novelzi Chapter 697 - 696: The Enemy
Chapter 697 - 696: The Enemy
A cold wind blew into the Obsidian Palace as the tall Duke Ferdinand Wendell strode like the wind through the long corridor. The attendants stepped back respectfully on either side, bowing and bidding farewell to this chief minister of the Empire, all the while secretly speculating about the reason why this "Wolf Duke" had been urgently summoned to the court.
Ferdinand did not tarry in the slightest along the way, heading straight to the room where the emperor was located. When the attendants opened the door, he saw the ruler of the Empire already sitting behind his desk, waiting for him.
"Your Majesty," Ferdinand entered the study, bowing in front of the desk, "I have arrived."
"This is urgent news from Andresha," Rosetta Augustus’ face was as calm as a stone carving, his profound eyes revealing no emotional fluctuations. He pushed a report, transcribed by the messenger, across the desk and spoke in an entirely even tone, "We took a misstep."
The message from Winterwolf Fortress was relayed through the domestic transmission towers and delivered to the Obsidian Palace at the first opportunity.
Ferdinand vaguely sensed the content of the report. He took two steps forward, picked up the report and read it from start to finish, his face growing darker as his gaze moved.
A few minutes later, this Wolf Duke raised his head, frowning: "Your Majesty..."
"The Cecil Clan is cunning, and they have appointed a very tricky and competent commander to oversee Longwind Fortress. Their ruse deceived everyone, including me—now, we’ve missed the opportunity. According to Andresha’s report, a powerful mobile fortress driven by magic guide technology has arrived in the Palamere Region, supporting Longwind Fortress, and a large number of troops have accompanied that fortress to the border," Rosetta said calmly. "In the first confrontation, the Cecil Clan displayed strength beyond our expectations."
"I should bear some responsibility," Duke Ferdinand said gravely, "I misjudged the situation..."
"You were merely fulfilling your duties, and you weren’t the only one who misjudged the situation," Rosetta interrupted Duke Ferdinand’s words. "Now is not the time to delve into responsibility; we must think about what comes next."
"...The Cecil Clan missed a chance to deal us a major blow in this incident as well, and from another perspective, they probably do not wish for a war right now," Ferdinand pondered aloud. "Having experienced a civil war and a natural disaster, along with establishing a new royal family and national system, what they need most now is rest and recuperation."
Rosetta nodded slightly in agreement with Ferdinand’s assessment but then furrowed his brow and spoke seriously: "Allowing them to recuperate is also a danger."
"Indeed," Ferdinand’s voice was deep. "The Cecil Clan... they have already demonstrated formidable development capabilities. Whether it’s their military, economy, or society, the new order created by Gawain Cecil shows especially frightening potential. If truly given the chance to recuperate, the Cecil Empire might quickly grow into an uncontrollable giant..."
The old duke’s tone carried a sense of sighing. He had spent most of his life studying Anzu, only to see it crumble under internal and external crises and countless schemes. However, no one expected that from Anzu’s ruins, a Cecil would rise. This newborn empire is more challenging and dangerous than the previous decayed kingdom. The flames prepared to incinerate the kingdom ultimately seem to have become a ceremony for the giant’s rebirth in fire—yet at this critical moment, Typhon lost its only opportunity to smother this newborn nation.
But neither Rosetta nor Ferdinand would have much regret or complaint about this.
When the era undergoes change, too much lament for things that have already occurred is just a waste of time. The Cecil Empire is indeed developing, but Typhon... is not standing still.
After missing the opportunity for war, rather than hoping for the adversary to halt, it’s better to move faster oneself to prepare for future conflicts.
"If I’m not mistaken, Gawain Cecil will likely soon release signals of ’commercial diplomacy’ towards us, choosing peace, which I can only accept—and am willing to accept," a few minutes later, Rosetta broke the silence and said, "We must prepare for a new confrontation scenario."
