A week had passed since Spark Nighthawk and his women returned to Gutlark Town.
The stink of the capital. The distant memory of blood and fire. They had faded. Life here was simpler. Anchored by the familiar rhythm of small, peaceful, coastal town.
Spark had spent the afternoon down at the Gutlark Main Shipyard. Supervising the development of his ordered sky-ship. It was coming along.
The engineers were scratching their heads over the custom rune matrices he'd commissioned. But progress was steady. It would be completed in at most a week.
He was back in his manor now. Sprawled on a large, comfortable sofa. In the living room. The air was warm. Scented faintly with the herbal infusions Ivy often brewed in her lab.
Melody was perched on his lap. A small, warm weight. Snuggling in his arm. Her devotion was a quiet, comforting presence. Devoid of the complications Spark usually associated with closeness. He liked that. Simple.
A faint pop echoed in the room. Not loud. Just a soft displacement of air directly in front of him. A thick, cream-colored envelope hung suspended in space. Tied with a dark green ribbon. Runespell-delivered message. Official business.
Spark carefully shifted Melody off his lap. She moved without complaint. Simply settling beside him on the sofa. Her dark eyes watching him expectantly.
He reached out and took the envelope. The paper felt thick, expensive. The seal bore the official crest of the Gutlark mayoralty.
He broke the seal. Pulling out the single, crisply folded sheet within. His eyes scanned the familiar, looping script of Mayor Koth Ginheron. It was an official invitation.
He was requested to attend the City Hall the following afternoon. The reason: a title bestowal ceremony.
Spark's lips curved into a slow, humorless smirk. Ironic.
He'd broken into the kingdom's treasury during the chaos. Pocketed artifacts. And snagged the king's evil daughter, Princess Kissara... now Scarlett, from under everyone's noses.
All while appearing to be just another noble fumbling through the disaster. Contributing minimally to the fight against the Holy Sun cultists. And now? A reward. A promotion. Just for being seen in the right place at the right time. Supposedly, 'aiding the Crown'.
Well, nobody knew squat about the treasury raid or the princess. The official story was he had been a brave young lord. Helping repulse the cultists in the chaos.
Besides, so many nobles were reduced to ash or paste during the Land Dragon incident. There were suddenly a lot of empty slots in the peerage now. Elevating some low-level lordling who showed up and wasn't instantly vaporized was an easy way to fill one.
It wasn't surprising. Just… peak Avianest politics. Fake valor rewarded. True opportunism ignored. Exactly how he liked it.
He pocketed the invitation. Glancing at the inviting Melody. "Well, I suppose I should celebrate this." He said. Easily lifting the girl in a princess carry.
"Master!" Melody let out a yelp of surprise. "What's...?
"Come on, Melody!" Spark grinned. "I'll be a Baron tomorrow. Time for the intimate celebration."
...
The next day, Spark dressed in the required formal wear. Dark, heavy fabrics. Simple style. It was understated but clearly expensive. His only decorative accessory was a simple silver pin indicating his current Lord status.
He didn't bring an entourage, just one of his women. Lilith. His personal secretary.
He arrived at the Gutlark City Hall. It was an imposing, albeit slightly stuffy, building. Inside, the air smelled of polished wood and old parchment.
Mayor Ginheron's office was surprisingly spacious. Lined with bookshelves overflowing with scientific and academic tomes. Rather than ledgers or maps.
Mayor Koth Ginheron was waiting for him. The Mayor was a pudgy man with a thick moustache. He was scholar first. A politician second. And it showed in her manners.
Spark knew him as a friendly acquaintance. Someone from the same circle in the nobility. The Academic Nobles. Someone who valued intellect and scientific advancement much more than politics.
"Ah, Spark! There you are." The Mayor rose from behind his large desk. Extending a hand. His smile was warm, genuine. Surprisingly so. "Good of you to come. Please, sit."
Spark took the offered hand. His grip was firm but not crushing. "Mayor. The invitation was a pleasant surprise."
"Well deserved, Spark. Well deserved." Ginheron settled back in his chair. His expression was amiable. Almost cheerful. It was strange.
Spark knew the Mayor's wife had died during the capital chaos. A victim like many others. Yet, the Mayor projected an almost serene air.
Perhaps he was simply putting on a brave face. Or perhaps his life was so centered on his academic pursuits. That even profound personal loss was compartmentalized.
Spark didn't dwell on it.
"The Crown was most impressed by the reports of your actions in Eagledome." Ginheron continued. Sorting through a small stack of papers on his desk. "Your presence, your… contribution during a most trying time. Many were lost, tragically. The King is keen to acknowledge those who stood firm."
Contribution. Spark nearly snorted. His contribution was boosting the treasury and acquiring new assets. And disturbing enemies with gunshots from safe distance.
