Chapter 128: The Northern War
[October, Year 125 – The Falric Kingdom wasn't faring well in the war. Though the Northerners lacked technological prowess and were considered quite barbaric, they were extremely brave and fierce in battle. Some among them could even use powder-based magic to control the weather. The outdated matchlock firearms of this era had less than a 30% firing rate after rain, rendering them little better than kindling sticks. This made it difficult for Falric's proud musketeers to function effectively, forcing them to fall back on shields and greatswords. You could technically build more advanced firearms with the available materials, but now wasn't the time.]
[At sea, the Northerners were formidable as well. According to your fellow soldiers, they could command a supernatural creature over seventy meters long in naval combat—a monstrous three-headed sea serpent they called Lavides. Compared to them, your side's greatest advantage lay in the steam-powered sailing ships, which completely outclassed the Northerners in maneuverability.]
[On October 17, Year 125, you were assigned to the Seventh Fleet and entered the war against the Northerners. You weren't alone—Brynd Morton, the timid subordinate you took in right after you first crossed over, had followed you into battle. Though surprised, you were also gratified; perhaps this was the first truly loyal follower you'd gained in this world. During the battles with the Northerners, your overwhelming combat prowess quickly made you stand out, and in less than two months, you were promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, taking your first steps into the Falric Navy's mid-to-upper ranks.]
[November, Year 125 – During this time, you didn't slack off on your training. Even though you'd reached the peak of power in the world of One Piece, you discovered that your strength could still improve in this world—it was far from its limit.]
[December, Year 125 – Your fleet encountered the Northerner pirate general Colin Senior to the northwest of the Dillereno Sea. His flagship, the Black Tenth, was a sleek vessel powered by alchemy, which looked quite impressive. However, according to Goodwin in your ring, it was merely a basic application of alchemy. The battle was exceptionally difficult. Though your ships were technologically ahead by an era, the Northerners' relentless black magic and fierce sailors still gave Falric's troops a tough time. Notably, during the boarding combat phase, your subordinate Brynd Morton had the misfortune of facing pirate general Colin Senior directly. Paralyzed by fear, he completely lost the will to fight!]
[At the critical moment, you managed to save him. Confronted by hordes of Northerner pirates, you unleashed your Conqueror's Haki at full force for the first time. In an instant, a large swath of enemy pirates collapsed like leaves in a storm. With both Armament and Conqueror's Haki entwined, you went all out and executed Divine Departure. Although Colin Senior only blacked out briefly before regaining consciousness, he still couldn't evade your slash—comparable to peak-level Roger's Divine Departure. The sea surface ahead for several hundred meters was split cleanly in two by a violent wave of sword energy. Everyone on the battlefield fell silent as if muted—including Goodwin in your ring, who was too stunned to speak. For the next few days, he didn't even dare raise his voice. To be honest, even though you'd long outgrown vanity, you had to admit—it felt pretty damn good.]
[Inside the captain's quarters of the Black Tenth, you discovered a nautical chart of the Sea of Mists and a treasure map pointing to a nameless island. The nautical chart marked numerous islands, including the Elven Kingdom, the Giant Kingdom, and Dragon Island. One island deep in the sea was marked with red ink, but no name was written. As for the treasure map, the writing on it was unrecognizable to you, but based on Goodwin's translation, it described a treasure from the ancient Elven Kingdom—Temple Kingdom. You obtained an epic-grade item: Sea of Mists Nautical Chart, and a rare item: Ancient Elven Kingdom Treasure Map.]
[Needless to say, that treasure was as good as yours. In this world, no one is better at treasure hunting than you.]
[That night, you deliberately sought out Brynd Morton. He was a smart man and already close to reaching second-rank knight strength, but during the encounter with Colin Senior, his fear nearly got him killed. Smiling, you told him, "Everyone feels fear in battle. But cowards are those who let fear control them. If you want to survive and win, you have to try to overcome that fear." Brynd Morton nodded earnestly.]
[January 126 – February 127 – Following that naval battle, you were promoted to the rank of colonel for slaying pirate general Colin Senior. Over the next year, you went on to kill three of the seven major Northerner pirate generals. During these battles, Brynd Morton underwent a remarkable transformation—fighting with courage and tenacity. He was soon promoted to officer rank, with a bright future ahead. You felt quite pleased by this.]
At this point, Zhou Ning couldn't help but be taken aback as a name popped into his mind.
"Morton? The Morton family ranked first in the Bryston Kingdom for their family creed? The family that champions courage as their core value?"
This Falric Kingdom must be the predecessor of the Bryston Kingdom. There was a high possibility they were the same person. If his guess was correct, the coincidence was too striking.
Continue simulation.
[Late February, Year 127 – As expected, you were promoted again. Now a rear admiral, you also took command of the Seventh Fleet—an important step toward realizing your ambitions.]
[March, Year 127 – During correspondence with the Church of the Sea God, you proposed the concept of flintlock firearms for the first time and subtly hinted that you might need their support. You believed they'd understand your implication. Less than ten minutes later, they responded—urgently, even using divine magic. The message came from Schmidt IV, the Pope of the Sea God Church himself, who told you the Church was very interested. As expected, profit is the true engine of human action.]
[June, Year 127 – With your schematics, the Church successfully developed the flintlock, and they began equipping forces on the Northern front. Although not fully waterproof, the firing rate had improved from 30% to nearly 70%.]
[June–September, Year 127 – Under your command, the Seventh Fleet won several battles against the Northern fleet. By the end of September, you finally encountered Lavides and its offspring at sea. The results were devastating for the Northerners. Though it took some effort, you defeated Lavides with ease—dealing a crushing blow to the Northerners. Not long after, another victory on the land front forced the Northerners to face reality and completely surrender.]
[Northern territory was annexed into the Falric Kingdom. A large portion of Northerners left their homeland and moved into Abbott City, Littboli City, and other major cities of various kingdoms. Some became blacksmiths, some became porters—but most turned to piracy, roaming the seas of various nations.]
[October, Year 127 – When you returned to Abbott City, you were welcomed like a war hero. You were successfully granted nobility and officially entered the upper echelons of the Falric Kingdom.]
[November, Year 127 – This was the month of celebration for the Church of the Sea God. As the patron deity of sailors, prostitutes, and courtesans, Abbott City would be vibrant all month long. After partaking in some of the festivities, you found yourself thinking: if you were king of Falric, you'd definitely reform the red-light district using the standards of the Fallen Street. And so, you spent the entire month indulging in Fallen Street, taking a well-earned rest.]
[January, Year 128 – After the New Year, you received a message from the Church of the Sea God. Having tasted the fruits of war, King Augustine IV now sought to launch a new war against the neighboring Ruins Kingdom.]
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