Captain Daines, the captain of the Pelican, went up to the bridge, and when he saw Duke Langford standing with his son, Victor Jr., he stepped forward and said to them:

"Prime Minister, we have counted the remaining grain in the warehouse, which is enough to last for two months."

Langford turned his head: "Captain, judging by your expression, there must be bad news." ”

"Yes, Prime Minister, the problem is in fresh water, now the fleet's fresh water reserves are only enough for three days, and this is still in the case of reduced rations, the sailors have long complained, and everyone's lips are chapped."

The Duke of Langford bit his lip, and after a little thought, said:

"Colonel Daines, can you take advantage of the night to send a few flat-bottomed boats to quietly go ashore and bring some fresh water back?"

The other party shook his head: "Prime Minister, we have tried, but we have failed.

This damn Kraken Fjord is full of cliffs, except for a few shoals, which are also closely monitored by the enemy, and the Papal States has organized several patrols on the shore, and all the people we sent have gone and never returned, and they are probably now squatting in prisons. ”

"Hey...... That's not going to be easy...... By the way, is there any news of reinforcements? ”

"Until now, there has been no news, Prime Minister."

"No, you're sure we've sent a distress message?"

"My lord, we released a whole cage of carrier pigeons, but these birds are very susceptible to the nearby terrain and storms, I am not sure if His Majesty the Emperor has received our request for help, I advise you to plan ahead, such as making a plan to break out."

"Breakout? Are you kidding? The strength of the coalition fleet is more than three times that of ours, and the quality of the ships is not the same.

Moreover, once we passed through the narrowest part of the fjord, not only the coalition fleet outside, but also the shore defense artillery would fire at us at the same time, and with such a disadvantage, it would be tantamount to suicide to break out. ”

Or...... Can we surrender? Waiting for His Majesty to pay the ransom for us? ”

"No, you don't care, it's impossible for me to surrender, as the prime minister of the dignified empire, how can I surrender without a fight?

In short, there is nothing we can do but stand by and help. ”

Captain Daines looked worried, and he repeated the warning: "Remember, my lord, three days, three days! We only have enough fresh water for a maximum of three days' rations. With that, he turned and took his leave, and went to take care of the other affairs of the ship.

Little Victor began to comfort his father-in-law: "Don't worry, Your Majesty must know about our difficulties, she must have sent reinforcements, and she is already on her way." ”

Duke Langford sighed, "Hey! I hope so...... May the gods bless us. ”

He raised his head and saw a thick layer of dark clouds as far as the eye could see.

There was a faint white electric glow inside.

Clearly, a potential storm is approaching the fjord.

Langford looked down at his son and said to the young Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre, "Victor, follow me back to the command room." ”

Half an hour later, on the second deck of the stern of the Pelican, in the command room of the Free Trade Alliance fleet.

The soldier in the two-horned cap held his head in his arms and a handful of playing cards in his hand, but his eyes were still on the charts on the wall.

This man is the commander of the Free Trade Alliance fleet - Admiral Hammond,

In this room, his status was second only to the Duke of Langford, who was the Prime Minister of the Empire.

In the face of the predicament, he could only sigh.

With the towering cliffs on one side and the blockade of the Combined Fleet on the other, they had done all they could, and all that remained was to wait, passing the time with rum and playing cards, and the tables piled high with tobacco and gambling money.

"An officer threw two kings of spades, a 10 of diamonds.

"I followed! All-in! Duke Langford looked at the cards in his hand and said.

He grabbed the bottle, took a sip of rum, touched his mouth with his sleeve, and pushed the pile of gold coins next to him to the betting area in the middle of the table.

"Hey! Hammond, it's your turn! What do you think? It's useless, we can't do anything now! Play your cards! ”

"Knock knock!"

There was a knock on the wooden door of the command room.

"My lord, a carrier pigeon is coming! It's important news from land! ”

"Come on in!"

The person who came was a signal soldier on the ship, and unlike the relaxed and gloomy atmosphere in the house, this man seemed to be quite happy.

He held a small note between his fingers and said:

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister! Good news! Someone came to our rescue! ”

"What?"

Langford was overjoyed, choked on a sip of wine in his trachea, coughed violently, and all the cards in his hand fell to the ground:

"Ahem, ahem...... Finally...... There is hope...... Who led the fleet? Is it Admiral Valero? ”

"It's not Valero-sama, it's ...... See for yourself, I sense that a big war is coming. With that, the signalman handed the note to Langford.

The latter saw the row of tiny fonts on it, put on his monocles, read it, and after a few seconds, he suddenly stood up excitedly, and the chair was brought down.

"Hahahaha! Great! It's my wife! It's my wife! She came in person! With the main force of the Royal Navy fleet! Damn Sylvinians, and Brandians, see how long you can be proud! Your time of death has come! ”

He held up the note, shouted excitedly, and slapped the table with his other hand, as if he had triumphed.

When the people in the room rejoiced at the news, General Hammond said:

"Your Majesty the Emperor, she has a fleet of royal naval forces...... Driving a personal expedition? Isn't there any other high-ranking admiral to assist you? ”

"Yes, she's the Fleet Commander. Don't forget, my wife is a chief graduate of the National Military Academy, with three bachelor's degrees, including naval command. ”

Little Victor raised his head and said proudly, "That's amazing! I would like to follow the example of my adoptive mother, who is a role model for all of us Valstads. ”

"Hahaha! Can't have a toast for this? Langford opened another bottle of good wine and held it high.

Captain Daines looked a little twisted, he looked at the cards that the Prime Minister had dropped on the ground, and said tentatively, "Hey, Prime Minister, I won that game just now!" The stakes at that table ......"

"Huh?" Langford glanced at the pile of gold coins on the table, and then at the cards played by Daines,

"Oops! Two aces, one clown! You lucky fellow! Take it! Take it! The money on the table is yours! ”

"Thank you, my lord, then you're welcome!"