Chapter 1033: Chapter 904: Fast Cruiser - Citadel Class

"Counterattack, load scorching bullets in all batteries! Mortars ready! Fire!"

Smoke billowed as the bloodstained middle-aged Army commander of the Hilus Empire shouted hoarsely while slashing his command saber downward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

Orange-red flashes from the artillery flared.

The air vibrated, and solid cannonballs like a swarm of locusts splashed huge swells around the distant steel battleship.

But even though the impact of the cannonballs was overwhelming in number, only a few struck the opponent’s hull, akin to a mosquito bite.

Once the enemy ship slightly retreated, it was completely out of the battery’s range.

Only a few post-loading rifled cannons imported from the Tulips could still threaten the opponent.

The plan was to dispatch sailing battleships to drive them away, but... there was no wind now!

The shore defense garrison, covered in dirt and ash, seemed to hear the distant laughter from the ship aboard, each face darkened.

Indeed, ten years ago, Hilus was still the world’s foremost sea power, yet now it was still equipped with a large number of outdated muzzle-loaded smoothbore cannons, evoking sighs.

It’s not that Hilus didn’t want to modernize.

They had long rejected industrialization over decades and even centuries, causing severe delays in metallurgy, battleship design, and weapon manufacturing.

Even the locking mechanism of their post-loading rifled cannons couldn’t guarantee quality, let alone the universally recognized dominance of the [All-Heavy Cannon Battleship].

During the Age of Sails, technological power wasn’t as apparent, and elite personnel could still compensate, but now, ten years later, they can’t even catch up with others’ taillights.

Even though the Hilus Empire still held the [Royal Alfonso], [Divine Grace], [Golden Bird] - three legendary battleships, along with the two Titled Knights, "Supreme Knight" and "Steel Melting Furnace".

The dominance of the Imperial Navy was far below the early formation after the Overlord battle that decided world dynamics.

It had come to the point where they were blocked by the rising Golden Palm Federation in this exploring region.

Within the steel battleship’s bridge, a group of Golden Palm Navy Officers wore smiles:

"Hahaha, even the Hilus Empire faces this day. Sail around the island; today our Falcon will block Hilus’s development island.

Let’s see how long the Empire can hold out at its largest flying airship supply point within the ’Broken Star Sea’? Will the exploration pace in the ’Broken Star Sea’ stall because of this?"

The [All-Heavy Cannon Battleship] - pioneered by the "Tulip Alliance" and launched into the sea.

It’s one of humanity’s largest and most complex warfare weapon systems, the only strategic weapon platform capable of transoceanic strikes, and has long been valued by all naval power nations.

The [International Democratic Alliance] is no exception.

Dreaming of illuminating the world with "Reflection of Democracy," the new generation growing within the [International Democratic Alliance] proposed their own naval strategic thoughts.

The value of the Navy lies in controlling the ocean, seizing and securing solid command of the seas; a powerful naval force contributes to the [International Democratic Alliance]’s effective dominance over the seas and fully harnesses the vast benefits therein.

Especially for the gold-laden "Broken Star Sea," whoever controls this incredibly rich sea wins the future of the Material World.

Under this thought guidance, seizing command of the seas is the fundamental objective of naval strategy!

Therefore, the global maritime transport lines are the lifelines of all sea power countries, including the Tulip Alliance.

Not just military and naval forces, but even the economic lifeline and the survival of the entire nation are closely linked to the safety and consolidation of maritime transport lines.

Democratic nations dare not target the mainland of the "Monarch’s Shield" monarchy nation’s Source Continent.

But they can disrupt transport lines, sink, damage, or disable the "Monarch’s Shield" nation’s merchant vessels, and harass naval bases and resource exploration bases distributed at sea.

Of course, these are still hypothetical attack strategies remaining on paper, but they believe as democracy progresses, there will be days when these plans are put into action.

However, significant industrial disparities limit both parties.

The [International Democratic Alliance]’s military and engineers also adjusted their battleship construction plans accordingly.

Just like the Level 5 Battleship, Level 6 Battleship cruisers from the Age of Sails, for realizing "disruption," their primary strategic goal, they launched [Fast Cruiser] based on the [All-Heavy Cannon Battleship]!

Incorporating features from the "Galliot-type Heavy Cruiser," using relatively high speed and strong firepower paired with thinner armor.

Achieving the effect of "those who can catch up can’t defeat it, those who can defeat it can’t catch up," attempting to replicate Tulip’s overthrow of Hilus.

Just like this [High-speed Cruiser: City Defense Level: Falcon].

The [All-Heavy Cannon Battleship: Dreadnought-class]’s speed is 24 knots, while the [High-speed Cruiser: City Defense Level] already reaches 26 knots.

[Warship Data]: 138.1m × 14.7m × 4.7m; Displacement: 4800 tons; Crew: 480 people.

[Military Preparation]: 2 single 152mm/50 caliber main guns (range 12800 meters); 10 single 102mm/50 caliber secondary guns; 4 single 47mm rapid-fire guns; 2 450mm torpedo tubes.

Today’s action is just a small test for the [Falcon].

The root cause was the "God of Sleep" Keturt and "Just Angel" Aihote, who can’t swallow their narrow miss, provoking the "Golden Palm Federation" in their mischief-seeking.

Not daring to directly confront Tulip, picking a soft target to squeeze is understandable.

"Hehe, the ’God of Deceit’ and ’Wilderness God,’ these two Demon Gods, seem to have more research spirit than many demigods in the Material World; this [Fast Cruiser] is quite adaptable to conditions."