One side needs rest and recuperation, while the other is in a critical period of transformation; the two Empires have circled around the precipice, whether by fate or deliberate guidance, they’ve both entered a stage where ’peace’ is needed. For the foreseeable long period, Cecil and Typhon might find it hard to fight again, and a form of ’confrontation’ different from war may become the norm for both countries in the future.
Rosetta has already foreseen this confrontation’s probable form and plans to make some preparations for the future.
After a brief contemplation, he looked at Ferdinand: "Duke Sevin’s economic policy can be fully implemented now, allowing funds to further circulate and letting minor aristocrats and merchants push the factories. Our magical industry lags behind the Cecil Clan, and we cannot continue falling behind;
"The scale of the Imperial Construction Association needs to be expanded further. We must do everything possible to recruit and support technical talents. I plan to establish the ’Special Class Nobility’ title and several types of medals, offering even those scholars and craftsmen who come from common backgrounds the opportunity to receive titles and honors;
"The parliament has been arguing for months about whether civilians can read the same textbooks as the children of nobility, and these disputes must cease immediately...
"Our commercial activities with the southern continent... have been discussed for so long, it’s time to continue promoting them. Referencing the trade model now established with the Cecil Clan, and with the Highmountain Kingdom and elves, we should get the business up and running. Let Earl Hall Mak handle this, as he understands the situation in the southern continent."
Ferdinand raised his eyebrows: "Trade with the southern continent... wasn’t it on hold before?"
"The elves are very dissatisfied with our logging actions in the southern continent, which impacted our relations with the Highmountain Kingdom, but now... we must open the southern trade routes," Rosetta said unequivocally. "The development of the magical industry is alleviating the pressure caused by the previous new policies, but the products from the factories must be sold to turn into profits; otherwise, those aristocrats and merchants who invested in factories will inevitably become restless again—besides the trade route with the Cecil Empire, we must find more markets."
"I understand," Ferdinand nodded. "So how much concession do you wish for Earl Hall Mak to make?"
"Typhon can cease all logging activities in the disputed forest areas of the southern continent, and can halt the pioneering advancement in the Blue Rock Hills..." Rosetta had evidently considered these things long before today, "and even, we can acknowledge the ’Count of Blue Rock’ conferred by the Highmountain Kingdom, but the premise is they must open the trade cities, must open the three routes from the Blue Rock region to the Ancestral Forests."
Ferdinand showed a momentary look of astonishment upon hearing Rosetta’s concession conditions, but after just two or three seconds of contemplation, the old Duke lowered his head: "I understand."
"In addition, have Andresha return to Aldernon soon, she’s currently the only person who’s come face-to-face and closely interacted with the Cecil Clan’s Magical Mechanized Legion. There’s much I wish to discuss with her in person. You handle the defense issues at the border."
"Order the Winterwolf Legion to construct additional fortresses along the Winterwolf Fort Defense Line. The ’border rotation’ and ’new recruit pioneering’ plans you proposed are good; I now need to implement them — the Empire’s newly formed battalions and trained recruits will rotate every three years to assist the Winterwolf Legion in guarding the northwest defense line. I don’t demand they penetrate Longwind Fortress, but they must exert sufficient pressure on the people of the Cecil Clan."
Ferdinand immediately understood the intent behind Typhon Ruler’s subsequent arrangements —
We cannot allow the Cecil Clan to quietly focus on development, nor let them free up manpower from Longwind Fortress.
Compared to the Cecil Clan after the great disaster, Typhon Empire possesses a far larger reserve of personnel and construction resources. The Cecil Clan has constructed eighteen fake field positions and fake fortifications at the border this time, while Typhon can build twenty-eight real ones in one go.
Whether the garrison at Longwind Fortress or the war machine of unknown origin, they must be firmly held at the border. The large reserve of military personnel within the Cecil Clan must also be drawn to that expansive frontier.
