Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"How could General Serviati possibly mutiny over a few mad words? Your Excellency is well aware of that," said Earl Nalzia as he took two cups out of a cabinet, pouring wine with a casual tone, "I just can't understand why you would say those things to him."

After the honey-colored liquid filled the cups, Nalzia added a few ice cubes from a cotton-covered iron can into the wine and handed one to Lionel.

Lionel looked completely different from how he appeared in Antonio's study; now, he seemed more like the Chief Civil Servant of The Federated Provinces – renowned for his shrewdness and boldness in handling affairs.

The Secretary of State swirled his glass gently and said calmly, "Not being able to persuade Debela meant that I had already failed. Everything else was just patching holes, inconsequential and expected... But the corrupt ways of you nobles always manage to surprise me a little. Using court mages to make ice just for drinking ice wine, isn't that a bit too luxurious?"

"It's not really about luxury, since I'm also one of His Majesty's most trusted 'lackeys,'" Earl Nalzia replied with a smile.

The day after the Secretary of State's unexpected visit, Virtue set sail from Sea Blue City with the Emperor's delegation. It would stop in Guidao City for supplies, then head straight back to the Empire. Vineta's march on the Taniria Islands was a foregone conclusion.

When Virtue left the dock, a high-level military officer meeting was taking place in the Throne Hall at the army headquarters in Vineta. The atmosphere was extremely tense – they had been in session since the morning without reaching any conclusions.

"...Mobilize three more legions, clear the outer islands in a month, take down Golden Harbor in two, and pacify the Taniria Islands in three..." Major General Layton, appointed as the commander of the First Reserve Legion, was spitting enthusiastically at his colleagues, his face glowing red.

"Bullshit! If you can't deal with the Federation in three months, will you commit suicide to apologize?" Another officer sitting opposite Layton retorted unceremoniously, "Just opening your mouth about mobilizing three legions, that's five in total, are you digging up the money from your ancestral grave?"

Layton was so infuriated that he sprang up, drawing his sword. The officer opposite was not to be outdone, pulling out his own military saber. As the council hall almost turned into a battleground, the surrounded officers hurriedly restrained the two men.

The senior officers sitting further away were already accustomed to such scenes; in more than thirty years since the establishment of Vineta, more generals had died in duels than in battle. Watching the army fight amongst themselves, the navy officers were unperturbed and watched the drama with relish.

"Disgracing yourself in front of allies!" Admiral Zio, the military governor, couldn't stand it anymore and scolded, "Take away their swords!"

With their superior officer truly angry, Layton and his rival did not dare to cause more trouble. They handed over their swords and sat down on the chairs, trying to burn each other to death with the fury in their eyes.

Another army officer began to speak, "Layton is not wrong. If we don't fight, so be it, but if we do fight, we should crush the Federation. Deploying five legions all at once is better than sending one legion at a time. The longer it drags on, the more likely things are to change."

"Five legions' worth of troops is enough to resolve the Federation in three months?" someone else contested.

"The Federation is like scattered sand; why can't we?"

The objector sneered, "The Pretender Emperor thought the same, claiming he could annihilate us before the Spring Festival, yet the Sovereignty War dragged on for eleven years!"

"How can you compare those pirate and slaver scum of the Federation to us?" the one supporting Layton was also riled up, "Besides, it was the Federation that chose war, not Vineta!"

"Enough!" Admiral Zio stopped the two, calling another person by name, "Antonio, your thoughts!"

"I'd like to hear what our other comrades think first."

"When it's your turn to speak, speak! Your Third Legion is the main force attacking Taniria."

Antonio cleared his throat, "Then I will share my thoughts."

The room went suddenly quiet.

"I agree with the point made earlier. The longer the war against the Federation drags on, the worse it is for us," Antonio said in a deep voice. "But I absolutely do not support the idea of a quick victory. Once the war starts, the most important thing is how to end it. But I don't know at all how the Executive Council wants to end this war."

As he spoke, Antonio left his seat and walked to the large map of the inner sea hung on the wall of the council hall. Pointing to the Taniria Islands, he said, "Where can this battle end? By capturing Golden Harbor? With the Federation surrendering? Conquering the entire archipelago? Turning Taniria into a province of Vineta? Our current task is to clarify our strategic objectives."

"Didn't the Governor Debela say 'The Tanilia Federation must be destroyed'?" someone interjected.

"Right, but how exactly can the Federation be considered destroyed?" Antonio countered, "Strangle the leaders of the Federation? Dissolve the Federation? Arrest and execute all members of the Federation? And after destroying the Federation, how shall we deal with Taniria? Maintain its independent status? Take over governance from the Federation? Or turn the islanders into Vineta citizens?"