Chapter 1393 - 648: The Most Beautiful Princess Kazal, The Ugliest Princess Amita

When the Pirate City and the Heavy Cruiser Fleet arrived at the harbor, the Sassanid Dynasty’s Royal Guard had long since formed up in neat ranks, dividing and isolating the countless "Pilgrims" packed together like ants.

Whenever the zealots of the West Coast countries go on pilgrimage, trampling accidents occur every single year; the authorities are very experienced in handling such large-scale gatherings.

Directly facing the stone piers stood a mighty, battle-hardened ceremonial unit, elite cavalry riding Demon Monster Desert Sword Antelopes and Unihorn Camels.

At their waists hung Damascus Cavalry Scimitars from the same lineage as the Fischer Cutting Sword, yet the firearms in their hands were surprisingly Witch 1472 bolt-action rifles!

"They really are filthy rich."

Aside from the North Sea Empire’s own use, this weapon, whose performance crushes flintlock guns in every respect, is for the moment supplied only in small quantities to the Protestant Princes of The Holy Silver Empire.

The Fire Worship Empire being able to acquire over a hundred of them can only be described as having vast connections and staggering wealth.

Byron didn’t pay it too much mind; under Violet’s personal management, the armories would not have any leaks—the problem could only lie within the Protestant Princes themselves.

Catherine had mentioned before that on the second day after shipments went out to the Protestant Princes, a very small number of bolt-action rifles had already appeared on the black market.

Reselling arms has, since ancient times, been a traditional "craft" of Generals; a small batch leaking out doesn’t make much difference—the supply of Whale Oil Bullets alone is a major issue.

As long as his own management system has no leaks, the impact can be kept under control.

Behind the ceremonial unit floated a vast spread of flying carpets, a signature West Coast specialty woven with extremely gorgeous patterns!

These are masterpieces of West Coast Artisans, infinitely more prestigious than carriages and other such means of transport.

It’s said that flying carpets not only come in various models capable of reaching different altitudes, but also have limited collector’s editions, private customization services, and even flying carpet racing tournaments.

It has practically become a vast industry.

Only, the making of flying carpets consumes huge quantities of Fairy Dust, as well as gold thread and Silver Thread, making the cost exorbitant; in the past even the Lancaster Royal Family had barely purchased any of these luxury items.

Fortunately, before the Fairy Dust veins of the Eastern Continent were discovered, the West Coast was already the main producer of these transcendent raw materials; otherwise, even the top elites of a country wouldn’t have been able to assemble such a lavish display.

Byron silently nodded:

"From the weapons and the pomp alone, one can see this land is indeed very wealthy.

Though it hasn’t reached the level of ’one scrap of cloth above my head and I am the richest in the world.’

Still, with its rich output of all kinds of luxury goods—Fairy Dust, ceramics, culinary Spices, fine gemstones—since ancient times it has always been richer than those paupers on the East Coast.

Otherwise there wouldn’t have been nine Crusader expeditions to the West, nor would historians have listed the Crusades as one of the three Deep Breaths of the Silver Continent.

The nine Crusades are essentially no different from the robberies of the Great Nautical Age."

In front of a row of flying carpets stood the upper nobility of the Fire Worship Empire, along with a few high-ranking members of their families.

At their head was King Nasser Din, known as the Desert Eagle.

He looked to be around forty, wearing a golden turban and a White Robe; at his waist hung a dazzling golden scimitar, and the full black beard on his face lent him a very martial air.

As Byron studied this second-ranking figure among the West Coast Holy Spirit Sect countries, the Desert Eagle was likewise studying him, this Holy Spirit Follower.

He still wore his eternally unchanged Naval Marshal’s uniform, polished military boots on his feet, his build tall and his shoulders broad.

The smile on his face was gentle enough, yet it carried an innate majesty that compelled people to bow down in worship.

Most of all, the brilliant Empire Crown upon his head made it difficult for anyone to raise their eyes and look straight at him.

Even having just performed a wide-ranging blessing ritual, he still appeared utterly at ease, not the least bit strained.

In truth, Byron had only borrowed the Holy Spirit’s Authority to activate the Mind Wish Power that had accumulated for a millennium on this land, acting as a generous catalyst with another’s resources; he had not consumed any of his own Power.

So long as he wished, he could perform it three or five more times without the slightest problem.

"Saint Byron, Your Majesty, welcome to the Fire Worship Empire."

Perhaps because Byron’s entrance had been too overwhelming, the Desert Eagle’s aura was visibly overshadowed.

Though his voice was loud, as he opened his mouth to offer greetings he still, subconsciously, bowed slightly.

Diplomacy suffers no trifles; every gesture carries deeper meaning.

Behind him, the Elders, the Chief Judge, and the Church Judges all had slightly flickering gazes, and followed their King in offering a salute.

"Your Majesty Nasser Din, may the Holy Spirit be with you."

Byron laughed heartily, stepped forward of his own accord, and embraced the King in accordance with West Coast etiquette.

As opening moves in a state visit go, things were proceeding fairly smoothly.

He had never harbored the illusion that, by merely revealing the Faith Anchor Chain of the Holy Spirit within his body, he could make the upper echelons of the various Churches fall to their knees and worship.

On the Continent, there is a saying: if the true Creator were to descend, some Saints of the Orthodox Church would likely not first choose to kneel, but to raise armies and crusade against the "Heresy."

Because if they failed to crusade, they would be the ones erased.

The leadership of other Sects might be somewhat better, but aside from a handful of Devout believers and Zealots, it’s hard to say what weight faith truly carries in the face of power.

This is also tied to the trap the Creator buried back when He designed the Order of Sanctity.

Faith in the Clergy themselves is only required at the most basic level; the most important work of the Clergy is to grow the body of believers, raise the overall Mind Wish Power under the rule of the Silver Law, and help Him complete the main task of "taming the flood."