"Peanuts are a unique agricultural product within our Empire’s territory. Artisans craft these golden peanuts from pure gold, mimicking their shape. In our Sun Empire, they symbolize longevity and abundant posterity," the Prince said. "This is my blessing to all of you."

In Byron’s eyes, these were much like the gold melon seeds from his previous life. A handful would be worth at least a hundred pounds, equivalent to an ordinary sailor’s wages for ten years—definitely a rare and generous gesture. None of the kings from the Old Continent were ever this extravagant when giving tips.

Subsequently, when the Prince looked puzzled at the numerous fair-skinned crew members aboard the ship, Byron timely explained. Embodying the spirit of a consummate actor, he adopted the perspective of a native and said with heartfelt sorrow, "Your Highness, actually, as early as seventy years ago, the Colonizers from the Dragon Court of the Old Continent had already launched what they call the Great Nautical Age.

"It is said that the Old Continent is at least twice the size of the Hundred Beasts Paradise. The population of the Church states along the East Coast alone amounts to 70 million.

"Over these decades, the Colonizers have brought immense suffering to our people and now occupy most of the Bantaan Archipelago. Only Yucatan Island, under my rule, still strenuously resists.

"Earlier this year, the Kingdom of Castile, where the [Conquistador] Pizarro resides, even attempted to unleash a horrific smallpox plague, aiming to exterminate all the Tenor People in one fell swoop.

"However, fortunately, the ancestral spirits have blessed us. Among these outsiders, there are bad people as well as good ones.

"I have partners within the Dragon Court; they have helped me many times.

"The Tenor People have also learned agricultural techniques, combat tactics, medicine, military engineering, Extraordinary Knowledge, and everything else necessary for the survival of our race from them.

"This, too, can be considered a process of embracing and assimilating.

"When the shamans and Priests of the Aztec and Taya Empires eagerly invited me to become their New Emperor and sole God, I eventually, reluctantly, accepted, as I could no longer refuse. Now, both Tenor People and friendly outsiders live within the Empire’s territory.

"If we had stubbornly clung to our old ways and refused to accept new things, perhaps the Tenor People would have completely perished by now..."

Byron wasn’t lying to Atahualpa; he had merely selectively revealed parts of the intelligence.

Hearing Byron’s series of explanations about the situation in the north, Atahualpa’s attitude toward him became even more fervent. If for no other reason than to resolve the dreadful plagues brought by those pale Barbarians, the Sun Empire might need to rely on this "distant relative" in the future.

Then, pointing to the gradually appearing continental horizon in the distance, he also broadly explained the current situation of the Sun Empire to Byron, "The great Sun God Inti and his subordinate gods mostly reside in Machu Picchu Sky City, a city floating in the heavens.

"Unless faced with a powerful external enemy, they generally do not descend to the Mortal World.

"The Kings and nobles who manage the Secular World are all his blood descendants—that is, us, the Sons of the Sun and the Molten Giants.

"Bloodlines vary in proximity and potency; the closer one is to the great Sun God, the faster their rate of progression..."

Byron nodded occasionally, and the image of this Native Empire grew somewhat clearer in his mind.

Divine Descendants like Atahualpa, living in the Mortal World, are at most Fourth Order Mythical Creatures. Those among them with potent divine bloodlines don’t need to perform corresponding bloodline ascension rituals; their bloodlines awaken naturally as they age, far more effortlessly than for those Black Witches. However, most Mythical Creatures, unlike Night Demons, cannot achieve preliminary immortality at the Fourth Order through the Crimson Holy Grail and the Blood of Immortality. Even though they live much longer than ordinary people, they still have their limits. For instance, these Sons of the Sun and Molten Giants, despite wielding terrifyingly destructive Fire Element sorcery, are themselves in a constant state of intense combustion. Even at the Fourth Order Mythical Creature level, their lifespans aren’t much longer than those of ordinary humans. The average mortal lifespan is 35 years; they might live to about 150 before reaching their limit. If they cannot advance to Fifth Order [False God]s and forge their own immortal Divinity before their lifespans expire, they will begin to age rapidly, eventually even exploding or collapsing into a Sun Holy Stone.

Atahualpa’s father, the former King Huayna Capac, met such an end.

Speaking of the throne, the Prince paused for a moment before continuing, "Becoming the King of the Sun Empire has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is having more opportunities to consolidate Public Willpower and forge one’s own Divinity.

"However, the burdensome state affairs and sacrificial duties can also make it difficult for them to focus on their own paths of extraordinary power.

"My father ultimately fell on that supreme throne, second only to the Sun God Inti.

"The Sun Empire was established over a thousand years ago. During this time, there have been fourteen Kings. The vast majority eventually passed away, with only a few achieving Ascension to Godhood.

"And that ancestor of all the Empire’s nobility, the great Sun God Inti, is the one who will eternally hang high in the Sky!"

Then, his speech quickening and eyes gleaming with fervor, he said, "However, most of the Fifth Order Divine Beings within the Empire used the kingship as a stepping stone to achieve Ascension to Godhood, finding their Immortal Stairway and obtaining their Divinity.

"The opportunity for Kings is always much greater than for others.

"And if a royal family member’s struggle for the throne fails, some die on the spot, while others are severely injured and maimed.

"The best outcome for them is to be driven by the noble Parliament to the continental hinterlands, where Totem Gods and primitive tribes are ubiquitous. There, they take a small amount of wealth and population to carve out their own territories, making way for the next generation of the Royal Family."