So that's how it is. The Aztecs are holding a large-scale Blood Sacrifice for their guardian deity, The Flayed Lord, with the intention of creating a Golden Code centered around Him to rival the Silver Law. Perhaps it can also be called the Golden Law?
Byron's true body, residing in Tarascan City, withdrew his consciousness and reopened his eyes, instantly coming to a realization.
His exceptional scholarship had already touched the pinnacle of this world's supernatural pyramid.
Later, he gained the talking Number Three Crystal Skull.
After reaping great benefits from its core supernatural theories, he obtained a good deal of the natives' Forbidden Knowledge in exchange for agricultural technology.
Now Byron had a deeper understanding of Black Sorcery, Nature Spirits, guardian deities... especially Blood Sacrifices, the most common forbidden ritual overseas.
Whether it is in the Old Continent or the Bantaan Archipelago, secular kingship is far from developed enough to compete with divine authority. The mainlanders who follow the Ladder of Glory must rely on the Silver Law, supposedly created by the Creator. The natives who elevate themselves through Forbidden Knowledge must worship Guardian Spirits or guardian deities that symbolize the collective essence of their tribes or city-states.
The most crucial point is the phrase my 'teacher,' Swarm, once said: Human beings are the variable of this world! Whether it is the Indescribable beings at one extreme or the Creator at the other, if they wish to change, they all need the force of humans to push or pull. And since they are variables, it's natural to either worsen these beings or improve them. Theoretically, as long as the number of people (sacrifices or believers) is sufficient, it is possible to realize all the miracles of Mysticism!
Byron looked at the rapidly increasing Decryption Rate of [Secret: The Mystery of the Aztec Blood Sacrifice] and couldn't sleep at all.
He took out an Echo Conch and spoke a few words into it, then stepped out of his tent and began to stroll slowly.
After speculating and reasoning, he had a general understanding of the cause and effect; his azure eyes brightened in the night.
The gods worshipped by the natives must lean toward an orderly Divinity to protect their tribesmen, just like the Silver Law. The so-called imperial guardian deity, The Flayed Lord, is simply a higher-level, more abstract spiritual body. With limited 'human' resources, it is certainly much better to provide for one God than for many gods. Perhaps in this world, there is a rationale for the existence of Monotheism.
Combining the knowledge in Falcon Alvin's mind, I've made a preliminary judgment: The Flayed Lord, Xipe Totec, is a god of Rebirth. He is also the god of Agriculture, plants, Disease, spring, silver and gold artisans, liberation, and seasons, presiding over the East. Using Him as the core to receive the knowledge of law spread from the east of the archipelago, connecting the gold and silver laws, and liberating the entire Yucatan Island seems like a natural progression. Since the shaman of this city-state was initially able to drag the worshipped Death God Apuche into the Deep Sea, creating the terrifying Bone Gnawing God, The Flayed Lord, Xipe Totec, can naturally ascend to a higher Divinity. Others may not have the strength to integrate the entire native Divine System, but the Aztec Empire and Emperor Montezuma II certainly can!
As for the other tribes and city-states that lose protection during the transition and whether their people live or die, it's none of the Aztecs' concern. As the weaklings, their destruction has nothing to do with them. It's the specifics of how this Golden Code operates that interests me; how I, in the guise of Falcon, could intervene. I wonder if that expert has any good suggestions…
At that moment, the Echo Conch in Byron's pouch vibrated slightly—its counterpart had sent a reply.
Even though the distance between Yucatan and Iron Anchor Bay had long exceeded 1,000 kilometers, precluding real-time communication, a delay of a few minutes in receiving a message was no problem at all.
Even though the person wasn't physically present, a spontaneous, relaxed smile, usually reserved for Catherine, appeared on Byron's lips.
Activating the Echo Conch, a sweet and pleasant voice came through,
"Hahaha! Mr. Know-it-all Good Citizen actually asking this Princess for advice? I am truly honored."
Upon hearing this, Byron subconsciously envisioned a silver-haired, blue-eyed girl in a white nightgown, standing with hands on her slim waist, laughing triumphantly three times.
The time difference between Yucatan Island and Iron Anchor Bay wasn't significant, and it was around Violet's bedtime. However, because Byron had been busy crossing the jungle all day, he hadn't had a chance to be alone or message this "online friend." The girl kept the Echo Conch by her pillow, and as soon as she heard Byron's question, she immediately replied.
"You're asking the right person about this. You, the rightful Prince of Hightins, perhaps aren't as clear as this Pirate Princess on how to start from scratch to establish exclusive laws."
Violet knew there was a delay in the communication, so she didn't purposely keep him in suspense. Rather, from the perspective of a Third Order Artisan and a second-generation Pirate King's heir, she offered a professional analysis,
"Your Lancaster's Iron Laws of Sovereignty and your uncle, Henry VI. First came the Magna Carta, established over two hundred years prior, and only afterward was the Level Five 'Royal Title: Mad King' blessed by law. For hundreds of years, you haven't had the experience of establishing your own Royal Iron Law.
Our Harold's Royal Iron Laws: Pirate Code is quite the opposite. The original Law Code established by the Pirate Emperor a thousand years ago has long been lost. The current Pirate Code of Iron Anchor Bay is entirely at my father's discretion; no one would question the authority of a Fifth Order Pirate King.
