Above the vast sea, thick fog drifted... Within this dense mist, a massive white sailing ship adorned with bone decorations glided silently. Its hull seemed to float just above the water's surface... Giant masts held tattered white sails, spanning a colossal 7,120 square meters, emblazoned with the emblem of a scythe and skull.
Eerie ghosts flitted about the ship, busily tending ropes and scrubbing the deck. Skeleton crew members patrolled back and forth, keeping watch. This was a ghost ship... a phantom pirate vessel... The figurehead at the bow depicted a stunning goddess, yet one side of her body was sculpted as bare bones, lending the statue an unsettling aura.
Along one side of the hull, eighty hinged gunports could be flipped open... With both sides totaling 160 gunports, this meant the ship carried 160 cannons. The stern had an additional 13 gunports. In total, 173 cannons... By comparison, the cannons on just one side equaled the entire armament of a warship in the Imperial Navy—and the same for the Kingdom's Navy.
The Resurrection Goddess! The sole warship of the Death's Scythe pirate crew, commanded by Captain Pipe. It sailed at top speed from the open sea, through the territorial waters of the Fire Eagle Duchy, and into the White Oak Kingdom's waters. Along the way, it encountered no ships... Even if it had, the thick fog would have been mistaken for a strange sea weather phenomenon. Thanks to its built-in sound-absorbing ability, the Resurrection Goddess moved silently, undetected by any vessel.
At the bow stood Pipe, hands clasped behind his back, letting the howling sea wind whip his clothes tightly against his body. As an Undead immortal, he felt no biting chill from the fierce wind that could freeze a living man solid. Footsteps sounded behind him; without turning, he knew who it was—his first mate... Purames.
"Did you get everything out of them?"
"Yes... The Sally incident is a conspiracy by the Kingdom against the Empire. But none of these people were core members, so the exact nature of the plot remains unknown... However, based on certain information, I deduce that the Kingdom is likely to declare war on the Empire soon. And judging by the scale, it'll be a massive campaign... possibly a war of annihilation."
"Oh? So that means..."
A war of annihilation... Sending assassins to kill officials. Keane's side... no time left. If something happened to him, it must have been on the same night I was assassinated. Now, it's too late to save him through Jumper. That means this assassination was a coordinated, unified operation. The goal is to plunge the Empire into chaos and then attack while it's vulnerable? It doesn't feel that simple... Even if officials are assassinated, it won't cripple the Empire. Then... The Kingdom is weaker than the Empire in national strength. Even with the Fire Eagle Duchy's help, they might not stand a chance... They must have a surefire plan to win this reckless war. But what is it?
"I believe the Kingdom has a grand conspiracy this time. Based on comprehensive analysis of various intelligence, they've mobilized almost their entire military to wage war on the Empire... The movement of supplies indicates a force of 400,000 troops... 280,000 in the navy, 120,000 in the land army... nearly the Kingdom's full strength."
"Hmm, you uncovered these nations' hidden information so quickly. Well done, Purames..."
"Your approval makes all the hard work worthwhile, sir."
"So, will the Kingdom win this time?"
"A 30-70 chance... 30 for the Kingdom, 70 for the Empire. If they clash head-on based on strength alone, the Kingdom will surely lose..."
"Then why dare they start a war? What does that imply?"
"I believe it's a conspiracy—a massive plan to take down three nations in one stroke..."
"I see. Only that explanation fits. The massive movement of supplies signifies a massive army... The Kingdom is committing all its forces for a do-or-die effort for this purpose. Such a grand plan... I can't help but grow curious about the person who devised it... Who could they be?"
"...I apologize, sir. Our intelligence network, through trading company connections, can only obtain supply movement intel. Probing key figures directly is beyond our current capability..."
"That's more than enough. You've done well... Dismissed."
"Yes, sir..."
"Whoever this person is, their plan forced my subordinate to death... So I'll make them pay. Even if I can't destroy the Kingdom, I'll destroy them personally... And of course, those who used Sally—they'll all pay with their lives. Hmph..."
—————
In the ancient throne hall of Yilisong City, Holy Varnishel Empire, thick with the scent of age, Her Majesty the Empress sat upon her throne, watching her ministers bicker below.
