On June 26th, the fleet and transport ships, heavily laden with the Rock and Guard Legions, arrived at Hidden Gold Bay.
The remnants of the Invincible Fleet's Fourth Division, huddled inside Hidden Gold Bay, never dreamed that
The fortunate survivor, young Master Seriham of the Cicada Guild, had been exceptionally unlucky. His chosen fast medium armed warships had also suffered damage from shelling. As they neared the Cicada Guild's territory, they were forced to beach due to leaking hulls. After three grueling days trekking through the wilderness, he finally made it home and spent another day bedridden to recover his strength. Even a fast messenger now galloping towards
Thus, the Commercial Union still waited day and night for the arrival of the Invincible Fleet and its transports, over twenty days late now. However, the Union lacked the courage to dispatch more warships to meet or search for them. Because the Norton Family had deployed ten or so large armed warships armed with bronze cannons to blockade the bay's entrance, sending too few Fourth Division vessels would be suicide, while sending too many was a luxury they could no longer afford. The two previous clashes with the Northland Fleet had already crippled the Fourth Division. Fewer than fifty large and medium armed warships remained operational; simply defending Hidden Gold Bay and preventing the Northland Fleet from breaking through was already their maximum capability.
When the warships and transports, bristling with Invincible Fleet flags, appeared in Hidden Gold Bay, they were greeted with thunderous cheers. Furthermore,
Watching Reedey and Sword Saint Hughes each lead two regiments to storm and capture the inner and outer city walls and defensive installations, Viscount Penelope stood on the deck and said with profound bitterness: "This is the first time in the nearly two-hundred-year history of the Commercial Union that its capital, Morant City, has fallen to an enemy. All of this is due to our incompetence. It was the failure of the Invincible Fleet that led to the fall of Morant City. We are all sinners..."
Lorist laughed heartily. "Everything has a first time. There's no need to heap all the blame on yourselves. The Invincible Fleet's failure cannot be blamed on your incompetence. It is simply that the Commercial Union has degenerated since adopting the baronial system, no longer the vibrant, energetic, and cohesive nation it once was. The Morant City of old was free—I loved that great city.
But present-day Morant City reeks of decay everywhere. If it weren't us from the Norton Family, some other nation would have captured this Morant City eventually. Viscount Penelope, do not feel guilty. All first times are like women—though some initial pain is quite memorable, the second and third times you gradually become accustomed to it and even begin to enjoy the experience..."
"Pfft!" Genorio and several nearby guards burst out laughing on the spot. Even Duke Fausta grinned from ear to ear. Although the Qigeda Kingdom and the Commercial Union were allies, the Union had always been the dominant partner. While Duke Fausta maintained the alliance, he was not fond of perpetually being treated as the junior, ordered about. Now, seeing the Commercial Union suffer at Lorist hands was something he was quite pleased to witness, so he laughed without restraint.
In fact, Viscount Penelope and several high-ranking members of the Invincible Fleet were flushed red with anger at Lorist words. Had it not been for the latter's status as a Sword Saint, they might well have drawn their swords on the spot to demand a duel.
"Grand Duke Norton, your—your language is utterly vulgar and beneath the dignity of a noble!" Viscount Penelope mustered his courage and accused.
"The words may be coarse, but the meaning is sound," Lorist said lightly. "My apologies, everyone. I spent ten years studying in this city and became a mercenary, so every time I return here I tend to forget my noble bearing. When I think back on those happy, carefree days of mercenary life, I habitually slip into a mercenary's way of speaking. It must be the indelible mark Morant City left upon me.
Though my words just now were crude and hard on the ears, the truth behind them is real. If not for the desire to end this war—one that has been draining the blood of innocent people from both nations—as quickly as possible, I would never have resorted to a sneak attack to seize Morant City. I would far rather have advanced across the Mana Hill Plains step by step, crushing every obstacle in my path, and led my family's armed legions to the gates of Morant City, letting this great city open its doors of its own accord and prostrate itself before my horse's hooves...
Please don't look at me like that, everyone. I am not mad, and I am not speaking nonsense. Consider this: the Norton Family now holds the secret of gunpowder. If we were to move the bronze cannons from our warships onto land, are you truly confident that the fortress cities and defensive installations scattered across the Mana Hill Plains could hold back the march of the Norton Family's armed forces?
