General Illion's concerns

At the temporary base of operations for General Illion's landing force, the second main fleet had just arrived. For a force of fifty thousand troops to be transported across the Maelstrom Gulf, how many ships were required? Like a forest of ships, they crowded the ocean surface while proudly waving the flag of the Alzar Kingdom on their masts. Their sheer number stretched from side-to-side as far as the eye could see. The sight was truly eye-catching. Despite the Xingyuu Empire preparing a blockade, they were helpless to stop the march. After all, there were even Ten Dawns present! In the sky, gliders reigned, but on the ocean, the supremacy of Arcania was unrivaled! The morale of the soldiers surged to an all-time high!

Lorenzo was leaning over a ship railing, looking over at the scenic landscape. The place where they decided to land was a spot carefully thought upon. It was easy to defend against a seafaring force, while the sharp cliffsides forced land invaders along a single path. There was a town here originally, but the citizens fled once they saw the enormous fleet. There was no unnecessary bloodshed. The Great Knight sighed. The forest trees were naked, revealing a sense of deathliness. It was close to November now, and they were expecting their first snowfall soon. A winter campaign on this scale was unheard of. They needed a lot more time and preparation before they could take root here! One could imagine how long this campaign was expected to take.

"You look glum. How are you doing, Brigade Commander Lorenzo?" a man asked.

Lorenzo forced a smile for his fellow brigade commander. "I'm doing fine."

"You sure don't look fine. You know that we're one of the pillars of this army. We can't afford to look all sad before the big battle."

"I understand… Private affairs should be left as private. Thank you, Bridge Commander Raynarldo."

"Don't sweat the small details. This is our battlefield. What happens from here on out may determine the kingdom's fate. We cannot be distracted," Raynarldo said.

Distracted, huh? Lorenzo mocked internally while tightening his grip on his sword. I don't know where you are Benedict, but I pray that you're still alive and well. Wait for me. I'll rescue you very soon!

The ships slowly entered the vicinity of the town, docking and releasing soldiers to move supplies and fortify the area. The docks were small so only a few ships could anchor at a time. It seemed hectic, but there was actually plenty of order! Everyone had their job and their roles to fulfill. Lorenzo and Raynarldo were running ragged, supervising everyone. As Brigade Commanders, this was their job. Above them were Legion Generals. A Legion General was considered the top of the brass anywhere. It was beneath them to handle these affairs! Finally, above them was the Army General, directly overseeing everything. This Army General was, of course, General Illion Doro, Third-In-Command of the Alzar Kingdom's entire armed forces!

In a quiet meeting room, the three Legion Generals and General Illion were present. Their plans so far were smooth sailing, so their expressions were excited. Before them was an extensive report on the Xingyuu Empire's movements, including that of the Yunyun Stronghold. They heard of the Li Family rebelling against the Xingyuu Empire. Though it had yet to devolve into a civil war, the tension meant the empire's armies would be stretched thin. This, in turn, made their chances of taking the Yunyun Stronghold that much higher. After all, the entire north was thrown into chaos!

However, General Illion's brows were furrowed as he thought of it differently. There were reports of the Xingyuu Empire's armies acting erratically before the Li Family rebelled. For example, the Maelstrom Gulf was in constant conflict. Large fleets patrolled and contested these waters all the time. If the Teria Sea had half of the Alzar fleets, then the Maelstrom Gulf had the second half! The struggle to reach the empire should have been dozens of times more difficult. Instead, it was quite easy… Granted, it was not easy to intercept a fleet of their magnitude, especially with the help of the Ten Dawns. Their large-scale tactical magic was a terrifying deterrent. But when considering how effective their soldiers were on land than at sea, the difference was like between heaven and earth. The Xingyuu Empire should have done everything in their power to cut the fleet numbers down.

Illion had a sense of uneasiness. Ever since Elizabeth was kidnapped under his nose, he had conducted several in-depth investigations. Why did the Xingyuu Empire deploy twenty Imperial Sentinels to kidnap a mere girl? Furthermore, to sacrifice them without reserve… Anyone could tell there was something deeper to the mystery. Unless she was a matriarch to a Grand Nobility Household or royalty, there was no point! But he knew no one that fit her description. As if she appeared out of thin air, she was a true enigma. After reporting the news to Lord Korogin, he hoped for an explanation, but the man kept it short and simple. She was a person of paramount importance! General Illion could infer from this alone that she was related to royalty!

With how easy the Xingyuu Empire infiltrated Port Silic and his army, he knew the empire was creating a trap for him. But he was not particularly afraid. As a general, it was important to remain level-headed in all circumstances. Furthermore, he had no worries that the Xingyuu Empire knew their true goal. In his entire army, the only one who knew everything was him! This secret plan was created over years by Lord Korogin, Prince Dannark, and himself, the three leaders of the army. All the players had to be in the right place at the right time to create this opportunity… He could not afford any mistakes. He had to execute everything perfectly, to secure the future of the Alzar Kingdom!