章節 37: HoG - Chapter 37
Chapter 37: Golden Hind
If one were to inquire about the most crucial element for a pirate captain, the unequivocal answer would be the ship. Without a vessel, even the most seasoned pirates would find themselves stranded, unable to navigate the treacherous waters.
As the looming crisis in Iron Anchor Bay drew near, whether Byron opted to stand and fight or to retreat, he was in dire need of a formidable warship.
The demise of Salman and his band of pirates had no impact on the repair work of the 'Man-Eater.' Apart from financing the repairs, they had been of little assistance.
Following a hasty pirate funeral for Salman and his crew—a ceremony that concluded with their remains being devoured by man-eating sharks the moment they were cast into the sea—Byron dedicated the majority of his day to deliberating over the renovation details and overseeing the progress with Old Hans.
When something becomes one's own venture, the level of investment and concern naturally surpasses that of an outsider. Although the Brigantine's distinctive V-shaped hull posed challenges for modifications, the configuration of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal sails was not an issue, and the ship's armament required further enhancement...
As the new owner and captain, Byron appeared ready to invest generously, transforming the 'Man-Eater' from within.
Furthermore, Byron felt that the previous "Ghoul" captain had left an indelible stain on the pirate ship's reputation. To sever ties with the ship's infamous past, Byron bestowed upon the 'Man-Eater' a new moniker—Golden Hind!
Indeed, not only do the deeply rooted 'Titles' of supernatural individuals wield power, but many ship names also carry supernatural significance. Numerous ancient ship names have been sanctified by the 'Silver Laws' and the aspirations of seafarers, endowing them with unique abilities.
For instance, the English Navy's 'Fearless' and 'Tireless'... have been reconstructed time and again, yet they always bear the same names. With each rebuilding, they emerge mightier than before!
This reflects Byron's grand ambitions for his new ship.
Of course, his journey as a captain has only just begun, and the 'Golden Hind' is but a stepping stone; his aspirations reach far beyond the horizon.
Artifact figureheads, battleships, heavy cruisers, artifact warships, ghost ships, legendary warships... The seas are teeming with powerful vessels!
He yearns to claim them all.
"The new 'Pirate Ten Commandments' is now complete," Byron announced.
In the solitude of his quarters, he carefully withdrew his hand from a freshly inscribed sheepskin parchment, and the power of the law shimmered faintly, infusing the document. This was his invocation of the 'Silver Laws' and the 'Pirate Code' to establish a renewed 'Pirate Ten Commandments' for the 'Golden Hind.'
"'Pirate Ten Commandments' (Golden Hind):
1. All crew members have an equal right to vote, yet the captain's orders must be followed without question.
2. Fairness shall prevail; the capable shall ascend, while the incompetent shall fall.
3. During non-combat hours, lights are to be extinguished by 8 p.m., and no alcohol is permitted thereafter. Sheep are reserved for sustenance alone!
4. Weapons must be maintained in a state of readiness at all times.
5. Women are prohibited from joining the crew, with the exception of female supernatural individuals. Any crew member who brings a woman aboard will face execution.
6. Those who hesitate in battle or flee from combat shall meet their demise.
7. Personal altercations are strictly forbidden. Those who slay their comrades without cause will be bound with the deceased and consigned to a sea burial.
8. Crew members disabled in battle may remain on the ship without duty and shall receive 40 gold pounds from the 'common savings.'
9. Traitors will be executed, yet the talents of all shall not be wasted. Accumulate merits to gain access to resources, supernatural knowledge, and promotion rituals!
10. Plunder must not be concealed. The captain receives 15%, the officers, assault teams, carpenters, doctors, and cooks take 25%, the ordinary crew members receive 40%, and the remaining 20% is allocated to the maintenance fund and common savings.
These commandments may be amended through a vote by all crew members."
Byron struck from Commandment Three the clause: "Between two and four o'clock, it is strictly forbidden to go on deck." Salman had instituted this rule to entrap crew members into breaking the commandments, thereby justifying his ghastly feasts; there was no need to retain it.
He also added a stipulation: "Sheep are for consumption only!"
This was a nod to his past as a chef, a final gesture of respect for the ingredients.
