Ch - 28 Finally I am ready...

The king's face flushed with rage as he glared at Lord Ethar. "What is it you want me to do, huh? Attack them now that Jon is being declared a traitor?" His voice thundered through the chamber, echoing off the stone walls. "You do remember that the bastard smashed our forces to oblivion on the battle of Witton. We can't raise another force big enough to take over those Maridians."

Lord Ethar's lips curled into a sly smile, unfazed by the king's outburst. "But your majesty, who said anything about raising our own forces?" He let out a low chuckle, leaning back in his chair. "Your majesty, do you know what Pirate King Samuel did with those two royal guards?"

The king's brow furrowed, his anger momentarily tempered by curiosity. "You are not suggesting we make an amend with those filthy pirates, are you?"

"Yes, but do not worry, as nobody in the whole world will ever take a suspicion on us. Yet before that, we must meet this pirate king. He demands an audience with you, as an equal." Lord Ethar's tone was smooth, almost soothing, as he laid out his audacious proposal.

Before the king could respond, the heavy oak door to the chamber swung open, and a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Pirate King Samuel himself, his presence commanding immediate attention.

Samuel stood tall and imposing, his muscular frame clad in a long, crimson coat adorned with intricate golden embroidery. A deep scar ran across his chiseled jawline, a testament to the countless battles he had endured. His eyes, piercing and calculating, surveyed the room with the cool confidence of a man accustomed to power.

In his hand, he gripped an ornate sword, the blade gleaming in the flickering candlelight. A tri-cornered hat, its feather plume ruffled by the sea breeze, sat atop his head, casting a shadow over his tanned and weather-beaten features.

The king's eyes widened in disbelief and fury as the imposing figure of Pirate King Samuel strode into the chamber. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but before he could draw it, he froze in place, his muscles refusing to obey his commands.

"Guards!" the king bellowed, his voice strained and laced with panic. "Seize these traitors at once!"

Silence answered his call, and the king's stomach twisted into a knot of dread. He turned his gaze towards Lord Ethar, his eyes burning with rage. "You will be executed for this infamy, you treacherous dog!"

To the king's horror, both Samuel and Ethar erupted into laughter, their mocking tones echoing throughout the chamber. Time itself seemed to grind to a halt, the very air growing thick and heavy, as if some unseen force had taken hold of reality itself.

Samuel moved forward, his steps unhurried and purposeful, until he stood before the immobilized king. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice dripping with contempt, "your guards are already dead, along with every last soul within these castle walls."

The king's eyes widened in horror, but he found himself unable to speak, his mouth frozen in a silent scream.

"You see," Samuel continued, "I have grown weary of playing by the rules of your petty kingdoms. It is time for a new order, one where the true power lies with those who have the strength and audacity to seize it."

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against the king's face. "And you, Your Majesty, are but a pawn in my grand design. Tomorrow, your people will wake to find their beloved king slain, and your own seventh son seated upon your throne as a proxy ruler."

The pirate king's eyes gleamed with malicious delight. "A civil war will erupt, and in the chaos, your son will consolidate his power. By the time the smoke clears, your entire lineage will have been wiped from existence, and a new dynasty will rise from the ashes."

Samuel stepped back; his lips curled into a cruel smile. "Consider this your final day as king, Your Majesty. Tomorrow, a new era begins, one forged in blood and controlled by my unstoppable will."

With a casual flick of his wrist, time resumed its inexorable march forward, and the king found himself able to move once more. But it was too late – the die had been cast, and the wheels of Samuel's ambitious plot were already in motion, leaving the king to face his inevitable demise, powerless to stop the machinations that would tear his kingdom asunder.

Samuel's laughter echoed through the chamber, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the king's spine. With a single, fluid motion, the pirate king drew his sword and brought it down upon the king's neck, severing his head from his body in a spray of crimson.

Without a shred of remorse, Samuel strode towards the throne, his boots leaving bloody footprints in his wake. He dropped into the ornate seat, carelessly tossing the king's head aside as if it were a mere trinket. Extending his legs, he propped his feet up on the armrest, his cutlass resting across his lap as he gazed out over the now-silent chamber.

"Lord Ethar," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Care to venture a guess as to what my plans might be for the future of this kingdom?"

Ethar swallowed hard, his eyes darting between the pirate king and the king's lifeless body. "I... I would surmise that you intend to place the old king's seventh son upon the throne, as you mentioned earlier. A symbolic act to solidify your control over the realm."

Samuel's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Intelligent as ever, my friend. You always did have a keen mind for strategy." He chuckled softly, his fingers idly tracing the edge of his blade. "But alas, there is no need for intelligent men in the kingdom I envision."

Before Ethar could react, Samuel was on his feet, his sword flashing in a deadly arc. The nobleman's eyes widened in shock and terror as the blade found its mark, slicing through flesh and bone with horrifying ease. Ethar crumpled to the ground, his life's blood pooling around him as Samuel stood over him, his expression impassive.

"A pity," the pirate king murmured, wiping the blade clean on the sleeve of his coat. "You could have been useful, in another life."

Turning on his heel, Samuel strode towards the chamber's exit, his boots squelching with each step. As he reached the threshold, he paused and called out, "Dame! Burn this wretched place to the ground. Leave not a single stone standing."

A figure emerged from the shadows, a woman whose very presence seemed to radiate an aura of heat and flame. With a simple wave of her hand, the chamber erupted in a conflagration, the hungry flames consuming everything in their path.

Samuel watched impassively as the fire raged, his face flickering in the dancing light. "Has the fleet arrived at Fortune Isle?" he asked, his voice cutting through the roar of the blaze.

"Aye, Captain," Dame responded, her voice like the crackling of embers. "They await your command."

A feral grin spread across Samuel's face, his eyes glinting with ambition and hunger for power. "Excellent. Then let us be off, my friend. A new era dawns, and Fortune Isle shall be the first to bask in its glorious light."

==============================Act – 4 =============================

A.N. :- so after uploading nearly for a month and doing that at regular instance I was expecting at least I would get 10K view which seems to be too.much. so with a really hard heart I am going to drop this book, I might upload a chapter once a two days or whenever I get time since I have already wrote more than 500K words. The story is still kot finished but i might not work on it further. For whoever is still reading this except for me(which seems to be the case that I am the only one who is reading my novel) I am really sorry. If you want just DM me on my discord I might keep providing you chapters before a day or two before uploading on webnovel. Thanks. 

Discord :- ruhivaiker049