Byron, like everyone else, provided the same negative response, while thinking to himself:
I’m not his father, why would I give him something valuable if I had it?
The Great Nautical Age had begun less than a century ago, and humanity’s understanding of unknown waters was still extremely limited. Each power held some secret navigational routes unknown to others. Byron’s mind was filled with every precious Nautical Chart collected by Hightins, knowledge of many supply points, oceanic routes, pirate harbors, hidden mines, Secret Realms... and so on, unknown to others. This knowledge, at least ten years ahead of the average Adventurer, was his greatest wealth.
Now was the time to cash in on it.
As for ’Silvergold Island’? Heh, one must not only have a life to go there but also to return. You guess, why does the silver and gold on Silvergold Island keep growing?
Red Beard slammed the table and shouted, "Everyone shut up! The truth will be known once it’s tested."
Even without the ability to read minds, he knew exactly what this bunch of scoundrels were thinking. He waved his hand, signaling for everyone to get out of the way and stop bothering him. He moved the whale oil lamp a little closer, illuminating every detail on the Nautical Chart. He pressed a black ring he was wearing onto the bottom-right corner of the Nautical Chart.
He uttered a severing inscription: "Fair and just."
[Miracle - Oath of Truth Ring]:
"A favorite among Gold Coin Sequence Transcendents, it reveals any loopholes and traps in business agreements. Just a touch on the paper document with a finger wearing this ring is enough to determine its authenticity."
In official formal transactions, a Law Mage from the Tribunal Sequence is usually invited to act as a notary. They can directly harness the power of the Silver Law to ensure the contract’s fairness. In the black and grey areas roamed by pirates and various criminals, such conditions are not available; hence, a Miracle like the Oath of Truth Ring is naturally very popular. Just like the [Double Dice] in the hands of a Gunpowder Artist, such an item is not rare among the Great Pirates of the Middle Sequence.
Everyone held their breath, opened their Spirit Vision, watching as the force of justice from the Silver Law came roaring in. Where the ring touched, a brand-like black "O" mark was left.
It signified truth, correctness!
"It’s an ’O,’ not an ’X’! This treasure map is actually real?!"
The incredulous pirate officers on the scene immediately erupted.
Red Beard’s smile finally broke through his restraint. He excitedly patted Byron on the shoulder, praising him continuously, "Mr. Bill, you did a great job! You truly are a staunch practitioner of ’If loyalty isn’t absolute, then it is absolutely not loyalty.’ When I become the Pirate Warlord of the North Sea, you will be my chief law enforcer. This position within the legal system is fully sufficient for you to be promoted to Second Order Professional Rank and even to touch the threshold of the Middle Sequence."
Red Beard’s style differed from Salman’s, and the outlook of a Great Pirate was clearly much larger than that of a small pirate. Realizing that one promise wasn’t enough for this merit, he added, "The two ships that joined us last night, the Golden Deer and the White Sand—no, all six of the free pirate ships that joined forces yesterday—their wartime command is all yours. I promise you that wherever my Pirate Flag is planted, your right to enforce will extend there. Mr. Bill, keep up the good work! Red Beard will never under-reward his loyal and devoted trusted lieutenants!"
No wonder Red Beard was so overjoyed. Even if the treasure of Silvergold Island couldn’t be cashed in for the time being, it held the allure of massive treasures, a high degree of notoriety, immediate relevance... and a fantastic backstory to boot. Just taking this Nautical Chart to the bank as collateral, or promising to share the secret with other Great Pirates, would enable them to cash in a large sum of money in a short time.
But he changed his mind immediately, rejecting the idea.
No, no, no, I must keep this treasure for myself; no one shall vie with me for it. Not even the new lords, the York Family, can take it! I won’t let this treasure slip through my fingers, even if it means mortgaging my property in the capital of Hightins or even my Goddess of Vengeance.
He suddenly turned his head to look at the other pirates in the command room. The aura of a Middle Sequence Transcendent spread like an octopus, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.
"This matter ends here. I don’t want anyone to leak it out, understand?"
"Look at yourselves, then look at the others. If you were all as diligent as Mr. Bill in sharing my concerns, the Goddess of Vengeance would have already been part of the Pirate Kings."
They all knew the severity of the situation and readily agreed. But when they looked at Byron, their eyes were immediately filled with naked envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Once again, that Navy man has made a splash.
Why can’t I understand sailing knowledge? Why can’t I draw Nautical Charts? Why can’t I get such a treasure map?
Nobody questioned his mapping abilities, though. To be a successful pirate captain was not just about picking up a cutlass and going off to kill and plunder. They also had to master the skills of a Navigator: opening up routes, finding water sources, avoiding maritime disasters... Many pirates never learned these skills in their entire lives.
On a warship, however, chart making and recording daily Sailing Logbooks was a mandatory lesson for officers. To ensure the Navy Department’s control over every warship, the lieutenants aiding the captain had to keep independent Sailing Logbooks. Every major and minor event on the ship had to be based on the independent Sailing Logbooks of the officers at their respective posts. To a certain extent, they could even counterbalance the captain’s authority.
Since these were meant to be seen by others, whether they wrote their true thoughts or took it seriously was subjective.
Byron didn’t care about this; he just needed a legitimate reason to present the Nautical Chart. Also, handing over the good stuff to Red Beard fit his persona of "absolute loyalty." The price was being thoroughly labeled by the other pirates as a die-hard loyalist—the kind where comrades absolutely could not speak ill of the captain in his presence!
Hmph, what a bootlicker!
No one knew that the more vehemently they cursed "bootlicker," the happier "Scroll King" Byron became.
[Entry Effect: The better your abilities and the more outstanding your achievements, the more recognition and favor you receive from your superiors, making you appear more like a ’confidant’ in the eyes of others. When you launch a backstabbing sneak attack on a superior, the stronger the ability bonus you receive. Moreover, succeeding in an underhanded attack against a superior will not attract punitive measures from within the system! Even without a backstabbing attack, your superior will ’loyally’ find themselves passively blocking disasters for their confidant, increasingly beset by bad luck and frequent accidents.]
Byron’s plan with the Gunpowder Artist was simple. It was to expand the scope of the Black Mass’s sacrifice, dragging the oblivious free pirates and the self-satisfied Privateering Alliance down with them. Byron was even harsher. He planned not just to drag down the Privateering Alliance but also to use Redbeard Edward as a shield, to take a blow meant for him.
I lead the vanguard; the boss charges first!
However, the thought of having a boss with an Undying Body blocking disasters for him inexplicably felt satisfying. How come? Isn’t he more durable than regular bosses?
The dreadfully toxic thoughts in Byron’s stomach gurgled, but his words were as sweet as if smeared with honey.
"Captain, I have only done some insignificant things. For the ’greater good,’ what does a little personal gain or loss amount to? A competent subordinate should not always think about what to take from the Pirate Group but should first think about what he can bring to it. Let alone a mere treasure map; even if it meant donating my entire fortune, I, Bill, would never frown!"
The impassioned words soured the faces of the pirate officers, but Red Beard beamed with pride. He felt that this confidant of his was increasingly pleasing to the eye.
Then, with a wave of Red Beard’s hand, he announced another main theme of the meeting aside from fundraising:
"This morning, I received communication from our collaborator. The grand fleet has set sail from Hightins. Everyone else should prepare in advance."
"First Mate, and... Mr. Bill, today the two of you will lead the team with me to the Captain’s Council. It’s time to show those conservative Bayfolk who the future master of this land will be."
"At your command, Captain."
A glint momentarily flashed in Byron’s downcast eyes.