Loune stood before me, his form smaller than usual. He obviously had something to report. I had a bad feeling. My secretary was rarely this silent.
"Vermillion. While I may be called the Bloody Emperor, I'm not as rash as to kill the messenger." His hands tightened around the scroll he held in his hands.
"My Emperor, there is some troubling news from the Katze Plains. Our scouts had spotted prince Zanac in the enemy camp."
The second prince? That was hardly a problem. Prince Barbro was known for occasionally joining the battle.
"Should I be worried about this? We've already sent the order to capture and ransom figures of importance. Just like his brother, isn't he going to remain in the camp and watch? I think that it'd be ridiculous to think that he's in any mortal danger."
The goal of these wars was to weaken Re-Estize, not to kill its royalty. I didn't need the Kingdom's morale boosted by vengeance.
"Ah, it's not the prince we should be worrying about, my lord. It's the regiment assigned to him." Ramposa III must've sent his best men to serve under his son. A political play that would bring prestige and honour to their family.
"It appears they have brought strange siege weapons along with them. The men could not tell exactly what they were at such a distance, but report that they look like nothing they've ever seen." The king was senile, but not overly so. There were no fortifications to besiege. It was a ground engagement, man against man.
"Give the warning that they may be new weapons of some kind. I highly doubt they've brought siege machines to a skirmish." Loune nodded.
"One more thing…" He was hesitant to continue. "There's also rumours of a child wielding a legendary sword within prince Zanac's forces."
I almost choked on my grape.
"A-A child, you say?"
"Yes, my lord. We looked into the one in question; he is simply known as 'Climb'. He recently rose to prominence in Re-Estize as princess Renner's close friend and advisor."
Hm…
How perplexing.
"And this 'child advisor', he is joining the battle?"
"I can only speculate with our given information, but it appears so."
The mention of a legendary sword was worrying, but a child is still a child. This war would end like any other, with a 'stalemate'. Prince Zanac may gain some distinction for being present, but nothing much should be different this time around.
"Vermillion, I don't think much of our strategy will need changing. As is protocol when dealing with important figures, capture this 'Climb' if the opportunity arises; he should make for a decent bargaining chip against the Kingdom. Although, we cannot afford to remain complacent. Keep me informed about the situation."
"Yes, my Lord!"
It was finally time. The Kingdom's envoy had returned from the Baharuth camp with an agreed time the battle would start.
Only a few minutes till the horns would sound.
According to the veterans, wanting to charge into their army encampment while they prepared spoke volumes of my "dishonourable character". I thought it was just simple strategy. Strike when the enemy is least expecting it, even if it's a war crime by this world's standards.
I looked around Zanac's division and felt a hint of second-hand pride. After some experimentation, four men would be needed to operate a tank successfully: One for piloting, one for aiming, one for loading and a captain to coordinate the members.
We decided to go with a 'V' formation. Five tanks were assigned to each flank, footmen forming the 'legs' leading to the centre of the formation.
Zanac was stationed at the rear, away from danger.
I was stood at the left flank. Officially, I was to collect data on the tank's performances and report any insufficiencies in their designs.
Like hell was I going to throw away an opportunity like this.
My primary objective would be to rack up as many kills as possible. My secondary objective would be to observe the tanks in action.
I brandished the recently procured Kilineiram in my hands. It was a beautiful, swirling pool of darkness in the form of a blade. The handle also felt very comfortable in my hands. I could feel no inherent 'malice' coming from the weapon. It's clear now that the rumours of it being cursed were false.
I was surprised that it didn't come along with the floating swords that Lakyus was also famous for. I had assumed that the floating blades were part of the package, but it turns out they came separately to Kilineiram.
I looked over to the other side of the plains and could see imperial soldiers packed into tight square formations.
If the tanks worked… No matter how well they were trained in melee combat, those soldiers would be little less than bowling pins.
Only if.
I saw the men performing last-minute checks at the tanks beside me. Each tank had four cannonballs stacked into a pyramid. A total of 40 shots could be fired this battle if nothing went awry. They had to make each one count.
In my opinion, they would be lucky if they could shoot more than one shot.
To list a few gripes I have with its design:
Speed. It was slower than the average man's walking pace. They could be absolutely swarmed by enemies if they coordinated such an attack.
Protection. It had no cover. A good enough archer could probably hit it from afar, putting it out of commission.
The cannon. Unlike a traditional cannon, these were created by allowing a pressure chamber of steam to build up and then release it all at once. Heat was redirected from the motors, so it could only recharge if stationary. Additionally, if they let the pressure build up too high, the force exerted by firing the cannonball would tip the cart over. A ridiculous balancing act that had too many moving parts to be used effectively in war.
Renner insisted that it would be fine. Maybe if this was the first time I had seen one, I also would've thought so. However, you can only be so confident after knowing what a real tank is.
The sun reached its zenith in the sky, and the shadows beneath our feet contracted into barely perceptible outlines.
