Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

[Time: Imperial Calendar 560, April 1 (Four Days Ago)]

[Guidao City Garrison Headquarters, Narcissus Fortress]

Outside Guidao City, the Narcissus Fortress was the first along the Inner Sea coast—and very likely the first on the entire continent—to possess a truly perfect geometric design.

From the fortress core, six large triangular bastions radiated outward along axes, forming a delicate, refined symmetry. The entire fortress resembled a blooming narcissus flower, quietly floating beside the city.

But twenty-seven years ago, when the Narcissus Fortress was newly completed, it bore a different name.

Unlike earlier fortifications reliant on the secretive formulas and craftsmanship of stonemasons, this unprecedented design was realized through painstaking, complex, and precise mathematical calculations.

Thus, upon its completion, it was honorably named after its designer—"Antoine-Laurent Fort."

During the subsequent Siege of Guidao City, Antoine-Laurent Fort lived up to the expectations placed upon it by the United Provincials. From feudal lord conscript militias to the fanatical Royal Guard of Mad King Richard, the Empire's Expeditionary Force threw everything they had at this fortress shielding Guidao City's northwest walls but still failed to breach it.

Antoine-Laurent Fort stood unwavering, just as the soldiers of the Various Republics never doubted that ultimate victory would be theirs.

However, the jubilant victors of the war likely did not foresee what the future held: amid internal upheaval and betrayal within the Federated Provinces, Antoine-Laurent met a violent end, his name erased from books and monuments—the fortress included.

Thus, Narcissus Fortress became merely Narcissus Fortress.

Today, Narcissus Fortress still faithfully fulfills its duty of protecting Guidao City, and it also serves as the garrison headquarters of the city.

...

Unlike Paratu, where heavy coats were still required to fend off the cold, early April in Guidao City already brought a sweltering discomfort.

The sea breeze pushed humid air inland, and the temperature fluctuations between day and night caused condensation to form on the stone walls inside Narcissus Fortress—a poor condition for steel and gunpowder.

After completing his inspection of the armory and powder storage room, Colonel Pal walked with a grim expression toward the central gray tower of the fortress. During wartime, the gray tower would serve as a lookout point; now it was merely an office for officers.

The inspection results were troubling: the storage areas on the fortress's lower levels suffered from long-term, slow water seepage, and the waterproofing layers laid in the past had long been due for replacement. Additionally, the drainage system was less than efficient, possibly blocked at some point.

Narcissus Fortress needed repairs, but repairs required money, and Colonel Pal was without funds.

The United Provinces Republic was in dire financial straits, with everyone eyeing the allocation of resources like ravenous wolves seeking carrion.

Two years ago, when the Federated Provinces intervened in the war between Vineta and the Tanilia Federation, the Provincial Army had urgently raised a large number of reserve units.

To avoid suspicion and alarm, these newly raised units had not been organized into full-fledged corps; the largest formation was merely battalions. But when all the assorted "Reserve Battalion" units were added together, they equaled at least two corps in manpower.

Even now, with the scent of gunpowder around the Taniria Islands long dissipated, these temporarily expanded units had neither been disbanded nor faced any plans for dissolution.

The army always had its reasons: small-scale conflicts in the Taniria Islands; prolonged standoffs along the Torrent River front; unpredictable developments in the Paratu direction…

Meanwhile, Parliament harbored growing resentment over the skyrocketing military expenses, with calls to demobilize the excessive troops growing louder; the army, however, clamored incessantly for more funding to counter imminent threats of war.

At this juncture, neither side agreed to allocate the budget for something as "non-critical" as repairing Guidao City's defenses.

"Her bones are still strong and sturdy, unyielding," Colonel Pal thought as his sidelong glance caught patches of crumbling plaster on the gray tower's inner walls while walking with mounting gloom. "Just a bit of surface rot."

Pushing open the office door, Colonel Pal's steps halted abruptly. He discovered there was an uninvited guest in the room.

"What's the matter? Surprised to see me?" Colonel Jansen Cornelius—Director of the Alliance Army Officer Academy, nominal second-in-command but the de facto leader—greeted Colonel Pal with poise.

As the highest-ranking military officer at Narcissus Fortress, Colonel Pal clearly recalled issuing formal written orders: any outside personnel entering the fortress must immediately report to him and could proceed only with his explicit permission—the current delicate circumstances left no room for errors.

Yet, John Pal was certain he had received no requests regarding Cornelius' arrival.

"What is it? Old classmate," Cornelius remarked unhurriedly, as if he were lounging in his own living room. "Not happy to see me?"

Colonel Pal discreetly scanned the office: aside from Cornelius, there were two junior officers present—one was his subordinate, and the other was unfamiliar, likely Cornelius' aide.

