Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Realizing that the garrison of Tachi was racing against time to fortify the city's defenses, the two legion commanders who had gone to scout returned to Red Sulfur Harbor immediately.

The two legion commanders rode back to Red Sulfur Harbor by nightfall. Not bothering to fight for command, Layton, upon his return, immediately ordered the Saint Marco Legion to hand over the city's defenses to the allied forces, and then led his troops to Tachi lightly equipped under the cover of darkness.

The Third "Da Veneta" Legion would rest for a day in Red Sulfur Harbor before setting out to join forces with the Saint Marco Legion, carrying the baggage trains of the two legions.

Fire basins and torches illuminated the central square of Red Sulfur Harbor, where Antonio and Layton, mounted on their horses, watched as the urgently assembled Saint Marco Legion distributed hemp ropes.

In this era, many people suffered from night blindness. Even with the moon shining brightly, they were as blind as bats at night. Therefore, competent officers generally avoided night operations wherever possible. But in urgent situations like this, the Venetians couldn't afford to be choosy.

One end of the hemp rope was tied around the waist of the soldier in front, and the other end was grasped by the soldier behind, ensuring that no one would fall behind, lose their way, or desert during the march. It was a clumsy method, but an effective one.

Once ready, the Saint Marco Legion set out from Red Sulfur Harbor in four columns.

With a solemn expression, Antonio saluted Layton, who, equally solemn-faced, did not return the salute, but merely waved his hand before spurring his horse and departing without exchanging a word with Antonio, who had come to see him off.

The civilians of Red Sulfur Harbor hid in their homes, peering through cracks in doors and windows at the actions of the Venetian army. They still vividly remembered how the ferocious Venetian soldiers had gone from house to house seizing people just a few days before and breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the Venetian troops marching out of the city.

However, the sight of a new king's flag on the city walls indicated the departure of one Venetian force and the arrival of another. No one knew what the next day would bring; the people of Red Sulfur Harbor went to sleep amidst gnawing unease.

Winters, however, got no rest, anxiously waiting in a room at the camp of the Third Legion.

The door was pushed open, and Antonio entered. Winters stood to salute, but Antonio pressed down on Winters' arm, patted his shoulder, and said nothing.

How does a man react when he sees his son drowning? He would jump into the water to save him, regardless of whether he could swim.

What about a commander faced with the situation of "a viper biting the hand"? Even with a guilty conscience, he must "take drastic actions for survival."

But when these two identities overlap, things become very complicated.

The Third Legion was ambushed on the day in question, and Antonio had abandoned Winters and his hundred-man squad. Winters did not know what went on in Antonio's heart at that time; he knew it couldn't have been easy.

It was an unavoidable situation; war always results in casualties. He harbored no resentment against his adoptive father. Having been tempered as a true officer on Red Sulfur Island, he had let go of any bitterness that might have lingered in his heart.

Yet he didn't know what to say to Antonio, so he said nothing, and neither did Antonio. It is difficult for men to communicate their feelings openly, so in most cases, they simply do not communicate at all.

Besides, there were more pressing matters at the moment.

"I have already located the person that the Secretary of State of The Federated Provinces asked you to find," Winters stated straightforwardly, believing it urgent to convey this information to Antonio as soon as possible.

"Hmm?" Obviously, Antonio was caught off guard and was momentarily stunned.

"To be precise, it's a body," Winters added, biting his lip.

"Lionel..." Antonio struggled to recall, "... is he the one who asked me to look for that person before he left? The name seems to be..."

"Mara, the special envoy of the Secretary of State of The Federated Provinces," Winters reminded. "Before Secretary Lionel left, he asked you to send Mr. Mara's ashes to him."

"I'm getting old, my memory really isn't what it used to be," admitted Antonio with a wry smile, confusedly asking, "You found that man on Red Sulfur Island? He died there?" Continue your journey on empire

Winters took a deep breath and spoke softly, "No, not on Red Sulfur Island... but in Sea Blue City, in the morgue at the commandant's office—the person assassinated at the docks, he was the special envoy of the Secretary of State of The Federated Provinces."

Initially puzzled, Antonio then gasped sharply, soberly asking Winters, "Are you certain?"

"Positive, the accomplice of the assassin confessed to me personally."

"Who is it?"

Grinding his teeth, Winters spat out a name: "... It's Colonel Kongtai'er."

"Kongtai'er?" Antonio's face turned stormy: "He's got some nerve! Where is he now?"

"Lying in the infirmary, unconscious, uncertain to survive. On the day we attacked the harbor, Colonel Kongtai'er was shot in the abdomen, and his intestines were ruptured. I found a doctor on the island who removed the bullet for him, sewed up his intestines, and cleaned out his abdominal cavity. He confessed to me while he was conscious. I don't think he was lying; there was no need for him to lie about this matter," Winters explained.

Learning of Kongtai'er's critical condition, Antonio's emotions slightly settled, and after exhaling, he asked, "Why would Kongtai'er assassinate the special envoy of the Secretary of State of The Federated Provinces?"

"It wasn't Colonel Kongtai'er, but others in his group who acted," Winters articulated, explaining, "According to their claim—because Veneta needs the Tanilia Archipelago."