Pirate Kingship

Why haven’t we heard of any tropical countries becoming industrial powers in modern society?

That’s because the natural resources that satisfy the basic needs of human life in tropical regions are incredibly abundant, with various animal and plant resources being almost inexhaustible.

People only need to develop collection industries in their small plots of land to satisfy basic living needs.

There’s no motivation to plant crops, raise animals, or engage in trade exchanges, and even less motivation to manufacture clothes or construct warm houses.

The character of the people is generally lazy, lacking long-term planning for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, prone to rash actions, eager to consume others’ investments and profits.

Borodo earns money; Borodo spends; the thought of bringing anything home becomes a true reflection.

Though bitterly cold regions are not suited for agricultural development, they have many advantages for industrial development.

This is vividly seen in mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, and other heavy industries.

Byron’s family background is considered wealthy, seemingly already rich, but far from sufficient for the North Sea Empire, which still has not emerged from being a backward agricultural country.

Where would one find the initial accumulation to start industrialization?

He didn’t want to exploit internally like "Sheep Eater"; the centuries of accumulation by the Impoverished Knights Order was truly a timely assistance.

"The key point isn’t money, but this."

Byron held the Key and with a thought, countless... loan contracts appeared before him.

Iris Kingdom; The Holy Silver Empire; the great nobles, trade companies, major farm owners, large ship owners of various countries... even the Orthodox Church and many religious orders and monasteries under its banner are debtors to the Impoverished Knights Order.

These contracts might be just waste paper in others’ hands, without any collection ability, even collecting wouldn’t guarantee full recovery.

But for Byron, they held great significance.

Because with the Sacred Relics [The First Stock Certificate] in hand, he was the practical and mystic-level creditor of these forces!

With Catherine’s [Financial Authority], packing them into financial products, shifting debt relationships was a breeze.

Be it "buying" or "selling," the things he could do to these forces were countless.

With this treasure trove, Byron could begin preparing for the preliminary rituals designed for his future ascension to Demigod.

The significance was even greater than having seized the Treasure Fleet.

"Byron Lancaster! You ungrateful bastard, give Iris’s money back!"

At just that moment, at the boundary of Iris’s territorial waters, the legal projections of Louis XI and Richelieu manifested, seeing the cooked duck fly into the mouth of their cousin next door, they were instantly outraged.

Not only them, but in the Strait of Dover, frigates flying flags of various countries started appearing in Byron’s sight.

Castilia, Netherland, The Holy Silver Empire, Religious Tribunal... The warships from a circle of nations and forces all emerged.

Holding a meeting of the Impoverished Knights Order was no secret, and those wanting to swallow the Order’s estate were far more than just Iris and the North Sea Empire.

However, others lacked their two countries’ conveniences, rushed here only to discover they were still late.

The leading Castilia warship was especially striking.

Though flying the Castilia flag, it simultaneously displayed a black pirate flag.

Byron squinted his eyes, immediately recognizing the identity of the opposite party:

"This is the recently crowned Pirate King of the Inland Sea, officially becoming the Kingly Title, the legendary pirate [Bloodsail] Mihawk, and his Sacred Relic warship [Immortal Pine · Elcano]?"

This ship had been in service for 97 years, its history surpassing even the Great Nautical Age, and it was currently the longest-serving warship on the sea barring the "Resurrected" Ghost Ships.

Precisely for this, it had gained an ability that countless captains and nobles dreamed of.

[Immortal Pine]:

"The warship will never sink, providing timber, tar, caulking, rope... and other materials, replaceable at any time.

The wooden structure itself possesses vibrant life force, one could even consider it a tree in the shape of a ship.

The most crucial point is that the aging speed of the crew living aboard this ship will greatly diminish.

To live one’s entire life on the ship means life expectancy could be extended by at least half; if one originally lived to sixty, now they could live to ninety!

Sadly, for a pirate, the chances of dying old are exceedingly slim."

It’s said the newly crowned Pirate King also possesses a [Pirate Compass], with two pointers, one marking the whereabouts of the nearest fat sheep, awaiting along the route with effort, to reap without toil.

The other can mark the location of threatening warships or other enemies, allowing him to advance and retreat wisely.

With these treasures, Mihawk rose to Legendary status at just over thirty years old, recently helping [The Unblemished] Isabella formally ascend the throne after the [Puppet King] fell from the Ark.

He also managed to leap into being the Pirate King of the Inland Sea, one of only four Pirate Kings of this era:

East Coast Pirate King [Whale Hunter], West Coast Pirate King [Ocean Throne], Inland Sea Pirate King [Bloodsail], and Byron, the Pirate King of the Sapphire Sea [King of the Wild Hunt].

"Tsk, tsk, a group of people swaggering to the gate of the North Sea Empire, really not seeing themselves as outsiders."

Watching those sailboats, relying on their numbers, intending to approach and get a share from Byron.