Gout, a crystal-associated arthritic condition caused by the deposition of urates, originated from purine metabolism disorders and reduced uric acid excretion, leading to hyperuricemia.
Some described the pain during an attack as if they were stepping on their own eyeballs with every step.
In this era, it was also known as the disease of emperors, the disease of nobles, or the curse of wealth.
This was mainly because it was a rich man's disease closely related to alcohol and meat consumption; sufferers of gout were often those leading extremely luxurious lives, such as emperors, kings, and nobility.
After falling ill, the pain was just the beginning; it could further induce renal damage.
In severe cases, it could lead to joint destruction and renal impairment, and was often accompanied by hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and coronary heart disease.
Just how severe was Bloody Eye's gout now?
The phrase "unspeakable agony" probably said it all.
Under normal circumstances, the pain won't kill you. But with such large clusters of Gout Stones on his body, renal damage has likely already developed. Blood in the urine, kidney failure… and it's probable this guy's male function is also affected. If it continues like this... no, since I have arrived, his condition must be pushed to deteriorate even more severely!
Byron's face remained expressionless, but in his heart, he had already issued a critical condition notice for Bloody Eye Salman.
For a chef responsible for his target's diet, it was very simple to aggravate the condition. Consuming high-purine, high-fat foods such as meat, game, animal offal, seafood, yeast-containing food and drinks, and fine wine were indispensable. The mutton, seafood, and ice-cold beer I recommended to Salman are all purine bombs, truly the worst of the worst! Most importantly, in this medically backward era, forget treatment for gout; they couldn't even clarify its pathology. Even with the 'Hospital Sequence,' one of the transcendent professions derived from the Silver Law, which could summarize all past human medical experience, they were still helpless. Even if I openly poisoned him, Salman wouldn't find out.
At that moment, Byron also spotted the gold Seal Ring, a symbol of the Lancaster family's royal lineage, firmly on Salman's "most delicate" little pinky finger.
It barely covered an ugly Gout Stone, making it seem a bit more presentable.
Of course, this Seal Ring was a special transcendent artifact.
In the hands of others, it was at most an inconspicuous antique ring that would reveal no crest or insignia of the Lancaster family.
Now that I'm a chef, I have plenty of time to slowly increase Salman's purine levels. There's no need for violent measures to take back my ring.
"Mutton and seafood with ice-cold beer?"
Amidst the hushed silence of all the pirates, Salman nonchalantly picked up a napkin and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Although he felt these foods were not anything out of the ordinary—nothing more than haphazard stews or grilled dishes, of which he had eaten plenty—Byron's identity as a "former noble steward" and his assured confidence still made Salman reveal a dangerous smile.
"Then I shall wait and see," Salman said. "However, Chef, I believe you would not want to know the consequences of failing to satisfy my appetite."
With that, he waved his hand to his first mate, Bone Crusher Miles, signaling him.
Miles immediately laid a sheet of yellowed parchment, the size of a nautical chart, on the table in front of Byron.
"Even a chef who doesn't need to fight for his life becomes a pirate the moment he steps onto a pirate ship," Miles stated. "Rules still have to be followed. This is the Man-Eater Shark's Pirate's Ten Commandments. Leave your mark on it."
Upon hearing this, Byron looked at the parchment.
At the top was a pirate emblem of a skull with crossed swords, the prototype for all pirate flags on the sea.
The parchment below was nearly covered with blood-red fingerprints, but the ten commandments written on it were still clearly visible.
Moreover, through his Spirit Vision, Byron could clearly see that this piece of parchment was linked to the web-like Silver Law.
There was no doubt it contained the transcendent power of the Law!
The transcendent system of this world was very simple.
The Silver Law covered the entire known world like a magic net, encompassing every single Transcendent and even every human being.
In the Church's propaganda, it was the Silver Law, created by the Creator, that brought order to the human world, protecting the children of God from harm.
It was this Law that extended to create the Order of Sanctity, Tribunal Sequence, Tower Sequence, Hospital Sequence, Arena Sequence, Fortress Sequence, Gold Sequence, Lighthouse Sequence...
