The calm sea, the winding sand dunes, the lazy sun hanging in the sky, even the floating clouds looked so leisurely, and there were even many seabirds hunting and frolicking on the shore under the clear sky - such a peaceful picture that you could not imagine what terrible storm had happened a day ago.

Although it spent a day and a night in the storm, and almost lost its way many times because of the lack of directional coordinates, the expeditionary fleet, which had lost a lot of supplies, actually arrived near Haima Harbor half a day ahead of schedule, and the most fortunate thing was that in this sudden storm, not even a single battleship was damaged-when they saw the full flame goshawk flag raised, all the people on board who were still alive couldn't help but cheer loudly.

However, the flagship of the expeditionary fleet was still badly damaged - the foremast was almost broken, and there were many cracks in the side sides. The rest of the battleships, although not serious enough to this extent, were somewhat damaged, and it was necessary to replace the armor on the deck and side in time to prepare for the next battle.

In the melodious sound of the horn, the expeditionary fleet that survived the storm finally saw the brilliant blue waves of Seahorse Harbor under the rising sun - the beautiful marble harbor stood on the lighthouse that reached into the sky, and it was replaced with a brand-new flaming goshawk flag early to welcome the arrival of the expeditionary force.

Three hundred years ago, the port of Seahorse was not inferior to the ancient city-state of Turin, and even today three hundred years later - standing on the deck of a ship across the pier, you can see that this beautiful city has a different style from Turin, with green towers, Turin-style churches and Dominican-style courtyard villas living side by side, exquisite apartment streets with a hint of West Coast longhouses, and a patchwork of fountain gardens echoing magnificent gilded sculptures, nothing awkward......

If Turin is a solemn religious shrine and a royal city, the port of Seahorse is a trading city that encapsulates most of the civilized world, like a huge melting pot, incorporating all the foreign styles and customs into it, presenting a stunning charm.

Although he promised that the whole army would rest in Seahorse Harbor for a while, Leonardo was not prepared to "let the ducks", and all the soldiers who changed to small boats went to a beach near Seahorse Harbor to set up camp, and only let the ships be stationed in the port for maintenance - but Leonardo also knew what kind of goods his "expeditionary force" was except for veterans of the Knights, and it was impossible to think about making them completely disciplined and maintain morale by tenacious fighting spirit and training.

So with his acquiescence or hint, the two lieutenant generals who understood it immediately arranged many vendors pushing trucks and "girls" who set up tents to solicit guests outside the camp, and made a fairly lively market outside the camp, and immediately issued the first military salary since leaving the army, so that these big-headed soldiers who escaped death could "enjoy life".

Even though nearly half of the soldiers were already vomiting and couldn't even get off the boat, the makeshift camp on the beach was still bustling with activity. The smell of grilled fish, bacon, onions, and baked potatoes was everywhere, and the soldiers sitting around the campfire collided with cups filled with sour beer, and the joyful laughter could be heard even on the sea.

After all the work, the exhausted Lusen Minester sat on the beach in a daze, as if he couldn't believe that he had really survived such a terrible storm, and that he had survived with everyone—grabbing a piece of sand with both hands, as if everything he had experienced was just an illusory story, an adventure made up casually in a café on Silk Street in order to make a beautiful woman laugh.

There was a very regular sound of footsteps on the beach behind him, and as soon as he turned around, Lusen saw Edward with two wine bottles walking towards him, and threw one of them to his hand, and picked it up with a wry smile: "Thank you for remembering me, didn't you go and enjoy it with the brethren of the Order—after all, I am an outsider compared to them." ”

"Someone just said we were going to be united, so soon to forget?" Edward's mouth with a slight relaxed smile on his lips, "You're - Seahorse Harbor is the territory of the Minest family, don't you plan to go home and have a look?"

"I don't know if I'll ever have the courage to come back if I go back. Lusin just said this helplessly, and then raised the bottle and took a big sip: "Listen, I have to thank you...... It's tiresome to say, but I have to thank you. ”

Edward didn't speak, just continued to drink his wine, his black eyes looking at Luthen's extremely tangled and reluctant expression.

"There is really a contagious energy in you, I can't describe it, but the words you said and the look on your face, that desperately stormy night, even I was infected, and at that moment it was as if there was a real urge, as if the whole world was no longer intimidating. The alcohol on his brain made Lu Sien's expression much kinder than before.

"I would even dare say that we would have been doomed without your voice - there have always been people who say how generous and tolerant the Minests are, but they don't understand that what is most needed on a ship is authority. "Only the most authoritarian captain, who can make the crew awe and love, and who dare not resist in the slightest, can lead a ship through many dangers to reach its destination." ”

As he spoke, Lusen took another long sip of wine: "Grandfather Holard said that you and he are the same kind of person, so please forgive your dear Aunt Angelica for always obstructing you and Cousin Allen, she really wants her cousin to be happy, but I am different, for people like us, the other half is always just a product of a certain purpose, how can there be any real happiness in this world......?"

Edward looked at Lusen, who was already a little delirious in front of him, and even began to "spit out the truth after drinking", chuckled and threw the bottle on the ground: "Looks like I'll have to find a way to make you sober up, Sir Luson - it would be too embarrassing for Sir Leonardo to see his lieutenants drunk like this." ”

.................. By the time Edward arrived at the Chinese tent with a drunken spirit and a little sober up, the meeting had already begun. As soon as he entered the tent, Lu Sien vomited directly on the ground, and the whole big tent was filled with the smell of his vomiting and laughter.

Although the composition of the expeditionary fleet balances almost all the forces in the entire city of Turin, the real core is still the Knights of the Sacred Tree - after all, the commander is Leonardo, and as the chief knight, he trusts the Knights of the Sacred Tree the most, and the Knights have never had any good feelings for the Minest family.

In the end, it was the representative of the Silver Blood Mercenary Regiment, Shirrell Letlane, who was sitting at the end, who took the initiative to come over, leaning on his body without caring and serving him - the purple-haired woman's expression was still so calm, as if it should have been.

At this time, Sir Leonardo, who had coughed twice, tapped the table lightly with his dagger, and announced that the meeting had continued—the situation before the expeditionary force was very dangerous, and there was no room for any ease.

First of all, with the exception of the Silver Blood mercenaries, two-thirds of the soldiers who were seriously unaccustomed to life at sea had lost their combat effectiveness and would take some time to get off the ground - as for the auxiliaries recruited in Zaiturin City, Leonardo was already hopeless, and he was ready to recruit some men to fill the vacancy in Seahorse Harbor.

However, as long as it is within the borders of the kingdom, whether it is the supply of troops or supplies, there will soon be a steady stream of supply lines to increase the strength of the expeditionary force - a terrible storm like yesterday is still difficult to encounter on the coastline of the Kingdom of Turin, so there is no need to worry about supplies.

What really trickled Leonardo was the navy of the Outovik family in Star City.