One... two... four...

Everyone noticed the Imperial warships emerging on the sea surface, the environment around Seagull Port was forced back to bleak winter, and many small nation sailors collapsed in fear to the ground.

The Empire’s notorious reputation was long etched into every corner of the Age of Exploration.

In the command cabin of the Black Dream’s main ship, Osguta stood respectfully aside. He sneaked a glance at his superior, Count Elio, with an expression of ’You better think of a solution.’

Elio shrugged, indicating his helplessness.

"You have failed your duty, Count Elio."

The next moment, a cold and arrogant voice penetrated Elio’s ears.

"Even the newborn Ark Kingdom can swallow a complete Alliance fleet, why did you let another Alliance legion escape?"

In the main seat of the command cabin sat a young woman dressed in a deep black tight military uniform.

Her long hair was coiled up, nose high-bridged, willow-like brows sharp as knives, with a teardrop mole beneath her right eye adding a unique allure to her spirited and sophisticated face.

Although the young woman’s expression was cold, the madness in her eyes could not be concealed.

This woman was the eldest daughter of Blood Vulture Duke — Margaret.

She was not some pampered noble offspring.

Margaret had voluntarily followed Raven Duke to guard the Extreme North Ice Abyss since the age of twelve, enduring the Celestial Calamity frontlines for a full eight years.

With solid military accomplishments all the way, this Duke’s daughter smoothly climbed to Count rank, gaining the qualification to lead the Imperial Legion.

"I am willing to accept punishment for my dereliction."

Elio responded in a deep voice, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes: "It’s just that we still need to relay intelligence..."

En route back, this Duke’s daughter intercepted halfway, demonstrating the Blood Vulture Duke’s military orders, forcibly incorporating this Black Dream Battleship into her fleet.

"No need to worry about intelligence."

Margaret crossed her arms, her excessively long legs overlapping: "Because Blood Vulture Duke already knows everything recent in Ark Kingdom."

"Lord Frost Falcon will soon understand the full scope as well."

She said lightly: "Next, the cooperation negotiations with Ark Kingdom will be taken over by me; I have brought enough shipbuilding craftsmen."

Osguta remained silent.

Don’t be fooled by this Duke’s daughter’s casual tone; upon reflection, her words were truly alarming.

The Empire’s communication methods come at a cost.

The heavy information load would directly explode the staff’s heads, a mercilessly gruesome death, prompting Lord Frost Falcon to constantly search for ways to alleviate civil service stress.

Since Blood Vulture Duke knew the news in advance, it implied that at least a double-digit number of Imperial citizens died conveying the information!

Osguta instinctively clenched his fist.

Clearly, merely waiting patiently for the envoy’s arrival would allow the Empire’s top brass to obtain Ark’s detailed specifics, why did the Blood Vulture still fill this gap with such cruel human cost?

Margaret saw through her colleague’s dissatisfaction in an instant.

"Sacrificing for the Empire’s future is a rare honor for any Imperial citizen."

She spoke calmly, as if it were common sense: "They died in the right place, their families will receive due compensation."

Maintaining communications causes death?

For the Empire’s upper echelons led by Blood Vulture Duke, this wasn’t an issue.

’Blood Vulture’ lived up to its name; in that Duke’s eyes, communication technicians were merely consumables for the Empire, used as needed; there was no reluctance.

"And you, Osguta, as an Envoy, you should understand the importance of intelligence timeliness."

Margaret looked at the Imperial Envoy: "From the moment you shoulder the duties of Imperial Envoy, you should cultivate the consciousness of sacrificing others."

"I am merely following Lord Frost Falcon’s orders, Lady Margaret." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Osguta responded flatly.

"It’s you indecisive lot that’s holding back Lord Frost Falcon!"

Margaret’s brows furrowed, her tone growing colder: "As subordinates, how dare you push all responsibility and duty onto the Duke?"

She dares not to comment on any Duke, only aiming her displeasure at these incompetent colleagues.

Osguta remained silent, with a stern face.

"You’re right, you’re right." Elio hurriedly pressed Osguta’s stubborn shoulders, nodding repeatedly toward the Duke’s daughter.

Although Lord Frost Falcon and Blood Vulture Duke’s philosophies were always at odds, the Empire was a tightly-knit whole, and Blood Vulture Duke was equally their direct superior, military orders could not be defied.

Yet Margaret paid no mind to Osguta’s discontent.

Her personality had always been straightforward, refusing to beat around the bush.

The Duke’s daughter locked her gaze on the Alliance Battleship by the shore.

"Indeed, Ark Kingdom has some capabilities, such strong warriors deserve to be under the Empire!"

Margaret’s eyes were full of arrogance and confidence: "I will conquer this land with my skills, and make Lord Lin Lan submit!"

She aspired to fulfill her ambitions, to expand the Empire’s territory, to prove to every Imperial citizen that she isn’t just a fledgling sheltered by her father’s wings!

·

Four sinister-looking Imperial warships surfaced, slowly passing by the exquisite ships of the Golden Kingdom.

Ramses, limp and tightly surrounded by maidservants, let out a long sigh of relief.

"I survived... I survived?"

He clung desperately to a maid’s waist, unwilling to let go, burying his head in her bosom.

This pampered Prince was scared out of his wits: "Quickly... we can’t stay here any longer..."

The High Priest stood nearby, quietly watching the Imperial warships ahead, gradually realizing that perhaps the Golden Kingdom had missed a significant opportunity...

"Prince Ramses, calm down."

She whispered to the trembling Prince: "The world order is changing, since the Empire hasn’t come for us, why not remain here and take a closer look..."

"I don’t care! I want to go home! I want to go home right now!!"

Ramses screamed, interrupting the High Priest.

His eyes reddened, looking gravely wronged: "Stop pretending over me, woman! Are you trying to kill me?!"

Oh heavens! The outside world is simply too terrifying!

The High Priest remained silent for a moment.

She looked at the Prince’s terrified face and gently nodded: "Alright, we’ll go home."

The exquisite ship swiftly plunged into Fog Strait, disappearing without a trace; from beginning to end, no one cared for this Golden Kingdom’s royal sailboat.

As the Imperial warship drew closer, all the officials in Seagull Port displayed extraordinary calm, as Lord Lin Lan had long publicly revealed the cooperative relationship set to unfold between Ark and the Empire.

The next moment, several armoured figures swiftly deployed their sharp light wings from behind, hovering in front of the Imperial submarine.

"Stop right there!"

Leading Centurion Glen spoke loudly: "You must undergo our preliminary inspection to successfully set foot on Ark Kingdom’s land!"

The warriors displayed no sign of nervousness.

Ever since its founding, Ark Kingdom had always dealt with the Celestial Calamity, overcoming Lionheart Knight and Abyssal Blood Plague, conquering Alliance Legion and Pure Beauty Flower Seeds, the warriors’ confidence was forged through one life-and-death battle after another!

"Good! I like warriors of spirit!"

In the command room, Margaret stood upright, towering over the other two Imperial soldiers.

The Duke’s daughter curved her lips into a satisfied smile.

Only such exceptional warriors are qualified to become her pillars of support!