused Lana’s expression to darken.

“Hmph, just a traitor from the Black Flag Consortium, nothing to fuss over,” Lana sneered coldly.

Yue Shan looked up, smiling. “Princess Lana, he’s no ordinary traitor. The information he brings might be more valuable than all we’ve gathered before.”

“Is that so?” Lana’s tone dripped with disdain. “Let’s just hope this ‘important figure’ doesn’t become a liability.”

An awkward tension filled the room. Sensing Lana’s displeasure, Li Chuan quickly intervened. “Enough, everyone. Lana, we still need you to coordinate external resources. No one does it better than you.”

Lana snorted and turned away. “Hmph, I have no patience for these petty squabbles.”

Yue Shan shook her head helplessly as Lana’s figure receded. “She truly has a princess’s temper.”

After Lana left, a familiar figure approached from the far end of the deck. Dressed in a white naval coat, with slightly curled hair and sharp, noble features, he carried an air of aristocracy.

“Princess Lana, it really is you!” he exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice. “What are you doing here?”

Lana froze, looking up at the visitor. “Moen? How did you end up here?”

Moen was a young noble from the Southern Ocean Kingdom, long harboring feelings for Lana. Encountering her at sea clearly stirred his emotions.

“I heard your father sent a fleet to find you. I requested to join the search party and didn’t expect to run into you here,” Moen said, concern shining in his eyes. “You’re in danger—come back with me.”

Lana hesitated. “Thank you, but I can’t leave now. I have important matters to attend to.”

Moen frowned. “Important matters? Is it because of this man?” He glanced disparagingly at Li Chuan.

Li Chuan felt baffled. “Hey, I didn’t do anything—don’t look at me like that.”

Moen snorted coldly. “Princess Lana, you’ve always been smart. Why associate with these unreliable people? Don’t you know how dangerous they are?”

Lana was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. Li Chuan sensed a hidden tension brewing.

Inside the cabin, Li Chuan gathered all core members and spread out the map to allocate tasks. His finger slid across marked points with a calm voice. “We need to act simultaneously; everyone has their mission.”

He turned to Yue Shan. “You’ll disguise as the Consortium’s fleet, using fake cargo to draw their attention and buy us time.”

“Understood,” Yue Shan nodded resolutely. “But what if I’m pursued?”

“We’ve set ambush points in advance,” Li Chuan smiled faintly. “The deeper they chase, the sooner they’ll perish.”

Next, he addressed Lana. “You and Moen are responsible for contacting several allies near the Southern Ocean Kingdom, especially factions discontented with the Consortium. Convince them to support us or at least remain neutral.”

Lana shot Moen a displeased glance, her tone sharp. “I can handle this alone.”

“Lana, this is your father’s order,” Moen said earnestly. “Besides, in such perilous times, I must protect you.”

“Protect me?” Lana sneered. “Just don’t slow me down.”

Seeing the mood souring, Li Chuan quickly interjected. “We don’t have time for arguments. Moen, since you’re familiar with the nobility, you’re best suited to help Lana coordinate. Remember, our goal is a win-win alliance, no unnecessary complications.”

Moen nodded but cast Li Chuan a look tinged with hostility.

With the team split up, Li Chuan led a small group to the target supply point to set ambushes. Using financial data from Ivan, he crafted a plan to “cut off the lifeblood.”

“The three major pirate factions—Shark Tooth, Snake Tail, and Sea Scale—are all eyeing the Black Flag Consortium,” Li Chuan explained while circling areas on the map. “We’ll leak some trade info to them, making them believe there’s profit to be made.”

“Isn’t that inviting the wolf in?” a subordinate asked nervously.

“The wolf’s here to bite the dog,” Li Chuan smiled calmly. “We’ll watch them tear each other apart, then clean up the mess.”

The crux of the plan was luring Shark Tooth, Snake Tail, and Sea Scale to bite. Li Chuan prepared forged gold and silver cargo to fake the Consortium transporting heavy treasure and sent secret messages to each faction via swift ships.

“Now, we wait and see who takes the bait,” Li Chuan said coldly.

Meanwhile, Lana and Moen sped toward a neutral island near the Southern Ocean Kingdom. Along the way, Moen tried to ease the tension between them.

“Lana, I know you don’t like me, but we grew up together. I’m genuinely worried about you.”

“Worried?” Lana gazed at the sea, her tone icy. “If you cared, you’d know what I need most is freedom—not your protection.”

Moen fell silent for a moment, then cautiously asked, “And what about Li Chuan? Who is he? Some unknown nobody. Why do you trust him so much?”

Lana frowned lightly. “At least he’s more reliable than you.”

Moen was speechless, his face darkening. He gritted his teeth. “He’s just using you. When you’re no longer useful, he’ll discard you without hesitation.”

“That’s enough!” Lana cut him off, anger flashing in her eyes. “Moen, if you say another word, don’t follow me anymore!”

As the plan unfolded, Shark Tooth, Snake Tail, and Sea Scale were indeed drawn by the intelligence, each dispatching fleets to probe. Yet their mutual distrust sparked fierce clashes near the supply point.

“Just as I expected,” Li Chuan observed through his telescope, a cold smile curling his lips.

On the sea, Shark Tooth’s brutal crew opened fire to seize the advantage; Snake Tail’s fleet cunningly circled to flank; Sea Scale held back, watching for the others to exhaust themselves before launching a final strike.

“This is the perfect scenario,” Li Chuan said, lowering his telescope. “Prepare to execute phase two and give them a ‘surprise.’”

On the fleet’s return, Li Chuan unexpectedly witnessed a dispute between Yue Shan and Lana.

“Your noble friend is quite the troublemaker,” Yue Shan remarked sarcastically. “We put in all this effort fighting for you, and now we have to watch out for him holding us back.”

Lana shot back coldly, “At least he’s more useful than some idle busybodies.”

“Busybodies?” Yue Shan laughed. “Don’t forget, Li Chuan’s plans aren’t for you alone—they’re for all of us. He won’t show you any special favor just because you’re a princess.”

“That’s enough!” Lana’s face paled with anger as she turned away.

Li Chuan arrived just then, sighing helplessly. “Yue Shan, why provoke her like that?”

“Provoke?” Yue Shan raised an eyebrow. “I’m just speaking the truth.”

Li Chuan shook his head with a wry smile. “Forget it, let’s leave it at that. Lana may have a fiery temper, but she understands what’s at stake better than anyone. We need her, and we need you.”