Silas descended onto the ironclad warship.
His condition was terrible.
His face was deathly pale, his body swaying, but his eyes remained relatively clear, radiating cold fury and hatred.
His robe was deep crimson and heavy, as if formed from countless layers of blood stained with rust and gunpowder smoke that had settled and solidified.
"Whoosh..."
A strange wind billowed his robe, spreading some invisible fluctuation outward.
Thus all the soldiers and officers on the entire warship were affected.
They vaguely sensed some call to glory and came swarming onto the deck.
Everyone's face was filled with fanaticism, filled with anticipation for war and a thirst for victory!
They weren't clear how this sudden emotion had arisen, but they knew they urgently needed to vent it!
The entire ship's crew gathered on the deck in a chaotic mass, faces flushed.
Today, the ship's leadership had all left the vessel, either attending the New Year's banquet at the palace or out seeking entertainment, leaving only them behind.
Unrestrained, they were in complete disarray.
"Soldiers! We are the glorious Loen Navy!"
At that moment, the person with the highest rank in the crowd, a colonel, ran out shouting.
"Yes!"
The soldiers cheered together.
The colonel was highly emotional.
He had no clear speech topic, just impulsively jumped out on a whim, so riding this emotion, he kept shouting wildly. "Our warship is unmatched!"
"Yes!"
"We will defeat all enemies!"
"Yes!"
"We hunger for victory, from one victory to the next!"
With each shout from the colonel, the soldiers responded with a unified cheer.
Everyone was immersed in war's fervor.
Although this was the kingdom's capital and the surrounding district was perfectly safe, they looked as if they were about to march onto a battlefield full of glory.
Silas watched them quietly.
"So, we... we must..."
The colonel suddenly got stuck at this point.
Of course he'd run out of words, because they had no actual purpose. They were simply dominated by inexplicable emotions.
"You must pursue victory, destroy the enemy."
Silas reminded softly from the side.
"Right, destroy the enemy!"
The colonel picked up the thread, shouting. "We can only achieve victory by crushing the enemy!"
"Your enemy is in Sodlark Palace."
Silas said again.
But after hearing this, the colonel showed hesitation and confusion.
Not just him; the soldiers present also showed signs of awakening upon hearing those words.
After all, Sodlark Palace was where the royal family resided. Wasn't the royal family the place they should be loyal to?
Still need to increase the effect...
Silas shook his head, then continued driving a certain "flock member" within his body, making Him activate his ability.
"Tch."
In his internal slot, Medici sneered contemptuously but still followed his will and sent out another invisible wave.
The "Hunter" pathway, "Provocation"!
The "War Angel's" authority, with targets directly related to war being soldiers, and the purpose being to initiate combat, produced an extremely astonishing effect.
Invisible ripples spread into the crowd. Soon, suspicion and unease vanished, and fanaticism and excitement returned to everyone's faces.
"That's right! The enemy is in Sodlark Palace!"
The colonel rallied again, shouting loudly. "We must destroy it!"
"Destroy it!"
The soldiers shouted together.
"Use cannonballs to blow it sky-high!"
"Blow it sky-high!"
"Move out!"
The colonel was practically shouting himself hoarse.
"Fire up the Pritz, head upstream along the Tasok River, all gun barrels aimed at the palace!"
"Yes!"
The soldiers saluted in unison, then scattered.
Joy and a sense of glory filled their hearts. They felt their battle would be incredibly glorious, incredibly great. Even sacrifice would be worth it!
"What are you doing? Have you all gone mad?!"
Just then, an officer-dressed Beyonder hurried onto the deck.
Seeing everyone's posture, he flew into a rage. "Moving the warship without orders violates military discipline!"
The aura on his body differed from the others; he was a Sequence 6 Beyonder.
Perhaps because he was a Beyonder, he hadn't been assimilated by the atmosphere on site.
"Everyone, stand at attention right now!"
The Beyonder officer shouted, his words carrying irresistible authority, but the soldiers couldn't be bothered with him, simply scattering to do what they needed to do.
"Stop right there!"
The officer flew into a fury and began seriously activating his ability. "This place forbids..."
Before he could finish, his mouth let out a piercing scream.
Because Silas had already come before him and, with a chop of his hand, penetrated his body, grasped his heart, and crushed it.
He stared wide-eyed at this fellow in the red robe before him.
A Blood Reverend!
He's seizing the warship!
Such thoughts surged in the officer's mind. He felt he must relay this critical message to higher-ups.
But his crushed heart could no longer maintain his vital signs.
His whole body gradually went limp, and his brain's consciousness faded completely... He died.
The busy soldiers around them paid no attention to the two of them but continued their preparations, organizing cannonballs, adjusting cannon directions, maneuvering the giant ship to turn into the waterway...
"Set out, toward glory, advance!"
Thus the warship left the harbor and headed toward the palace along the broad waterway of the Tasok River.
---
At the same time, Sodlark Palace.
Tonight the palace was brilliantly lit, resplendent with gold and jade.
First, to celebrate the New Year; second, to welcome a certain noble young lady's coming of age and official entry into society.
That's right, the young lady was Audrey Hall.
To the poor people of East Borough, the nobility's rules seemed excessive.
Their children struggled on the survival line, starting to work and earn money before reaching adulthood.
Yet for a noble's child, a coming-of-age ceremony required so many meaningless things.
All this pomp and circumstance, determining presenters, it seemed laughable.
But for many nobles, they lived their entire lives for these hierarchies and elaborate rituals.
As if only this way could they prove their difference from common folk.
When the Queen took this stunningly beautiful young lady by the hand and brought her before everyone, she was bathed in gazes of amazement, envy, and enchantment.
But the ball had to continue.
Even if Miss Audrey Hall was breathtakingly beautiful, everything couldn't revolve around her constantly.
The lively dance began. In the cheerful music, couples danced gracefully.
After dancing a few numbers, Audrey excused herself as tired and went to rest at one side of the hall.
She observed everyone in the hall with a cold eye.
The luxurious palace, the magnificent dance floor, clinking wine glasses, soft laughter, golden light reflecting everything around.
Ladies in formal attire laughed behind their hands, precious gems adorning their tender skin and expensive gowns.
Gentlemen were dignified and composed, as if each was a pillar and foundation of the nation.
Many couldn't hide the joy between their brows.
Audrey knew it was because the royal family's compromise had gained them many benefits.
This ball was more like a celebration banquet after dividing the spoils.
As for those poor people's deaths, they'd long been cast aside in this intoxicating atmosphere.
What a prosperous, what an ironic picture.
Audrey watched and watched, unable to help sighing inwardly.
"Boom..."
Just then, she heard a rumbling from outside. The sound was initially deep and grand, then gradually became sharp and loud, rapidly approaching.
"Has the fireworks display started?"
She thought to herself. "Why so early this year?"
The next moment, the palace shook violently!