Charas cursed angrily, threw the communicator in his hand on the sofa, paced back and forth for a moment and then closed his eyes.
Soon, a pale golden light appeared not far from him, and an old man in gray robe slowly emerged.
Before the guy could speak, Charas walked forward hurriedly, stared into his eyes and spoke aggressively.
"Your people screwed up again! Why do you have to ask me to say it again! Can't you get some decent weapons!? Or do you mean that you have no one to use except those fish-men with scales?!
"
Arzu's face was equally ugly.
After all, he is not a true forerunner, but an apostle in the "Second Temple". He cannot completely block human emotions and achieve purely rational thinking.
But even so, he still waited patiently for this guy to finish complaining, and then expressed his dissatisfaction in a cold tone.
"I have to remind you that the sea is your territory. You have lived here for two centuries, and we have just arrived here not long ago. I can indeed solve some troubles for you that are inconvenient for you to deal with, but you shouldn't
Do you think we are as omnipotent in the sea as we are on the road? If that's true, what else can we do to you? Charas's expression was a little uneasy.
"But even so..."
This time, Arzu didn't wait for him to finish his words before he cursed loudly.
"Don't say 'Forget it, do you want me to explain it clearly? You are moving too slowly!"
Charas looked at Arzu who suddenly became angry in astonishment, and for a moment he forgot who was asking whom to accuse.
Taking a deep breath, Arzu calmed down his heaving chest and stared at the astonished federal chief of staff and continued.
"The Alliance is trying to build an encirclement network against us. The time left for us is getting less and less. We must open our strategic space to the sea before the encirclement network is formed. Research on the mother nest on the Tiangong is a must. You promise
Where is my Coral City?
Another two months have passed, when can we start our research!
Hearing Arzu suddenly mention this, Charas looked a little embarrassed, coughed slightly and tried to explain.
This will take some time... There are still voices of concern within the Federation, and I have worked hard to speak for you."
He needs to use his friends in the north to help him solve some troubles, but that doesn't mean he has to completely turn to them.
To put it bluntly, this is just mutual use.
It is true that he longs to gain eternity while gaining power, but he has his own rhythm to do this, and this is the safest.
too slow."
Arzu shook his head, his face full of disappointment.
"I trust you and give you the greatest support. Whether you want technology or assistance, we will do it without reservation. We even provide you with our most precious mind interference technology. And you gave it to me.
What? Spend two months playing your boring officialdom games? Do we have to wait until you sit in the position of president before we can start the next step?"
Without waiting for Charas to explain, he continued sadly.
"As long as I have a submarine or a warship, we don't have to use those ugly fishmen. Why did our plan fail? It's all because of you! Charas! Because of your weakness and incompetence! Time and time again, I let
Their subordinates are alone! As long as you give them a little bit of support——"
"enough!"
Finally losing his composure, Charas interrupted his scolding angrily.
"I have helped you to the maximum extent that my authority allows. Do you want me to go beyond the command and order the federal fleet to fire on the alliance's targets? No one will pay attention to such an order! This is not your place!
There are no puppets whose brains have been hollowed out by Naguo. It is impossible for me to do whatever I want. I must stay within the rules——"
"Are you doing things outside the rules within the rules? This is your most fatal flaw. You want no good at all.
Want, but are not willing to take any risks. Let me tell you, if you really respect your ridiculous set of rules, don't borrow our power from the beginning, but fight for the majority like your beloved Mr. President.
people’s support.”
Arzu laughed softly, walked in front of this dear ally, stared at the wavering pupils, and spoke slowly.
"I can see that your men have begun to doubt you."
Taking a step back subconsciously, Charas frowned.
"My men?"
Arzu nodded, his void eyes suddenly looked in the direction of the window, and continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
That destroyer is heading towards the scene of the incident... Let me guess. First of all, he is definitely not going to help us. If he really has this intention, he will not wait until we are done fighting. "
Destroyer? You mean Dongwen?" Charas looked at him in surprise and murmured to himself, "Didn't I ask him to return to Anle Island and wait for him?"
It seems that I guessed it right. "Looking at Charas's expression gradually changing, Arzu just coldly sneered at his ally, "What a pity, Mr. Charas, I'm sorry for your officialdom game.
You're out of luck. You have no chance of becoming the President of the Federation, no chance at all, but you are not completely without a chance to hold the power you desire... How about considering the title of Head of State?"
Before Charas, who looked astonished, could speak, Arzu dropped the last sentence.
"This is your last chance. Let me see if you have the courage to bear the consequences of your choice."
