Chapter 7: Joining the Crew and the Pirate's Ten Commandments
Gout, a crystal-related joint disease caused by the deposition of urate crystals, stems from disorders in purine metabolism and reduced excretion of uric acid, leading to hyperuricemia.
Some describe the pain during an attack as if stepping on one's own eyeballs with every step.
In this era, it is also known as the "nobleman's disease," the "emperor's ailment," or the "curse of wealth."
This is primarily because it is closely associated with a luxurious lifestyle of indulgence in meat and alcohol, often afflicting kings, nobles, and other extravagant individuals.
Beyond the pain, gout can further trigger kidney disorders.
Severe cases may lead to joint destruction, renal impairment, and are often accompanied by hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and coronary heart disease.
To ask how severe [Bloodeye]'s gout is now?
The phrase "an unspeakable secret" pretty much sums it up.
"It usually won't kill you.
But with such large tophi, it's likely already progressed to kidney damage.
Blood in the urine, kidney failure—this guy's male function is probably affected too.
If this continues... No, since I'm here, he must be pushed even further!"
Byron's face remained expressionless, but in his heart, he had already issued a critical condition notice to [Bloodeye] Salman.
For a chef responsible for the other's diet, worsening the condition is simple.
Consuming high-purine, high-fat foods such as meat, game, animal organs, seafood, yeast-containing foods and beverages, and, of course, fine wine, is essential.
The lamb, seafood, and ice-cold beer Byron recommended to Salman were all purine bombs, the cream of the crop!
Most importantly.
In this era of backward medicine, gout is not only untreatable, but its pathological causes are also unclear.
Even with the "Hospital Sequence," one of the extraordinary professions derived from the [Silver Law], which summarizes all past medical knowledge, there's still no solution.
Even if Byron openly poisoned Salman, he wouldn't notice.
At this moment, Byron had also discovered the golden [Seal Ring], symbolizing the Lancaster royal lineage.
It was firmly placed on the "slender" little finger of Salman's right hand.
It barely covered an ugly tophus, making it slightly more aesthetically pleasing.
Of course, this [Seal Ring] was a special extraordinary artifact.
In the hands of an outsider, it would appear as nothing more than an ordinary antique ring, revealing no trace of the Lancaster family's heraldic marks.
Now that he was the chef, Byron had plenty of time to slowly increase Salman's purine levels, retrieving his ring without resorting to violence.
"Lamb, seafood, and ice-cold beer?"
Amid the hushed silence of all the pirates, Salman picked up a napkin and nonchalantly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Though he found these foods rather unremarkable—just stews or barbecues, none of which he hadn't tried before—Byron's identity as a "former noble steward" and his confident demeanor still prompted a dangerous smile:
"Then I'll wait and see.
But, Chef, I believe you wouldn't want to know the consequences of failing to satisfy my appetite."
With that, he waved to his first mate, [Bonecrush] Miles, who was standing nearby.
The latter immediately placed a yellowed parchment the size of a nautical chart on the table before Byron.
"Even a chef who doesn't need to fight is still a pirate once aboard a pirate ship.
Rules must be followed.
This is the [Pirate's Ten Commandments] of the *Man-Eating Shark*. Leave your mark on it."
Hearing this, Byron looked at the parchment.
At the top was a pirate emblem of a skull crossed with two cutlasses, the prototype of all pirate flags on the high seas.
The paper below was nearly covered with bloody fingerprints, but the ten commandments written on it were still legible.
Moreover.
In his [Spiritual Vision], he could clearly see that this parchment was connected to a vast web of the [Silver Law].
Undoubtedly, it contained the extraordinary power of the Law!
The world's extraordinary system is quite simple.
The [Silver Law] is like a magical network, covering the entire known world, every human extraordinary, and even every human being.
According to the Church's teachings, it was the [Silver Law], created by the Creator, that brought order to the human world, protecting God's people from harm.
