Chapter 324

The Port of Simmons [Part 3]

When Imperial Japan’s trading ship arrived at the port, the magic sensor Imperial Prince Tasuku wore reacted. After searching around, the ninjas found that the origin of that magic power was the ships beside them.

Imperial Japan lost its magician in the monster disaster, but the magic he left behind was still stored in many magic stones and used as various tools.

Imperial Japan’s Imperial Family wore a magic sensor tool on their body all the time.

The magic sensor tool was the invention of (the late) Gennai Hiraga, a genius born in Imperial Japan. It was a magic tool that could sense traces of magic.

No matter how excellent the ninjas and samurais who protected the Imperial Family were, it was still difficult for them to deal with magic.

To know the danger in advance, the Imperial Family always wore a magic sensor disguised as an accessory to prevent them from being influenced by magic. Still, it had never once reacted when they last came to the Kingdom.

“…It’s artillery. Twelve per ship. And that’s just the artillery. I also found a lot of shells. Moreover, all of them are facing the direction of the Royal Capital, in a state ready to fire anytime.“

Hattori answered Imperial Prince Tasuku while furrowing his brows. ‘Although there are cases when artillery is installed along the barrier to defeat monsters, loading them into ships in a state capable of firing is simply unthinkable. Because monsters don’t appear on the sea.

If so, what are those artillery installed for?

It is as if they are aiming at the Royal Capital…’

“The artillery are facing the Royal Capital?“ n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Considering the firing range of the artillery, it was hard to imagine the shells would travel all the way to the Royal Capital. But even the Imperial Japanese people with little diplomatic experience understood how strange it was for ships from another country to carry artillery and point them at the Royal Capital.

“Pardon? Is there perhaps a problem with those ships?”

Joshua, who didn’t understand Imperial Japanese, broke into Hattori and Imperial Prince Tasuku’s serious conversation.

This was the intel Imperial Prince Tasuku got from his ninja, but judging that the Kingdom people should also be informed about this, he turned his gaze to Hattori and nodded.

“…Rockle.”

Hattori didn’t speak with the Kingdom language he was still unfamiliar with but the San Crossian language to warn that ‘this was an abnormal situation’ and convey only the gist of the need for urgency.

“I see… So those are the Empire’s ships, and the inside is loaded with artillery. Not only that, they are all facing the Royal Capital and ready to fire anytime.”

Joshua heard Hattori’s [Rockle] and nodded.

“ “ “!?” ” ”

This shocked the conveyor, Hattori, and Imperial Prince Tasuku and Miguel too. Because even though Hattori only said rockle, Joshua already grasped the general situation.

“Hm? Ah, yes. San Crossian is convenient, isn’t it?”

Joshua chuckled at the surprised Hattori.

“No, you shouldn’t believe him. This person is a monster.”

Momochi, who also knew of the different sides of Joshua outside House Stuart from Hue, pointed at Joshua. Momochi knew that Joshua had already done many investigations. Taking that into account, he deduced that Joshua only made a guess after seeing Hattori’s and Imperial Prince Tasuku’s expressions.

“Joshua. Considering the direction and range of the artillery, the road leading to the Royal Capital will be dangerous.”

After this, their group of people planned to head to the Royal Capital. However, if the artillery were aimed at the Royal Capital, they might get caught in it. And so, Imperial Prince Tasuku turned to look at Joshua.

“No, if the Empire seriously intended to attack, their aim must be the Royal Capital… no, the Royal Castle. That’s the quickest and easiest way. Destroying the road with artillery shells will obstruct themselves when they want to attack. No matter where they decide to attack, they will want to spare the roads. Those artillery will most likely bomb the Royal Castle from here.”

Imperial Prince Tasuku translated Joshua’s speculation for Hattori, whose Kingdom language skill wasn’t perfect yet, and asked his opinion.

“However, I have never heard of artillery that can shoot that far?!“

Hattori shook his head, saying there was no such artillery while being surprised at Joshua’s speculation that he wanted to doubt. Is he really a merchant?

With the ending of the national seclusion as the start, Mitsunari Ishida began investigating the methods of monster extermination in other countries. And in the reports he had compiled, there were no such records of artillery capable of attacking from as far as Simmons to the Royal Capital.

Hattori said, “Rockle,” to Joshua.

In the first place, artillery was a weapon to defeat monsters inside the barrier, so it didn’t need to shoot shells that far. Because there was a concern that it could damage the precious barrier in worst-case scenarios.