Yusuf Karamanli refused to lose this precious momentum when meeting Emperor Erwin Torquis.
Moreover, as a Pasha, Yusuf shared an equivalent rank.
He spurred his horse forward, accompanied by two loyal guards, Saamir al-Fares and Haazim el-Maroun, while Arhab al-Harroun was stationed as troop commander to hold his position during the meeting with the Emperor.
Additionally, Saamir al-Fares and Haazim el-Maroun possessed skilled cavalry and archery techniques, enabling them to protect Pasha Yusuf from danger.
The faster he rode, the more unsettled Yusuf’s heart felt as he fixated on his next steps and the upcoming encounter.
Meanwhile, Oni Mask was deep in thought alongside Emperor Erwin.
As they strategized, Oni Mask walked over and turned toward the Torquis Empire troops, casually stretching his legs out over a tree branch.
Flicking his left fingers, Oni Mask opened a book titled Kaleidoscope, which was inscribed with ancient text readable only by otherworlders.
Emperor Erwin had asked Oni Mask for assistance, and while he was initially confused because studying it would normally take time, Oni Mask’s blinks miraculously translated the contents automatically.
He desperately wanted to tell Emperor Erwin about the process, but held back since he didn’t trust him a hundred percent.
Besides, from Oni Mask’s perspective, his alliance with the blonde-haired man was purely temporary.
“I have no choice but to share this with the Emperor,” Oni Mask muttered as he dropped down from the tree.
He landed squarely on his right foot, sending autumn leaves scattering across the ground and causing the Torquis Empire troops to grow restless.
Oni Mask’s presence created an uneasy atmosphere, prompting one of the knights to stare in wide-eyed shock.
Emperor Erwin, however, had already anticipated his sudden appearance.
“Have you translated everything?” Emperor Erwin asked.
“I didn’t translate it.
I just understood the contents instantly.”
“Important?”
“I believe it’s a weapon to negotiate with him.”
That was Oni Mask’s only reply.
Emperor Erwin glanced at the youth, then looked over at one of the knights with a subtle smile, signaling him to read a brief overview of the target.
“Yusuf Karamanli,” Oni Mask murmured, uttering his name.
The Kaleidoscope book emitted a brilliant glow as blue particles formed circles ranging from small to large, conjuring the image of a man spanning from his youth to his older years alongside ancient text bearing the name “Yusuf Karamanli”.
Yusuf held a long and prominent name in Libya at the time: Yusuf (ibn Ali) Karamanli, Caramanli, Qaramanli, or al-Qaramanli (most commonly Yusuf Karamanli), living from 1766 to 1838.
He was a Pasha known for ruling from 1795 to 1832 under the Karamanli dynasty (1711–1835) in Tripolitania, which is modern-day Libya.
In 1796, Karamanli drafted and signed the Treaty of Tripoli, which permitted American commercial vessels to pass through Tripolitan waters.
By 1801, Karamanli allegedly breached the agreement by demanding a tribute of $225,000 from the third U.S.
President, Thomas Jefferson.
Convinced of the fledgling U.S.
Navy’s capability—newly reinforced by the construction of six heavy frigates starting in 1797—Jefferson refused the Pasha’s demands.
This led the Pasha to unofficially declare war in May 1801 by chopping down the flagpole bearing the American flag in front of the U.S.
consulate.
The U.S.
Navy attempted to blockade the port of Tripoli using a squadron dispatched by President Jefferson in 1803.
Following a few early military successes, notably the capture of the American frigate USS Philadelphia in October 1803, the Pasha soon found himself under severe threat after a raid led by U.S. Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
Navy Lieutenant Stephen Decatur burned and sank the Philadelphia right in Tripoli harbor.
By 1805, following defeat at the Battle of Derna and the recruitment of his ousted brother Hamet Karamanli’s alliance by American military officer and diplomatic consul William Eaton, Karamanli was forced to surrender.
He signed a treaty with American envoy Tobias Lear of the U.S.
Department of State, officially ending the war on June 10, 1805.
Yet, this did not mean Yusuf Karamanli’s trials were over, for he had committed a fatal error: slaughtering the leaders of the al-Jawazi tribe at the Benghazi palace.
