Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"No need to get your hands wet?" Captain Tieye retorted: "The first lesson every naval officer learns on deck is that 'as long as you're on the ship, it's impossible not to get your clothes wet,' let alone your hands."

"But getting your hands wet is better than soaking your entire body," De Bal responded with calm dignity, "isn't it?"

Wetter Pisani and Lorenzo Tieye both turned their gaze to the admiral.

Martino Dandolo is already sixty-four years old this year.

When he first stepped onto a deck, the Vinea Republic did not yet exist, the Sea Blue People were engaged in fierce battles with the Nasriya people, mercenaries formed the backbone of the army, and the tedious city-state wars seemed never-ending.

At that time, had anyone claimed, "The city-states openly and covertly struggling today will eventually be unified into a new nation," they would have been ridiculed.

Unlike generals on land, few naval commanders live to the age of Martino Dandolo.

Sudden crosswinds, uncharted reefs, waves taller than masts... too many things at sea can easily capsize a ship. Harsh living conditions, poor diet, and scurvy also greatly shortened the lifespan of captains and sailors.

More importantly: an army commander who has disgraced his country may still have a chance to live; a naval commander who loses his fleet, even if he escapes the fate of sinking with his ship, will eventually face the executioner's sword in Parliament Square.

The sea is like an altar, devouring generation after generation of Sea Blue People.

Half of the captains do not live past forty; those who make it past fifty usually never go to sea again.

Reaching sixty earns one the qualification to vie for the position of fleet commander.

At sixty-two, Martino Dandolo was promoted to the commander of the Inner Sea Fleet—the most powerful position in the Vinetta Navy.

Now, he spoke.

"I have witnessed tsunamis engulfing cities, fires consuming cities," Admiral Dandolo said. "I've seen the flags of Florence fluttering beneath Sea Blue City, and I've witnessed our Saint Marco flag planted on the walls of the City of Flowers. I have achieved victories and suffered crushing defeats. Some challenges that you perceive as earth-shattering, once overcome, in hindsight, turn out to be mere ripples in history. Each time, the city of Sea Blue finds strength and achieves the final victory."

In the archives room, some nodded, some showed defiance, some remained expressionless, some pretended to be part of the furniture, but without exception, everyone listened quietly.

Admiral Dandolo calmly stated, "And in the years I've lived through, I've learned one thing—sometimes, unless you get thoroughly drenched, you can't completely solve the problem."

Admiral Zio furrowed his brows.

The sturdy frame of Admiral Dandolo seemed to grow in stature, "The Navy's attitude hasn't changed in hundreds of years; our interests align with Sea Blue's. We support swift, decisive wars. When the war begins, we go all out; when it ends, the merchant fleet can once again safely traverse the Inner Sea. We cannot support prolonged wars of attrition; they are detrimental to business. Your agent plan will drag us into a protracted, enduring conflict."

"Detrimental to business?" Major Layton scoffed, "You haven't exactly been losing money while intercepting Federated Provinces merchant ships in the Inner Sea these past two years."

Captain Tieye dismissively replied, "That income is negligible compared to the losses."

"Business isn't everything in Vinea." Admiral Zio fixed his gaze on the naval admiral.

"No." Admiral Dandolo replied firmly, "Trade is everything to Sea Blue!"

Admiral Dandolo stood up, and Wetter Pisani and Lorenzo Tieye hurriedly followed suit.

"The Inner Sea must promptly regain its safety, and Sea Blue needs to resolve its issues once and for all," Admiral Dandolo declared emphatically to his army colleagues, "If the army can't do it, then let the navy take over!"