Cornelius sat across the desk in a relaxed posture. The two junior officers stood dutifully on either side of the desk, observing protocol, yet their shoulders and arms were tense.

Especially the officer nominally under Colonel Pal's command; he stared fixedly at the ground, avoiding eye contact with Pal, yet his gripping hand on his sword was clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.

Colonel Pal frowned. He said nothing, merely walked to his chair, seated himself, and asked Cornelius with a host-like demeanor: "You're always busy with official matters—what brings you to visit me today?"

Colonel Pal's tone carried barbs, yet Cornelius took no offense, replying evenly, "Vineta has recalled all their cadets, and Paratu's youngsters have been sent back to Kingsfort. The Land Academy now has only three-fifths of its students still attending, which has freed up my time considerably."

"You had a hand in Vineta's cadet recall, didn't you?" Colonel Pal mocked with sharp sarcasm.

Cornelius chuckled softly, choosing not to respond.

Colonel Pal's scowl deepened. He had no patience for Cornelius' games: "I couldn't stand your overbearing attitude even back at the academy. After graduation, I went off to fight wars, while you stayed teaching; we've been worlds apart ever since. So..."

John Pal discreetly slid a hand toward the lower drawer as he bluntly asked, "What do you want from me?"

...

Cadets of Provincial origin from the Land Academy faced several outcomes upon graduation: the very best joined the Standing Army, those slightly less competent were assigned to reserve forces, the mediocre were relegated to clerical roles, and those lacking power or influence were dispatched overseas.

Among these fateful assignments, there existed one path surpassing all others—remaining at the academy as an instructor.

No need to worry about safety, career evaluations, or available positions; seniority guaranteed promotions... Remaining at the academy was the smoothest, straightest, and easiest career in the United Provinces Army. Apart from the rarity of positions, it had no downsides.

As a result, each yearly cohort saw only the most privileged and exceptional graduates retained at the academy—those who possessed not only outstanding ability but also significant backing.

John Pal, the impoverished second son of a humble pastor, was assigned upon graduation to a newly formed expedition corps, where he was immediately dispatched northward for combat. His career was fraught with challenges and trials before he finally achieved his current rank.

From Pal's cohort, the sole graduate retained as an academy instructor was Jansen Cornelius.

...

"Here to play chess with you," Cornelius answered.

"Chess?!"

In front of John Pal, Cornelius abandoned his usual domineering demeanor, instead appearing approachable and genial.

With a wave of his hand, his aide promptly retrieved a stained chessboard from a satchel, placed it on the desk, and deftly arranged the pieces.

Cornelius picked up a chess piece and gazed at it nostalgically. "These chess pieces and board were handcrafted by Tadini back when we were students."

Pal remarked icily, "Tadini met his end in the first skirmish outside Furicheng, dying in the Empire's filthy muck. His body was never recovered. That fool even thought you would help him stay in Guidao City. In the end, he was crying and wailing, kicked into a mercenary brigade, and sent to fight the Empire."

Cornelius' hand faltered momentarily before regaining its steadiness. He displayed no visible emotion and simply placed the chess piece down slowly, replying to Pal: "Today, I just need you to play chess with me."

The gray tower's top-floor room fell into prolonged silence, punctuated only by the howling wind against the shutters.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Colonel John Pal spoke in a voice thick with anger, shock, and a faint hint of release: "So the shoe has finally dropped."

Cornelius remained unreadable, moving a soldier piece for his opening move.

"I've lost count of how many times I've heard someone say, 'The army is staging a coup, the army is staging a coup.' Who's secretly aligned with whom? Who made deals with whom…" Colonel Pal started to ramble amidst his mounting agitation before composing himself swiftly. He suddenly rose, prompting the two junior officers to almost reach for their swords.

But John Pal did not act aggressively. Instead, he leaned forward, gripping the desk with both hands, closing in on Cornelius, and asked through gritted teeth, "Have any of you stopped to think… when the shoe truly drops… what consequences that will bring?"

"You, today." Cornelius met Pal's furious gaze head-on, speaking firmly and without room for negotiation. "Only need to play chess with me."

"You think you can march into my fortress!" Pal hammered the desk repeatedly, each blow harder than the last, veins bulging on his forehead. "Walk into my office and threaten me with just two half-grown fledglings?"

"You are inherently part of the system, so I don't need to threaten you," Cornelius replied calmly and without flinching. "I don't even need to persuade you, because you, I, our goals—they align. You just don't realize it yet."

Colonel Pal yanked open the drawer, grabbing a blade that gleamed coldly under the light.

Cornelius remained composed, his gaze unyielding, while his junior officers immediately unsheathed their swords and pistols.

At that moment, heavy footsteps came from the staircase. The door burst open as another junior officer barged into the office, disheveled and with urgency:

"Colonel! Another regiment transferring in has entered the city!"