After completing these arrangements, Rosetta Augustus let out a long breath.
Duke Ferdinand lifted his head and saw the expression on the face of the Typhon Ruler — after losing such a regretful opportunity and facing such a vigilant enemy, what he saw on the Typhon Ruler’s face were extremely bright eyes, full of fighting spirit and cheer.
This expression took Ferdinand by surprise, for it had been many years since he had seen such an expression on Rosetta Augustus’s face. He vaguely remembered the last time seeing an expression like this; it was shortly after the coronation when the decision was made to reorganize the aristocratic assembly.
"Cecil Clan truly is a formidable enemy, aren’t they, Ferdinand?" Rosetta said happily, "Just like Prince Malik of yesteryear, and Duke Fabro and Duke Kellman Ronnie... perhaps even stronger than them?"
"Indeed, stronger than them," Ferdinand finally smiled after a brief moment of surprise, "After all, the ’Three Rebellious Nobles’ of those days merely wanted your life."
Rosetta was slightly taken aback, then joyfully laughed out loud: "Ahaha..."
...
A shrill steam whistle sounded throughout the dock, as the magic warship "Pioneer" prepared to head south slowly left the riverbank in the port of St. Soniel. The powerful operation sound of the Magic-Powered Engine and the low roar of the hydraulic device gradually grew louder. On both sides of the ship’s stern, the mechanical-wing-like Magic Energy Wingboards slowly unfolded under the effects of gears and levers, appearing majestic and grand, bearing an unusual beauty.
The citizens and soldiers gathered by the riverside cheered, curious children shouted excitedly from rooftops and riverbanks, and on the dock square, Victoria and Baldwin, both dressed in splendid attire to send off the ship, stood quietly in the company of their attendants, looking towards the departing direction of the magic warship, their gazes lingered for a long time.
The magic warship began to slowly accelerate, the escort ships also took up their scheduled escort positions, the towering city walls of St. Soniel gradually diminished in sight, eventually obscured by the rolling hills and forests of the plain, until they disappeared completely. Only then did Gawain retract his gaze from the porthole.
"Finally going back," Amber stretched mightily beside Gawain, speaking in an exaggerated tone, "I almost forgot what the Southern Borders look like!"
"You’ve only been away for less than half a year, don’t make it sound like half a lifetime," Gawain glanced sidelong at the half-elf, "Besides, speaking of communications with the Southern Borders, you as the Intelligence Agency Director are likely more frequent than anyone."
Amber pursed her lips and turned to the dark-haired maid beside her: "You must be careful, Maji, our emperor is quite a character who can squeeze water from a stone, if you’re not careful, you’ll be laden with lots of tasks, and he won’t even give you a raise..."
Maji stood on this avant-garde mechanical warship, currently lost in viewing the retreating riverbank through the crystal glass-covered windows. This incredible magical creation deeply fascinated and intrigued her, stirring a bit of anticipation towards the "advanced magic guide technology" described by Rebecca. She was so engrossed that she didn’t catch what Amber was saying, her reaction came a beat slow: "Pardon? I didn’t catch that..."
"You needn’t mind her, she’s merely overly excited; what she’s saying at such times is mostly nonsense," Gawain waved his hand, then earnestly scrutinized the Black Dragon maid before him, "But I truly didn’t expect Rebecca would succeed in ’borrowing’ you from Victoria. When she told me about it, I thought she had gotten into some sort of trouble again."
Maji couldn’t help but recall Rebecca’s silly question "Can you transform for me?", and she smiled slightly: "Princess Rebecca’s sincerity and the incredible knowledge she possesses moved me. As for my mistress... most of the time, she respects my decisions."
"It seems there’s a lot of mystery between you and Victoria, rest assured, I won’t pry," Gawain said with a smile, "In the coming period, I hope you’ll enjoy life in the Southern Borders."
Maji slowly revealed a genuine smile: "Yes, I’m very much looking forward to it."