The commandments would be put to the test for a period; should they prove ineffective, he could always compromise and designate a... red-light district within the sheep pen for the more spirited crew members.
The most critical of these commandments was the ninth, which opened the path to supernatural power, offering all crew members the chance for advancement!
Byron was acutely aware that rules invariably favored their creators. The might of the sword could only secure the present, but the rules of the game that united everyone could secure eternity.
Byron harbored the belief that one day, his 'Pirate Ten Commandments' would rally countless souls to his cause, evolving into his unyielding 'Iron Law'!
He estimated that the refurbishment of the 'Golden Hind' would take approximately half a month. If they adhered to his meticulous blueprints and progressed methodically, they could transform it into the most formidable pirate vessel to grace the North Sea.
His sole apprehension was that until the ship was seaworthy, he was confined to the island, with a looming threat of the Naval Department's machinations.
Yet, Byron was not one to cower. His spirit, hungry for freedom and adventure, was destined to pursue the enigmas and secrets that lay hidden.
With the 'Storm Signet Ring' cloaking his presence and bolstering his survival skills, he was poised to follow the breadcrumbs and unravel the mysteries that beckoned him.
"The most pressing issue is the lack of manpower," Byron mused aloud. "A mere dozen men are hardly enough to set sail."
He opened his 'Navigation Log,' granting him an immediate and clear overview of the Golden Hind's status, akin to commanding a real-time strategy game.
Captain: Byron Tudor (Lancaster)
Bloodline: Northern Bay Folk
Racial Maxim: Revenge is a must!
Sequence Maxim: Seizing is better than toiling!
Professional Maxim: I am the vanguard!
Title: The Last Lancaster
Legend: [15] (Increased by 3 points as the wanted posters began to spread)
Spirituality: [1.8] (Increased by 0.3 after taking office)
Profession: Storm Knight
Rank: First-tier attendant
Innate Abilities:
[Weather Intuition], [Cognitive Correction]
Professional Abilities:
[Swordsmanship Mastery], [Mountain Goat Steps], [Riding]
Forbidden Knowledge:
[Ritual · Blood Grail]/[Blood Brew] (Finished products Blue Blood Spring *2, Hero's Mad Water *3, Salman's stock is completely used up by now)
Secrets:
[Shadow of the Red and White Rose War (Historical Influence 31, Decryption 20%)], [Naval Department's Conspiracy (Historical Influence 20, Decryption 5%)]
Entries:
[Historical Revisionist],[Mortal Enemy]
Warship:
[Golden Hind](Under renovation)
Artifacts:
[Storm Signet Ring], [Bloody Mary's Culinary Recipes], [Warrior's Cup]
Contracted Creatures: 27 Mutated Man-Eating Sharks
Crew:
[Assistant Cook Jon, 19 years old, Northern Bay Folk, Loyalty: 95, Title: Eight Fingers/Honest Man]
The moniker "Eight Fingers" was a painful reminder for Jon, so Byron bestowed upon him a new nickname, "Honest Man."
Byron suspected that Jon's potential could lead him to the formidable profession of [Berserker] among the Bay Folk.
[Berserkers] are tireless, fearless on the battlefield, and exhibit superhuman strength and an indomitable will to fight until the battle's end—or their own.
The rest of his crew, with the right nurturing, could also ascend to become supernatural individuals. This included Carpenter Young Hans, Apprentice Navigators Thomas and Parry, all of whom had loyalty levels above 80.
Nine other common pirates rounded out his team. These men, loyal and of unblemished backgrounds, were currently only capable of forming a basic framework.
It would require a vast investment of resources to cultivate them further.
"What I desperately need now is a first mate—someone reliable in character and ability, to assist me in governing the ship," Byron thought.
Instinctively, his gaze drifted out the window, toward the Channel Islands, where his family's territory, Sorenburg, lay. Softly, he whispered a name:
"Bruch..."
The individual who came to mind was his loyal and exceptional oath knight, connected to him by the thinning anchor rope he had seen in the promotion ritual.
But for now, all he could do was feel frustrated.
"You must survive," he murmured, knowing that the fates of oath knights and their lords were intertwined by the power of the oath. "Though the sea is vast, I believe we will meet again."
Byron composed his heavy heart and issued the first external order since becoming captain:
—Recruitment!
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