Pirate Kingship
Chapter 72 - 71 Dance of Death, Senators Make Trouble

Chapter 72: Chapter 71 Dance of Death, Senators Make Trouble

In Bristol Port, at the northernmost part of the Black Hinge Strait Islands, countless Kingdom’s Blood Crosses, fleet banners, nobility flags, and captains’ long, gilded pennants waved in the wind.

"WEIGH ANCHOR!"

"WEIGH ANCHOR!"

"Heading due north! Entire fleet, starboard tack, close-hauled! Set sail!"

From the mainmast of the flagship, urgently renamed the *King Edward*, sailors hoisted signal flags, conveying the Fleet Commander’s orders to the entire fleet. The officers’ shouts of command rose and fell. Commanding the First Fleet of the Strait Fleet, which had assembled several days in advance, they majestically sailed out of the anchorage. With the flagship, the Second Grade ship *King Edward*, leading, the fleet formed a double column and proceeded in a long, winding line.

When Warships sailed in formation, to allow room for maneuvering, Battleships typically maintained a distance of 200 to 400 meters between them; three such ships would span a kilometer. When an entire fleet sailed together, it could even create the dizzying sensation that the line of ships stretched to the horizon.

"To our great King! Under the banner of the White Rose, we shall be invincible!"

"To our General, Your Excellency!"

Aboard the flagship *King Edward*, under the leadership of General Norwich York, the departing officers were resplendently dressed and in high spirits. Each held a wine glass, looking as if they were attending an extravagant ball rather than setting out to eradicate the last Pirate Harbor in the North Sea. Indeed, in their minds, this battle promised to be as effortless as a noble’s ball. The fleet’s hundreds of 32-pound cannons, along with that heavily sealed item in the hold, were the source of their utmost confidence.

Once the entire fleet had sailed out of port, a Third Order Navigator from the Lighthouse Sequence reported navigation data to the Captain from the mainmast’s crow’s nest:

"Current heading: north by west, six compass points. Speed: three knots."

"Factoring in future maritime weather changes, we estimate arrival at the designated waters in three days."

A speed of three knots might not seem fast. However, compared to land transport, the ability of Warships to carry dozens, even hundreds, of two- to three-ton cannons over a hundred kilometers a day was already terrifying. Sail Battleships were the undisputed kings of warfare in this era; no other man-made weapon could compare.

The fleet was currently sailing against the wind. After covering some distance, the flagship’s Captain, responsible for command during non-combat periods, ordered:

"Order! Lead ship, turn downwind. Fleet to follow. Maintain formation!"

One might think that ordinary Cruisers could perhaps switch from square sails to fore-and-aft sails, enabling them to maneuver and sail against the wind. But what about those heavier, three-decker Battleships? A fleet often consisted of numerous two-decker Warships and a few three-decker Battleships; clearly, the latter could not be left behind. The method Navy officers devised was to ’crab’ sideways, making ground upwind by sailing as close to the wind as possible on alternating tacks. Since the entire fleet had to maintain formation, all vessels had to match the speed of the slowest and least maneuverable three-deckers and the squadron flagships.

Although this crab-like progress might appear somewhat comical, imagine these war machines, each bristling with heavy cannons, slowly closing in. One would instantly realize they weren’t merely battling the wind but performing a deadly dance upon the sea! Even without the trump card sealed in the hold, this was already a terrifying force that no Sea Monster would dare provoke.

Just then, an inconspicuous red swift glided past. It circled wide, dozens of nautical miles away, before heading north again.

「...」

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!...

Meanwhile, the bell of the Parliament hall tolled in the heart of Iron Anchor Bay. This signaled that the Speaker or Vice Speaker had initiated a motion, calling an emergency assembly of all Middle Sequence councilors in Iron Anchor Bay.

In the Parliament hall, decorated in a very rugged style, thirteen broadly unkempt Great Pirates sat around a huge, bark-covered round table. Behind each stood a group of fierce and menacing attendants. The burly bodies of this band of desperadoes were covered in hideous, crisscrossing scars, and their eyes reflected bloodthirsty flames. The curved daggers they toyed with, though polished to a shine, could not conceal the metallic scent of rust, hinting at countless lives taken. Ordinary folk standing here would likely be frightened half to death on the spot, their words catching in their throats. They were, in essence, a bizarre and formidable assembly—definitely not to be trifled with.

Byron, having gained entry to the meeting with a ’treasure map’ of Silvergold Island, stood obediently behind Redbeard Edward, quietly observing the thirteen councilors, who had subtly divided into two factions.

