Transcendent Dawn

Chapter 587: Chapter 0587: Seize Power (Third Update Request for Subscription)

Zoterlan Continent.

Dylan Port.

The incumbent Commissioner Bolton Manla, a middle-aged, rotund gentleman sporting a pair of small mustaches, wore a white wig and a thick layer of greasepaint on his face. His corpulent figure almost made his formal suit burst at the seams.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He was incessantly wiping his face with a handkerchief: “The Empire… the Empire has become like this! It’s as if I’m caught in a whirlwind if I go back now.”

Compared to this, even the colony development mission, which he once found unbearable, had started to seem appealing.

Besides, didn’t building Dylan Port from scratch cost him years of effort?

To just hand it over to an outsider, moreover, a ‘villager’ who had barely elbowed his way into high society, was something he found extremely hard to accept.

“Sir… according to the itinerary, the passenger ship on which Sir Rod is traveling will arrive in the next two days.”

His secretary, Carl, entered the room and bowed. “Also… these documents require your signature for confirmation.”

Although radio telegrams could not cross some obstacles over the ocean and setting up transoceanic wired telegraphs were out of the question, the Empire had simply equipped several experimental devices, which were functioning intermittently. As for telegraphs to the Dark Continent, that was even more so.

However, within the Empire, it was gradually becoming popular. When Su Lu saw the telegraph office in the Chris Empire, his first reaction was to wonder whether they had paid him patent fees. But considering the strained relationship between the Empire and the White Eagle Federation, he knew there was no hope for that.

However, if technology wasn’t working, mystical alternatives could come to the rescue.

By making use of some Marvels and paying a certain price, it was still possible to maintain real-time communication between the Empire and the colony in the Dark Continent.

The itinerary for Rod’s party was leaked in such a manner.

“Damned… I’ll take the guards, gold coins… I’ll take everything I can and won’t leave this place to that thief…”

Angry, Bolton tossed his handkerchief onto the floor.

Just then, cheers erupted from outside the window.

“This noise…”

Bolton pushed Carl aside and rushed to the window.

The Defence Mansion, where the office was located, was very close to the port. From the high vantage point of his office, he could look directly out onto the harbor.

Right at this moment, he could see a steam-wind hybrid shipping vessel slowly appearing over the horizon, escorted by several sailboats flying the banner of the Chris Empire in its wake

Many citizens of the Empire waved their hats and shirts frantically at the fleet, expressing their inner exhilaration.

The ocean liner not only brought letters, special products from their hometown, but might also carry their hope to return to their homeland.

“Golden Blossom? Has it arrived so soon?”

Watching the giant letters on the side of the ship, Bolton’s face darkened, “Quick, let’s go welcome our ‘guest’!”

The Empire could not effectively control the colonies due to the large distances involved, and without a doubt, every local guard officer was an unchallenged ‘local emperor’. Along with the harsh conditions, and an aggressive and ruthless disposition almost necessary for survival, every officer was a cold-blooded executioner and butcher.

Carl felt a chill in his heart, but he still bowed and left the room.

Half an hour later,

Bulton, strutting forward with a contingent of soldiers in bright red uniforms adorned with white feathers on their hats and muskets in their hands, arrived at the pier.

At the end of the day, he planned to put the new officer in his place and, in the process, buy some time for his transfer of assets.

If the other party was not cooperative, he didn’t mind ‘inviting’ him to stay in a remote courtyard for a while.

‘However, maybe ‘dying from sickness’ might be better? After all, there are numerous strange plagues in this colony, not to mention the curse of the False God! Should the new Commissioner unfortunately meet an untimely death… I could stay here and avoid making the choice of returning to the Empire…’

Bolton’s small eyes flickered cunningly.

“Sir, something seems amiss.”

It was at this moment that Carl approached him.

“What is amiss?” Bolton asked in a low voice.

“Those few sailboats… they don’t look like escort ships… might be pirates in disguise… But it doesn’t matter, we have guards and shore guns. I’ll also ensure your safety, Sir,” answered Carl.

“Let’s wait and see…” Bolton, surprisingly, secretly hoped that the Golden Blossom would be raided by pirates.

However, as soon as the drawbridge lowered and a group of smiling tourists disembarked, he knew his hopes were in vain.

He shot Carl an angry look and then promptly put on a beaming smile as he approached: “Which among you is Mr. Downton?”

“Mr. Downton is having his servants set up the luggage and will come down in a bit.”

A sailor responded to the local Commissioner’s query.

“I see…”

Feeling somewhat disgruntled inside, Bolton didn’t have to wait long before he saw a group of people disembarking from the ship. Leading the group was a nobleman who looked roughly in his thirties.

Although he was dressed in formal attire, he could not hide his rough, rugged aura.

“Humph…”

Bolton scoffed inwardly, while smiling affably as he stepped forward to greet them: “Welcome, Sir Downton.”

“Good day, Baron Manla.”

Despite disliking the current situation, Rod greeted Bolton as per noble etiquette.

Meanwhile, Anfi who was holding Rolin was curiously observing the surroundings.

“The weather here is much hotter than in the empire. How could I let such beautiful ladies wait here? I’ve prepared a feast for you, the vanilla ice cream there is quite excellent,” Bolton said cheerfully.

“Let’s skip the banquet for now. Let’s first handle the handover. I want to inspect the barracks and the warehouse. Also, I bring the Empire’s order to withdraw troops. Besides… you’re no longer a local defense officer, Sir,” Rod placed a sealed document in Bolton’s hand without considering the man’s sullen expression.

“Too… too much.”

When Bolton snapped out of his surprise, his sullen face turned ruddy: “Are you disrespecting an Imperial Baron?”

“No, it’s just official orders from the military department. It’s extremely urgent,” Rod shrugged and looked at Bolton’s soldiers behind him and his increasingly gloomy face and sneered.

Behind him, a group of pirates appeared, brandishing their weapons, squaring off against the soldiers.

“Are they pirates? Red Tiger, Ghost Face?”, Carl’s voice trembled with fury.

“No, they’re my soldiers! Soldiers I’ve recruited under my local defense authority!” Rod smirked: “Baron Manla, are you going to engage me in combat?”

Bolton’s face was immediately covered in a cold sweat.

Despite his control over the coastal guns and a barracks, attacking the new officer quietly as he had imagined was now out of the question.

A large-scale firefight would definitely not remain a secret. Attacking the new military officer was tantamount to treason!

“My men will take over the barracks, the warehouse, and your Defence Mansion…”

Rod stepped forward, patting Carl’s shoulder: “Is this your secretary? Not bad, he can work with me in the future, ha ha…”

Once the group left, Bolton gritted his teeth and glared at his secretary: “Didn’t you say you were a competent Occupational Person? Why were you of no use?”

“But…” Carl forced a smile: “The other party is also an Occupational Person, and even a Master. I’m afraid I can’t… Sir, we’ve already lost…”