"Duke Kein has arrived! And Duke Xisefo is here too!"
As a guard entered to announce them, the figures of Kein and Xisefo appeared at the doorway. With no time for formal rituals, they moved in unison, striding directly in and standing below the throne's steps.
"Your Majesty, summoned by you, your servant hastens to attend..."
"Duke Kein, your timing is perfect. And Duke Xisefo... Here's the current situation..."
The White Oak Kingdom's navy, spearheaded by six naval knight orders and followed by the Holy Church Army and Templar warriors led by various bishops, is advancing toward the Fire Eagle Duchy. With around 300,000 troops, they're expected to enter the Duchy's territorial waters in three days. Meanwhile, on land, three knight orders leading 200,000 peasant conscripts will attack the Empire's Stone Fortress Pass. Additionally, several days ago, multiple governors, generals... and other talented individuals were assassinated by unknown assailants. On the same night, unrest broke out in certain regions of the Empire. Interrogations revealed these assassins were all sent by the Kingdom...
"Marshal Elinorlund has arrived!"
A messenger announced again, and Marshal Elinorlund, clad in military attire, strode into the hall. The old man's imposing presence made all court officials instinctively step aside... He walked straight to the Empress, knelt on one knee, and bowed.
"Your Majesty, summoned by you, your servant hastens to attend..."
"Rise quickly, Marshal. The situation is critical. I grant you full authority to repel the invading Kingdom forces. All of you must follow the Marshal's orders. We must meet the enemy beyond our borders."
"Yes! Leave it to me. Those Kingdom wolf cubs—I'll make them crawl back like dogs."
Elinorlund's fierce aura made everyone breathe a sigh of relief... Yet, as he rose, the eerie glint in his eyes went unnoticed.
After assembly and deployment, the Empire dispatched troops to engage the enemy two days later. Nationwide mobilization began... Strict screening for suspicious individuals at all roads and checkpoints. Important river estuaries and major cities had temporary garrison forces of locally conscripted men. In total, the Empire mobilized 400,000 troops: 300,000 in the navy, 100,000 in the land legions. The navy would handle offense, while the land legions defended and secured supply lines. As the vanguard, the White Dragon Fleet, under the command of Naval Admiral Duke Kein, set sail first toward the Fire Eagle Duchy's territorial waters... On the vast sea, countless sails advanced together. The massive naval formation—60,000 strong White Dragon Fleet and its auxiliary ships—sailed majestically out from the estuary of the Roaring Waves River... Then, turning their bows, they raised sails and headed for the western waters.
————
Meanwhile, in the Fire Eagle Duchy... a fleet also departed from port. At the bow, a young man in naval uniform gazed far out at the azure sea...
The insignia on his shoulders and collar clearly marked him as the ship's captain. Nearby sailors watched him with looks of admiration.
"Look, our captain is the legendary current number one warrior of the Duchy."
"Yes, the Shadow Warrior, Aivend Larges... He's the Archduke's son-in-law too."
"Really enviable. Not only skilled, but also so handsome. Sigh..."
The group chattered excitedly. Yet, if Pipe were present and saw this handsome young man—in leather light armor and a duchy-style under-robe—he'd draw his blade and kill him on the spot. For this was the assassin, Shadow Killer Elfa. The sole surviving member of Dark Blade, and effectively its current leader.
Gazing at the azure sea, Elfa... no, currently Aivend. Aivend pondered... how to cooperate with the Kingdom's agents to seize control of this fleet. Then smoothly annex the Fire Eagle Duchy, roughly integrate it, and wait for the right moment to attack the Empire...
Holy Lancer Kabel slowly climbed the steps to the bow, approaching Aivend from behind. Still as carefree as ever, he plopped down on a wooden crate beside the bow and tossed a bottle.
*Thud.* Aivend caught it, glanced—it was a bottle of aged rum.
"Cheers, little brother Aivend... To a triumphant return..."
"Heh... Cheers!"
They locked eyes, then gripped the bottle and took swigs. As the strong liquor went down, Elfa—now Aivend—felt his uncertainty fade. In its place surged unwavering determination and courage to win.
