ALL NOVEL
Chapter 67: Landing on Shore
Governor-General Giraud had made thorough preparations to fight Shu Yichao.
All eligible Venetians were mobilized for the battle, and a huge amount of helmets, swords, crossbows, and hand cannons were issued. Ditches and obstacles were prepared in the city, awaiting the arrival of the Khitans.
And just as she had anticipated, the typhoon arrived as well.
Before Shu Yichao could arrive with his troops, a typhoon swept through the Water City.
Thick storm clouds shrouded the sky, enveloping the usually vibrant city in darkness. The waters raged under the strong winds, and the rising humidity created a fog that refused to dissipate. Lightning flashed amidst thunderous roars, as heavy rain fell on every Venetian house and road.
The turbid rain and furious waves made the city look forbidding.
“This typhoon is exceptionally fierce,” Giraud murmured as she returned to her warm room.
She had intended to conduct a patrol to inspect the defense preparations, but as soon as she stepped out of her house, the bean-sized raindrops gushed down on her, making it hard for her to even open her eyes. The wind was also so strong that it could almost lift her from the ground.
She had no choice but to give up on her patrol.
Despite the terrible storm, she was overjoyed.
“This is great. At least the Khitans can’t launch an attack in the midst of such a heavy storm. Who knows? They might even sink into the sea with their ships!”
…
Amidst the choppy waters, thirty ships sailed forth with their sail fully puffed up. A blood twin-headed eagle flag glared conspicuously even amidst the darkness.
“Great Caesar,” a Genoese shouted over to Shu Yichao in disfluent Mandarin, “the winds are too strong! A single misstep might spell us being devoured by the sea! We should return and wait for the storm to die down first.”
The Genoese were on the verge of losing their minds.
They had known that Shu Yichao was a callous general, but they didn’t expect him to be a lunatic through and through.
No matter how valiant a navy was, its strength was bound to be insignificant before the devastating prowess of the vast sea. A single storm was enough to send even the bravest crew to death’s arms.
Yet, the Khitan Caesar intended to attack Venice amidst the storm, and he was even personally directing the ships?
What would a cavalryman know about the navy?! You’re out of your mind!
To make things worse, they couldn’t just quit. At least they had no desire to know how sharp Shu Yichao’s scimitar was.
They could only tearfully steer their rocking ships through the fearsome waves.
In truth, there was no need for them to worry so much.
【I’m sorry, my host.】
System 12345 spoke lifelessly.
【I have misunderstood your intention. You must have been heading to Venice to inform Vernier’s family about her untimely demise, but I thought that you were heading there to play… How could I have not known better, considering how gentle you are?】
【I’ll send you information about her family members…】
Why does the feed on that broken screen look like…
【Holy mama!】
【My host, what are you doing?!】
To System 12345’s astonishment, it saw Shu Yichao riding a ship amidst a storm, sailing through choppy waters. That scared it out of its wits.
【My host, that’s too dangerous!】
Remembering that Vernier might have died in the cold sea due to a natural disaster, System 12345 anxiously racked its brain for a solution.
【What should I do? What should I do?】
【Let me see… Ah! The storyline should have detailed information about the movements of the typhoon! My host, I’ll send the information to you right away!】
【No, let me just indicate on your minimap the safer regions!】
【My host, you must tread carefully!】
“What’s going on?”
Shu Yichao had been using the weather map to steer the ships through safer areas when his minimap suddenly lit up.
“Did I trigger some kind of mechanism?” He scratched his head in confusion.
He could navigate through the storm using the weather map, but it took quite a bit of effort, especially with the storm hindering his vision. Having the safer areas indicated on the minimap made things much more convenient for him.
“This is much better. Full speed ahead!”
…
“What a terrifying weather,” a Venetian soldier, who was curled inside a sentry post, murmured under his breath as he gulped down alcohol to warm his body.
It was damp and cold. Strong winds battered at the window, causing eerie banging sounds. From time to time, there would be a flash of white light that momentarily lit up this gloominess, followed by a deafening boom.
“Hm?”
The Venetian soldier suddenly spotted something outside in his peripheral vision.
Perplexed, he hesitantly stood up and inched closer to the window, wanting to verify what the weird silhouette he had spotted during the previous flash of lightning was.
The world fulfilled his wish.
Another terrifying flash of lightning zapped down, revealing dozens of ships sailing in the sea that was as dark as ink. The blood twin-headed eagle, like the death god’s envoy, had unfurled its wings and was surging toward the city!
“Enemy attack! They are here! It’s the Khitans! The Khitan Caesar is here!” the Venetian soldier shouted.
It was beyond his imagination why the Khitan Caesar would dare to attack their city under such terrifying weather. Wasn’t the latter afraid that he and his troops might sink to the bottom of the sea?
No!
It doesn’t matter how that lunatic pulled it off; the important thing is that he has reached Venice! I have to immediately inform everyone so that they can put up their defense!
Unfortunately, the Venetian soldier’s voice was buried in the furious winds.
【Whew, that scared me!】
Spotting that Shu Yichao was close to shore, System 12345 heaved a sigh of relief.
【My host, I think it’s good for you to be sentimental, but you shouldn’t live in the past. It’s fine for you to want to inform Vernier’s family about her passing and console them, but you shouldn’t put yourself in danger for that!】
System 12345 advised.
【Now that you have reached the shore, you should find a place to seek shelter. You shouldn’t underestimate the storm. A moment of carelessness can cost you your life.】
【Eh? The storm should be pretty loud, right? Why don’t I hear anything on my side…】
【Wait! I just realized that I have never heard any sounds on your side, my host.】
【…】
【Does this mean that my sound has been off all this while?】
【(tot)】
Heavy rain pattered on icy-cold armor, streaming down its crevices like a trickling stream before falling to the ground.
Yet, Shu Yichao didn’t feel the slightest discomfort. He drew his scimitar and excitedly looked at Venice, which was shrouded in darkness.
“Brothers, charge with me! We shall destroy Venice!”
With that, he leaped onto Galewind and charged into the city. Thousands of cavalrymen followed him, spelling an imminent calamity for this city.