I’ve seen the wanted posters for every one of them. ’Butcher Bird’ Morrison, ’Conductor’ Ferdinand... a total of six, including them, all sided with Redbeard, seated to his left and right. I don’t know what kind of unspoken deals they’ve struck, but now they’re openly supporting Redbeard. The opposing free Pirates seem rather lackluster. Though their loyalty in uniting with the traditional Bayfolk powers at a time like this is admirable, they’ll play no decisive role in the coming upheaval. As long as they can somewhat check Redbeard’s influence, I’ll be satisfied.

Sitting among the Bayfolk was not the legendary Military Governor ’Child Guardian’ Dennis, but a very young girl.

No record of her on the wanted posters, no fame, not even a title. But since she can represent the Bayfolk, she must be the daughter of the North Sea Pirate King ’Whale Hunter’—Bayfolk Princess, Violet Harrold. The intelligence I have on her is scant. Just as the House of Nobles in Hightins has always been controlled by hereditary nobles, she too is a hereditary member of the Captain’s Parliament. No election is required; upon reaching the Third Order, one automatically gains a seat. It’s said she went abroad to study years ago and has rarely been in Iron Anchor Bay. Few have seen Violet in person, let alone know her exact profession.

Silver-haired and blue-eyed, she exuded a sharp aura. Even in silence, the air around her seemed thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if a fight could erupt at any second. Though many Pirates in the hall couldn’t help but glance at this Bayfolk Princess, indirectly attesting to her astonishing charm, Byron’s assessment was...

Mediocre. Too ordinary. Utterly unremarkable. My heart remains completely unperturbed.

At that moment, Redbeard Edward tapped the table. He scanned the Bayfolk faction members opposite him, his voice somewhat grave:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure you all received reports last night about the sharp increase in disappearances within the city."

"Why haven’t the law enforcement teams and public security forces taken strong countermeasures by now?"

"Iron Anchor Bay belongs not only to the Bayfolk but to all Pirates of the North Sea Region!"

"As Vice Speaker of the Captain’s Parliament, I cannot allow this situation to deteriorate further..."

The instigator, feigning the ignorance of an innocent party, first elaborated on the current plight of Iron Anchor Bay. He emphasized the untraceable nature of those Bizarre occurrences and Evil Spirits. Then, he suddenly turned on Bayfolk Princess Violet, who was presiding over the meeting on behalf of the current Military Governor, and declared righteously:

"Miss Willette, where on earth is our Military Governor, ’Child Guardian’ Dennis?"

"Why hasn’t he come forward to deploy the ’Iron Laws of Sovereignty’ of ’Whale Hunter’ for our defense?"

"Forget the assassination attempt on me in broad daylight! But with security deteriorating like this, how much longer can the civilians on this island and our Pirate brethren hold out?"

Redbeard’s words threw the hall into an uproar.

Under the Silver Law system, as long as one does not encroach upon the domain of the divine or challenge the authority of the Church, the pinnacle of all titles is the ’Kingly Title’. Once awarded a ’Kingly Title,’ whether a Pirate King or a legitimate King, one can establish ’Iron Laws of Sovereignty’ serving their interests within their own domain or sphere of influence. This was also the fundamental reason for the popular saying: ’Truth only exists within your sphere of influence, or, as some say, within the range of your cannons.’

Although the North Sea Pirate King, ’Whale Hunter,’ had disappeared, his ’Iron Laws of Sovereignty’ remained here. The ’Pirate Code’ that governed the North Sea Region was still in effect. It was rooted in all subjects or nationals who, actively or passively, accepted its rule. Within a Law Network presided over by one with a Kingly Title, any infraction could be monitored at any time. Guardsmen, within the Core Royal Domain, could also receive substantial enhancements from these laws, consolidating the power of the populace and unleashing strength exceeding their own Extraordinary Levels.

In the current situation, as long as the Military Governor, acting with the Pirate King’s authority, stepped forward and wore the Pirate King’s Seal Ring, he could mobilize the power of the ’Pirate Code’ to monitor the entire city. In truth, the Black Mass Ceremony possessed a natural Spellbreaking effect, rendering it untraceable by such laws. However, this didn’t stop Redbeard from using this as a pretext to criticize the ’Child Guardian’.

The Great Pirate’s sharp gaze swept across the room, eventually settling on Violet’s face. His words were deliberate, yet filled with an overwhelming, aggressive pressure:

"You keep saying the Military Governor is unwell, unwell."

"If he cannot fulfill his duties during such a crisis, then as Vice Speaker of the Iron Anchor Bay Captain’s Parliament, I have a responsibility to table a motion."

"An early election for Iron Anchor Bay will be held in three days!"

"Who is in favor? Who is opposed?"

At his words, his First Mate, ’Badger’ Harvey, Byron, and a host of his subordinates, along with all the attendants behind their faction’s councilors, took a collective step forward. A suffocating, icy, blood-filled aura pressed down heavily.