CHAPTER 537: CHAPTER 485: BATTLE REPORT

The war that captivated the world on the Southern Continent, lasting nearly two months, finally came to an end three days ago.

Although the human world is momentarily calm, all well-informed high-ranking individuals can sense the extraordinary atmosphere lingering in the air.

What will the breaking of a hundred-year invincible myth ultimately bring to this continent? No one can predict.

Phaletis Royal Capital, Bekele, in the Queen’s bedroom and office—St. James’s Palace.

In the late autumn, everything withers.

Yet the rare bright sunshine illuminated the Queen’s study, and the mood of its owner was as bright as the sunlight.

"Respected Majesty:

With the protection of the Wanlai Goddess and your glory, I, on behalf of the 14,856 brave navy officers and soldiers participating in this battle, am infinitely honored to inform you of our great victory.

In the battle tally compiled by the Headquarters, this battle has annihilated...

Capturing the Army Commander Ricard and others...

May you remain forever young and beautiful, and may the Goddess’s holy light shine upon Phaletis.

Your loyal Knight: Elvis"

In fact, the result was transmitted back through the Spirit Realm the moment the naval battle ended. This letter came from Vice Admiral Elvis, the joint forces’ Commander, containing various war details unknown to the outside world.

As the lord of Vice Admiral Elvis, the Queen received first-hand intelligence. Subsequently, the monarchs of the participating nations will also soon receive the front-line military reports sent from Headquarters. Of course, the Ilya Kingdom is absolutely exempted...

The Queen held the thin letter and read it repeatedly, even though she already knew the outcome of the war. Yet at this moment, seeing the detailed reports on the letter, an indescribable brilliance still shone on her face.

The expression management befitting a King level ultimately failed, causing her to clap her hands and praise involuntarily:

"Excellent, Elvis and his team have done splendidly! The days when Hilus rode roughshod over the Kingdom will not last."

Isabella Phaletis, although over sixty years old, due to the long lifespan and good maintenance conditions of a Great Knight, Her Majesty the Queen looks just like a noblewoman in her thirties, majestic and beautiful.

However, the dignified aura that belongs to a monarch prevents anyone from daring to look directly at her.

"By the way, Weina, as I recall, isn’t Brigadier General Galliot your Guardian Knight?"

This Her Majesty the Queen raised her head and suddenly asked her daughter, who was likewise seated in the study.

Simply because in the war report sent by Vice Admiral Elvis, this unavoidable name appeared too many times.

This new brigadier general who impressed her was originally supposed to be stationed on the New Continent but unexpectedly joined the Southern Continent battlefield.

After participating, a series of outstanding performances followed, attracting everyone’s attention:

The "Divine Medicine" penicillin provided by the Kingdom, saving countless wounded soldiers’ lives;

Slain the Hilus fleet’s Vice Commander, the "Steel Knight" Kungang Tita;

Foiled the assassination attempt by the Peak Grand Knight Griffith, leading his fleet to escape (escaping was already a remarkable feat);

Teamed up with the entire fleet’s "Siren’s Song" to severely damage and destroy the Quasi-Legendary battleship "Long-nosed Shark," and he was the inventor of the "Siren’s Song";

With Vice Admiral Elvis and three Great Knights containing Griffith, he almost single-handedly destroyed the Hilus fleet’s quasi-legendary facade, the "Red Maple";

Most importantly, his initiated "Mind Network" and "Mist Silver Lamp" nearly executed a dimension-reduction attack on the Hilus fleet, using unknown Extraordinary Weapons, detonating the ammunition depots of twelve enemy ships;

Not to mention, he was the proposer and main executor of the "Overlord Disqualification Plan" in the New Continent.

"Yes, Your Majesty! Brigadier General Galliot is the most outstanding young man I’ve seen in years, there is no other.

And you might not have noticed, during the war, Colonel Gel, who bravely opposed the Steel Knight at ’Treasure Tree Bay,’ is actually Brigadier General Galliot’s uncle, one of his few relatives.

Including Colonel Gel’s son, currently attending the Royal Navy Academy, Elante, all the males in their family participated in this war and performed excellently.

Even Colonel Gel is now Brigadier General Gel’s wife and daughter, dearly loved in the Wounded Soldier Camp."

Liweina stopped at the right point, ensuring that with this query from her mother, at least Aiven’s Major General rank was already stable.

The war has just concluded, and the commendations are still pending. But by creating a good impression in front of the Queen in advance, the final reward might even be elevated.

The war report submitted to the Military Department concurrently saw Gel and the already aged Ricard engaged in a mutual struggle—one young and vigorous, the other experienced.

The difference wasn’t large.

However, Gel ultimately succeeded in stalling until support arrived. Griffith, the Peak Grand Knight, could not be stopped by the Vice Admirals, but capturing this non-combatant Commander posed no difficulty.

"Mm, exceptional talents are rare, and even rarer is their family’s loyalty to the Kingdom, and the courage and responsibility as soldiers and military dependents.

It’s not easy; I will remember them.

Liweina, remind me to draft a special commendation for their family as an example for the Kingdom!"

Since succeeding to the throne, Isabella Phaletis has been determined to lead Phaletis toward strength and prosperity, leading by example. She does not pursue finery, does not indulge in delicious food, does not build palaces, and even rations the supply of wine within the palace.

