Free Web NovelThe morning sea was shrouded in a faint mist, which glowed golden in the sunlight.
Nine warships, like nine silent steel behemoths, slowly advanced through the waves.
The dawn led the way, with the morning light and the tide flanking it, and the other dawn-class escort ships followed closely behind, forming a strict formation like a moving city wall.
The gilded Red Tide emblem on the bow of the ship shone in the sunlight, reflecting a dazzling light, like a burning sun.
On the deck, the sailors moved rhythmically, ropes in hand.
They wore Red Tide standard windbreakers, the brass buttons on their chests polished bright by the sea mist.
Some adjusted signal flags on the masthead, others wiped handrails on the deck. They laughed as they passed water to each other, discussing whether there would be more butter on their bread for lunch.
A kitchen apprentice passed by carrying food buckets and was teased, “Hey kid, don’t make the soup too bland today.”
The apprentice scratched his head and replied with a smile, “No problem.”
The sailors took turns resting; some dozed against wooden barrels, some gathered to play dice, and others hummed old songs from the North.
Even on the open sea, they maintained their regular routines: three watches, two sail changes, and daily reports of wind direction and currents.
No one was lazy, and no one complained.
“It’s truly reassuring on this ship,” an old sailor chuckled, “back on Imperial ships, whether you’d live to see the next port was up to fate.”
“Thanks to Lord Louis,” another old sailor beside him grinned.
Both were old sailors recruited from Dawn Harbor. They had initially thought a ship from the North would be unreliable, but it turned out to be the safest ship they had ever served on.
The wooden planks of the deck creaked softly under their feet, interweaving with the sound of wind and waves to form a gentle and steady symphony of sailing.
On the other side, Alwin Set stood on the observation deck, clad in a Red Tide standard long trench coat, his metal shoulder guards gleaming in the light.
He was the commander-in-chief of the Dawn Fleet, born in the Southeast Province of the Empire. In his early years, he served on Calvin Family ships, but later, after offending a powerful noble, he became a knight under Louis and was one of the first Red Tide Knights.
Coming to the North, he initially thought it was a dead end, but under Louis, he thrived.
In just a few years, he was promoted from Formal Knight to High-ranking Elite Knight, and now he had volunteered to be the fleet commander for this long voyage. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
For him, this journey was almost a glorious return home.
Alwin narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing through the thin mist, watching the distant landmass slowly awakening.
The sea breeze brushed his face, carrying a faint salty smell and a warm sensation.
“That’s Vero Port’s spire!” the lookout suddenly shouted.
After a moment of silence, the entire ship erupted in cheers.
“The Southeast Province is here!” “We see the port!”
The crew rushed onto the deck, looking towards the city that was gradually becoming clear.
Distant towers stood in the morning light, flags fluttered in the wind, and the port’s lighthouse blinked like starlight.
“It only took over two months from the North... we really did it!” a helmsman exclaimed, his voice almost hoarse.
A round of applause broke out on the deck, and then someone blew a horn. The sound, like a declaration of victory, cut through the sea breeze and echoed across every warship in the fleet.
The morning light behind responded with a whistle, followed by the deep echo of the tide.
The horns of the nine warships sounded one after another, forming a majestic maritime symphony.
Waves churned beneath the hulls, and the fleet maintained its perfect formation, advancing at full speed.
Alwin overlooked everything, a slight smile playing on his lips, a sigh of relief hidden within it.
Along the way, they had experienced several close calls, and looking back now, he still felt a lingering fear.
That was on the twelfth day of the voyage, a stormy night. The wind tore like a beast, and the waves were so high they seemed to touch the sky.
The dawn rose and fell in the raging tempest, the deck washed by rain as if it were an icy surface in the North.
The sailors could barely see each other's faces, yet they still followed their routines, a scenario they had rehearsed back in the North.
The gale raged for three days and three nights, and they survived by adhering to every rule of the “Twelve Laws of Navigation.”
When the storm passed, the sea was eerily silent. Alwin looked at the fleet emerging from the waves and murmured, “If it were an ordinary Imperial ship, that night would have meant total annihilation.”
The second close call was in the Sea of Dense Fog.
That night, the sea was as silent as a tomb, the fog so thick one couldn't see a hand in front of their face. The fleet scattered, and one cargo ship veered off course.
Signal lights flashed on the masthead of the dawn, and alchemical sound arrays hummed softly in the darkness. This was a new Red Tide technology, allowing ships to respond in the fog as if with a heartbeat.
Alwin guided them with sonar commands, listening to the echoes as they slowly drew closer.
