Munitions Empire

In the southern part of the Poplar Kingdom, within the territory of the Augustin Clan, the important port city of Southwater, the governor responsible for managing the city was greatly alarmed as he looked at the disheveled commander, asking in shock, "What did you say?"

The commander's arm was still wrapped in a bandage, and the dust on his face had not yet been wiped away. He stood there, looking as miserable as one could be.

Gazing down, he reported with a mournful voice, "A ship, it sank almost all of our armed merchant vessels... blocking the Southwater Port, sealing it off!"

Just the mention of that fearsome warship made him shudder. It had effortlessly sunk all the ships bearing the Poplar Kingdom's flag that tried to leave the port, not letting a single one escape.

The enemy's speed was astonishingly fast, and their firepower was indescribably strong. When they saw that not a single ship could leave the port, and none that was due to return were in sight, the Elves realized that trouble was at hand.

This governor, serving on the Augustin Clan's territory, immediately seized the key point from his subordinate's report, asking emphatically, "A single ship?"

"Yes, a single ship," the subordinate admitted the embarrassment, unable to deny it, and reluctantly nodded in response.

If the enemy really had dozens of warships, he could have exaggerated the report to save some face.

But since there truly was only one warship, there was nothing he could do. After all, the governor was not blind. One look for himself and he would know the truth.

Hearing his subordinate's response, the governor in the city hall became even more furious, "Are you joking? Have they gone mad?"

In his view, the Southwater Port had two warships and dozens of armed merchant ships. How could a single enemy warship come and cause such havoc without being sunk?

That his subordinates couldn't handle such a small matter made him think they were all too incompetent, utterly useless.

However, before he could continue his tirade, the miserable-looking subordinate immediately began to justify himself, "My lord, whether they are mad or not, I do not know. But the two warships stationed in our port were both sunk by it!"

At this news, the governor's face turned ashen. He had not expected the situation to have become so dire by the time it reached him.

He really hadn't anticipated that the two warships stationed in the harbor would be sunk—each had forty cannons and represented a formidable maritime force.

Yet, according to his subordinate's report, it appeared that these two impressive sail-powered warships had been sunk.

He stood up and glared at his subordinate, demanding sharply, "What? What did you say? Explain yourself! Are you saying that both warships were defeated by a single enemy vessel?"

"Yes, they were not!" The subordinate said with a gloomy face, recalling the terrifying scene of the warships being sunk as he answered.

In just one encounter, a warship burst into towering flames, as if its ammunition had exploded, and in a few minutes, it capsized and sank.

The city hall's governor trembled with anger, questioning loudly, "Which country is it from? Why have they come here to seek trouble?"

The place he governed was Augustine territory, and if Marquis Augustine, who now held unbridled power within the Kingdom, learned that he hadn't secured his base, the Marquis would probably flay him alive.

The subordinate handed something he was clutching to the governor, "After sinking our two warships, the enemy let a few sailors go, leaving this with them."

Because the commander from the City Defense Forces didn't have any clue who the opponent was, he cleverly dodged the governor's question of "Which country is it from?"

"A note?" The governor took the object, realizing upon closer inspection it was a note.

"There's a strange phrase written on it," the subordinate quickly added.

The governor, a bit stunned, finally processed it and unfolded the note to read the writing, "Debt owed, money to be paid?"

After reading it, he was still baffled and looked up at his subordinate, hoping for some clue.

The subordinate was just as ignorant and could only say helplessly, "Yes, just that sentence."

Frustrated, the governor placed the note on his office desk and speculated aloud, "What's this? Collecting a debt? Demanding repayment from a Kingdom in such a manner?"

The subordinate immediately shook his head, "I have no idea what's going on, but ever since that warship arrived a few hours ago, we haven't had a single ship come in or leave Southwater Port."

The distraught governor, short of options, ordered, "They're taking advantage of the fact that our main fleet is away... The scoundrels. Send someone immediately, on the fastest horse, to King City and to Osa Port! Request our main fleet to sail south and sink this provocative enemy warship!"

Regardless, Southwater Port had been the stronghold of the Augustin Clan for many years, not only boasting a recently constructed steel smeltery, but also a mechanical workshop, a munitions workshop, and the sturdiest fortress.
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Moreover, in the dangerous sections near the bay, the Augustin Clan had even built artillery batteries, equipping them with 50 Shireck muzzle-loading cannons, making it as secure as a walled treasury.

