Brady Island, Clifford Kingdom. The royal capital, Nakor.
This was the largest city in the Clifford Kingdom, situated on a plateau in the very center of Brady Island, nestled against mountains and by water. It boasted nearly two million residents and was incredibly prosperous, with most of the kingdom’s nobility residing here.
The layout of Nakor was peculiar, likely due to the Clifford Kingdom’s strict class system. The city’s center was the royal palace, its highest point. Surrounding it was the noble district, then a high-end commercial area, followed by the commoner district, and finally, the ordinary commercial streets. It was like a series of concentric circles, a large ring encompassing smaller ones.
Inside Villa 89, Noble District, Third Street.
The villa’s main hall was packed with people, all executives and elite crew members from the Chris Pirates, White Mane Pirates, and Triangle Pirates.
"The royal capital, Nakor, has a standing army of 150,000 troops. The East and West grand camps each hold 50,000 soldiers, with another 50,000 stationed within the capital itself, divided into the City Guard, the Royal Guard, and the Royal Palace Imperial Guard.
"The City Guard numbers 30,000, primarily responsible for the city gates, walls, ordinary commercial districts, and commoner areas. The Royal Guard, with 15,000 men, focuses on defending the high-end commercial areas and the noble district. The 5,000 Royal Palace Imperial Guards are exclusively dedicated to protecting the royal palace."
Arlan stood on a raised platform, a stand beside him holding a map, a topographical map of the royal capital, Nakor.
"The Third Prince, Casey Dasco, controls 10,000 City Guards and 5,000 Royal Guards within the city. One of the main commanders of the Royal Palace Imperial Guard has also defected to us.
"Additionally, outside the city, he commands one of the kingdom’s most elite Knight Orders. When King Dasco XI dies, instead of attacking the palace, we will seize control of the four city gates and the noble district, forcefully binding all nobles together.
"We’ll corner the forces of the other princes who attack the royal palace, then use artillery to bombard the royal palace area," Galan stated, rising to explain the plan after Arlan finished.
His objective was simple: to round up everyone in one fell swoop, using the most direct and brutal method.
If the royal palace was destroyed, it could be rebuilt. As for the nobles, to them, pirates, they were worthless. If they died, they died. Anyone who dared to resist would be killed on the spot.
After all, the Clifford Kingdom had a population of nearly ten million; losing a few was no big deal.
"With a plan , the Third Prince, Casey Dasco, and his subordinates aren’t fools, are they? They wouldn’t agree, would they?" Oliver, seated on the sofa, asked curiously.
A smile flickered on Galan’s lips: "I told him: ’The royal palace can be rebuilt if destroyed, and nobles can be swayed if offended. As long as your rivals are eliminated, the throne is yours. Once you are king, everything else can be deliberated at length. But if you fail, there will be no ’then.’’
"And then, he agreed!"
Galan’s words had perfectly seized the Third Prince Casey’s inner desire. His power couldn’t compare to the First Prince Byrd, and his individual strength was inferior to the Second Prince Bolton, so he was under immense pressure. He was willing to do anything to seize the throne.
"Hahahaha... That idiot! He’s being played for a fool. If he actually became king, it would truly be a waste for this island, hahahaha..." Aeridar, in the main seat, burst into laughter, his contempt evident in his tone.
"Indeed, he’s an idiot."
"Captain Aeridar is the true king, a born king."
"In a few days, the Clifford Kingdom’s royal family will cease to exist."
"Hahaha~ Our Chris Pirates will reign supreme here."
At Aeridar’s words, everyone immediately erupted in boisterous shouts, loudly mocking the Dasco royal family, as if they had already conquered the place.
Meanwhile, in a palace within the royal palace, at the heart of the capital.
On a magnificent gold-threaded wooden bed lay an old man with a deeply wrinkled face, covered by a red quilt embroidered with gold thread. His sparse white hair and bloodless, pale face revealed a deathly pallor.
This was none other than the current King of the Clifford Kingdom—King Dasco XI.
"Ugh~ Ugh~ Gath... gather... my sons... ministers..." King Dasco XI slowly opened his eyes, his lips moving as if trying to say something.
A medical officer nearby leaned in, his ear close, then softly asked, "Your Majesty, do you wish to summon the princes and your ministers?"
"Yes... ugh~ good... ruthless..."
Just as King Dasco XI was about to respond, his eyes suddenly widened, bloodshot and filled with what seemed like endless pain. Then, a large gush of black blood erupted from his mouth, emitting a strong, foul odor.
Facing the sudden turn of events, the nearby medical officer, attendants, and maids were all stunned.
Before they could even react, King Dasco XI’s eyes widened, and he breathed his last. His body had no trace of life left, and faint black lines even appeared on his bloodless, pale face, seemingly forming a strange flower-like pattern.
"Poison... It’s poison... Who administered it?" The medical officer stared in shock at the black blood pouring from King Dasco XI’s mouth and the black lines on his face, trembling as he gasped, "Black... black lines... the poison of the Black-Line Flower. This is... the poison of the Black-Line Flower."
"His Majesty... is dead?!"
The accompanying attendants and maids gazed in disbelief at the deceased King Dasco XI on the bed.
Although it had been long anticipated, when it actually happened, their limbs still felt weak. Especially, the fact that the king was likely poisoned filled them with even greater dread.
"Quick, quickly notify the princes and all the ministers!" a young attendant shrieked.
Though King Dasco XI wasn’t a particularly ambitious or brilliant ruler, he was deeply devoted. He had only one queen and two consorts in his life, but they had all passed before him. After their deaths, King Dasco XI never remarried, so he was only surrounded by these medical officers, attendants, and maids.
Dong, dong, dong, dong...
On the high platform of the royal palace, a giant bronze bell was struck. Its dull sound quickly echoed throughout the entire city.
"That’s the sound of the Bell of Clifford!"
Hearing the bell, countless people looked towards the royal palace.
The Bell of Clifford was the national bell of the Clifford Kingdom. It was rung whenever a major event occurred, with the number of chimes corresponding to different events.
"Nine chimes, ten chimes, eleven chimes, twelve chimes... thir... thirteen chimes..." A nobleman dressed in luxurious clothes looked towards the royal palace in horror. "This is... the king’s death knell!!!"
Thirteen was an unlucky number. Thirteen chimes meant the king had died, hence it was also known as the king’s death knell.
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