The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 359: The Grand Duke’s Civilised Negotiation

Chapter 359: The Grand Duke’s Civilised Negotiation

The Pirate Captain remained silent momentarily, not responding to Kyren’s greetings.

"How did you two come to know each other?" the camp chief asked, alternating his gaze between the Grand Duke and the Pirate Captain.

"He was on the cog I gave chase to last time," Captain Blackmane answered solemnly.

"The cog ship? Wait... the story you told us about you meeting the Ro’an descendant... is that really true?" the camp chief asked in disbelief.

Captain Blackmane nodded.

His defeat from the plundering had been devastating. Worse, the story he and his men had shared with the Knights of Barges and other mercenaries had become a laughing stock, as none of them believed the Calico Pirates of the East had indeed encountered a direct Ro’an descendant with emerald eyes.

However, the other pirates who heard the tale had a different view. Most were deeply concerned when the legend was mentioned, fearing the predicament would soon reach them as well. Their strong superstitious beliefs made them wary of it.

The injury sustained from the duel had left the pirate captain unable to wield his cutlass for a time. Even now, the almost healed deep wound limited his fighting abilities, compelling him to hide his condition and avoid engaging the Knights of Barges or others.

"D*mn, I thought you were delusional!" exclaimed the camp chief.

"We may be a crafty bunch, me lord, but we be no liars when it comes to our convictions. This man was there to guard her on that very ship," Captain Blackmane said, glancing at Kyren’s handsome face before his eyes darted to the Grand Duke’s men, a flicker of fear crossing his expression.

Sensing the Pirate Captain’s gaze was searching for someone, Kyren reassured him, "Don’t worry, Her Imperial Highness is not here. However, she sends you a message."

The Grand Duke’s companions looked calm as the ploy commenced. He had briefed them on the legend of the emerald eyes, his encounter with the pirates, and the mistaken perception of his wife being the Ro’an direct descendant due to her eye colour. He intended to leverage the myth and the pirates’ superstitions to sway them to his side.

"What message be ye speakin’ of?" Captain Blackmane asked, swallowing nervously.

"She’s not pleased that you’re plundering her territory, the blessed land," Kyren revealed.

"What territory be ye yammerin’ about? These ’ere islands be Galician’s domain, not yers!" the Pirate Captain countered.

"I see that you’re missing some crucial information. The Agathe islands are divided between two kingdoms. The smaller island belongs to the Galicians, while the larger one belongs to us, the Cassians. It’s important to note that the King of Galicia bought only the small island quite some time ago," Kyren clarified.

Captain Blackmane turned to the camp chief, surprised.

"Be this true, then?" he asked.

The camp chief’s silence gave away a solid confirmation.

"Why didn’t ye scallywags tell us about this?" the Pirate Captain growled, his brow furrowed in frustration. "We agreed to work together based on the understanding that the Agathe Isles were under Galicia’s rule!"

"It doesn’t make any difference! You’re getting paid well and receiving your portions. So, it’s not important which kingdom owns the islands!"

Fear still crept into the camp chief’s expression, which he tried to hide by posing a stern face despite his dismissive reply.

The fact that the descendant of the Ro’an Emperor had returned based on the Grand Duke and the Pirate Captain’s conversation had secretly amplified his anxiety.

"Blast it! We’ve been hornswoggled!" Captain Blackmane exclaimed in dissatisfaction and anger, feeling deceived.

Kyren smiled subtly as he observed the misaligned information and the brewing disagreement between the two collaborating parties. He could sense their discord and unease, which fueled his determination to exploit the situation to his advantage.

With a calm and confident demeanour, he spoke up, hinting amusement in his tone.

"My... my! It appears there’s already a dispute among allies here. Secrets and misunderstandings don’t bode well for a successful collaboration, wouldn’t you agree? Now, may I know the identity of this gentleman? You seem to hold a position of authority," he inquired as his gaze shifted towards the camp chief.

"I am Lord Danbar Sygill, the camp chief and a Royal Knight of Barges," the man introduced himself.

"A Southerner, I see. You must be well aware that you’ve breached our land," Kyren remarked.

"Don’t blame me. It’s an order from His Majesty, King Ronan of Ardel. We were all hired for this task," Lord Sygill defended himself.

"Shifting the blame to others doesn’t befit someone who claims to be a knight, Lord Sygill. Especially when you know that the territories you’ve infringed upon belong to your true enemy. It seems you’ve already dug your grave by doing this," Kyren responded sternly.