It was time. Let's hope that Zanac's war plan will be a success. I knew nothing of it, but he had brewed it alongside Renner. It should be good.
The men's chatter quietened as we listened to the trumpets of war being played across the plains.
According to the teachings of the Six Great Gods, a battle between two countries should only begin once 'a clear signal of preparedness' was given. Traditionally, trumpets were used to announce this.
Re-Estize would've replied in kind. Though, I knew we could do one better, and I may have suggested something to Zanac in that respect.
If we were going to showcase the power of science to the world, we were going to do it most spectacularly.
Slowly, the turrets swivelled and aimed towards the enemy.
And, in practised synchronicity, they fired.
Even from all the way back here, the sound was deafening. I almost lost control of the horse beneath me.
I watched as ten cannonballs travelled the length of the plains in a fraction of a second. Right into the enemy. It was a gruesome display.
The first men in contact with the projectiles instantly became nothing but clouds of blood that showered the adjacent soldiers. Paths were torn through the tightly knit units, leaving a trail of red and dismembered limbs.
I could hardly believe my eyes. We had just snuffed out the lives of a hundred Baharuth soldiers in seconds.
This was the power of the tank? How frightening.
Our side stood in silence at what had just transpired. The other frozen in either horror or fear.
I waited to see what their response was before ordering my men.
I was really hoping to receive an instrument of surrender.
…
Oh, it appeared that the enemy had begun advancing.
"Hold the line! Tanks, prepare for second bombardment!" I shout. It takes about a minute for the tanks to recharge. We needed to buy some time before things got messy.
"Archer divisions!"
Some of the nobles began to bark orders at the conscripts. Shortly after, a poorly coordinated barrage of arrows began to rain down.
You could tell that the Baharuth army was professional. Even after all that, they quickly regained their composure to face the oncoming arrows. The enemy crouched down and held the shields above their heads, forming a wall. Only a few keeled over at a stray arrow that found its way between a gap.
"Tanks, set!" I hear a young voice call out from a distance. Climb sounded like he was enjoying this too much.
"Fire when ready!"
The tanks began to drive across the plains, surrounding the approaching forces. An intimidating sight. I could hear some enemy voices shouting at their display of self-movement. Once positioned, the cannons fired again.
The same thing happened, only this time, 100 meters closer to us. The balls were too quick to dodge and too fast to stop. Several more lines of men simply disappeared within their ranks.
I could see the fear and panic begin to surface on their faces. Exactly as Renner predicted. After a second wave, they would realise that what happened was neither fluke nor singular event.
We had a new weapon of war, and we weren't afraid to use it.
"Tanks, prepare for third bombardment!"
They got the message.
The glory they sought would not be found here. Unlike an honourable duel, facing this weapon meant dying a demihuman's death.
The weapons were an unknown factor. That was the problem for them. I had proven that two cannonballs could be flung in their direction. Who's to say that was its limit?
At first, only a few tossed down their weapons. Then some more. Eventually, a cascade of metal hitting the soft sand could be heard.
We had won. Completely and absolutely. Their fighting spirit was crushed, and we hadn't lost a single man. An impossible feat if not for the fact that I had done just that.
As my men cheered in victory, I couldn't help but think the throne was all but mine.
I watched as the Baharuth soldiers' hands were bound by rope. What was this bullshit? Just two shots, and they gave up? I didn't want to accept it; I couldn't.
There wasn't a single clashing of swords on the battlefield today. What of my EXP? My months of training? Why did I bother getting Kilineiram? It was so that I could slay as many people as possible for a day like this!
The perfect opportunity. A battlefield. Where murder is seen as bravery, the more you killed, the higher in regard people held you.
I couldn't decide on what I felt. Prideful of the tank's success? Angered at my lost EXP? Relieved at the war's brevity? I look down at my glimmering sword and sigh. I could do nothing; They had surrendered. No matter how badly I wanted to get stronger, becoming an international outlaw was not a compromise I was willing to accept.
I'll get another chance eventually.
I ran to the rear of the formation in search of Zanac and found him dismounting his horse. He was getting ready to discuss terms of surrender with a captive, who I assume is the Baharuth army general.
"Climb, just in time. I thought you might want to be present for our discussions. After all, this victory was only achieved thanks to you and Renner."
"Thanks." I followed them into the tent.
"If it was bad enough that I have to negotiate with a child prince, it is revealed that this boy was responsible for our defeat?" The captive asked incredulously.
"I cannot ignore that slight on my character, nor the disrespect you have shown Climb. You are my prisoner; I have defeated you on the battlefield. Remember where you stand." Zanac came down hard on him.
A defeated huff left the General's mouth.
"How many men do you command?"
"I had ten-thousand troops under my command."
"And I do not have the necessary resources to march those many prisoners back to the capital. Either your men shall die of starvation and dehydration on the way back to Re-Estize… or we negotiate for the release of ten-thousand imperial soldiers here, right now." Zanac smiled shrewdly at the general, who was at a loss for words.
