Chapter 274
Chapter 274
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: Griffino Naval Battle (12)
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By the time the fire ships Peter Jaeger had been waiting for reached the vicinity of the Reich Empire Navy's fleet, Dilmut—the guildmaster of the Griffino Castle fishermen and their boss—muttered from atop his vessel.
"Fuck, we've prepared properly and all. But I don't know if this'll actually work. This shit's gonna kill me."
Dilmut vented his complaints, then stroked his fishing boat, the Herring, with regret—the one he'd sailed for nearly five years.
His touch was filled with affection for the vessel he'd loved as much as his own wife, gratitude toward the companion that had kept him and his family fed despite lean times, and sorrow at having to part with it soon.
Many of Dilmut's comrades felt the same pang for their own fishing boats, partners they'd shared one to two years or even nearly a decade with through thick and thin, now destined to burn away.
As they lingered in sentiment, Griffski—the acting first mate—approached Dilmut and asked,
"Boss, do you really trust what those Reich Empire bastards said?"
It was a remark that weakened the resolve they'd steeled themselves with, but it spoke for the anxiety and worries of the over 1,200 fishermen gathered here.
Dilmut understood their feelings better than anyone.
For fishermen like them, their boats were comrades they'd entrusted their lives to, friends and family—and burning them on the word of some general named Peter Jaeger was no small feat without ironclad determination.
Yet as captain and leader of this fishing fleet, he couldn't show weakness, so he forced a hollow smile and replied,
"What if I don't? Turn the rudder now and head back to Griffino? Sure, we wouldn't lose her then. But that Peter Jaeger fucker would court-martial us and our families for disobeying orders."
"Boss, even so, isn't this boat basically our entire fortune?"
"True enough. But what's the plan if we turn back to save one boat and hole up in Warsaw Harbor? That Warsaw Grand Duke asshole would starve us out in the port city. We'd rather take our shot here than sit and waste away."
At those words, Griffski and the others nodded.
Everyone here knew they'd starve under the Warsaw Grand Duke's naval blockade if they did nothing. They'd chosen to trust that bastard Peter Jaeger, who offered them a gold coin each as an advance and promised to fight and survive together.
"Last night, we drank and ate meat, and agreed to send off the Herring. So why the fuck are you waffling like some weak-kneed bitch now?"
With that, Dilmut pointed to the straw soaked in herring oil and other fish fats piled on the cabin roof, hold, and deck, along with kindling.
"No turning back now. So let's send these girls off right—none of that gloomy shit. Sing 'em a song. Wouldn't you rather hear laughter and thanks on your final trip than your family wailing?"
"Yes, boss—no, Master..."
Dilmut secured their agreement, then approached Colonel Laura aboard, the Reich Empire Navy's fire ship commander, and posed the same question.
Laura figured that since they'd entered enemy sight lines, a bit of singing wouldn't jeopardize the fire attack.
'Enemies will find men singing and smiling on their way to plunder far more terrifying. And it'll ease the fishermen's fear of ramming warships in these rowboats compared to proper battleships.'
Laura approved the fishermen's proposal.
"That sounds good. It's a farewell song for boats like your comrades—sing it with all your heart. I'll join in."
"Thank you, Colonel."
"It's the least for a friend you've matched strides with your whole life. Get to the hold."
With permission granted, lively singing erupted from the fishing boats, as if they were off herring hunting.
"The sea with its surging blue waves is the gull's friend. The herring have come to that sea."
"Pull the nets, pull the nets—the herring have come!"
"Pull 'em, pull—the hold's full, a bountiful haul!"
The fire ships advanced in formation toward the gaps between Peter Jaeger's and the Reich Empire Navy's warships, accompanied by the merry tune.
Peter Jaeger, locked in frontline combat with the enemy, couldn't see the fishing boats approach.
But the fishermen's song reaching his ears confirmed their timely arrival.
Convinced the fire attack was primed, he cleaved through enemy soldiers mercilessly and shouted,
"Proud soldiers of the Reich Empire, my comrades! Hold on just a bit longer! This battle will go down in history as our great victory, and your valor as the Empire's glory! Push the enemy back with everything you've got!"
The exhausted troops, facing over three times their number on cramped decks, found renewed vigor at his words, fanning dying embers back to life.
Victory meant returning home laden with spoils to their families' embraces.
Who was Brigade Commander Peter Jaeger? An undefeated commander with no losses, fighting at the forefront without flinching—a trustworthy general.
They burned with desperate resolve: all their strength, or die trying, just hold on.
Warsaw officers and soldiers, hit by the sudden fierce counterattack, ignored the approaching fishing boats below.
"Brigadier General Zerjinski, we must alert Admiral Timo immediately! At this rate, we'll fall for Jaeger's scheme!"
"Lieutenant General Skohayf, hurry! Order the commander to deal with those cockroach swarms below!"
"Blast those fat little fly fishing boats with ballistae!"
To be precise, some noticed, but most were too busy defending against the Reich Empire soldiers' onslaught.
Attacks from caravel warships nearly 2.5 times larger than the fishing boats inflicted serious damage on the fire flotilla.
