Anyone who follows these rules is one of my own.
Those who don't are either dissidents or enemies, having nothing to do with the ordinary civilian class.
It's essentially no different from the drinking culture of another empire in its early days.
If one is considered dross, the other must be as well.
If one represents civilization, the other must surely be civilized too.
Why is drinking coffee and red wine considered sophisticated, while eating garlic and onions is seen as vulgar?
The main principle is: absolutely no double standards!
Of course, for those who are adept at using these rules, they can be a means to reduce social costs and quickly gain acceptance.
It allows strangers to place you on the same, or even higher, level as themselves.
Just like Magnyra at this moment.
Blushing at Byron's impeccable manners, she realized she might have been impolite and quickly apologized, "Please forgive my presumption. I should have had my butler deliver a visiting card three days in advance to schedule a visit. It's because of my daughter Jacqueline's situation that I need to trouble you. I couldn't find you in the Tayman Archipelago, so I had to come straight here."
Byron knew that in the past, despite his rise to prominence and his status as the founder and owner of the International Port, he was still excluded from aristocratic circles.
In the eyes of others, he was always nothing more than a parvenu pirate.
Upon hearing this, he simply waved his hand nonchalantly and said indifferently, "No need for formalities. Please, sit."
After host and guest were seated in the temporary wooden hut, Byron had already learned the purpose of her visit.
He glanced at the girl, who seemed inexperienced with the world—a 'little fake' in his eyes—and appeared curious about everything since arriving.
"So, you're about to return to the Kingdom to report for duty, and it's inconvenient to take Miss Jacqueline back with you. You're worried about leaving her alone in the Irisflower colony and thus must entrust her to someone else, is that correct?"
I thought you were here to find the native Great Shaman to exorcise this one, he didn't dare say aloud.
The noblewoman looked somewhat uncomfortable as she nodded, "Due to some rather inconvenient reasons, it's unsuitable for her to remain in the Old Continent, or anywhere with Church influence. I've heard that your subsidiary, Pioneer Navigation Military Dispatch Company, has already undertaken some of the Hightins escort missions, proving its reliable strength. After opening up the east-west shipping routes, your relationships with many of the Taino City-States are also very good, and there isn't a single church here. Your personal reputation is excellent as well, making you a rare choice outside of official channels. I hope to entrust Jacqueline to your care for a few months."
Listening to this 'aunt's' evasive words, Byron felt even more uneasy.
He immediately activated [Echoes of History] and scrutinized the girl sitting across from him.
"Name: Jacqueline Torrido
Identity: Only daughter of Magnyra (illegitimate daughter of [Victorious King] Charles VII of the Irisflower Kingdom) and Earl Torrido
Title: Chameleon (unactivated)
Class: Hall Sequence Second Order [Singer]
Hidden: Her perception of self differs from the norm. She identifies as female, is attracted to women, and is naturally promiscuous.
During her studies at the Vinaia Art Academy, she got involved with countless exceptional girls.
Two of them, out of jealousy over her, caused such an uproar in the academy that they ultimately came to blows..."
By this time, Byron had already connected her with a wanted poster he had seen some time ago.
Reward: [Chameleon] Jacqueline. Anyone providing the Church with any clues could receive 100 pounds...
In the Old Continent, Jacqueline was actually guilty of the sin of perversion as described in the 'Book of Creation Gospel'—that is, 'turning the natural benefits between sexes into unnatural ones.'
This crime could be considered major or minor, depending on perspective.
The current laws of many countries dictated capital punishment, but enforcement was very flexible, depending on who the victim was.
After all, many clergy members faced no consequences, simply because most of those young boys were not from influential families.
But the trouble Jacqueline had stirred up was no small matter.
Students at the Vinaia Art Academy were far from ordinary, especially the families of the two primary girls involved; they were top-tier noble families in the Holy Silver Empire, each boasting a Cardinal Archbishop.
In terms of power and status, they were no less influential than the average king.
Both families had declared their intent to capture this audacious individual who thumbed her nose at the Church, and divide her between them—each taking half!
To say that Jacqueline had fled to the Bantaan Archipelago as a refugee was no exaggeration at all.
Once Byron figured out the cause and effect, he felt no pity for her; instead, he couldn't help but feel a touch of schadenfreude.
A girl trying to juggle multiple relationships at once, and carelessly capsized all her 'boats,' huh? What a waste of resources, she deserves to be struck by lightning! If you were my sister, I would've broken your legs. No, wait—she really *is* my sister. And she had so many 'boats,' while I... don't even have one. Serves her right!
In fact, Byron wasn't the only one who thought she got what she deserved.
The nickname '[Chameleon]' on the wanted poster had been conferred upon Jacqueline by numerous male classmates from various grades.
It meant that the moment this Chameleon saw a beautiful girl... she became very lecherous! Check latest chapters at novelFɪre.net
This indicated just how intense the hostility and resentment from countless rivals were.
Shelter such a person? Under my command, Alfred of [Blood Red Whiskey] loves his liquor; Gus, a miser who hoards money like a hamster for freedom and dignity; and then there's my sister, [Mithril Dragon] Catherine, who is even worse; add to that the uniquely tasteful [Chameleon], Jacqueline. Alcohol, Lust, Greed... only Wrath, representing all sorts of extreme emotions and Original Sin, is missing. Although I am a pirate by trade, I consider myself a decent person, but the ethos of this Privateer Fleet is becoming more and more problematic.
Moreover, Violet had already informed him.
This time she had traveled with the Church's warships, and those lunatics were already near the Bantaan Archipelago.
Byron had absolutely no intention of playing babysitter to this problematic girl.
He was about to refuse outright.
His shrewd 'aunt,' as if she had already read Byron's mind, immediately raised her hand, stopping him just as he was about to speak, "Governor, I understand your concerns, and I won't let you be troubled for nothing."
"Madam, it's not about the money." Byron waved his hands repeatedly. You really don't understand this matter, he thought.
A large Pioneer Bank deposit slip was slapped onto the table before him.
"This is a deposit of five thousand pounds. I'll give you another five thousand pounds when I return from the Old Continent."
Byron silently pocketed the deposit slip. "Madam, after some consideration, I think this matter might be manageable."
Alright, 'Aunt,' you really know how to read people!
Byron had to admit, his shrewd 'aunt' understood him very well indeed.
When money talks, truth falls silent.
Hadn't he seen those native shamans from Uxmal City on the construction sites, summoning the spirits of their ancestors to work? Sometimes, a little flexibility in one's principles wasn't so bad; after all, it was for money, not some other trivial matter.
With her goal achieved, Magnyra's lips curled into a smile. "Additionally... it should be fine if I dispatch a few officers to your territory to protect Jacqueline, right? Of course, you can also have them do some defense work or train new recruits in the meantime, and you don't need to stand on ceremony with me," she finished, clapping her hands.
For the money's sake, Byron naturally had no objections to her proposal.
But when he saw the three strangers who walked in and instinctively scanned them with [Echoes of History], his heart still skipped a beat.