Chapter 441: Senior Ardosa Mesu, Isn’t That a Legendary Battleship? I Have One Too

Charlot Mecklenburg extended his hand and pointed. "Senior Ardosa Mesu, isn’t that a legendary battleship? I have one too," he said.

Ardosa Mesu covered her mouth with her hand, her heart racing like a startled deer. Suddenly, she understood why this man was rumored to have won the favor of Princess May Guillaume of the Ingrima Empire. Even women as proud and extraordinary as Menielman Soumet had been linked to Charlot in various stories.

Ardosa had even heard whispers about his ambiguous relationship with the Rose of Strasbourg.

Now, it all made sense to her.

A man like this could indeed make anyone's heart waver.

After graduating from university, Ardosa had followed her mother to join her family’s Northern Fleet. They roamed the Seven Seas, even venturing into the Furious Sea. Though seasoned in countless battles, rich in maritime experience, and a master of combat arts, she remained a step below a nineteenth-rank saint like Viggo. Her reputation wasn’t widely known due to her years at sea.

Now, she couldn’t help but regret not leaving behind her own legend in Strasbourg before setting sail—something that might have caught the attention of this remarkable junior.

Clad in a magical naval robe commonly worn at sea—a high-grade alchemical artifact imbued with properties like water-repelling—Ardosa exuded the grace of an oceanic fairy. The robe clung to her curvaceous figure, and her usual heroic demeanor was softened by a touch of girlish charm as she covered her mouth.

Charlot, oblivious to having struck a chord in Ardosa’s heart, assumed he had failed at showing off. Seeing that Ardosa remained silent for some time, he mused inwardly, “It’s awkward now!”

“I thought that was my finest display of wit and flair. Why hasn’t Senior Ardosa reacted?”

“Of course, she’s the direct descendant of the Mesu family, well-versed and worldly. A mere legendary battleship isn’t enough to leave her in awe.”

“Should I raise the stakes?”

“How can I use the Blood Rhinoceros to achieve maximum impact?”

“Not that I enjoy boasting, but if it can scare off Duchess Mesu and avoid a fight, that’s far better.”

“After all, everyone here is a saint of the highest ranks. A chaotic battle could lead to casualties. I’d hate to see that happen.”

“Even if it’s just Viggo falling, I couldn’t bear it!”

As Charlot mulled over his options, a beam of light shot through the sky. A tall woman with a regal bearing, exuding a natural queenly aura, descended beside Ardosa.

It was Duchess Mesu.

Charlot considered saying, "It’s been a while," but thought it too banal. Instead, he chose silence, offering only a faint smile. At the same time, he subtly signaled the Golden Ram Herolf to move closer to him in case Duchess Mesu attempted a sudden attack.

The duchess glanced at the Radiant Holy Kingdom, her expression complex. She muttered softly, "I didn’t expect anyone to truly repair this legendary battleship."

She was unaware that Charlot hadn’t completely restored it yet.

Charlot still needed three key components to fully repair the battleship. For now, he could only summon it into an incomplete but impressive-looking form.

The duchess stepped past her daughter and landed directly on the walls of Sesath. "Count Mecklenburg, we meet again," she said.

Charlot was slightly surprised, but before he could respond, the duchess continued, "The last time we met, you attended my auction with Princess Annie."

Charlot’s surprise deepened. "I was a nobody back then," he said.

The duchess let out a soft laugh. "To have wooed the cherished daughter of old Bretagne, you could hardly be considered a nobody," she replied.

"Do you realize? At that time, at least three dukes, six counts, and countless lower nobles in the empire were watching you?"

"Back then, the empire was a turbulent place. Many suspected you were a spy sent by Byron to infiltrate Bretagne through Princess Annie."

Charlot gave an embarrassed smile and said quietly, "That’s an exaggeration."

The duchess smiled faintly. "Later, Earl Bretagne traveled to Seagull City to investigate your background and dispelled those doubts," she said.

Charlot was taken aback. "His Majesty investigated my background?" he exclaimed.

The duchess chuckled lightly. "Why so surprised? I looked into you as well. Count Mecklenburg, your past is truly colorful," she said.

Ardosa, now standing atop the walls of Sesath, asked, "Mother, what kind of person was Count Mecklenburg in the past?"

Charlot quickly interjected, "Duchess Mesu, let’s discuss serious matters instead!"

The duchess cast Charlot a meaningful glance and refrained from answering her daughter. She knew that exposing Charlot’s embarrassing moments might give her the upper hand in conversation but would risk alienating him. Even with control of the Northern Fleet and a legendary battleship, she harbored a deep wariness of this rising star from the Fars Empire.