Together, these constituted the vast transcendent system of the Ladder of Glory.
As its literal meaning implied, a "Sequence" essentially referred to specific organizations in human society, while "Class" was akin to one's status within an organization.
The most classic examples were King, Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. These were not only titles of nobility but also represented the mainstream power system to some extent.
The entirety of human society—religions, nations, ethnic groups, guilds, associations—from top to bottom, all human organizations were ensnared in this tight-knit network.
Theocratic power was supreme! Royal power held the center! Trades occupied the bottom!
In essence: Humanity is supreme, glory to the collective!
As is widely known, every organization has its own manifesto and operational rules.
Therefore, under the Silver Law, each transcendent Sequence, and even every occupation, has its own maxims and commandments.
Take the crew code, the Pirate's Ten Commandments, for example.
The Ten Commandments on every pirate ship were slightly different, yet broadly similar.
The original text all stemmed from the Pirate Code, established by the first Pirate Emperor of the Bayfolk a millennium ago.
"The Pirate's Ten Commandments (Man-Eating Shark):
One, every person has equal voting rights, but the captain's orders must be strictly obeyed.
Two, equality for all, meritocracy prevails over mediocrity.
Three, lights out at eight in the evening, thereafter no drinking, and forbidden to go on deck from two to four in the morning.
Four, weapons must be kept clean and ready for use at any time.
Five, no woman shall join the crew; any crew member bringing a woman to sea shall be executed, except for Transcendents.
Six, those delaying combat readiness or fleeing the battle will be put to death.
Seven, private fights are strictly forbidden; unwarranted killing of a companion will result in being bound together with the deceased and given a sea burial.
Eight, those crippled in battle can stay on the ship without working and receive 40 gold pounds from the 'common savings.'
Nine, no betraying the Pirate Group.
Ten, all loot must not be hoarded privately; the captain gets 15%, pirate officers and assault team, carpenter, doctor, and chef take 25%, ordinary crew gets 40%, and the remaining 20% is used for repair funds and common savings.
After a vote by all crew members, the Ten Commandments can be modified."
Byron had seen many seized Pirate's Ten Commandments when he was at the Royal Navy Academy.
After carefully reading through them twice, apart from the captain enjoying the highest immunity, he found no traps hidden within.
Yet he was still very cautious and signed his name with a quill pen, instead of leaving a bloody fingerprint like those illiterate pirates.
His knowledge of natural history taught him that any biological material from his body could potentially become a medium for curses and prophecies.
Suddenly, the Spiritual Radiance dropped a second Anchor, making Byron feel somewhat more reassured.
Thus, he formally became a member of the Man-Eating Shark, an organization that could help him withstand risks alongside others.
The Sailing Logbook also recorded its first official entry.
"Date: October 17th, Silver Calendar 1471.
Based on Talent: Weather Intuition: Today, the fog will clear. At 1:35 PM, there will be a Level 6 northeast wind, changing to Level 7 in three hours with medium waves...
Course: North Sea Region, near the Strait Islands, sailing with a tailwind.
Ship's Supplies: Pirate ship (small Galleon), fabrics, ironware..."
Just then, a sudden strong northeast wind dispersed the fog at sea.
DING! DING! DING!
Alarms from the crow's nest on the mainmast of the Man-Eater Shark rang out urgently, and a lookout shouted in alarm,
"Not good, the Navy's here!"
Byron also turned abruptly to look toward the northeast, in the direction of the Strait Islands.
About four or five nautical miles away, a sailing ship larger than the Man-Eating Shark had quietly appeared.
At the top of its mast hung the Blood Cross Flag representing the Kingdom of Hightins, and the White Rose noble flag representing the York Family.
There was also a captain's pennant with a distinct swallowtail.
That was a... fifth-rate cruiser of the Kingdom of Hightins' Strait Fleet.
Riding the increasingly fierce northeast wind, it rushed toward the pirate ship!