This is because the Pirate King came first, and then the Law Code. The Law Code serves the King, bringing glory in service to him, rather than the other way around. The Aztec Empire is much the same, clearly intending to follow the path we took at Iron Anchor Bay.
As for Gold, I'm even more familiar with that. Two hundred Gold Coins wouldn't be enough for a day's expenses for me, a Third Order Grand Artificer…"
When Byron heard Violet's fixed expenses of two hundred Gold Pounds a day, totaling 6,000 Gold Pounds a month, he, who had been complaining about her rubbing salt in Lancaster's wounds all day, involuntarily shivered.
If it were a family doing legitimate business, they probably couldn't even afford to support her alone. Fortunately... I don't have to provide for her.
The two with family heritage were separated by a pair of Echo Conches, using the limited information available to start a brainstorming session.
They took turns, repeatedly analyzing the plans of the Aztec Empire, the Authority of The Flayed Lord, and the potential contingencies of The Skinners' Church and Conqueror Cortes.
[Secret: The Mystery of the Aztec Blood Sacrifice, Historical Influence 27]'s Decryption Rate also went from 58% to 72%, bit by bit.
When the moon was high overhead, Byron finally summarized,
That is to say, in Alchemy, Mysticism rituals, especially contract-based rituals, stable precious metals are an indispensable raw material. This is because even without any magical protection, after thousands of years, they can still retain their original appearance. Otherwise, forget about mud tablets burned by fire; even ink written on parchment would nearly all fade away in just a couple hundred years. In the Old Continent, silver and the even rarer Mithril are associated with divine Power, and the Crosses of the Church are all made of this material.
On the Bantaan Archipelago, Gold represents the supreme Sun God and symbolizes ultimate Power. The Aztecs have four golden sites, and Gold culture has taken deep root in their civilization across the ages. It's generally believed that Gold is a significant medium for communication with the Sun God. So the Aztec people wear a lot of Gold jewelry in War and sacrificial ceremonies: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, crowns, masks, and so on. Everywhere you see Pyramids, there are monuments, Divine Statues, and even entire Temples made of Gold. To say that the Tenochtitlan Royal City is a City of Gold is in no way an exaggeration. The combination of Gold plus the Authority of The Flayed Lord indeed makes it very likely to create a simplified version of the Golden Law. Then, to end the polytheism overseas and use the Golden Law as a foundation to continuously expand the Empire's territory, embarking on a true path of centralization. What's clever is that with a different origin for the law, one need not worry about reaching the limits of the Silver Law, ultimately only able to achieve up to the Fifth Order Kingly Title.
This line of thought also provides me with an insight. After all, once I realized Beastliness and Divinity are equally important, I have been wanting to walk using both legs, ultimately reaching the Divine Domain. I can't ignore considering that the Silver Law, which was initially an aid, could potentially become an obstacle in the end. Just like the Shadow Demon Network, creating a private Law Net independent from the Silver Law is, of course, also full of temptation for me. Waiting until the last minute to consider these things, instead of planning ahead, would be too late.
Violet then immediately added,
"When humans covenant with gods, the Holy Word Tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments serve as the core of the Silver Law, always preserved in The Holy Silver Empire's St. Peter's Cathedral. The original copy of the Pirate Code, formulated by the Pirate Emperor a millennium ago, has long been lost, with no trace of it. All Fourth Order Pirate Warlords and Fifth Order Pirate Kings view it as the ultimate treasure of a pirate's career, including my father, who dreams of finding it. This shows the importance of the original Law Code.
"If you think the ritual process involves too wide a scope and don't know where to start, then always focus on that book which is key to the rituals, the Golden Code. Whether it's the treacherous Skinning Cult or Emperor Aztec with delusions of grandeur, any goal they seek cannot be achieved without the original Law Code. At the critical moment, seizing or destroying it could allow you to counteract their move and gain an advantage!"
With the information reorganized, Byron felt reassured, spontaneously gaining some confidence in muddling through surrounded by the Native Empire and the Castilians.
He touched his chest sincerely towards the Echo Conch and saluted,
"Thank you for your guidance, beautiful Princess."
On the other end, Violet sprang up from the bed, curtseyed with her hands lifting her skirt, her toes painted with gemstone blue delicately touching the ground behind her, her eyes and brows curved in a smile,
"The honor is mine, Your Royal Highness."
No one knew that the Orphan's Alliance's meeting, where they were once again brewing mischief, had ended, nor whether they would once again change history. But for Violet, tonight would surely be filled with sweet dreams.
Meanwhile, Byron's Sailing Logbook was silently updated,
"Captain, you've inferred a related secret: [Secret: Conqueror Cortes's Ambition, Historical Influence 30, Decryption Rate 32%].
The first entry 'Historical Reviser' has been activated; you may draw a Sacred Relic that once appeared in Aztec Empire history at any time.
The power will depend on the level of Decryption Rate."
Last time I drew the Nation-Destroying Nail, I wonder what famous Sacred Relic of the Aztec Empire will come up this time?
Seeing this related secret, which could potentially affect the world's layout, finally appear as he delved deeper, Byron hadn't even had time to get excited. Suddenly, he heard a suppressed cry from the edge of the camp, followed by the sound of footsteps rushing from all directions.
It seems like something's happened.