Luke stood on the bridge of the "Loyalty". In front of and on the sea to the left and right were other ships of the anti-smuggling fleet in the Cape District. Under the cloud sails, the sailors on the deck prepared for the bombardment, loading in front of a door.

The smoothbore cannon is loaded with powder and then pushed out of the gun port.

It's just that the range of this type of artillery is very short, with the maximum range within 2,000 meters. Compared with the main gun of the "No. 1" class, the range is more than three times different. Fortunately, there are many such smoothbore guns. A battleship can carry three

It ranges from ten to forty doors, and once it enters the shooting range, it is really like raining bullets.

Luke picked up the telescope and activated the thunder-reducing fire pupils to observe the Brilliant Island in the distance. The "Loyalty" continued to bombard the sea in front of the Brilliant Island port. Although the splashed water columns were not dense, they made the port area even more chaotic.

Anyone who makes a living at sea knows what shelling from this distance means. Not to mention that there is no ship on the sea that can fight against a ship equipped with such a range of artillery. Even the Brilliant Island coastal defense battery can only be passive in the face of this kind of artillery.

Worth the beating.

As long as the opponent's artillery shells are enough, they can block all the firepower of Brilliant Island and target targets in the port and island one by one.

What the people on Brilliant Island can do now is to try their best to move the ship and leave here. Even if they can't run away, they must stay away from the parking area of ​​the Saxon Engineering Fleet.

The Cape District anti-smuggling fleet was waving warning flags while heading towards Brilliant Island at full speed. The two steam airships following the fleet passed the fleet and flew towards the palace on the top of Brilliant Island.

Mrs. Tasia stood next to Luke, holding a telescope and staring at all the targets on the island that might threaten her own fleet.

"Chief Inspector, we have entered the range of the Brilliant Island coastal defense battery, and the other party has not attacked."

In the entire sea area of ​​​​Brilliant Island, except for the shelling of the "Loyalty" at regular intervals, there is no other sound. 5,000 meters is the limit of the range of the land-based artillery on Brilliant Island, and there is no movement in the forts guarding the port.

Luke said: "Baron Jeff is a smart guy. The fleet continues to move forward. When it reaches the attack position, it concentrates all its firepower on the attack and does not give the Saxon engineering fleet any chance."

"Yes, Chief Inspector." Mrs. Tasia gave the order through the pipeline communication system, and then said to Luke worriedly: "I still suggest that you and the Loyalty stop at the edge of the extreme range of the Brilliant Island coastal defense battery, and I will go to the Coral Reef

Bring the fleet closer to attack."

Luke knew that Mrs. Tasia was worried that Brilliant Island could not withstand the threats and prices of the Saxon Project.

Although the "Loyalty" has strong defensive capabilities, if the opponent is unlucky and hits an important position, the steel battleship will still be severely damaged.

But Luke said easily: "If the Loyalty stops, the chance of Brilliant Island attacking us will only increase. On the contrary, as long as the Loyalty keeps charging and rushes into the port of Brilliant Island.

I think the smart Baron Jeff will withstand all the pressure."

Mrs. Tasia asked puzzledly: "Why?"

Luke looked at the island getting closer and closer in front of him and said: "The army does not need to know why, you can just lead the fleet to win this war."

"As you command, Chief Inspector."

As the distance got closer, the four Adonis-class steam warships at the front of the anti-smuggling fleet in the Cape District launched an artillery attack on the Saxon engineering fleet that entered the range. The fleet continued to move forward, aiming to use all the firepower of the entire fleet to

To make full use of it, it is best to extend the bombardment distance to within one thousand meters.

The warships of the Saxon engineering fleet were still lying on the dock, and thick smoke was coming out of some warships' chimneys. They wanted to move to intercept the approaching surprise fleet.

Cannonballs fell from the sky. The densely parked ships made the bombardment hit rate extremely high. As long as the cannonballs were shot out, they would always hit something.

There were panicked sailors on the deck, and many of them abandoned the ship and ran away from the dock.

On the palace on the top of the mountain, Baron Jeff held a telescope and stared at the fleet coming from the sea. His eyes were full of the gleaming metal warship, and his eyes seemed to fly along the telescope.

"It's so beautiful! No matter how much it costs, I will buy one."

The old butler came to Jeff's side again: "Master, Captain Jonas is still waiting outside. He said..."

Jeff turned and looked over: "What did he say?"

"If you do not rescue his fleet, you will completely offend Saxon Engineering. You will lose all privileges in this sea area, and the cabinet will push the empire to take back Glory Island and build it into an imperial naval base."

Faced with this threat, Jeff was forced to reconsider his position.

He asked the steward: "What would my father do if he were still alive?"

"Always stand on the side of the winner. When you don't know who will win, stay neutral."

Jeff laughed: "It sounds simple, but it is difficult to do. Now I have to make a choice, but who will be the winner?"

The old butler looked towards the ocean.

The all-metal steam battleship actually accelerated its speed, moving from the rear of the fleet to the front of the fleet, like a charging knight, moving forward with unstoppable momentum.

"Master, do you think there is anything on the ocean that can stop this battleship?"

"One-on-one, no. But you can still defeat it by using some special tactics or gathering a large number of warships to surround it."

"What if it's not one, but a fleet composed entirely of such warships?"

