In a stone-and-timber tavern in Port Vias's dock district, Blackbeard lounged contentedly in a recliner on the veranda outside. Both feet were propped high on the railing as he hummed a tune and watched the sea in the distance, smooth as a sheet of blue satin.
A bottle of fine rum sat neatly on the railing by his feet, with less than half its dark red liquor remaining.
Blackbeard grabbed a handful of freshly hauled octopus tentacles, sizzling and fragrant from the iron griddle, and chewed them loudly with a crunch, crunch. After wolfing down over two pounds of tentacles, Blackbeard let out a satisfied belch.
With an oily hand, he tugged at the noble sash hanging across his chest and grinned smugly.
Governor-General of the Dragon Mountain Empire's capital region, Commander-in-Chief of the capital region's legions, Mayor of Dragon Mountain City, the imperial capital of the Dragon Mountain Empire; specially elevated Imperial Marquis Lin Hu; Elder of the Imperial Nobility Council; Elder of the Imperial Heraldry Institute; and Special Chief Inspector of the Imperial Inspectorate.
The string of titles seemed rather mismatched, but when kneaded together, there was only one phrase to describe them—power that towered over the heavens!
"My son's got more promise than his old man!" Blackbeard smacked his lips in satisfaction. Then he planted his feet heavily on the ground, climbed out of that cozy, comfortable recliner, lifted the bottle, drained the remaining rum in one gulp, and strode out of the tavern.
A large troop of fierce-looking dwarf warriors followed merrily behind Blackbeard, each carrying a bulging wineskin of barley ale. Their eyes and noses were crimson from drink, and liquor fumes billowed off them. They marched behind Blackbeard in neat ranks, like a mother duck leading a great flock of ducklings out for a