146 – 150
Late at night.
Looking at the map inside the tent, Johannes breaks into a smile.
Just a few weeks ago, he couldn’t even gain an inch of land…
Johannes looks contentedly at the report that has come from the front lines.
He finds satisfaction in the situation where the troops have crossed plains and are striking the heart of Bohemia’s fortress.
Moreover, thanks to Sabirelli’s exceptional strategic insight, the collapse of Khancho and the 1st defense line, and the current situation of breaching the 2nd defense line, Johannes believes that Bohemia will have no choice but to surrender soon.
However… what worries him still is…
The Imperial Army’s landing.
If the Duopol and Yallu front lines do not meet and secure the Adriatic Sea, Duopol will suffer a massive blow.
A woman in her early twenties lies on the bed, rubbing her eyes almost naked, and asks as she gets up.
“Your Highness… Can’t you sleep?”
Having brought some girls from a nearby village, Johannes took the most beautiful one for himself and distributed the rest to his subordinates or high nobles.
“You’ll be fine soon, Olivia.”
If Olivia, a rare sight of a woman in this war-torn land, wasn’t with him, Johannes would have faced quite a predicament.
“Hoho, please come, Your Highness. Let me tuck you in.”
Saying so, she leads Johannes to the bed, embraces him tightly, and speaks.
“I think I might be pregnant.”
Olivia’s words leave Johannes speechless.
Olivia is from Duopol.
It’s been just a month since Duopol was occupied.
So, to think that Olivia claims to be pregnant in a situation where it has been only a month since Johannes got involved with her.
Even if Olivia were a doctor, Johannes inwardly mocks her for claiming to be pregnant as a mere farmer’s daughter.
“It hasn’t even been a month, has it?”
Olivia nods eagerly at my words, smiling expectantly.
“It could be less than a month. We did it every day, didn’t we?”
Thinking of the reason why she is so enthusiastic about being pregnant, Johannes smiles slightly.
The proposal he made to Olivia, who was crying and reluctant to leave her family.
Seeing Olivia, who initially didn’t want to be held by a crying woman, now obediently compliant, Johannes feels satisfied.
“P-please take me home. Please?”
Olivia trembles in fear, and Johannes smiles as he looks at her.
“If I bear my child, I will grant your family the title of Viscount.”
Saying so, he forcibly takes Olivia, who has already lost her virginity and is hesitant to marry, and for her own future, she seeks Johannes’ seed.
Unaware that a contraception spell had been cast on Johannes, he fills his dark desires by seducing and enticing Olivia.
Of course, knowing she hasn’t become pregnant, Johannes congratulates Olivia with a bright smile, concealing it.
“Then that child will become the Viscount of Tudring.”
Olivia, who brightly smiles and nods without knowing his deceptive intentions, speaks.
“Will you make sure to keep the promise?”
Saying so, she explores Johannes’s lower body… Soon, a hot gust of wind blows through the room.
***
Martin’s report.
As I read the content stating that the Nicaean army is advancing towards Freda, the capital of Bohemia, creating a stable supply route in the plain, my mind gets lost in thoughts.
I am satisfied to see the Nicaean army attacking Bohemia at the expected time.
Everything went as planned. Now, all Martin needs to do is succeed.
The recent order I gave to Martin was to move the king of Bohemia to the rear if the Nicaean army attempts to attack Freda, to prevent the king of Bohemia from being captured by the Nicaean army and surrendering when things get tough near Freda.
If the king of Bohemia refuses, I’ve already told him to forcibly take the king away, even if it requires the use of force.
It may be drastic, but… now is not the time to hesitate.
Even if Bohemia surrenders, connecting Adria to Dufol and the plain of Yal will allow for supplies to Dufol.
It’s not the time to let the noose tighten around Nicaea’s neck.
Should I start giving orders to Agrifa now?
Considering the time it will take for the fleet of the Allied Kingdom to arrive here…
It’s time to feel that it’s about time to take Johannes’s life and start writing a letter.
***
Several days have passed since Devian’s letter was delivered to Johannes.
The fleet of the Allied Kingdom begins to move in earnest.
A man in his forties dressed as an admiral of the Allied Kingdom.
Joseph, with long black hair that goes well with his tricorn hat (a triangular hat worn by sailors), gazes at the Nicaean navy in the distance, feeling the cool sea breeze.
“Tsk tsk… What era are we in that they still use such ships?”
In ancient times, Nicaea built the best ships in the world.
As a nation that made money through maritime trade for a long time, it was only natural.
However, times have changed, a new continent has been discovered, and the Allied Kingdom has staked its life to build bigger, stronger, and faster ships as it conquers the new continent.
It’s the only way to explore the new continent and protect the country against powerful empires.
Therefore, looking at the sails without sails and triangular sails on the enemy ships, Joseph clicks his tongue.
“It seems like the enemies brought the ships we used a hundred years ago.”
