The Westwind Scream, the Empire's first-class three-masted battleship. Once upon a time, this was the reliance of the empire on all seas. When hundreds of Imperial first-class warships cruised the sea, there were hardly any forces that could match them and want to compete.

It's a pity that it was hundreds of years ago. With the rise of the kingdom and the various powers. The vast sea is no longer the backyard of the empire. The battle at sea caused the actual area of control of the empire to shrink little by little. And because the vast sea area is no longer under the control of the Empire, the Empire's support and investment in the navy has become more and more thin.

The glory of the Empire's first-class warships has become a thing of the past. Although it is still the largest sail warship in the world, it is no longer able to compete with the top warships of various forces.

This was the most humiliating thing for the arrogant Imperial Navy. For hundreds of years, they have tried countless times to regain control of the seas and reclaim the glory that belonged to the Imperial Navy. It's just a pity that they don't have the ability to do it all. Neither enemies outside the empire, nor the magnates within the empire, are not allowed to do so. So year after year, all they can do is grow old with these already old ships.

As the captain of the Westwind Scream, Cameron was a naval officer with the rank of major within the Imperial Navy. This was almost unthinkable at the height of the empire. Because at that time, the first-class warships of the empire were often only owned by the upper echelons of the empire, and the upper echelons of the empire often only represented those noble officers.

In the special branch of the navy, the officers born of the nobility of the empire were not lower than those of lieutenant colonels. So naturally, a major from a civilian background like Cameron could not have been the captain of the Westwind Scream.

This is the time of a few hundred years, the Empire's navy has been declining, and the first-class warships that used to be used to earn meritorious service can only barely rely on maintaining the Empire's coasts and shipping lanes. It can be said that Cameron took advantage of such a special opportunity to have this status today. However, he was not satisfied with his current position.

For his part, Cameron prefers that the Empire's navy will be restored to its former glory. Because only in this way, as the captain of the West Wind Sorrow, can he break through the embarrassing identity in front of him in one fell swoop and enter the ranks of the imperial nobles.

Don't think it's anything simple. Over the past thousand years, with the gradual weakening of the empire, the way to obtain nobility by relying on military exploits in the past has been blocked. After the path of the few commoners who were already on the road was blocked, it was even more difficult for the commoners to obtain the status of nobles.

You must know that the canonization of the imperial nobles can only have legal support after being stamped with the emperor's seal. And unless you can get real military merits, you can barely bypass this hard rule, and there is no other way to obtain the canonization of nobles.

This can be seen from the dissatisfaction of the Empress when Mai Dingwen was canonized as a Baron of Midwinter by the Emperor. Because apart from the emperor, even the imperial empress, and even those great nobles do not have this right. They can only use the legions in their hands to make meager exploits everywhere, and use these exploits to provide a channel for their henchmen to be promoted.

However, the empire has been weakened for a long time, and it has always eaten more in defeats and less in victories, so these military exploits are simply more monks and less meat, and they are completely insufficient. Naturally, where is this turn to get Cameron as a guy from a civilian background?

Cameron has been in this position for nearly a decade, from a young man in the prime of life to a middle-aged man with gray temples. His ambitions and dreams have not improved in the slightest. He thought that his life might have to go over like this, that he would have to stop there forever. But he didn't expect that in the early spring of this cold winter, on this night when the stars were hidden in the dark clouds, the visit of an unexpected person brought an unexpected turn to his dream.

The fourth heir of the Blackthorns, Field Brambaus, has the power of an earldom. This is a big man Cameron never thought of, and his surprise visit also made Cameron lift his heart.

Having never received such a level of aristocracy, he knew very well that it was impossible for a small person like himself to attract the attention of such a big nobleman. He must have had some intention to visit him so suddenly in the middle of the night. And thinking of the order he had recently received that was signed directly by the Emperor, he immediately had a bad premonition.

The open and secret struggle between the emperor and the double-edged nobles was something that even a petty officer like him had heard of. And it was precisely because he knew all this that he did not want to be implicated. It's just that as a small person, he didn't refuse Field's courage, so even if he was very reluctant to have anything to do with Field in his heart, he still seriously entertained this special guest.

