Napoleon returned to the Prince's Hall, to the office that was simply decorated yet full of technological flair. Lord Li Feng's figure was indistinct yet towering, his voice seemingly transcending time, echoing in Napoleon's mind with an irresistible force.
"Napoleon, have you ever heard the saying:'Some people are born destined for greatness?'"
Napoleon looked at the power cavalry saber in his hand. The golden wheat ears and Imperial emblem on the blade glowed solemnly under the soft light.
"I promise, I will bring you a victory."
He raised his head, his gaze firm, meeting Li Feng's. The silence between them was like an unspoken covenant, firmly fixing the trajectory of his destiny.
A clap of thunder split the silent night sky. Napoleon suddenly opened his eyes, finding himself still sitting in the back seat of a military jeep. Outside, the streets of Toulon Star's central district were filled with post-war decay; bullet holes and ruins were everywhere.
In the past few weeks, his troops had successfully reached Toulon Star and completed the integration of defense lines with the local Imperial Army.
However, as Lord Li Feng had said, the battle was stalemated: the Chaos forces besieged Toulon Starport, and while the Imperial Army's defenses were solid, they found it difficult to break through the enemy's encirclement.
The Governors Mansion, located in Toulon Star's central district, was a typical Imperial Gothic building. Although the flames of war had touched it, the Planetary Governor had clearly put great effort into the banquet's arrangements.
Inside the grand hall, crystal chandeliers shone brilliantly, and music played elegantly and solemnly. Nobles and officers in lavish attire, holding wine glasses, gathered in small groups, conversing in low tones.
Napoleon, in his crisp officer's uniform, symbolized his status as an Imperial Army officer. However, compared to the nobles in their opulent gowns, he seemed out of place, even somewhat awkward.
He had now been promoted by Lord Li Feng to Toulon Commander, fully responsible for the battles near Toulon Star. Today was his first day coming to the rear to meet the Planetary Governor.
He lowered his head, adjusted his collar, and stepped into the banquet hall. The lively atmosphere did not make him relax. He knew that behind this outwardly peaceful scene, the threat of Chaos hung like a sword over their heads, ever-present.
Just as he picked up a glass of wine, attempting to blend into the crowd, a figure caught his attention.
It was a woman, her face delicate and noble, carrying an indescribable elegance and confidence in her every movement. Her blue gown swayed gently with her dance steps, like a rose blooming in the night sky.
Even among these nobles, her presence was exceptionally dazzling; she appeared so adept at social maneuvering, her interactions with many dignitaries quite intimate.
And the other party seemed to have noticed Napoleon as well. Her gaze swept across the banquet hall, finally settling on this young officer, not tall in stature, but wearing a military uniform and appearing exceptionally resolute.
Their eyes met in the air.
The woman walked gracefully towards Napoleon, smiled slightly, and said in a soft yet somewhat teasing tone, "Why are you looking at me?"
Napoleon, caught in the act of staring, said somewhat guiltily, "Was I?"
"Were you not?"
"I was... I was just staring at your face... looking..."
Realizing that the other person was not very worldly, the woman smiled, then began to appraise the officer from head to toe. At this time, Napoleon was wearing a newly designed officer's uniform from Lord Li Feng, never before seen by the Imperial populace, but he had a strange tricorn hat on his head... "What's with this 'costume' of yours?"
Napoleon said very seriously at this moment, "This is my uniform. I once followed Lord Li Feng and achieved a great victory against the Tau and Gretchin at Gravelax."
Hearing such a serious explanation, the woman chuckled softly, then said, "What's your name?"
"Napoleon..."
"So, will my life be any different from now on, Commander Napoleon?"
After saying this, the woman returned to the banquet. At this moment, another Cadia officer walked over and quietly said to Napoleon:
"Louis, she is Josephine de Beauharnais, now a widow. Her husband was an officer who died in the Chaos invasion of Toulon Star."
At this moment, Napoleon murmured softly, "Joseph, is it?"
Realizing that Napoleon might be somewhat smitten, the officer immediately said, "I advise you to stay away from her. If you want to have some fun with her, that's fine, but... let me put it this way, her private life is a bit... indiscreet. She's slept with almost half the people at this banquet."
At this moment, the Planetary Governor immediately walked over with a group of people, his fleshy face trembling... "Oh! General Napoleon! Why didn't you say you were coming! We would surely have brought all the people of Toulon to welcome you for sixty miles! With food and drink to greet the Imperial Forces!"
Napoleon was immediately surrounded by a crowd of dignitaries, all looking at this young officer with the strange hat.
More importantly, the moment he received the command saber from Lord Li Feng, he had already become a 'direct descendant of the Prince,' just like Cain, Reinhard, Siegfried, Yang Weili, Huron, Floggin, Winston, Spears... they all were.
And at this moment, in the distance of the banquet, Joseph, who was sharing a cigarette with some noble scion, was also secretly observing Napoleon through the crowd... The next day,
Napoleon had just returned from an inspection of the front lines; he already had a rough plan to capture Toulon Starport. He returned to his quarters and entered his office.
At this moment, his adjutant said, "Sir, a young Boy has come to our quarters, and he specifically asked to see you."
"A young Boy?"
Napoleon took off his coat, placed his command saber on the desk, and sat down. He nodded at the adjutant, wanting to see what was going on.
Soon, a 6-7 year old Boy walked in from outside the door, dressed in lavish clothes, clean and fair, clearly a child from a prominent family.
"Young friend, may I ask who you are?"
At this moment, although the young Boy was a little afraid of the officer in front of him, he still spoke clearly, word for word, as if he had rehearsed it beforehand:
"Hello, sir, my name is Eugène de Beauharnais, and I am the son of Josephine de Beauharnais."
"So... young friend... what can I do for you?"
The young Boy was a little nervous now, his voice growing softer: "My father's saber... was taken by the local Department of Military Affairs after he died in battle..."
"And then?"
"If you could return my father's saber to my mother and me, we would be eternally grateful. That saber is his only personal relic..."
Napoleon nodded, but said apologetically, "Young friend, a saber is a weapon. We are currently in a time of war, and I cannot allow civilians to possess weapons. Moreover, these weapons will be deployed where they are needed, to continue serving the Emperor."
"I just want to use this saber to commemorate my beloved deceased father..."
"I can understand your feelings... But, young friend, why did you come to me? You could have gone to the logistics department or any officer responsible for guarding the warehouse."
The young Boy swallowed, then whispered, "My mother said that only you have the authority to retrieve this saber..."
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