Chapter 231: Seen Through
Isolde gazed at the cloudless sky and nodded, “Yes.”
“But today is even hotter than yesterday, and there isn’t a single cloud. How could it possibly rain today?”
“Just wait until tonight,” Isolde reassured softly. She recalled reading historical accounts of this storm in her past life: “The day was bright and endless, clear without a single cloud. During the day, strong winds roared, and dark waves rose, crashing forward like a mighty force. Windows broke, tiles fell, and roofs were ripped apart. Huge rocks were thrown, tall trees were pulled from the ground, and floodwaters rushed through with unstoppable power…”
This was a disaster, but in her past life, Kamari had exploited it, twisting the narrative to blame the king's cruelty for provoking heaven's wrath upon the people. No matter how Kamari deployed his troops now, once the calamity struck, he would have no choice but to send soldiers to the coast—soldiers secretly recruited over the years, outside the Royal Court's official military. They lacked proper training and battle experience. Isolde did not want them dragged into war.
By dusk, the wind had begun to stir, though only slightly stronger than during the day. Doug and Kolton were on edge, already making preparations for a contingency plan—seeking reinforcements from nearby troops. However, the nearest reinforcements would take at least two days to arrive, making it a four-day round trip. That meant they had to station their forces there for at least four more days. Staying put was one thing, but Kamari wouldn't simply sit idle. If the natural disaster didn't occur as expected, he would become suspicious. Moreover, searching for reinforcements was something he would undoubtedly notice. By the time reinforcements arrived, their forces could be wiped out. No matter how they looked at it, complete unscathed retreat was impossible. To survive, they would have to withdraw in disgrace.
Kolton could only smile bitterly. They had marched out with a mighty force of three thousand troops, yet in the end, they would retreat without fighting a single battle. The Sharp family's reputation would be ruined.
However, Kolton and Doug’s worries didn’t last long. Around dusk, a light drizzle began to fall, carried by a gentle breeze. Lucas exclaimed, “This is the sign before a hurricane! The wind will gradually strengthen. I grew up by the coast of Wetinson, and we experience several hurricanes every year. This is exactly how it starts.”
Rainfall was a rare sight, let alone torrential storms and hurricanes. What they had instead were sandstorms, capable of darkening the sky and swallowing everything in their path.
Standing outside the tent, Isolde gazed at the darkening sky, feeling the wind and fine drizzle against her skin. Her eyes gradually filled with determination as she issued her command in a firm voice. “All soldiers, break camp! Pack up everything and take shelter in the stone houses by the East Bridge. We will ride out the hurricane there.”
The East Bridge stone houses were part of the local post station, several times larger than ordinary ones because the region had experienced multiple earthquakes in the past. To prepare for future disasters, the government had built these sturdy stone structures as emergency shelters. Now, all three thousand soldiers retreated into the stone houses.
The hurricane made landfall around 10 PM. Everyone inside the stone houses bore witness to the raging storm. Outside, the wind howled like the wailing of ghosts, carrying sand and debris through the air. Though the stone houses were solid and wind-resistant, anything outside was not so fortunate. Trees in the courtyard were uprooted, rooftops were ripped away with a deafening clatter, and countless objects were swept away, vanishing without a trace into the stormy night.
This was not where the hurricane hit hardest; the coast took the most damage. Although Isolde had ordered an evacuation in advance, she knew that because the signs of this hurricane had not been obvious, many coastal residents had been unwilling to leave. In truth, she was using this disaster to her advantage.
At Kamari’s Residence:
“There really is a hurricane and torrential rain.” Kamari stared blankly outside. Although the residence had been prepared for strong winds, many things had not been secured in time and were now being swept away.
“Your Highness, don’t worry. No matter what disaster this brings, we will simply declare to the public that it is the fault of the Royal Court,” Ashley said in a low voice.
“The Royal Court’s fault?” Kamari gazed at Ashley coldly. “Are you unaware of the rumors spreading outside? They say that I harbor rebellious intentions, and that is why the heavens have sent punishment.”
“Truth and lies—whoever speaks with the most conviction determines what is true. Zloimond is our territory. Whatever the reality may be, we are the ones who decide the narrative.”
Kamari clenched his teeth. “If the heavens truly intend to punish me, then I will defy the heavens even more. From the beginning, I never intended to submit to fate. After the storm passes, we will first resettle the disaster victims. Then, we will immediately begin searching for a new armory and refining gunpowder. Within a year, I will take Argentum!”
“Your Highness, resettling the disaster victims is the responsibility of the Royal Council. The local government will handle it,” Ashley said calmly.
Kamari narrowed his eyes. “You are right. I cannot afford to waste provisions. Once we make our move, having ample supplies will be our top priority. Issue the order immediately. Once the storm subsides, have the granaries placed under strict guard. No one, not even government officials, is allowed to open them without my direct command.”
“Understood!” Ashley responded promptly.
Kamari watched the torrential rain, his eyes gradually gleaming with excitement and bloodlust. “I find Isolde’s three thousand men extremely displeasing. With a storm this fierce, I wonder if it can bring down the stone shelter?”
Ashley immediately grasped his intent. “Your Highness, there are still eight barrels of gunpowder in the estate, but gunpowder must not get wet. We must wait until the storm subsides before transporting it.”
“Then we wait, no rush!” He turned and ordered, “Pass down the order. Tomorrow, all palace guards return to their posts. The rest of the soldiers go out to rescue people and help with evacuations.”
“Yes, sir!” The guard outside the door responded and swiftly departed.
After the hurricane, heavy rain poured down, terrifyingly heavy, flooding every corner of Zloimond City.
Ashley hurried after the departing guard and said in a low voice, “In addition to recalling the estate guards, order five thousand more soldiers to station outside the royal estate.”
“But… but King Kamari’s orders were not like this,” the guard hesitated.
“Listen to me. When this is over, King Kamari will reward you handsomely,” Ashley said with a smile.
The guard looked at her, knowing she had always been astute. However, this was a military order.
“If anything truly goes wrong and King Kamari holds someone accountable, you can say it was my command,” Ashley reassured him.
“Then everything will be as your commands, Ms. Charlie,” the guard acknowledged and left to carry out the orders.
A strange smile appeared on Ashley’s lips. The moment the hurricane and torrential rain arrived, she immediately understood Isolde’s true intent. Isolde was not here because of the storm; she was merely using it as a cover. Her real objective was a direct assault on Kamari’s estate. Her target was not Zloimond itself, but Kamari. She had brought three thousand soldiers, and these soldiers must be exceptionally skilled in battle. In truth, the five thousand troops guarding the estate could barely hold the line. However, if the enemy launched a sudden assault, chaos would be inevitable. That was why she first positioned five thousand troops outside, making Isolde believe that those outside were the estate guards.
For now, she chose not to inform Kamari. Though ruthless, he was highly suspicious by nature and would question every detail. Besides, she wasn’t entirely certain of Isolde’s true intent. If her prediction was wrong, Kamari would undoubtedly settle accounts with her later.