Even if Joseph’s galleon or flagship is set aside, compared to caracks or carracks, the ships used by the Nicaean navy are like something out of a history book rather than seen in the Allied Kingdom.
“Well then! Shall we show the old-fashioned Nicaean fellows a lesson? Everyone, form up the line.”
At Joseph’s command, the naval soldiers move briskly.
And as various colored flags are hoisted on the flagship, the ships begin to form orderly formations.
While the fleets of the Allied Kingdom extend sideways towards the enemy, the Nicaean fleet lines up in a straight line and races faster.
“Well, if they come charging like that, they’ll get a beating. Order the fleet to load the cannons.”
At Joseph’s command, the naval soldiers’ movements become hectic.
They tear apart scrolls of fireball spells with swift and precise movements, infuse magic into the scrolls, and place them on the large and heavy ballistae.
“Aim!”
Following his command, they adjust the angle of the ballistae, aiming at the enemy fleet.
A moment of tense anticipation flows.
“Fireee!”
-Whooosh!
As the trebuchet-launched projectile arced and landed on the enemy fleet…
-Boom!
-Boom!
Exploding, it ignited a fierce blaze on the ships, starting to engulf them in a massive explosion on board.
After that… amidst the chaos, the shelling resumed.
Relentlessly, from the sky, a rain of iron and flames continued to fall on the ships of Nicaea…
Overwhelmed by the overwhelming firepower, the enemy ships began to succumb, sinking one by one.
Watching this spectacle, Agrippa resolves to avoid engaging in combat with the Imperial Navy and the sea.
“The range is one thing, but turning them sideways to concentrate firepower for interception… I knew Nicaea’s trebuchets had quite a long range… Did they enchant those trebuchets? How can they have such long range?”
Agrippa would not have known. In fear of the Empire, the trebuchets were designed and developed, with many sorcerers and technicians poured in to develop those trebuchets…
Thus, they created a trebuchet with overwhelming range and rapid firing capability.
Seeing the Nicaean forces fail to land a single successful shot, Agrippa shivers.
“Is this… the navy of the Empire?”
No matter how strong the knights are with magic, they cannot fight on water.
If they keep setting ships ablaze like that, neither Merid nor William can fight and win.
Even the pride of the Empire, the Order of Knights… if they fall into the sea, they are helpless.
“Devian seems to be trying to avoid fighting with the Union… They can never win at sea.”
Thus, Nicaea commanded a fleet of 122 ships.
With that, the Union, having captured the Adriatic Sea, quickly disembarks William, the Golden Knights, and the soldiers assigned to William in Adriatic and heads toward their next destination.
***
Having landed on the Adriatic coast, William leads his soldiers towards the Toulouse Fortress, but as the sun sets, they set up a camp nearby.
“The enemies must know we will be landing.”
According to the letter sent by Devian, Johannes, who has allied with the Union, must know, so it’s enough to draw attention, but William, known as the hero of the Empire, is not satisfied with that.
Based on the intelligence provided by Devian, the total enemy forces stationed in Adriatic are overwhelming, reaching up to 50,000.
In contrast, William’s forces number 40,000…
In a situation where attacking requires superior numbers than the enemy, it is a basic principle of warfare, but William does not think so at all.
“We must show the rebels… what they are up against, so they never dare to rebel again.”
Therefore, William first sends scouts to ascertain if there are enemies nearby.
At that moment, William’s lieutenant, Matteo, asks him about the upcoming plans.
“Sir Knight Commander, do you truly intend to seize the Toulouse Fortress?”
When he first departed from Rome.
Devian dispatched him with the intention of seizing the entire Adriatic, but perhaps he now thinks the situation has changed.
Devian ordered William to simply draw the enemies’ attention.
There is no need to forcibly seize the fortress…
But William is not satisfied with that.
“Yes. The Toulouse Fortress is sturdy, but not invincible.”
As William speaks, his eyes are filled with a menacing resolve.
“How much did His Majesty the Emperor help Nicaea? When I go to see His Majesty in person after striking Johannes’s neck, I will bring a gift.”
“We need to defend the Adriatic coast, so we lack troops.”
With the United Kingdom agreeing to supply provisions to the Adriatic coast, there is a need to deploy at least ten thousand troops to the Adriatic coast. Matthew cannot help but be surprised by William’s plan to target the Toulouse Fortress, which has more numbers than themselves.
“Don’t worry, I have everything planned out.”
“But… the orders…”
William cuts off Matthew’s words.
“A general on the battlefield sometimes has to resist even clear orders due to the rapidly changing war situations.”
While there are rare instances of a field commander not following orders from a higher-ranking commander on the battlefield…
Usually, if they don’t establish a shining record on the battlefield, they are likely to face punishment for disobeying orders, so it is only natural to refrain from it…
From Noble mtl dot com
“Matthew. As my adjutant participating in the war, you may not fully understand. Open your eyes and watch why I and the Golden Knights are the strongest on the continent.”
With those words, William enters the barracks, leaving Matthew staring blankly.
‘If things go wrong… What will happen…’