The people of Valunia Port felt quite knowledgeable, especially since the port was filled with imperial merchants and priests who brought many albums and photos. The priests often used these albums and photos in their preaching, leading Valunia Port to believe that no matter how outrageous a scene they witnessed, they would not be shocked.
They were looking at the black iron ship sailing into the harbor.
Many dock workers were seeing a “ship” for the first time; this thing could crush any vessel from other parts of the Solun Continent with just a collision, right?
The experience of their first ocean voyage was quite marvelous. If it weren’t for their urgency to come to Solun, the scholars on board would have wanted to study the behaviors of sea monsters and the magical environment of the Sea of Instability.
Especially Sidney, who was constantly fiddling with the Black Sail Engine, observing its operation in the chaotic magical area of the Sea of Instability.
After disembarking, Marsha immediately said goodbye to Sean. Although her mission was escort duty, it seemed the fleet no longer needed the dragon’s assistance to traverse the Sea of Instability. Coupled with the intelligence obtained in M Continent, Marsha almost transformed into dragon form after disembarking, flying towards the nearest Dragon Church.
Rosalind welcomed Sean with mixed feelings. Although Sean managed the empire’s transportation in M Continent and was often on the move, during the time when the emperor was asleep and Cape Royal Capital was under martial law, Sean helped manage affairs in the capital together with his older sister, Lena.
It was also during that time that Rosalind got to know Sean a bit.
According to some accounts from other nations on the Solun Continent, Sean could even be considered one of the empire’s ranking heirs, and he greatly admired his brother-in-law. Just as Rosalind had thought before, when the next batch of imperial fleets arrived, they might just hang up their older brothers and sisters on lampposts, and Sean would actually do such a thing.
“Long time no see, Princess of Castoria. Shouldn’t I now refer to you as Queen?”
Sean remained as charming as he had been in M Continent.
“I dare not,” Rosalind replied, modestly calling herself a subject. After all, she had signed that contract, and Sean could indeed be considered a ranking heir of the empire. Referring to herself as a subject was acceptable, but Sean waved his hand and said, “Don’t say that. Let’s address each other as equals.”
In fact, during the time in M Continent, Lind had deliberately suggested that Rosalind join Ruby to have some fun, but since Rosalind always looked so serious and seemed to be deeply involved in her efforts, Lind had to give up.
However, Rosalind’s relationship with Sean was quite good. It would be more accurate to say that Sean respected Rosalind for her courage to come to M Continent for assistance, especially since Rosalind was not much older than Ruby. Besides the respect for her bravery, perhaps there was also a shared empathy, and Rosalind’s situation might be much worse than what Sean had faced back then.
Apart from Rosalind, there were many others present, mostly from the Valunia family, who constituted Rosalind’s main government base.
Upon hearing that the one who came was the brother of the imperial queen, many were secretly observing Sean. They had heard that this brother had previously controlled the iron beasts that connected the earth in M Continent. Now, had the empire finally extended its reach into the ocean?
Not only that, but they also heard that Sean had previously held imperial power for some time, which made many nobles’ eyes shine.
After all, influenced by the missionaries and merchants, those nobles gathered in Valunia Port had begun to doubt their own noble status, or rather, they felt that the nobles on the Solun Continent were significantly inferior, believing that only the nobles from M Continent, with their lofty virtues and profound knowledge, were true nobles. Sean, the brother of the imperial queen, seemed more like a noble among nobles, perfectly fitting what these nobles aspired to be.
Of course, these nobles did not know that the noble virtues they admired in M Continent were primarily forced by oppression, and their profound knowledge was pure competition.
However, this did not detract from their admiration for Sean, especially since he had the appearance of a young nobleman and, after experiencing hardships, appeared even more composed, exuding an unassuming authority without a hint of aloofness. The natural confidence that all imperial people carried made Sean’s presence even more imposing.
A man’s man, a noble among nobles—this was the nobles’ first impression of Sean.
What kind of family could nurture such an exceptional individual?
For Sean, the people of Valunia Port, along with his sister, the imperial queen, were speculating. They had heard that the queen was even wiser and that the iron beasts connecting the earth were her invention. If her brother was like this, then wouldn’t she be even more of a noble?
Many present had made a silent resolution to strive towards the imperial queen, the true noble, as their goal.
Sean was unaware of the nobles’ thoughts in the harbor. Instead, he was walking towards the city center of the port with Rosalind and the Gray Robe, listening as Rosalind described the current situation on the continent.
Rosalind had completely shed the naiveté she had when she first arrived in Cape. There was a maturity about her that was incongruent with her age, likely due to the fact that most of the government’s decrees were personally executed by Rosalind. The imperial fleets, whether it was Regas or Bernice, had never interfered with Rosalind’s decisions. They only provided some assistance and suggestions, and the Gray Robe did not intervene excessively either.
Although all this put immense pressure on Rosalind, she was growing rapidly; experience was always the best teacher.
“Don’t worry about those rebellious nobles; leave it to me,” Sean said after listening to Rosalind describe the current situation without feeling too much pressure. Although uprisings were occurring and Rosalind’s third brother had declared war, the situation was still under control. At least Valunia Port was maintaining its ordinary operations.
Rosalind nodded. She truly wasn’t adept at dealing with those nobles; if she were, she wouldn’t have been expelled along with the Gray Robe in the first place.
“As for your brother…”
To be honest, after listening to Rosalind talk about the policies that Dimitri had previously recommended to her, Sean had been frowning, especially since he sensed that Dimitri was not foolish but rather clever in a vile way. Sean disliked such people.
“We will be merciless.”
Hearing Sean say this, Rosalind fell silent for a moment before silently nodding. Although she had matured, she had once entertained unrealistic fantasies, wishing that those older brothers and sisters might reconsider.
“And what about the Avars?”
Rosalind continued, “The Avars are very close to us and might be an important variable.”
“Oh, there’s no need to worry about the Avars.”
Sean responded, “When we first arrived, we got lost and ended up near the Avars, and I gave them a little warning; they wouldn’t dare act rashly.”
“What did you warn them about?”
“I told them to address me as an equal and not to use honorifics.”
Seeing Rosalind looking a bit tense, Sean said, “I told them, ‘Do not move; move and your country will perish.'”