It is the Law that extends into sequences such as the Temple Sequence, the Tribunal Sequence, the Tower Sequence, the Hospital Sequence, the Arena Sequence, the Fortress Sequence, the Gold Sequence, the Lighthouse Sequence...
Together, they form the vast extraordinary system known as the [Ladder of Glory].
From the literal meaning, it's clear.
"Sequence" essentially refers to specific organizations within human society, while "rank" corresponds to one's position within the organization.
The most typical example is: King, Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, Baron—these titles not only represent nobility but also, to some extent, the mainstream power system.
Human society, from religion to nations, ethnic groups, guilds, and associations—everything is woven into a tightly knit web.
Divine authority above! Royal authority in the middle! All professions below!
In one sentence: Humanity is supreme, and glory belongs to the collective!
As is well known, every organization has its own principles and operating rules.
Thus, under the [Silver Law], every extraordinary sequence, even every profession, has its own maxims and commandments.
Take the sailor's code, the [Pirate's Ten Commandments], for example.
The ten commandments on each pirate ship vary slightly but are largely similar.
The original text all comes from the [Pirate Code] established by the first pirate emperor of the Baymen a thousand years ago.
"[Pirate's Ten Commandments] (*Man-Eating Shark*):
1. Everyone has an equal vote, but the captain's orders must be strictly followed.
2. Fairness for all; the capable rise, the incompetent fall.
3. Lights out at 8 PM; drinking is prohibited thereafter, and boarding the deck is forbidden from 2 to 4 AM.
4. Weapons must be kept clean and ready for use at all times.
5. Women are not allowed to join the crew. If a crew member brings a woman to sea, he will be executed, unless she is an extraordinary.
6. Those who delay in battle or flee will be put to death.
7. Private fights are forbidden. Those who kill a companion without cause will be tied to the deceased and buried at sea.
8. Those disabled in battle may remain on the ship without work and receive 40 gold pounds from the 'common fund.'
9. Betrayal of the pirate crew is forbidden.
10. All plunder must be shared. The captain takes 15%, officers and the vanguard, carpenter, doctor, and chef take 25%, ordinary crew members take 40%, and the remaining 20% goes to the repair fund and common savings.
The ten commandments may be amended by a vote of the entire crew."
Byron had seen many captured [Pirate's Ten Commandments] at the Royal Naval Academy.
After carefully reading it twice, aside from the captain enjoying the highest immunity, he found no hidden traps.
Still, he cautiously signed his name with a quill pen.
Rather than leaving a bloody fingerprint like the illiterate pirates.
His knowledge of natural history told him that any biological material from his body could become a medium for curses or prophecies.
Immediately, a second [Anchor] of spiritual light was cast, making Byron feel more secure.
Thus, he officially became a member of the *Man-Eating Shark*, joining an organization where he could share risks with others.
The [Logbook] also recorded its first official entry.
"Date: October 17, 1471, Silver Calendar.
Based on [Talent: Weather Intuition]: Today, fog turning to clear skies. At 1:35 PM, a sudden northeast wind of level 6, shifting to level 7 in three hours, with moderate waves...
Route: North Sea, near the Channel Islands, sailing with a tailwind.
Ship's supplies: Pirate ship (small galleon), cloth, ironware..."
Just then, a sudden strong northeast wind scattered the sea fog.
Clang! Clang! Clang!...
The alarm bells on the *Man-Eating Shark*'s main mast rang out, and a lookout shouted in alarm:
"Trouble! The navy is here!"
Byron also turned sharply toward the northeast, toward the Channel Islands.
About four or five nautical miles away, a ship larger than the *Man-Eating Shark* had quietly appeared.
At the top of its mast flew the black flag with a blood-red cross, representing the Kingdom of Hastings, the white rose noble flag of the York family.
And the swallow-tailed pennant of the ship's captain.
It was a... fifth-rate frigate from the Hastings Kingdom's Channel Fleet.
Riding the increasingly fierce northeast wind, it was charging straight toward the pirate ship!