Chapter 355| If Hatred Can Be Planted... Then Doubt Can Be Planted Too

​That morning in the port’s Worker District, the air felt suffocatingly thick.

​The stench of burning coal, synthetic lubricants, and hot iron hung heavy inside the massive, low-ceilinged workshop. The deafening clang of sledgehammers striking steel echoed relentlessly.

​CLANG! CRASH!

​Yara wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm. Her thick leather gloves were already blackened with motor oil. The young woman’s pale face was smeared with soot, and her black hair was tied up high to keep it out of the way.

​However, no matter how hard she cranked her wrench on the steam pipe, her mind was elsewhere.

​Yara’s dark brown eyes repeatedly stole glances through the workshop’s grimy windows. In the distance, cutting through the military barricades, the dark silhouette of the foreign vessel loomed rigidly. The ship was perfectly seamless, devoid of a single speck of rust.

​And the detail that baffled her mechanic’s brain the most: the colossal ship didn’t have a single smokestack.

​Ultimately, Yara’s curiosity overpowered her fear of military doctrine.

​She dropped her wrench onto the workbench, dusted off her gray apron, and slipped out. Navigating the port’s narrow, fog-choked alleyways, she carefully dodged the patrol routes of the burly soldiers until she reached the outer perimeter of the dock where the NRS Orion was moored.

​Yara hid behind a stack of wooden cargo crates, her breathing ragged.

​Her eyes widened in sheer awe as she stared at Northreach’s mana-plated steel hull from up close. The texture was incredibly smooth—a near impossibility by the Iron Empire’s metalworking standards.

​Unconsciously, Yara stepped out of the cargo’s shadow. Her gloved hand reached out slowly, yearning to touch the metallurgical marvel.

​But before her fingertips could even brush the hull, a sudden movement in her blind spot froze her blood.

​Grip.

​An arm wrapped firmly—though not chokingly—around her neck, while a cold palm clamped tightly over her mouth. The movement was dead silent, as if a shadow had suddenly sprung to life.

​Yara’s eyes bulged in absolute terror.

​Behind her, Naya stood with an expressionless face. The Ghost Squad member’s short black hair shifted in the wind. Her dark eyes scanned the perimeter with hyper-vigilance. Even without drawing the twin daggers at her waist, her grip radiated the pure, unadulterated threat of a professional assassin.

​"Shh," Naya whispered, her voice as cold as ice against Yara’s ear.

​Yara trembled violently. She struggled weakly against Naya’s hold. Her mind was instantly flooded with horrific tales of Southerners turning people into dark magic sacrifices.

​"Let her go, Naya. She’s not a threat."

​A calm, authoritative baritone interrupted from the front.

​Naya glanced over. She loosened her grip and took a single, soundless step back. Yara coughed lightly, stumbling backward until her shoulders hit the wooden crates.

​Roland Sudrath strolled casually toward them.

​The prince had just secured a limited clearance from the dock authorities to inspect the ship’s outer hull. His dark blue diplomatic coat stood out starkly against the dreary, gray tones of the port. His black hair was meticulously combed, and his gray eyes studied Yara intently.

​"Forgive my guard," Roland said with a faint smile. "Their instincts tend to go a bit into overdrive in unfamiliar territory."

​Yara swallowed hard, staring at the Southerner before her with a mix of fear and awe. "Y-You’re... witches..."

​Roland’s gaze flicked down to her dirty apron and leather gloves, then moved back up to the grease smeared across her pale face.

​"Your hands, your clothes... you’re a ship mechanic, aren’t you?" Roland guessed flawlessly.

​Yara gave a hesitant nod.

​Roland smiled again, taking one step closer while maintaining a respectful distance. He pointed at the NRS Orion.

​"This ship isn’t powered by dark magic or blood sacrifices like you were taught," Roland explained, his tone gentle and measured. "It runs purely on a mana-circulation reactor engine. It’s a marvel of energy engineering. As someone who understands mechanics, I’m sure you can appreciate the innovation behind this hull, right?"

​Yara’s fear evaporated instantly. Her mechanic’s instincts flared up, desperate to interrogate him on how energy could possibly be converted into thrust without steam pressure.