Standing firm meant not running screaming like most of the other nobles. When the giant reptile started demolishing things. But hey, if they wanted to frame it as heroism, fine by him.
"I simply did what I could in a difficult situation." Spark replied smoothly. The amiable façade firmly in place. Lilith stood silently by the door. Her expression was neutral.
"Modesty becomes you, Spark. But deeds must be recognized." Ginheron picked up one of the papers. "The ceremony will be brief and formal. Standard procedure."
He continued with instructions. "You'll take the required oaths and sign the necessary documents. A noble rank elevation from Lord to Baron. It frees up a significant amount of Crown's wealth, allows for some restructuring. Good for the kingdom, good for you."
Spark nodded. The 'restructuring' part was key. The King wasn't just rewarding heroes. He was shifting wealth and power after clearing out the dead weight. It was brutal efficiency disguised as statesmanship.
They moved from the Mayor's office to a small, ornate hall within the City Hall. A few minor officials and scribes were present. Along with a stern-faced representative from the Royal Registry.
The ceremony was indeed rigid. Oaths sworn to the Crown. The vows of loyalty, which Spark recited without feeling, just like reading in an unlearned foreign language.
Legal pronouncements were read aloud. Documents were signed with a heavy, official-looking quill. It felt like an overly elaborate transaction. Which, in Spark's eyes, it was.
Finally, the Royal Registry representative cleared his throat. "By the authority vested in me by His Majesty, King Aquila Eaglecrown, by the Grace of the Sky and the Might of the Ocean, I hereby elevate Spark Nighthawk from the rank of Lord to the rank of Baron."
A small, heavy pouch of gold coins was presented. "A token from the Crown. To aid you in your new responsibilities."
Spark took the pouch. It was a substantial amount. Easily worth a few dozen small high-quality artifacts, or a decent small flying boat. Nice.
"Now, Baron Nighthawk..." The Registry representative continued, consulting a scroll. "As is custom for those newly elevated to Baronial rank, you are entitled to choose one of the three primary nobility boons. You may select a grant of Territory, assigning you stewardship over a tract of land and its populace; a conferral of Military Rank, granting you a command within the Avianest forces; or a grant of Business Privilege, bestowing upon you exclusive rights or advantageous regulations in specific trade sectors within your jurisdiction."
Spark didn't hesitate. His decision was already made before he even arrived.
"Business Privilege." He stated immediately. His voice was flat and decisive.
The Registry official paused. Momentarily surprised by the swiftness of the response. Most nobles pondered this for a long time. Weighing the prestige of land or military command.
"Are you certain, Baron Nighthawk? Territory often comes with tax rights and local authority. Military rank offers influence and access to state resources."
"I'm certain." Spark said. "I'm not good at governing. And I know nothing about military. One has to know his limit. Right?"
Governing people was a headache he didn't need. If necessary, he preferred influencing them from the shadows. Through commerce and control of resources.
As for military rank, dealing with the rigid hierarchy. And the likely incompetence of Avianest officers held zero appeal. He built his own power base. Thank you very much.
"Business Privilege it is, then." The official conceded. Making a note on his scroll. "You will need to file a formal request detailing the specific sector or sectors you wish this privilege to apply to. This must be submitted to the Royal Trade Commission within one month."
"Understood." Spark already had an idea. Several ideas actually.
After the brief ceremony, Mayor Ginheron approached him again. Shaking his hand. "Congratulations, Baron Nighthawk. A fine choice. Business is the lifeblood of your family, after all."
Spark acknowledged the compliment. "Indeed, Mayor. It's what my grandfather and father had chosen when they were alive. We're not cut to govern a place or stay in the military."
He left the City Hall shortly after. Outside, the Gutlark sun felt warmer. The normal bustle of the town a welcome change from the sterile formality of the ceremony.
He hadn't felt any surge of pride or importance from the title. It was just another tool. A slightly sharper, more polished tool than he had before.
The gold pouch felt heavy in his hand. The new title was nice. But the Business Privilege was the real prize. A Baronial Business Privilege wasn't absolute, but it granted significant leverage.
Exclusive trading rights for certain rare goods within his sphere of influence. Preferential treatment in trade disputes. Reduced tariffs on specific imports or exports. The ability to establish monopolies on certain new commodities... The possibilities were vast.
He glanced back at the City Hall. Mayor Ginheron was a decent enough person. For a scholar in politics. His focus on education was commendable. Making Gutlark a relatively orderly and prosperous town. But his focus was local, academic.
Spark's gaze was already on the horizon. Or rather, on the clouds. The sky-ship was the key. The Business Privilege was the fuel.
The new Baron title? Just a fancy badge that said 'slightly more dangerous than the average citizen'.
He had a world to explore. Treasures to find. And power to seize.