Chapter 305: The Imperial Rose Fleet

High Priest Auguslatin said calmly, “Saint Michael Island has been captured.”

“Since the era of the ancient Saint Michael Kingdom, no one has ever directly conquered this island city.”

Charlot Mecklenburg replied, “Oh, so stripping the old goat bare doesn’t count as an accomplishment?”

Herolf, the Golden Ram, trembled more violently at the toes.

High Priest Auguslatin smiled faintly and said, “You could say so.”

Herolf inwardly cursed his ill fortune for not actually passing out. Now, lying on the ground, he had to endure such humiliation.

Charlot handed over a golden ring and said, “From now on, this island city belongs to Senior Menielman Soumet.”

Menielman took the ring, examined it for a moment, and then handed it back to Charlot, saying, “I do need that alchemical warship, but I don’t need the island.”

“I’m no pirate; I’m a naval officer of the Fars Empire. Currently, Fars and Ingrima are allies. Aside from the two great empires, I fear no one.”

Charlot thought about it and said, “True. Besides, I’m the steward of Saint Michael City.”

Noticing the strange expressions on the faces of the four Saints present, he quickly clarified, “Appointed by Emperor Alfred Guillaume himself—a legitimate bureaucratic position in Ingrima.”

High Priest Auguslatin smiled slightly, easing the odd atmosphere. He said, “Charlot, you are destined to become a legend someday!”

Charlot beamed. “It seems I can become a legend simply by being a novelist!”

Upon hearing this, the four Saints seemed to faintly see, above Charlot’s head, the word “braggart” written in bold letters in eight languages: Fars, Ingrima, Byron, and others.

High Priest Auguslatin coughed lightly and said, “Indeed.”

Menielman pondered. Although she hadn’t had a chance to read Charlot’s novels—having spent most of her recent days at sea—she vaguely recalled hearing that he had written a few novels under the pen name Annie Mecklenburg. They were reportedly quite famous. Out of respect for her junior, she offered a faint smile, acknowledging his claim.

Tumisan, however, wasn’t convinced and said, “Do you realize how difficult it is to become a legend as a novelist?”

Charlot shrugged and said, “No idea.”

Tumisan decided not to argue with this “ignorant” junior.

Sabastine, on the other hand, was intrigued and asked, “You’ve written novels?”

Charlot grinned, revealing his teeth. “Next time, I’ll send you a few copies.”

Sabastine smiled faintly. “I’m sure your novels are excellent.”

Meanwhile, Herolf, lying on the ground, finally stopped moving. Although he had recently visited Britain, his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his ship, the Queen Bee, leaving no room to care about novels. Hearing Charlot boast about becoming a legend as a novelist actually made Herolf feel less humiliated—after all, such a claim was even more ridiculous than his own delusions.

Herolf would never believe Charlot could write novels, let alone achieve fame as a novelist. As for becoming a legend? What nonsense! Why not claim he could win over a princess just by writing books?

Such exaggerations were beyond mere boasting—Charlot’s words were like whales flying through the sky on his hot air.

Menielman, while declining the golden ring, didn’t refuse to use Saint Michael Island as another naval base.

She now commanded the alchemical warship Imperial Rose, along with a fleet of over two hundred ships, large and small, with bases in Cappadocia and Saint Michael Island. Together, these cities housed over 120,000 people and boasted two Saint-rank allies, making her an undeniable power in the Aggras Sea.

Moreover, Cappadocia and Saint Michael Island were key trade hubs. They connected to cities like Silver Dove Castle, Machubi Fortress, Mostar Castle, and Interlaken, facilitating the transport of goods between the sea and inland.

Charlot didn’t impose taxes in these cities, but he was also their largest merchant.

This vast commercial network generated wealth far exceeding what taxation could bring.

The profits from trade were enough to sustain Menielman’s formidable fleet. Moreover, the fleet itself served as the best protector of commerce and even engaged in trade, creating a self-sufficient cycle.

Saint Michael Island alone could sustain a pirate fleet and a population of 100,000. This larger, better-managed system promised even greater returns.

After capturing Saint Michael Island, Menielman submitted a report of her recent victories.

Charlot had initially planned to return to South Seraph, his appointed jurisdiction. However, Menielman persuaded him to stay a while longer.

Additionally, the ongoing “tacit war” between South Seraph and the Black Phoenix Dynasty ensured that neither side would launch major offensives. For now, there was no urgency to return.

The scenery of Saint Michael Island was far superior to that of South Seraph.

About ten days later, an imperial missive arrived...

The missive, delivered through a magical alchemical communication device, came from Strasbourg. While these devices were less convenient than telegraphs or telephones for long-distance communication, they were effective for delivering messages across great distances.

Menielman, being of noble lineage and a legitimate officer in the Imperial Navy, had one of these devices aboard her fleet.

The document officially appointed Menielman Soumet as a Seventeenth-Class Imperial Captain and the senior commander of the Imperial Rose Fleet.

More importantly, Emperor Julius VI bestowed a personal reward upon her: recognition of her private ownership of the fleet.

In essence, the Imperial Rose Fleet, previously a part of the Imperial Navy, had now become Menielman’s private naval force.

Of course, the Emperor’s investment had been minimal. When Menielman first became a naval officer, her command consisted of only a handful of ships. Nearly all her current strength had been built through her own efforts.

