Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"I don't want to hear it!" Layton stood up impatiently and waved his hand, signaling the guards to take these people away.

Like wolves and tigers, the guards grabbed the pirates and dragged them toward the door, with the lead pirate crying and shouting, "My lord... my lord, spare my life... Captain Kidd said reinforcements are coming... He plans to hold Tachi, sending people to gather food around... My lord, spare my life..."

Layton's originally impatient expression turned into one of annoyance, disdain, and extreme impatience, as he strode towards the lead pirate.

Thinking he was saved, the lead pirate pleaded even more frantically, swearing that he was forced into the confederation's army.
Experience tales at empire

Layton chuckled, and the lead pirate also squeezed out a stiff smile. The next second, Layton's sword plunged into the lead pirate's mouth.

"I said I didn't want to listen, who allowed you to tell me?" Layton asked.

The lead pirate died on the spot, the other pirates were petrified, several of them instantaneously wetting themselves.

The officers of the Saint Marco Legion also showed shock, but Winters, Bard, and Andre were not surprised at all.

In the minds of the three warrant officers, who had witnessed Major General Layton's cruel tactics and volatile nature, such an act was all too normal. To Winters, the pirates were marked for death the moment they entered the hall.

"These spineless wretches, living is just a waste of food." Layton, without a trace of emotion, flicked the blood off his sword. He didn't scold the pirates but rather bellowed at the officers around, "Soldiers must have backbone! Traitors will never deserve respect!"

All the officers of Vineta shuddered.

The guards dragged out both the living and the dead pirates, leaving behind dark red and pale yellow streaks on the floor of the hall.

"Scum is scum, no matter where they are," Layton snorted coldly and called out the name of a military police captain: "Moritz!"

"Yes, sir!" Major Moritz, who had been lazily watching the spectacle from the back row, answered immediately, not expecting his name to be called.

"You are in charge of dealing with this pirate scum. Let the islanders identify them, then find a place with lots of people and hang them all."

"Yes, sir," Winters noted Major Moritz rolling his eyes, subtly enough to go unnoticed, as he casually continued to ask, "Aren't we keeping them for labor?"

Layton's eyebrows shot up, and he said sternly, "Pirates are only good at cheating and being slippery, they won't work honestly. Hang all of them, and do the islanders a favor. Any future prisoners are to be handled by your military police force, and anyone identified as a pirate is to be killed."

This was a reasonable enough reason, and Major Moritz couldn't argue. He saluted and left the hall.

After dealing with this farce, the military council of the Saint Marco Legion continued. It was an expanded meeting of officers, not only including battalion commanders but also centurions.

Layton sat at the head of the table, with his battalion commanders seated in a circle around the map table and the centurions standing.

"The confederation's troops have retreated to Tachi and are still gathering food, they must be pondering a long-term defense. Nice thought, but they're up against me," Layton set the tone for the council by pointing at the map, "I've decided to strike first and attack Tachi. Let's hear your thoughts."

Though he asked for the officers' "thoughts," his decision to attack had already been made, so they could only work within that context.

The commanders began discussing specific action plans, the centurions getting no chance to speak. Soon, a detailed plan was formed:

The chief battalion of the Saint Marco Legion was to stay behind to guard Red Sulfur Harbor, while the second, third, fourth, and fifth battalions would move out lightly equipped to drive away the small confederation units gathering supplies near Tachi, compressing the confederation troops' operational space.

The remaining five battalions would advance on Tachi after all the baggage was unloaded from the ships, with the force of nine battalions attacking Tachi.

"Relax. Those Tanis are rubbish at war, give them fortresses and cannons and they still can't hold them," Layton ended the council with a smile, "Maybe they'll surrender without us having to lift a finger. Meeting adjourned!"

Winters followed the others out of the council hall.

Outside the headquarters, Field asked the three warrant officers, "What do you think? Do you want to join me in the vanguard, or stay in Red Sulfur Harbor with the third corps?"

Winters, Bard, and Andre exchanged glances; Andre seemed eager to go, but Winters shook his head, laughing, "I've had my fill of war, I won't join you in earning more laurels. Ask the other two."

"I would like to rest in Red Sulfur Harbor as well," Bard answered leisurely.

Andre initially wanted to follow but, seeing his two peers choosing to stay, he regretfully changed his mind, "Then I won't go either."

Field did not press the three warrant officers and laughed, "The combat merits you three earned the other night are enough for many soldiers to covet for a lifetime, you deserve a good rest... Don't worry, although Layton has a bad temper, he won't steal your glory."

It was now afternoon, and as Field turned to mount his horse, Winters, Bard, and Andre silently saluted him.

Just as Field was about to return the salute, the roar of cannon fire suddenly erupted from Red Sulfur Harbor.

Field instantly became alert, "Where's the firing coming from?"