"Plan, plan!" Gu Fan thought again. This concerned their comrades' safe escape, so the plan had to be carefully thought out to anticipate potential issues and areas of weakness.
First, they needed to understand the changing of the guard times on the mountain, which they already knew. Second, they needed to understand where the pirate ships were docked as well as the security situation. Third, they needed to learn from the pirates about the patterns in which the strange fog appeared in the Triangle Sea Area.
However, gaining this understanding would take time. If the pirates did not receive the ransom, they would become agitated. Therefore, Gu Fan needed to buy time.
The pirates sent a negotiator, surprisingly from the same country as them, named Xiaohu. He communicated with Gu Fan using their shared language, demanding that they prepare the ransom to ensure their safety, or they would face grim consequences.
