The sea was still covered with smoke from the previous battle.
Fragments of destroyed warships floated across the waves while burning debris drifted slowly through the water.
The Zephyr Kingdom's fleet sailed forward steadily through the battlefield.
Ryan stood at the bow of the flagship, looking toward the distant horizon.
Behind him, the officers and soldiers watched the scene in silence.
No one expected the battle to end so quickly.
An entire fleet had been destroyed in less than an hour.
Even the most experienced officers felt the shock of it.
One of the commanders stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
"The battlefield has been secured."
Ryan nodded slightly.
"Good."
The commander hesitated before speaking again.
"There is another report."
Ryan turned his head slightly.
"Speak."
"The nearby naval branch has received news of the battle."
"They've already begun withdrawing their forces."
The officers nearby looked at each other in disbelief.
"A naval branch… retreating?"
Without even fighting?
Ryan smiled faintly.
"They're smarter than I expected."
Far away on another island, inside the headquarters of the naval branch.
The atmosphere was tense.
Officers gathered around a large communication table.
Everyone had received the same report.
The destruction of the fleet sent to intercept the Zephyr Kingdom.
The news was so shocking that no one spoke for a long time.
Finally, one of the commanders broke the silence.
"Is the information confirmed?"
A communications officer nodded nervously.
"Yes, sir."
"The entire fleet was wiped out."
"Not a single ship escaped."
The room fell silent again.
Someone whispered:
"…That's impossible."
Another officer slammed his fist on the table.
"Those ships were fully armed!"
"How could they be destroyed so quickly?"
But the answer was already clear.
The Zephyr Kingdom.
And the man leading it.
Ryan.
The commander finally spoke.
"We cannot engage them."
"If we attempt to fight, the result will be the same."
He looked around the room.
"All personnel prepare to evacuate."
"Immediately."
Some officers hesitated.
"Sir… abandoning the base like this—"
"—is that really acceptable?"
The commander's expression hardened.
"Would you rather lose the entire branch?"
No one answered.
Everyone understood the situation.
Facing the Zephyr Kingdom now was suicide.
Soon after, the order spread across the naval base.
"Evacuate!"
"All personnel withdraw immediately!"
Ships in the harbor began preparing to depart.
Soldiers rushed to gather supplies.
The once-bustling base turned into a scene of hurried retreat.
All of this—
because of a single message sent by the Zephyr Kingdom.
Ryan's declaration had been simple.
Submit.
Or face destruction.
And after witnessing the fate of the fleet that challenged him—
the naval branch had chosen the only path left.
Retreat.
Back on the Zephyr flagship, another message arrived.
Ryan listened calmly as the report was delivered.
"The naval branch has begun abandoning its base."
"They're evacuating all personnel."
The officers behind him were stunned.
"They're running already?"
Ryan laughed softly.
"They made the correct choice."
He turned his gaze toward the distant sea.
"War isn't always decided through battle."
"Sometimes the result is determined before the first shot is fired."
The fleet continued moving forward.
No enemy ships appeared on the horizon.
No resistance waited ahead.
The naval branch had already fled.
Ryan turned to his officers.
"Continue advancing."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The fleet accelerated.
The ships cut through the waves like blades.
Ahead of them lay the abandoned naval base.
Another victory awaited the Zephyr Kingdom.
And across the seas, the legend of Ryan's power was spreading rapidly.
A naval branch fleeing without a fight—
just because of a single sentence.
It was a humiliation the Navy would never forget.
But for the Zephyr Kingdom—
it was only the beginning.
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