Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 387: Start of an invasion(1)

Chapter 387: Start of an invasion(1)

The island of Harmway loomed on the horizon, a rugged bastion rising defiantly from the waves. It was the crown jewel of the Romelian Sea, the keystone that kept the waters free from the scourge of sea-rats and ensured trade flowed uninterrupted, or at least it was.

Ahead of the Imperial armada, its silhouette stood as if calling the Romelians closer.

Sixty-seven ships cut through the waves, their sails billowing with purpose. The fleet, though formidable, paled in comparison to the ninety-five mighty vessels that had claimed Harmway for the Empire two decades prior. Back then, the Empire's strength had been undivided, a singular force untainted by the rot of civil war. That fleet had carried the full weight of Imperial might, its banners flying high in unchallenged supremacy.

But these were different times. The ships now assembled represented not the Empire as a whole but a coalition of southern noble houses, their power rooted in maritime trade and naval dominance. Chief among them was the House of Veritia, whose influence loomed as large as their sails. Nearly half the armada hailed from their shipyards, so of course they were the face of the coalition.

With the passing of Imperator Gratios, the true magnitude of his reign became clear to all. His rule, often taken for granted in his lifetime, now proved just how much of a good Imperator he was.