Odys did not stand on ceremony with the navy. "Bazel, first mate of the Sword of Dawn, and Rupert, the second mate, both need the rank of lieutenant colonel. Bevis needs the rank of major.
"The combat captain and boatswain need the rank of captain, and the other crew members need the rank of lieutenant. Pay them according to rank."
Tim wrote it down. "I can give you an answer on that right now. No problem."
Odys continued, "Help me repair the large cruiser we just captured.
"From now on, I'm going to call myself a Pirate Admiral. I'd like the navy not to interfere."
"I'll coordinate it," Tim said. "You can sail the ship to Chaiker Island. There's a large shipyard there, and I'll send professionals over."
He paused, then added, "As for calling yourself a Pirate Admiral, the navy certainly won't interfere, but there will definitely be a bounty on your head."
Odys smiled. "A bounty isn't a problem. If anything, it'll bring plenty of bounty hunters straight to my door."
Tim froze for a moment before saying, "Wait here. I'll report your requests."
Three or four minutes later, Tim returned with a smile. "His Excellency clearly thinks highly of you. He agreed to every condition you raised and even said we could attend the banquet about to begin.
"There's also this."
As he spoke, he took out a deep-black crystal. "His Excellency said that if you pour spirituality into this, he'll be able to sense your location.
"But it only works within the Rorsted Archipelago and the western Sonia Sea."
Odys accepted the black crystal and immediately understood: those two regions were under Loen's rule.
Then he smiled. "If I just leave now, wouldn't that be rather disrespectful to the admiral?"
"Yes!" Tim sounded a little nervous.