The Fatty noticed Blade's frown. He immediately explained, "Colonel Blade, please don't misunderstand. I mean no threat to you. The sheer power of the Trann Mercenary Group was fully displayed at Jupiter, and we hold immense reverence for strength."

"Then what is your meaning?" Blade asked coldly.

"It's the same as before: amity brings profit. Things were fine initially. None of the three super mercenary groups in the Mercenary Alliance were our match, and even the only real contender, the Ninth Fleet, has been corrupted by us—officers bought out across the ranks, allowing us to roam the Asteroid Belt like fish in water. However, over the last six months, first Huras made trouble, disrupting order in the Belt, causing the Ninth Fleet to be redeployed to the front lines. The Thirteenth Fleet they sent instead is unfamiliar with us. Then your group rose up, displaying power that shocked the world. It's only natural that we need to delineate territories with you."

The Fatty sighed. "Colonel Blade, please believe me. I come for amity, and the foundation of amity is good communication. Without communication, neither side understands the other, misunderstanding breeds conflict, and conflict leads to confrontation—which is bad for both of us, wouldn't you agree?"

This Fatty was indeed an envoy sent by the Pirate King; his eloquence was extraordinary, and he was skilled at controlling the atmosphere of a conversation. But since Blade saw through it, he wasn't going to let the Fatty have the whole stage.

"Continue," Blade said, his hands tucked into his chest. "The factors determining whether we choose amity or confrontation are numerous. The Trann Mercenary Group will not become friends with the Caribbean Pirates just because you flatter me, nor will we launch a war because you offend me. I don't care about your personal behavior, but you represent the attitude of the Caribbean Pirates. I hope you will be cautious in your words and actions from now on."

As he spoke, Blade's eyes fixed on the Fatty, sharp as knives. The Fatty felt as though he were a slab of fat laid out on a cutting board.

"Certainly, certainly," the Fatty murmured, lightly wiping his brow—a subtle gesture of showing weakness. He inwardly nodded at Blade's sharpness. A pirate like him only respected capable and courageous individuals; the good-natured were merely easy prey in his eyes, worthy of no respect.

The Fatty cleared his throat twice and continued, "One of my objectives today is to have an open and honest discussion with your side. I regard Colonel Blade as a friend, which is why I sought you out to convey friendly intentions to your group. However, in a place like the Asteroid Belt, where the strong prey on the weak, friendship is merely talk if our strength is unequal. That's why I had to resort to offensive measures just now—to let Your Excellency understand that we are negotiating for a mutually beneficial outcome from a position of equality. Our prior restraint from attacking your fleet operates on the same principle."

Blade nodded expressionlessly, giving the Fatty no clue as to what he was thinking. He asked, "Then what makes you believe that this friendship, under terms of equality, is achievable?"

The Fatty smiled. "It is naturally due to two factors. First, your group's own nature. Colonel Blade, do you recall that when Gray Harbor was still a neutral city, it was our territory? Thus, we have had a certain understanding of your group for a long time. Based on our observations, although your group's rise has only been about a year, its style of operation in several major incidents reveals a general pattern. In our view, your leader, Commander Yang Ying, is not an aggressive expansionist; your group's style is proactive defense, not proactive offense."

The Fatty paused and continued, "For instance, the original reason you occupied Gray Harbor was the offense committed by that fool Herman. This fool used to process some of our illicit goods and also served others; he was a go-between who only knew how to act recklessly under our banner. Getting a taste of true power was his deserved end. Furthermore, the Giant Mercenary Group of Rubelen, and the mercenary groups in the cities of Hammer and Neff, all moved against your group first, only then provoking your retaliation. In short, they deserved their fate."

"Although Herman was a fool, he once served the Caribbean Pirates. And are you truly ready to give up on Gray Harbor entirely?" Blade asked, sounding casual, as if unconcerned.

"Your vigilance remains as high as ever. But I repeat, amity brings profit. Even if we still have designs on Gray Harbor, we would not risk all-out war with your group to demand it. Conversely, if your group lacked such power, it would be perfectly normal for us to reclaim Gray Harbor. Isn't that the rule of the game?" the Fatty chuckled.

"Continue," Blade nodded.

"After Gray Harbor came the Caesar Mercenary Group. The conflict between your group and them was also initiated by Istha making the first move against you. I recall that Commander Yang Ying, even at the final moment, proposed a peaceful resolution. Making such a decision at that time truly earned admiration. Yet Istha was relentless, ultimately squandering that last chance. He was truly a fool."

Blade snorted. "Even pirates admire Commander Yang Ying's decision? I would think that in your eyes, that decision was the act of an idiot."