Jeff looked back at the all-metal battleship.

"I understand what you mean... An all-metal battleship is not scary. What is scary is that the anti-smuggling fleet of Haijiao District does not cherish it. Haijiao District of Nutao City must have mastered its manufacturing technology and can build it in large quantities.

.

Brilliant Island belongs to the ocean, and we must have a good relationship with the people who master this technology.

Please come Captain Jonas."

The old housekeeper was a little confused: "Master, what do you mean..."

"The view here is wide. It's useless for Captain Jonas to return to the fleet anyway. It's better to admire this warship that opened a new era of oceans here. I think Saxon Engineering can understand our difficulties... If you can't understand, it's not good for them either.

No good.

Brilliant Island is mine and no one can take it away."

After the old butler figured it out, he said happily: "Master will definitely earn more wealth than the old master."

Jeff took a sip of wine and said, "I already earn more than him. The airship of the anti-smuggling fleet in Cape District is coming soon. Please invite the people above to come here."

"Yes, Master."

After a while, Captain Jonas was led by the butler to the terrace. His clothes were sloppy and he was in a daze. After taking an anxious look at the situation in the port, he ordered Jeff: "I represent Saxony.

The project requires Brilliant Island to immediately attack the invading enemy fleet."

Jeff brought a glass, slowly poured the wine into it, and then put it into Captain Jonas's hand.

"Captain, the opponent is the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet, affiliated with the Secret Intelligence Bureau of Raging Waves City. Glory Island's attack on them is a betrayal and declaration of war against the empire."

Captain Jonas threw the glass off the terrace with a flick of his hand.

"No matter how powerful the General Bureau of Secret Intelligence in Raging Waves City is, they will not attack the Imperial Baron's fiefdom at will. The incoming fleet is not the anti-smuggling fleet in the Cape District at all. They are pirates pretending to be pirates.

Eliminate them and protect the assets of the Saxon Project. Glory Island will get rewards you can't even imagine. Baron, don't try to anger the Saxon Project. Lord Gabriel, the Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet, will never look at the Saxon Project.

The Kesun engineering fleet is destroyed and left alone."

"Calm down, Captain Jonas." Jeff waved the woman sitting on the throne to leave. He sat down and drank, with a drunken look on his face: "You look at the sea carefully, thinking that even with the support of Brilliant Island,

, can your fleet avoid the fate of destruction?

If I order my men to attack the fleet at sea, the cannonballs of that all-metal steam battleship will have hit me in the face. It’s not that I won’t help you, but I can’t protect myself either.”

Faced with Jeff's pushback, Captain Jonas said: "You make your price!"

"This is not about money, my life is priceless."

Captain Jonas stepped forward to threaten again, but the old butler immediately stood between him and Jeff. He warned: "Captain, please recognize where this place is!"

And you are facing a baron who was personally conferred by Emperor Augustine, so don’t be rude."

Captain Jonas had no choice but to retreat: "I'm sorry, Lord Baron. I once again beg you for support. Saxon Engineering will definitely compensate you for all losses and reward you for your contribution."

At this time, two airships flew over and landed under the command of the palace guards.

Jeff said: "Meteor Chief Inspector's people are here. Let's first listen to their purpose."

"But..." Captain Jonas looked toward the port. The anti-smuggling fleet in the Cape District was approaching very quickly. Moreover, the warships converted from merchant ships were turning and aiming their broadsides at the Saxon Engineering ships on the dock.

.

Jeff stopped talking and just drank sips of wine.

He drank a bottle of wine quickly.

A group of spies wearing Secret Service uniforms came over, led by Kylena.

Kylena saluted Jeff: "Good day, Lord Baron. I am Kylena, the confidential secretary to the Chief Inspector of Meteor Star of the Secret Intelligence Bureau of Raging Wave City. I am here to negotiate with you on the order of the Chief Inspector.

The purpose of our military operation is only to threaten the pirate fleet in Haijiao Port and has no intention of offending Brilliant Island.

After the pirates are eliminated, the Secret Intelligence Bureau of Raging Wave City will fully compensate us for the damage caused."

After speaking, Kylena presented her ID, as well as the official document signed and sealed by the Secret Intelligence Bureau of Raging Wave City.

Jeff glanced at the beautiful Kylena a few more times, then took the official document and looked at it carefully.

Jonas looked at Jeff nervously. If he admitted that the official document was true, the fleet at sea was the Cape District anti-smuggling fleet. Brilliant Island could not openly attack the Imperial Secret Service fleet for a private fleet.

After reading it, Jeff handed the official document to the housekeeper, and then asked Kylena: "Is it just compensation?"

Kylena smiled and said: "I can't agree to other conditions. But our chief inspector is on the 'Loyalty'. He will land on the island after the battle to discuss the next steps of Fishbone Island and Brilliant Island with you."

Joint Maritime Military Operations.”

"He is on the 'Loyalty', is it the all-metal steam battleship?" The arrival of the meteorite surprised Jeff, but he still did not admit the identity of the meteorite.

"Yes! The 'Loyalty' is the first ship of the 'No. 1' class battleship designed by the Chief Inspector of Meteor and built by the Ibur Shipyard. The 'Loyalty' was transferred to the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet just after its construction was completed.
To be continued...