Pirate Kingship-Chapter 646 - 454: Sea King’s Trident
A few minutes earlier.
[Iron Wall] Bruh, accompanied by [Sea Magician] Sarant Tudor, [Sword Saint] Herman, [Phantom Blade] Gus, and a few other Third Order pirate officers, sat in a small tavern next to the coffee shop, each slowly sipping a beer.
As a childhood friend and Guardian Knight who had grown up with Byron and Catherine, Bruh knew exactly what he should be doing at any given time. Though part of the security detail, he astutely avoided disturbing Byron and Catherine's private time together.
In fact, while the pirate officers never admitted it openly, they had to acknowledge that their lord was the most formidable fighter among them. Their primary role was actually to handle trivial matters for him.
Just as the group was cautiously sipping their drinks, feeling increasingly bored by the intensifying rain outside, someone at an adjacent table—occupied by several men who appeared to be middle-class merchants from their attire—suddenly changed the topic from the weather:
"Have you heard? His Majesty the King is going to confer the title of Earl on Lord Byron, the Governor of the Colonies and Baron of Torrentfort. Lord Byron's reputation as a 'good man' is known even to children. This time, we shipowners who make our living from the sea and the colonies might also benefit. So, let's raise a glass to the Lord Governor and Earl!"
CLANG!
A shipowner at the same table spoke enviously, "That's an earldom, mind you! Even with the rise of the Commercial Aristocracy, the title of Earl still carries immense weight. I wonder how much money we'd have to earn, what size fortune we'd need to amass, and how many contributions we'd have to make to His Majesty the King just to join the lowest ranks of the Nobility."
In the Kingdom of Hightins, Earl was one of the earliest noble titles created. Long ago, when royal authority was not yet absolute, vast regions within the Strait Islands were divided into several large earldoms. In those days, an Earl was like a feudal lord defending a region, governing vast territories spanning several counties, hence they were also known as 'Regional Earls'. The title of the legendary [Knight King] during the Mythological Era was not initially 'Monarch' but 'King Over All Lands,' signifying the most powerful among all Regional Earls. The inscription beside the Zero-Level Sacred Relic, the [Sword in the Stone], read: "Whosoever pulleth out this sword from this stone and anvil is rightwise King Over All Lands." This referred precisely to this status.
Even now, with the power of landed nobles waning, the King still referred to the few Earls in the country as his "truly trustworthy and beloved companions." This demonstrated the significance of the title of Earl.
After a few more drinks, the tavern's atmosphere grew even more animated.
"Moreover, Lord [The Sea Hunter] is also our Governor of the Colonies and Pirate General of Hightins, possessing vast lands and numerous subjects on Yucatan Island. Now, with an earldom and the right to a seat in the upper house of Parliament, the Tudor Family is set to become one of the Great Nobles, a lineage that could truly endure for centuries!"
Patrons at neighboring tables, hearing this hot political topic, eagerly joined the conversation. "I heard the Archbishop of Canterbury will also bestow a sacred title upon the Earl on behalf of the Church. From then on, he'll not only be the Earl of Torrentfort but also Saint Byron Tudor!"
Another patron, wearing a silver cross around his neck that marked him as a devout believer, made the sign of the cross on his chest. "And that's not all! My wife's brother's neighbor's friend's younger brother supposedly participated in the first colonial war on the Southern Continent. Letters sent back claim he witnessed a miracle with his own eyes—saw Lord Byron display divine might! True divine might! He nearly reeled in the true form of that transcendent being, the [Northern Sea Leviathan Kraken]! If not for the Creator's aid, how could such Great Power be possible? When we discussed it with other churchgoers in the Royal Capital, we all agreed. That wasn't just the power of a Saint; it was possession by the [Holy Spirit], or even a reincarnation of the Holy Spirit itself! The Papal Basilica, St. Peter's Cathedral, has always been biased against us Hightins people. Merely granting him sainthood is utterly insufficient to reflect Lord Byron's stature! We all firmly believe he ought to be the second son of the [Creator] in the Holy Trinity!"
In truth, Sister Teresa, the colonial Bishop who was already firmly committed to Byron's cause, had received his instructions. She immediately set the prearranged plan into motion, unhesitatingly using various channels to proclaim that Byron Tudor was a reincarnation of the Holy Spirit, the Creator's youngest child. Combined with reports from returning Adventurers, this narrative held extremely high credibility.
After a month of circulation, the story had practically spread throughout the entire Old Continent. The legend of [The Sea Hunter] had already reached a fame level of 29, on the verge of achieving worldwide renown, while [The Mad Hunt], who had vanished for so long, still only stood at 27. This was especially true among followers of Protestant Doctrine, who disdained the self-proclaimed "spokespersons of God"; in their hearts, they had long equated Lord Byron with the Saint Heir.
Hearing these discussions among the tavern patrons, Bruh, Gus, and the others showed little reaction. Much of the news these locals had heard was, in fact, disseminated by their own group of confidants, so it held no novelty for them.
"Tu...dor..."
Sarant Tudor, sitting among them, perked up his ears. Upon clearly hearing their conversation, he couldn't help but spray out the beer he was drinking.
PFFT—!
The others looked over, puzzled. "Sarant, what's wrong? Can't handle the local beer?"
He hurriedly wiped his mouth and waved a dismissive hand at his companions. "N-no... it's nothing." He paused. "By the way, I wanted to ask... this Earl of Torrentfort, Lord Byron Tudor, they're talking about—that's our Captain, right? Not just some other fellow with the same name?"
