Lord: I can see loyalty.

Before nightfall, the Southern Navy finally returned to Keslow Village.

Sailors, knights, and militiamen who were still in good physical condition began to carry the spoils of war back to Bordeaux, while others who were too exhausted to continue the battle simply rested in the village.

Of the seven captured warships, two were deemed unusable by the old craftsmen among the Black Pearl pirates, while the rest were incorporated into the Southern Navy.

The Southern Navy and the Black Pearl Pirates' twelve new and old warships were moored together, making the seventeen warships appear particularly crowded at the docks of Keslow Village.

…………

The next day.

Western border, Frido Port.

Inside the Frido Stone Tower, the tallest and most prominent building in Frido Port, the fireplace was burning brightly, but it couldn't dispel the oppressive atmosphere inside.

Philip sat in a high-backed chair covered with sea animal skins, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests, making a slightly impatient sound.

Before him knelt three trembling pirates, the only three survivors who had fought their way back the previous night.

They swam for an unknown amount of time before being discovered by fishermen from the western border. They were covered in wounds, pale-faced, and too afraid to even lift their heads.

"What did you say?" Philip's voice was soft and calm, yet unsettling. "Say it again."

The pirate kneeling at the front swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "M-Sir... all seven warships... all gone..."

"All gone?" Philip repeated, still not angry, only tilting his head slightly.

"I sent out seven warships and over two hundred men, and you're telling me they're all gone?"

"Yes, yes..." The pirate lowered his head even further.

"The southern border was well-prepared, led by Axel, the Black Pearl, with archers on land providing support... and new warships are pursuing us from behind. We are truly..."

That's enough.

Philip stood up and slowly walked up to the pirate.

Then, he kicked the man in the chest!

"Bang!"

The pirate was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall with a dull thud.

He curled up on the ground, clutching his chest, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but dared not utter a sound.

"More than two hundred men!" Philip's voice finally rose, the facade of calm on his face shattering completely. "Seven warships! Not a single one has returned. Did you go to fight, or to die?!"

"Spare us, my lord! Spare us, my lord!" The remaining two pirates kowtowed desperately, their foreheads slamming against the floor with loud thuds.

"Spare my life?" Philip sneered, stomping on the head of the nearest pirate and grinding it hard. "You still have the nerve to ask me to spare your life?"

"Alright, alright, Philip."

A lazy voice came from the side.

Derek leaned back in his chair, slowly sipping a glass of wine, his behavior completely at odds with his imposing physique.

His face showed obvious schadenfreude, but his tone was relatively restrained.

"What's the point of killing them? Besides, the group we sent out to die weren't even our real men."

"That's right." Another voice rang out, cool and distant.

Timothy sat on the other side of the long table, still with that indifferent expression. She didn't even look at the kneeling pirates, but stared at the shimmering sea outside the window, as if it were all irrelevant to her.

"Seven ships, two hundred people, only one of which is a real warship, and most of the manpower was handpicked from the fishermen of the Western Territory."

"It's not a bad deal to use it to test the waters of the Southern Territory." Derek put down his glass, grinned, and said, "At least now you know that the young count is indeed no ordinary man."

Philip took a deep breath and slowly released his foot. The pirate felt as if he had been granted a pardon. On the ground, they scrambled and crawled to the corner of the wall.

"Not simple?" Philip turned around and walked back to his seat, his tone tinged with barely concealed annoyance. "Since when has the Southern Territory had a navy that's not simple?"

After he sat down, he started tapping his fingers on the armrest again.

"Even at the height of the Southern Territory's power ten years ago, its navy was still a laughingstock of the kingdom."

Those dilapidated fishing boats, converted from their original vessels, didn't even dare to go out to sea; they only dared to linger in the coastal waters.

"Five years ago, the southern coast was robbed seven or eight times by our western pirates, but they didn't dare to utter a sound."

He paused, his gaze turning somber.

"And now? That bastard Axel joined them, and in just one winter, they have ships and men capable of fighting?"

"Now that you mention it, it's not just the Navy that finds it strange." Derek's smile faded, and he became unusually serious. "Think about it, who is Axel? A desperate outlaw like us, someone who doesn't know what tomorrow will bring. Why would he be so devoted to that little count?"

Philip remained silent.

This is also what he can't understand.

Pirates value profit above all else; they might risk their lives for you today, but they'll betray you for even greater gains tomorrow.

Axel was able to stay in the Southern Territory for so long, and even brought the entire Black Pearl to join him. What exactly did that little count give them?

"Regardless," Philip began slowly, "I underestimated them this time. I only intended to test them, but I didn't expect..."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "I didn't expect the Southern Territory to react so quickly, and I certainly didn't expect them to be so capable."

"Fast?" Derek scoffed. "Your men went yesterday, and the news came back today. You call that fast? I think you just walked right into their line of fire."

Philip glared at him, but didn't argue.

"So what's the plan now?" Timothy finally turned his gaze away from the window, his tone as indifferent as an outsider. "You've lost seven ships, you can't just let it go like this, can you?"

"Forget it?" Philip sneered. "When have I, Philip, ever suffered such a loss?"

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the warships moored in the harbor.

There are more than a dozen ships of all sizes. Most of the remaining ones are real warships, but some are converted merchant ships and can still be used.

"That little count in the South must be very smug right now." His voice was low, with a hint of gritted teeth. "He thinks he's won, and that his bunch of scoundrels can really go out to sea."

"But I want him to know..."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the two people at the long table.

"This is just a test; the real battle has not yet begun."

Derek raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Are you getting serious?"

"Let's get serious..." Philip said, emphasizing each word. "Gather everyone together. I want the Southern Territory to know who's in charge of this sea."

Timothy didn't speak, but simply picked up her glass, took a small sip, and stared at the swirling liquid inside, her thoughts unreadable.

Derek grinned, stood up, and dusted off his clothes.

"Alright, I'll go back and prepare. Send someone to let me know when to make your move."

He walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back at Philip.

"By the way, don't underestimate us this time. If you lose a few more ships, your title of 'Lord of the West' will really become a joke. Don't let us lose face along with you."

Philip's face darkened, but Derek had already pushed open the door and left, leaving behind only a string of unrestrained laughter.

Timothy also stood up and walked towards the door without saying a word.

"Wait, Timothy," Philip called to her.

She stopped, but did not turn around.

"Let's put the North aside for now. I really need your ship in the South."

Timothy remained silent for a moment.

This was a rare instance of Philip proactively seeking help from Timothy. Everyone, including the people involved and the pirates in the West, knew that Philip looked down on Timothy.

"It's my ship, and I decide what to do with it," she said calmly. "If I think the Southern Territory is worth fighting for, I will. If I don't think it's worth it, your opinion won't matter."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and went out.

Philip was the only one left in the hall.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, casting flickering light on his face. He stared at the closed door for a long time before slowly clenching his fist.

"The Southern Border..."

He muttered to himself, his voice filled with suppressed anger and a hint of apprehension that even he himself was unaware of.

"I'd like to see how many more surprises you can give me."

The world created by Tianci Liu can be found in "Lord: I Can See Loyalty".