On his return to the Empire's homeland, specifically three days after leaving Lion Spring City, the fleet had already reached the western side of the Two-car Strait and was about to leave the Flame Sea when Bai Zhizhan finally received the latest news from the Navy headquarters: the battle at Nara Fortress had ended.
As he had predicted, the Special Mixed Fleet commanded by Liu Xiangzhen had launched a surprise attack on Nara Fortress and Tangier first, seizing control of the sea and air.
However, what differed from Bai Zhizhan's expectations was that the first to emerge from the Land Heart Sea was not the Special Mixed Fleet nor an assault squadron composed of escort battleships—it was the Raleigh Fleet.
On the night of the attack, the Raleigh Fleet had passed through Nara Fortress under the cover of the Special Mixed Fleet.
Strictly speaking, it was actually the mine-sweeping ships dispatched by the Imperial Navy that had cleared a navigational path forcefully.