Thus, he wasn't afraid of enemies at sea truly breaking into the harbor, which is why he could mention sending for reinforcements.

At this moment, the tax officer who couldn't stand by any longer finally spoke up to remind them, "Speaking of which... which kingdom does that warship belong to? Shouldn't we investigate that?"

At a time when they were calling for help without even knowing where the enemy came from, punishment was certain. Once he said this, the faces of several people immediately became even more colorful.

One by one, the elves looked as if they had lost their mothers, and the city's ruling officer was so infuriated he couldn't even breathe regularly: After suffering a defeat, these City Defense Forces had come back to report without even identifying who the enemy was.

He had just raised this question earlier, but it was skillfully diverted and covered up by the other party, and now the question was raised again, the ruling officer immediately asked angrily, "Did you get a good look at their flag?"

The City Defense Forces officer could only shake his head, offering an embarrassing answer: "Unrecognizable, it's a strange totem, with two beards and baring teeth and claws; I have no idea what it is."

The tax officer frowned; he had never heard of such a symbol, and among the heraldry of nearby Elf Race and Orc Race, there was no similar emblem.

So, he stroked his chin, as if talking to himself, he murmured, "A clan emblem? That can't be, can it?"

"It looks like a clan emblem, not like a royal standard." The City Defense Forces officer immediately nodded and replied.

Glancing at the perplexed city mayor of the city hall, the tax officer spoke up once again, "What about sending someone with a white flag to ask for clarity?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, the bewildered city mayor also looked towards the City Defense Forces officer, as if to ask, "Yes, would that work?"

The officer spread his hands with a helpless smile, explaining, "There's no way to get close, they simply won't negotiate... Any ships that approached were immediately sunk, and our batteries couldn't outshoot theirs..."

As the city mayor of Southwater City of the Poplar Kingdom listened, his face turned paler by a few shades, "Huh? The batteries couldn't outshoot them?"

He had originally thought of relying on the batteries and the fortress's defensive installations to hold out for a while, but now hearing that even the batteries were inferior, he became even more panicked and desperate.

The Elf officer of the City Defense Forces no longer had the heart to conceal the truth and immediately nodded, saying, "Yes, our batteries couldn't outshoot them. The second warship had managed to retreat within range of our artillery, thinking it could be covered, but they managed to sink our second warship and left the artillery battery in a pathetic state before retreating beyond its range."

The injuries he suffered were from there, the enemy bombarded the battery for a while, destroyed about seven or eight coastal defense cannons, then casually withdrew to the sea, blocking the area and refusing to leave!

Any ship attempting to enter or leave the port was attacked, and with the enemy's incredibly accurate gunfire, more than 20 ships had already been sunk.

Finally, the ruling officer managed to force out a sentence, unclear if it was a question or a lament, "What kind of monster is that...?"

The officer, his arm still bandaged, suppressed his frustration and once again affirmed his incompetence with his reply, "Subordinate also does not know."

Eventually, with no better solution, the city mayor had no choice but to grit his teeth and issue the command, "Take your men and defend the artillery batteries! You must not let the enemy land, understood?"

The officer with a mournful expression preemptively gave his caveats before responding, "Sir! If the enemy truly invades the harbor, we cannot stop them."

Slamming the table, the city mayor was already furious, shouting loudly with a changed tone, "The City Defense Forces shall not retreat a step! Dammit! Even if it means death, you are to die on those batteries!"

The City Defense Forces officer could only stiffen his resolve, bow his head, and accept the orders, "Yes, sir!"

Soon, several fast horses charged out of Southwater City, racing towards the direction of King City and Osa Military Harbor.

Meanwhile, a foreman responsible for production found his immediate superior in the workshop of the Augustin Family and reported, "Sir, the expected 20 tons of iron ore hasn't been accounted for... I don't know how to handle it, please make a decision."

"Hmm?" A middle-aged human, who had been working for the Augustin Family and was now in charge of the workshop, frowned and took the inventory list.

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Today's first update, once I start writing late into the night, it becomes unstoppable... Many thanks to the generous donation from a pure-hearted male reader, truly appreciated.