Jerry's head bobbed in understanding, and in a sudden burst of strength, he yanked the door with such force that both doors flew open, crashing together with a resounding "Bam!". Without casting a glance at the occupants seated inside, Jerry cleared his throat and declared, "Captain Wyatt has graced us with his presence." Despite being unaccustomed to such introductions, his captain had specifically requested it, leaving him resolute in his determination to deliver nothing short of excellence.
In walked his 'captain,' each step exuding elegance and confidence befitting a nobleman, as if he were born and bred in the lap of luxury.
'Miss Nina must have dedicated countless hours to perfecting her skills,' Jerry pondered with a smile, though his visage remained impassive. He shut the door firmly and trailed behind his 'captain,' heading towards his designated seat.
"It seems that you have all gathered," Captain Wyatt remarked, his gaze sweeping across the assembled individuals. His eyes paused momentarily on Queen Mavena, and the old man standing behind her, Grand Duke Laim, Prince Murdock, Prince Beck, and Prince Marla, before eventually settling on Knight Boris. They were seated around a round table, positioned in the centre of the room, with nothing else in sight but the wide-open windows, welcoming the gentle sea breeze that alleviated the tension in the air.
Moreover, he had heard rumours that the former king of the Eser kingdom, whose whereabouts she had already been aware of, had contributed to the ship's remodelling. As Nina's eyes fell upon the impeccably smooth wooden surface of the table before her, she couldn't help but let out an internal sigh, finally comprehending why Queen Edna had chosen to remain on board instead of fiercely battling to escape. After all, why would she leave when this ship held the last remnants of her beloved husband's memory?
Even if she were orchestrating a clandestine revenge plot, one that Prince Wyatt had regrettably kept concealed from her, 'Nina' could understand why Queen Edna sought solace in a location where she could also strategize her retaliation.
Even if it entailed engaging in a treacherous dance with a demon disguised in human form within the confines of its very lair!
"Indeed," Queen Mavena acknowledged with a dignified nod, "As promised, we have all assembled here to engage in negotiations pertaining to our respective territories and their affairs."
"Each and every one of us is present to ensure that any agreement reached today is willingly embraced and satisfies the interests of all parties involved, including yourself, naturally," supplemented Grand Duke Liam, augmenting the weight of Queen Mavena's statement.
Meanwhile, 'Captain Wyatt' luxuriously reclined upon his chair, emanating an aura befitting the weighty burden of nobility that suddenly saturated the room. Acutely aware of the zero margin for error, 'he' knew that any misstep could result in the horrifying spectacle of her severed head rolling on the cold floor, long before 'her' mad husband could swoop in to rescue her.historical
'She' didn't want to die!
Still plagued by bewilderment as to why 'her' spouse had entrusted her with such a treacherous mission, 'she' found 'herself' amidst a gathering of esteemed men and a woman, whose countenance she had once believed she would never have the privilege to behold. Yet...
"Ahem!" Captain Wyatt punctuated the silence, clearing his throat and empathetically stating, "Let us proceed to the discussion, shall we?".
…..............
Prince Marla found himself in doubt.
It had only been a single day since the astounding news of Ag'na's demise reached him. Merely twenty-four hours. A day that commenced with him rousing from his slumber, having spent the previous night indulging in the company of a prostitute who resorted to selling her body to fund her struggling family. And now, he was informed that Captain Crimson Eye and his crew, once formidable pirates, had been engulfed in a blazing inferno, reducing their ships to useless hulks destined to sink into the depths of the sea as the very enhancements that once empowered them deteriorated.
Therefore, when the name of Prince Wyatt, the exiled prince of Endossa turned pirate, reached his ears, he had anticipated encountering a man of renowned stature. A man who would not hesitate to execute fallen leaders and reduce their territories to smouldering ruins simply because they had mistakenly captured a woman with a connection to him. A man whose future remained obscured, impossible for him to fathom... or so he thought. For in the name of all that is holy, what he was now witnessing defied comprehension.
Prince Marla swiftly came to the realization that they had been deceived!
