"The vanguard consists of city builders forcibly gathered from every bastion along the route," a soldier reported grimly. He himself had once been a city builder. Now, any builder willing to enlist could register officially.
"How many regular troops?"
"About a hundred thousand." It was still an enormous force.
"It seems they fear the builders might turn against them. A one-to-one ratio keeps them easier to control. Even if those hundred thousand builders are treated as cannon fodder, they can still drain us severely. We must not fight the builders head-on. Pass the order: all units hold their positions—do not engage recklessly." Xia issued her command.
She knew that if they clashed directly with the builders, the real victor would be the royal army manipulating them.
"Blois Bastion and Child Bastion are also under attack by the king's army and Duke Raymond's forces. Neither has fallen yet," another messenger reported from the communications room.
"The real war has begun."
The battles for the major bastions were now a test of each side's adaptability and resolve.
"It's begun," Rosen murmured after hearing Xia's report. After some thought, he issued the same orders. Their previous tactics were no longer viable.
Facing hundreds of thousands of enemies, victory in a straightforward battle was uncertain. But Rosen didn't believe they needed to win through direct confrontation—only to hold out long enough. True victory would not come from these open battles.
"The capital is poorly defended. If we respond to Princess Xia's call, could we overthrow that tyrant directly?" In one bastion, a marquis spoke up.
This marquis had once lost his daughter—taken and tormented to death by the prince simply because of her beauty. That unbearable hatred had haunted him every night since. Now, he saw his chance for revenge. The nobles allied with him had also suffered under the royal family.
"This is indeed our opportunity. We can't wait any longer."
"Gather the troops. Launch the attack."
Elsewhere, other nobles were also plotting rebellion.
"Deploy to the mines. Report to the king that pirates have landed—we'll go to 'assist.' And remember—move everything of value first."
"Yes, my lord."
The Kingdom of Andia had never been truly united. It had remained stable only because the city builders' labor brought profits that kept the nobles satisfied.
But now that war had erupted, the king had no heir and his legitimacy was in question. The nobles saw a chance to profit—something the king likely wouldn't even notice amid the chaos.
Those who dared strike directly at the king, however, were driven by hatred.
"I never believed we could win this war," said Duke Blois to Lisa. "But ever since your regent revealed the Spark Project, I believe victory is certain." His bastion too had joined the conflict.
Blois was still useful, so Rosen had ordered Lisa to let him handle the situation while she oversaw the region.
"Are your weapons ready? Can you get them delivered between the bastions?" Lisa ignored his praise.
She had already witnessed Rosen's power firsthand, yet even she hadn't expected that he could manipulate an entire nation like pieces on a board.
"Don't underestimate me," Blois said. "I may seem idle, but I'm still a duke. I have spies and contacts. Smuggling weapons won't be a problem. But even if the builders revolt, without leaders or coordination, the nobles' troops will crush them easily."
The Spark Project—Rosen's plan to incite a builder uprising—impressed Blois deeply, though he knew it faced challenges.
"Don't worry. Every bastion is under control. The uprising will start from the Abyss Bastion. Thanks to Sparks' reputation, he'll lead the first revolt there, rallying the people under Princess Xia's banner to seize it." Everything had been planned well in advance.
"Good." Blois' voice trembled with excitement. Perhaps they truly could build a new kind of nation. The thought alone was exhilarating.
The war dragged on. Both sides were locked in stalemate, victories and losses alternating as casualties mounted.
Xia worked tirelessly; Rosen and the others did as well. None dared relax. Strength alone couldn't command an army of hundreds of thousands—every move had to be precise, every decision deliberate.
During this time, Morris contacted Rosen again. Tesoro's forces were searching for his whereabouts, and concealment would not last much longer.
"Tesoro? He's involved in the Andia conflict too?" Rosen frowned. If so, things had just become more dangerous. Tesoro was not an easy foe.
"Damn it. It's been days, and her guards never leave her side." Hidden nearby, Allen watched Xia's protectors with growing frustration. He sensed that if he struck now, escape would be impossible.
The king's patience was running out. He had urged Allen repeatedly, becoming more irritable and unstable by the day. Inside the palace, guards and servants lived in constant fear.
"There's no choice. Retreat for now." Allen withdrew and returned to the capital. The assassination attempt had failed.
"Why hasn't there been any word yet? Did that so-called commander deceive me?" Aberdeen muttered irritably in Raymond Bastion.
Seeing Princess Xia's growing influence, he grew anxious. Even if he eliminated Crocodile, could he possibly stand against her? Not at all—he had no leverage left.
Unless Lord Tesoro eliminated Xia as well, that was his only hope.
"My lord, what a beautiful woman… How could someone so stunning exist?" a subordinate said, flushed with excitement.
A woman was walking toward them.
"No… impossible!" Aberdeen's face went pale. The woman was none other than one of Crocodile's officers—a wanted criminal with a bounty of 790 million berries. How had she found him? Who had exposed his location?
"So the rumors were true," Hathaway said coldly. "You may be insignificant, but since you intended to kill him, you can die first." She had heard of Aberdeen's plotting, and since she happened to be nearby, she decided to take care of it personally.
"Run!" Aberdeen shouted. He had no real fighters with him. Even with the bastion's barrier devices, how long could they hold?
Hathaway glanced once and swung her blade. A massive wave of sword energy tore through the air, cleaving the entire building in two. Aberdeen's barrier shattered instantly, and he was gravely wounded.
He struggled to rise, but Hathaway struck again.
As the blade descended, a faint mirage began to form behind her—slowly taking shape.
When her sword aura obliterated Aberdeen and his men, the phantom behind her solidified, wielding a long blade of its own. Without a sound, it thrust straight toward Hathaway's back.
(End of Chapter)