Pirate Kingship

The Kingdom of Castile had established a mighty maritime armed force with over 100 Battleships of Third Grade and Above, tens of thousands of soldiers, and a total of more than a thousand ships.

This fleet roamed the Old Continent's coast, the First Circulation Zone, and the Sapphire Sea of the Bantaan Archipelago, and had long been acknowledged as the "Invincible Fleet"!

This fleet made full use of its infantry's strengths, typically employing conventional Boarding Tactics. They would ram enemy ships and, after forcefully boarding, engage in brutal close combat before seizing the vessels of other nations.

To call it the Invincible Fleet was an understatement; it was more like the world's foremost Marines of the day, unbeaten in both naval and land battles.

It sounded as extravagant as their "Supreme Art," but their solid battle accomplishments couldn't be falsified.

After proving their worthiness of the name, this "Invincible Fleet" also earned its own title effect.

—Unbeatable Banner!

Effect: In the event of a great disparity in strength, the mere sight of the Invincible Fleet's flag could cause enemy morale to collapse rapidly, leading to opponents fleeing without a fight. Even if forces were evenly matched, a detrimental loss of spirit would occur, substantially reducing combat effectiveness.

Conversely, soldiers of the fleet would receive an extra morale boost during battle, significantly increasing their fighting capabilities.

This effect might not have appeared overly transcendental, yet it rendered them utterly unstoppable when the wind was in their favor.

So far, it had always been invincible!

Unless it suffered a substantial, total defeat, this title would forever belong to the People of Castilia.

On the fleet's flagship, a Fourth-rate Ship suited to Banta'an's sailing conditions, the *Bahamas*.

A middle-aged man in a General's uniform stood with a wine glass on the expansive stern deck, engaging in lively conversation. At his waist hung a Swift Sword, emblematic of the Kingdom of Castile, and on his chest, he wore a blood-red, sword-shaped medal.

It was none other than Castilia's Navy Rear Admiral, the great Adventurer, "Conqueror" Cortes.

Gazing at the troops I recruited by spending my entire fortune, I am filled with ambition! Fifteen years! It's been a full fifteen years since I came to the Bantaan Archipelago, and I've finally reached the day to truly make my mark. The homeland is only five hundred thousand square kilometers, but the Aztec Empire's domain already exceeds a million. Conquering it will be the start of me becoming a true Great Noble—a Marquis, a Duke, or even an Aztec Viceroy, wielding greater power than the King, without regard for the Church! Even His Majesty the King hesitates to sign my proposed plan of action, fearing the dire consequences of using forbidden knowledge. A verbal agreement is all I have, but it's precisely what I want.

Unlike what most people imagined, this was actually a semi-official, semi-private endeavor. The "Conqueror" Cortes had not received the King's endorsement, and the King would certainly not bear the consequences for any means they employed. But as the organizer and main investor, he would also reap the richest share of the spoils.

At that moment, the deck was bustling with toasts and laughter, as the officers, like their Commander, were brimming with confidence in their future. If the General became Viceroy, they would be the new Nobility of this land.

The only splash of beauty by the General's side was particularly eye-catching. Many of the officers knew her. The stunning beauty with chestnut hair, snow-white skin, and a distinctive tear-shaped beauty mark beneath the corner of her eye, was the General's lover and right-hand woman. Fluent in Aztec, Taya, and the common tongue, she was highly favored. Her beauty was so striking it could drive one mad, yet no one dared to look at her for more than a moment.

Only Falcon Alvin, who was always by her side, watched her fine figure with secret delight:

This is great! Being able to accompany the General has improved the lady's mood considerably. She hasn't scolded me for an entire day. I've made progress; I'm so happy!

Deep within Falcon Alvin's eyes, a cluster of pale blue Flame flickered incessantly, the urge to destroy him almost irrepressible.

Byron, constantly extending his consciousness here, decided that the identity of this "Wild Hunt Servant" must never be known to anyone. For his own sake, once used, the body had to be immediately destroyed and all traces erased!

At that moment, "Conqueror" Cortes leaned in and whispered in the woman's ear: "My dear, you've been out for such a long time under the pretense of visiting city-states to collect living sacrifices; it's almost reached its limit. You should go back to being your 'Master of Flaying' priestess, and the... Queen of Emperor Aztec Montezuma II."

Hearing this, Beatrice was visibly unhappy, pursing her red lips slightly, displaying a coquettish demeanor she never showed in front of Falcon Alvin. "I've been using 'Versatile Enchantress' to diligently collect various beauties, all to make you happy. You're so cruel, making me show my most beautiful side to one man after another."

Her title's ability, upon its birth, merged with her intense desires and needs. In the end, "Versatile Enchantress" complemented her Black Sorcery perfectly, allowing her to recombine all the collected elements of beauty, transforming her into the flawless World's Foremost Beauty!

No, it was more than that. With this title's enhancement, Beatrice could, if she wished, appear in every man's eyes as the very image they most adored.

Luckily, Byron knew nothing of her abilities. Otherwise, he would certainly have marked a bloody 'Danger' sign for himself, abandoned this servant, and fled as far as possible.

"Conqueror" Cortes, unconcerned by the public eye, scooped the beauty up by her waist and kissed her translucent earlobe, whispering in a voice only they could hear: "Hmph. The Queen favored by Emperor Aztec Montezuma II is also to my liking. Before we part tonight, let me firmly commit this image of you to memory. After we're finished, there will still be plenty of time for 'Falcon' to escort you back."

The other officers had already tactfully dispersed.

Beatrice merely feigned annoyance with a coquettish pout, then turned and instructed her confidant: "Alvin, hurry up and prepare our bed."

Falcon Alvin immediately bowed in assent and scurried off toward the Captain's cabin. Halfway there, he suddenly stopped, turned, and bowed obsequiously to inquire: "Her Royal Highness the Princess, should I prepare the sheep pizzle?"

The pre-prepared sheep pizzle needed to be softened with hot milk first. Alvin was already exceedingly skilled at such tasks.

As for Emperor Aztec Montezuma II, and those others who helped the Rear Admiral climb the ranks over these past dozen or so years, or even that... brother-in-law, the Governor? Pah! It's all just an act! My Lady Beatrice has never invested even a shred of one-sided affection in them; she has always loved only the Rear Admiral. So beautiful and yet so devoted—utterly pure! My rival has always been just one man!

The People of Castilia soldiers standing guard, witnessing such a scene for the first time, couldn't help but stare in awe at "Falcon," this distinguished Second Order Transcendent. If this isn't a true confidant, then what is?

Beatrice, having adopted a new appearance, smiled as brilliantly as a blooming flower: "No need. We'll never require such things again. Soon, not just I, but Montezuma II as well, will never care about matters like these anymore."