This imposter before them was an impostor; he was not the infamous fallen Prince Wyatt!
Despite the deceptive display of ostentation and the air of superiority he exuded while engaging in conversation with Queen Mavena and his own brother, Prince Beck, the incapable leader of the fallen Brylen kingdom, discerned that this individual fell far short of the true Prince Wyatt. Although the imposter's demeanor echoed the descriptions of pride and arrogance that had circulated, Prince Marla was unequivocally certain that this imposter fell woefully short of the mark.
Furthermore, as a formidable Rank 5 Ranger, the boundaries of his foresight abilities had expanded beyond mere glimpses of impending danger. Now, his visions extended to an astonishing range of five to ten seconds, affording him the ability to peer into his own future or that of anyone he desired. Yet, when Prince Marla attempted to employ his extraordinary path ability to gain insight into the identity of the man he was about to encounter, he was met with an unsettling revelation.
Nothing!
To his astonishment, all he encountered was an abyssal expanse of darkness, offering no clues or hints. This led him to two profound conclusions. Firstly, Captain Wyatt possessed a rare artifact that effectively concealed and masked his true identity. And secondly, Captain Wyatt himself was also a Ranger, as it was a well-established fact that two Rangers could not pry into each other's future, regardless of their relative strength or prowess.
"Prince Marla," Queen Mavena inquired, her piercing gaze fixed upon him, daring him to utter anything foolish and demanding his compliance with the conditions she had set forth, "do you agree that Captain Wyatt shall be granted a portion of his own land within your kingdom and also claim a portion of the untamed wilderness once the ice thaws?".
With a sense of resignation, as if lacking any real choice, he replied, "Certainly, on the condition that Captain Wyatt remains true to his word and honors our agreement without hesitation. He may have those territories in addition to those my half-brother has already pledged to him."
A sweet smile graced Queen Mavena's lips as she redirected her attention to Captain Wyatt, indicating that it was time to bring the seemingly successful meeting to a close. Meanwhile, Prince Marla resolved to utilize his path ability once more, peering into the future of the self-assured 'Captain Wyatt' yet again.
In a sudden and bewildering vision, an inexplicably strange sight materialized before Prince Marla's eyes. He witnessed a peculiar woman, unknown to him, perched atop a fully-grown tiger whale as she courageously traversed the sea, pitted against a horde of scaled seamen. However, before the scene could fully unfold, an intrusive tap on his fingers shattered his trance-like state, snapping him back to reality. As he surveyed his surroundings, he realized that everyone's gazes were fixed upon him with bewildered curiosity, while a neatly arranged paper lay before him on the table.
As Prince Marla glanced at the contents of the paper, a disapproving frown creased his brow. The faint sound of an object being dragged across the table reached his ears, prompting him to turn his head towards the source. There, he beheld his half-brother dragging an inkwell and pen toward him. "Sign it!" The words that escaped his half-brother's lips pierced Prince Marla's ears like a thousand needles, as he finally comprehended why the throne had slipped through his fingers, even when he thought he had it within his tight grasp.
"Ahem! Prince Marla, we are on the verge of concluding this deal, waiting for only your signature to finalize it," announced Queen Mavena, capturing his attention. He swiftly turned his head towards her, shaking it in clear disagreement, visibly displaying his refusal to sign what appeared to be a binding contract infused with magical properties.
Something felt amiss, and he was determined not to be entangled in its web.
"Prince Marla," this time it was the often overshadowed Prince Murdock who addressed him, his voice carrying a subtle threat. "If you find yourself unable to sign the contract, I see no issue with Prince Beck affixing his signature in your stead."
'Bastard!' Prince Marla seethed inwardly as Prince Murdock openly challenged his authority in the presence of everyone. However, his attention was swiftly diverted as a subtle movement caught his peripheral vision. Acting with unexpected speed, Prince Marla intercepted his brother's reaching hand, grasping it tightly. "We will not be signing anything..." His voice resonated with a commanding tone that left his blind half-brother with no choice but to retract his hand without uttering a single word.
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