Small ballista bolts and mages' spells slew fishermen lacking proper armor—some boats bristled like porcupines.
"Mateusz! You bastard! How dare you die after insisting on becoming a sergeant!"
"Keep singing! It's time to press on for our fallen brothers, you fucks!"
"Out to the distant sea for herring, nets full to our families' side!"
Through this harrowing ordeal, the fishing boats slipped into enemy gaps, pushing deep into their lines.
Death by arrow or spell could strike anytime, but they sang of family, steeled by resolve not to show fear on this path to burn their friend-like boats alongside the foe.
Nearly 80 boats broke through almost entirely.
Laura, singing along, inwardly admired these non-noble, non-soldier fishermen's bravery.
'Were the 7th Division soldiers from Jaeger's legendary Rizen Hill as courageous?'
Lost in thought, she heard Dilmut—the fishermen's leader—call out loudly,
"Just ram the ships in front of us, right?"
"Yes. Ram them now! Show the Warsaw Grand Duke who abandoned you the blazing fury and might of Griffino Castle and the western coast fishermen!"
"Understood!"
Fishermen on each boat grabbed prepared torches.
They descended to the hold, rowed furiously, and slammed prows—reinforced with iron spikes—into enemy hulls.
"Nice one, fuck yeah! The Herring nailed 'em good."
"Bastard went out like a man at the end."
"Thanks! We won't forget your sacrifice!"
Amid enemy fire, they piled oil-soaked straw and kindling at the prows.
Countless fell: the one boasting of his wedding last month, the soon-to-be father, the future captain.
Colonel Laura encouraged them while shedding her armor to prepare the blaze.
"Mourn the dead later! Inherit their will—focus on punishing the Warsaw Grand Duke who forsook you!"
As all 80-odd boats readied to ignite enemy ships, Admiral Timo peered down with a doomed expression.
"Fuck no!!! You fucker Peter Jaeger, go fuck yourself in hell! Retreeeeat! Everyone retreat! We need even one more to escape this inferno!"
His desperate cries fell flat—Laura and the others were already set to light up.
Far too late; laments changed nothing.
Every fishing boat blazed fiercely, flames leaping to Warsaw vessels.
They poured seawater and stored freshwater frantically, but once wood caught, it wouldn't quit.
Surrounded by Reich Empire ships, Warsaw vessels—tangled by Peter Jaeger's preparations—couldn't separate burning from unburnt.
"Forget putting out the fires! Give it up, you fucks!!"
"Shut up and jump! Swim to that uninhabited island!"
"Ditch armor and weapons—swim to the uninhabited island, go!"
Captains ordered abandon ship for the island, but Reich Empire troops spotted daytime escapees.
Peter Jaeger watched and commanded,
"Cut the grapples they threw! Prioritize lines over deck boarders! Rowers, paddle like hell! Expand the encirclement—pull away from Warsaw ships!"
His main and detached fleets widened the noose, distancing from Warsaw boats.
Jaeger captured surviving enemies as POWs, then climbed the mast to survey the Warsaw fleet's fate.
"Hell, fuck. Didn't expect 'em to burn this well. Like a massive wildfire or Amazon blaze. Burning so bright, someone might mistake 'em for lighthouses."
Soldiers inside those "lighthouses" cursed Peter Jaeger's name, praying he'd burn in hell—but war was war.
Soon, good news arrived.
"Commander, fishermen from Griffino and other castles are swimming our way! Colonel Laura leads at the front."
Lately, she'd lagged in promotions behind Anya and requested fire flotilla command to help me—I'd worried, but her safe return relieved me.
"Rescue every one who's made it here! They're honorable warriors and comrades who risked all for the Empire's fire triumph. Lower rope ladders!"
Our fleet painstakingly hauled each returning fisherman aboard.
Laura, drenched, approached like she craved praise.
I wanted to kiss her like some fairy-tale prince, but that'd spawn scandals and black history in Imperial society...
Instead, I dried her with my towel and draped my four-star commander overcoat over her.
Manuals say to warm rescued drowners this way—no issue.
Besides, even with a towel, some outsider groping Laura pissed me off.
"Rest here eight hours, then land on the nearby uninhabited island. Mobilize all troops—capture or kill Timo and every Warsaw bastard, no escapes! Good work, all!"
Our armed forces versus their hasty, disarmed flight made it feasible.
Thus concluded the Griffino Naval Battle.
Reich Empire: 40 warships, 10,000 combatants including rowers; 80 fishing boats, 1,200 fishermen engaged. Warsaw Grand Duchy: 120 warships, 30,000 engaged.
Reich losses: 3 warships, 400 soldiers KIA, 160 fishermen KIA; 500 soldiers severe, 50 fishermen severe.
Warsaw losses: 97 warships, ~16,000 KIA, ~4,000 MIA, ~1,000 severe.
Strategic result: Reich Empire seizes complete sea control over Warsaw waters.
After Peter Jaeger's return, Admiral Timo chose "honorable suicide" to preserve his house.
The Warsaw Grand Duke personally entered Griffino Castle for armistice talks.