In the port of the town, Servusarator. The expansionary battleship of the Fleet Principatus Humanum was docked with various men going in and out of the ship. A tense atmosphere was in the air as the golden sun slowly rose from the lines of the boundless horizon.
Approximately, several hours ago. Unknown adversaries infiltrated the plantation colony of Servusarator. They liberated several plantations and destroyed various armories in the east.
The governor's manor has also been captured, causing chaos in the command chain of the island. At the moment, the captain of the expansionary battleship was taking command over the garrisons of the town, Servusarator.
"Sir, grave news has been received from the reinforcing army." One of the guards reported to the captain, who raised an eyebrow in confusion. He wondered what the guard meant about the reinforcing army.
He had never heard of such a thing.
"What do you mean by reinforcing army? When did I order such a thing?" The captain questioned the guard, who became anxious about the captain's scrutinizing gaze.
"Before you took command, we were ordered to recapture the seized manor. Surrounding garrisons from various barracks in the west reach were sent to the manor for reinforcement." The guard reported as calmly as possible.
He could see the changing emotions of the captain and understood that the commander wasn't happy with the news.
"I see… Well, then. Let's hear this report of yours." The captain furrowed his eyebrows and barely contained his anger. Instead of fortifying what could be defended, these ignorant bastards went on the offensive instead.
This wasn't merely a rebellion but an invasion.
If they desired to survive this precarious circumstance of theirs, they had to hunker them and wait for the reinforcing battleships of the expansionary fleet. This was the only path to their survival.
The guard couldn't respond as dozens of worried thoughts surged inside his mind. But he soon regained his determination and reported the truth to the captain.
"The reinforcing army of hundreds of men had been lost. An unknown storm appeared out of nowhere and launched hundreds of lightning bolts to the ground. They couldn't even lay their arms or scream from pain. They died in an instant."
"Their bodies fried to crisped by the heaven's wrath."
The more the captain heard of the guard's words. The more worried he became. His anxiousness wasn't out of place as it practically solidified the possibility of the dragoness being on the island.
If she was, no matter how much they hunker down and prepare their defenses. They would be defeated and bloodshed would occur.
"May their souls be blessed by the goddess of magicraft." The captain sighed and uttered to the guard. He wasn't part of the garrison, so it was hard to relate to the men lost in the field.
However, it was different for the garrison stationed in the town. They were familiar to one another, making each death painful to each other.
The guard didn't respond to the captain as he realized that reality hadn't set in for him. It wasn't a mere army that was destroyed. It was hundreds from the garrison, massacred to damnation.
The captain walked past the guard and walked towards the command tent of the garrison. As he walked inside, he saw the war master and several knights discussing their strategies.
"Have you heard about the news from the reinforcing army?" The captain questioned while the war master didn't utter a reply. It seems that he was already aware.
"By the time we were aware of their deployment. It was already too late. The dragoness had massacred them." After a short while, the war master spoke to the captain.
"It's a tragedy." The captain nodded in understanding and stood amongst the discussing leaders of what remained on the western side of the island.
It took some time, but the discussion continued.
"The east has already fallen into the hands of the rebels. We have no remaining garrisons inside of it. Not only that, but there's news about a wave of rebels heading westward."
"They are probably planning to besiege Servusarator."
"What about the barracks separating the central and the west? What happened to it?" One of the knights inquired as the barracks was of importance.
"We haven't heard much news about it. The last thing we heard about the barracks was the appearance of an inferno in its location. It gleamed radiantly into the horizon, making it visible to our scouts."
"Is it the dragoness?" A knight questioned whether or not it was the dragoness that turned the barracks of the west into a crimson inferno.
"I don't think so. The dragoness is lounging in the manor, probably imprisoning the governor as hostage." The war master explained to the knights.
The knights raised their eyebrows as they were somewhat surprised to hear his words.
"The governor is still alive?" One of them questioned since they had already thought of the governor's head falling into enemy hands. It was astounding to hear that he was still alive.
