Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 355: Behold my stuff(4)

Chapter 355: Behold my stuff(4)

The Call was set to start in three days, leaving Blake with a limited window to make his mark and catch up to the other contenders. His dramatic entrance had been a strong start, memorable and bold, but anyone who thought that alone would secure his place was a fool.

Blake's accomplishments over the past year were undeniable. He had shattered the fragile treaty with the Empire, reigniting the old ways of raiding and conquest. His victory at Harmway was a defining moment, carving out a haven where the Free Lords and their crews could live as they once had—unbridled, untamed, and reigning over the seas like kings, with the only obstacle that prevented that being now in flame .

While notable achievements could earn respect, they were rarely the most effective way to secure votes—especially when the voting system was as open as the Confederation's. For matters of politics, only the Free Lords cast their votes, but when it came to military decisions—like assembling a fleet or choosing its leader—any man who owned a ship had the right to participate. This broad electorate transformed the process into something entirely different.

The "average voter" in this scenario wasn't a cultured statesman or a battle-hardened lord. No, it was the quintessential sea wolf—the rough-and-tumble, wine-soaked, thrill-chasing sailor who cared little for grand strategies or polished rhetoric. Winning in this arena required more than deeds or lineage; it meant appealing directly to the desires and ambitions of the everyday pirate. They wanted someone who could promise gold, glory, and endless plunder on the high seas.

There was a reason the democracy of Athens crumbled—a fatal flaw rooted in its greatest strength: the power it granted its citizens, which was the very meaning of democracy.