"If you are a coward, I might as well find another ally as soon as possible, haha."
At the same time as those words fell, the golden shadow began to gradually fade, blending into the air like a wisp of dissipating smoke.
Charas was suddenly startled and shouted quickly.
"Wait, wait a minute!"
The phantom didn't wait for him, and didn't even bother to listen to what he said. It disappeared directly into the room, and no matter how he called, there was no response.
"This guy!"
Charas clenched his fists.
At this time, a drop of cold sweat suddenly broke out from his forehead and dripped on the carpet.
Being set up!
From the beginning, the guy was sure that these mutants would fail.
And I, who doesn't completely trust the Torch, will definitely arrange for a warship to monitor the final result just like before.
Now his men have begun to doubt his motives and even whether what they are doing is right.
Just like that guy who was pretending to be a ghost said, he has no chance to continue speculating as a wallflower.
This time the suspicious eyes came not from the centrists, but from right around him——
The officers who supported him in this gamble.
Now he only has two options to choose from.
Either confess everything to those who support him and those who doubt him, and accept the punishment of the rules set by themselves.
Or take advantage of the fact that the initiative is still in your hands, and pull the people who still support you to take a final gamble...
Charas felt his palms soaked with cold sweat.
Just then, there were footsteps at the door, and then someone knocked on the door.
He spoke almost reflexively.
"Come in."
The door opened and an officer came in and gave a respectful military salute.
"Mr. Charas, Mr. President hopes that you can go to the presidential palace. He has some doubts about the investigation of the Golden Coast and wants to discuss it with you."
Golden Coast?
Charas was stunned for a moment, and it took him a while to remember that it was the research ship heading to Haiya Province to establish an outpost.
Realizing this, he couldn't help but want to laugh.
How long has it been since this happened, and these guys are still investigating that thing?
But this
There were outsiders inside, but he didn't laugh out loud after all. He calmed down his breathing for a moment, turned to look at the officer standing at the door, and said gently.
"Please tell Mr. President for me that I still have some things to deal with here. I will go over to meet with him before dusk."
"yes!"
The officer made another military salute, turned around and left the room.
The door is closed.
Looking at the room that had become quiet again, Charas paused for a moment, and finally walked to the sofa and picked up the communicator lying on it.
He dialed a series of numbers cleanly, without any hesitation in his eyes or in his voice.
With the issuing of orders one after another, he quickly completed all the arrangements that needed to be made before starting this huge gamble.
In fact, there is nothing to hesitate at all.
Arzu's assessment is correct, he is indeed a weak and incompetent guy.
But unfortunately, the officers and militants who pushed him to the front were actually not "iron-blooded tough guys". They were just fagots who took things step by step, wanting benefits but not daring to take responsibility.
More than just yourself?
At least I have a little advantage over them, and I can still make some decisions when it's time to make them.
There is no reason why he should lose this bet!
Roundabout port.
The ceremony to celebrate the opening of the water went smoothly to the end. Governor Channing read out the declaration of friendship between Roundabout, Chip Harbor and the Alliance in front of everyone, and the Midnight Killing Chicken read out the administrator's response to the local survivors on behalf of the Alliance.
blessing of.
In the end, as promised by the alliance, the fresh water supply pipeline was not affected in any way by the sudden alarm.
Clear water splashes still flow out from the end of the inverted hammer handle, just like the rock-solid order.
Instead, the sudden alarm sounded like a misunderstanding.
At first, the people surrounding the square were a little panicked, thinking that something big had happened.
However, when they saw the band continuing to play music and the ribbon-cutting ceremony continuing, they gradually settled down and immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the celebration again.
The celebration ceremony ends.
Standing next to the fountain, Midnight Killer grinned, looked at Governor Channing who still had an incredulous expression on his face and said.
"Look, I just said it's okay."
Full of questions, Chaning saw that the alliance commander seemed to know something, so he couldn't help but ask in the end.
"What was the explosion just now..."
Midnight Killer pondered for a moment and said frankly.
"I'm afraid they're mutants."
"Mutants?!" Channing was stunned for a moment, looked at him in surprise, and blurted out, "Why are there mutants in the southern seas?!"
He had indeed heard of aquatic mutants with gills and scales, but those creatures did not really live in the sea, but instead built nests on the shore.
The islands in the southern sea are far away from the coastline. Without means to drive away alien species, even a boat floating on the water is not safe.
Looking at Channing with an unbelievable look on his face, Midnight Killer did not explain, but took out a tablet from his arms and handed it to him.
