**Chapter 36: Adele’s New Identity**
Three days had passed since the battle in the Dark Tide Strait.
After defeating the navy of the Southern Islands, Soren had naturally taken over the shipping routes from the West Coast to Arendelle. Unfortunately, some enemies had escaped, particularly Prince Hans of the Southern Islands, whom Soren had not seen since the battle began. It was likely that he had fled using magic as soon as things turned against him. This left Soren feeling a bit regretful, but also helpless, as Hans was surely accompanied by high-level spellcasters.
Once a spellcaster advanced in rank, it became significantly harder to kill them.
In these three days, Soren had reorganized his pirate leaders. The Half-Elf First Mate continued to manage the Eastern Sea Route, while the Overseas Route was entrusted to the more composed Sir and the steward. Both of these pirate leaders were descendants of nobles, and the infighting among nobles in the Continental Kingdom was brutal. They were considered failures within their noble families, akin to being exiled. When such noble families fell into decline, it was likely that they would lead their knights into piracy. Thus, these two had emerged as new pirate leaders.
Compared to others, these two pirate leaders had received more education, and their noble political skills were advantageous for dealing with Taro Port and Shipwreck Bay.
The shipping routes along the West Coast were managed by the Cyclops Pirate, whose ruthlessness kept others in line.
As for the Red-Haired Pirate Woman, Adele Isabella, who was eager to gain recognition and wanted to be on equal footing with the Half-Elf First Mate, she was feeling a bit disheartened lately. Though Soren had assigned her to oversee the North Coast shipping route, he had also appointed two other pirate leaders to assist her.
They were a valiant Giant (of part-giant descent) and the cruel, bloodthirsty Scarface.
Although Soren had defeated the navy of the Southern Islands on the North Coast, that was the territory of the Víkings, who were known for their ferocity. Thus, the personnel Soren dispatched were also of the battle-hungry variety.
……………………
There was a knock at the door.
Soren looked up from his desk and said, “Come in.”
“Your Excellency.” The figure of the Red-Haired Pirate Woman entered, bowing her head, “I do not know why you called for me.”
Soren sized her up.
Despite years spent wandering at sea, the Red-Haired Pirate Woman’s skin remained pale, her tall and slender figure was well-proportioned, making her a beauty from every angle. More importantly, she carried a hint of noble grace due to her upbringing. This was significant for Soren, as she would be an important piece in his upcoming plans.
“There’s an outfit over there.”
Soren glanced and pointed at the side, “Change into it and let me see.”
Hearing this, the Red-Haired Pirate Woman’s face flushed slightly, but she obediently moved to change clothes. The outfit prepared for her was a lace-patterned noblewoman’s gown, with beautifully crafted sleeves, accompanied by a pair of pristine silk gloves. She rarely wore such clothing, and after hesitating for a moment, she clumsily changed in front of Soren. Whatever this lord wanted, she had no power to refuse, and she might not truly want to reject it anyway.
But unfortunately, Soren had no other intentions.
While the Red-Haired Pirate Woman was changing, he lowered his head again to write a letter with a quill. When she walked over after changing, he looked up and offered a faint smile, nodding, “Not bad! Very beautiful!”
Transformed in appearance, Adele Isabella now looked like a beautiful noble lady.
Her once fierce demeanor softened due to her attire, and the noble education she received further enhanced her appearance, making her look like a woman of high status from any angle.
“I have a task for you,” Soren said, his expression turning serious as he fixed his gaze on the Red-Haired Pirate Woman. He said in a low voice, “The Víkings on the North Coast will be handled by others. Although you are responsible for managing the shipping route to Arendelle, I have more important matters for you.”
“This is a letter for Princess Anna of Arendelle.”
“You will take this letter to see her. She will allow you to stay at the royal palace as a companion and will bestow a title upon you.”
“Once you are there, your first task will be to learn court etiquette and master everything about noble customs. Then I need you to establish contact with the nobility of the Southern Coast, preferably from your mother’s noble line. Your new identity will gain recognition from Princess Anna, the heir of Arendelle. This way, others will unlikely doubt you, and your task is to win them over and gain their support and trust.”
