[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-324":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100981,1437,"Chapter 324: Roch and Sasha","the-reborn-king-chapter-324",324,"\u003Cp>The world fell silent, and only the sound of the crashing waves hitting against the port entered Roch’s ears. Looking at the ships that stopped a distance away, he could see his few men screaming orders as they prepared for what was to come. But he couldn’t hear anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see something big on the ships moving, but had no clue. Only the crashing sea made sense in his mind. First, the world felt silent to him, and then time seemed to slow. From the ships in the distance, he saw something swing up, followed by a flaming boulder, hurling its way to Jaslo. Two more quickly followed after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roch followed it with his eyes, watching the boulder fly over. He saw it disappear behind the houses before a deafening explosion erupted. Sound seemed to return to the world as he crouched down, clutching his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"SHEILD WALL! ARCHERS! TAKE AIM!\" The sound of his soldiers giving orders soon took over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Lord.\" One of them grabbed him and gently shook Roch, \"MY LORD!\" Roch shook his head and snapped out of his daze. \"You must leave. It is dangerous here.\" Roch looked back at the city as a few more boulders flew over and crashed into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It may have been dangerous at the port, but going into the city and dying without realising scared him more. \"No. I’ll stay. Command the defence.\" He knew that unless he was lucky, they wouldn’t be able to hold the city. But instead of dying a worthless death, he could be taken captive. He didn’t trust the Empire’s morality, but trusted their ability to make smart choices. As Marquess, he had more value alive than dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier nodded and looked back out at the sea. The fleet fired another round of boulders before stopping. The ships slowly inched closer once again. Roch gulped and took a step back, staying out of his men’s way. He hadn’t brought his sword. Staying made him a liability; he knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha watched with a small smile from the helm, looking down at the soldiers. She slammed her fist on her chest and saluted towards them. Everyone looking up did the same, and Sasha held he fist over her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"MEN!\" Sasha called out with a voice full of authority and pride. Her eyes radiated a powerful as her hair blew in the wind. \"When you look up at our flag. What is it you feel? Pride, happiness, power.\" Sasha saw a few nod slightly and smiled. \"I believe you’re all wrong. Yes, we should feel pride in our glorious nation. But that flag doesn’t represent these shallow things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand, saluting, slammed on the beam in front of her. Leaning forward, she looked at everyone with a deep smile. \"That flag represents the future. The future of our world. A future where we lead. A future where we make the unknown known. We all fight for the same thing, and ahead of us is the first roadblock of many. I don’t need cowards. I need soldiers. Do your jobs and begin writing the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha slammed her fist on her chest. She felt proud when she looked up at the Ammary flag flying above her house banner. \"GLORY TO THE EMPIRE! GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!\" The soldiers slammed their fists on their chests again, looking up at Sasha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"GLORY TO THE EMPIRE! GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!\" Looking down at her men who repeated the words back to her, she lowered her hands and looked at the city in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prepare for landing.\" Sasha gave the order, and like a machine, everyone began to move as needed. Someone below the deck handed out weapons to each man as others slowly raised the sails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shasha prepared her own sword, sharpening it with what little time she had. The port slowly got closer, and she knew it was a matter of minutes before they docked. Putting her hat on, she fitted it perfectly to her head and watched with cold eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference between how she usually acted and when she had been given an order was palpable, and when looked at, no one doubted her ability to lead or fight. Sasha slowly walked down the steps onto the deck as her men grabbed the planks, ready to disembark. She counted down the seconds until landing, and when the boat slightly bounced back after hitting the port, she nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plank was thrown down quickly as two boats full of soldiers quickly disembarked. Sasha followed behind her men, who led the charge, crashing into the small defence force waiting for her. She scanned them and quickly saw Roch in the back with a calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he was confident, but he knew that panicking would be an unsightly display. They had already lost when he didn’t have enough men to defend with. Calling what happened a fight was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two ships’ worth of soldiers, it was already hard for the defenders to hold the line, but as three more docked and added their own forces, they were quickly overwhelmed. She watched a few men put down their weapons, surrendering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She and her men weren’t butchers and didn’t slaughter them, allowing any who put down their arms to live. Roch chuckled but didn’t blame his men for giving up so easily. Their city had been free of conflict for too long, and they didn’t have enough anyway. Coming forward, he pushed past his men and stood before Sasha, quickly signalling her out as the one with the most power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Placing his hand on his chest, he slightly lowered his head. \"Marquess Roch Marszalek.