News of the events upon the southern seas spread faster than a howling tempest.
The tale of a black ship bearing the character "TRAN," of a mysterious young New King who severed a magical artifact with a single blade strike, heavily wounding the pirate overlord known as the Black Flood Dragon King, and who used a single character "TRAN" formed of heavenly lightning to frighten an entire pirate fleet into retreat, quickly became a new legend upon the vast seas.
The major merchant guilds, after receiving confirmation from the Three Rivers Merchant Guild, no longer feared passing through the waters of Flood Dragon Island. On the contrary, they took the initiative to dispatch envoys bearing generous gifts, hoping to receive the "protection" of this New King. Flood Dragon Island, once a thorn in their sides, had transformed into a maritime deity everyone sought to curry favor with.
The lesser pirate crews trembled in terror. They dared not even approach the vicinity of Flood Dragon Island, and even consciously restrained their own pillaging, terrified that one day, that black ship would suddenly appear before them.
A new order, a new rule, was silently being established across a vast expanse of the sea, all because of the emergence of a single person.
Within the assembly hall on Flood Dragon Island.
The atmosphere was no longer one of solemn, ironclad severity; instead, it overflowed with excitement and veneration. The Vice Island Masters, the ship captains, and those who previously harbored suspicion—when they looked toward the head seat now, their eyes held nothing but absolute submission.
Tran Kien sat there, quietly listening to Old Whale report the situation. He was not swept up in the adulation of his subordinates. He knew full well that the greater one's prestige, the heavier the responsibility, and the more violently the hidden undercurrents would surge.
"Exalted Lord," Old Whale said after finishing his report. "Our Flood Dragon Island is now completely stabilized. The merchant guilds all wish to form ties with us. The other pirate crews are terrified. Your prestige has resounded across the azure seas. Perhaps... the time has come for us to return to the mainland and continue our journey."
The old man looked toward the north, his single eye unable to conceal his anxiety over the unfinished chessboard in the imperial capital.
Tran Kien remained silent. He looked at the nautical chart on the table, then gazed out the window toward the distant mainland.
He knew he had to go. The ultimate legacy of Lac Viet, the key to perfecting the Lac Viet Heavenly Cycle Array, awaited him. Yet he also knew that this Flood Dragon Island—the faction he had inadvertently forged—could not be so easily abandoned. It would serve as a paramount chess piece in the future game against the Marquis of Vinh An.
"I will go," he finally spoke. "But not now."
"Exalted Lord?" Old Whale was astonished.
"If a tree wishes to stand firm against the tempest, its roots must delve deep into the earth," Tran Kien said, his gaze profound. "Flood Dragon Island may appear mighty right now, but our foundation is still far too weak. Our prestige is built upon martial prowess; the moment I leave, or a stronger foe appears, it will instantly collapse."
"I need one more month," he declared decisively. "Within this month, I want Flood Dragon Island to not only possess 'prestige,' but also true 'power'!"
He stood up, beginning to issue new commands.
"Barbarian Bull!"
"This subordinate is here!" Barbarian Bull, who had been standing silently in the corner, stepped forward.
"Take thirty of our most elite Sea Dragon Guards, leave the island, and enter the mainland. I do not need you to stir up storms. I want you to establish an intelligence network stretching across all the southern coastal cities within one month. I want to know every minor movement of the local magistracies, the great aristocratic clans, and especially... anyone connected to the Marquis of Vinh An."
"Understood!"
"Old Whale!"
"This old man is here."
"Use the name of Flood Dragon Island to officially sign protection treaties with the Three Rivers Merchant Guild and the other orthodox guilds. We will not collect a protection fee. We will collect an 'escort fee.' In exchange, I require them to provide us with things that money cannot buy: rare and precious mineral ores, array formation blueprints, and intelligence from the imperial capital."
"This..."
"Just tell them this is the sincerity of the New King," Tran Kien stated. "Cooperate with me, and they shall gain an absolutely safe sea route. Oppose me, and I fear their ships will never set sail again."
Awe and grace, wielded to absolute perfection.
"As for the rest," he looked toward the Vice Island Masters. "Continue drilling the troops! Within one month, I want the ranks of the Sea Dragon Guards expanded to five hundred men! And every single one of them must be a warrior capable of fighting ten opponents alone!"
A barrage of orders was issued without the slightest hesitation, clear and brimming with the majestic bearing of a sovereign. The entire assembly hall was dead silent; only the sound of ocean waves crashing against the cliffs outside could be heard.
But at that exact moment, a sentry rushed in, panting heavily.
"R-reporting to the Exalted Lord! To the east... a massive fleet is approaching! The banners... they belong to the Imperial Court!"
The entire assembly hall was shaken.
The Imperial Court?!
Why had the imperial navy suddenly appeared in these waters?
Tran Kien furrowed his brows slightly. The ominous premonition in his heart stirred once more. Could it be... had the Marquis of Vinh An acted so swiftly?
He showed no signs of panic. "How many ships? Who leads them?"
"Reporting... over fifty warships! The commander's banner... bears the character 'Ly'!"
"Ly?" Tran Kien froze, a familiar name from the ancient tomes he had read suddenly flashing through his mind. "Could it be 'Ly Kinh Thien'! One of the Five Great Generals of Dai Viet, the guardian of the southern seas! Why has he come here?"
For such a monumental figure to suddenly appear, it was undoubtedly no small matter.
Tran Kien remained silent for a long while. In his mind, countless possibilities were plotted out and discarded. Finally, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
"It is not the Marquis of Vinh An," he murmured. "This chess move is far more profound. It seems that on the chessboard of the imperial capital, someone can no longer sit still."
He looked at everyone present, his voice dropping into a solemn register.
"Pass down my command. The entire island is to enter a state of high alert. However, absolutely no provocative actions are permitted. Open the main gates and raise the 'TRAN' banner to the highest peak."
"I," he said, casting his gaze toward the vast ocean, "shall personally go out to welcome this Great General."