"Climb, how much would ten-thousand lives be worth?" So, he was going to let me name my first demand. This was an opportunity to push things in the right direction.
"If they died, it would be an irreparable blow to the Baharuth military force. Occupation would be met without much resistance. Annexation wouldn't be out of the question. So… about the worth of an entire country?" The General's face went blank.
"I like your thinking, Climb. General, their worth is immeasurable. What do you have to offer in exchange for their safe return?"
"I-I do not have the authority to negotiate on behalf of the Baharuth Empire."
"But Emperor Jircniv has assigned you as the highest member of authority, did he not? He's deemed you worthy enough to make important and difficult decisions." The General went silent at my retort.
"H-How about this? For the release of all my men, a non-aggression pact shall be signed here. Future negotiations shall be held later between yourself and my Emperor."
"Ah, prince Zanac. He didn't mention how long the pact shall last."
"It shall last until negotiations between the Emperor and myself are over. We will discuss whether the treaty will remain in effect then." The General nodded in acceptance.
"These terms, I shall accept." The man knew he was shirking responsibilities with this move, and the Emperor was the one who was going to have to deal with the fallout.
A guard brought two scrolls out, and a scribe began to write. One for the Baharuth Empire, and one for Re-Estize.
This document ratifies the surrender of the Imperial Army Second Legion. Acting under the service of General Natel Inyem Dale Carvain, ten-thousand imperial soldiers are formally recognised as prisoners of war.
For the release of ten-thousand imperial soldiers, as representative of the Baharuth Empire, the General hereby agrees to receive Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, and convene within one month to discuss the respective countries' future relations.
The Baharuth Empire shall not engage in any form of aggression towards the Re-Estize Kingdom until the summit's conclusion.
This document is proof of the Baharuth Empire's moral and legal obligations. To contravene is a breach of international law.
Signed, _____
The general read through the scroll, trying to spot any hidden meanings or misinterpretations. He would find nothing of the sort here.
Renner would be present for the actual negotiations; that's when he should start worrying about double meanings. He picked up a quill and scribbled his name on both documents.
"That's settled then!" Zanac clapped his hands together and stood up from his seat. He called a guard from outside over.
"Release the prisoners; we're heading back to the capital. I want to be back within a week."
"Yes, your highness!" He saluted.
Returning already?
Well, I can't wait to tell Renner all about our overperforming science projects.
Twelve figures sat at a round table. A stack of paper lay in front of each person.
"And? Is the information Thousand Leagues Astrologer provided accurate?"
"Cardinal Dominic, are you doubting the 7th seat's abilities?"
"No, not at all Cardinal Ginedine. It is just that, the war ended with fewer than 300 casualties on the Empire's side. Not a single loss was inflicted on the Kingdom… I find it hard to believe."
"I agree. No matter how powerful these novel weapons are, there was no reason for the Empire to surrender."
The soft murmur of discussion grew louder.
"Silence, silence." The Pontifex Maximus spoke up. "I see no reason why her information could be incorrect. We must accept the facts as they present themselves."
There was a round of reluctant nodding at the table.
"Our efforts of undermining the stability of the Re-Estize Kingdom though the Empire must, unfortunately, be put on hold. With a formal cessation of hostilities between the two countries, we must find other methods of pushing our agenda."
A moment of silence passed before the Pontifex Maximus looked to his left.
"Cardinal Raymond? You've been somewhat quiet throughout this meeting. Is something the matter?"
The Cardinal of Earth picked up the report in front of him and inspected it closely.
"It mentions here that these weapons are the brainchild of Re-Estize's third princess and her advisor. Though, I find it hard to believe; Both can be barely considered teenagers. If Thousand Leagues is correct, this is truly a day of triumph for mankind. " The table remained hushed, waiting for Raymond's next words. "Two promising, young minds that you could only find once in a hundred years have just revealed themselves to us."
Some animated chatter began to surface.
"Are you suggesting that we kidnap them?" The Cardinal of Fire questioned.
"The Kingdom is a cesspool of corruption. Those talents would be wasted on them. One is a princess, and the other is a close companion of hers… The disappearance of a royal would surely be the trigger for the collapse of Re-Estize."
"By the teachings of Alah Alaf, two birds with one stone!" The Cardinal of Light exclaimed.
"It will not be easy. The utilisation of the Windflower Scripture would be necessary. Are they on any current assignments?"
"Not to my knowledge." One spoke up.
"Then, by unanimous agreement?" The Pontifex Maximus looked around the table for any objections. "The Windflower Scripture's next assignment is the capture of Renner Vaiself and her advisor Climb to the Slane Theocracy."
AN: The annual war ends in victory for Re-Estize. A little different to the original timeline. A meeting between the two countries is scheduled, and Renner and Climb are being targeted by a Slane Theocracy Scripture. The world will look quite different by the time Nazarick arrives.