While Byron, posing as Hawkeye James, was discussing the establishment of natural science research projects and the future plans for the Sparrow Archipelago with Naturalist Charles, Prince Atahualpa had long forgotten the slight anomaly he had sensed there moments before.

Recovering the Sun Crown was not originally his responsibility.

After they introduced themselves to Byron, his "kin," Atahualpa enthusiastically invited them to visit the Hot Spring City of Caxamalca, the capital of Chinchasuyu.

"His Majesty, the Lord of Heaven, entertaining you on this desolate stretch of the Stormy Ocean does not suit our Sun Empire’s way of hosting guests.

"You have traveled from the far north of the Circulation Zone, so how about staying in my territories for a few days?

"I am very curious about what the far north of the Circulation Zone is like, as described in the ancient texts, and how my kin are faring there.

"And where exactly do those white-skinned barbarians, who seem to have only looting and pillaging on their minds, come from?

"If it’s convenient, please, I implore you to resolve this puzzle for myself and the upper nobility of the Sun Empire."

Prince Atahualpa’s proactive invitation to Byron and the crew of The Golden Deer to visit was not because he hadn’t learned the lesson of trusting strangers from Pizarro the Raider. It was because he had already cautiously verified Byron’s identity from multiple aspects.

As is well known, the pearl atop the Dark Sorcery Crown, called the "Bloodline Codex," allows anyone who ascends to the Fourth Order to undergo a racial sublimation, transforming into a Mythical Creature. Thanks to this, Black Sorcery that alters physical appearance, while not exactly countless, was far from rare.

However, while one’s superficial appearance could be changed at will, the Rank of the [Lord of Heaven] inherent in Byron, as well as the potent Public Willpower surrounding the Emperor, could not be faked. As a Mythical Creature and Divine Descendant himself, who also aspired to attain a Divine Position, Atahualpa was all too familiar with such power.

Byron had expended an irreplaceable "prop"—Pizarro—to enable this excellent performance, which was intended to demonstrate his own military might and smoothly connect with the Prince of the Sun Empire. Hearing Atahualpa’s invitation, he naturally couldn’t refuse and nodded with a smile, "It would be my pleasure and an honor.

"I am also very curious about how the Sun Empire differs from my own kingdom, and why it boasts so many powerful Transcendents and even Gods.

"Your Royal Highness, how about returning with my Golden Deer?"

Prince Atahualpa, who had been keen to observe the Sail Battleship, a pinnacle of human military technology, up close, happily agreed. He ordered the accompanying Sun Chariots to slowly follow behind the warship, while he himself landed on the deck of The Golden Deer with Byron.

Meanwhile, under Byron’s orders, Little Snail dived into the sea and retrieved all sorts of treasures, bronze cannons, and the war chariot that had been flattened by deep-sea pressure, all left behind by the Treasure Hunter. With Pizarro’s death, those Treasure Sprites that relied on transcendent abilities to be animated had all reverted to mere treasures.

Byron gave the strongest of them, the "One-Third Speed Reduction Pocket Watch," to Violet, and planned to package all the remaining treasures, mainly jewelry, and give them to his sister Catherine. Especially that Diamond Star, which ranked tenth in size on the Silver Continent, would surely be a favorite of that Mithril Dragon!

He straightforwardly returned the Gold Chariot to Atahualpa. Although Byron was greedy for wealth, he never coveted such trivial sums. This gesture further increased Atahualpa’s appreciation of him.

In reality, these Gold Chariots were crafted from an enchanted metal produced through Black Sorcery. This metal was lightweight yet resilient, and though valuable, it wasn’t actual gold. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP...

The Transcendent pirate officers on board had already lined up, applauding his arrival. Their eyes brimmed with the eagerness one might show upon spotting a plump sheep.

"Welcome, Your Royal Highness."

Essentially, it was no different from a scam group where, aside from one "fat sheep," everyone else was a shill. Once the atmosphere was set, whether they spent money or not was no longer up to them.

Violet, relying on her status as the Empress of the Sacred Golden Empire, had already used the Night Demon’s Shapeshifting technique to become a dark-haired native girl with satiny, wheat-colored skin. Her clothes and accessories also transformed seamlessly due to Alchemy, leaving no trace. With the tortoiseshell glasses perched on her nose, she had an exotic beauty that was distinct from both native girls and the Bayfolk Princess.

The other Half-Night Devils who had received the First Embrace from Byron also looked more or less like natives. Guardian Knight Bruch and the Honest Man Eight Fingers had also transformed into native appearances well in advance. With the "Blood Source Pilgrimage" at hand, changing skin color and appearance was a piece of cake for them.

Furthermore, almost half of the Guardsmen of the Wings of Death were devout followers from various city-states. They were led by Wayne Dote, the rightful heir of Chichen Itza City, and were all genuine Taino People.

"Brave warriors, that battle was truly splendid, and your valor deserves to be rewarded," Atahualpa said with a smile in greeting, not forgetting to pull out handfuls of golden peanuts from his seemingly bottomless pockets, generously pressing them into each of their hands.

"Take them, take them. Don’t be polite."