Castilian Royal Colony, Havana.

"Your Excellency the Governor, the intelligence department's scout has submitted the summary report for the third comprehensive reconnaissance. According to their statistics, at least thirty-seven city-states in the rainforest, along with their affiliated villages and tribes, have all become cities of the dead. The few survivors of the smallpox virus have retreated deep into the jungle, regressing into primitive hunter-gatherer tribes. The 'Beak-Nosed Plague Doctor's' area of operation has now extended as far south as Achuapa City in the Taya Empire, on southern Yucatan Island, infecting countless people. The plague's city-decimating advance is now irreversible."

"Your Excellency the Governor, the Bone Gnawing God has appeared near Papantral City, in the coastal region of Campeche Bay, only two hundred kilometers from the former Aztec Royal City. Our rapid deployment decoy unit has successfully contained this Curse Spirit."

"Your Excellency the Governor, the Invincible Fleet, which departed earlier, along with the custodian of the True Cross from Havana Cathedral, has arrived in Campeche Bay. They are currently advancing towards the Bone Gnawing God. Once this final nuisance is eliminated, our main forces and the subsequent Pioneer Corps can land unimpeded."

"Your Excellency the Governor..."

Trusted Stewards bustled in and out, delivering one urgent intelligence report after another to the desk of Governor Diego Velázquez of Havana.

All prior intelligence reports fell within his expectations. It was only upon hearing that the Bone Gnawing God had been tracked that the Governor, who was reading a newspaper, finally reacted, "Inform the generals to commence action immediately upon reaching the battlefield. I shall personally lead the Governor's Guardsmen to reinforce the battlefield shortly thereafter. We aim to initiate the westward advance before noon. Tonight, I shall spend the night in the palace of the Aztec Royal City, to witness firsthand the streets paved with gold, and the living dead Curse!"

At the dining table, the beautiful noblewoman brewing his black tea trembled slightly, her hands accidentally spilling water onto the tabletop.

"Diego... are you also going to the battlefield personally? I've already lost Cortes, can't you..." The lady, after her exclamation, realized her impoliteness in calling him by his first name before the Stewards and stammered a correction, "Brother-in-law."

The one attending to the Governor's daily life was not his lawful wife, but her younger sister, Selena, the wife of Conqueror Cortes. She was, unmistakably, a quintessential young noblewoman. Her chestnut curls framed eyes as innocent as a deer's, her frail temperament evoking an uncontrollable compassion and a deep desire to protect her. Especially since she was recently widowed, a small white flower pinned to her bodice in mourning for her late husband, she appeared all the more charming and poignant.

After Cortes fell in battle, the Governor frequently comforted this unfortunate soul, and in comforting her, eventually comforted her in ways he ought not to have. Given the prevailing customs within noble circles, it would be hard to accuse Madam Selena of unfaithfulness to her recently deceased husband. She was merely driven by the pressures of survival, instinctively seeking to rely on the strong, like dodder clinging to a great tree.

Even as the widow of Conqueror Cortes, and despite much of her estate having been sold off by him, she still possessed numerous manors, plantations, and properties throughout Havana and other Castilian colonies. Maintaining her affluent lifestyle posed no problem. Coupled with her intimate relationship with the Governor, she was undoubtedly the most coveted prize on the marriage market. She was the woman whom countless destitute nobles, knights, adventurers, and even dashing young men with little more than their looks would fight tooth and nail to win. Even if they accidentally acquired a "buy one, get one free" situation, they wouldn't bat an eye.

Seeing the beautiful woman's pitiable expression, Governor Diego Velázquez's heart ached. He grasped her delicate hand and comforted her gently, "My dear little Selena, do not worry about me. I am not like that avaricious Cortes, who even schemed to forge the Golden Code to seize the Aztec Crown. He didn't even grant the position of Queen to you, his legitimate wife. But today's battle is one in which we, the People of Castilia, hold an absolute advantage—a battle we are certain to win. You just need to wait obediently at home for my return."

The woman before him wasn't the most beautiful among his seven or eight lovers. However, the added allure of her being his "wife's sister" ignited a particular fervor in his heart, causing him to lavish extra affection upon her.

"But now, in Havana, many upper-class men are spreading rumors, saying I am an ill-omened woman who brought misfortune upon Cortes. During colonial gatherings, many men look at me as if they want to devour me. I do not expect to possess you completely as my sister does. My love is humble; I only ask for a small place in your heart. If you're not here, I... I'm afraid."

Seeing the beautiful woman cling to him like a frightened doe, the Governor's heart softened further, and he found himself doting on her even more, completely forgetting her sister for the moment. Nevertheless, the Governor had a way to console her.

He extended his left hand towards the noblewoman and said tenderly, "Then, Selena, please give me a Gold Coin."

Without asking why, she frantically fumbled a Gold Coin from an exquisite, gem-encrusted handbag and placed it in his palm. Simultaneously, over a hundred golden, illusory cards materialized in the palm of the Governor's right hand, then automatically shuffled themselves at great speed. Each card bore a different pattern, contractual conditions, textual descriptions, price, and more. Eventually, most of the cards vanished, leaving only one depicting a valiant warrior. It read:

"Samuel Bogart; Mortal; Pledge Item: All remaining lifetime courage; Value: 130 pounds;

Debt repayable within one year to redeem Pledge Item.