It was precisely because we wished to avoid the massive casualties and rivers of blood that a prolonged conflict would bring to the Commercial Union's forces that we chose the strategy of a sneak attack to seize Morant City, in order to achieve lasting peace between our two nations. Please do not doubt the sincerity of the Norton Family. If the Commercial Union is willing to cease hostilities and sign a peace treaty, we will immediately withdraw from Morant City and return this great city to the Union. Whether the dawn of this peace can then shine upon the Mana Hill Plains—that depends on the efforts of you lords."
The viscount was stunned speechless. Even Duke Fausta had not expected Lorist to deliver such a reasoned argument, and he stopped laughing to reflect deeply. When he recovered, Viscount Penelope bowed deeply to Lorist with great emotion. "Grand Duke Norton, we will etch your words into our hearts. If it can bring an end to this war and restore peace, we are willing to do everything in our power to help you..."
Lorist rubbed his nose and nodded with a smile. "I thank you all for your warm-heartedness. I believe that with everyone's efforts, peace will surely come soon. The Norton Family will also honor its promise and return Morant City to the Commercial Union intact. Well, it's about time we disembarked—there is still much I need to see to."
The Norton Family's armed forces had launched their surprise assault on Morant City, and the initial phase had been relatively peaceful, with the plan proceeding smoothly. Sword Saint Hughis and Ledi each led two battalions to seize the outer and inner city walls. When the battalion soldiers ran in formation through the streets, they were greeted with cheers and applause from a great many Morant City residents.
These residents of Morant City had mistaken the Norton Family's armed forces for reinforcements that the Commercial Union had mustered from several provinces in the southern part of the continent. Their spirits running high, they stood at the roadside cheering for the soldiers running past, and from time to time the rallying cries erupted: "Down with the invaders!" "Crush the noble coalition of the Andinac Kingdom!" "March on to the imperial capital!"
The Norton Family soldiers running toward their respective targets didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Fortunately, their discipline held firm; everyone kept their heads down and quickened their pace with the column, not uttering a word. The result was that they attracted large crowds of Morant City residents lining the streets to watch. Some who fancied themselves knowledgeable about military matters loudly praised the army's formidable fighting strength, declaring it wouldn't be long before the Commercial Union claimed victory, prompting the surrounding spectators to erupt in cheers time and again.
Not that no one had questions about the raging bear emblem on the Norton Family's standard-issue armor. It was simply that no one had imagined an armed force from the Norton Family of the Northland would boldly march in formation down the main streets of Morant City. This was mainly because the Norton Family soldiers carried no banners or flags, leading those with suspicions to rack their brains trying to recall which noble house in the southern continent used a bear as its heraldic symbol—never realizing that every soldier on those streets was an enemy of the Commercial Union.
The seizure of the outer wall went smoothly. The Commercial Union had deployed over four hundred thousand troops at the front lines on the Mana Hill Plains, facing off against the more than three hundred thousand strong noble coalition of the Andinac Kingdom led by the
When Sword Saint Hughis and Earl led two guard battalions to seize the outer wall, the Morant City garrison soldiers thought they were there to relieve them of duty. They were overjoyed that someone was finally coming to take their place—until they were disarmed and realized they had become prisoners. By then, however, they had already lost the ability to resist and could only leave their fate to the heavens.
However, Ledi and Bodenfinger's surprise assault on the inner city failed. Unlike the outer city's garrison troops, the forces defending the inner wall were the elite guard contingents of the six major guilds under the Commercial Union's six great houses. At first, Ledi was quite fortunate—he seized control of the North Gate and captured five or six hundred men. But the patrol teams spotted them quickly. Once the alarm for an enemy incursion sounded, the Sword Saints stationed at each guild compound in the inner city rallied their armed guards and, at enormous cost in casualties, recaptured the lost North Gate by sheer force.
Both Ledi and Bodenfinger were wounded. Ledi had killed two First-Rank Sword Saints before being driven out of the city by the combined assault of three Sword Saints. Bodenfinger had faced a Second-Rank Sword Saint and, through sheer bad luck, ended up with three gaping holes in his body. Fortunately, his swordsmanship provided tight defense, so the wounds were not life-threatening. With the
This battle for the North Gate of the inner city ended in defeat for the Rock Fortress Legion. The legion suffered over a thousand casualties, while the Commercial Union's guild guards paid nearly three thousand in losses—on top of two Sword Saints killed in the fighting. Nevertheless, they managed to recapture the North Gate and were now sealed inside, defending on their own. The Rock Fortress Legion's two battalions made no further attempt to storm the city, instead maintaining a tight siege around the inner city.