When the lost ship’s silhouette reappeared, a long-suppressed cheer erupted throughout the ship.
The third close call was the sudden pirate attack.
That afternoon, the sky was pale. A group of speedboats flying black flags burst out of the side sea mist, like a pack of blood-scenting sharks.
Before Alwin could speak, the dawn’s secondary cannons had already turned.
The muzzles roared, the deck vibrated, and fire and smoke exploded in an instant.
The Red Tide warships were like cold iron walls, their cannon fire tracing precise arcs, tearing the pirate ships into splinters.
The morning light and the tide quickly flanked them, as precise as a drill. The entire battle lasted less than fifteen minutes, leaving only floating debris on the sea.
Alwin remembered the pirates' terrified screams; they had expected to prey on merchant ships but had encountered a naval legion.
The Red Tide Fleet swept through them, almost completely crushing them, not even considering these petty sea thieves a threat.
Alwin looked at the white smoke rising from the muzzles, a surge of respect welling up in his heart.
The North had never established a port, not only due to unsuitable terrain but also due to strange waters and rampant pirates. Now, thanks to the weapons designed and systems implemented by that lord, they had passed through safely.
And the other calm days, seemingly without alarm, best demonstrated the power of Red Tide.
The ship strictly enforced the “Red Tide Maritime Code”: three-tier watch rotation, food distribution, and nightly safety bells, everything in perfect order.
At night, the sea wind was cuttingly cold, but the sailors still laughed as they drank their soup.
No one stole, no one fought, and even the sick were assigned light duties.
An old sailor leaned against the rail, sighing, “On a Red Tide ship, you can sleep soundly.”
Alwin recalled these moments, his heart tightening.
He looked at the steady progress of the dawn, understanding that this was not luck, but that the lord had always been protecting them.
And they, too, had lived up to expectations, fulfilling their mission.
Alwin looked at the distant port, raised his hand, and loudly ordered, “Signal all ships, form up and advance, prepare to dock!”
The rudder slowly turned, and the massive ship, steady as a mountain, cut through the waves.
The metal armor plates of the nine warships reflected dazzling light, like nine spears launched from the North, piercing towards the coast of the Southeast Province... The morning sea fog had not yet fully dispersed, but the waters outside Vero Port were already bustling.
Darlin Knight, the guard of the port lighthouse, narrowed his eyes and saw a golden light appearing on the distant horizon.
The light initially seemed like a reflection in the mist, then gradually transformed into neat metal silhouettes under the sunlight.
Waves were stirred up by the bows of the ships, layer upon layer of rolling white foam, as if a snowfield was encroaching.
“Is that a fleet?” Darlin murmured.
As the sunlight completely broke through the fog, the outlines of the nine warships became visible.
They were like nine behemoths lined up in formation, their hulls inlaid with gold, their {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} flags emblazoned with burning crimson tide emblems.
Darlin’s breath hitched: “This... is this an Imperial fleet? No, I’ve never seen that flag.”
The signalman beside him spoke with a trembling voice, “Sir, should we sound the defense alarm?”
Darlin clenched his teeth and shouted, “Light the red signal, full port alert!”
The red light of the port lighthouse flickered in the mist, defense ships sounded their horns, and whistles echoed across the pier.
Workers were ordered to evacuate, and all cargo operations at the port instantly ceased.
People looked up at the sea, only to see nine warships steadily approaching, their masts towering, their hulls as massive as mountains.
“Too many... nine capital ships!” someone exclaimed.
Darlin spurred his horse down the lighthouse steps, barely having time to straighten his armor, and rushed directly to the port authority office, still covered in mist.
“Lord Herman! A whole fleet has arrived from the sea, at least nine capital ships! We received no prior notification!”
Herman Calvin, the head of the port authority, was handling documents. He looked up at the sound, his brow furrowed: “Nine ships? What a joke, even the Imperial Capital’s fleet isn’t that large...”
Herman stood up and walked onto the balcony, looking towards the distant horizon.
At that moment, he almost forgot to breathe. Nine warships with crimson flags were arranged in a perfect formation, their bow metal emblems shining in the sunlight, like nine burning suns.
“Is that... the Red Tide flag?” Herman whispered, then a sudden realization struck him, “Louis Calvin... that’s Eighth Young Master, no, it’s Earl Calvin’s fleet!”
He immediately ordered, “Open the port channel! All personnel to greet the ships! Prepare to receive the Red Tide long-voyage delegation!”
...The port bells echoed in the sea breeze.
Workers and merchants on the pier all put down their tasks, gazing up at the steel armada.
The dawn led the way, with the morning light and the tide flanking it, and the other dawn-class escort ships followed closely behind.
