“Truth aside, Lord Ameniah. Right here. Fort Quogsagihaxee'e. We are not really of the business of pillaging or some such you perceive. We are more than that. We are an organized syndicate.“ Captain Leonis says, as I step out of aboard the ship. I stare at the captain in a quite frowning and dreadful manner.

“Actually, we are a transnational corporation. Our headquarters is in the heart of Rotstein.” he stops, as he puts his hand on his chin - remembering something.

“No, wait! It’s not inside the kingdom of the namesake. It is actually around the coastline from the border of Rotstein and ‘West Burgraviate’. Hehehe… such dumb mistakes.” he reiterates his erstwhile sentiments, correcting himself.

“I see.” a deadpan response comes from me. Well, still he is an Inglovian.

“How do you function then? What is the course of your enterprise?” right after I ask, whereby I am showing signs of curiosity towards the organization Captain Leonis is talking about.

The captain displays his annoyance, he sighs: “Don’t you know that you’re asking too many questions, Lord Ameniah? Since then, aboard the ship at my cabin - all I'm asking is to pipe your mouth down and heed to my behest. And right now, still the same. Nothing changes.” expressing how persistent I am, knowing that I am too anxious for the likes of this. Due to the fact that I am in a foreign expanse… first time.

“Alright then, captain, I’ll shut my mouth.” I nod, following the order of the man whom I am indebted with.

He keeps on blabbering instead. About the things on how they work, the history, and the interfamilial dispute in the past. Since the inception, the Celamus family have been dealing with clients and rulers to the slave market. It was only since then that they are searching for alternatives because the business is not doing so great recently. They are cooperating with several pirates, including the Arancians before Captain Pierre, highway robbers, ruffians, and other dissidents against the Crown and separatists. Captain Leonis, on his behalf, admits that they are doing it out of money and not for the fame and prestige.

“West Burgraviate, captain?” I show my startled face.

“Yes, you have never heard of it? Neither set a foot in that place? Me, nor also.” he claims, whether he is cracking on me or he has never been so.

“Well, you see. My agnatic grandfather is from Rotstein. My old man said that he was an adventurer, claiming that the lands we had in the mainland Inglovia was personally endowed upon his achievements and loyalty to the Crown.”

“I see. Interesting, per se.”

“With all due respect, Lord Ameniah. You’re from the family of Ramilin, am I right?” he says, as my heart skips a beat when I’ve heard the epitome of my previous dynasty; in response, I nod.

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“Yeah.” I groan, sweating on my forehead.

Captain Leonis tells me about anything that I had overlooked when I was growing up with my late-father… Clandestine also told me about how he went working for my grandfather but not all, it was surmised. Captain Leonis was born in the moors just between across the shores of the Western Gulf and the ranges of Rondamo mountain - the village of West Iscala. Barony Lüdengau (Lyu-den-gau), County Aubergine, Rotstein. Before, it was a general outhouse and right now, it flourishes into a village. Talking about miniscule progress. The ‘flourish’ is truly ‘seen’. Rotstein was independent at the time and now, it exercises autonomous governance under the Inglovian Crown.

“It’s an honor, truly. Milord, I never thought you were just a council member of the Kehinan throne but also… “ he pauses “... but also, a descendant of a warrior!“ finishing, as I do know not of his statements might be referring to. Yes, I am aware that my grandfather was that. But what is the significance of myself to my grandfather?

“Because your grandfather, milord, hailed from that place! It is utmost just too unconventional for us to meet in this mysterious way!”

“From humble beginnings, eh? From humble beginnings, indeed.” I am flabbergasted that this individual before my presence is of the same ancestry as I am.

“I think it is about time.”

“For what, captain?” I ask, as I can feel it where there is a fascination in my eyes.

He stops to clear his throat, then he inserts himself: “It is worth mentioning…” as he touches my shoulder gesturing me to move along with the captain whilst walking towards the town. As the moments pass by, we reach a house, treading on foot and some commuting of stagecoaches and palanquins. He inducts my standings and my identity towards the several caretakers, house guards, female servants, and all. The captain is beginning to put trust on my shoulders. We begin our talk inside his personal quarters. At first glance, the area is filled with lucrative items such as documents wrapped in a transparent sealing - the items are dating to a hundred years to three years ago, rare metals, porcelains, and the ‘mysterious content’.

I reach for the mysterious content, I hold it into my hands… investigating and while I am staring at it, my fascination heightens!

“What is this, captain?” while I am clasping the content on my hand, I genuinely ask the captain’s answer.

“Be careful! ‘That thing’ on your hand is dangerous…” he warns me.

“By the way, that thing is called ‘gun’.” he adds, which makes me wonder what in the infinite abyss is this kind of thing? Is it an arsenal?

“A gun, eh? Intriguing,” I claim “What does it do? You recently said that this ‘gun’-thing is dangerous. In what form? In what circumstances?” I juggle through my fingers, where I toss the content to Captain Leonis.

“I gave you a beforehand…” the thing causes a huge noise - hitting the vase, shattering into pieces, where he does manage not to catch the content in his hands.

“What have I told you? See…” he presents his hand towards the collateral, adding.

“Does it kill?” I ask, whereas he aims towards the stationary bird at the windowpane.

“Watch.” he says, as he fires the thing on his hands… prompting the bird to fall out of the window, we check the bird - it is not moving. He gives me a confirming stare into my eyes, I nod afterwards.

“Do you have more of 'those'?”