Just now, Voldemort had shared the footage taken near the submarine freshwater pipeline to his terminal device through the radio station on the Rourou.
Watching the battle video played on the screen, Channing's Adam's apple moved involuntarily.
What a mutant...
And there are so many!
Floating in the filthy sea water were broken limbs and weapons, as well as aquatic alien species that were attracted by the smell of blood.
In addition, there is a huge sea monster "Laken" rolling in the water, which seems to have been attracted by those aquatic mutants.
Although the possibility of synthetic videos is not ruled out, these people obviously did not play tricks that can be easily exposed.
"It's nothing strange
Yes, the southern sea is right next to the Sea Islands Province. Since the Torch Church introduced the garbage to the Death Coast, it is not surprising that it has spread everywhere."
Looking at Channing whose eyes were glued to the screen, Midnight Killer suddenly continued as if he remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, just two months ago, a group of mutants tried to attack our port, but luckily we caught them before they landed."
"This... is really shocking news." Channing looked at him in surprise, and the expression on his face became obviously unnatural.
Mutant.
This is no joke.
The area where the explosion occurred is less than a hundred nautical miles away from the ring island. Since they can swim to that location, it is entirely possible for them to swim here.
Although there are some defense forces on the island, and they can mobilize reserves if necessary, if they face a sudden attack by a thousand mutants, they may not even have time to issue guns to the boys.
The consensus among the settlements in the southern sea is to establish defense forces at sea, and this is also the strategic policy established in the days of Vault 70.
That is, the Federation's fortress is placed on the sea outside the island, and a fleet made of steel is used to block threats from the wasteland.
It is precisely because of this defense mechanism that in the past two hundred years almost no predator speedboats have been able to get within a hundred nautical miles of each island.
However, now, this defense mechanism seems to have failed.
There have been two accidents in a row...
Seeing the change in Governor Channing's expression, Midnight Killer continued.
"And what's even more intriguing is that on the same day, your maritime patrol team patrolling nearby waters disappeared collectively... Of course, I'm not blaming you for not reminding us that our safety is our own business, but look
You seem to have no idea what's going on there. If I remember correctly, that should be one of your patrol areas."
"I remember there was a drill two months ago," Channing coughed lightly. "It might have been a coincidence."
This sentence sounds like he is trying to excuse the federation, but it also sounds like he is trying to convince himself.
"This possibility cannot be ruled out," Midnight Killer paused and continued, "But I think the federal navy should know what happened there. After all, the patrol came back the next day, and there was no blood on the beach at that time.
Clean it up...didn't they warn you about the mutant threat?"
Channing's expression gradually became a little less tense.
"No... our main enemy is Vault 70, and the main thing we need to be wary of is their submersibles."
After a pause, his expression gradually became serious, and he murmured to himself thoughtfully.
"This matter is a bit strange...why are mutants interested in submarine pipelines?"
"I think what you should pay more attention to is why the fleet that is supposed to protect you selectively ignores this obvious threat. Letting mutants come ashore is no joke, especially those with scales. I heard
Their appetite for torturing their prey is even worse than those of the greenskins."
That’s all.
Midnight Killing Chicken did not continue on this embarrassing topic.
He knew that although Chan Ning didn't say it, he definitely knew it in his heart. Compared with whether a certain problem was properly solved, whether it was revealed as a problem was more critical. Otherwise, it had happened twice.
, it is very likely that it will not only happen for the third or fourth time, but countless times without people knowing.
Without the approval of the command and without the permission of the settlements in the southern seas, the federal fleet secretly acquiesced to the military operations of mutants in the area under its jurisdiction for some purpose.
"Of course, this is just a friendly reminder. We have never placed our safety on others. Regardless of whether the federal fleet provides us with necessary support, we will deal with those scaly guys in our own way."
After giving the governor a meaningful look, he turned around and prepared to lead the brothers from the Jungle Corps back to the ship.
Staring at his back, Channing's Adam's apple twitched, and after struggling for a moment, he finally couldn't help but speak.
"Please wait a moment."
Midnight Killer stopped and turned around, casting a questioning look at him.
"What's wrong?"
"I think... we need to strengthen cooperation in the security field, which may be more urgent than cooperation in the economic field."
With a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, Channing coughed lightly and continued in an unspeakable tone, "If we are attacked by mutants, I hope to get your support... Of course, if you are attacked by mutants,
The same goes for attacks. In addition, any warning information we receive will be shared with you."
Since the Alliance has a way to lock down the mutants' location and eliminate the danger before they attack the pipeline, they have obviously established a patrol system that includes intelligence search and interception strikes.
