Published: July 5, 2025
The temporary flagship of the Allied Fleet, Public Ship No. 10, charged right into the Kouri Fleet at the center front.
While Ryo was launching ice spears, magic cannon fire was being unleashed from the Kouri Fleet.
In particular, the density of the bombardment directed at the Tenth Ship was quite significant.
Of course, all of it was deflected by the ice wall.
In the center of the Kouri Fleet, which spread out to the sides, there was a ship displaying the national flag of Darwei and the flag of Prince Kouri.
That ship was the flagship, Faidoshin.
The Tenth Ship charged into it.
The two flagships collided.
One side deployed an ice wall.
The other side deployed a ship barrier.
As a result, it was a collision between invisible walls.
There was no sound.
However, a sight very rare for a fleet battle was unfolding there.
The leaders of the Allied Fleet, standing at the bow of the Tenth Ship.
The leaders of the Kouri Fleet, including Prince Kouri, standing at the bow of Faidoshin.
Both leaderships were glaring at each other.
It was not the leaders themselves who opened their mouths.
"You are the rumored Lord Rowan, aren't you?"
Ryo spoke as he spotted an old man standing at the bow of Faidoshin.
"Indeed. Your grace, Duke Rondo, it is a pleasure to meet you," the old man replied.
The distance between the two was about ten meters.
Between them was an ice wall and a barrier, separating them.
"Yield," Prince Kouri said clearly.
It was a natural statement.
But upon hearing it, the Allied Fleet hesitated.
The one leading the fleet was Kavui Somaru.
He had been formally granted command authority by the emperor.
As part of his authority, he had the power to surrender.
However, he was not a person of Darwei.
The highest-ranking person from Darwei was Captain Ra Woo of the Tenth Ship.
But he was merely the captain of one ship.
The decision he would make could potentially determine the future of all of Darwei, and he understood that it was far too heavy a burden.
Thus, the Allied Fleet hesitated.
"Ryo," Abel called softly and gestured with his chin towards the center of the deck of the Kouri Fleet's flagship, Faidoshin.
The moment Ryo saw it, anger flashed across his face.
On the deck of Faidoshin stood Prince Lyun.
With him were Chamberlain Wenshu and Captain Ruyao.
All three were suppressing their frustration.
Though they were not captured, they were surrounded at a distance by what seemed to be Prince Kouri's royal army.
"Hostages..."
Ryo's suppressed words were inaudible even to Abel.
It seemed this situation had been calculated from the beginning.
Since it had started with a mere twenty shots of cannon fire.
In the end, the maximum firepower had also been deflected, confirming the presence of Duke Rondo, Ryo.
If Ryo were not present, then defeating the entire Allied Fleet would have been a solid victory in itself.
If Ryo was present, they could force surrender by showing that they held Prince Lyun as a hostage.
The Kouri side understood that the Duke Rondo and Prince Lyun had a cooperative relationship.
If they could extract or neutralize Ryo, they could achieve victory without resulting in military conflict.
It was despicable.
Despicable, but there was nothing to be done once it was said.
Because it's war.
This was a battlefield.
If victory could be achieved with a few sacrifices?
Many rulers would likely choose that option.
And Prince Kouri made that choice.
Ryo's insides were boiling.
He understood that he had lost in the reading game, and he also understood that he still had a long way to go.
But that would be reflected upon later.
What he needed to do now was to protect those who were captured!
[[Abel, buy me some time!]]
[[...Understood.]]
Abel, surprised by Ryo's sudden 'echo of the soul,' responded in agreement.
He must have considered the possibility that even a whisper could be overheard.
From what he could see, Ryo was facing forward, as usual.
But Abel understood.
His focus was directed elsewhere.
Most likely, it was alchemy.
In his head, he was engaging in something alchemical… either constructing or improving a magic formula.