The outside monk knows the scriptures better.
Soren’s original plan was to support the Red-Haired Pirate Woman, Adele Isabella, and find a way to break through in the Southern Coast’s nobility.
But now, with Arendelle as a backing, he had a simpler method for Adele to obtain a new identity.
A descendant of Isabella who had drifted overseas!
With the recognition and support of Princess Anna, the heir of Arendelle, her new identity would be solidified. This would easily dispel the doubts of other nobles. Nobles are the kind of people who readily flock to anything related to royalty. In Soren’s plan, the Red-Haired Pirate Woman would become Princess Anna’s close friend and companion, appearing with her several times in court.
As long as her identity as a noble descendant is recognized, it would make Soren’s subsequent tasks much easier.
Clap, clap.
Soren lightly clapped his hands, and soon after, two or three beautiful maidservants and a middle-aged man dressed like a noble steward appeared.
He glanced at Adele Isabella and said slowly, “They will be your servants for your new identity. Tomorrow, you will take a merchant ship from Shipwreck Bay to Arendelle. Naturally, there will be someone to meet you and arrange your subsequent affairs. Your task is to take a tour in Arendelle and return to the Southern Coast with a new identity.”
“I will additionally allocate 100,000 Ginds for you to arrange things!”
“The specific tasks are here, and I will convey the rest of what you need to do through other means later.”
Soren handed her two letters, which the Red-Haired Pirate Woman accepted, nodding seriously, “I will not let you down again.”
Even an idiot could feel that Soren’s plans were substantial. It seemed that the Executioner was preparing to extend his reach to the Southern Coast, and his ambitions were likely quite significant.
No matter how vast the sea is, it remains rootless drifting grass.
Although a foundation has been established on the Overseas Islands and Modo City is gradually growing, it is still too far from human civilization.
Many things rely on supplies from the continent, and the kingdom on the Southern Coast is, from any perspective, a place Soren needs to enter. Otherwise, his reliance on Taro Port would be too strong.
A pirate cannot openly extend his hand to land; that would attract too much attention.
Soren’s plan is complicated.
The Red-Haired Pirate Woman’s identity is just the beginning. To achieve his goals, much more preparation is needed.
……………………
A day quickly passed.
Adele Isabella embarked on her journey to Arendelle, with a stern-faced middle-aged steward relentlessly explaining to her the things nobles should pay attention to, and she listened attentively. It was a task that tested her acting abilities, and women are naturally good at acting, so she was quite confident about this task.
The journey was calm.
As Adele Isabella arrived in Arendelle, the personnel responsible for receiving her were all in place.
“Lady Isabella.”
A low-key yet luxurious carriage stopped at the port and, while trying not to attract attention, it nonetheless managed to be noticed by those who were attentive, taking her into the noble district of Arendelle.
The carriage finally stopped in front of a magnificent noble mansion.
A line of servants was already waiting at the door to welcome their new mistress, although no one had seen her yet.
This was just one of her properties!
Adele Isabella’s current identity was that of a noble lady, rich, young, and beautiful. She had purchased one of the top mansions in the noble district in the past few days and had also directly bought three prime shop locations near Arendelle Port. It was rumored that she operated her own chamber of commerce in the Southern Coast, intending to expand her southern business all the way to Arendelle.
Many attentive individuals of note were certainly taking notice of this wealthy and beautiful noble lady.
However, she seemed to typically present a low profile, deferring all visits from other nobles in Arendelle. Occasionally, individuals with ulterior motives attempted to probe into the background of this young, beautiful, and remarkably wealthy noblewoman, but they all faced severe setbacks, finally realizing that her identity was not so simple.
She was not a soft target to be easily manipulated; a woman who could expand business from the south to the north was certainly not ordinary!
However.
The nobles of Arendelle truly recognized her exceptional nature for the first time at a royal banquet.
This banquet was hosted by Princess Anna.
This mysterious, wealthy, and beautiful noble lady, reportedly a direct descendant of Queen Isabella, was seated next to Princess Anna and sat beneath Her Majesty’s left hand when the banquet commenced.
……………………
(PS: There will be another update today.) (To be continued ~^~)
