First of all, our country informed the Persis Empire of the beginning of the war.

　The Strait of Mersina is not only a problem for our country and Pofenia.
　It was also an important strategic point for the Persians.

　It was necessary to explain at the outset to both of us who shared our interests.

　Next, our stronghold in Trisichelia....
　Mersina, a Cilician city-state in the northernmost part of Trisichellia, just a stone's throw away from the Strait of Mersina, has followed our country.

　If this is the case, we are certain to be overrun by either Pofenia or Romalia.
　Then the one that seems to be treated the best........

　It went down to the kingdom of Romalia, which was in trouble, and which had a good reputation as a ruler.
　Thus, having secured a bridgehead, our country was ready to confront Pofenia.

　Fortunately for the Persis Empire, the crushing of the Kingdom of Romalia and the Republic of Pofenia seemed to be what they wanted, and they seemed to be able to maintain a favourable neutrality.

　Our country then contacted Azul Hanno and told him that the treaty ahead was undrinkable.

　Thus began the war between the two countries.




　'The question is whether we can safely cross to Trisichelia... are you sure?
　You'll be fine. Between the Adelunian Peninsula and Trisichelia the Strait of Mersina is just a stone's throw away. It's just a short boat ride away. Don't worry, we'll be accompanied by a convoy of Cilician nations.
　"Well that's good, but...

　I hesitated long and hard, but I ordered Alexios to be the commander-in-chief of this war.

　The truth is, I wanted to send Bartolo and Alexios out.
　It was inevitably necessary to leave one person in the defense of the Adelunian Peninsula to hold down the kingdom of Roselle.

　And.........
　The enemy is the Barca family.

　Then Alexios decided that Alexios was the right man for the job.

　Alexios would know the Barca family's fighting style best.
　Besides, Alexios had a history of fighting on Trisichellia Island as a Pophenian general.

　He should know the geography of Trisichelia well.

　'Just pretend you're on a big boat.
　Yeah, I know. ...Don't get too deep, okay?　We just need to get rid of them.
　Yes, I know. But....

　Alexios grinned.

　'You don't mind if I take you down separately, do you?
　Is that a death flag?

　You okay?





　It's troubling...................to start with.

　Alexios had a troubled look on his face.
　Currently, Alexios is in the outer port of the city-state of Mersina.

　It's a port that ships crossing the Mersina Strait always stop at, and it's a rather large port.

　The troops Alexios brought with him from the Adelunian Peninsula are........

　20,000 for the Kingdom of Romalia.
　20,000 federal troops.
　3,000 Alva Cavalry.
　Two thousand Germanic cavalrymen.

　The total number of troops was 45,000.

　Ron and Rosward as deputy commanders.
　Seo-yeon and his wife, Melia, accompanied him as a sorcerer.

　It is the intention of Almus, who does not intend to get too deeply into the war, to keep his troops in check.
　If you move a large army, it will cost a lot of money and will also affect the farmland in the country.

　But the Adelunian infantry are all elite among the elite, having received Romarian-style military training and having fought many times.
　The Alva cavalrymen are also native born cavalrymen.
　And.........
　The strength of the Germanic cavalry has also been proven.

　Yes, they are elite.
　They are elite, but........

　Ew!
　The ground, the ground shakes...
　□□□□□□! (We've changed some of the audio for your convenience.)

　Most of the soldiers had things in their stomachs scattered on the ground.
　No wonder.

　Many Adelnians have never even seen the sea in their lives.
　And more importantly, they've never seen a boat before.

　It is obvious that they would get seasick in a boat and land sick when they arrived.

　The influential people who came from Mersina to pick up Alexios and his friends also wondered if it was safe to ask these guys to do so. He looked worried.

　'Well, you'll heal after a day's rest. First you need to get plenty of rest and then we'll fight.






　Gentlemen!　This island of Trisichellia is not the Adelian peninsula, it's a foreign land. You may be puzzled at times. But we must fight ... because if Pofenia conquers this land, their hand of conquest will extend to the Adelian peninsula!

　The next day, Alexios gives a speech to the soldiers, who are recovering from seasickness.
　The soldiers have already been told the reason for the start of the war...

　It's necessary to boost morale.
　This is the first overseas expedition for the Kingdom of Romalia," he said.

　'You will remember that they invaded the Adelian peninsula. They are brutal invaders. There won't be a single grassroots left after their army passes!　We must fight to protect our property and our wives!
　Long live the General!　
　Long live General Alexios!
　"Victory to Romalia!
　Glory to Romalia!

　The soldiers cheered loudly.
　Morale is high.

　This is land.
　Even if it's across the ocean it's land, which is the Romalia Kingdom's specialty.

　Then there is no reason for us to lose.
　There is only victory, that's all!

　Let's go!　All troops are on the march!
　"'Oh, oh, oh, oh!






　Meanwhile, when the Barca family hears of the Kingdom of Romalia's landing on Trisichellia....

　You're fast.... just like the Kingdom of Romalia. The speed with which they are gathering soldiers is extraordinary.
　Absolutely.........we can't be too careful with this one. Brother.

　The port city of Pofenia.
　Two men snarled at the rear base on the island of Trisichellia.

　One was the head of the Barca family and currently the supreme leader of Pofenia.

　Ceal Barca.

　He was Alexios' father.

　The other was his brother, the general who had been defeated by Alexios in the last battle.

　He is Kepka Barca.

　'The infantry of the Kingdom of Romalia is a nuisance. I don't want to fight them head-on.
　'The cavalry, too, the Alva and Germanis cavalry... well, not much different from our Nudia cavalry, but come on...'

　One is a man who was married into the Barca family as a son-in-law.
　Shemar Barka.

　The other was David Barca, the second son of the Barca family.

　And.....

　'The enemy is a traitor, Alexios!　I don't like him, but he's certainly capable of being an errand boy. We shouldn't be too careful.

　Belshazzar Barca.

　He is the eldest son of the Barca family.
　The eldest son of House Barka, and the next in line of the House of Barka.


　"We have not gathered our forces yet but we are going to stop them for now. Kepka. You have 40,000. You go.
　Yes, of course. Brother. I'll win this time.


　Thus Kepka Barca was given thirty-five thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry, forty thousand in all, and headed for the island of Trisichellia.






　'But the resistance is fierce,'
　'Well, it's a Pofenian city. I'd really like to go after the Cilician cities. This is a strategic point. We have to take it out first.

　Alexios replied to Ron's muttering.

　The Romanian army led by Alexios is besieging the Pophenian colony on the island of Trisichelia.
　It is Ashtarto.

　Pophenia had established Pophenian colonies in strategic locations while controlling the Cilician cities.
　Ashtarto was one of such colonies.

　Ashtarto is a large port city, and it's a place that I would definitely want to secure in order to facilitate supplies, reinforcements, and communications from the mainland.
　On top of that, mountains rise around Ashtarto.

　It's a natural keystone.

　And between the mountains and the valley of the mountains, a road runs through, leading to the inland part of Trisichellia Island.

　It's hard to attack, yet well worth attacking down.

　'It's a port town, so we can't leave it to dry in the sun. It's a port town, so we can't leave it out in the sun. ...Ron Aemilius-dono. I leave it to you.
　Are you sure?
　'I've come to interfere, and I'm going to crush the blinding Barca Lord Rosward Fabius!
　I'm ready to go, sir. I'm ready to go out at any time.


　Alexios left 20,000 men in Ron's care and led 20,000 infantry, Alva cavalry, and 5,000 Germanic cavalry to attack Kepka Barca.