Failing to take the inner city was within Lorist expectations. The soldiers of the Norton Family's four legions were far more elite and formidable than those of the Commercial Union, but in terms of high-end combat power, the Norton Family was no match whatsoever. Setting everything else aside, the Norton Family currently had at most three Sword Saints, including Ledi, and the old man Ingilek was too cowardly to leave the safety of the family's territories.
Sword Saint Hughis had risen through the ranks from a slave gladiator, fighting his way to Sword Saint status through life-and-death combat. Although he was only a Second-Rank Sword Saint, his combat prowess was no less than that of an ordinary Third-Rank. As for Ledi, there was no need to even mention it—Lorist believed that with his cultivation of the Dantian Breathing Technique reaching the late stages of the fourth tier, he had already surpassed the level of a Third-Rank Sword Saint.
But no matter how powerful Sword Saint Hughis and Ledi were, they were only two—nowhere near the number of Sword Saints patronized by the various guilds in the Commercial Union. Each of the six great houses' major guilds had three to four Sword Saints in their service, and even the second-tier and third-tier guilds each had one or two. It had taken a Third-Rank Sword Saint and two Second-Rank Sword Saints working in concert to force Ledi out of the city, leaving him with a bloody gash across his back from a sneak attack as he could only watch helplessly while the North Gate was sealed shut.
The headquarters of the Commercial Union and the foundation of its council were located here, so each guild dispatched a Sword Saint to hold this area. This was the primary reason the Stone Legion could not gain a foothold after capturing the North Gate. The armed guards and Sword Saints of the various commercial interests, once they rallied, formed a formidable force, which even included Gold-tier and Silver-tier swordsmen skilled in close-quarters and street combat. It was inevitable that the Stone Legion would suffer losses under such conditions.
Only now did Morant City fully react; alarm bells and horns blared continuously, cries and shouts rose everywhere, and panic began to spread through the streets.
Amidst the chaos of soldiers and horses, Lorist led a dozen guards and charged on horseback straight for Brin Hill. This was the most scenic and expensive district in Morant City, where only the wealthiest magnates of the Commercial Union could afford to build villas. Back when he lived in Morant City, Lorist dream had been to own a villa on Brin Hill and live happily with his beloved girlfriend.
I have a house, facing the sea, with spring blossoms and warmth... this described the villas on Brin Hill overlooking Hidden Gold Bay. But Lorist was not climbing the hill now to fulfill that old wish. He was here because the Storm Sword Saint was convalescing in the Listening Tide Manor, the most expansive estate at the hill's summit.
After their life-and-death duel, Lorist chest had been pierced by a sword, severing all his meridians, but the Storm Sword Saint had not gained an advantage either, escaping with a shattered breastbone. Lorist recovery had taken only two years. Although he suffered an assassination attempt by a Commercial Union Sword Saint during that time, Ledi's protection and the Dantian Breathing Technique he practiced greatly aided his healing, allowing him to recover in the shortest time possible. The Storm Sword Saint was not so fortunate; after three years of recuperation, it was said his breastbone had only just regrown, and full recovery would require at least another year or more...
Seize him while he's ill, take his life. This time, Lorist intended to root out the threat entirely. He wasn't foolish enough to wait for the Storm Sword Saint to heal and then seek a fair, honorable duel. Only a protagonist with plot armor would think that way. Lorist didn't mind eliminating this menace early; without the Storm Sword Saint, the Commercial Union's backbone would not be so stiff.
Unfortunately, the Storm Sword Saint was no longer at the Listening Tide Manor on the hill. After seizing a servant from the manor and questioning him, Lorist learned that the old man had been sightseeing on the hill that morning, had suddenly returned saying he needed to leave, and had departed in a carriage escorted by several of his disciples over forty minutes ago.
Lorist rushed to the spot the servant mentioned where the old man had been enjoying the view and realized it faced the docks of Hidden Gold Bay. From there, one could clearly see the large armed warship he had arrived on. Well, there was no need to say more. Obviously, the old man's eyesight was still sharp despite his age; he had recognized Lorist instantly, sensed the danger, and fled. No wonder Lorist had felt someone watching him when he disembarked. After glancing around and noticing nothing amiss, he had dismissed the feeling.
"Your Highness, shall we pursue?" a guard asked.
Lorist shook his head. Over forty minutes had passed. Looking at the chaotic city below the hill, it would be extremely difficult to track the old man's escape route now. In a city of a million people, he could vanish into any corner, making him impossible to find.
"Consider himself lucky the old man had the luck to survive," Lorist said through gritted teeth. "Let's head for the inner city first. Taking control of Morant City is what matters most..."
...