No matter what the reason was, the two consecutive failures of the Federation fleet had made him unable to trust those guys anymore.
Currently, the ring island is exposed to the threat of mutants, and he needs to add a firewall for the local survivors.
A more reliable firewall.
In exchange, he can share the intelligence network of the ring island with the alliance, and the early warning signals received by other islands will also be received by Friesport.
In a sense, this is equivalent to the two sides sharing a map view and verbally signing a mutual defense agreement.
Although the roundabout does not have its own army or fleet, the port itself can also be used as a military facility.
Perhaps he understood the meaning of Chan Ning's words. An expression of surprise appeared on Midnight Killer's face, then he smiled heartily and agreed immediately.
"No problem! If the opponent is a mutant, we will attack anytime and anywhere, not to mention you are our partners."
After a pause, he continued.
"Of course, we are two hundred nautical miles away from you. If we wait for the attack to happen, I'm afraid it will be too late. I suggest that you build an eight-hundred-meter-long airstrip next to the island, whether using concrete materials or
Steel, if our plane can land next to your island, we can support you as soon as possible."
After carefully taking note of this advice, Channing nodded and said.
I will arrange it as soon as possible."
At the same time that the Jungle Corps was evacuating from the port of the round island, the Federation destroyer, which had learned about the situation from the Alliance aircraft, was continuing to move forward towards the sea area where the battle took place.
Some things cannot be explained clearly in the communication channel and must be confirmed with your own eyes.
There was silence on the bridge.
Both Captain Dongwen and the officers under his command were silently staring at the endless sea directly ahead.
In fact, both the captain himself and all his subordinates have heard that their friends in the north have been helping them solve some troubles.
However, what they didn't expect was that the ones doing the trick turned out to be mutants!
What makes it even more difficult for them to accept is that the place where the incident happened is only a hundred nautical miles away from the ring island...
"There must be some misunderstanding..." the adjutant said with a cold sweat."
"No matter what...the higher-ups won't use those guys."
There is always a better way.
If it really doesn't work, it's not impossible to let the federal fleet take action.
Dong Wen didn't speak, his eyes still stared at the rising and falling waves in the distance.
At this moment, his pupils suddenly shrank slightly, and he saw a mutilated arm suddenly appear among the surging waves.
Soon he discovered that there was more than just one...
The mutilated corpses rose and fell with the waves, their blue scales and skin revealing their identities.
The alien species attracted by the smell of blood chased and gnawed at their corpses, paying no attention to the warships that were just around the corner.
Stand in the east
The adjutant next to Wen swallowed and struggled to squeeze out a sentence from his throat.
"……Mutant."
And not just one or two...
So many corpses, at least a thousand!
Realizing this, cold sweat couldn't help but fall from his chin.
If these mutants were allowed to swim more than 80 nautical miles to the southeast along the pipeline, the consequences would be disastrous...
Dong Wen stared silently at the tragic scene on the sea, and then glanced at the flashing signal on the sonar screen.
That's a "Laken".
It seemed to have sensed the psychic interference signal from the warship. It was twisting its injured body and escaping towards the north.
A dozen weird-shaped submersibles were chasing after it. They should be gadgets made by the alliance. Although the condition of these submersibles was not very good and they should have suffered some damage in the previous battle, they did not seem to be
I plan to let go of this prey that swims to my mouth.
Having promised to support them in the previous communication with the pilot, Dongwen looked at the adjutant on the side and ordered.
"Launch torpedoes."
After a pause, he said again.
"Also, use a trawl net to bring up the corpses of a few mutants."
The adjutant nodded seriously and gave a military salute.
"yes!"
As the combat order was issued, a torpedo was thrown into the sea from the launcher and rushed towards the target locked by the sonar.
Without any suspense, the torpedo hit the target easily. The explosion of air columns and flames instantly tore the huge body into pieces, and sent the scarred Laken away with just one shot.
The Alliance's submersible made strange movements, gesturing with its mechanical arms, as if to express its gratitude to them.
Instructing his adjutant to send them a communication sound wave to express his welcome, Dongwen walked outside the bridge alone and went to the deck of the destroyer.
At this moment, a speedboat flying the Confederate flag came from a distance and approached his destroyer unhurriedly.
Dong Wen glanced at the man standing on the speedboat and recognized the guy's name. He seemed to be called Mu Da, and he seemed to be the captain of the maritime patrol.
Just as he was sizing up the man, the man was also sizing him up, and then glanced at the trawl net thrown to the sea.
