Lord: I can see loyalty.

Port Soldato, with its prominent stone fortress.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire fortress in a golden-red hue, and the sea breeze poured in through the open windows, slowly diluting the lingering stench of blood left behind by Derrick before his death.

Vio stood in the stands, watching the Southern Border soldiers below who were carrying out the takeover work in an orderly manner, silently planning his next move.

"Your Excellency."

A lazy female voice came from behind.

Vio turned around and saw Jimmy leading someone onto the stands.

It's Timothy.

She changed her clothes today, no longer wearing the tight-fitting outfit of a pirate captain.

Instead, he wore a dark blue robe, with exquisite iron shoulder armor beneath the cloak, and the two slender swords still hung at his waist.

Her hair was tied up high, revealing her delicate face, but her expression was more solemn than usual.

"Count Vio." She walked up to Vio, gave a slight bow, and said in a steady voice, "Congratulations on taking over the port of Soldato."

Vio simply looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"You made a special trip here, surely not just to congratulate me?"

Timothy looked up and met his gaze, a hint of a smile flashing in his bluish-gray eyes.

"Of course, it's not just for congratulations," she said. "I'm here to give a gift."

She turned to the side, waved behind her, and two attendants carried a heavy wooden box up to the stands, placed it in front of Vio, and then stepped back.

Timothy bent down and opened the box.

The box was full, with several rolls of parchment on top and gold and silver utensils and fine fabrics faintly visible below.

She took out the rolls of parchment and handed them to Vio.

"This is a topographical map of the western coast, marking all the reefs, shoals, and suitable landing sites," she said. "It also includes the approximate location of Ulysses and Finn's stronghold, as well as the distribution of their forces. It took my men years to compile this complete map."

Vio took the scroll, opened it, and scanned the dense annotations on it. The content was indeed detailed, much more complete than what he had sent the Brotherhood to investigate.

"This gift is quite substantial; I could never repay it." He closed the parchment and smiled at Timothy.

Timothy did not avoid his gaze, but simply looked at him quietly.

"Count Vio." She suddenly knelt on one knee, her right hand pressed against her chest, her voice unusually solemn!

"I, Timothy, a nobody among the pirates of the West, wish to lead all my fleets and warriors to formally join the Southern Territory and pledge my allegiance to you."

Vio was slightly taken aback.

He had considered that Timothy's trip was to exchange more information with him, but this time, he really hadn't expected it.

Outside the stands, Jimmy and several knights were also stunned, and then they all took a few steps back to give the two space.

Timothy looked up, his usual languidness and aloofness gone from his grayish-blue eyes, replaced by a serious earnestness.

"I've met many people in my life," she said. "Some are greedy and cunning like Philip, some are selfish and powerful like Derek... but you are different."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "I can sense that you have the ability, the strategy, and the courage."

"I have heard about your acceptance of Axel and the Black Pearl pirates, and I am amazed by your courage. After all, cooperating with pirates is like asking a tiger for its skin."

"And your tolerance of Arnold the Sea Bear, and your trust in me, your former enemy... all of these show me that you are different from the pirate kings of the West."

"I believe you can bring true order and prosperity to the West."

Her voice faded in the sea breeze, yet reached Vio's ears clearly. "And I am willing to join this order, Timothy is willing to serve you."

Vio looked down at her and remained silent for a moment.

Finally, he bent down slightly and reached out to help Timothy up.

"Get up," he said.

Timothy stood up and looked at him.

Vio turned around and looked at the distant sea, which was dyed golden red by the setting sun.

After a moment, he spoke, his voice unusually serious and earnest:

"The Western and Southern borders are adjacent and should have traded with each other to prosper together. However, for many years, pirates have been rampant in the Western border and have colluded with nobles, causing great suffering to the people."

"Now Philip is dead, and Derek has been eliminated, but the West is not yet completely pacified."

He turned around and looked at Timothy.

"I do need someone to stand guard in the West and manage this land for me."

Timothy's pupils flickered slightly, but he didn't speak.

"You are very familiar with the Western Regions, and your ability to dominate a region there shows that you are very capable," Vio continued.

"Given that the nobles of the Western Border have long been colluding with pirates, no one is capable of undertaking this important task. As the Earl of the Southern Border, I need to return to handle affairs on the northern and southern borders in the near future and have no time to stay here for an extended period."

He paused, then spoke solemnly:

"I, Vio Ross, Earl of the Southern Border, hereby appoint you, Timothy, as the interim commander of the Western Border, until the Kingdom formally appoints you."

Timothy stared at Vio for a moment, then knelt down on one knee again.

"Timothy will not fail the Earl's trust."

Seeing that the other person had said the last sentence, Vio helped her up again and finally smiled.

"Alright, stop being so serious," he said. "I'm really not used to you acting like this. You actually know all this etiquette?"

Timothy looked up, met his smiling eyes, paused for a moment, and then smiled too.

The smile returned to its usual relaxed state.

"What, does Your Excellency think I've been frivolous in the past?" She raised an eyebrow, her tone returning to its usual playful tone.

Vio chuckled softly and simply shook his head.

The two stood side by side on the stands, gazing at the gradually darkening sky in the distance, the last rays of sunlight casting long shadows of them.

"What are your plans to do about the capital?" Timothy suddenly asked, his tone calm.

Vio also remained silent for a moment.

"It is indeed very troublesome." He frowned slightly and finally spoke, "I have learned a lot of information during this period of time. The Golden Mane Griffin family is probably not that simple. There are at least three factions."

"Do you need my help?"

Vio only glanced at her.

"No need. Just keep an eye on the western border as we just discussed." Vio glanced at the northern border on the map in the hall. "The affairs of the northern capital are not really that urgent, and Ulysses' knights are not so simple either."

"So next, it will be up to you and me to deal with the remaining two pirate kings."

Timothy chuckled and nodded. "Don't worry, my men are always at your service."

Vio didn't reply, but just looked towards the central western region, in the direction where Ulysses was.

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