Current Status: Trading partner deceased. Pledge Item irredeemable. Forfeited."

Governor Velázquez closed his left palm, accepting the Gold Coin, and tossed the card from his right hand towards his mistress, "Selena pays one Gold Pound to the pawnshop. Trade completed, forfeited Pledge Item sold!"

She was bathed in a golden radiance, her expression instantly becoming confident and cheerful. She who once resembled clinging dodder now suddenly possessed the resilient spirit of wintersweet blooming in the dead of winter.

"My dear, I have sold the valor of an elite warrior to you. I, along with his courage, will now be with you. How do you feel now?"

The Supernatural Rank conferred by the Silver Law itself represented status in the mundane world. Without a corresponding Extraordinary Level, a person simply could not climb to such heights. Although Governor Diego Velázquez was not the pinnacle of Transcendents in the Kingdom of Castile's overseas colonies, he was at least Third Order. Moreover, he was a Pawnbroker of the Gold Sequence, ranking among the top three Third Order Transcendents in terms of versatile abilities. Consider the magical transaction just now: the items they pawned and traded were clearly not limited to tangible Pledge Items, but also included many more wondrous, even ethereal, things.

Governor Velázquez stood up. Madam Selena, her demeanor transformed and her confidence in her "brother-in-law" restored, quickly stepped forward to adjust his attire, handing him his cane and silk top hat. At this moment, Velázquez seemed less like he was heading to a battlefield and more like he was about to preside over a grand auction.

Who knows if the Mad Hunt who stole the Golden Code will appear this time? If I could resolve that trouble along with this, it would be perfect. I could use my Third Order advancement ability, Pawn Contract, to completely defraud this treasure and its ownership.

POP!

He casually snapped his fingers. Another golden card, this one depicting a swirling mass of shadows, suddenly materialized. The shadow at his feet abruptly elongated, stretching into a fine black line that expanded into a dark portal on the opposite wall. Through the shadowy aperture, a vast, indigenously styled city could be faintly discerned. It was the same system of Shadow Witchcraft, Shadow Strike, used by Pirate General Throat-Slasher, though clearly of a much higher level. It was unknown from which unfortunate "client" it had been acquired.

Outside the door, a contingent of elite Guardsmen directly under the Governor also entered in an orderly column. They brought another piece of news: "Your Excellency the Governor, our informant in the Pirate City Black Sails Harbor reports that the Barbary Pirates are assembling en masse. Their specific movements are unclear. Could they be intending to contest our claim to that land?"

Velázquez scoffed without turning his head, "Whatever their purpose, it's far too late for them to set out now. They have no forward base near Yucatan Island to use as a staging point, unless they can fly directly from the Pirate City. By the time they arrive, the only thing left for them to do will be to applaud our victory. Besides, in open combat, our Invincible Fleet fears no adversary. Pirate King [Ocean Throne] Barbarossa, with his 'Giant-species Sea Monster: Deep Sea Yama,' has long since departed the Sapphire Sea. If the remaining Barbary Pirates stay away, so be it. But if they dare to come, we'll ensure this navy of the Star Moon Empire is utterly annihilated!"

He thrust open the shadowy gate before him, stepping through with his Guardsmen and vanishing instantly from the Governor's Mansion. Leaving behind a lingering echo in the ears of the Steward and his lover, who bowed reverently as he departed: "Castilia's westward expedition will begin with our renewed hunt and slaying of the Bone Gnawing God. All cowardly knaves who dare challenge the Maritime Hegemon shall be ground to dust!"

「At the same time.」

In the Pirate City Black Sails Harbor, Byron, whose consciousness was extended into Fat Dragon, was also somewhat perplexed. Intelligence regarding the large-scale annihilation of city-states had been trickling in from various informants for several days. Unlike the People of Castilia's grand fleet and Pioneer Corps, who were on full war footing, the Barbary Pirates seemed far too nonchalant. Viceroy [Blue Hair] Barbarossa Halding had merely issued an order for a general assembly and had concerned himself with little else. It wasn't until today, upon receiving news that the People of Castilia had finally made their move, that they unhurriedly began to summon everyone for the expedition.

No fewer than three hundred pirate ships, large and small, had assembled.

Blue Hair, dressed in opulent attire with a gold saber at his waist, stood spiritedly on the forecastle of the flagship, the only Fourth-rate Ship, 'The Siren'. He took the three conch shells hanging at his waist, placed them to his lips, and blew them forcefully, one after another.

DOOO—!

The sea before the pirate fleet churned violently, and three colossal beings slowly surfaced. Carapaces, one giant pincer and one smaller, eight massive legs... They were three 'Large-species Sea Monsters: Barnacle Crabs,' each over fifty meters in length, comparable to Second-class Battleships!

As soon as they appeared, they began to wave their large right pincers in unison, swiftly forming a colossal whirlpool on the sea's surface. The water within the whirlpool abruptly stratified; the upper layer remained clear and transparent, but the lower depths of the vortex transformed into a profound and mysterious azure. It seemed to be a passage to the lightless deep sea. A vanguard ship from the fleet steered into the whirlpool. After completing one rotation and touching the azure depths at the bottom, it vanished without a trace.

Byron's pupils contracted sharply.

Is this the 'Deep Sea Blue Hole' responsible for dozens of 'sky-ship-fall' incidents above the Old Continent?