Chapter 99: Private Letter

While Sea Windmill received cheers from the crowd at Dornick Port, the patrol fleet commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Neville was passing by a small cape.

This was the most complex area in terms of terrain near Dornick. Dozens of small islands with rocky, barren surfaces were scattered randomly across less than a hundred square miles of sea. Hidden currents, whirlpools, fog, giant seaweed, and ferocious magical beasts made this area known as the ‘No Return Cape,’ the most dangerous waters near Dornick.

Danger meant secrecy. This was an ideal place for lawless adventurers to set up hideouts. It was also the best spot for sneak attack teams from the Five Great Archipelagos to infiltrate Dornick. By occupying a small island in No Return Cape and establishing a base, the Alien Race invading Dornick waters could attack when possible and retreat to defend when needed, gaining a significant tactical advantage.

Twelve warships spread out in a fan shape, moving through the island group at the slowest cruising speed. The wakes they left behind resembled a large net, carefully combing through No Return Cape. From time to time, one or two green fireballs rose from the warships, exploding into large patches of flame in the high sky, indicating that the searched islands were safe.

Strong winds whipped up huge waves that crashed against the thick hulls of the warships. The massive ships swayed unsteadily in the storm, and all the soldiers on board staggered, their bodies rocking with the waves. This was the most uncomfortable season of the year. Even when the people of the Western Continent endured winter, the sailors of the patrol fleet had to struggle and sail on the sea.

Standing on the bridge of the flagship, Jerry, Lieutenant Colonel Neville’s adjutant, looked through the transparent glass window at the raging sea outside. He forcefully tapped his smoked-out pipe, refilled it with tobacco, and muttered a prayer: “Damn this weather. I hope those damned Alien Race won’t cause trouble again. Even if they do, don’t let it be in our area—go somewhere else!”

Every year, three to five towns along the Northern Coastline of the Western Continent were harassed by the Alien Race. Some harassment groups were small, with just ten or twenty Alien Race members who might plunder some food and women at most. But some harassment teams were exceptionally strong, with groups of up to a thousand Alien Race members capable of assaulting a city.

Recalling the five armed fleets of Odin Holy Guards that Lin Qi and the others encountered, Jerry shook his head vigorously. Fortunately, they were only chasing the ship Lin Qi was on. If such a team of elite Odin Holy Guards invaded the Continent, unless it was a large city like Dornick, which had regular troops stationed there and tens of thousands of Militia assisting in defense, other towns would fall at the first attack. Lieutenant Colonel Neville, who was responsible for patrol duties, would be in trouble.

“Great gods, let those damned Alien Race harass other areas! Although Dornick is the Empire’s only ice-free port in the north, there are still many other places they can land!” Jerry prayed rather uncharitably. With thirty years of peace, the fiery blood in the Empire’s soldiers had cooled considerably. “Better others die than me”—such thoughts were beginning to sprout and grow in the minds of many junior officers and soldiers.

In the cabin behind the bridge, specially designated for the fleet commander, several bright candles lit the room brightly. Lieutenant Colonel Neville sat at the desk, writing swiftly and in detail about the events of the past two days.

A Blood-eyed Iron-winged Falcon, about the size of a human head, stood calmly on a bronze perch next to Lieutenant Colonel Neville. Its sharp, knife-like gaze occasionally swept over Neville, and at other times, it lowered its head to tear at a piece of bloody beef held between its claws. The Blood-eyed Iron-winged Falcon was one of the very few small bird species capable of flying freely in the storms of the North Sea. It was an essential messenger bird for the Imperial Military Ministry and some army Nobles, specifically used to deliver certain important and confidential documents and letters.

Not only was the Blood-eyed Iron-winged Falcon extremely fast in flight, but its own strength was also astonishing. An ordinary specimen could shatter a bull’s skull with a single flap of its wings. If it were a mutated Blood-eyed Iron-winged Falcon, it could even spit wind blades to kill some of the largest and strongest bird species in the North Sea.

After writing for a while, Lieutenant Colonel Neville looked up, reached out to stroke the Blood-eyed Iron-winged Falcon, then lowered his head and continued writing.

“Dear Uncle, Lin Qi’s words and actions have been fully described in the previous letter. Unlike his peers, he possesses extraordinary tactics and abilities. Judging by his actions, his family likely holds considerable financial power and influence in Dornick. Building a good relationship with him would benefit our family’s future. At a time when our family’s elite are dwindling and our traditional interests are being encroached upon by other families, we need external support.”

“We need the support of the Empire’s high-level officials. We need someone in the high ranks to speak for our family’s interests, whether they are civil or military officials. We need support from the top. Besides that, we need even more robust support. Military power, manpower, financial power! Especially financial power. As I mentioned to you last time, if our family still had the financial resources of the past, perhaps I would already be a Navy Colonel by now.”

“I eagerly hope you can quickly investigate the background and strength of Lin Qi’s family and make a decision that best serves our family’s interests. Enclosed with this letter is a Gold Note for you to use at the Military Department to try to get me a transfer.”

“With my rank of Lieutenant Colonel, the position of commander of the Dornick Local Garrison Fleet should be quite fitting for my status.”

Writing this, Lieutenant Colonel Neville could not help but curl his lips into a wry smile. Damn the position of patrol fleet commander. Awkwardly serving as a patrol fleet commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—wasn’t that because he hadn’t satisfied the enormous appetite of that greedy Deputy Minister at the Military Department, who then assigned him to this unlucky post? At this moment, the commander of the Dornick Local Garrison Fleet should be in a luxurious mansion, holding a beautiful lover, drinking strong liquor, smoking a Cigar, and planning the fleet training schedule for the coming spring.

That was the treatment an Empire Navy Lieutenant Colonel deserved!

Not like him, braving strong winds and heavy snow, wandering around like a dog on the turbulent sea. Eating frozen, stale beef, chewing on storage fruits frozen like ice, drinking black tea as dark as ink, and facing rough, unwashed soldiers throughout the entire patrol voyage!

“I hope you can bring me good news. Our family now needs an officer who holds actual power and has a real say in some location!”

“Wishing you good health, and please give my regards to Viviya. Tell her I think of her beautiful, Goddess-like face every day!”

Sighing softly, Lieutenant Colonel Neville glanced out the window at the undulating sea and added another paragraph to the letter.

“Please ask your old friends in the Military Department to verify the military merits of Lin Qi, Enzo, and me as soon as possible. If I had a medal of considerable weight now, it would be of great help to my promotion and our family’s reputation!”

Sighing again, Lieutenant Colonel Neville shook his head, then attached both the Gold Note Lin Qi had given him and the letter to the Blood-eyed Iron-winged Falcon’s leg using a special metal cylinder from the Imperial Military Ministry.

He opened the window and released the ferocious bird trained by his family.