The next day, in the conference hall of Rhode Island.

"It seems that the Turks have set up a large camp on Mount St. Sethifa."

The cavalry commander reported.

"These cunning infidels now have a clear view of our defense situation!"

A knight said indignantly.

Mount St. Sethifa is the highest point of Rhode Island, and from there, one can overlook the entire city of Rodport. Ideally, a strong force should be stationed there to guard such a strategic location. However, the Hospital Knights' forces are limited, and they are already stretched thin defending the city of Rodport. There simply aren't enough people to guard Mount St. Sethifa, so the knights of Rhode Island can only watch the enemy occupy the advantageous position.

Upon hearing this, Charlotte couldn't help but frown.

"Damn, the factors unfavorable to our side are increasing..."

But as the leader of everyone, it is especially important for me to remain calm in these times.

With that in mind, Charlotte suppressed her restlessness and asked in a calm tone:

"So, have we sent scouts to gather information on the enemy?"

"Unfortunately, we sent three scout teams, but they weren't able to get close to the enemy camp. It is our failure, please punish us, Grand Commander."

The cavalry commander lowered his head in shame.

"It's alright, you've done your best," Charlotte reassured them kindly. "Aside from that, have we found any traces of the enemy's movements such as wheel tracks or large equipment?"

"Absolutely none." The cavalry commander shook his head confidently. "At least within our survey range, there are no signs of cannons or siege engines being moved."

This is strange.

By all accounts, the Turks have mobilized such a large army because they are determined to capture Rodport. In that case, it is impossible for them to not bring equipment such as cannons and siege towers that are necessary to break through the sturdy defenses of Rodport.

If that's the case, there is only one possibility - the Turks intentionally hid the siege equipment.

"Cavalry commander, have your scouts investigated the back side of Mount St. Sethifa?"

The girl hastily asked the cavalry commander with this thought in mind.

"No, that area has been firmly controlled by the enemy."

The cavalry commander shook his head.

As expected!

They must have unloaded the siege equipment on the back side of the mountain.

But why would the Turks deliberately hide this equipment?

A hint of unease flashed through the girl's heart.

"Report! A unit of Ottoman cavalry is challenging us in front of St. Peter's Gate!"

A messenger burst into the conference hall.

"Everyone, come with me to the gate."

The girl tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.

...

In front of St. Peter's Gate.

A squadron of glamorous Ottoman cavalry stood proudly at the foot of the city. They held scimitars and formed a neat formation, demonstrating their arrogance to the defenders of Rodport.

The leading officer wore a white feather on his head and held a scroll. He rode a chestnut-colored, high-headed horse and stood proudly at the forefront of the formation.

Seeing the commotion at the city gate, it seemed that many knights in bright armor had ascended the city walls. The officer shouted loudly:

"Is the one who comes the Grand Commander of the Hospital Knights, Knight Rocha de Villare?"

Seeing the domineering attitude of the Ottoman officer, Charlotte frowned. But she still gave a very formal answer:

"I am Knight Rocha."

After receiving the accurate response, the officer nodded with satisfaction and then spoke loudly:

"I hereby represent Meshi Pasha to declare the most honorable order from Sultan Muhammad II, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, to Knight Rocha, his knights, and all others present: your devastation of our people has enraged me, and I feel compassion for them, but I am furious with you."

"Therefore, I command you to surrender immediately and hand over Rodport and its fortress to us. I will be merciful and allow you to safely carry your most precious personal belongings as you leave."

"If you have any sense left, you should choose friendship and peace instead of war. Because once you are conquered, you will suffer the cruelest punishment from the victors. Your strength, your walls, and your allies will not be able to protect you. I will raze your city, fortress, and churches to the ground, and I will kill your people and sell all women and children into slavery.""In the name of Allah in heaven, the creator, the author of the four gospels, the four thousand prophets... and in the name of our divine and noble imperial ancestors, I hereby make this solemn oath."

This is not persuasion, but a blatant threat!

All the knights and soldiers on the city walls firmly grasped their weapons.

"Do you hear me, you shameful idol worshippers..."

The officer with the white feather on his head continued to shout unashamedly.

The people on the city wall became even more furious.

The girl remained expressionless.

She took a bow and arrow from a soldier beside her.

Pulling back the bowstring, she released the arrow.

Like a rainbow, the arrow first broke the white feather, then accurately pierced through the officer's head.

The Ottoman officer's eyes widened as he fell straight down from his horse.

The girl still held her bow.

She drew another arrow, tightened the bowstring to a full moon shape.

"Tell your Sultan that this is Rodos' response!"

The arrow cut through the sky in a perfect arc.

Then it accurately pierced in front of the Ottoman cavalry!

The horses were startled.

The panicked Turks scattered like frightened birds and animals without even bothering to collect their commander's body.

Watching the Ottoman soldiers fleeing in all directions, the people on the city wall couldn't contain their heavy and unwilling emotions and burst out in cheers and jubilation.

"Long live the Commander-in-Chief!"

"Long live the Order of the Hospital Knights!"

"Long live the indestructible harbor of Rhodes!"

...

Among the cheering crowd, only the girl and the leaders of the knighthood wore heavy expressions.

Because they knew that the cruel war had just begun.

...

The next morning, the alarm bells rang from the towers on the city walls.

The official Turkish attack had arrived.

Charlotte and all the knights took off their black robes and put on war robes with red and white cross patterns.

The crimson war robes symbolized that the knighthood had officially entered a state of war and that they would defend their land with their own blood.

The main Turkish attack was still aimed at the St. Peter's Gate.

This was the weakest point in the defense of Rhodes Harbor, but only relatively so.

Charlotte ascended the tower of the fortress once again.

She took the telescope from her attendant's hand.

In front, the Turks had set up artillery positions in the garden outside the church gate.

Although it was not very clear, the number of cannons could still be estimated.

Twenty heavy cannons, seven or eight giant mortars, fifty or sixty regular cannons.

Such a formidable lineup made Charlotte unable to help but be moved.

"No wonder they wanted to hide and dismantle them."

The girl silently thought in her heart.

After confirming the enemy's situation, she ordered all the soldiers to hide in the towers of the fortress first. Several engineering teams were deployed around the city walls to repair any damage that might be caused by the bombardment.

About half an hour later, the Turkish bombardment began.

Roaring cannons and whistling mortar shells shot out cannonballs the size of adult heads, heavily smashing onto the walls and towers of Rhodes Harbor, creating a series of dull thuds.

Explosions caused debris to fly from the walls.

The towering towers were also tilted by the violent impact.

But this couldn't destroy the sturdy fortress of Rhodes Island, not even the weakest part!

The knights sat in the trembling fortress, calmly wiping their swords without fear.

At this moment, Charlotte also tightly held the sword in her hand.

...

Two hours later, the bombardment stopped.

The soldiers of Rhodes Island poured out of the fortress and quickly took their positions. The engineers below the city walls also hurriedly began to repair the towers that had been shaken by the bombardment.

For the last time, the girl took out the pendant of the eight-winged angel from her chest and silently prayed.

"Grandfather, Angelic Lord, protect me and grant me victory!"

The girl stepped onto the battlefield without hesitation.