Pirate Kingship.

Chapter 454 Returning to the Homeland, Death is Coming (6300 in One)!
The homeland of the Kingdom of Hattings, the capital of Kingston.

The hazy drizzle of early August enveloped the entire ancient city.

The quaint and quiet bluestone road of Melrose Avenue appears even darker and shinier in the rain, and the churches, theaters, galleries and art centers are lined up like an oil painting.

If you listen carefully, you can hear beautiful music echoing among the many Gothic buildings.

Byron, dressed in aristocratic hunting suit, and Catherine, wearing a violet lady's dress, sat in a cafe called "Bluebell" by the river.

I quietly watched outside the window as three or five artists walked together and enthusiastically discussed one of the most popular painting techniques recently.

Outside the railing, on the vast Thame River that winds through the entire city, several white swans belonging to the king's private property were preening their feathers, and a small boat carrying several gentlemen and ladies was leisurely paddling by.

The brother and sister sat opposite each other at an old-looking oak dining table, gently stirring the coffee and sugar cubes in ceramic cups with a silver spoon.

There were also a few extra plates of sandwiches, salads, and the delicious scones that this restaurant is famous for in the capital.

Byron, who likes cream and jam, and Catherine, who likes jam and cream, each spread the sauce on the other's lips and brought it to their lips.

"Ah woo~"

The weight of flavors, how to eat snacks, how many sugar cubes to put in coffee, etc., these traces of common life that childhood sweethearts have known each other since childhood are difficult for even Violet to match in a short period of time.

Catherine seemed to be the gentle sister still. She picked up her napkin and wiped the jam off the corner of her mouth for her disabled brother who had no ability to take care of himself. She said with some emotion:
“The last time we ate at this cafe together was last September.

Bruch and I are about to return to Prince Sorenburg's territory to prepare for the autumn harvest, and you are about to board the Blue Dragon King to fight the Battle of Dover with the York family.

I had thought that naval battle was no different from the Red and White Rose War of the past thirty years.

But I didn't expect so many things to happen in the middle.

Looking back now, what happened in the past year is more thrilling than everything we have experienced since childhood, enough to write a million-word long knight novel. "

Melrose Street is Kingston's art street, and like University Street and King's Cross Street, it flourished with the support of their uncle Henry VI.

It is home to many painters, musicians, artists, gourmets and various functional buildings. It is one of the most popular places of entertainment for extraordinary people, nobles, wealthy people and middle-class families.

Naturally, they were all frequent visitors here in the past.

It is inevitable to feel a lot of emotion when revisiting the old place in a different identity.

Byron took Catherine's hand, gently patted the back of his sister's white hand and said softly:
“It’s all over. We have already taken the Yucatan Island, which is ten times larger than the Channel Islands. The Blue Dragon King and my father, uncle, and cousin have also returned.

Believe me, it won’t be long before we can return here as masters and take over the Ganquan Palace.”

With Byron's [Outlaw] and [I Don't Eat Beef] around, even the [Iron Law of Kingship: Magna Carta] covering the entire city can't monitor them.

There is no need to worry about others hearing your conversation.

Catherine has always had great confidence in her brother who has repeatedly performed miracles, and she nodded vigorously upon hearing this.

But after picking up the coffee cup and taking a sip elegantly, he suddenly frowned his white jade-like brows and said seriously:

"There is still a serious problem."

"What's wrong?" Byron looked up in confusion.

Catherine pursed her lips, motioning Byron to taste the coffee in the cup, and said with a bit of pain on her face:
“Speaking of which, we traveled all the way back to our homeland from the Bantaan Islands by deep-sea leaping by [fiddler crabs], so why do we still need to continue drinking Blue Mountain coffee?
The Pioneer Colonial Trading Company took over the Newman family's territory from Tilly, especially the Blue Mountains, which were most suitable for growing spices and coffee.

I will start building the 'Blue Mountain Coffee' brand according to your plan.