The Fatty laughed twice. "Actually, the first time I saw that news, that’s exactly what I thought. Istha had pushed so hard, and he still didn't want to fight—what else but an idiot? Later, when I heard your group completely wiped out two Laurel Fleets, I thought Commander Yang Ying was even more foolish; the opponent was clearly weak, why not strike preemptively and destroy them? But His Majesty did not see it that way. When I brought this up in front of His Majesty, he sharply rebuked my viewpoint."

"Oh?" A spark of interest ignited in Blade. "What did the Pirate King say?"

The Fatty dropped his smile and said seriously, "His Majesty told me this: there are plenty of clever people in this world, what’s lacking are those willing to act foolishly. And a person who possesses great military might, like Commander Yang Ying, yet is willing to act foolishly, is exceedingly rare. For a clever person, acting foolishly requires more firm resolve than acting cleverly. And for a person to achieve great things, firm resolve is more important than cleverness. After all, the factor of cleverness can be compensated for by discerning talent and utilizing the wisdom of subordinates, but firm resolve is not something every leader possesses. From that moment on, I began to respect Commander Yang Ying."

"It is truly rare, extremely rare, for the Pirate King to praise our Commander so highly," Blade smiled slightly.

The Fatty chuckled. "Let's return to the main point. I mentioned earlier that your group adopts a policy of proactive defense. Therefore, as long as we do not deliberately provoke you, I assume your group will not block our path to survival."

"That can be said," Blade nodded.

"Your group has another characteristic: once you engage, you invariably seek total annihilation, leaving no survivors. This shows that while Commander Yang Ying is willing to act foolishly, his heart is not soft; instead, it is hard and ruthless, giving the enemy absolutely no opportunity to survive, rooting them out completely. Such methods are another reason we do not wish to make an enemy of your group," the Fatty stated earnestly. "After all, we do not want to fall into a fight to the death with your group."

"Very well. I understand why you wish for amity to bring profit; that is understandable," Blade nodded. "The next question is: after witnessing our strength, why do you still believe that with the power of your super pirate group, you can establish an equal and friendly relationship with us?"

The Fatty's small eyes shone like twin incandescent bulbs, and his drooping, fleshy face seemed filled with confidence. He pulled a data chip from his pocket.

Blade sighed inwardly; he had seen the Fatty perform this gesture more than once.

The Fatty placed the data chip before Blade and smiled. "The Caribbean Pirates have many things hidden beneath the surface, much like your group did back then. If it hadn't been for the battle at Jupiter, outsiders would never have known the Trann Mercenary Group possessed such formidable military strength. I once gave you a data chip containing information on Paradise City. Consider this: is it impossible for Paradise City's economic power to support a second-tier main fleet?"

Blade recalled the gold-inlaid gem masks required to enter Paradise City's core zone—costing one hundred million each. The expenditures in the core zone alone were enough to give an ordinary person a heart attack. There were over a thousand super-rich individuals in the core zone alone, and tens of thousands of ordinary wealthy individuals in the central and outer districts. The entire Paradise City generated revenue of tens of billions daily, accumulating to nearly ten trillion annually—more than sufficient to support a second-tier main fleet.

The Fatty continued, "Of course, Paradise City does not belong entirely to His Majesty; several major underworld figures from Mars and Earth hold shares, due to extremely complex historical reasons that I won't elaborate on. The Caribbean Pirates also have interests on Earth and Mars; all this information is on the data chip. We do not wish to prove our strength through actual combat, as that would attract too much attention. The Caribbean Pirates, being a pirate group, cannot act as high-profile as you mercenaries. Therefore, everything we are willing to show is contained within this chip—military and economic data that proves we possess an equivalent status."

"This data must be very precious; giving it to me so easily makes me uneasy," Blade accepted the data chip, though suspicion still lingered. Every unsolicited gift suggests ill intent, and he suspected the Caribbean Pirates had a deeper agenda.

"Colonel Blade's wariness is truly heavy," the Fatty sighed. "But indeed, an equal and friendly relationship is just the first step. In this place, the Asteroid Belt, for two powers to achieve true friendship, one, they must mutually fear each other, and two, they must share a common goal, or common interest."

"Since you put it that way, you must believe we have this common goal and interest?" Blade inquired. "What is it?"

"That which can bring the number one mercenary group and the number one pirate group in the Asteroid Belt together cannot be ordinary. We indeed share a common objective that benefits both sides." The Fatty's expression became uncharacteristically serious, and he spoke with perfect clarity: "That is to eliminate the Bayuan Cult!"