[I am pleased to ry the news of our resounding triumph in the capture of Erle Ind. Despite the challenges, our forces executed the operation wlessly and manage to secure the ind under our control.


    I hereby express my intention to pursue the capture of a nearby ind. Rest assured, we will proceed with caution and avoid any unnecessary risks.


    Sincerely,


    Admiral of the Second Fleet, Jareth.]


    The letter was passed to his trusted subordinate to promptly send the letter to the capital and ensure its swift delivery and receipt by the intended recipients.


    He leans back in his chair. The sessful capture of Erle Ind had bolstered his confidence. With the main objective sessfully achieved, the admiral doesn''t n to let the second fleet waste their time doing nothing.


    He turned his attention to the map spread before him. Two nearby inds caught his eye.


    His gaze first fell upon the smaller of the two inds. It appeared to be a third of the size of Erle Ind, making it a feasible target for his limited manpower.


    The ind held potential strategic value. Situated closer to the maind in the south, it offered a distinct advantage in terms of defence. The ind''s close proximity meant that supply lines and reinforcements could be more easily maintained.


    His attention soon shifted to therger ind. Despite the allure of therger ind, Jareth has no n of capturing it since the manpower he has isn''t enough to do so.


    Not to mention, the ind is inhabited by the House of Hagen, one of seven powerful families in nde. Known as the "overlord of agriculture," their dominion over the fertilends was a significant source of their influence and wealth.


    Having control over food gives them a lot of leverage in the decision-making process in nde, more than any other family. This war, one way or another, is an attempt by another six families to break the monopoly they have over food.


    Admiral Jareth wasted no time in issuing the order for the fleet to prepare for their next mission. Themand was swiftly ryed to his subordinate officers, who in turn began mobilizing the fleet. Sailors begin securing supplies, conducting inspections, and preparing the ships for the forting voyage.


    "Sir, we are running low on ammunition." report his officer.


    "How long will our current ammunition supplies sustain us?" he inquired, his voice tinged with concern.


    The officer, after a brief moment of contemtion, responded, "Sir, based on our current usage rates and reserves, we estimate that our ammunition supplies willst for approximately three more days of sustainedbat."


    His brow furrowed further upon hearing the officer''s response. "That''s lower than I thought," he muttered. The fleet seems to be using more ammunition than necessary. And it''ll take some time before the supplies arrived.


    With a nod, he replied, "Order the crews to reduce the usage of cannons to a minimum. They have to emphasize uracy and precision. We must conserve our ammunition for critical moments as every shot count."


    Before long, the fleet departed from the port, leaving a portion of manpower to control the ind on his behalf. The sails billowed with the wind, propelling the vessels forward. Onboard, the sailors were busy adjusting the rigging, hoisting the sails, and ensuring the ships were in optimal condition for the voyage ahead.


    With favourable winds propelling them, the voyage was remarkably swift. The ships effortlessly sliced through the open waters, covering the distance in just a matter of approximately six hours.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    As the fleet approached the smaller ind, the coastline came into view. The ind''s pristine beaches and lush greenery beckoned, offering a sanctuary from the vast expanse of the sea.


    The ships gracefully navigated the waters, expertly guided by the experienced helmsman. Once the ships get closer, smaller boats were deployed to ferry the soldiers ashore.


    As thending parties set foot on the ind, they were baffled by theck of any significant defences on the ind. Nevertheless, it worked to their advantage, allowing them to swiftly gain control and assert their presence.


    "Is this ind uninhabited?" asked Jareth as he set foot on the ind. His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any signs of life. The absence of people puzzled him. Turning to his subordinates, he issued amand to spread out and thoroughly search the ind.


    Thending parties fanned out, meticulouslybing through the ind''s nooks and crannies. They scoured the dense vegetation and inspected every corner of the ind.


    After hours of searching, a discovery was made. In a secluded corner of the ind, tucked away amidst towering trees was a single massive house made of sturdy wood.


    Curiosity piqued, Admiral Jareth and his subordinates cautiously approached the house. The structure exuded an air of elegance and grandeur, blending perfectly with the ind''s natural surroundings.


    As they neared, they could make out the faint sounds of activity and voices emanating from within.


    Entering the house, they found themselves in a spacious hall adorned with intricate carvings and tapestries. The few people there seemed shocked by their arrival. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and apprehension.


    Seeking rity, Jareth posed the question, "Who are you?"


    A sudden appearance of unknown soldiers causes the people in the hall to exchange nervous nces. A man, dressed in the attire of a butler, stepped forward.


    His voice trembled slightly as he replied, "We are the caretakers of this estate, entrusted by the House of Hagen to maintain and preserve this property."


    "House of Hagen? Jareth''s brows furrowed in confusion. "Why would such a prestigious family have a mansion here?"


    The butler cleared his throat before responding. "The Head of Hagen, Lord Hugo, hadmissioned this vi as a retreat for his family. It provides them with a serene and private environment to enjoy their leisure time."


    Admiral Jareth absorbed this information, "Is that so? Well, I had a piece of news to tell you. From today onwards, this ind belongs to the Kingdom of Ryntum."


    The butler''s eyes widened in surprise and concern. "S-Sir, I must inform you that the House of Hagen has held possession of this ind for generations."


    Jareth''s expression remained stoic, "Are you forget that we''re currently at war?"


    The butler stumbled over his words, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Forgive me, sir. We are well aware of the conflict. But, we didn''t have direct involvement in this war."


    Jareth''s stern gaze bore into the butler. "No ce in is truly safe or exempt from the war. Not Ryntum, not Barlia, and not nde either. You wage this war and expect to be safe from it? Howughable."