Yusuf had suspected they were plotting a coup or a sudden strike, but no such plot existed, leading him to order a mass killing instead.
A total of 10,000 people were murdered, including women and children, marking a dark chapter in his history.
Though he tried to bury the memory, he could not erase his grave mistake.
“Perhaps I should leave before you arrive,” Oni Mask remarked.
“What do you mean?” Emperor Erwin asked.
“Have you ever heard of a place called the Blockers Library?”
“The Blockers Library?
I know of it.
Surely…
don’t tell me you—”
“That’s right.
The Kaleidoscope book was likely found in the Blockers Library.”
However, the artifact began to fade as a beam of light shot up into the sky.
Truthfully, Emperor Erwin needed someone capable of navigating trouble, specifically individuals competent enough to combat future enemies.
Furthermore, Oni Mask was deeply curious about figures like Mata Hari and Idi Amin, whom the Kaleidoscope book did not detail extensively, though it hinted at the emergence of other otherworlders—though the exact number remained unknown.
Every time Oni Mask crossed paths with them, he felt his blood surge, fueling his desire for expansion.
His magical energy swirled to form an orange cylindrical sphere, leading the Torquis Empire troops to assume he was simply showing off.
Across from him, Emperor Erwin was taken aback by Oni Mask’s sheer power and unyielding resolve, a thin smile playing on the blonde man’s lips.
“Very well.
I won’t stop you.”
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
“But remember, I am assigning you a new member.”
“A new member?
What would I need one for?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Knowing Oni Mask wouldn’t turn down a free resource, Emperor Erwin thought for a moment and stroked his chin, deciding it wasn’t a bad bargain after all.
I’ll accept your offer, but I’m prioritizing the Blockers Library before recruiting your member.
Deal?”
“I have no objections.
As long as it benefits us both, I see no problem.
Besides…
I want you to meet a hermit witch.”
“A hermit witch?”
Beneath his oni mask, his face twisted into a frown as he spoke of the hermit witch, curious about her achievements.
Her recorded name was Esmeralda, the Iron Witch.
“Esmeralda is a witch who is difficult to negotiate with unless there’s something in it for her.”
Oni Mask bowed his head briefly.
Inside his mask, a floating message stated that her answer awaited him at Astronema Hill.
Meanwhile, two ships named the Morrigan and the Astaerth were navigating the open sea, belting out sea shanties—traditional work songs that kept spirits high among the crew.
These tunes were helmed by their respective captains, America ‘Pieces of Eight’ Devdan and Justine ‘The Legend’ Gabriel.
Sea shanties, also known as singing huts, formed a genre of traditional folk music once used as work songs to accompany rhythmic labor aboard large merchant sailing vessels.
Found mostly on British and other European ships with roots in folklore and legend, the term originally referred strictly to specific work songs in historical repertoars, though modern popular usage occasionally broadened its scope to encompass maritime work songs in general.
Though its etymological origins remain uncertain, the word “shanty” emerged in the mid-19th century to describe a distinct genre of work songs that flourished primarily on merchant vessels in the decades leading up to the American Civil War, though precursors existed earlier.
Originally, shanties served to synchronize labor, blending physical effort with characteristic vocal harmony to maximize efficiency despite smaller crews operating on tighter schedules.
The practice of singing shanties eventually became ubiquitous internationally throughout the wind-driven packet and clipper ship eras.
Both captains were thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the ocean, crossing the vast seas on an adventure together while dressed in full pirate attire complete with parrots.
Yet neither ever underestimated their adversaries, relying on their mastered magic abilities and swordsmanship.
Furthermore, their hulls were outfitted with cannon weaponry packed with magical powder, primed to fire at a moment’s notice.
“Lad, don’t stop singing!
We can’t let Anne Bonny steal our edge.”
“Anne Bonny?
Ha!
That woman ruined our plans!
If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t let her take everything!” Justine shouted.
“Oh, come on!
You know me!
Because of her, our business with Viscount Emilio completely tanked!
The least we can do is teach her a lesson!” Devdan growled.
“Absolutely!
Let’s show her what real pirates look like!”
With boundless enthusiasm, they cut across the ocean waves, completely unaware that they were also heading straight toward a very different kind of vessel—one capable of diving deep beneath the sea