Ch.159Report on the Downfall of Charity (1)

# Unlike the Empire ruled by a single emperor, the Eastern Union is a confederation of politically and economically independent city-states.

For Imperial citizens unfamiliar with the concept of independence, let me briefly explain: it means one nation neither interferes with nor is interfered with by another nation’s decisions.

This arrangement was possible due to the natural environment of the East, consisting of over a thousand islands.

Even the greatest strategist is meaningless if orders cannot reach the army. Similarly, a ruler’s governance can only be effective when supported by transportation and communication.

The Empire, Southern Kingdom, and Western and Northern pagans all travel by land. With just one horse and one messenger, great commands can be sent to the farthest reaches of the territory.

But not in the East.

To deliver orders, one must endure the inconvenience of crossing the sea by ship. Setting aside that the sea is far more dangerous than land, the cost of moving a single ship is incomparable to that of land travel.

For this reason, the Eastern Union never developed beyond “city-states.”

Moving armies to destroy rebels or delivering a single message was too costly, which led to diminished governance. Consequently, they had to be content with territories of “reasonable size.”

Of course, there were aggressive city-states, but they rarely lasted more than 10 to 20 years. Ironically, they self-destructed. Shipbuilding during the city-state formation period was crude, and naval combat doctrine was virtually nonexistent—tactics consisted mainly of ramming enemy ships or boarding them for hand-to-hand combat.

As a result, “strong military” meant conscripting young men and women who should have been building families, having children, and supporting society.

Even if they conscripted slaves indiscriminately to maintain the military, in situations with insufficient farmland and forests for harvesting, the strength and resources to sustain excessively large territories rapidly diminished.

Realizing that occupation was inefficient, Eastern leaders proposed an alternative: plunder and exploitation. A tactic that preserved territory and labor while reducing expenses by taking only what they wanted from others.

The beginning was surely sweet. However, this soon pushed the Eastern Union states into an endless hell. Everyone coveted what others had while trying to protect their own.

Unless they engaged in all-out war, maintaining a certain size of military force was a tremendous pressure on leaders. Moreover, these organized armies couldn’t be deployed for more productive activities like fishing or trade because they never knew when enemies might arrive.

A sense of crisis spread that everyone would perish at this rate. Eventually, Venelucia, the largest and most powerful city-state, sent a “humble proposal” to each city-state.

This proposal, summarized as “Ships belong to individuals, but ports belong to everyone,” was reluctantly but gladly accepted by the city leaders.

The pirates were the ones in trouble. There were far more pirates than the naval forces the Union agreed to maintain.

Pirates were divided into three categories.

The first group gave up “four-fifths” of their property to their chosen city-state and agreed to live as citizens.

The second group surrendered “three-fifths” but served as naval forces or privateer pirates. They refused to live as members of confining cities but knew continuing piracy was hopeless.

Initially, these pirates targeted islands that hadn’t joined the state union, with encouragement from powerful islands like Venelucia. Eventually, when even the most resistant islands surrendered, they gradually began invading Northern pagan territories and the eastern Empire.

However, this group was soon assigned to another task: hunting down the third group—those who remained pirates.

Those who remained pirates surrendered nothing. They moved between islands and attacked legitimate merchant ships.

While the united navy was certainly formidable, they couldn’t catch pirates—not because they lacked power, but because they were too slow, like trying to catch mosquitoes with a knight’s lance.

Eventually, city-states deployed privateer fleets against pirate fleets. This confrontation, described as a battle between wild boars and domestic pigs, didn’t end easily.

Though the Eastern Union denies it, Imperial informants explain why pirate fleets haven’t been eradicated:

The five major cities, including Venelucia, preserve them for “matters requiring covert violence.”

This could involve violence between cities, conflicts between power holders, or struggles between guilds.

However, some argue this can’t be interpreted solely through political logic. One such claim came from Beatrice Dandolo, once known as the “Lioness of Venelucia,” a now-deceased Eastern politician.

She pointed out that these struggles stimulate a subtle romanticism among city dwellers. Islanders, tired of oppressive and exploitative “city life,” yearn for near-lawless freedom and self-responsibility.

For most Union citizens, pirates fulfill the romantic ideals they aspire to but dare not pursue.

She cited as evidence the popularity of pirate-centered narratives among the Union’s middle and lower classes.

Beatrice’s argument recalls the famous saying: “The world often forgives criminals, but shows no mercy to dreamers.”

A captured pirate isn’t merely an arrested criminal but a scoundrel who has transformed citizens’ romance and dreams into sordid, dirty reality.

For islanders, the greatest insult is to be called “someone not even worthy of standing ground.” Pirates deserve such insult.

Therefore, pirates aren’t imprisoned on land but at sea. They’re confined to ships chained beyond breakwaters far away, built to block rough waves.

These ships have no crew, no captain. No helmsman, no slaves rowing. The rudder is destroyed, masts completely cut down, with only anchors and chains remaining.

Over time, Eastern politicians realized these sea prisons were quite efficient.

First, they could use precious land more effectively. The fear of “being banished from land” also made people more compliant.

Once imprisoned, prisoners established their own hierarchy without needing supervisors, which was satisfying.

