"We are all nobles, and can only follow the rules of the game among nobles…"
Marquis Louis spoke slowly: "In the past, the Faolan Family was weak and had no backing, which should have been the perfect opportunity, but unfortunately…"
As he finished, he shot Tim a venomous glare, making the latter lower his head even further.
The Faolan Family of old had been like duckweed in the wind, yet even so, Marquis Louis hadn't dared to act against them openly, resorting to secretly dispatching pirates instead. And even if those pirates had succeeded, they would have been silenced in the end regardless!
But things couldn't be handled that way anymore. The Faolan Family had aligned themselves with the local faction and was no longer without backing. Their strength was growing at breakneck speed, and unless Marquis Louis committed every last resource he had, he had no confidence in wiping them out entirely.
But was that even possible? Even as a marquis of the Kingdom, he couldn't attack another noble's territory without cause.
Relying on pirates alone—even with the Black Skull and the Tiger Shark combined—Marquis Louis still felt uncertain at heart, to say nothing of the temple that existed on their island. A pirate raid of such scale would be hard to conceal from the Church's notice. Besides, everyone in the outer seas knew that the two largest pirate fleets operated under Marquis Louis's control. The target was far too obvious.
"The timing! The best timing has already been missed…"
Marquis Louis sighed: "White sugar and dried fish—the profits from these two goods are truly no less than those of the slave trade…"
"Rest assured, Father! I will definitely reclaim those two technologies!"
William said with confidence: "The current situation is that we have a large number of ships and trade routes in the open, while the Crimson Tiger lurks in the shadows, moving freely and serving as the Faolan Family's eyes and ears. Since neither side can make a move openly, we can only rely on covert struggles. This time, I will destroy the Crimson Tiger pirate fleet and cut off the enemy's hidden eyes and claws!"
This profound insight immediately drew a nod from Marquis Louis.
"Good. It puts me at ease that you can see this! In addition to the Black Skull, I will order the Tiger Shark pirate fleet to follow your command as well! The family's armed fleet will also be on standby at all times. You must destroy the enemy in one decisive blow!!!"
It was at moments like these that Marquis Louis's ruthless, all-or-nothing nature truly revealed itself.
"As you command, Father!"
William's voice trembled slightly. Receiving this level of support practically meant his position as heir was unshakable—even the transfer of power had already begun.
"Also, the other side possesses powerful wizard strength! We cannot afford to neglect this! Master Boruger!"
"Marquis!" An elderly man in a grey wizard's robe stepped out from the shadows, a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. The magical aura emanating from his body gave everyone else a suffocating feeling.
For the family's chief wizard, William and Tim hurried to bow, and even Marquis Louis didn't dare treat him casually: "This matter will require your assistance!"
"No problem!" Boruger's voice was dry, carrying a strange, foreign lilt: "I've long wanted to test myself against that old opponent I've never met in person…"
"Starting today, Master Boruger will remain by your side until the Crimson Tiger is eradicated!"
Marquis Louis said.
"As you… as you command!" The sudden gift of such a boon left William feeling dazed, his voice trembling as he spoke.
"Mm. Our family's future will eventually be handed to you. Don't let me down…"
Tim stood to the side, watching this harmonious scene between father and son, feeling like nothing more than an outsider. Inside, he was roaring with fury, yet on his face he could only maintain a calm expression, not daring to let even a trace of resentment show.
……
A massive golden ship slowly sailed into the docks of Morning Star Port.
The vessel's decorations were extravagantly luxurious, its outer hull plated with a layer of precious metal that radiated a golden glow. From a distance, it looked as though the entire ship had been forged from solid gold. At the bow, an enormous golden ecclesiastical emblem gleamed with dazzling light—it was the symbol of the Goddess of Wealth, resembling a colossal gold coin.
"Truly loaded. It would be practically criminal not to fleece them properly!"
Though that was what he thought, Leilin showed none of it on the surface. Quite the opposite—he put on his most amiable smile and went forward to greet them.
At his side stood Baron Jonas, Lady Sarah, and butler Lane—in fact, every person of note on the territory had come. Not a single one was absent.
This spoke volumes about the impact a Gold Coin Priest had on them.
"Welcome to Morning Star Port! I hope you'll enjoy your stay here, my dear lady!"
To Leilin's surprise, the Gold Coin Priest who had arrived turned out to be a woman!
She appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, a hint of mischief still lingering in her eyes, along with the shrewdness characteristic of a merchant. Her skin was as smooth and fine as ivory, and a gentle, radiant smile graced her lips—like the little girl next door, entirely impossible to associate with a priest.