Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Paul Grayman and his entourage rode back towards the church, with townspeople along the way greeting them respectfully. After the declaration at the public trial, the residents of Frand Port were finally showing some genuine respect towards their lord.
The streets were bustling with activity. Without the presence of pirates, vendors no longer needed to hide indoors. They set up stalls along the roadsides, loudly promoting their goods. Children played and frolicked around, men hurried about their business, and women gathered in small groups, chatting or selecting goods from various stalls. The entire town was thriving and lively.
Observing all this, Paul suddenly spoke up, "We need to recruit sailors for our future navy!"
Bryce, hearing this, replied awkwardly, "There are plenty of people familiar with the sea, but those skilled in naval combat are few and far between."
"There's no time to waste, gentlemen. There are still many pirates at sea, constantly threatening the Alden domain. Dealing with small bands of pirates is one thing, but what if a large pirate fleet arrives? Even if we can't defeat them on land, what if they land and raid before retreating? I can't station a soldier every few meters along the coast. Therefore, we must take the initiative, clear out all sizes of pirates from the Northwestern Bay, only then can I sleep peacefully."
Bryce nodded, "The Earl's words are wise indeed."
"And then there's the pirate Edward. Although we don't know what he's up to, who's to say he won't return someday? We must be prepared in advance. We've slaughtered his men, so he's sure to seek revenge. I can't afford to run off from Frand Port again, otherwise, everything I said at the public trial would be like a slap in my own face."
Cecil chimed in, "The Count is truly visionary!"
Paul looked troubled, "While I know you're all speaking the truth, in public settings, such straightforward praise could be mistaken for flattery, which can be embarrassing. Please offer more constructive suggestions."
The others felt a bit awkward at this admonition.
"Cough... well," Bryce cleared his throat uncomfortably, "My lord, I could recommend a naval officer to you, if you're willing to listen?"
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Captain Austin Kelly from the 2nd Battalion, 6th Company. He comes from a family of ship merchants and has been at sea with his elders since childhood, accustomed to storms and rough seas. I think he's a suitable candidate for the navy."
Paul rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Hmm, have him come see me when we return. We must act quickly in this situation. Anyone else?"
Bryce scratched the back of his head, "Um... I can't think of anyone else at the moment."
As they discussed, they arrived near the church entrance, where a crowd had gathered. Standing on the steps was Father Morrison, animatedly gesturing and speaking loudly.
They listened intently as Father's voice carried over.
"After finishing my prayer, I slowly opened my eyes and there stood a fierce and wicked man—one of Shark's henchmen. Because I refused to submit, he sent an executioner to end my life."
"Just as I thought I was about to serve the Almighty in heaven, there was suddenly a loud bang."
"I looked closely and saw a gaping hole in the villain's chest. He struggled and writhed, his eyes filled with endless fear as he met the end of his sinful life."
The townspeople surrounding him listened in silence, hanging on every word as Father Morrison described the scene.
"I looked up and saw a figure at the door, not tall but incredibly reassuring. A ray of golden sunlight bathed him, so pure, so radiant. In my heart, I wondered, could this be the angel sent by the Almighty to save me?
"Ah, Almighty and Omniscient Lord, you have not forsaken your most devout servant."
Morrison's narration was vivid and emotional, captivating the audience.
"Yes, this angel is Sir Paul Grayman, sent by the Lord of Light to save my angel, sent by the Lord of Light to save you all, and even more so, to save all living beings."
"He wielded the thunderous staff bestowed upon him by the Lord, a single strike enough to send the devil's followers to their doom. He bestowed the great power given to him by God upon his warriors, fearlessly driving out the pirates who had plagued the port of Fulan."
"A majestic voice echoed in my mind, 'Follow him, assist him.' I knew, this was the divine commandment from the Lord of Light."
"Oh!" The audience murmured in awe; the common people of this era were indeed quite superstitious.
Morrison crossed himself solemnly, closed his eyes in prayer, "Praise the Almighty!"
The audience echoed, "Praise the Almighty!"
Morrison continued, "We will forever follow your teachings."
The audience replied, "We will forever follow your teachings."
Morrison declared, "Praise the great Paul Grayman."
The audience echoed, "Praise the great Paul Grayman."
Morrison affirmed, "We will forever follow in his footsteps."
The audience repeated, "We will forever follow in his footsteps."
...
Bryce sighed, "It's such a shame that this Priest isn't an actor."
Cecil sneered, "Just a flatterer, a sycophant." He completely forgot that he himself had just been flattering Earl Grayman.
This guy still has some sense, quickly grasping the spirit of his superiors. No wonder he's managed to survive in a pirate's den.
To be honest, Paul found the spectacle at the church door a bit awkward, almost giving him goosebumps. But Morrison seemed satisfied with it; after all, this was what the common people of this era liked.
"Alright, let's go in from the back and not disturb Mr. Morrison's performance." He chuckled and led the others towards the back door of the church.
...
In the afternoon, Captain Austin, feeling uneasy, arrived at Count Grayman's temporary office.
He stood at attention with a crisp salute, "Reporting, Captain Austin Kelly, Company 2, Battalion 6, reporting to you, sir."
Paul glanced over Austin and gestured to the chair in front of the desk, "Please, have a seat, Captain."
"Yes, sir."
Once Captain Austin was seated, Paul asked, "Captain, do you know why I've called you here?"
Captain Austin blinked, "Um... are you promoting me, sir?"
Damn! This guy really isn't mincing words at all. Why isn't he following the usual protocol? Truly caught off guard.
Paul could only say, "You've guessed right, Captain Austin Kelly. I've called you here to promote you."
"Huh? No way?"
Captain Austin looked incredulous, genuinely surprised he had guessed correctly.
(End of this chapter)