​Unfortunately, the conversation was brutally cut short.

​"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?!"

​A heavy voice boomed from the end of the dock. The rapid thud of combat boots stomped loudly against the metal.

​Commander Varus marched furiously toward them, flanked by two gray-coated patrolmen who immediately leveled their long-barreled steam-rifles right at Roland’s chest.

​Varus was livid. The gruesome burn scar on his left neck flushed an angry red. His hand was locked tightly onto the hilt of his shortsword.

​"Are you trying to smuggle spies or hex our citizens, Southerner?!" Varus hissed with absolute venom.

​"Not at all, Commander," Roland replied calmly, smoothly stepping between Yara and Naya. "The girl was just passing by and got curious about our hull design. As fellow mechanics, we were simply having a light chat about metallurgy."

​Spit. Varus hawked onto the steel floor of the dock, then glared at Yara with absolute disgust. "Lowly workers have no right to snoop around a military isolation zone!"

​Varus jerked his head at his two men. "Drag this filthy rat out of here! If she dares to show her face again, whip her back raw!"

​The soldiers grabbed Yara by the arms, violently dragging her away from the cargo crates. Yara didn’t fight back. But just before she disappeared around the bend of the gate, she craned her neck, looking back at Roland.

​The blue-coated Southerner didn’t look anything like a demon. His face remained perfectly composed as he offered her one last, diplomatic smile.

​Deep within the young mechanic’s chest, the seed of doubt Roland had planted finally began to take root.

​By midday, the chaotic rhythm of the military dock shifted gears.

​Several high-ranking officers from the port’s command center approached the ship’s boarding bridge. The official orders from the capital had finally come down: The Iron Empire’s authority decreed that the main Northreach delegation was to be escorted directly into the heart of the government. Meanwhile, the NRS Orion and the remainder of its crew would remain locked down at the port as collateral.

​Under the heavy guard of dozens of steam-rifle infantrymen, the core delegation was marched off the ship.

​Roland, Rianor, Riven, Rumina, Selene, and a handful of elite guards—including Captain Thorne—were escorted toward a specialized station deep within the military facility.

​A colossal steam locomotive was already waiting for them.

​This was no ordinary wooden train. The carriages were heavily armored with thick, black steel plating. Its massive smokestack violently spewed thick smog that blended seamlessly with the overcast sky. The locomotive let out a harsh hiss, like a starving iron dragon.

​"Get in," Varus ordered cynically, crossing his arms by the carriage door. "And enjoy your long ride straight to hell."

​The group stepped inside the specialized carriage.

​The interior atmosphere was suffocatingly grim. The walls were pure, cold steel, reinforced by massive rivets. The tiny windows were barred with thick iron grates, choking out the natural light.

​Rumina took a seat on a wooden bench. The gray-gowned woman intertwined her fingers on the iron table, desperately trying to suppress her anxiety. "We’re really being dragged straight into the heart of their empire without a shred of mercy."

​"Keep your composure, Rumina," Riven said, sitting opposite her. The Grand General leaned back as casually and immovable as a boulder, though his gray eyes radiated the high alert of an apex predator. "We aren’t in the execution zone just yet."

​At the end of the bench, Rianor meticulously inspected the carriage walls before pushing his glasses up his nose. Whirrr... The Arcanotech Bracer on his left arm let out a nearly inaudible hum.

​"Two-inch solid steel," Rianor murmured, knocking his knuckles against the wall. "No shock absorbers. They prioritize military security over basic comfort. An incredibly crude architectural philosophy."

​Selene, seated next to Roland, stared out through the barred window. The Water Arcanum Master looked impeccably graceful in her sea-blue robes, a stark contrast to the dark, oppressive iron of the carriage.

​"This morning, were you intentionally playing nice with that mechanic girl, Roland?" Selene asked softly.

​Roland straightened his collar. The diplomat’s gray eyes stared at a rivet in front of him, gleaming with cunning calculation.

​"In a nation that only teaches a doctrine of hatred... the strength of a sword will never win their hearts," Roland replied, his tone measured. "But if we show them empathy and logic... doubt will begin to sprout. And if hatred can be planted, Selene... then doubt can be planted too."