"Hot tea with snow thorns. This is a rare thing in King's Landing, I didn't expect Major Cameron to have such a good thing here!"

"After all, I'm guarding the Empire's Northern Sea Route, and those passing merchants want to give me a little meaning. ”

Brewing the powder from the fruit of the snow thorn tree in piping hot water, Cameron asked him as he offered him tea. "I don't know what the Earl's late-night visit is for? On such a night, and with your status, I really can't think of anything worthy of your visit by a little person like me?"

"You must have guessed something, didn't you?"

"What does it have to do with His Majesty's order? I don't understand, Your Excellency. What is the reason for you to do this, openly disobeying the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, even if you are a member of the Black Thorn Family, it should be a very serious problem. ”

Although Cameron asked these words with a precarious appearance, he could still see from his eyes how much uneasiness he had in his heart. And it was precisely because of this uneasiness that Field became even more fearless.

"Does this have anything to do with you, Mr. Major, with all due respect, you don't even have a title of nobility, so you don't seem to be qualified to participate in this kind of game. ”

"You're right, I don't have the qualifications. was put on such a disdainful look in front of Field, even though he had already been mentally prepared, Cameron couldn't help but feel a resentment in his heart. However, he knew that a small role like himself was not qualified to do anything to such a big nobleman. If he still wants to keep everything he has worked so hard for so many years, he has to keep his head down. It wasn't the first time, so quickly, he restrained the anger in his heart. Then, from another angle, he retorted to Field. "But if you want to do something, you can't get around me. If I don't agree, believe me, even if you are a member of the Black Thorn Family, you can't do anything on the sea. Don't forget, I'm the captain of the Westwind Scream!"

Cameren's words surprised Field, and immediately after the accident, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Can I see this as a provocation from you?" Major Cameren. You should know what it would mean to annoy a nobleman for an officer of civilian origin like you. Captain of the West Wind Howling, I only need to write a letter to turn you from captain to a sailor who cleans the deck. I don't know, do you believe the truth of what I say?"

"I believe it. Answering Field's threat in a deep voice, Cameron tried his best to suppress his uneasiness, in order to maintain a semblance of composure. He first picked up the teacup in front of him and carefully took a sip of the strong tea inside. Only when he felt that his rapid heartbeat had calmed down, he cautiously opened his mouth.

"But I think the people of the dignified Black Thorn Family should not waste their precious time on a small person like me. Moreover, from the perspective of time, if you do this, you will definitely miss the best opportunity to target Her Royal Highness the eldest princess. By the time you get the order for me from the naval headquarters in King's Landing, I'm sure I'll be on my way back to Riverrun. At that time, even if you made me a floor-mopping sailor again, what would it mean to you?"

Cameren's truth is very simple, but it is such a simple truth, but it makes the smile on Field's face slowly converge. He had to admit that he underestimated this guy who climbed step by step from mud legs to lieutenant of the Imperial Navy. He's a little tougher than he thought. But it doesn't matter, it's just a matter of how much or less you give. At this point, Field is quite confident. So soon, he changed his face and said to Cameron with a smile.

"If I'm not mistaken, Major Cameron, you've been in this position for many years. ”

"Twelve years!" Cameron naturally turned ugly at the mention of this question. And looking at his ugly face, Field immediately made a look of surprise.

"Twelve years? That's a long time. I remember that there was a rule in the Imperial military that as long as an officer who had served for more than ten years could be promoted by one rank in the original rank without any mistakes. I don't know what happened to you, Major Cameron, that you haven't been able to change the epaulettes on your shoulders for twelve years?"

"You should know why, Lord Count!"

"yes, I know why. Nodding his head, Field's face suddenly brightened. "Because you weren't born into a nobleman? How can a person who wasn't born from a nobility be promoted to the rank of an officer in the upper echelons of the empire? Isn't that a joke?"

He said this, not caring at all about Camiron's ugly face. Or rather, he deliberately said something that irritated him. Because then, he has already thrown his chips.

"But what if you become a nobleman?"