Aiven sidestepped the topic of Liweina and casually commented on the [Falcon], showing not a trace of surprise in his tone.

With mankind continually advancing their exploration inside the ’Broken Star Sea.’

After securing the earth vein sealing bolt, the chaotic weather within the ’Broken Star Sea’ has been improved, and the "War Fog" is gradually dispersing before mankind’s gaze.

Using mind links and electromagnetic wave communications, without relying on the magic element, the [Mind Network] naturally captures this region entirely.

Moreover, the [Faceless Man] widespread in the Golden Palm Federation and Lowland Republic has long been continuously transmitting enemy intelligence back.

Although those demon gods captured by the Evil God have never appeared again.

The "Wilderness God" Kathy Morale should have been absorbed by the Evil God due to the invaluable domain of [Science], something incomparable to other demon gods.

And the demon technology [Power Core: Steam Turbine] naturally fell into the Evil God’s hands and was applied to this new type of battleship.

However, the [Shipborne Analyzer] is the exclusive skill of the "Steam and Mechanism Cult," representing one of the peak technologies of the steam age, which the battleships of the Golden Palm Federation were not equipped with.

Although the design is innovative, it does not yet threaten Tulip’s dominance over the seas, especially when the [Super Dreadnought], which uses oil-fired boilers, is launched, hmm, they are all rubbish!

At this moment.

A remote communication suddenly connected in the [Mind Network].

A noble lady wearing a Gem Crown and a court gown was projected in front of Aiven.

Her long black hair was coiled on top of her head, her appearance remarkable, her figure as thin as paper, paired with a pitiful look, her aura resembled a fragile precious porcelain perfectly fitting noble aesthetics.

However, her true identity was the mother of Emperor Oderich of the Hilus Empire, Empress Dowager Teresa.

At this moment, this young Empress Dowager looked very anxious:

"Honorable His Majesty Galliot, I just received news... Please extend your helping hand..."

’Here it comes!’

A group of women beside Aiven exchanged a glance and gossipingly moved aside.

Ignoring them, after a brief exchange, Aiven directly said:

"Rest assured, currently replacing the [Black Sea Pearl] to carry out missions in the ’Broken Star Sea’ is Billiver’s [Dreadnought-class: Iron Throne], also the main battleship of the Duchy.

I will let them and some armed flying airships go for the rescue.

Additionally, we can discuss the plan you mentioned last time about expanding the military sale range."

"Really?! We have no issues at all with the ’Monarchy Reformation Plan’ and the ’International Gold Pound System’!"

Teresa didn’t expect such a surprise from a single request for help, her beautiful eyes shimmering with starlight.

"Naturally, but about the price..."

The industrial base lies there; strategic platforms like battleships are not something anyone can build at will, even at a building speed far less than Phaletis and Galliot.

Moreover, ten years ago the Hilus Empire almost had no industrial base, no matter how dedicated this Empress Dowager was, catching up in a short time was impossible.

This isn’t an issue that a few genius individuals can overcome.

After repeatedly confirming that this sudden happiness wasn’t a dream, the young Empress Dowager clasped her hands in front of her chest and earnestly said to him:

"Your Majesty Galliot, thank you for your generous aid. I know there were some minor misunderstandings between our two countries in the past, but I will show my sincerity in the future.

Next time you come to the Dome Palace, I... will make sure you feel at home.

Oh, and don’t worry, this is our secret; I won’t let ’Her Majesty the Rose Crown’ know."

"Hmm! Hmm? No no no, what secret, don’t say anything that would lead to misunderstandings."

Aiven glanced around and hurriedly waved his hand.

"Understood, understood..."

Teresa had already ended the communication with a smile, thinking to herself:

Who doesn’t know that you two have been ambiguous these years, even the unmarried Queen moved to the White Swan Castle directly.

Dare to claim purity as clear as water, taking others as blind?

If there’s no issue at all, I’ll send my deceased husband’s skull to you as a wine cup.

Philip II:...

Feeling the half-smiling gazes of Olivia and Liweina, Aiven cleared his throat and connected to the ’Broken Star Sea’ headquarters.

"Order..."

To be honest, Aiven and Liweina now truly don’t mind fighting a proxy war.

With the current world’s number one navy power of Tulip as backing, they felt confident.

For those feudal monarchies under the [Monarch’s Shield], similar to the Tulip Countries, redesigning the national top-tier structure anew presents challenges, but it’s not impossible.

Moreover, this "Monarchy Reformation System" is something that no matter how other countries learn from, it’s almost impossible to surpass Tulip.

For the Tulip Alliance, already seated as the world’s strongest nation.

National endowment, national credit, and institutional environment are the three most crucial intangible assets. Without these foundations, no matter how much Aiven rises, they are like mud that can’t stick to the wall.

And these elements are very difficult for other countries to replicate.

Of course, Aiven doesn’t hope they can replicate them.

Their only expectation is that they can become Tulip’s helping hand in the opposition between [Royal Authority] and [Capital], forming resistance against the [International Democratic Alliance] from political, cultural, to military aspects.

Naturally, Hilus Empire as this royalist country’s base cannot be overlooked, not only because it borders Lowland and Golden Palm in both the Source Continent and New Continent, but also because Empress Dowager Teresa, hailing from Lowland, is far more open-minded than Philip II.

If this card is played well, it’ll surely cause a big stir in Lowland and Golden Palm.

No one could have imagined that ten years ago, Tulip Alliance, Hilus Empire, and Lowland Republic, still fighting fiercely, would reappear in such roles a decade later.