Pirate Kingship-Chapter 606 - 434: Swapping the Beams with Rotten Timbers, Expelling the Wolf to Swallow the Tiger_2

Byron, who was originally apprehensive about this treasure, didn't even try to dodge, allowing her to plunge it into him. Teris had said when handing this treasure to the Second Prince, "Kill any who obstruct you, be they human or god."

It was precisely because this sacrificial knife couldn't kill immortal deities, nor could it kill Night Demons, a Long-lived Species with theoretically infinite lifespans! Just like the meaning of Byron's mythical form, '∞' divided by two is still infinity.

Byron twisted his neck 180 degrees on the spot like an owl and smiled at the poison envoy behind him.

The latter's expression changed drastically, and she was just about to retreat when the puddles from the heavy rain at her feet reflected an illusory, blood-red river. Countless crimson tentacles burst forth from it, dragging her and the obsidian sacrificial knife in together.

"Ah—!"

SPLASH!

Quick as lightning, he successively took down the two most threatening individuals in the Second Prince's party. The wound on Byron's body healed rapidly. He gave Violet, who had been worried for him, a reassuring look before addressing the Succubus, "Miss Teris, please rise. I must thank you for bringing me a complete Promotion Ceremony. I think, now that we've reached this point, it's time we discussed the succession rights to the Sun Empire's throne."

Before Succubus Teris, who was cautiously looking up, could speak, the Second Prince, Playboy, his eyes already red with rage, cursed, "Useless!"

Ignoring the downpour, he charged forward himself. As the rain fell upon the Son of the Sun, it instantly vaporized with a "SIZZLE," creating a vast cloud of mist. Like an out-of-control locomotive, his charge was indeed imposing.

"Bastard, let go of Miss Teris!"

His 'Queen,' whom he treasured as his own life and who was completely obedient to him, had instantly transformed into a submissive slave girl before another man—what man could tolerate such a scenario? Even if he knew full well that Teris had countless male servants and consorts... I was here first! You, who came later, could at best be a lapdog under Miss Teris's skirt like me! How could you put a collar on Her Majesty the Queen right from the start? I've been licking her boots for so long—can it be that I'm the clown here?

SMACK!

The air boomed.

Byron's right foot shot up like a thunderclap, lashing out like a steel whip, and one kick sent the Prince flying back once more. The torrential rain was shattered by the immense force from his military boot, transforming into a white mist that stretched for over a dozen meters. Being casually kicked by Byron was no less severe than being hit head-on by a frenzied hippopotamus.

The Flower Fairy, which had possessed Lloque Kapak's body, still wanted to act, but Violet aimed her gun at its true form within its eye socket, freezing its steps.

The scene increasingly resembled that of a great villain robbing someone of their beloved.

Byron's expression was strange. "Tsk tsk, Your Royal Highness the Prince," he said. "To find someone of your level of infatuation among the Nobility is truly rare. But your skills are too poor; you're not much stronger than your fourth brother. It's all because your circumstances were too privileged. Even your Spirituality was merely accrued over time. But the finest iron ore is still just ore, not a steel ingot, let alone a masterfully forged steel blade. Without tempering, one cannot achieve greatness."

In Byron's view, the Eldest Prince, Earthquake Light, was too rash; the Second Prince, Playboy, too smitten; and the Fourth Prince, Hand of Wealth, too naïve. If he were to choose a King, the best heir for the country, in his opinion, would be the third brother, Blood of the Hero. He possessed respectable personal combat ability, valued the army and the power of the gun, and was fiercely ambitious—to gain external support, he wouldn't hesitate to offer his sisters, even his daughter. He had long understood the need to expand territories and subdue island tribes in preparation for his Fifth Order Divine Position as the God of Wine. He might not have been a so-called enlightened ruler, but to call him at least a competent Monarch or a formidable warlord would be accurate. Yet, he perished due to the Sun Empire's succession system. This issue evidently returned to the age-old dynastic debate of primogeniture versus meritocracy. Primogeniture was popular because it offered a fixed standard of judgment; it was clear who was elder and who was younger. Meritocracy, however, was always the seed of chaos, as virtue and foolishness lacked quantifiable standards. Every heir would consider themselves the most virtuous. As soon as the old King died, they would immediately lead their respective supporters into a brutal, brain-bashing free-for-all. Once a nation endlessly consumed itself with internal strife, its downfall wouldn't be far off. It was only due to the Sun Empire's special circumstances—a powerful ancestor and a group of Fifth-Order [False Gods] to suppress dissent—that they dared to conduct such a king-selection ceremony. It was a comprehensive test of an heir's strength, intellect, connections, financial resources, and so on, confined to a small, exclusive circle. Even if all participants were to die, it wouldn't shake the nation's foundations. Of course, among all the tested aspects, the most important was—luck! Through a stroke of luck, by latching onto a powerful backer, even a pig could be made to soar. The alliance between Byron and Fourth Prince Atahualpa was a classic case of mutually latching onto powerful backers—Byron latched onto a powerful backer, and Atahualpa latched onto a 'powerful backer.' They each had their strengths and took what they needed, striking a good bargain. After all, as the saying goes, the top-ranked item on any weapon registry has always been... 'cash-ability' (purchasing power).

Teris glanced back, giving her chosen supporter a stern look that made the Second Prince not dare to act presumptuously again. Then, turning back to Byron, her expression was conflicted, and her voice was incredibly strained, "Your Highness, are you asking us to relinquish the throne and cede the Sun Crown to the Fourth Prince?"

If she were asked to offer her body, to volunteer herself for his bed, she would be a thousand times willing, even feeling she had gotten a great bargain. But helping the Second Prince ascend the throne, thereby using Usurpation to advance to Fifth Order, was an obsession second only to her own survival, already pushing her limits. Teris was, after all, a peak Fourth Order being, half a step away from achieving immortality. Even under Byron's control, she would instinctively resist commands that severely deviated from her fundamental interests and might even break free. How much benefit could be gained through Dominate Lesser Servants would also test Byron's own balancing act.

Byron realized he couldn't push too hard; besides, he had no actual intention of having the Second Prince withdraw just yet. He glanced down at the Blood Cup in Teris's hand. He discerned that this Zero-Level Sacred Relic had two main abilities: First, even as a shattered Zero-Level Sacred Relic, it had once contained Seventh Order Divine Blood and could touch the Divine Domain, possessing an extremely high Rank. A Night Demon could perform sacrificial rites to it, as one would to worship a God, to receive responses, protection, and gifts, and significantly enhance their own power limits. When Teris possessed Princess Perta to resist the Sailing Logbook's scrutiny, it was thanks to this ability. Second, pouring someone's fresh blood into the cup produced a wonderful purification effect. Another person drinking from the Blood Cup could, for a full 24 hours, possess the blood owner's abilities and perfectly impersonate their appearance and identity. Even a Fifth Order [False God] or even a Sixth Order Demigod would find it difficult to discern.

A flicker of delight, as if he had known all along, appeared in Byron's eyes. Especially upon seeing the second ability, his heart was settled; a plan to lure out that third party had fully taken shape.

He smiled at Teris, who showed her struggle plainly, a smile that was 'perfectly amiable' yet carried a chilling undertone, and said, "No, on the contrary. We are preparing to cede the throne... to His Royal Highness, the Second Prince!"