\" Sasha looked at him and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lift your head.\" Roch did as told and looked down at her. He was over a foot taller, but it didn’t seem to matter. \"I am Admiral Sasha Godwin. Your city will be under my control for the foreseeable future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roch nodded and sighed. Pointing to a nearby barrel, asking to sit, Sasha allowed him. He watched as his men were quickly cuffed and led away. \"What about me? I’m sorry to say, but I won’t allow myself to be treated like a prisoner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A noble will be treated as one as long as they comply.\" Sasha grabbed a barrel and sat before him. The two stared at one another with equally arrogant, cold eyes. \"I’m sure you won’t do anything to jeopardise our mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What could I do?\" Roch said with a fake smile. His eyes darted left as another man wearing a sailor uniform came over with a few papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The information the Underwells had on Jaslo and the Marquess, Admiral.\" Sasha took it and quickly skimmed through it. Her lips curled up in a scoff as she looked at Roch with strange eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You choked Horace.\" Roch was suddenly confused, not understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who? I’ve never met the man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Horace Underwell,\" Sasha said with confidence but paused and made a face, realising the mistake. \"He had another name at the time. Either way, it was a good find coming here. Taking the head of a massive weapons manufacturer of the Commonwealth. I’m sure Snowid will be forced to relocate a lot of resources for this place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did the work.\" Roch bitterly smiled, but secretly thought about Horace.’I choked him. When did I....’His own mind froze as he thought about the banquet all those years ago. The arrogant pet under Laska’s. All this time, he pushed it off, thinking nothing of it, but looking at Sasha, he suddenly realised. \"How many years has the Empire been preparing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no hate in his voice, only confusion and slight admiration. He could respect someone or something that took time to prepare. If Horace’s inflation all those years ago was building upon just for the invasion, then, how deep did the Empire’s plans go? How long had they been oblivious? Every noble in the Commonwealth knew that an invasion would eventually come, but waiting for something and stopping it were different things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they had been informed that long ago, they had already failed to stop it. Pieces fell into place, and looking at Sasha, he couldn’t help but finally see the puzzle. \"The pirate lords, Henryk’s rebellion. Vladmire. It was all planned?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha opened her eyes in surprise. With that little information, Roch put everything together. Flashing a smile told Roch everything he needed, and he couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. \"Pirates to weaken us. Kill them after they do the damage and have the support of the people. Kill Henryk’s child and grandson blame and Snowid. Make him rebel. Have Vladmire ally with you so Nogorvod can’t become an ally. We’ve been played with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help but shake his head in disbelief. Sasha looked him in the eyes. Usually, someone would be angry about knowing they had been tricked. But Roch was more amazed than anything with a hint of slight admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Sasha.’Her mind went to a conversation she had with her mother just before she left.’The Emperor and those in the know have another objective with this war. Find people who can help ease the transition of power, but also have some skill.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Mother. You can’t be serious. Who would betray their home?’She still remembered the disbelief she spoke with, answering her mother, but seeing Roch, she suddenly felt it wasn’t too far-fetched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marquess.\" Sasha dropped the arrogance she put on display and called out to him calmly. Crossing her arms, she straightened her back and looked at him. \"I have an offer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1610,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","b97acf51bb6ebf1d60b39a8cccc60b92db067119532a32bcef933ccaf29421a2","the-reborn-king-chapter-325","the-reborn-king-chapter-323",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]