Few had experienced his true capabilities, but she had fought alongside Menielman Soumet and Sophia Gallanord in naval battles. These two promising naval officers were intricately connected to Charlot. Menielman’s first alchemical warship was a gift from Charlot, and Sophia’s Queen Bee was on loan from him. If Charlot decided to take to the seas, he could assemble a fleet rivaling the Northern Fleet itself.

Yet the Northern Fleet was the result of centuries of wealth and dominance by the Mesu family, an unparalleled force on the ocean.

Charlot had only been active for a few years.

Among all the powers of the Fars Empire, the one she truly feared wasn’t Emperor Bretagne or Gallanord, but Charlot Mecklenburg.

The duchess turned her attention back to the matter at hand. "Very well. Let’s get down to business," she said.

"I want Sesath."

Charlot’s face flushed. He hadn’t expected that his father-in-law had already investigated his background, nor had he foreseen that even Duchess Mesu had delved into his past. If the truth of Charlot Mecklenburg’s history were to be exposed, what would happen then?

Chaotic thoughts clouded Charlot’s mind, but when Duchess Mesu demanded Sesath, he resolutely refused. “Impossible! Absolutely not!”

“I have conquered Sesath. It is mine, part of the new lands under the domain of Count Mecklenburg.”

“No one shall take it from my hands.”

Duchess Mesu replied coolly, “The entirety of Black Phoenix’s forces is concentrated on the frontlines. The capital, Black Phoenix City, is defenseless.”

“If you give me Sesath, I will have my ten Saint-ranked followers aid you in capturing Black Phoenix City.”

...

“Sesath and the northern territories hold special significance for my Mesu family. But for you, Count Mecklenburg, how can these barren lands compare to Black Phoenix City?”

“Well? Make your decision.”

Charlot gestured, and his subordinates promptly brought forth a map of the Black Phoenix territories. Charlot studied the map, tracing the route he had taken from South Seraph.

Yes, this was now Mecklenburg land.

His forces had bypassed the core regions of Black Phoenix, striking in a peculiar arc that reached the far border of Black Phoenix territory. The thirty-plus cities he had captured were strung like pearls on a line rather than forming a unified block.

Duchess Mesu’s words made Charlot fix his gaze on Black Phoenix City.

As the capital of the Black Phoenix Dynasty and one of the five great empires, Black Phoenix City was an illustrious old-world metropolis comparable to Strasbourg. Much like the Ingrima Empire’s capital, Bledton, it was a coastal city. However, its climate was milder than Bledton’s, making it not only an excellent harbor but also one of the most scenic tourist destinations. With trade routes connecting dozens of nations from the Old and New Continents, its commerce thrived.

Due to the Black Phoenix Dynasty’s relatively recent founding, its naval strength was insufficient, and it lacked overseas colonies. Yet this very fact had facilitated the rapid development of Black Phoenix’s maritime trade.

Now Charlot had maneuvered his forces to the rear of Black Phoenix City. As Duchess Mesu stated, the dynasty’s main army was at the frontlines, resisting the Four-Nation Alliance, leaving his flank utterly vulnerable.

Had the nobles of the area—Count Norbingham, Count Barnett, Viscount Angelo, and Baron Exon—united with other local lords, Charlot would have struggled to breach their defenses. But with Viscount Constantine’s betrayal to the Fars Empire, mirroring Duchess Mesu’s actions, these four nobles surrendered without a fight, leaving Black Phoenix City’s final defensive line wide open.

If Charlot launched a direct assault, even without Duchess Mesu’s aid, there was a solid chance he could capture the city. With the assistance of Duchess Mesu, who could muster over twenty Saint-ranked fighters, the outcome was nearly certain. Not even the mighty forces of Ferranden or Byron could match such strength for an extended period.

After scrutinizing the map for a while, Charlot declared, “Let’s join forces.”

“Duchess Mesu, though we may have had minor conflicts before, and though you have betrayed Fars, such trivial matters are insignificant in the face of war.”

“Let us unite to claim the greatest spoils of this war.”

“And together in battle, we shall forge an alliance, advancing and retreating as one, safeguarding our territories.”

“What do you think?”

Now it was Duchess Mesu’s turn to lapse into thoughtful silence.

Ardosa Mesu observed Charlot, his spirit undiminished. She had never imagined that such a young man could hold his own against her mother, matching her step for step. Every word he spoke brimmed with ambition, and the topics they discussed concerned nothing less than the conquest of a major imperial capital.

Ardosa resolved that she would personally illustrate this scene later.

Back in university, she had taken up painting as an elective, and to this day, it remained her greatest passion.

Yes, The Meeting of Count Mecklenburg and Duchess Mesu! This painting was eventually included in the revised edition of The Chronicles of Charlot.

Ardosa even gifted the painting’s copyright to Princess Annie free of charge.

This narrative also contained smaller stories...

For instance, how Ardosa and Princess Annie first met and completed this particular transaction.

But those tales shall not be elaborated upon here.

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