The battle to ambush Rodney's flagship ended even faster than expected.
With the advantage of planning against the unprepared, none of the contingencies Brando and the others had discussed proved necessary. When the Valhalla fleet, disguised as Imperial patrol ships, opened fire, Rodney thought there had been some misunderstanding and hurriedly ordered the ship to stop so Brando's subordinates could come alongside and explain. By the time the three warships from Valhalla drew close enough, he finally realized something was wrong—but by then it was too late. The commander aboard Brando's warship directly ordered it to pull alongside and begin boarding. The sailors surged aboard. Although the knights from the White Legion beside Rodney were prepared to put up a desperate resistance, the sea and sky were not their kind of battlefield. What was more, Brando had the Valkyries and the Grey Sword Saint holding the line. In less than fifteen minutes, the sailors had stormed into the lower deck, forcing Rodney and the retainers remaining beside him to disarm and surrender.
The three warships, along with the flagship, subsequently docked at the military anchorage near Fatan Port. Brando was notified immediately and boarded with Charles and the others. By the time he came aboard, the traces of battle on the deck had already been cleaned up. The bodies lying everywhere had been removed, and the blood had been washed away. Rows of sailors in Valhalla naval uniforms stood along both sides of the ship. It was obvious from them that they had just been through a battle, but most of the light in the young men's eyes was excitement. Behind them, several prisoners had been tied up like rice dumplings and tossed aside. Rodney himself had not been harmed at all. He stood calmly beside the cabin door, while