First, they gave the coffee beans to aristocratic families on good terms with the Greenville family to set a trend, and then they sold the beans back to their homeland at a price five times higher than the original price.

I didn’t expect that the bluebell flowers with a long history were also imported from our home.

Now when we buy it to drink, we always have a subtle feeling of being ripped off. At least nine-tenths of every sip we take is packaging and marketing costs.”

The Channel Islands, with their temperate maritime climate, obviously do not produce coffee, and the popularity of this beverage is due to the increasingly developed and mature colonies.

The Blue Mountains on Arawak Island, the largest colony of the Kingdom of Hattings, is one of the main coffee producing areas.

Hearing this, Byron reached out and scratched his sister's high nose bridge in annoyance:

"You little miser, Grandet. The three sword moves of the 'Supreme Art': investment, consumption, and export. How can we not circulate the money?
Didn't you notice that the spices used here actually come from the Golden Empire, and that those unlit whale oil lamps are filled with products from the Standard Whale Oil Company?

Our goal is to become an industrial trust. From now on, you have to adapt yourself to the situation where our products and industries are everywhere when you go out.

When the day comes that a Hettings person, from birth to death, everything from food, clothing, housing and transportation will be inseparable from the Pioneer Navigation Colonial Trade Company, changing the world will only take a word. "

Catherine stuck out her pink tongue cutely.

She didn't have Byron's [Logbook], so she couldn't tell the origin of other things.

Now I realize that it is better to sit here and experience the subtle changes in person, and feel the importance of the colony more intuitively, rather than just looking at those beautiful financial statements in the office.

Today, one year later, they have not only returned to their homeland in a different identity, but have also had a profound and lasting impact on this place.

"Oh, Byron, this is probably the strategy you mentioned of surrounding the mainland with colonies and eventually seizing the kingdom's power by force, right?"

The most important sunrise industry under their family: Standard Whale Oil Company has already begun normal operation.

When the [Golden Deer] returned from the southern continent, large quantities of whale oil were shipped simultaneously, and support personnel also gradually moved into Island No. 1 of the Centaurus Archipelago.

A few forces with connections, with the help of [Beast Tamers] and flying beast trainers, also shipped goods to the Old Continent as soon as possible.

As long as it is managed well, this will be another road leading to the throne of the world's richest man.

Violet also returned to her research and development center, Torrent Fortress, with the largest batch of whale oil, and summoned a large number of high tower sequence [craftsmen] and [naturalists] to begin the attack.

They had unique resource advantages, as well as technical guidance such as rubber and steam engines, and they firmly believed that it would not take long for them to create the first practical whale oil-powered steam engine.

When the first whale oil-powered steam engine lands, it marks the beginning of the next season!

It was also the beginning of the Holy Golden Empire's dimensionality reduction attack on backward countries.

However, it was not just for nostalgia that Byron took his sister to revisit Melrose Avenue on the first day he returned to Kingston.

Moreover, because there are a large number of middle and upper class people concentrated here, as well as artists who often go in and out of various aristocratic mansions and are very well-informed, it is obviously an excellent place to collect intelligence.

Although Catherine maintained good relations with many old friends of the Greenville family, the succubus Therese also sneaked into the capital in advance after getting a new identity forged by Catherine.

But it is definitely not as timely as seeing it with your own eyes and hearing it with your own ears.

Byron urgently needs first-hand information on the current dispute between the royal party and the earl party in the royal capital.

Just sitting here and leisurely drinking coffee, [Shenjian] captured the intelligence within a few kilometers and sent it into his brain.

Coupled with the [Navigation Log] that can be effective as long as his senses reach it, one person is enough to replace an elite intelligence force.

Outside the back door of the cafe was a dark street. A carriage with aristocratic emblems slowly stopped in front of an inconspicuous little door.

Byron recognized that this was Viscount Owen of the royalist faction, who was currently serving in the city guards and was even one of the chief officers.

