Hm, something's carved here...
What's this? Letters?

In the past, our ancestors discarded their countries
that had forgotten their duty to protect their people
and thus became their own, true protectors of freedom.

That event was the origin of the guilds.
However, now, once again, the iron shackles of
suppression have been wrapped around our necks.

We have forgotten the pledge
of our ancestors and have
become people who do
naught but pursue our own
self-interests and fight
amongst ourselves.

Therefore we once again
return to the underlying
principles behind guilds,
and use not our strength
for the individual.

Our swords serve our freedom.
Our shields serve our friends.
Our lives serve everyone.

Here we pledge the
old oath anew.

Hey... Isn't this the
Pledge of the Union?

What's that?

It sounds like the motto that was created
when the Don formed the Union.

Since you can't depend on
the empire to protect you,
you protect each other.

For that reason, everyone unites and puts
their lives on the line for each other.
Or something like that.

But why is the pledge
written here of all places?

The Union's origins come from when
the guilds were compelled to oppose
the Empire when it occupied the city.

Up until that point, the guilds were
scattered and did whatever they liked.
They only unified if there was a problem.

And, once that problem was resolved, they would
scatter again. So, when they were occupied by the
Empire, they finally realized how bad that was.

And the one who took charge of bringing
all the guilds together was Don Whitehorse?!

Yeah. This canal must've
been pretty useful back then.

So, back then they made
the pledge to unite here?

Seems like it.

There's always been talk that the real thing's
written somewhere, but who'd have thought
it'd be some scrawls on a wall like this?

The pledge being written on a
wall is somehow very lovely.

Right here...
It says “Aifread”.

Oh, you mean that supposed
big bad pirate boss?

It seems he was once a
sworn friend of the Don's.

But he was so quick-witted and
shrewd, he must've been tough
even for the Don to deal with.

The Don must be a pretty capable
guy to still call someone like that
a sworn friend

...Our lives serve everyone...

This is fun and all, but right
now we have to focus on
Barbos. Let's get going.