Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Chapter 56: Capital Bombardment (1)
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Raymond was strolling through the garden. Gestain and Sylvia followed behind him.
As he continued walking, Raymond sat down on a chair that caught his eye. It was a chair under a small roof.
He was leaning back against the chair's backrest, enjoying the cool night breeze and organizing his thoughts, when he heard footsteps from his left. The garden was currently under Royal Guard control, limiting access to only a select few.
"Is that you, Desia?"
"You have sharp senses, Your Majesty."
Desia appeared, her robe fluttering, accompanied by a faint smile. She walked lightly over and stood beside Raymond.
"Coming back from the library?"
"Yes. Baron Legacy had brought quite a collection of ancient texts to the Governor-General's classified library. I was absorbed in reading them."
Desia was Raymond's bodyguard. However, for the past few days, she had been focusing on magical training to attain enlightenment.
Examining ancient texts was also part of her training to elevate her realm.
Originally, she wanted to stick to close-protection duties, but Raymond had no intention of wasting her potential as a grand archmage by limiting her to mere melee guarding.
He wanted to elevate her to grand archmage status as quickly as possible. While he could provide significant help in reaching higher realms, from now on, enlightenment was key.
All Raymond could do for her now was give her plenty of time for personal training.
The transcendent realm of grand archmage was one even her current mentor, Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior, had yet to reach. For Desia, it must feel like advancing through pitch-black darkness with no path in sight.
"How's it going? Can you see the way forward?"
Raymond asked casually.
"Well... the wall is higher than I thought."
Desia replied in a weary voice.
She undoubtedly possessed the talent to reach grand archmage.
However, the one who would fully awaken her potential in the original story was the protagonist, Richard, while Raymond was merely an extra.
Even knowing the setting guide, the limits of what he could offer Desia were clear. That's why it frustrated him. He wanted to help more but couldn't.
"Desia."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You have the talent. If you don't give up, you'll reach it."
That was all he could say now. All that remained was to trust her talent and wait.
"Your Majesty, the Royal Heart maintenance is complete."
Baron Legacy reported. Over the past week, he had collaborated with Rackl Bronze's Iron Hammer Unit to focus on Royal Heart repairs.
The Royal Heart wasn't just an ancient-tech airship; military secrecy meant they didn't enlist help from Jeist Magitech Kingdom's magitech scholars.
But the magitech scholars of Unit 142 and the dwarves of the Iron Hammer Unit were exceptionally skilled.
They had poured their all into fulfilling the imperial decree to restore the Royal Heart for immediate combat deployment, completing it in just a week.
"Can it sortie right away?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Excellent."
Raymond nodded in satisfaction at Baron Legacy's response.
"Count Denitz."
"Your command."
At the calm summons, Count Denitz, who had been facing Baron Legacy, turned toward Raymond.
"Inform King Rudel to provide airship support."
"I will relay it at once."
The airships were Jeist Magitech Kingdom's powerful deterrent and offensive weapon, allowing it to maintain territorial defense against the mighty Three Kingdoms Alliance despite lacking ground forces.
Raymond was essentially demanding this precious military asset, but King Rudel had no choice but to comply.
Jeist Magitech Kingdom was currently a vassal state of the Philius Empire—not quite occupied territory, but still obligated to meet imperial demands.
"Also, select elite troops from the Imperial Army to board the airships. The Imperial Guard will board the 'Royal Heart,' so the rest of the fleet will be filled with Imperial Army personnel."
The massive Royal Heart had enough space left even after boarding an entire Imperial Guard legion.
"I will propagate the imperial decree to each army."
As Raymond nodded, Count Denitz left the office with a stern expression. He headed straight to the Governor-General's comms room and disseminated the decree via magical communication to each army.
Elite Imperial Army units stationed in Jeist Magitech Kingdom converged on the central capital city where the Governor-General's office was located. While they reorganized, Count Denitz moved to meet King Rudel.
To secure airship support.
"His Majesty the King awaits you."
A royal knight informed Count Denitz, who had been waiting in the reception room.
Since becoming a Philius Empire vassal and losing sovereign status, Jeist used "Your Highness" instead of "Your Majesty."
Count Denitz straightened his attire and followed the royal knight to the audience chamber. The doors were open. As he approached, the chamberlain announced his entry loudly.
"You may enter."
Another attendant approached and said. Count Denitz nodded silently and stepped inside. King Rudel sat on the throne at the end of the blue carpet.
Though the war had ended recently, with most nobles gone and his kingdom reduced to vassal status, his face was etched with deep worry.
"Welcome, Count Denitz of the Philius Empire."
"It is an honor to pay respects to His Highness, King of Jeist Magitech Kingdom."
Formal greetings were exchanged. King Rudel gazed at Count Denitz with a fatigued expression and spoke.
"That should suffice for formalities, Count Denitz. May I ask why you've come today?"
