"Captain, you’ve already defended a Second-level World Rift. Running over here to moonlight as another [Lantern Carriers] is clearly a death sentence."
"If you die, what will happen to the thousands of Pioneer Navigation Colonial Adventure Company employees who rely on you for their livelihood? What about the residents of the Heitings Colony?"
"And what about Miss Catherine, who is painstakingly maintaining such a vast enterprise while waiting for you to return?"
"Your life isn’t just your own, Captain!"
"Isn’t this just bullying an honest person?"
Reminded by Violet, the others on the battlefield—many of whom Byron had just saved—were even more ashad and couldn’t help but make promises one after another:
"We cannot let Lord Byron sacrifice in vain."
"I suggest that from now on, every whaling company and every whaling ship reaping benefits here give a share to Lord Byron and future [Lantern Carriers]."
"What do you all think?"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded! Whoever dares to play tricks, we’ll skin him alive together!"
Upon hearing this, Byron, as if insulted, waved his hands in refusal. "No, no, no! Doing good deeds shouldn’t co with any... cough, benefits. You all shouldn’t talk to about such things."
Then he turned back to scold Violet, "Why are you, a young lady, adding to the chaos?"
"We ca to the New Continent to find cutting-edge whale oil technology, which represents advanced productive forces. Our goal is to ensure the common people no longer go hungry, have affordable clothing, and enjoy the dividends of societal developnt. We want technological progress to benefit everyone in this era and for the Creator’s Radiance to shine upon every one of His lambs."
"But you’ve followed for so long. Don’t you even have the awareness that ’credit for success need not be mine’? Huh?"
"You’ve disappointed greatly!"
"I..."
Violet, her face full of ’grievance,’ felt her eyes mist over. She then tearfully looked towards the Pirate King, who had remained silent.
This pair of formidable thieves was not only proficient in robbery but, thanks to their professional-grade acting skills honed at the Vinaia Art Academy, also clearly adept at collaborative deception.
It reached the point where even the stoniest-hearted Ocean Throne felt a strong sense of guilt, feeling that he had indeed been bullying an honest person. He therefore declared decisively, "I’ll cover all future construction costs for Island Number One."
"Additionally, each month I will allocate 10% of my whale oil industry’s production capacity to the Pioneer Navigation Colonial Adventure Company, managed by [Mithril Dragon] Miss Catherine, to support public welfare."
With the Pirate King allocating 10% of his production capacity, the others certainly couldn’t offer less. This was practically equivalent to the tithe collected by the Church. But with the atmosphere already built up to this point, no one dared to object. Instead, they all quickly agreed:
"Lord Byron possesses such high moral integrity, treating money as re dirt! I too shall use 10% of my monthly production capacity to purchase a tortoiseshell craft from the artisan shop run by Miss Catherine."
"I’ll buy one too..."
It was at this mont that Byron realized he had accidentally overplayed his hand and made things worse. If you all give your money directly to my sister, what does that have to do with my private stash?
"Well, I..."
Before he could continue, Honest Eight-Fingers and Guardian Knight Bruch grabbed him, one on each side, and forcibly dragged him back onto The Golden Deer.
They watched as Byron and his Heitings Phantom Fleet were the first to set sail towards Island Number One, seemingly eager to take on the responsibility of the [Lantern Carriers] and sacrifice himself for everyone’s welfare.
Many adventurers, accustod to sches and deception, couldn’t help but feel their eyes redden as they muttered to themselves:
"The Sea Hunter Holy Mr. Byron is truly a great man, a kind nearly extinct in this world."
"He is truly deserving of the title ’Pioneer of the Whale Oil Power Revolution.’"
"I will spread his deeds! I will submit articles to Lighthouse Weekly and every influential newspaper."
"We, our children, our descendants, and every single person in the world must thank him!"
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