Pirate Kingship-Chapter 866 - 515: If I Can’t Save My Father-in-law, Their Whole Family Will Be Buried with Him!
Time slightly rewinds.
[Wonders of Civilization - Northern Border Wall] North side.
This Northern Border Wall, standing across the Strait Islands for a millennium, was ordered to be built by Hadrian, who canceled the Remit people’s settlement, a ruler of legendary heroism, thus it’s also called Hadrian’s Wall.
From its completion to abandonment, it served as the northeast border of the Silver Empire.
The Northern Border Wall includes walls, watchtowers, inner fortresses, and castles, forming the wall system of the Ancient Silver Empire along with the Antonine Wall and Rheddian Border Wall.
Its primary purpose at the onset was to defend against the Three Great Barbarian Tribes to the north. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
As for why it is now unused? And where did those Three Great Barbarian Tribes vanish to?
Now, those who established The Holy Silver Empire and ruled over this continent are the former barbarians.
While the true pureblooded Empire people have long disappeared amidst the waves of ethnic integration.
For the Theocratic Countries, aside from fragmented historical relics, that grand empire that once hung high above them, worthy only of awe, has already turned to the dust of history.
Thus arose the consensus that The Holy Silver Empire was neither holy, nor silver, nor an empire, having indeed no connection to the ancient empire—not even half a copper coin.
Now questioning the whereabouts of the true Silver Empire lineage? It’s perhaps a large question mark difficult to answer for historians.
Stomp!
A robust figure, almost ethereal, leapt gracefully over the decomposing stones of the Northern Border Wall, leaving not even a traceable footprint in the snow.
He donned light armor crafted from Monster Hide, his shoulder guard shaped like a fearsome wolf head, a Bastard Sword hung by his waist, his graying hair remained tidy, while his bayfolk-signature azure eyes glimmered with wolf-king guile.
At this moment, Old Woodville, though evidently fleeing for his life, exhibited extraordinary calm and composure, every gesture exuding confidence.
Indeed, no one could discover him.
Even when Hunter, Adventurer, Beast Masters released their animal companions overhead, not a single one paused near him, even momentarily.
He also maintained his cool, intending no appearance even upon sighting allied forces, simply pressed onward towards the core zone controlled by the Royalist Party.
"Hehe, bayfolk adage, safety is better than regret.
In my youth, I was merely an ordinary Highland Knight, surviving the Hundred Years’ War, Red and White Rose War, until now during the Two Party War—the sole secret is caution!
Now I’m the pillar of the entire Woodville Family.
If I’m gone, even with the Queen’s favor, the yet-to-mature children will only stand as a third-rate family by power.
Leading the family in navigating between Lancaster and York, my sole pursuit is to allow the name of Woodville to stand alongside numerous Great Nobles, ensuring its eternal heritage within the Kingdom of Hightins."
Formerly favored by Edward IV, the Woodville Family had no significant presence within the Kingdom of Hightins.
Because, in Old Woodville’s youth, he was merely a steward of Bedford Lancaster, the brother of Henry V of the Lancaster Dynasty.
Essentially Byron’s granduncle’s steward.
Holding merely a knight title, barely qualifying as hereditary nobility, simply a Common Knight.
Until the late Prince’s passing, he lucked into marrying the Prince’s second wife, a young widow, Byron’s grandmother, officially entering nobility, establishing the Woodville Family.
The couple bore 12 children in succession, their eldest daughter being Elizabeth, who married Edward IV.
Their rise took merely a single generation.
Within his heart, his family outweighs everything.
Old Woodville raised his gaze toward his path’s horizon, seemingly envisioning Sorenburg, once Lancaster, then York, now Tudor, with a flicker of fervency:
"Once we defeat the Earl’s Party, reclaim full royal power, perhaps we can rename all Tudor holdings to Woodville.
Though it’s rumored that Pharos Lighthouse now uses the new Saint Byron Lens, vastly improving Lamplighter survival rates, indicating Saint Byron may not die young like other Lamplighters.
But for some reason, the remnant of The Mad Hunt, Byron Lancaster, possessing Fifth Order strength, has reemerged.
Despite the Count of Torrentfort, a Great Loyalist of York, being formidable, he seems destined to ultimately fall to this blade.
Those holdings inevitably belong to us; when the time comes, fortified with assets, the Woodville Family’s place among Great Nobles will finally be true."
Evidently, the Woodville siblings initially intended to facilitate the marriage between Saint Byron and Catherine, awaiting Saint Byron’s early demise due to Lamplighter duty, letting their son Frees wed the "Widow" Catherine.
Engulfing their assets in Pioneer Guiding Colonial Trading Company, the two Earldoms, International Port, Pioneer Bank, Standard Whale Oil Company... among other vast fortunes.
The mastermind behind this slew of schemes was none other than Old Woodville.
His family, after considerable hardship, had finally attained an opportunity to alter fate.
Driven by lifelong poverty, Old Woodville impetuously maneuvered between Lancaster and York, seizing every opportunity, employing unyielding methods to climb.
Initially a staunch supporter of the Lancaster Party, even his eldest daughter Elizabeth married fellow Lancaster Party member, Sir John Grey (Chapter 345).
