Although elder Gu had fairly speedy ships in his fleet, the advance group still took a few days to go to the coordinates that Baron and Zheng Zhi Long had kept updating Second husband about. It certainly was impressive that these two were able to survive this long while holding out against a fleet that outnumbered them quite a bit. This reason gave Elder Gu a bad feeling.

To him, even if they weren’t completely destroyed, there should be no way that they would be able to administer such extensive damage in the reports that they had submitted. Unless there wasn’t anyone of note within the enemy camp. Elder Gu had been fighting with the Vesper faction about as long as Madam Zheng and he felt that this was unlike anything that they have done before. Very suspicious.

As soon as he made it to their position he immediately assumed control to see if they could figure anything out from the actions of their enemies. His first course of action was to go and interrogate the prisoners, except, Baron and Zheng Zhi Long hadn’t gotten any. The reason they gave was that this act was rarely witnessed in naval and aerial battles so they didn’t bother at all.

After sending out a few orders to go capture a few on their next assault, he went to go have a chat with Zheng Zhi Long and Baron. He actually had not been in the Chinese community for the better part of a century and had just recently returned from his travels a little while after Sun Tzu and his entourage did. That is to say, he was quite behind on all the current situations on all fronts. Which was a definite disadvantage in this world.

(EG) “So, you’re telling me that there was a group called the Bair fighters that completely dominated all of the local groups in the aerial and land competitions? Interesting.” Elder Gu said while thinking deeply about what was just explained to him.

(ZZL) “Correct, I don’t have that much more experience with them past this point though.” Zheng Zhi Long said in resignation. To be honest, he very respected this senior of his and he wanted to be of any help that he could give. He turned to look at Baron.

(BM) “I do have a bit of history with one of their members, it seems as if the one I met used to be part of our Chinese community, but no longer,” Baron revealed a bit of information.

(EG) “Hmm? Have you been in direct contact with them? Do you have any more information pertaining to them then?”

(BM) “Not that much more, but I have heard him also say that one of the most preeminent female strategists in the Russian community was among their ranks as well. Then there’s also this matter of a rune with mysterious symbols that he handed to me.”

(EG) “Rune…? Quick! Do you have it on you?” said elder Gu in a very grave tone.

(BM) “I don’t but I can draw it out for you.” Baron did not know what the big deal was, but he could tell it was something that Elder Gu knew about. He quickly drew it out on the back of a map that was in the room they were in and handed it to a very ashen-faced old man.

(EG) “Do not show this to anyone else you hear me?”

(BM) “Is there something that this symbol represents?”

(EG) “Yes, it is the mark of the Jordsand community. Well, it’s an unofficial mark, but it carries a hefty weight in a lot of the other communities. In our Chinese community though, it isn’t too recognizable.”

(ZZL) “Jordsand? The community that is ranked first in terms of strategic prowess?”

(EG) “Precisely, Baron, don’t show this to anyone for the time being. Lest you wish to draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Let’s bury this topic for now.”

(M) “Elder Gu, the first wave of attacks was successful and we have captured roughly 300 prisoners.” A messenger relayed to the three of them and left just as quickly as he had arrived.

(EG) “Excellent timing, let me show you two greenhorns a bit of knowledge that I have obtained in my travels.”

All 3 of them made their way into a room where surveillance screens could be seen on about 40 different screens. At seeing who had come in, one of the men with a more hardened feel to him approached them.

(HI) “Elder Gu, we have already begun the questioning process as per your request and we have yet to find anything. However, we have full confidence that we will be able to break them sooner or later.” The head interrogator said to his superior.

(EG) “Very good. Continue, I’ll just show these two new blood how it works.

(HI) “As you wish.” He said then proceeded back to his post.

(ZZL) “Hmm? He doesn’t seem to be from our faction. Who is he?”

(EG) “Very keen eyes, Zheng Zhi Long, no one in my interrogation unit is a strategist. They are all part of the sim that I have trained very hard for the past few months. They were the key that helped us win the island, and now they will be the key to deciphering what the enemy has in store for us.”

(BM) “Interrogation? This method has been used quite a bit already, what makes your way so special?” Baron was genuinely curious.

(ZZL) “Right! I was also just wondering the same thing.”

(EG) “While what you said is true, Baron. The way that the Chinese community has used interrogation is but a pitiful way of gathering intelligence. My way is done in a way that no torture techniques are required and in the end, they almost always come back to my side.”

(ZZL) “That is quite a claim, elder. We shall see if your methods are truly this impressive.”

(EG) “You two don’t need to worry, results are always what I do best.”

Elder Gu, Baron, and Zheng Zhi Long all had to wait no more than an hour before one of the interrogators latched onto a clue that would blow away all of the expectations of the strategists on the Forever Pirate side.