Although Charlot had significantly assisted her in the later stages, Menielman had endured the early hardships alone. It was she who had secured the allegiance of two Saint-rank powerhouses and established her naval dominance.

The missive from Strasbourg also granted official titles to Tumisan and Sabastine. Both were appointed Twentieth-Class Fifth-Rank Junior Lieutenants, skipping numerous ranks due to their Saint-rank status.

Additionally, there was a document concerning Charlot. While his rank remained the same—Twenty-Fifth-Class Fifth-Rank Administrative Clerk—he was granted a new political position: Plenipotentiary Consul of Saint Michael City and Cappadocia.

This position was somewhat ambiguous. It wasn’t particularly influential within the empire’s bureaucratic structure, but it granted Charlot authority over all matters involving the Imperial Rose Fleet at its two main bases.

Since the Imperial Rose Fleet belonged to the Fars Empire, it required the local consul’s approval to dock legally at Ingrima’s ports. Coincidentally, Charlot held both the consul and administrative clerk positions for these locations.

As long as Charlot Mecklenburg had no objections, Menielman could operate freely.

The missive from Strasbourg sparked excitement among the fleet’s members, signifying imperial recognition of Menielman’s achievements and granting them all formal ranks and legitimacy.

Sabastine, for instance, had previously surrendered to Fars under Zimourman Axel Robin and received a mere Twenty-Seventh-Class Third-Rank Armorer position—equivalent to Charlot’s clerical rank but without any real political authority. Now, her new position reflected her true power.

To the nobility of Fars, the missive proclaimed the rise of a new aristocratic power. Menielman Soumet had broken free from her family’s constraints, establishing herself as an independent force.

If she survived the ongoing wars between the great empires, Menielman was destined to become a major figure in Fars, not due to her family but through her personal strength and achievements.

Charlot was genuinely happy for his senior and stayed an additional three days on Saint Michael Island to celebrate before returning to Interlaken with his loyal servant, Herolf, the former leader of the Golden Rams Pirate Fleet.

Charlot didn’t linger in Interlaken either, setting off immediately for Sedona City, where his official duties awaited him.

Sedona was the frontline of the war with the Black Phoenix Dynasty. Just outside the city, Chloe Hadrian, a renowned commander from a royal branch of the dynasty, had stationed her forces.

The two sides had engaged in over a hundred “battles,” although these were mostly staged. Reports from both camps were meticulously coordinated to produce favorable narratives for their respective capitals.

In these reports, Sedona had “fallen” and been “recaptured” multiple times. Even Interlaken had “fallen” twice, while Chloe’s camp had been “destroyed” five times. Both sides claimed substantial victories in field battles.

The biggest challenge with these fabricated reports was providing evidence, particularly severed heads. Neither Charlot nor Chloe resorted to slaughtering civilians for trophies, but fortunately for Charlot, he had no shortage of pirate heads from the battles at Saint Michael Island.

Charlot kept some for his own use and sold the rest to Chloe.

What irked Charlot was that, despite his efforts in these “battles,” Strasbourg remained silent about his contributions. Meanwhile, Chloe’s impressive “frontline achievements” earned her two promotions, bringing her great prestige.

Upon returning to Sedona, Charlot spent two days handling administrative affairs before shocking news arrived from Strasbourg:

Menielman Soumet had launched a surprise attack in the Aggras Sea, crushing a Byron fleet. She had captured two alchemical warships and over ten additional vessels, a victory that elevated her fame as the First Rose of the Empire to unprecedented heights.

This triumph marked the first major victory for the Fars Empire in its war against Byron. While the main battlefield at Ferranden saw intense fighting, neither side had achieved decisive results.

Menielman’s success stood out as a rare, resounding victory.

Upon receiving this news, Charlot immediately sent an official congratulatory letter to Menielman through Strasbourg, as Sedona lacked the magical alchemical communication device.

Charlot assumed he would continue his leisurely routine until the war ended, but on the fifth day after his return, he received a secret message from Chloe urging him to evacuate immediately.

Chloe’s letter didn’t provide details, but Charlot sensed that something was seriously amiss. He trusted Chloe wouldn’t deceive him—after all, his capture by the Black Phoenix Dynasty would inevitably implicate her.

The consequences for Chloe could include treason charges, potentially leading to execution.

After much deliberation, Charlot decided to request assistance from Menielman.

He feared that Herolf alone wouldn’t suffice in dealing with the impending crisis. If Menielman could send Tumisan and Sabastine, the situation might be manageable with three Saints on hand.

Before Charlot’s plea for help had been gone two hours, a thunderous roar erupted outside Sedona City. Chloe’s camp was in turmoil.

Charlot climbed to the city walls without hesitation, just in time to see Chloe leading her forces out of the camp. From a distance, she gestured frantically at him.

Charlot understood the message clearly: “Leave now! If you delay any longer, it will be too late. Accept your fate!”

Her expression also conveyed: “If you’re captured, die fighting. Don’t let them take you alive. And if you do get captured, don’t implicate me—it won’t help you anyway.”

“If you don’t betray me, I might still be able to help you later.”

Charlot responded with an eloquent glance. From across the battlefield, through gestures and expressions, the two conducted a highly intricate exchange.

This unspoken understanding was the product of countless staged battles between them.

Their armies’ real combat strength remained secondary to the coordinated efforts of their respective clerks.

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