Nine massive ships entered the port side by side. The wooden breakwater groaned under the impact of the waves, and the metallic sheen reflected on the sea, as if the port was enveloped in a crimson glow.
The dawn was the first to dock, its anchor chain plunging into the water with a roar that reverberated throughout the pier.
On the deck, Red Tide Knights stood in formation, armor gleaming, expressions calm.
“Oh my god... those aren’t Imperial ships, they’re from the North!”
“The North? That frozen wasteland? They actually built such a fleet?”
Herman personally led the welcoming party.
Alwin, clad in a Red Tide cloak, slowly descended the dawn’s gangplank. His boots struck the pier with a crisp metallic sound, his retinue following in synchronized steps.
Herman was the first to bow: “Welcome to Vero Port.”
Alwin returned the smile and salute: “On behalf of Lord Louis, we bring greetings and goods from the North.”
As crate after crate of goods were hoisted and steadily placed on the pier, sunlight illuminated the Red Tide seals and serial numbers on their surfaces.
The port recorder hurried forward, using a crowbar to open the boxes.
Herman stood frozen, the piles of goods and minerals before him almost unbelievable.
The crates were filled with rare minerals from the North.
Qi Vein Stone, magic marrow mine, flint marrow oil, ember ash iron.
Each item radiated a dazzling glow. These resources, extremely precious in the South, were now laid out before them.
Following that were various weapons and fabrics, as well as neatly stacked monster furs, piled high, an astonishing sight.
“These... are all transported from the North?” The port recorder’s hands trembled slightly, his eyes wide with disbelief at the wealth before him.
He quickly calculated on his fingers, his voice low but undeniable: “This must be worth... at least half a province’s trade volume!”
A low gasp erupted from the crowd. The air in the port seemed to compress into a heavy weight, hanging heavily in everyone’s hearts.
Herman stood rooted, his face a mix of longing and unease.
Since the North previously had no ports and relied solely on land transport, they had never seen so many rare resources from the North.
And this was not just about the North’s resources; it also represented the rise of the Red Tide force.
The fleet brought by Louis Calvin far exceeded his previous expectations in scale and strength.
After arranging everything, he turned and returned to the port authority office, walking quickly to his desk.
Herman picked up his quill, his handwriting slightly trembling, and swiftly wrote a letter to the Duke...
That night, under the cover of darkness, bonfires on the pier reflected on the water, their flickering flames illuminating busy figures.
Workers were still orderly moving the crates of goods, crew members cleaned the deck, and the night wind carried the scent of salt.
“Alwin?! You... you’re Alwin?!”
A surprised shout reached Alwin’s ears. He turned at the sound and saw a familiar face, a slight smile appearing on his own.
It was Tolan, his cousin, also a knight. It was he who had brought Alwin onto the ship back then.
Alwin stepped forward, gently patting Tolan’s shoulder: “It’s me, Big Brother Tolan.”
Tolan’s eyes held a hint of complexity as he suddenly recalled the past.
“You offended quite a few people back when you were on the Calvin Family ship. You were originally going to be executed.
It was I... it was I who pleaded for you, pulled some old strings, and finally got you to follow Lord Louis to the North.
I never expected, old friend, that you would return leading such a large fleet.”
Alwin’s face showed a touch of gratitude, and he nodded slightly: “Yes, thanks to Lord Louis, and thanks to you for your help.”
Then he lowered his head, pulled a pouch of gold coins from his waist, and gently offered it to Tolan: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I forgot your help back then. Without your plea, I might have disappeared long ago.”
Tolan froze for a moment, a flash of surprise in his eyes, and quickly waved his hand: “It’s too valuable, Alwin, I can’t accept it.”
Alwin smiled, still insisting: “Without your intercession for me back then, I might be a corpse in the sea right now.”
Tolan reluctantly accepted the gold coins, a complex look in his eyes: “Alright, if you insist, then I won’t refuse any longer.”
Then he said jokingly, “I wish I had gone to the North with you back then.”
Alwin raised an eyebrow and responded with a smile, “It’s not too late to go now. Come with me; there’s a place for you.”
Tolan pondered for a moment, then shook his head: “Forget it, forget it. The storms in the North are too strong. I’ll stay here.”
He suddenly leaned in, lowered his voice, and whispered playfully in Alwin’s ear: “However, if Lord Louis becomes the Calvin Family Head in the future, then we can work together again.”
The two looked at each other for a moment, then both burst out laughing.
Tolan took it as a casual jest.
But Alwin, though laughing, silently noted the remark in his heart. He felt that this joke might actually come true one day.
