Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"You heard what I said." Antonio no longer spoke much to the messenger and directly turned to General Nalesho, "I ask that you provide ships for my soldiers. Once the Third Legion has been stationed in Bastion, the fleet can dock."

"Lord Serviati, we in the navy have indeed already reached an agreement with the council..."

But Antonio remained unmoved, "Please dispatch ships for my troops. Since the council has decided on a change of flag, what harm is there in letting my soldiers garrison Bastion ahead of time?" Find exclusive stories on empire

Ignoring the messenger's stern protests, Nalesho helplessly nodded his head.

Winters, Bard, and Andre, who had already stripped off their armor, received the orders: the first hundred-man squad to assemble immediately.

"It's finally our turn!" Andre excitedly fastened his helmet.

The three lieutenants quickly helped each other don their officer-issued cuirasses and began to gather the hundred-man squad's sections.

Every eight army soldiers formed a group, sharing one tent and one pot, thus they were called a "section" or a "mess" – the smallest unit in the army.

As the temporary centurion of the first hundred-man squad, Winters still couldn't recognize everyone; he now only knew each section's person in charge.

Just as the nineteenth section of the hundred-man squad was mustered, Lieutenant Colonel Kongtai'er walked onto the deck with his flag officer. The operation to take Bastion was to be personally commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Kongtai'er, which also made it more convenient for negotiating with the council.

The boats from various ships began to converge towards The Glorious.

Aboard another warship next to The Glorious, commotion arose. Lieutenant Colonel Kongtai'er and the three lieutenants explained, "The navy is not willing to let us garrison Bastion alone; they also want to send a team there."

Winters, Andre, and Bard sat in one boat, with Andre holding the centurion's banner high.

Lieutenant Colonel Kongtai'er, with his guards, took another boat, flying the flagship battalion's banner.

A naval officer from another warship descended, flying a naval banner Winters did not recognize.

The three boats flying banners led at the front, followed by another thirty or so boats, heading towards the docks at the bottom of Red Sulfur Harbor.

"Hey… ho… hey… ho…" The soldiers clumsily rowed, entering the second wide expanse of the gourd-shaped bay.

Winters sat at the bow of the boat, looking around. The shore at the bottom of the gourd seemed also mostly rocky, with the jetty of Red Sulfur Harbor extending from the coast.

There was not a single ship by the docks, not only no large ships but also no small ones. A hexagonal bastion lay quietly by the dockside, utterly devoid of any sign of life.

Atop the prow of The Glorious, Antonio and Nalesho silently watched the small boats slowly drift away from the fleet.

"I will report exactly what has occurred today to the gentlemen of the council. How Venetians treat Red Sulfur Island... will anyone wish to bow their heads in the future? You…" The council's messenger, filled with anger, pursued the matter.

"Alright, alright. After we dock, I will personally apologize to the gentlemen of the council," Nalesho placated the council's messenger with a generous tone: "The Venetians..."

His words were interrupted by the roar of heavy artillery.

The cannonball caused a huge splash, plunging the Vineta Fleet into chaos.

"Where is the firing coming from?!"

"It's nearby!"

"It's fortress artillery!"

Following three more booms of heavy artillery fire, cries of agony and the sound of boat hulls being shattered echoed simultaneously. A galley began to slowly list, and the sailors on board scrambled to abandon ship, while the rowers, chained to their seats, screamed, begging for someone to unlock their chains.

This time, everyone saw the position of the cannons. Frighteningly close, situated at the narrow section in the second part of the gourd-shaped bay.

The camouflaging layer of shrubs and vines was removed, revealing yet another battery.

"It's not on the map!"

"When did they build another battery?!"

Accompanied by the thunderous sound of the call to arms, at the narrowest point of the second part of the bay, by the battery, a chain was raised from the seabed,

With the firing of the heavy cannons as a signal, the harbor bay of Red Sulfur Harbor revealed its fangs.