Pirate Kingship-Chapter 660 - 460: Occultism is Dead: Please, Your Majesty, Streak!

As the blinding golden Divine Light gradually subsided, everyone was finally able to clearly see the treasure in Byron's hands.

It was a crown made of gold, but not just any gold; it was Holy Gold, a hundred times more valuable than ordinary gold!

A thick base, in the shape of a circle of alpacas, bore three suns.

The whole formed a Sun Crown that shone brilliantly like the rising sun, so dazzling it would sting the eyes if gazed upon for too long, forcing one to avert their gaze.

Byron, holding the lavishly adorned Crown, displayed it to Edward IV and the nobles, and spoke eloquently:

"The Sun Empire is the most powerful empire on the Southern Continent, with a population of twenty million, vast lands, and unparalleled wealth. Within the empire's vast Ring of Fire Mountain Range are mountains of gold and silver. One need only reach out to scoop gold from the mountains, and there would still be more than one could ever spend. The royal palaces and War Chariots are made of gold, and the Holy Lake's bed is covered with gold vessels and jewels used in worship.

"The Sun Empire continued the Mythological Era's model of governance, where gods and mortals coexisted. The Emperor, 'Sun God' Inti, had nearly reached the level of a Sixth-Order Demigod. He, along with the Fifth-Order Demigods and Descendants of the Sun God, ruled the country together.

"Most of the Fifth-Order Demigods were once kings governing the Secular World, meaning kings could become gods. Many of them earned the love and admiration of their people for governing their kingdoms well. By focusing their Mind Wish Power, they comprehended the Immortal Stairway, thereby ascending the Ascension Stairs to Godhood to become deities!"

He went on endlessly, extolling the virtues of his good brother, the fifteenth king, "Hand of Wealth" Atahualpa, and his country. He mentioned only the positives, not uttering a single word about how their descendants were used as mere firewood and fuel by their ancestors.

As Byron spoke, an image of an ancient, prosperous land of infinite allure emerged in the minds of the assembled king and nobles, their eyes revealing a deep desire.

"GULP. A land strewn with gold?"

"Eternal life? A place where gods and humans coexist?"

"Is kingship the necessary pathway to becoming a Fifth-Order Demigod?"

The nobles from both parties, most of whom had never left their homeland, especially couldn't help but gasp, their swallows audible in unison. Looking down at their own clothing, jewelry, and palaces, which had seemed quite acceptable before, suddenly seemed entirely unimpressive. A small number even felt the impulsive urge to risk everything and sail south in search of gold.

No one doubted that "The Sea Hunter" Saint Byron was lying. This was the nerve center of the Royal Iron Law. In the presence of a Fifth Order [King's Title], a Fifth Order Archbishop, and an Abreast King, any deception would be ruthlessly exposed.

What they didn't know was that the most lethal "lie" was the one that was entirely true.

Hearing the gradually heavier breathing around him, Byron knew the groundwork had been laid sufficiently. He raised the Sun Crown in his hands a bit higher and said in a loud voice to Edward IV:

"This Sun Crown belongs to the fifteenth king of the new generation. Just like our Kingdom of Hightins' Seven Sacred Regalia of Authority, the Church's Episcopal Authority Ring, and the Fisher's Ring of Authority, it is one of the symbols of authority.

"With each royal succession, hundreds of the previous king's sons would engage in a brutal battle during the 'Kingship Ritual.' Only the sole surviving prince could don this Sun Crown and be crowned the new king.

"And now, such a crucial treasure has traversed an immense distance to appear before you.

"If this is not the Mandate of Heaven, what is?

"Your Majesty and the two Dukes are the incarnations of the Tri-Phantom Sun. Driven by the Mandate of Heaven, this Crown—symbolizing the sun, royal authority, and eternal life—has abandoned the Sun Empire to embrace the Kingdom of Hightins.

"Moreover, humankind is most adept at learning.

"If their Fifth Order gods could achieve immortality and reign over the empire for more than a thousand years, why couldn't Your Majesty, also of the Fifth Order, do the same?

"Although I came upon this treasure through a twist of fate, I faintly hear the Creator telling me something. This Mandate of Heaven is not mine; rather, through my hand, it should be presented to its true owner—the Tri-Phantom Sun.

"Your Majesty, today I offer this Sun Crown, once symbolizing the Sun Empire's Mandate of Heaven for the next century, to you.

"I wish for the light of the sun to shine perpetually over the land of the Kingdom of Hightins, and the glory of the Creator to never fade!"

Upon hearing this, Edward IV's face lit up with an approving expression that seemed to say, "The more you talk, the better."

Flushed with excitement, he subconsciously stepped forward. He stared intently at the Crown, overwhelmed with emotion:

"Excellent, excellent indeed! Lord Tudor, you truly are the kingdom's foremost Loyalist."

"Divine Right" granted by the Creator and the coveted "eternal life" of never relinquishing the throne were precisely what Edward IV yearned for most.

Despite having known about this treasure and its general origins for about a month.

But the same item is an entirely different concept without exquisite packaging; its perceived value can be worlds apart. The final price of an item, and whether people feel their money was well spent, all depends on the packaging and salesmanship.

It's like those high-end restaurants that specifically target the wealthy. Their approach is all about: "Large plates, small portions, and a token sprig of green in the empty space." For all their elaborate presentation, the actual food might only be worth three-fifty at a street stall.

Yes, and a good story always enhances the appeal!

And when it came to fabricating tales of emperors receiving the Mandate of Heaven, Byron was a master. He was bold enough to cross his legs and declare: "All of you here are mere novices compared to me."

"Lei Ze's Footprints," "Divine Visitations in Dreams," "Slaying the White Serpent," "The Fox's Cry," "The One-Eyed Stone Statue"... He had enough such stories to captivate these sheltered nobles—most of whom had never experienced a peasant uprising—for a thousand and one nights.