Chapter 519: The Ten Commandments of Pirates

Chapter 519: The Ten Commandments of Pirates

The Star Sea Kingdom, a new realm, was born under the watchful eyes of the stars.

Hastur, seated in the Hall of Stars, showed little interest in the name "Star Sea Kingdom." It was too plain and ordinary, lacking any notable features, even though it did reflect Bernadette's inner thoughts well.

The concept of divine right of kings, however, was quite intriguing.

It seemed that Roselle had indeed taught Bernadette many things in the past, befitting his most beloved eldest daughter.

In this era, the notion of divine right of kings was more of a covert transaction conducted in private. In the northern continent, every country had divine influences behind its establishment, but these influences were never made public. The deities did not want the populace to know that they had endorsed and supported the founding of these nations.

The advantage of this secrecy was that when a country became too chaotic or corrupt, the people's hatred and resentment would be directed at the royal family, not the deities. The deities would still have the people's faith, and the misfortunes of the country or individuals would not cause them to direct their anger and grievances at the gods.

However, if it were known that the deities supported the country, the situation would be different. Therefore, for the deities, an overt divine right of kings was undesirable. The church, being independent of the kingdom, was already a special existence, lacking only an official explanation.

Bernadette's move was not something Hastur intended to interfere with, nor did he plan to seek the faith of the Pirate Kingdom. Impure faith was akin to poison for deities.

Moreover, Hastur had a premonition that if he ever became a god, his anchor would not be these easily obtainable followers but the brilliant starry sky above!

...

After a brief speech, Bernadette summoned Cattleya and Edwina to the royal palace library.

The prematurely built capital and the early start of the kingdom's inauguration left Bernadette with little time. Other matters could be entrusted to Cattleya and Edwina, but the laws had to be personally overseen by her. Even the professors from the Beckland Law School could only provide some suggestions, as most of them had a natural aversion to the unruly pirates.

If they were to draft the laws, nine out of ten would likely be death penalties. For various reasons, they were not as useful as the silent legal texts.

As for pirate-related talents... if you are already a top lawyer, why would you choose to become a pirate?

Edwina, who was self-taught and not systematic, could only assist on the side.

"Let's be brief," Bernadette said, closing a law book and looking at Cattleya. "You will be in charge of all matters related to the kingdom's inauguration on January 1st."

"I won't let you down!" Cattleya accepted the task.

"Edwina, you need to stay in the library with me to organize and draft the relevant laws. We must complete this code by January 1st."

"It would be an honor," Edwina said with a graceful bow. "I am equally interested in the founding code of the Star Sea Kingdom."

Hearing that Edwina would stay by the queen's side, Cattleya felt a bit jealous but knew she couldn't compete with Edwina in this regard.

Sigh, after winning over a magician, now comes an ice-cold admiral. I can never relax!

...

December 7th, Sunday, Beckland.

As the New Year approached, the streets of Beckland became increasingly lively. Even the workers were filled with anticipation for the New Year.

During this time, a ridiculous incident occurred. It was said that an unknown royal advisor suggested that all factories in the Ruen Kingdom should not take a holiday on New Year's Eve, postponing the holiday to after the New Year. The reason given was that the closer it got to the New Year, the busier all sectors became, making it harder to spare people.

Fortunately, the Ruen royal family quickly revoked the plan after facing widespread opposition. As for the advisor, it was rumored that his house was pelted with rotten eggs, and he was dragged from his bed at night and hung on a street lamp.

Beckland was always bustling with events, and newsworthy items quickly overshadowed the advisor's fate.

"He's probably dead," someone remarked.

On a rare sunny day in Beckland, Hastur took Aisala out for a stroll and headed towards the restraint faction's location where Sharon resided.

It had been a long time since Sharon fully digested the puppet potion and left home. Aisala missed her mother, Sharon.

In the carriage, Hastur pondered how to discuss future matters with Sharon when he suddenly sensed something and asked the coachman to stop. He took Aisala to a nearby high-end restaurant with Intis-style cuisine.

As they sat down and ordered some signature dishes, Bernadette naturally joined them, sitting opposite Hastur.

Aisala tensed up, gripping Hastur's arm tightly, her eyes full of vigilance.

"It's been a while, and Sharon's child has grown so much," Bernadette said with a light smile, noticing Aisala's wariness.

"Children grow quickly," Hastur patted Aisala's head, signaling her to relax. "If you're uncomfortable, you can wait in the carriage."

Aisala shook her head and sat quietly.

"I have to reunite with Sharon's family later, so let's keep this brief. I believe you have many matters to attend to."

"I just visited Beckland Law School and met your teacher, Professor Wayne. He has profound legal knowledge but is not interested in helping me draft new laws for the Star Sea Kingdom. He is more passionate about reforming the existing laws of the Ruen Kingdom."

"He has never had a favorable view of pirates."

"Indeed, so he recommended you, saying your logical thinking is different from typical legal professionals and might offer me some help."

"I see."

Hastur nodded, organizing his scattered thoughts. He had considered the laws for a pirate kingdom and had some ideas.

He did not immediately give Bernadette the answers she sought but first asked about the general content and direction of her current code. Who knew if Roselle had shared similar insights with her?

Fortunately, Roselle, who liked to present himself as a scholar, hadn't told Bernadette much about pirates. After all, he never expected his beloved daughter to become a formidable pirate.

"I've never been a pirate, so my understanding might not be comprehensive. I hope this won't mislead you."

"I'm looking forward to different perspectives," Bernadette said, adopting an elegant listening posture.

"My vision for pirate laws can be summarized in four points."

"First, on the ship, everyone should have an equal voting right. This is a sacred right that everyone is born with."

"Second, internal strife and mutual killing among the citizens of the Pirate Kingdom are prohibited. This is a prerequisite for maintaining the kingdom's stability. If there is a deep-seated enmity, it can be resolved under the supervision of official institutions."

"Third, respect for private property. Pirates are often blinded by the allure of gold. They want to plunder others' wealth but cannot protect their own."

"Fourth, a fair distribution system. Unequal distribution of loot is a major taboo among pirates. There must be a fair and convincing system to avoid regrettable incidents."

After speaking, Hastur sipped the jasmine tea from the Intis Republic, a popular drink among the nobility.

Bernadette, after contemplating Hastur's four points, showed a look of surprise. "It's hard to believe you were never a pirate."

"I've never needed to resort to piracy to survive."

"I'm just amazed at your understanding of pirates. These insights are not something a mere bookworm could come up with."

"I've encountered and eliminated many pirates during my time in Southwell County."

Bernadette smiled, "Do you have more specific proposals?"

Hastur thought for a moment and then spoke calmly, "I have considered related issues. Whether they are suitable, you must judge for yourself."

"Every crew member should have an equal vote, but the captain's orders must be obeyed as long as they do not violate brotherly loyalty."

"Anyone who steals from a comrade should be abandoned on a deserted island. Deceiving comrades should also be punished, with severe cases warranting death."

"Gambling and private fights on the ship are strictly prohibited. Women and children should not be brought on board. Desertion in battle is punishable by death. Injured crew members should receive necessary compensation."

"In the distribution of spoils, the captain can take 20%, the first mate 5%, the boatswain and ship repair technicians 10%, all armed sailors share 30%, those who fight bravely receive extra rewards, and the rest is distributed to supporting personnel."

"These are my summarized eight commandments for pirates."

To avoid suspicion of repetition, Hastur deliberately omitted two commandments and slightly modified the content.