Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

As the words filled with menace spilled from Admiral Zio's mouth, the already tense atmosphere of the conversation suddenly sharpened to the breaking point.

"Be careful, Admiral Zio." Captain Tieye "kindly" reminded him, "Don't forget whom you are speaking with."

"Whom I'm speaking with?" Major General Layton's eyes glinted fiercely, overshadowing the three people before him like storm clouds, "You ask who are we speaking with?"

He pressed one hand against the tabletop, and the four legs of the conference table creaked almost unbearably under the pressure.

"We are speaking with [Dandolo]! With [Pisani]! With [Tiepolo]! We are speaking with the richest, most famous, and most powerful families in Sea Blue." Major General Layton pointed at Captain Tieye's nose, "That's why it's you here—and not just any other naval nobodies—sitting here!"

Wetter Pisani retorted, "Knowing who you speak with and still being so rude—it looks like the United Provincials' military academy never taught you what etiquette is?"

Seeing that the meeting was about to end on bad terms again, Jacob de Bal, the Major General, was left with no choice but to mediate, "Why do we need to outdo one another with words—we're not Flora people, are we?"

Wetter Pisani snorted lightly but did not counter with sarcasm.

Due to the large amounts of moisture-proof and pest-repellent fillers under the flooring, the air in the army's secret archive room was hot and murky, making it uncomfortable.

Major General De Bal left his chair and opened the ventilation duct in the corner of the room, "incidentally" pushing Major General Layton back into his seat.

"There are no outsiders here, no army, no navy, only a few Sea Blue people concerned about the fate of their motherland." Major General De Bal adeptly steered the conversation back on topic, stating seriously:

"The reason why we insist on having you here is to inform you that the Pretender Emperor is significantly expanding his fleet, buying military supplies in large quantities, and extensively refurbishing the roadways and bridges in the southern border of the Empire. We have solid evidence showing that the Pretender Emperor has never truly relinquished his ambition over the Alliance's territory. Should we shed too much blood in a civil war, the next war of sovereignty will fall upon our generation."

Hearing De Bal's words, the three naval officers fell into an unusual silence.

Suddenly, Wetter Pisani laughed out loud, "Isn't this something everyone knows?"

Piccini incredulously asked the three army generals, "You went to all this trouble to bring us here, just to say this?"

Major General Layton's face showed some strain, "We are presenting you with irrefutable evidence."

Piccini retorted bluntly, "I don't need your evidence to know the Pretender Emperor's wolf-like ambition over the Inner Sea!"

According to precedent, the conversation was about to escalate into an argument, but Admiral Zio's words halted this progression.

"We know what you are doing in Tanilia." The army general lifted his deep, pond-like eyes, speaking slowly, "You've recruited a large number of the unemployed under the guise of sailors, yet have had Lieutenant General Serviati train them for you."

Colonel Volbon, on the edge of the conference table, became even more uneasy but dared not interrupt the general's speech.

Admiral Zio's voice was not loud, but each word was incomparably clear, "Within the army, the Third Corps is mockingly referred to as the 'Navy's Army,' but in reality, you are using the Third Corps to arm a truly naval army. You are willing to overstep the principle of separate land-sea jurisdiction to act this way—you're engaging in a dangerous gamble."

This time, Captain Piccini and Captain Tieye both instinctively fell silent.

Both turned to look at Naval Admiral Dandolo in the center. Firstly, the conversation between admirals was not something the two captains could easily interject into; secondly, they were also unclear about the situation in the Taniria Islands.

"If you are truly as concerned about the fate of the Alliance as you say," Naval Admiral Dandolo did not directly respond to Admiral Zio's words, but slowly said, "Then you should present these files to the United Provincials, not to us."

"No need." Admiral Zio answered coldly, "The United Provincials spend much more money in the north than we do."

Naval Admiral Dandolo met the army general's gaze, "If that's the case, and the United Provincials still choose to dispatch troops, it proves that they have come to a conclusion—that the Empire is temporarily unable to march south. The Southern Grand Army has been disbanded, and the ensuing brutal purges have only left the southern nobility in disarray."

Admiral Zio frowned deeply, "Removing the cancerous growth may cause short-term pain, but in the long run, it only strengthens the body. Besides, you should understand the situation of the Southern Grand Army better than us. Over thirty years, it's been infiltrated by the United Provincials to such an extent it's like a sieve. Rather than a military force, it's the biggest smuggling syndicate in the Empire's southern border. Such a military force, whether disbanded or not, what difference does it make?"

"But the Southern Grand Army has indeed been disbanded." Naval Admiral Dandolo's gaze sharpened, "Even if the Southern Grand Army were not a sword, even if it were just a stone, just hanging over the Alliance's head was enough to make everyone cautious. And now, it's gone. You might say this is the Pretender Emperor's overt scheme, but it is also an opportunity. An opportunity to thoroughly resolve the issue."

"The United Provincials are experts in Fabian tactics and fortress defense. Until the formation of a new Southern Grand Army, resolving the issue completely is impossible," Admiral Zio's words were emphatic, "This is not an opportunity! It's a trap!"