March 30th, 1798

The castle of Montpierre was secured after only two hours of intense battle. Noticing they were overpowered by the rebels, the royalist soldiers dropped their weapons and accepted their defeat. Those who didn't, died.

Bautzen was locked up in the dungeons after the fight was over, with a handful of the remaining high ranking royalist officers. The rest of their men were allowed to flee the fortress, or swear loyalty to the new republic and stay. Many, for financial reasons, chose the latter. And so, the strategic landmark was taken.

The Duke of Alvern was also locked up in the dungeons, although he was kept alone in his own cell. Bleeding, starving, and running up a fever; that's how he passed his days there, suffering.

And Francis found it deeply entertaining to watch him groan in pain and sweat through his bloody shirt.

Laura had done the same for years under his hands. This was divine punishment for his evil deeds.

With Laupin gone —he had been relived from his duties so he could be present at the birth of his son—, it seemed like the captain had lost all of his humanity again.

And, despite how horrible this was to his own psyche, it also turned out to be something very beneficial for his army. Because when the fleet of the Staeltorn Kindgom was seen approaching the beach of Cheburg, he acted fast, and aggressively. Once more, he didn't hold back his punches, and beat the living crap out of the invaders. He proved himself as a true leader again, after managing to sink four enemy ships using a single smaller vessel as a hellburner.

The boat carried around 3,200 kilograms of gunpowder and a "mechanic fuse" —which was a combination of clockwork and flintlock—. The design was made by Jacques, during his free time. The idea itself came out of Charlie's mouth, days before the conflict even took place. And the execution of the whole plan was directed by Francis, with Obermann's approval.

The explosion of the tiny ship both confused and panicked their enemy. This gave the rebels plenty of time to load up their cannons, and shoot at the Staelian vessels from the watchtowers of the castle, forcing them to flee.

The foreigners also had to leave two of their best ships behind —because they were already too close to the shore and had no way to outmaneuver the revolutionary army— and both were, of course, taken and repurposed by the latter.

Obermann was positively shocked and impressed by the actions of these three ordinary men. And he wanted to reward them for their bravery and genius:

—If someone were to tell me, a year and a half ago, that a gardener, a blacksmith and an old royalist corporal were going to be the jewels of our new army, I would not have believed them. And yet... —the man laughed in a mix of disbelief and pride—. Here you are. Jacques Desaix, Charles Lectoure, and Francis Forestier... —he shook his head—. You have fought harder for this nation than any of us has. You have excelled at your service, time and time again. And for that, I wrote to the republican directory and asked them permission to give you a new promotion, along with Laupin and Arquette... Permission which they have given me. So now, I have the pleasure and the honor to name and call the three of you, commanders.