After all, pirates live in groups. As people who risk their lives to share interests, their sense of “distribution” and “justice” rivals the fairness of Imperial courts.

Over time, these “prison ships” became more diverse. Minor offenders, major criminals, and those deserving extreme punishment like pirates were imprisoned separately.

Originally, they were all mixed together, but this changed after numerous controversies about excessive punishment, as those imprisoned with pirates—whether minor or major offenders—never returned alive.

The official name is “prison ship,” but city people call them “ships of fools.” After all, what greater fool exists than a captured pirate?

– On Ships of Fools Floating Aimlessly Without Rudder or Mast, by Professor Osrant Koch, Department of Literary Arts, Southern Imperial Academy

* * * * *

Kain furrowed his brow. He couldn’t hear clearly.

A faint sound tickled his ears. It sounded like passionate cries from a darkened house at night, or the unified shouts of thousands of soldiers in training, or his mother’s call heard after running on hills until sunset when sweat began to cool.

‘Where have I heard this before?’

He couldn’t remember clearly. He tried to move his lips, but his mouth was torn both inside and out, making it difficult. The pain of flesh tearing added to his discomfort, but it wasn’t enough to restore his reason.

What came to mind was a completely unrelated memory. Morning sunlight through the window of the Dandolo villa. The taste and scent of thinly sliced lemon with honey spread on just one side. Beatrice taking a bite of that lemon.

The white ribbon tying her hair was the same as last night, but her clothes were different. Last night she wore candlelight and darkness; this morning she wore sunlight.

“Lazy one. Even worms wouldn’t eat you.”

Beatrice’s reproach. Kain protests.

“You bit me all night. It hurt so much.”

Without much emotion, she meticulously licks the honey from her long, slender white fingers.

“When you embrace a rose, you should be prepared for that much.”

“You should have stabbed me instead. This lasts longer.”

“That was the intention.”

At this absurd answer, Kain was speechless. Beatrice sighs and throws the lemon peel out the window.

“I had to leave bite marks so you wouldn’t go around taking your clothes off elsewhere. Whether to flirt with other women. Or to treat wounds from a sword.”

“That’s a complicated way of telling me to be careful and take care of myself.”

“I’m saying it to myself. Because I want to devour you.”

Gulp. The woman who ate lemon and honey swallows her saliva.

Saliva is the water of life; both producing and drinking it are signs of vitality. But since one cannot fill their stomach with saliva, lemon, and honey, Beatrice saunters toward her prey.

But Kain isn’t ready yet. His mouth is still dry.

“Are you really not bothered? Even though you knew who I was last night?”

He knew it was a foolish question, but he needed confirmation. He needed reassurance that what happened last night wasn’t due to alcohol or passion.

“One.” Beatrice extends a finger.

“The fact that an Imperial Security Bureau agent came all the way here means I have value to the Empire. Since I have value, you shouldn’t kill me. Rather, you should protect me from those trying to kill me.

Two. The Empire and the Union are competitors, not at war. And the stronger my influence grows, the more beneficial it is for the Empire. The more I bite at my father, and the more he tries to capture and kill me, the greater the rupture in the Union. So keeping me alive is advantageous from the Empire’s perspective.”

Kain looked uncomfortably at the finger that remained extended. Beatrice was still pointing her middle finger directly at him.

“…What about the rest?”

Beatrice merely wiggles her middle finger.

“Three. From the moment I first saw you until now, there hasn’t been a single moment when I felt ‘unbothered.’ You’re so insensitive, not understanding people’s feelings. Don’t try to find fault with me.”

Kain’s stomach growled. His mouth filled with saliva. The lioness pounces toward him. When their tongues intertwined, the tangy lemon scent and honey taste made Kain even hungrier.

Beatrice has no interest in Kain’s hunger. She only uses and takes. Because she’s a politician.

Her fingers sweep across the white plate, wiping off honey. She raises her hand toward the sun, like examining a jewel. The sweetness bathed in morning sunlight flows, illuminating the brilliance of the sea.

Another growling sound. He couldn’t hide it. Beatrice approaches, waving her honey-covered finger.

“Want to eat?”

Her teasing gaze angers him.

“Not answering?”

As if to show him, Beatrice brings her finger to her lips. She sticks out her tongue and licks it slowly. She puts it between her rounded lips and sucks. Looking at Kain, she brings another finger. Reluctantly, Kain slightly opens his mouth.

“That’s better.”

She places her finger on Kain’s lips. With her mouth, she bites Kain’s shoulder. She’s trying to leave another bite mark, claiming him as hers.

When a slight sound escapes from the pricking of her canine teeth, honey floods his mouth. Having successfully left her mark, Beatrice pushes Kain onto the bed and climbs on top.

Saliva fills both their mouths. Their eyes sparkle with mischief, but their unfilled stomachs are hungry. Food is right in front of them, covered only by a thin blanket. And one cannot eat with a tablecloth on.

“I’m going to have breakfast. Want to join me?”

Kain smiled. Hearing the proposal, Beatrice threw the blanket aside. The ribbon tying her hair came undone and fell, but the lovers, focused on their meal, didn’t notice.

Because they were hungry.