The small door opened, and a charming woman stood by the door, lifting her skirt and bowing:

"Your Excellency, Viscount, you are here really early today. Please come in."

A middle-aged man with a sinister face got off the carriage wearing a cloak and said unceremoniously:

"Don't talk nonsense. The invitation letter you sent to my manor said that there were high-quality goods just obtained from the slave trader Remit. Is that true?"

The woman looked serious:
"Of course, the theme this time is a monster party.

We prepared in advance some good stuff like the reef bull demon, the swamp giant squid, the forest giant monster, the iron-backed hippopotamus, the spore mantis, etc., and also gathered people who shared the same interests.

But I want to remind you to be careful of those spore mantises and run away quickly after the act, because they have a unique habit of eating males after their wedding night."

The Viscount was not only not afraid, but his eyes sparkled:
"What do you know? This is a disadvantage? Shouldn't it be a more exciting selling point?

Quick, take me in and grab a spore mantis, or else it will be snatched away by others."

The first conversation from [God's Vision] made Byron spit out the coffee in his mouth.

"cough cough, cough cough"

He knew that the upper class nobles had decadent private lives and spent lavishly, but he still didn't expect them to spend to this extent.

"Are you sure that there is no missing word 'mother' behind these monsters, so it is not 'monster mother', but 'monster'?

This is already beyond the scope of human curiosity, okay?"

Moreover, this kind of place is hidden right on the art street of Melrose Avenue. It is obvious that the boss behind it has connections everywhere.

If time could go back to a year ago and his cousin Edward were here, Byron would definitely instigate him to go and give a thorough criticism himself.

Just like the countless troubles the two brothers have gotten into since they were little, one makes bold suggestions while the other takes the lead.

But now the information in that building was immediately blocked.

"what happened?"

Catherine saw that Byron seemed to have choked, and hurried to wipe it clean for him.

Byron waved his hands, not intending to share this exciting scene with his sister.

“No, nothing.

I just suddenly feel that our succubus Miss Therese has a long way to go in her socializing with the aristocratic circles in the royal capital.

Maybe she's not extreme enough!"

Byron prepared himself mentally, and after carefully re-screening it several times, he finally heard what he wanted to hear.

This time the conversation took place in a nearby Army Officers Salon.

Several extraordinary officers from the Fortress sequence were chatting while playing whist cards.

A school officer spoke first:
"Hey, guys, did you go to the engagement ceremony of Miss Isabel of the Earl of Warwick and George, Duke of Clarence, half a month ago?"

Others shook their heads:
"No, the elders of the family didn't allow me to go." "I didn't go either, I was cooperating with the navy to carry out escort missions near the coast.

But I heard that the scene was very lively, and there were countless dignitaries, wealthy people, military officers, and extraordinary people attending. What happened? Is there any unexpected situation?"

The officer who spoke first had a mysterious look on his face and lowered his voice quietly:
“It’s right that you didn’t go!

At that time, I was ordered by the Privy Council to lead people to maintain order, and I recorded the guest list in detail and submitted it to the Privy Council and the Star Chamber.

Guess who didn't go to the engagement party?

Your Majesty's younger brother was engaged, but not only was Your Majesty himself not present, but the vast majority of the royal party did not attend either!

After the banquet, I saw with my own eyes the Duke of Clarence with a dark face cursing Your Majesty.

Do you think this looks like the royal party and the earl party are going to reconcile through marriage? The best part is probably yet to come."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the army officers present became serious.

Traditional military units such as the Army and the Knights Templar have always been the preserve of the aristocracy, and officers of all ranks must at least be from the knight class.

Their sense of the situation was much sharper than that of ordinary people, and they immediately sensed something unusual.

However, some people hesitated for a moment and forced an explanation:
“Duke George is your Majesty’s younger brother. He is one of the three phantom suns represented by the divine sign, and is also the legal basis for the White Rose York family to be favored by the Creator.

