"Don't slow down, go as far as you can tonight!"

Tachino pulled on the reins, leading his exhausted warhorse forward.

——

As morning approached, Gustav, who hadn't slept all night, hurriedly left the royal castle, led by his soldiers.

Sitting in the carriage, he stared with bloodshot eyes, feeling utterly helpless. The meetings of the night had left him exhausted, but now he had to leave Salivia immediately and return to Port Brullo as soon as possible to make arrangements and take command.

Gustav really didn't want to go back at this time, because the communications corps would continue to bring the latest military reports to Salibia. It was unlikely that anything would go wrong in the Star Islands in ten days; at most, the fighting would just be at a stalemate.

Before obtaining more accurate information, what need is there for me to return immediately? Sebastian and Chick are in the navy, while a group of army generals led by Bernhardt are in Bruno Port.

In this situation, could anything particularly bad possibly happen? That's impossible.

Gustav, inside the carriage, wrapped his coat tighter, rubbed his red, bulbous nose, and cursed through gritted teeth.

"Damn scum, I'll see what gives you the audacity to come here at this time!"

"call--"

The carriage curtain, which wasn't fully closed, was blown open by the wind, and a gust of cold air rushed in. Gustav shivered, and as he reached out to cover the curtain, he glanced outside.

The stark white sky appeared in view like the belly of a dead fish.