Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Often, the development of events is unexpected, from an individual's fate to the changes in history.
At the most desperate moment in Niceport, when the city's residents had either planned to burn everything down or had resigned themselves to a life of slavery, it was as if the prayers in the church were finally heard by the Lord of Light. A giant hand reached down from the heavens, and with a single slap, it knocked out the enemy that was about to bring them to destruction.
Scouts sent outside the city confirmed that the Church Army had retreated, and there were no traps in the surrounding area. Everyone in the city fell into an uncontrollable state of euphoria.
Residents who had been trembling in fear inside their homes earlier poured into the streets and alleys, hugging and kissing each other, singing and dancing.
While the lower-class citizens were ecstatic, the upper class, after a brief moment of joy, had to face the harsh reality.
Although the enemy had temporarily retreated, Niceport, like a sick patient, lacked the strength to pursue them. The victory was partly due to luck. Now, their military power was barely enough to defend the city, let alone go on the offensive.
The enemy had left below the city walls, but the surrounding areas were still under the control of the Church's army. The Horns Bay Alliance had only gained a brief respite when the noose tightened again.
How could they seize this moment of respite?
The council continued to gather information, discovering that the Church Army was reorganizing and, with the massive support of the Church, would soon return to their previous strength.
The Horns Bay Church and the Church as a whole were too powerful; a few setbacks wouldn't deter their determination to eliminate heresy.
Sometimes, it is more painful to miss a fleeting opportunity than to have no hope at all.
At this moment, a messenger from Lion's Port arrived.
The envoy congratulated the Horns Bay Alliance on escaping the crisis of national destruction, but what he proposed next caused an uproar in the council—the civilian groups from Lion's Port were willing to form a military force to assist the Horns Bay Alliance in resisting the Church.
It was like a gift from the heavens—because of the siege, the people in Niceport had no knowledge of the recent events between the Church Army and Lion's Port.
Niceport, without asking about the situation with Marquis Paul Grayman, secretly formed an alliance with the so-called civilian groups from Lion's Port.
Although the Church's army had withdrawn, their navy still hovered outside the port of Niceport. The top priority was to break this blockade and restore the Horns Bay Alliance's sea access to the outside world.
The day after the alliance was made, the Horns Bay Alliance's navy, which had been hiding in the port, launched an attack on the Church Army's fleet.
Since the Alliance's navy was far from its prime, the Church's navy commander was initially puzzled by the enemy's suicidal actions but was pleased to accept the seemingly reckless challenge.
After the fools on land had been defeated, it was up to the navy to regain face, and the commander prepared to add a glorious chapter to his military career.
Both the Horns Bay Alliance and the Church's navies were still equipped with oar-powered sailing ships, using traditional combat methods—crossbow cannons, ram attacks, grappling hooks, and finally hand-to-hand combat.
Just as the battle between the two sides was intensifying, the Alden navy appeared from the upwind.
Though the sailors below were engaged in fierce combat, the high-ranking officers of both fleets took the time to observe the Alden fleet. Neither the Horns Bay Alliance nor the Church's navy had encountered the Alden navy before.
The sailing ships were not unfamiliar to the Horns Bay people, but the impressive formation of the fleet, especially the giant ship in the line that looked like a castle, left a deep impression.
The Alden fleet sailed toward the battlefield in a single-file formation.
The Church's navy commander sensed something was wrong, instinctively feeling that the newcomer was not friendly, and immediately ordered part of his ships to prepare for battle.
The sudden appearance of the fleet and the unexpected orders caused confusion within the Church's navy.
Meanwhile, the Alliance's navy, knowing that the Aldens were there to assist them, fought with renewed focus and high morale, thanks to Lion's Port's adherence to the agreement.
The Alden warships were equipped with cannons that far exceeded the Church's crossbow cannons in range and accuracy, allowing them to attack from a distance where the enemy couldn't reach.
They fired, and in an instant, thick smoke billowed from the Alden fleet, with flames flickering within. Amid the deafening roars, high-speed cannonballs tore through the Church's ships, and the splintering wood and shrapnel mercilessly claimed the lives of the sailors.
The Alden fleet was dead serious, and the Church fleet fell into further chaos, having to divide more ships to confront this new enemy.
Although the oar-powered sailing ships were more maneuverable in smaller waters, the Alden fleet had a set of strategies to deal with them.
First, they used their range advantage to inflict heavy casualties on the rowers, then the simple structure of the sailing ships, which were only for auxiliary propulsion, could no longer support normal navigation, making them easy targets.
The Alden navy demonstrated their training, and under the command of the flagship "Sea Fortress," the ships advanced in an orderly manner, each vessel following uniform orders to fire in rotations, volleys, or in batches.
The sound of cannon fire formed a powerful symphony of death, which shocked the residents of Niceport who had been daring enough to observe the battle from the port.
For a long time, the Horns Bay Alliance, as the strongest nation in the region, had prided itself on its naval power. Although their navy had been at a disadvantage in the war against the Church, it wasn't because the navy was weak; rather, it was because coastal cities fell one after another to the enemy, leaving the navy weak due to a lack of reinforcements.
But now, a more powerful force had emerged on the seas.
The intense naval battle continued until the afternoon and finally ended with the surrender of the Church's fleet.
"Things are going better than expected! With the sea route reopened, the Alliance should be able to recover a little. I hope they still have some gold in their treasury."
When the news reached the capital of the Duchy of Eaton, Hydra, Marianna, who had just returned to Horns Bay, let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank God!" laughed Duke Elliot Cabre. "If the southern front had completely failed, things would have been a mess here too."
"Don't celebrate too early," Marianna reminded him. "Although Edwin Cook is gone, there is still Webster in the south. The Church's initial victory was brought about by him. Also, Giles' army has entered Horns Bay, and Idon is at the forefront."
"You're right. We can't let our guard down," the Duke became serious again.
"Master, is the confusion outside Niceport related to you?" Helen asked softly.
Half a month ago, when she and her husband were deeply worried about the fall of their southern allies, Marianna had suddenly appeared in Hydra.
When speaking with her, Helen was puzzled by her optimistic outlook on the situation, but within a few days, the Church Army was reported to have blown up their camp and retreated.
Marianna winked mischievously, "It was already a big boiling pot, and I just threw a little spark in it. Or rather... a catalyst. Impressive, right? It's a new term I learned from the Northwest Bay!"
Despite her carefree demeanor, the red-haired woman felt conflicted inside. Her son Paul had just fought orcs in the north and was now directly facing the Church's power in Horns Bay.
A person with a pioneering spirit always faces all sorts of problems; that's growth.
Marianna didn't know whether to be happy or worried. The Church's power was much stronger than the orcs.
But her optimism outweighed her concerns. The Church's influence spread across the continent, supported by churches in various regions. However, just like the relationship between lords and vassals in the secular power system, even a king couldn't freely command those who swore allegiance to him. The Church's control over local churches was weaker and more fragile.
Horns Bay was the beginning of the Church's fall from grace, but it wasn't the end. A greater blow to it would come in the Gabella Empire.
(End of the Chapter)
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