Colonel Hall's Peril

On the Sonia Sea.

"Whooo—"

The armored steamship let out a roar as it sailed forward. Its sharp prow cut through the water, kicking up white spray. Flocks of white seabirds wheeled above and below the vessel, using the rising air currents to save their strength.

At the railing by the deck, a handsome young officer gazed into the distance.

He wore the crisp uniform of a Loen Army officer. His blond hair gleamed brilliantly, and his azure eyes matched the color of the sea. Several brand-new medals pinned to his chest spoke of the achievements this young colonel had earned.

The officer rested a hand on the railing and stood motionless. His blue eyes clearly reflected the sight before him: four or five ironclad ships were spread across the sea in an orderly formation, like a herd of enormous beasts guarding the transport ship at their center. The entire fleet pressed northward without pause. Waves surged, armor plates glittered beneath the sunlight, and countless dark cannon muzzles were intimidating enough to make anyone who saw them hesitate to become their enemy.

"Happy, Alfred?"

A cheerful voice came from behind the officer. "In a few more hours, we'll be back in Backlund. You'll get to see your family too."

"As long as we haven't made landfall, we're still on a mission."

Alfred Hall turned around and answered calmly, "As long as we're carrying out a mission, we shouldn't be distracted by unnecessary emotions."

"Heh, as expected of Colonel Hall. Even now, you're still this strict with yourself."

The man opposite him smiled in approval upon hearing that.

He wore a black clerical robe. Judging from the color of the sash, he was likely a deacon of the Church of Evernight.

This position was equivalent to an assistant bishop. After undergoing