"Naturally, of course. Otherwise, the dragoness wouldn't have been lounging in the manor. If the governor died, she would have made her landing into this town." The war master continued to express his thoughts.
"That makes sense. But why? Why would the dragoness keep the governor alive as a hostage?" Another knight questioned. The war master hearing it could only shake his head.
He was also confused as to why the governor was still alive. If it was any other force, the governor's head would have been separated from his body the moment he was captured.
"I have no idea. Ever since the dragoness made landfall in this sea. She had been acting strange. Not only that, but a strange organization of traitors has also become acquainted with her." The war master expounded to the knights.
"It might be because of them she's acting strange."
"What is this organization, Sir War Master?" A knight questioned, wanting to know the name of the traitorous organization.
"They call themselves the United Navy, primarily composed of traitorous humans who seek the foolish ideal of freedom for all. We asked for their surrender under the banner of humanity, but they sought to rebel instead."
"None of them even have mana, making them subhumans at best. Practically heretics." These were what the Magus Tower thought about the hidden force known as the United Navy.
Nothing more but arrogant heretics who were reliant on their technology.
When the knights heard of the war master's words. They felt nothing more than hatred for the arrogant lower humans who dared to not follow the demands of humanity. It made them wish for the destruction of such an organization.
"They must be the ones liberating the Minokins and starting the rebellion on this island." One of the knights realized, which the war master nodded, in agreement.
He had the same thoughts.
The rebellion of Servusarator didn't emerge out of nowhere. Instead, they were done by the heretics of humanity, the United Navy.
"I thought the same when I first heard of the insurrection. It is primarily why the expansionary battleship is anchored into this island. We must not let them prevail!" The war master uttered with confidence.
The knights felt elated to hear the words of the war master and regained their morale.
Meanwhile, the captain was in silence as he observed the ongoing discussion between the knights and his war master.
He had the same idea about the United Navy. He considered them as heretics, but he didn't dare to underestimate them.
Even though the fleet they sent in the diplomatic talks wasn't the full might of the fleet Principatus Humanum, they were still significantly strong in comparison to other navies in the Ferus Sea.
The fact that War Master Theodore decided to retreat meant that the United Navy posed a significant threat.
"Have you told them about the rebellion, Sir War Master?" One of the knights inquired, wanting to know where the fleet of Principatus Humanum was aware of the insurrection.
"I have already made my report. Reinforcing battleships should arrive this morning." The war master uttered with confidence.
This was the reason why they didn't retreat despite the possibility that the dragoness dwelled on the island. With the reinforcements, even if they wouldn't be able to defeat the dragoness, they could probably cause devastating casualties to the rebels.
Before the war master could continue with his thoughts, however… A guard entered the command tent with a panic-stricken face. He breathed in and out heavily as though he had sprinted his way to the tent to immediately report something crucial.
The war master and the knights raised their eyebrows, wondering why the guard had interrupted their meeting. On the other hand, the captain furrowed his eyebrows as he felt something was wrong.
"The western fortification has fallen! I repeat! The western fortification has fallen!" The guard shouted with all his might, causing the knights to freeze up.
The war master and captain immediately walked out of the command tent. As they turned their eyes to the heavens above, they saw giant metallic birds flying through the clear skies.
Explosions seemed to echo from the outskirts of the town, Servusarator. But to the two of them who already realized what had happened. It was none other than death knocking on their door.
"It seems that the main force of the United Navy has arrived! Prepare for the evacuation! And fortify the defenses!" The captain yelled at the knights, who immediately got out of their trance state.
They nodded at the captain and followed his orders.
The war master looked to the distance with shock and horror. This was the organization he considered as dregs and heretics. Such power shouldn't belong to them.
"Hey! Report this to the fleet. Get the reinforcements now! We don't have any more time." The captain ordered the war master who was unknowingly terrified.
But as soon as he had heard the words of the captain, the war master regained his calm and swiftly took out a runic communicator.