Under her leadership, none of the capital’s aristocrats dared exceed bounds.

Every penny saved was invested in national development, especially in the advancement of the steam industry and naval construction.

This female monarch and her ancestors know very well that as an island nation, the future of Phaletis is inevitably tied to the sea.

As an ambitious "sagacious ruler," anyone who can assist her in realizing her political ideals will be particularly valued and treated with extra tolerance.

Her former Guardian Knight, Great Wizard Princeton, was such, and now the meritorious Guardian Knight of Liweina, Aiven, is also the same.

"Weina, please convene the Privy Council meeting on my behalf to discuss the aftermath of this victory with ministers and parliamentarians.

"The Overlord Disqualification Plan" is accelerating, we must race against time with Hilus, the future will not be peaceful."

The military is only responsible for fighting, and later, the signing of new treaties, restoration of colonial management, the potential reactions of Hilus people... A series of complex issues need the Kingdom to step in and negotiate solutions.

"Understood, Your Majesty!"

After discussing official matters, Liweina did not leave; instead, she brought up another personal matter.

"Mother, there’s another thing, I... plan to advance before the end of this year."

"You’ve passed the Kingdom Guardian’s test? Have you decided which path to take?"

"Justice!"

"Your sister... well... that’s good."

...

The Invincible Fleet, which had dominated the seas for a century, was defeated?

This shocking news returned to Hilus, causing many to feel as if the sky was falling; it was almost like the destruction of their faith.

Sitting alone in his study, Philip II’s expression remained unchanged. Although the Invincible Fleet in the Southern Continent suffered heavy losses. But for the world’s number one superpower at its peak, it was far from a fatal blow.

Besides, more than half of the losses belonged to the military Church faction’s forces.

This reformer, who had already seen the Kingdom’s hidden dangers, believed that only by exposing the festering wound and letting the pus flow out could Hilus’ body become strong again.

"However, the confidence and morale of the people cannot be allowed to remain low like this. Everything now must make way for the imperial crown, and the Frisian Habsburg Clan’s... millennia of accumulated wealth!"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sudden knocking interrupted Philip II’s contemplation. His brows slightly furrowed, yet he knew that someone daring enough to disturb him couldn’t be just a maid:

"Come in."

"Your Majesty!"

A girl wearing a petite princess crown, dressed in an exquisite long gown and silver high heels, with a somewhat excessively slender figure, gracefully walked in, personally carrying a pot of fine red tea from the Peacock Islands.

It was none other than Princess Mary Teresa of the Habsburg Clan, already engaged to Philip II.

Although the wedding was still three months away.

This Habsburg princess had not returned to the Frisia Kingdom since the engagement ceremony.

"Teresa, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with the maids preparing for the wedding?"

Seeing her, Philip II was somewhat surprised.

He thought his fiancée had come on the instructions of her father, upon hearing the news of the Invincible Fleet’s defeat, to investigate the situation, and his words carried a hint of impatience.

The slender princess set down the tea set, performed an elegant curtsy, and explained her purpose, which was not what Philip II had imagined:

"Your Majesty, I received a letter from my father."

Teresa slightly bit her notably pale lower lip and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s:

"After our wedding, he will make an exception to restore the tradition of electing the emperor, directly passing the imperial throne to you! My husband! The greatest ruler in the world!

Earlier... earlier, I did hear the news about the Invincible Fleet, please don’t be upset, alright?"

The girl’s father, the current patriarch of the Habsburg Clan, King of Frisia, and Holy Rosar Empire’s Emperor — Maximilian. Despite his frail health, this stubborn old man was unlikely to relinquish his crown before his death.

He had already prepared to instruct Great Wizard Anduin to use extraordinary means, but now the situation had taken a turn.

It wasn’t hard to guess that the only person who could influence the reigning emperor was the princess standing before him.

Thus, aside from the interests she represented, Philip II finally began to genuinely see his fiancée for the first time.

Even though Philip II had personally stated, "Regardless of beauty or character, my marriage is not to her, but to the crown she represents!"

But as a princess of the Holy Rosar Empire, Princess Mary Teresa couldn’t possibly be unattractive.

Because each royal family at least had an ancestor who was a Tier 4 Titled Knight, and as long as they didn’t lose control, the higher the extraordinary level, the more exceptional the intellect and appearance, traits their descendants inherited.

Royal offspring are already ten steps ahead from birth, and as adults, naturally become Official Knights. How can ordinary people compete?

The aristocratic saying "nobility is not something one is born with" isn’t applicable here. In this world, it’s indeed about lineage!

The princess, just twenty years old, had a fragile, pale appearance like paper, with a delicate look that matched current aristocratic aesthetics, naturally making one overlook that she was also a Tier 2 Official Knight, evoking a strong protective instinct.

Even the tone of Philip II softened, for who could be harsh to such a fiancée?

"Teresa, don’t worry, our son will surely be the next emperor of the empire!"

As if unable to withstand such an invasive gaze, the princess slightly lowered her eyes, preventing her counterpart from noticing the glimmer of wisdom flashing within.

It’s obvious, in a royal family environment, who could genuinely be pure and innocent?

...

A war stirs the clouds over the continent.

A determined pursuer, a reformative leader, a tool portraying weakness...

In these grand times, who truly knows who will be the ultimate victor?