Pirate Kingship

Time shifted slightly backward.

Several large merchant ships were anchored at the edge of a small island, closest to where Silvergold Island had emerged.

Although their flags indicated they were from various countries and regions, representing certain banks, trading companies, or Pioneer Corps.

Without exception, they were all properties of various factions under the Remit People, a vagrant nation. Their clans extensively parasitized the countries of the Old Continent, so the differing flags they flew were nothing out of the ordinary.

Nobody would believe that nationality could represent the allegiance of these Remit People.

As is well known, international financiers are without a homeland.

The leader among them was Stiel Blake, a Gold Sequence Third Order [Banker] from the Netherland United Bank.

Dressed in a finely tailored black formal suit, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, every finger bore a Seal Ring used for employing his Third Order ability, [Investment Pact].

Even without any titles of nobility, he exuded an attitude of superiority, looking down on all others.

His somewhat corpulent face was filled with an arrogance that showed disdain for anyone he perceived as inferior.

That was the confidence his substantial capital afforded him.

Only when facing the compassionate nun before him did his arrogance recede slightly. He bowed his head a little to inquire:

"Sister Teresa, how is your divination progressing? Are you certain this is the best place to set up camp?"

On this crudely furnished island, servants had not only set up a table, chairs, and a tea service for her, but also a parasol, allowing the nun to enjoy her tea at leisure.

Hearing his words, Sister Teresa didn't lift her head. She merely toyed with the valuable, exquisite porcelain in her hands for a moment before draining the red tea from her cup in one gulp.

Staring at the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup and examining them carefully for a while, she nodded, then shook her head.

"Divination is not omnipotent.

The higher the level of power involved, and the larger and more chaotic the system implicated, the more obscure the results.

Especially when one is also involved, in most cases, it can only evolve into the most ambiguous of answers: 'inauspicious' or 'auspicious.'

When the moment of truth arrives, even these auspicious and inauspicious signs vanish.

Unless those of the Tower Sequence, the [Prophets], choose to personally join the adventure and experience the relevant events, only then can they unravel the mystery step by step.

From increasingly complex and abstract imagery, they can interpret merely one or two-tenths of the correct answer.

I am not a [Prophet], and the tea-leaf divination I use is considerably weaker than the abilities of [Prophets].

I can only settle for the next best thing: predicting the fate of those involved to indirectly deduce the development of events."

Gazing at the opulent [Banker] before her, Teresa spoke earnestly,

"As for whether this is the best place to set up camp, I have already divined an affirmative answer previously; there is no need to divine it a second time.

Do you not trust me?

However, this time the shape of the tea leaves suggests that if Mr. Blake sincerely asks someone for help, they will agree."

「Mingling with this group of Remit People were Sister Teresa and her three-person squad.」

Originally, the hunt teams of the Religious Tribunal searched far and wide for the heretic known as The Mad Hunt. However, because they had prematurely dismissed a correct lead, they ended up empty-handed.

They circled Hightins Royal Port before splitting up to act independently.

While searching for clues separately, they also began to promote their faith in the Bantaan Archipelago, throwing the colonies of various nations into turmoil.

If a person is kind-hearted, with a harmonious and happy family, who would travel thousands of miles to come here and establish a colony?

A group of Judgment Knights randomly casting [Detect Evil] was clearly stirring up trouble!

This annoyed everyone, yet no one could do anything about them.

This support team, composed of three Middle Sequence individuals, had immediately rushed to the ruins of the Aztec Royal City.

According to witness accounts, The Mad Hunt had stolen the largest share of the cursed Gold from there.

Since everyone else had inevitably been afflicted by the "living dead" curse, The Mad Hunt would naturally be no exception.

Although there were three ways to lift the curse, putting themselves in The Mad Hunt's shoes, the only way to both keep the Gold and remove the curse was with the Aztec Cursed Gold Coins from Silvergold Island.

Thus, they unexpectedly encountered Stiel Blake, a [Banker] and one of the Church's major patrons, there.

In recent years, with Netherland serving as one of the primary destination ports for the returning Long-range Fleet, its commerce, artisanship, and finance sectors had developed rapidly.

This naturally attracted a large contingent of Remit Bankers, who had made their fortunes through usury.

Ever since the great invention of 'Indulgence Certificates' dismantled the barrier between merit and money, the jewels adorning these bankers instantly transformed into... a golden aura of merit.

With money, one could be fast-tracked to Heaven; no money? You're simply not devout enough!

Hearing the particular emphasis Sister Teresa placed on the word "sincerely," the [Banker] Stiel Blake instantly understood.

He took out his checkbook, swiftly wrote a few lines, and handed it to her.

"To support your missionary work, please accept my donation.

If there are any shortages in the supplies your group needs for this expedition, you can also replenish them from our supply ships.

I only hope that you three esteemed individuals will look out for our joint expedition team."