​HOOOOOOOT!

​The locomotive’s steam whistle shrieked piercingly, deafening everyone in the vicinity.

​Clack... clack...

​The armored train jolted violently as its wheels began grinding against the rails. The sudden lurch sent violent tremors through their wooden benches.

​Through the iron bars, Roland watched the rusted silhouette of the port slowly retreat. The magnificent NRS Orion grew smaller and smaller, shackled to the enemy dock by massive steel chains.

​They were officially severed from their ship, heading straight into the vengeful heart of the capital.

​Far beyond the dock fences, perched atop the slanted tin roof of the worker district housing...

​Yara stood against the freezing wind. Her gray apron fluttered gently. Her grease-stained hands gripped the edge of the roof as she stared at the thick smoke trailing the armored train heading north.

​Her mind was still anchored to the calm eyes of the blue-coated man from that morning. The Southerner had defended her. He had explained things using pure common sense. There was no demonic aura or crazed witchcraft about him.

​"If they’re all monsters like the stories told us..." Yara murmured in conflict, clutching the fabric of her apron over her chest. "...then who exactly are they?"

​The northern wind carried her question away, letting it evaporate alongside the train’s exhaust—leaving behind a colossal doubt ready to eat away at the Iron Empire’s foundation of lies.

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Author’s Note

Well... I made a small mistake with this Chapter.

Unfortunately, I accidentally uploaded the wrong version of Chapter 355. Yes, the version that was uploaded was essentially the same Chapter as the previous one.

So, if you noticed that something seemed strangely familiar... congratulations. You were not imagining things. 😂

I’m fixing the Chapter now, but there’s one tiny problem. The correct version of Chapter 355 is considerably shorter than the version currently uploaded, and apparently NovelPhoenix has very strict rules regarding changes in word count when editing an already published Chapter.

So here I am, desperately trying to add a little extra content without turning this author’s note into an entire Chapter.

Since you’re already here, let’s make this useful.

Riddle time:

I can be opened, but I am not a door.

I can contain thousands of stories, but I have no voice.

I can take you to another world without moving your feet.

What am I?

If you know the answer, leave it in the comments.

And while you’re here, don’t forget to leave a vote or a comment if you’re enjoying the story. Every bit of support helps me stay motivated to continue writing.

Every vote, comment, review, and even a simple reaction might seem like a small thing, but they genuinely help the novel grow. Knowing that people are actually reading and enjoying the story makes all those hours spent writing worth it.

One thing I really enjoy about writing this novel is seeing the different reactions from readers. Some of you focus on the characters, some pay attention to the smallest details, and some immediately start creating theories about what might happen several Chapters later.

Honestly, I love reading those theories.

Sometimes a reader notices a tiny detail that I almost forgot I had written. Other times, someone predicts something that was supposed to happen much later in the story.

And then there are the theories that make me stare at the screen for a few seconds and wonder, "How did you even come up with that?"

Those are probably my favorites.

So here’s another question for you:

Which character do you currently trust the most? And which character do you trust the least?

You don’t have to explain your answer, but if you want to, I’m definitely interested in reading your reasoning.

Just remember that appearances can be deceiving.

A character who looks harmless might not be as innocent as they seem, while someone who appears suspicious might have a completely different reason for their actions.

That’s one of the things I want to explore throughout this story: people are rarely as simple as they first appear.

Before I finally let you go, here’s one more little challenge.

If you could ask one character from this story a single question, who would you choose, and what would you ask?

It could be about their past, their goals, their relationships, or even something completely random. Maybe you want to know what they really think about another character. Maybe you simply want to know what they would order at a restaurant.

I’ll be keeping an eye on the comments. Some questions might even give me ideas for future interactions or bonus content.

And yes, this is also my completely legitimate excuse for adding a few more words to this Chapter.

At this point, the word count and I have a complicated relationship.

Thank you for putting up with it. 😂

Anyway, that’s enough rambling from me.

I should probably stop before this "little author note" becomes longer than the actual Chapter.

Thank you again for reading, supporting the novel, and sticking around despite my little upload mistake.

And please... pretend you never saw the wrong Chapter 355. 😂

Now, back to the story.

Enjoy Chapter 355!