Pirate Kingship

"A grim throne, set upon a pile of skulls."

"That's... the emblem of Barbarossa Hayreddin, the West Coast Pirate King, the Ocean Throne!!"

Almost any somewhat knowledgeable sailor in the Bantaan Archipelago would recognize what this pirate flag stood for.

The Bay Citizens Pirates who had come here with Byron from Iron Anchor Bay were somewhat better off.

Many of the local Bantaan pirates couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Barbarossa, the Ocean Throne!"

Byron, who already possessed extensive frontline intelligence and had absorbed the memories of many local Undead Servants, had, of course, heard of this name.

Just as the Swarm of the Bloodthirsty Cult and Major Newman had reacted upon hearing the name "Mad Hunt," his expression turned somewhat grave.

To think it would be the Barbary Pirates? But that makes sense. Given the temperament of these fellows, it's only logical they would indiscriminately plunder all powers, large and small, on the East Coast, even their fellow pirates. After all, this is a band of fierce bandits who started by plundering the Pope of the Holy Silver Empire!

Yes, that Pope, who was supreme in the Old Continent, second only to the Creator.

It is well known that the world's three major pirate groups are: the oldest, the East Coast Bay Citizens Pirates; the once exceedingly powerful and legendary West Coast Barbary Pirates; and the Southern Bantaan Pirates, who are gradually taking the banner from the first two, possessing the most vitality and the greatest potential for growth.

One of the root causes of the previous attack on Iron Anchor Bay was that with the advent of the Great Nautical Age, numerous capable Bay Citizens Pirates and Barbary Pirates all migrated south toward the Bantaan Archipelago, where official power was weaker.

Only here could they find the fertile ground to continue advancing on the path of piracy.

With only the old, weak, sick, and unambitious left in the Old Continent, the pirate presence there naturally dwindled.

The status of the Fifth-Order Pirate King Barbarossa Hayreddin—the Ocean Throne—among the Barbary Pirates was comparable to that of Whale Hunter Jack Harold among the Bay Citizens Pirates.

Moreover, he had a twin brother named Barbarossa Hairaddin, who was also a renowned Great Pirate.

Known for his iconic blue hair, he bore the formidable moniker "Blue Hair."

It was said that a single gaze from him could paralyze even the most ferocious pirates, causing them to surrender without a fight.

Especially since the pirate group led by these two brothers received the support of the Star Moon Empire, the strongest nation on the Old Continent's West Coast.

Even in the Bantaan Archipelago, they were far stronger than the Bay Citizens Pirates, whose Whale Hunter had vanished.

They plundered the wealthiest Castilia, the royal Habsburg family of the Holy Silver Empire, and even dared to seize the Church's ships whenever they pleased.

Yet they thrived to this day and had even begun planning the establishment of their Pirate Kingdom in the Bantaan Archipelago.

This illustrated just how formidable these Barbary Pirates were—and how many enemies they had made!

These are madmen who, once they bite, won't let go—this isn't going to be easy.

Even though the ships under the Pioneer Navigation Colonization Company were also crewed entirely by pirates, and they knew a Fifth-Order legendary Pirate King wouldn't personally come robbing, merely the thought of that name made them involuntarily furrow their brows. Even the morale of the newly formed Privateer Fleet began to waver.

"The Pirate's Ten Commandments, Commandment Six: Those who delay battle shall die, and those who flee in the face of the enemy shall die! Do you want to wet your pants in front of those madmen?"

Fortunately, the natives from Chichen Itza and the pirate officers stationed on each privateer ship managed to suppress the unrest and restabilize morale.

Aboard the enemy flagship, a pirate captain, surrounded by a group of subordinates in white turbans, ascended to the forecastle.

He was an immense fat man, over two meters tall and just as broad.

Realizing that Byron's pirates had recognized his allegiance, his fleshy face broke into an even more frenzied smile.

Standing at the bow, he took an hourglass from his belt pouch and placed it on the bulwark.

The rapidly flowing sand immediately put immense psychological pressure on Byron's side.

His voice turned cold. "Your flag is that of the Pioneer Navigation Colonization Company, under the Heitings Colony? Never heard of such insignificant nobodies. However, it doesn't matter if I don't know you; all that matters is that you know who we are. This shipping lane's return route is already swarming with us Barbary Pirates. If you want to pass, you'll have to pay a toll. Before the sand runs out, lay down your weapons, drop anchor, and submit to an inspection by me, Fat Dragon! If you cooperate, we'll only take 70 percent of your haul, leaving you 30 percent to take home. How about it? Aren't we Barbary Pirates merciful?"

With that, he pulled a conch horn engraved with special symbols from his belt and blew it forcefully.

BWOOOM—!

A sound inaudible to human ears spread rapidly beneath the water's surface.

Then, from the depths, a massive, dark behemoth suddenly burst forth, raising its head high above the water, its fierce gaze sweeping over everyone.

It had a diamond-shaped head, similar to a cobra's. Its mouth, located at the very tip of its head, was lined with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Each tooth was like a trident, sprouting three spikes, their overall arrangement resembling a barbed gear.

Most terrifying were its gill slits—fully six pairs of them.

Between each pair lay a wrinkled fleshy membrane and bright red fleshy filaments, resembling torn, horrendous wounds.

These crimson filaments, extending from the gill slits, vibrated violently, emitting a piercing, strange noise that made many pirates instinctively cover their ears.

This was a Small-Species Pseudo-Eel Shark, with a subjugation level roughly equivalent to a Level Five Cruiser.

Outwardly, it resembled a hybrid of an eel and a snake, but it was, in fact, a very aggressive aberrant shark species.

"A Sea Monster! It's a Sea Monster!"