"Then I'll get straight to the point. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to form an imperial fleet."
"An imperial fleet? You don't mean drafting our kingdom's airships, do you?"
"Precisely. Approximately ten airships will be requisitioned."
At Count Denitz's words, King Rudel barely suppressed a deep sigh.
He had anticipated this ominous outcome the moment "imperial fleet" was mentioned, but not that it would hit so squarely.
Ten airships could form a full fleet. He resented Count Denitz's brazen demand, but regrettably, King Rudel had no means to refuse.
Jeist Magitech Kingdom was a defeated nation and Philius vassal.
"Ten will suffice? Any other demands?"
King Rudel said in a feeble voice, hoping desperately for no further requests.
"None."
Fortunately, Philius Emperor Raymond was less ruthless than expected, with no additional demands beyond the ten airships. Of course, ten was still enormous.
"We'll provide the airships as quickly as possible."
"We appreciate Jeist Magitech Kingdom's cooperation."
King Rudel kept his word. Within a week, ten airships and minimal crew were ready, reorganized into the "Imperial Fleet" centered on the Royal Heart.
Raymond boarded the Royal Heart, which served as flagship, with the Imperial Guard as its combat unit.
The remaining ten airships carried Philius Imperial Army troops, with a small number of Jeist crew handling operations.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Fleet is ready."
Cassius reported. The fleet was under direct imperial command, making Raymond the de facto commander, with Cassius as adjutant.
"Sortie."
Swallowing his surging emotion, Raymond issued the order. The Imperial Fleet's airships, led by the Royal Heart, ascended over the central capital city housing the Jeist Governor-General's office.
Among the eleven airships, the golden-hulled Royal Heart stood out most prominently.
Drawing all eyes from the kingdom's citizens, the Imperial Fleet's destination was the central capital of Lisbon Maritime Kingdom.
Overland travel through Isiria or Edriger occupied territories would take considerable time, but the aerial route saved much of it.
Raymond wanted to reach Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's capital as swiftly as possible, and the fleet flew at full speed to meet his demand.
They soon reached Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's border.
"Something's in the sky!"
Lisbon's border forces spotted the flying Imperial Fleet but lacked means to intercept.
Though equipped with ballistae, the fleet maintained maximum altitude for transit, beyond range.
In the end, they could only watch helplessly as the fleet crossed the border toward the capital.
"The enemy is approaching the capital! We must prepare countermeasures immediately!"
As the fleet entered the capital region, the defense forces went on high alert.
Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's capital defense commander, Count Dicron, insisted on deploying mages to intercept.
"How, when magic range can't reach them?"
One noble retorted coldly. Count Dicron met his gaze confidently.
"Send up mages who can cast flight magic."
"We lack sufficient Fly-capable mages, and without ground cover, we'd just lose our own."
"Indeed. Better to wait until they descend."
This era's airship tactics were simple: drop troops to the rear or have onboard mages rain spells—both requiring descent.
Thus, the capital's defense nobles advocated waiting for that moment to counterattack.
But they overlooked one thing: the fleet's flagship Royal Heart mounted long-range magitech cannons.
"Your Majesty, magitech cannons are charged."
Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle reported calmly. He and Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior had boarded the Royal Heart with their towers' mages to operate the cannons.
"Ready to fire immediately?"
"Of course."
"Targeting?"
"The royal castle and military bases."
"Splendid."
Raymond grinned at Berenus's words. He planned to bombard the capital but minimize civilian casualties if possible.
Of course, even targeting castle and military sites, some civilian losses were inevitable once shelling began. Still, he deemed them unavoidable sacrifices.
"Commence bombardment."
After brief deliberation, Raymond ordered. The Royal Heart's gunports opened, cannons emerging.
Crimson and Azure mages calmly operated them. Aiming was perfect, precisely locked on castle and bases. At the Azure Lord's signal, the mages fired in unison.
Boom! Kaboom! Bang!
Explosions erupted across Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's capital with thunderous roars.
The magitech cannons' mighty barrage mercilessly swept five defense garrison sites in an instant, vaporizing over 20,000 troops.
"W-what in the world is happening?!"
Magitech cannons were unfamiliar this era. Chaos erupted in the royal castle.
"Defensive magic arrays activating! Stay calm!"
One noble tried reassuring the king, but the attending royal mage shook his head vigorously.
"We don't know how long they'll hold! We must evacuate the castle now!"
"Damn it! Abandon the castle?!"
"We can't all die here!"
Arguments broke out, and King Ridius of Lisbon Maritime Kingdom bit his lip with a grim expression.
While they bickered, expending energy, the Royal Heart finished recharging and prepared its second salvo.
"In the name of His Majesty the Emperor! Annihilate the enemy!"
Cassius's shout echoed through the Royal Heart. The charged cannons locked onto the castle once more.