If your Majesty does not agree, you will not allow the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of George to do what they want, right? "

Some people scoffed:
"Can't you see it yet?

[King Maker] This legendary title has already covered half of the continent, so it must have some very powerful special effects.

Look at the evenly matched Royalist and Earlist factions now. When foreigners come to Hattings, they may think they see the King and the 'King of the Same Word' instead of the King and the Earl. "

The officer who spoke first added:
"I also heard that the Lord Saint Byron, the Baron of Stromgarde of the Royal Party, has made great contributions in the southern continent, and Ganquan Palace is busy preparing a ceremony to confer his title on him.

He was a well-known loyal minister, and even I could recite the slogan: 'If loyalty is not absolute, then it is absolutely disloyal'.

I'm afraid that the Earl of Warwick will not sit idly by and watch that lord ascend to the throne smoothly. I think there will be another storm this time."

Byron couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard this, and he was impressed by the sharpness of these army officers.

The middle and lower-level officials, gentry, large landowners, big businessmen, etc. in the kingdom now all thought that the royal party and the earl party would finally reconcile.

Only the core members of the two parties and some people with ulterior motives noticed that the capital was undercurrent and a storm was about to come.

Byron speculated that it was probably because of the upcoming major operation that the Earl of Warwick, who was already short of manpower in the vortex, did not take further action after launching an assassination attempt on him by the [Social Clock].

The fragments of the zero-level holy relic [Sword of Damocles] couldn't cut him either, so he temporarily stopped.

Warwick's biggest rivals now were Edward IV, the Privy Council, and Queen Elizabeth's father Richard Woodville and brother Frith Woodville.

But so far, the situation at the top level in the country is still calm.

Even because of the continued expansion of colonial interests, Byron, the colonial governor, shined in the colonial war in the southern continent.

The kingdom's cake is getting bigger and bigger, and it even seems to be thriving.

Many writers who specialized in eulogizing Edward IV also published articles in the Kingston Journal praising his wise leadership.

However, the moment Byron stepped into the royal capital, he keenly smelled the scent of impending storm.

“It is precisely because of the huge benefits of the Southern Continent and the whale oil power revolution that lie before us.

The two parties, whose conflicts are already irreconcilable, are bound to have another dispute over who gets to take the first bite of the fat meat. After all, no matter how it is distributed, it is impossible for both parties to be satisfied at the same time.

It is just that we don’t know yet what event will serve as the trigger for one company to take the lead.

But one thing is certain, the capital will not be peaceful before and after my earldom investiture ceremony.

Not only will Warwick not accept this, but even Edward IV, who treated me, a loyal minister, as a test subject for the "Eternal Life Plan", may take the initiative to do something.

Bringing the Guards here is definitely a wise choice."

Jingle Bell.
At this moment, the bell hanging on the door of the "Bluebell Café" rang, and two men, whose clothes were mostly wet, walked in together.

Sitting at the table next to Byron and Catherine.

At a glance, the information about this strange pair immediately appeared in the logbook.

The young man holding a beech wood pipe is named Sherlock, a third-rank [Sheriff] of the Inquisition sequence.

He has the title of a quasi-baron, and is not a member of the aristocratic class, but he is better than ordinary knights, which is why he can get into the extraordinary profession of the judgment sequence.

The other one was a little younger than him, with a handsome face and a monocle in his left eye. His name was John Watson, and he was a second-level [Doctor] in the hospital sequence.

Both of them had a very distinct smell of river water on them, and it was obvious that they had just got off a boat in the River Thame not long ago.

Having just ordered a lot of high-calorie food, [Doctor] John Watson wolfed it down while complaining to [Sheriff] Sherlock:

"Dear Mr. Sherlock, could you please stop playing reasoning games in public?

Especially when everyone on a ship is a murderer, and you are not in your jurisdiction and cannot be protected by the law!
My Creator, in the murder case on the luxury cruise ship [Orient Express] on the Thame River, all the passengers and crew were conspirators.

