Silence. Silence was Black Harbor tonight.
After the West Empire fleet destroyed every galley belonging to Blackport County, it left the waters of the naval harbor. But the West Empire fleet did not go far. Instead, it moved outside Black Harbor, beyond the commercial harbor.
The Count's order came down, and the Unicorn Legion's 3rd Corps relocated to the open ground behind Black Harbor. Yet relocation was all they could do. The men of the 3rd Corps could only watch helplessly as the West Empire fleet put on an artillery demonstration.
The three ships poured four or five rounds of cannon fire into Black Harbor, destroying the wooden piers and various facilities throughout the port district. Merchant ships moored inside Black Harbor sank one after another, turning into enormous black shapes in the night, with masts, bows, and sterns jutting in different directions without any order.
Under the control of Haste Mages, the six-pound broadside guns possessed unbelievable accuracy. The wooden piers were smashed apart along with the pilings driven into the seabed beneath them, while buildings along the waterfront were destroyed one after another.
Judging from the effects when the cannonballs struck, the West Empire artillery had switched to cheaper stone shot. Some of the stone balls shattered when they hit their targets, spraying terrifying fragments in every direction. The stone seawall along Black Harbor was smashed apart and collapsed into the sea, while the road atop it caved in.
Black Harbor had been devastated. The most prosperous port in the Duchy of Cavendish would be unusable for at least a month or two.
The 3rd Corps had already warned every captain to leave the port because it was too dangerous. Some of the more vigilant captains had sailed their ships into the Loire River, but many vessels had remained in the harbor. They had never imagined Black Harbor could suffer such a devastating attack. Amid the West Empire's cannon fire, Leo heard the cries of some captains, or perhaps sailors.
On one side was the West Empire fleet's relentless bombardment. On the other was the silent 3rd Corps. Every soldier felt stifled and frustrated.
If this had been a battle on land, the 3rd Corps was confident it could charge through the enemy's new weapons and crush them. Artillery, however, had completely changed the logic of naval warfare. Sea battles no longer depended on rams, and even the boarding actions prepared by the Narwhal Fleet had become completely useless.
The enormous carrying capacity of a galleon could effectively compensate for artillery's weaknesses. A ship could bear the tremendous weight of the guns, and it could also satisfy the enormous supply requirements of artillery.
As stone shot flew through the air, Catherine brought Leo beneath the Unicorn banner where the Count was standing. The Count of Blackport wore a dark expression, while the senior officers of the 3rd Corps studied the three-pound falconet sitting on the open ground.
Leo immediately recognized the bandaged Company Commander Willy Belloc. He was clearly dejected. As the cavalry commander, he had been knocked from his horse halfway through the charge. If he had not mastered the powerful Armor-Shield Rebound spell, he might even have lost his life.
When Major General Stuart saw Catherine, he was the first to speak. "Cadet Officer Catherine Cavendish!"
Catherine hurriedly saluted. "Present!" Stuart took out a sheet of parchment and read by the firelight.
"Cadet Officer Catherine Cavendish! During the Defense of Black Harbor on the evening of October 14, Order Calendar Year 50, you were temporarily appointed Squad Leader of the 1st Squad of the cadet cavalry battalion!
"You performed outstandingly in battle and were not struck down by fear when facing the invaders' new weapons! After the cadet cavalry force suffered heavy losses, the 1st Squad under your command was the first to change its tactical objective, shifting from an all-out assault to an attack on the enemy formation's left wing.
"This decision concentrated our forces and inflicted tremendous damage on the enemy! More than sixty enemies were killed in this battle. The courage and wisdom of the 1st Squad were the greatest foundation of our victory.
"Therefore, to Cadet Officer Catherine Cavendish, Squad Leader of the 1st Squad of the cadet cavalry battalion, I hereby award an Individual Combat Second-Class Merit!"
Catherine gave a standard military salute, then extended both hands and received the Second-Class Merit badge and certificate from Major General Stuart. Major General Stuart continued, "Under the Military Merit Fief Regulations of the Duchy of Cavendish! Catherine Cavendish, you are hereby awarded sixty mu of land to become your knight's fief."
Leo was astonished. One Second-Class Merit meant an entire knight's fief... It seemed one Second-Class Merit was equivalent to three Third-Class Merits.
For Catherine, a knight's fief merely meant having a little more pocket money to spend. She probably would not even manage the land herself. She would certainly hand it over to the Count's steward to manage on her behalf. For a commoner, however, a knight's fief was the foundation for a lifetime of prosperity.
Catherine wanted to say something. On the battlefield, aside from personally killing four invading enemies with her cavalry lance, she truly had not done much. Leo had played a much greater role than she had.
But Catherine knew that awarding her a Second-Class Merit was also intended to raise the troops' flagging morale. In this situation, she could only remain silent.
Major General Stuart did not stop. He took out the final sheet of parchment. "Cadet Officer Leo East!"
Leo also saluted. "Present!"
Major General Stuart looked at Leo's face. He was not only the major general commanding the 3rd Corps cavalry company, but also the Dean of the Cavendish Military Academy. At the Academy, he had never had much of an impression of this young man.
Major General Stuart said, "Cadet Officer Leo East! During the Defense of Black Harbor on the evening of October 14, Order Calendar Year 50, you served as a cavalryman in the 1st Squad of the cadet cavalry battalion!
"As a Cipher Mage, you protected your teammate well in battle! Furthermore, at the critical moment of the charge, you kept a clear head and captured one of the invaders' weapons, obtaining critical intelligence for the Unicorn Legion!
"Therefore, to Cadet Officer Leo East, member of the 1st Squad of the cadet cavalry battalion, I hereby award an Individual Combat Third-Class Merit!"
Leo gave a standard military salute, then extended both hands and received his Third-Class Merit medal and certificate. Along with the certificate came one gold pound. That brought Leo's total to twelve gold pounds.
He glanced at Catherine's hands, wanting to know how many gold pounds came with her Second-Class Merit. All he could see, however, were the certificate and medal. There was no sign of Catherine's gold. Sure enough, once someone became rich enough, money could be treated as something unimportant.
Major General Stuart continued, "Leo East, tonight you have already received two Third-Class Merits. I hope you continue to work hard. After three Third-Class Merits, I will, on behalf of Duke Blois Cavendish, make you a Knight of Cavendish!"
Leo hurriedly saluted to show his excitement. "Becoming a Knight of Cavendish would be my greatest honor!"
Major General Stuart watched Leo step back half a pace behind Catherine and nodded in satisfaction. This was a young man who knew what mattered and knew his place.
He continued, "To earn military merit through courage and fearlessness in your very first battle! As the Dean of the Cavendish Military Academy, I am proud of all of you!"
This hastily convened awards ceremony eased a little of the oppressive atmosphere beneath the military banner. The Count of Blackport spoke for the first time. He turned toward Caleb Winifred and asked, "Caleb, first-in-line heir to the Count of Farpass, tell the others what you know as well."
The Count of Blackport was already in his seventies. Even though he still stood straight, age inevitably showed on him.
Caleb glanced at Catherine, stepped in front of everyone, and said, "Combining this with the letter my father sent me, I think I have already guessed why the West Empire fleet attacked Blackport County."
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