HoG - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Pirate Council

Guss's eyes darted past the pirate with only eight fingers, who had an axe on his back, and settled on the youthful figure ahead. This individual did not conform to the typical pirate archetype; instead, he was handsome.

Having grown up in Iron Anchor Bay, Guss was a local through and through. He had seen more pirates in his lifetime than many small-town residents had seen people. Yet, this pirate was truly unique.

He appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with fair skin and broad shoulders. His upright posture towered over a hundred and eighty centimeters tall.

Beneath his slightly tousled black hair, a pair of deep blue eyes, characteristic of the Northern Bay Folk, were even more profound than the sea itself. They exuded a mature aura that seemed at odds with his youthful age.

He seemed somewhat familiar, yet Guss couldn't place him as an acquaintance or match him to any portrait he had ever seen.

He wore a hand-and-a-half sword at his waist, a black cloak draped over his shoulders, and a triangular captain's hat atop his head—he was the epitome of a young pirate captain.

Despite Guss's eagerness to find a captain willing to take him on, he wasn't particularly inclined to initiate a conversation after overhearing the question.

It wasn't a matter of judging by appearances, but rather the stark difference in style between pirates and systematically trained navies.

Pirates always championed the "survival of the fittest," utilizing people without nurturing them. Only pirates and pirate ships that endured battle after battle could evolve into true powerhouses, with an alarmingly high rate of premature death.

Though burdened by his "Ability: Screen Presence" and with dwindling time, Guss still wished to fight a little longer. But just as he was about to look away, he noticed the young captain at the fore suddenly nod in his direction and inquire:

"Friend, do you know why Iron Anchor Bay has been so lively recently?"

Guss couldn't believe his ears. He glanced left and right, realized there was no one else around, and that the captain was indeed addressing him. His eyes suddenly turned red.

How long had it been? Since his mother's passing, how long had it been since he heard a stranger take the initiative to speak to him?

His peculiar talent was indeed gradually sapping his life away.

Yet, it also granted him astonishing supernatural abilities; as long as he remained still and silent, almost no one could detect his presence.

Just as John, the bar owner, had said, if he changed careers to become a thief, he could enter someone's home and take things without the victim noticing.

He was a natural thief, assassin, and spy!

It wasn't until Byron repeated his question, as Guss hadn't initially heard him, that Guss finally returned to reality and explained reflexively:

"Isn't it because the Pirate Council's triennial election is scheduled for the middle of next month?

Dozens of mid-sequence councilors are competing for the position of Iron Anchor Bay's Pirate Marshal."

Every captain recognized by the 'Pirate Code' throughout the North Sea could participate in the voting and join the team of the corresponding councilor to support them.

"Pirate Council? New Marshal? All the pirate captains in the North Sea are coming?"

Byron was caught off guard by the news. They had been living in seclusion recently, and their information was indeed somewhat outdated.

However, as soon as Guss mentioned the Pirate Council and the marshal election, Byron swiftly retrieved the relevant intelligence from his memory.

After the disappearance of the North Sea Pirate King, a high-sequence legendary pirate known as the 'Whale Hunter,' the Pirate Council of Iron Anchor Bay was established by a group of the most powerful pirates to manage pirate affairs in the port and across the North Sea.

It was akin to replacing the absolute authority of the Pirate King with a parliamentary system. Elections were held every three years, involving both voting and combat, to select new councilors and a marshal to oversee affairs.

The marshal not only wielded significant power and could control a portion of the 'Pirate Code's' strength but also had the qualification to unlock a great secret treasure guarded by the Bay Folk!

Power, wealth, and even unknown supernatural secrets were all within reach.

Such a grand event naturally drew many pirate captains from across the North Sea to Iron Anchor Bay. Although everyone knew they were just there to join in the festivities.

Since the disappearance of the 'Whale Hunter,' the power of the Old Continent's pirates had plummeted.

But those eligible to run for councilor and marshal had to be at least mid-sequence, powerful supernatural individuals of the third tier and above.

Who didn't know that power and influence were determined by the strength of one's forces? The role of most pirate captains was merely to cast an inconsequential vote.

However,

Byron had to mention a "however."

This was the typical routine when there were no surprises. This year, however, was unlike the past. One must not overlook the sheet of paper discovered on 'Magic Mirror' Wester.

"Before the end of October, enter Iron Anchor Bay as a pirate and await further instructions."

The privateer captains under the control of the York family and the Naval Department were intermingled with the numerous pirates coming to participate in the council elections.

Including the 'White Crystal,' all the summoned privateers could potentially become an unpredictable bomb!

Sure enough, just as Byron pondered this, the decryption level of the last 'Secret: Naval Department's Conspiracy, Historical Influence 20' in his navigation log also rose from the original 5% to 18%.

"Malicious intent is certain. But I can't discern what the Yorks and the privateers under their command are planning to do in Iron Anchor Bay to remove this toughest nail in the North Sea?"

Byron couldn't unravel the inside story for the moment, but he was still elated by the increase in decryption level. He resolved to wander more over the next few days, taking advantage of the crowd, in case he could uncover more pieces of the puzzle.

If there was an opportunity to cause trouble for the York family, even if it was a losing proposition, he would do it gladly.

After thanking the unremarkable passerby, Byron was about to take Honest Man 'Eight Fingers' to the 'Sailors and Cats Bar.' He intended to inquire from the owner about reliable sailors.

Schooners, which utilized more fore-and-aft sails, required fewer hands than square-rigged ships while significantly enhancing their ability to sail against the wind.

But to operate normally and ensure enough crew for shifts, maintaining full combat readiness at all times, they would need at least fifty people.

Their next task was to recruit forty experienced pirate sailors.

Honest Man 'Eight Fingers' was with him to recruit crew members, while Young Hans, who was being groomed to become a 'Craftsman,' was still working at the dockyard with his father.

Excellent sailors were a scarce resource.

Byron wasn't searching for incredibly talented individuals; he just needed sailors who could operate the ship, fire cannons, engage in close combat, and possess basic combat skills.

He had full confidence in the new 'Pirate Ten Commandments' he had established and the various sequences of supernatural knowledge in his mind.

He wasn't concerned about attracting good sailors in the future.

"Captain, are you planning to recruit crew members?

My name is Guss, and I've grown up here, knowing everything about the free sailors in the port. Even if you're looking for special talents, I'm very familiar with the slave guilds. With my help, I'm sure I can save you a lot of time."

Byron's proactive greeting ignited the faint hope in Guss's heart, and he quickly recommended himself.

He even tidied up his disheveled clothes a bit and held up five fingers, giving Byron a big smile:

"Sir, five pence!

Just five pence, you can't go wrong, it's definitely worth it!"

1 pound equals 20 shillings, 1 shilling equals 12 pence, and one pence could buy a standard-weight loaf of bread (statutory bread).

'Eight Fingers' knew that his captain wasn't very money-savvy.

Before Byron could speak, he quickly stepped forward and looked at Guss, whose face was written with "I love money" and whose tattered equipment screamed "poor."

Without hesitation, he held up two fingers, displaying the stinginess of a Remit merchant, and directly halved the price:

"Two pence."

Guss's face froze.

"Even if I can't sell myself, as a half-supernatural individual with innate 'Spirituality' awakening, I still have dignity!"

At that moment,

gurgle...

All three of them looked down at Guss's stomach.

He could only reluctantly accept.

"Deal! But can I have the money first?"