Pirate Kingship-Chapter 587 - 423: High-end political struggles often employ the simplest methods_3

And determining right from wrong based on wins and losses in a competitive game truly carried strong vestiges of Ancient Heritage.

"Your Majesty, my Captain of the Guard cannot enter the field, and on such short notice, it's impossible to find another suitable person. You must help me!"

Atahualpa felt deep hatred for his enemies' cunning, and he also began to panic.

Byron had previously considered finding a replacement for Sinciroca when he confirmed Teris might personally participate in the Fifth Order Promotion Ceremony. He didn't shirk now and said directly, "I do indeed have a suitable candidate. Not only does he possess a Fourth Order Class, but more rarely, he's battle-hardened and has excellent rapport with me."

Seeing the look of relief on The Fourth Prince's face, he naturally added, "But... it'll cost more!"

Atahualpa promptly thumped his chest, producing a resonant sound, his words finally regaining some proud confidence, "Other issues are endless problems for me, but Gold is not a problem."

What Byron liked most about this collaborator was his clear-headedness: having money and being willing to spend it was his greatest strength.

Once the Sun Empire transitioned from a primitive slave society to a commodity-based one, where Gold was no longer just for sacrificial offerings but also used as currency, this Dog Landlord would actually become the strongest among all his brothers.

The two happily struck a new deal. Byron suddenly remembered something and asked him, "By the way, the Second Prince used beauty as a strategy to sow discord among his rivals. Haven't you thought of doing something with your Gold, Your Highness?"

Seeing the puzzled look on the other's face, Byron realized that although the Sun Empire possessed high levels of power, its societal development was low. Its people still retained a naivety reminiscent of ancient times.

Truly barbaric, yet also truly innocent, like children who haven't received much education or endured many hardships.

Taking kickbacks or skimming a little profit was probably the extent of his thinking; he hadn't grasped Byron's meaning at all.

Byron had no choice but to explain more clearly, "Your Highness, have you ever heard of match-fixing?"

In fact, the Sun Empire also had a ball sport called 'hip ball'. Players used their elbows and hips to maneuver and strike a solid rubber ball weighing several kilograms. They had to keep the ball airborne within the playing area, preventing it from touching the ground, and scored points by hitting it into specific scoring zones. Previously, when Atahualpa introduced rubber, he had mentioned that one of its uses was to make these rubber balls. And within the boundaries of the Empire's Four Great Suyu, there were no fewer than 1,500 ball courts. It was undoubtedly one of the favorite sports among both commoners and Nobility.

This example made the not-so-dimwitted Atahualpa understand: Byron was suggesting he bribe those brothers who had no hope of winning the crown, to professionally throw the matches!

His expression suddenly froze. The Empire had never had such a precedent.

Byron coaxed persuasively, "The previous King, Huayna Capac, had many descendants. But despite the vastness of the Empire, every inch of land belongs to the Sun God Inti, not to the King or the Land Nobles. After King Huayna Capac's death, most of your brothers became mere nobles of lesser lineage. They had to make their own way in life and probably weren't living lavishly. The other princes look down on those ordinary Third Order individuals, thinking they pose no threat to the glorious Fourth Order Sons of the Sun. But we outsiders think differently. I have a transcendent ability called [Knight Commander]. Once I gather a certain number of lower-tier Transcendents, it absolutely won't be a problem for them to turn the tables on a Fourth Order individual. Why not start with a Settling-In Fee? Let's say, One Hundred Thousand Pounds per person, to begin with!"

False business wars involve power plays and strategizing behind the scenes; it's a life-and-death struggle.

Real business wars? That's like scalding the other party's cash cow with boiling water.

High-end political struggles can also adopt the most simplistic approaches. After all, politics is ultimately about seeking profit, so why bother fighting to the death with a whole bunch of people?

I'll just crush you with money!

One Hundred Thousand Pounds on the Old Continent was enough to build a new First-Class Battleship. The income of Land Nobles came mostly from real estate, so extreme wealth was rare. This amount would be more than sufficient even to bribe a Duke to throw a match.

Atahualpa twiddled the gold ring on his finger, hesitating as he said, "This... The coronation ceremony at the Holy Lake has always involved many casualties, yet it's always been a part of the ritual to entertain the gods! Because it draws the attention of the deities, we believe the victor must have been blessed by the gods. Isn't this... a bit too sacred an event to manipulate?"

Byron raised an eyebrow, "Are you worried that this kind of shortcut might displease the [Sun God]? Didn't we agree that whoever wins is in the right?"

But then Atahualpa suddenly looked up, his gaze intense as he stared at Byron, "No! What I mean is, wouldn't One Hundred Thousand Pounds be too meager? Others might see that and think that I, the [Hand of Wealth], can't afford to pay!"

Byron: "..."

As long as you're happy.