From a Parrot Conch at Byron's waist came the urgent voice of Alfred, also known as Blood-Red Whiskey:

"Captain, that's a Sea Monster that serves the Ocean Throne! I've heard that Pirate King is a Beast Tamer of the Wilderness Sequence. He cultivated a Giant-Species Deep Sea Yama with a subjugation level at least comparable to a First-Rate Ship. Through the special abilities of the Deep Sea Yama, he has cultivated a Sea Monster Legion of unknown size. Those who perform exceptionally well among the Barbary Pirates may be bestowed a Sea Monster. Blowing a special conch horn can summon the Sea Monster to fight for them."

Seeing the panic-stricken looks on the pirates aboard the Privateer Fleet ships, all the Barbary Pirates under Fat Dragon burst into uproarious laughter.

"Hahaha! Hearing we only want 70 percent, these fellows must be too overjoyed to know what to do, right?"

"That's right! From now on, this route connecting the east and west of the Bantaan Archipelago will belong to the Barbarossas! We won't just take 70 percent today, but 70 percent every time anyone passes through here in the future."

"We aren't robbing; the Barbarossa Pirate Kingdom is collecting taxes."

"Oh, and by the way, if you deliver your goods directly to our stronghold next time, we'll only tax you 60 percent. Our Tax Officers will even issue you a tax slip. With it, you'll never be plundered by Barbary Pirates again. Pretty good, huh?"

In fact, most pirates weren't bloodthirsty lunatics who reveled in killing for sport; ultimately, they were just after wealth.

They also knew that if they engaged in constant massacres, terrifying everyone, then anyone encountering pirates and facing certain death would rather fight desperately.

Thus, if pirates indulged in indiscriminate slaughter, not only would their plundering efficiency be low, but they might also easily get themselves killed.

If they caused too much trouble, merchant ships would stop using the route, cutting off their revenue.

They could also easily provoke retaliation from the Navy, ending up surrounded, captured, and hanged by the seaside.

So, while the Barbary Pirates were wild, their wildness had boundaries.

This time, facing the Pioneer Navigation Colonization Company, which was returning laden with spoils, they were accustomed to plundering under the aegis of their Pirate King's fearsome reputation. They never imagined that a band of obscure, minor pirates would dare to refuse their demands.

They even felt they were being quite generous by not demanding everything, considering themselves countless times better than those counterparts who would raise the red flag at the slightest provocation.

But in Byron's eyes, even if they, like the maritime court of the Kingdom of Hightins, demanded only 10 percent, it was completely unacceptable.

If I surrender without a fight and pay tribute and taxes to these Barbary Pirates, the Privateer Fleet I just established, along with the nascent cohesion cultivated from our successful raids in Traskopan City, will immediately disintegrate. Others might back down, but I cannot. No one wants to follow a spineless captain. It's like in times of chaos; no talented individuals would follow a vassal lord who merely wants to secure a corner for himself instead of conquering the realm and achieving unification. If morale collapses, the crew will be difficult to lead. Not to mention paying them every time we encounter them in the future. This isn't just anything; this is money, pure and simple! Tax me? Not a chance in hell! However, it's also not wise to try and eliminate all of them here. I especially detest dealing with these types who clearly have powerful backing. I need to find a solution that satisfies both aims and get through this current predicament first.

Thus, under the watchful eyes of the many pirates behind him, Byron raised his hand.

His six core pirate ships formed a line of battle, their cannons bared.

Simultaneously, a red glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

The school of Man-Eater Sharks following the Golden Deer immediately surfaced, slowly circling the vessel.

A vast spread of black shark fins slicing through the water made it equally clear that these creatures were not to be trifled with.

Moreover, this school of Man-Eater Sharks was constantly growing; the largest among them had already surpassed 10 meters in length, while the others were seven to eight meters long.

Such a congregation of behemoths possessed a deterrent power nearly comparable to one or two Sea Monsters.

If it weren't for the abundant resources in these waters, we truly couldn't afford to sustain them.

Across the water, Fat Dragon couldn't help but show a flicker of apprehension in his eyes upon seeing this.

This Privateer Fleet is so well-trained? Could the intelligence be wrong? This isn't some easy prey, some fat sheep? Looking at this, I'd almost think it was Hightins' regular navy conducting a sting operation! Raising so many large sharks—is he also a Beast Tamer? Or has he resorted to some kind of forbidden knowledge?

Even though he also commanded a Sea Monster, pitting it against those, say, twenty-seven sharks, offered no guaranteed victory. Moreover, if his men suffered heavy losses against such a hard target—one that even the great name of the Pirate King couldn't intimidate—his status within the Pirate King's fleet would plummet.

At this moment, Fat Dragon saw Byron seem to grasp a wisp of sea breeze, rise into the air, and gently land atop the tip of the Golden Deer's bowsprit.

As he began to speak, his voice ringing clear, the omnipresent wind carried his words to the ears of Fat Dragon and the other Barbary Pirates.

"Since you're so confident about collecting taxes on this east-west route, why don't we make a big wager? Let's follow the common rules Pirate Groups use when fighting for territory—'Ship Duel' or 'Champion Duel.' I choose Champion Duel! If you win, I'll hand over everything I plundered from the Aztec Empire this time. But if you lose, then you'll quietly return home and relinquish the right to collect taxes here to me. Besides, you wouldn't want your men to suffer heavy losses, would you?"

This display of strength, followed by a verbal jab, instantly cornered the already intimidated Fat Dragon.

"You..."

Before Fat Dragon could agree, Byron, like a hunting falcon, leaped down from the bowsprit. Kicking off the crest of a wave, he shot towards Fat Dragon's pirate ship.

"I, Byron Tudor, the Sea Hunter, declare war on you! Winner takes all!"