"Don’t you dare mock me, you *sshole! Don’t think you’re so great just because you’re a northerner! Remember that the empire and you were defeated in the Great War!" the camp chief furiously retorted.

"Not quite right. The empire might have fallen due to your lord’s treacherous collaboration with the other lords of the three kingdoms and his dark magic, but Cassian still stands strong. Barges had attempted numerous attacks on us, but we have never succumbed to your forces," Kyren countered.

Lord Sygill gritted his teeth, visibly irritated by the undeniable truth laid out by the Grand Duke.

"Who are you?" Lord Sygill asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

"I am Kyren Raychard, the Grand Duke of Gerhard, hailing from Cassian and also the Commander of the knights of my duchy," Kyren introduced himself.

"A grand duke and a commander, ye say? Blimey!" Captain Blackmane exclaimed, realising the significance of Kyren’s title.

No wonder the remarkable man possessed such formidable combat skills and exuded the aura of a leader.

"What be it ye be wantin’ then?" Captain Blackmane inquired. "Weren’t ye the one who hoisted the green flag, signalling yer desire to parley?"

"Indeed, I am here for a negotiation. Her Imperial Highness, the Princess of Ro’an, wishes me to eliminate all of you. However, I thought engaging in an unnecessary conflict would waste time and resources. So, I have a better proposition."

"And what is that?" asked Danbar impatiently.

"Surrender to us and become our allies. Then, march with us to Ardel to prevent Barges from invading the kingdom," Kyren revealed his plan.

"This is nonsense! We’ll never betray our kingdom and our loyalty to our king!" the camp chief declared, defying the grand duke’s demand.

Captain Blackmane, now visibly agitated, joined in, raising his voice to the camp chief.

"Hang on a tick, matey! An invasion? Lord Sygill! Why in the devil’s name do I know nought about this?!"

Danbar’s face twisted in confusion.

"What invasion?! I don’t even know about it! He’s lying!"

Kyren couldn’t help but laugh.

"Ah, it seems the King of Barges has fooled both of you. Aren’t you aware that he left all of you here to die in our hands? He knew we would be coming because he planned the whole thing. To him, letting go of only sixty-five problematic Knights of Barges was not a loss."

Danbar’s eyes widened in shock.

"How... how do you know the number of us?" he stammered in disbelief.

Kyren’s smirk widened as he revealed his knowledge.

"I know everything. From the numbers of your force, the camp layout, where you store your weapons, supplies, and the ore... every single detail. We acquired all the information about the invasion through our secret intel. We know the whole plan. The conquering of the Agathe islands is just the beginning."

"I don’t believe you!" Danbar countered.

The grand duke stood confidently, his eyes scanning the camp as he calmly described its layout. He revealed intricate information about the enemy’s defences, resources, and the number of forces present.

"The main entrance of your camp is guarded by a reinforced gate, flanked by two watchtowers armed with ballistae. Your supplies and provisions are stored in the central storage building, heavily protected by a perimeter fence, and you have a main barrack as your governance office."

The grand duke smirked and then continued.

"I commend your camouflage attempts, but the concealed tripwires and pitfalls are not enough to deter us. Also, we’ve captured the men you sent to investigate your water supply disruption. Guess who is in control of your water by now? By the day after tomorrow, your whole water flow would be entirely cut off."

Kyren’s piercing gaze locked onto their faces, his words rendering the two men speechless. The chilling effect of his knowledge sent a shiver down the Pirate Captain’s spine.

"How absurd! Do you think we’re scared of you? The pirates and mercenaries we have are ruthless and can retaliate anytime!" Danbar countered again, attempting to regain his composure despite his growing fear.

Kyren’s smile remained, his eyes glinting with confidence.

"Oh, I don’t doubt the ruthlessness of your forces. But you see, Lord Sygill, we are not just an ordinary enemy. We have meticulously planned our moves, gathering intelligence and resources to ensure our victory. Your pirates and mercenaries may be formidable, but they won’t stand a chance against the might of Cassian."

Captain Blackmane exchanged a worried glance with the camp chief, realising their dire situation. The balance of power had shifted dramatically, and their choices seemed limited.

Kyren’s voice rang out, firm and resolute.

"You still have a chance to salvage this situation while I’m still civilised. Surrender to us, join our cause, and you’ll be spared. Resist, and you will be crushed under the weight of our forces. The choice is yours."