Preparations Before the Expedition

The meeting at the Lord's Manor decided to dispatch troops to assist Princess Catherine in intercepting the orc army.

However, when it came to actually carrying out the decision, Paul discovered that his army could not depart immediately.

Arda Army had never prepared for combat missions beyond Northwest Bay. When this army was first established, its sole purpose had been to protect the people and assets within its territory and guard against the ill-intentioned lords surrounding it.

After the Usurper's War, the army had established deterrence and dominance over the various territories within Northwest Bay, but there had yet been no new need to drive it to change and support operations farther afield.

The navy was in a somewhat better position. After all, it was responsible for the important task of maintaining the stability of the long sea route from Northwest Bay to Cape Bay.

Years of honing had given Arda Navy a certain capacity for ocean warfare, allowing it to carry out missions even far from its homeland in Northwest Bay.

This ocean-warfare capability did not mean simply sailing the fleet out to sea and relying on the officers' and soldiers' proficient navigational and combat skills to fight. It encompassed every aspect of operations.

For example, collecting hydrological and climatic data along the route could help the fleet estimate travel times, select battlefields, and avoid extreme weather.

Likewise, maintaining friendly relations with the major cities and ports along the route could make it easier for the fleet to repair and rest, obtain supplies, treat the sick or wounded in time, and replenish its sailors.

In this regard, Arda Navy even maintained a certain degree of friendship with the ports controlled by Grand Duke Greedy Wolf Giles—of course, this was after Giles had reached peace with the Royal Family.

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