As if he had made up his mind, the man waved the speedboat close to the destroyer, grabbed the ladder on the hull and climbed onto the deck.
Dong Wen didn't stop him and just watched silently.
"Great harvest, it seems you have a lot of loot. Fortunately, you discovered the problem in time and didn't let these good swimmers swim to our island."
Squinting at the blood-stained sea, Mu Da walked up to him with a hint of ridicule in his voice.
"The residents on the ring island are waiting for me to go back and tell them what happened here. How about giving me a way? This way I don't have to go down the net myself."
Dong Wen did not take his words and said after a moment of silence.
"It seems like you know something."
"Did I hear you right? Are you asking me? It turns out that the person who has been watching next to me is me?" Mu Da looked at him with a surprised expression and said with a smile, "How about we just change ships?
Well, you drive my speedboat and I'll drive your destroyer.
Although it was just an exaggerated joke, the captain seemed to take it seriously and thought carefully for a moment before speaking.
"It's not impossible."
"Come on."
Mu Da chuckled and looked towards the vast sea in the distance.
"More than a thousand mutants marched straight into our territorial waters, while our fleet was watching and applauding them... You know everything, and you still want an answer from me. I said two months ago
I understand now that I can’t count on you at all.”
Dong Wen was silent for a long time, then sighed and said.
"Sorry, brother."
"I can
"It's not your brother," Muda glanced at him. "You don't have to say sorry to me. Instead, you should tell the more than 100,000 survivors on the ring island, as well as the millions of residents in the entire federation, that they are the ones who are here."
I spend money to support you...and of course, support me too."
Perhaps out of shame, the captain slowly closed his eyes.
Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Mu Da then spoke.
"Hello."
"Um?"
"Tell me the truth," Mouda continued, looking at the captain who was looking at him. "The person who blew up the Ocean Current Power Station was really a resident of Vault 70."
Dong Wen was silent for a while, then slowly spoke.
"Probably not."
Mu Da stared into his eyes.
"That's you?"
"no."
Dongwen shook his head, and after a moment, he sighed and said.
"...but there's no difference."
Mu Da frowned.
"What's the meaning?"
7 Without answering the question directly, the man said in a pointed way.
"We who are supposed to put out the fire acquiesce to the fire that has been lit, hoping that it will solve the troubles for us that are not convenient for us to solve by ourselves. I should have noticed at that time that sooner or later, we who are hesitant will also
Become a problem."
Mu Da couldn't help but ask.
"So why are you doing this?"
Dongwen said calmly.
"Because there is only one chance. If we don't be decisive, the survivors of the Federation will never unite to pull those pretentious guys from the altar. And once their managers come back, take them out and put them in the shelter.
With those weapons, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will never come back."
What about now? Are we more united?"
Mu Da stared into his eyes intently. Seeing that he couldn't say a word for a long time, his eyes gradually showed disappointment.
"Originally, we who have hands and feet need someone to poop for us, and then another person to wipe our butts, just because you hide it from me and I hide it from you."
After chewing on his lips for a long time, he squeezed out the last half of the sentence in disappointment.
"...How do you ask me to convince myself to continue to believe in you."
Dongwen looked into the distance, not wanting to look into those disappointed eyes, and stretched out his hand to gently straighten the officer's hat on his head.
"I am saying this precisely because I think it is not good to do so. I do not expect you to continue to believe me...but please give me another chance."
Mu Da could feel that those words were not addressed to him, but more to the survivors of the ring island behind him.
The disappointment and ridicule in his eyes gradually faded, and he asked in a serious tone.
"What else are you going to do?"
"Make up for past mistakes."
When he said this, Dong Wen paused for a moment, took out a thumb-sized card from his arms, and handed it to the patrol captain's hand.
This is a memory card that holds a recording of his phone call with Charas, as well as an audio recording he made himself after that.
It contains some things that everyone in the Federation fleet knows a little bit about, but dare not mention clearly.
He knew that this thing alone could not convince everyone.
But he believes that he can convince at least some guys like him.
Mu Da looked at him puzzled and asked.
"This is?"
Staring into his eyes, Dongwen said solemnly.
"Take it to the port of Anle Island and give it to the people waiting for me there."
Looking at the memory card in his hand, Mu Da was silent for a moment and looked at him and asked.
"Why don't you go by yourself."
"I'm going to go to the North Island."
Staring in the north direction, his eyes gradually became firmer, and his voice no longer contained any hesitation or hesitation.
At this moment, he seemed like a real captain.
"There are already cracks in our cabin."
"Before this rift widens beyond repair, someone must stand up and correct the mistakes that have been made!"