"Admiral we are now fast approaching the sphere of Cecilion Empire and the first contact should be on the waters of the Kingdom of Evergreen.
If we keep by our speed by tomorrow, approximately at the middle of the day, we should now reach it's territory." A young man, age 16 years old, with short blond hair, with a tidy appearance and wearing a 1st class trainee uniform of the navy of the United Southern Kingdoms, saluted at the man, that was currently reading an old book.
"So what do you think of this war that we will start by tomorrow?" Without averting his eyes off the book, he asked the young teenager, like he just thought of it on a whim.
"Sir, I think-."
"Stop, don't be formal on a private discussion boy, hehe. You're too stiff like your father back when he was still in your age." The admiral smiled as he remembered the fun old times. "But now, your father spends all his time inside the parliament, sitting with a bunch of old men, with spit flying around everywhere! Sigh, he is now a bit boring when I had a little chat with him last month. This and that, always talking about politics!"
"Uh, yes, uncle. Father just wants to have more shares to our Kingdom. Though we are in alliance with the other 6 large kingdoms and has affiliated with a dozen small kingdoms, they are all hoping to get the bigger pie." The young teenager quickly defended his father, the one of the 7 heads of the United Southern Kingdoms.
Right in front of him is the younger brother of his father, Admiral Philippe de Guzman Leonor.
"You still haven't answered my question Carlos, so what do you think about this war?" Philippe closed the book that he was reading and stared at the kid, waiting for his answer.
"It is inevitable." With just three words, though it was a simple answer, but the old Admiral felt the conviction of young man.
I though he would come up with a long winded speech full of flowery words just like how those double-faced politicians or like a warmonger who will have no sympathy on anyone and since we are strong the weak should tremble.
Is it luck or not? Your son have fully grown but he joined a war that takes lives. Big brother, I always remember on the things that you always tell me when we were still young, does fate is actually real?
"I see. You have truly become a man. Agonizing on what is right or wrong, was ordered or not. We are no saint nor the devil but we-"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Admiral we have news!"
Before the admiral could finish his words, someone outside suddenly interrupted them. Carlos then quickly opened the door revealing the captain of the ship.
"Say it!" The admiral quickly changed his face, not like how he was talking to his nephew but now as the admiral talking to his subordinate.
"We have interrogated the people who we caught early this morning on a merchant ship that we passed by, and sure enough the Cecilion Empire's navy fleet has already stationed on the waters of Evergreen. News of our attack has already spread since the day after we started the voyage." He carefully brought the news, not minding that their was a trainee that was still standing in the room since he know what his identity is.
"I was expecting for them to know when we are already close not expecting to be fast. We have no choice to have a frontal battle with the Cecilion navy but fear not for we have a surprise for them. The problem is if that thing has already been known." The admiral thought of the cargo that they brought along especially for the war. It delayed them for another five days since it added a lot of weight but the pros can outweigh the cons.
"Change of plan captain, when the sun will almost sets let all the fleet stop early and have a good rest. For now call the Vice-admiral and the Rear admiral for a meeting." The admiral stood up and was preparing to leave the room. "And also investigate if there are any spies hiding on my fleet, I don't want another word to reach to our enemy!"