Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Late at night, outside the Kingsfort, at the siege forces' position.

Captain Chalka Matt of the Thunder Group County infantry regiment, commanding a small team of light infantry, quietly crawled out of the front trenches, following the marks left by the scouts, and approached the bastion situated in front of the New Town's main gate at Kingsfort.

Since the United Provincials send line chamber gunners out of the city every night, to avoid any surprises along the way, Captain Matt's route tonight had been cleared by scouts in advance.

Through a man claiming to be an insider, the siege forces obtained numerous intelligence on the southern front.

For example, they learned that the so-called southern front was nothing more than a donkey in horse's skin, composed of four infantry battalions, plus some artillery and engineers, totaling less than three thousand men.

For example, they also learned that because Jansen Cornelius himself loved chess, all the new-style fortresses built by the United Provincials were coded with chess pieces.

The cannon platform on the Ashen Stream River bank is code-named "Knight";

The fortress on Magit Island is code-named "Bishop".

And the target of the light infantry infiltrating the death zone between the siege and defense positions is code-named "Queen".

Just by the code names chosen by the United Provincials, it can be understood how dangerous this large fortress standing at the center of the front line is for the enemy, and how important it is for the garrison.

Meanwhile, upstream of the River Shijian, across the river from Magit Island, diagonally opposite the Bishop's Castle.

Lieutenant Woods Frank led more than twenty of his men, in the darkness, carrying four rafts down the river dike.

They tried to make no sound as they pushed the rafts into the water, and followed themselves into the water.

However, they did not sit on the rafts, but stayed in the water, grouped in six, pushing the rafts, fighting the current, slipping towards Magit Island under the cover of night.

From the shore, the slowly flowing surface of the River Shijian appeared as delicate as velvet.

Yet the moment one steps into the water, they immediately feel the immense power hidden beneath its calm appearance.

There is neither sky nor earth, the water surrounds you from all sides, oppressing you, gently yet irresistibly leading you to where she wants you to go.

This force is what Woods Frank is fighting against.

The river ceaselessly pushes the rafts downstream; anyone challenging her finds themselves in a weary struggle doomed to fail.

Fortunately, after days of tries, Woods has figured out some techniques.

He clings to the raft's edge with both hands, spreading as much of his body weight onto the raft as possible. Meanwhile, he tightens his abdomen, lifting his waist, and kicks backward strongly with his legs.

The most crucial point is not to fight against the water. Regardless of where the river wants to take you, just exert force towards the opposite bank.

Having understood this trick, Woods no longer appears as embarrassed as he was on the first night of crossing. His chosen men are also adept swimmers.

The team coordinated smoothly, and the rafts quickly passed the middle line of the river channel.

Magit Island drew closer, the flow of the River Shijian slowed; the destination was within reach, yet Woods Frank's nerves tightened with every moment, as did the Mount Blanc County soldiers escorting the rafts.

Both banks of the river were dead silent, only the chirping insects tirelessly harmonized with the flowing water, stirring the heart of the listener.

Woods widened his eyes, staring fixedly at the opposite bank.

Suddenly, a piercing whistle sound covered all other noises.

A blood-red meteor shot up amidst the whistle, illuminating the water near the Magit Island shore.

"Go!" Woods shouted without hesitation, skillfully turning around in the water and kicking off from the raft, swimming towards the direction from which they came.

And Woods' men had already abandoned the rafts, even before the illumination flares of the United Provincials rose and the captain ordered them to retreat; many soldiers simply dove into the water, vanishing from the surface.

Their preemptive actions were correct, for the next moment, a series of muzzle flashes erupted from Magit Island.

The garrison musketeer fired fiercely at the river surface from behind the "Caltrop"—as the Paratu people called those sharp wooden stakes inserted into the riverbed by the United Provincials.

However, since Woods and his men had already retreated at the first moment, all the lead shots hit empty spots.

Some shots hit the rafts, embedding into the wood; others struck the water surface, accompanied by "plop" sounds, gliding a short distance in the water before exhausting their power and sinking to the riverbed.

Simultaneously, gunfire erupted from the river dike on the West Bank—the Mont Blanc County firearms soldiers began shooting at Magit Island, covering their comrades' retreat.

The United Province musketeers were not to be outdone, they also turned their guns, opening fire at the "Rebels" position across the river.

The two sides, separated by the river channel, engaged in a fierce exchange of fire.

Only when the cannon from the United Province cannon platforms in front of the Bishop's Castle joined the battle, was the "Rebels" momentum thoroughly suppressed.

Two rounds of canister shot were scattered over the "Rebels" breastworks; gunfire on the West Bank immediately became sparse.

Exuberant cheers erupted on Magit Island.

On the cannon platform in front of the Bishop's Castle, Major Raymond Monteccolli, who personally operated the cannon for these two precise shots, casually inserted the iron ram back into the fire pit, showing no trace of pride on his face.

In the eyes of the artillery major, the cross-river shootout with the "Rebels" was purely a waste of ammunition.

Even using cannon, it is difficult to deal effective damage to the "Rebels" hiding behind cover.