Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"Sir! This isn't right! It's the Confederation that wants to war with Vineta, us ordinary civilians didn't take part in this... And there's not just militia from Red Sulfur Harbor in that bastion, but also the Confederation's mercenaries. We people from Red Sulfur Harbor have no say in the matter..." A local gentleman of Red Sulfur Harbor, highly respected for his integrity and influence, was pleading with General Layton with tears streaming down his face.

Layton's threats were never hollow. When he heard that the locals sent to negotiate surrender claimed, "The garrison within the bastion are also arguing incessantly, begging for a day's respite before giving an answer," he immediately made good on his threat.

Soldiers from the Saint Marco Legion burst through the doors, following a list they found in the council hall, they searched door to door, capturing the garrison's family members and relatives. Any Venetians from Red Sulfur Harbor who refused to identify garrison relatives were also taken away.

The old, the weak, women, and children were tied up with hemp ropes in a line like livestock and herded before the bastion to dig tunnels. Meanwhile, Saint Marco soldiers began to bind firewood, collect small boats, and construct components for floating bridges.

Layton's message to the garrison inside the bastion was clear and explicit: If you do not surrender, I will fill the moats with your families' corpses.

Finally, when the Saint Marco Legion hauled their heavy artillery from the ruined bastion of the bay to the front of the Bastion, the garrison's morale collapsed.

Wishing to surrender, the Red Sulfur Harbor militia knocked down the Confederation's red dragon banner, lowered the drawbridge, and the Saint Marco Legion soldiers immediately rushed into the bastion, slaughtering every remaining Confederation soldier who had not given up the fight.

Winters noticed that surrounding Saint Marco officers all let out sighs of relief when they saw the red dragon banner fall.

These officers, far more experienced than Winters, of course understood the price the Saint Marco Legion would have to pay if the garrison had adamantly resisted.

The Confederation's main forces were still entrenched in the inland of Red Sulfur Island. If the Saint Marco Legion had suffered great losses at this bastion, being pushed into the sea by the Confederation seizing the opportunity was not impossible.

The one who understood this best was probably General Layton, but it seemed he did not particularly care, and neither did the other officers.

Now that the garrison had surrendered, it was undeniably great news for the Saint Marco Legion.

With no effort at all, the Saint Marco Legion not only captured a sturdy bastion and took full control of Red Sulfur Harbor but also obtained the garrison's gunpowder, weapon stores, and food supplies.

Winters suddenly remembered Marshal Ned once saying, "The key to siege tactics is to break the garrison's morale."

Watching the Saint Marco Legion soldiers cheer and leap for joy, Winters couldn't help thinking, "Did Layton just put on a show to pressure the garrison, or was he indifferent to casualties and really going to attack? Hmm... Maybe it's both."

Anyway, General Layton took down Red Sulfur Harbor's bastion smoothly, so he must be clever.

With the security of Red Sulfur Harbor now ensured, Layton dispatched two battalions, one to attack the bastion guarding the bay's entrance and the other to repair the middle bastion of the bay.

The defensive situation of Red Sulfur Harbor had shifted, and the fortifications Winters and his men had destroyed, the Saint Marco Legion now had to rebuild.

Winters and the other two sergeants followed Colonel Field, assisting him in conscripting labor from the local population of Red Sulfur Harbor and nearby villages to continue to reinforce the city's defenses.

The scouts cast out soon clarified the enemy's movements. When the Confederation's main forces learned that Red Sulfur Harbor had been breached by the Vineta Army, they immediately fractured.

The Confederation's main forces, the local militias of Red Sulfur Island, and a few pirates abandoned their coastal defenses, instead seeking refuge in Tachi, an inland city of Red Sulfur Island. These fleeing troops made up the majority.

A small part, mainly composed of loosely organized pirates who had once been part of the main Confederation forces, broke away and fled toward Red Sulfur Harbor.

Without waiting for the Saint Marco Legion's scouts to act, these pirates, displaying white flags, surrendered to the Venetians of their own accord. Each claimed to hold important information, hoping to exchange military intelligence for amnesty and, preferably, a reward as well.

However, Layton scorned the intelligence offered by these people, showing no interest whatsoever. The pirates that surrendered to the Saint Marco Legion were all drafted into the Death Camp, sent outside of Red Sulfur Harbor to dig trenches, engaged in the most grueling work.

These surrendering pirates already belonged to the category of the most scheming individuals; they quickly foresaw their dismal future. Some pirates claimed to have essential intelligence and insisted on meeting with the supreme commander of the Vineta military forces.
Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

"They want to see me? Someone in that pack of mongrels wants to see me?" General Layton laughed with rage, his smile chilling to the bone: "Alright then, let's meet."

The hall of Red Sulfur Island's council, formerly used for negotiations, had been transformed into the headquarters for the First Reserve Corps, usually only frequented by military personnel. Now, over a dozen disheveled pirates were being escorted into the corps' headquarters.

Under the collective gaze of the legion, including Winters, the dozen trembling pirates stood in front of Layton.

"I am the legion commander," Layton said coldly as he sat in his chair, resting his hand on his sword: "You've seen me now. What do you want to say?"

"Your Excellency... Sir," the leading pirate licked his lips, suddenly knelt down, and summoned his courage to speak: "We were coerced into serving the Confederation; it wasn't voluntary... We are willing to switch sides, to become your vanguard against the Confederation's bandit forces. Please spare our lives! And we also have crucial intelligence about the bandit chief, Kidd!"