They were exposed in public by you, the intrusive sheriff, and immediately prepared to kill them to silence them and add two more names to the autopsy report.

Although I am a doctor, I have never thought about lying on the autopsy table. It feels terrible.

If we hadn't encountered the city guard's patrol boat, we would never have been able to return.

Moreover, since I met you, I feel like I haven’t had a peaceful day in my life, and even the hair on my legs is almost gone.”

The [Sheriff] Sherlock on the opposite side was not much better in his eating manners. While eating, he took a moment to mutter:

"Relax, old friend. I am a man who will create a career as a detective in the Inquisition sooner or later. How can I die so easily?

Not only is it necessary to master the corresponding prior knowledge, but obtaining positive feedback from the criminals and the audience through public reasoning is also an important part of the ritual.

And the most important thing for a detective is a heart that fights crime!

Even if I die, I will die before you."

Byron heard their conversation clearly and couldn't help but look up and look at them curiously.

“The sheriff is not a strong combat profession.

If there is no one in the world who dares to say "I bet there is no bullet in your gun" to be the bodyguard of the emperor, how can you dare to learn to be a detective?

You are so brave! "

Moreover, Byron discovered something unusual from the sheriff, Mr. Sherlock.

An inherited title——【Evil Nemesis】!
Just like [Fairy Rigrael] and [Child Guardian], these are ancient titles passed down from generation to generation.

Similar titles in the Old World include:

[The Earl of Huntington, the Righteous Thief Robin Hood], [Jack the Ripper], [The Old Man of the Mountain, Hassan al-Sabah], [Monster Hunter, Van Helsing], etc., there are at least hundreds or thousands of them in total.

The ways of inheritance are different.

For example: [Fairies] will randomly descend upon extremely beautiful women, bestowing them with blessings as well as curses.

The same goes for [Crime Buster].

When it is in an ownerless state, it will choose an object with a sense of justice, photographic memory, deductive reasoning, and calm rationality as its successor.

Positive effect: Justice is here! Every time you can arrive at the crime scene as soon as possible and get first-hand information.

Negative effect: Death is coming! In the eyes of others, murders will happen wherever you go, and you are a veritable god of death!

Moreover, this title is passed down extremely quickly. Others can only pass it down for eighty generations, but this one can be passed down for eighty generations.

This is because the [Sin Killers] of all generations were too easily killed by excessive sin.

It is somewhat similar to Byron’s own entry [Historical Revisionist], destined to be caught up in various whirlpools.

Seeing this, Byron couldn't help but frowned.

I feel that if I get too close to a guy like this, the whirlpool of fate will probably produce some special chemical reaction.

I was just about to call my sister who had already eaten and drunk her fill to temporarily shift our strategy.

Suddenly, I heard the doctor John Watson at the next table quietly reminding his friend:

"By the way, why did we order such expensive snacks? We don't have that much money."

Shylock didn't care:
"Eat first, don't be afraid, it will only take a little while."

Before he could finish, a scream came from the back door of the cafe:
"Oh no, someone's dead!!!"

This is not a colony where death is commonplace, but a capital city with the best public security. The Red and White Rose War did not even start here.

The residents of the royal capital, who had never seen many big scenes, were immediately panicked.

Only Sherlock, the Sheriff, stood up slowly, wiped his mouth, straightened his tie, and winked at his friend:
“You see, although my luck is not very good, I encounter cases wherever I go.

But once someone dies, we don’t care about collecting money. This is a common thing. You’ll get used to it.

Now it's the detective's turn to do justice."

As he said this he strode towards the back door of the cafe.

Byron also stopped and his [Divine Vision] swept across the streets at the back door.

But they discovered that the accident happened in the hidden building where the "Monster Party" was held.

Then, new words suddenly appeared on the logbook, [Secret: The Death Stranding Incident under the Dispute between the Two Parties, Historical Influence 28]!
(End of this chapter)