With the Lion Gone, Even the Monkeys Dare to Claim Kingship

Translator: Cinder Translations

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"By the way, Nathan, how did you get into the Arcane Order?"

On the deck, the conversation continued as Edward inquired about Nathan's past.

Nathan, the young man, smiled slightly. "With a mother who is a spellcaster, you don't get to choose your own destiny."

"Is that so?" The pirate captain's face actually showed a hint of envy, even jealousy.

He had often imagined how wonderful it would have been if he could have been exposed to that mysterious knowledge from birth. He had the potential for spellcasting but had wasted decades of his most precious years living as a mortal. By the time he finally encountered arcane arts, his body was already no longer young.

If he had received guidance from a mage from a young age, his achievements might have been much greater by now, certainly far surpassing the accomplishments of this young upstart. Although he was somewhat unwilling to admit it, this young man currently held a higher position in the organization than himself.

"May I ask who your mother is?" Edward's tone indicated he was interested in making a connection, hoping that Nathan's mother might hold a significant position within the organization.

Nathan smiled and quietly mentioned a nickname.

Hearing this nickname, Edward's smile froze, and a wave of excitement surged within him.

He had heard of this nickname. Anyone who had come into contact with some internal information of the Arcane Order would recognize and revere it because it belonged to a master of the highest institution within the organization—the Ten Person Council.

The Ten Person Council was the core power structure of the Arcane Order. All major actions of the organization were first discussed and decided upon by the Ten Person Council before being implemented.

The master Bennett, whom they had mentioned earlier, was one of the Ten Person Council members. However, Bennett was known for his eccentric temperament and often went on solo missions, so there were frequently only nine members present together.

"So… your lineage is quite remarkable?" Edward found himself unconsciously using honorifics when addressing Nathan, without even realizing it.

Though most mages tend to have a sense of superiority when dealing with ordinary people, there are still hierarchies within their ranks. Mages from families with a long history of magic are often seen as superior. When a family has had mages for several generations, such as "mage families" or "pureblood families," those mages naturally have a sense of superiority over those who come from ordinary backgrounds.

The Arcane Order was the most powerful mage organization Edward knew of. Being part of such a prestigious family and having a mother with such a background made Nathan enviable.

Edward felt a surge of inferiority but heard Nathan say, "Regardless of what others think, I personally believe in judging by ability. Bloodline? Hmph."

Edward detected a hint of sarcasm in his words.

Nathan continued, "To be honest, I have a brother who shares the same mother and father as I do, with the same 'remarkable bloodline' you mentioned. However, he is merely an ordinary person."

"And your brother?"

"I don't know. We parted ways when I was very young, and my mother seldom mentions him."

Edward chose not to press further. The complexity of Nathan's family background might touch on some uncomfortable memories.

The conversation fell into a brief silence, with both men quietly sipping their beers.

As they talked, the ship they were on drew closer to land, and the outline of the port city of West Harbor became increasingly clear.

At that moment, the deck suddenly became lively. Edward's subordinates were discussing excitedly and crowding around the left side of the sailing ship, looking northward as if they had spotted something intriguing.

Edward and Nathan also looked out toward the northern sea.

What came into their view were several peculiar ships—without visible oars, with one or two tall masts and large sails.

"Ships propelled entirely by wind? That's quite rare," Nathan remarked in surprise.

"That's to be expected. In the northern seas, where the winds are strong and the waves high, such sailboats are more appropriate," Edward said, his tone filled with a sense of appreciation and camaraderie.

"Ship designers worldwide follow the design principles from Horns Bay, leading to a homogenization of ship designs—primarily oar-powered sailboats. When I was in the Northwest Bay, I attempted to design ships that didn't rely on oars, but with the resources at my disposal, I could only create some small prototypes."

Nathan laughed. "It seems you have a wide range of interests beyond just magic."

"After all, I make my living on the sea."

"Speaking of the Northwest Bay…" Nathan looked at Edward with a hint of amusement. "Do you still have contact with your 'old subordinates' who remained there?"

Edward was momentarily taken aback before realizing Nathan was referring to something specific. He waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, they were just minor players, peripheral forces in my team. Since I led my fleet south to pursue arcane power, I haven't bothered with them."

"Oh?" Nathan's gaze carried a touch of regret. "When I was in the Northwest Bay, I heard that all the pirate factions there were wiped out by a certain lord."

"What?" Edward was astonished.

"They say a lord with the surname Grayman created a weapon that can summon heavenly thunder."

"Grayman? That's a very low-profile family. It seems this family has produced a remarkable individual and is on the rise. As for summoning heavenly thunder, that sounds a bit far-fetched."

"In any case, this lord must have considerable naval power to pacify the pirates so quickly. Intelligence suggests that the lords of the Northwest Bay have been supplying the royal family with resources via sea transport. We may have to contend with them."

"Hmph, with the lion gone, even the monkeys dare to claim kingship," Edward's disdain was evident.

At that moment, one of Edward's subordinates approached him and asked, "Lord Edward, we are about to arrive at West Harbor. Should we dock?"

Edward waved his hand. "Dock. Let's go ashore and take a look."

A confident and proud expression appeared on his face. "Nathan, I assure you, within a year, the western coast of the Aldor Kingdom will be under the control of the Arcane Order."

Nearby, several sailing ships were also heading towards West Harbor.

TL Note: The conflicts escalate... Let's go!!

(End of the Chapter)

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