The perfect excuse

"Screw ' Kang De wouldn't dare'!"

Commander Nixiyasi's roar echoed from the captain's cabin of the Azure Fleet's flagship.

She slammed her fist on the table, roaring, "Tens of thousands of combat personnel, an entire main fleet, just escaped from the claws of endless sea monsters, and now you want us to provoke an even more ruthless one? And you tell me ' Kang De wouldn't dare'? Damn it! How many elves did he kill in Valentan in one go! And you're telling me he wouldn't dare?"

The elegant and beautiful Flower of the Navy swore.

The officers standing in front of the desk also had grim expressions.

They were extremely dissatisfied.

They were urgently summoned by the Council and dispatched to a perilous place. They were almost exhausted to death by endless sea monsters. After escaping, they received new tasks without rest, vacation, or even comfort, commendation, or reward.

Setting aside the grandiose wording of the orders, and extracting the core message, the lords of the Tower of All-Seeing have given them the task of sailing into the Broken Sea and engaging in an armed standoff with Kang De's fleet.

Hold.

The aurora borealis that had shone across the sky had barely dissipated when the entire fleet witnessed the blazing sun rising over the dark horizon that night. They had all seen firsthand the power of the Forbidden Spell of the Dragon of Cathay, and now the council officials were actually sending them to fight against such a being?

--And they even swore to us that Kang De wouldn't dare use Forbidden Spell?

Their eyes were dark and their hearts were filled with rage. They cast their gazes at the special envoy standing in the middle of the crowd, in front of the captain's desk. If their gazes were weapons, this man would have been torn to pieces long ago.

A spineless office worker, a lackey of the congressman!

"Please don't get agitated, Commander Nixiyasi. The Starry Sky Council has no intention of sending you all to your deaths in vain. You should understand better than anyone the significance of the Azure Fleet to the entire Western Sea. Even from the most cold-blooded perspective of self-interest, the Council cannot tolerate the risk of losing the Azure Fleet."

In stark contrast to the surrounding soldiers who had long spent their lives at sea and possessed a fierce and rugged demeanor, this special envoy who had rushed over from Tula Xiaye was clearly a pretty boy with a effeminate air, a weak voice, and a careless and listless appearance. He was simply tarnishing the reputation of the navy.

He smiled slightly, bowed, and said, "But then again, is it really the act of a soldier to retreat when faced with danger? Is it the act of Azure Fleet to cower and retreat when confronted with a powerful enemy?"

The commander abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as a sword. "What did you say?"

The special envoy smiled faintly and said, "You heard that."

Nixiyasi paused for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "We are a naval force belonging to the Arcane Council. We swear to uphold loyalty and duty. We fight for justice, righteousness, and the interests of the Council. We face powerful enemies head-on and never back down, but that does not mean we must unconditionally obey every chaotic command!"

She looked up and met his gaze directly. "Questioning and a thirst for knowledge are equally admirable qualities of a spellcaster."

"So, you want a reasonable reason?"

"Right."

"If you accept this reason, will you lead the Azure Fleet to fight for the interests of the Council?"

"... yes."

"Then I can tell you."

The special envoy paused, then spoke with a firm and resolute tone, "Because Kang De is the enemy! He is warlike by nature, abuses Forbidden Spell, disrespects the nobility, and incites war. His belligerent tendencies will plunge the entire world into a dark age! It is our responsibility to curb his ambitions and combat his evil deeds!"

"Furthermore, you're mistaken about one point. The mission of the Arcane Council's army is not to protect the Council's interests, but to defend the interests of the entire Civilization. That's why we're here!"

He said in a deep voice, "The substance that fell from the sky to the Broken Isles is dangerous and forbidden. According to the established rules of the continent, the Council's security department should assess and study whether this substance is harmful and whether it should be sealed or destroyed. However, our reasonable request was ignored by Kang De, and our envoy was humiliated by Kang De. He wants to monopolize this uncontrollable and dangerous substance... Do you know what this means!"

"We must not allow Kang De to monopolize or even arbitrarily utilize that dangerous, unknown substance!"

"We will never allow him to continue to grow his power and ambition in such a dangerous manner!"

"We must defend world peace and the stability of Civilization, not allow it to ignite war!"

He raised his hand to straighten his collar, his determined gaze fixed on the officers present.

"Yes, danger lies ahead. Kang De's Forbidden Spell are indeed powerful, but if he attacks the Council and threatens us with Forbidden Spell, are we supposed to surrender immediately?"

"In other words, if you all retreat in this situation, how Council be sure that you won't surrender at the first sign of trouble if Kang De really launches an attack on us in the future?!"

How could soldiers leading troops in battle compare to politicians with their silver tongues? In an instant, they were cornered. The naval officers rebuked them in dissatisfaction, but the special envoy remained calm and composed. He looked at Nixiyasi and said solemnly, "Commander, the Council needs your loyalty."

Nixiyasi's expression shifted between light and dark.

"Of course, the members of the Starry Sky Council are well aware of your hard work and loyalty. Your Excellencies are deeply aware of the risks you have taken. This operation is of utmost importance, and therefore, the Council will reward you with ample benefits, including promotions, medals, material rewards, opportunities for further study... everything you could want."

As he finished speaking, he took out a stack of cards from his pocket and distributed them to the soldiers present.

The special envoy called out everyone's name clearly and then handed them their respective cards.

The rewards and compensation given to each person by the Starry Sky Council were written in gold lettering above.

Everyone has one, and everyone's reward is unique.

These are exactly what they need most.

It's something you can't refuse.

Nixiyasi stared blankly at the card in front of her.

The rewards of land and property, the promotion in official position, and the transfer to the Navy Department to enter the decision-making level were nothing to her. But her father would be granted the position of a member of the Tower of All-Seeing Senate. Although he was an outer member, he had already entered the power class of the Council. In this country, members of parliament were equivalent to nobles. They had great power and authority in certain areas and had a significant influence.

Father...

She lowered her eyes.

She knew what her father craved most.

If she refuses the Council's order here, she will likely have no hope of promotion and will be slowly dismissed. If her father knew that he had been so close to his dream of entering the Senate, but lost it because of his daughter's useless stubbornness, what kind of expression would he have?

Moreover, she also noticed the expressions on her subordinates' faces.

Although it's unknown what generous promises were written on their cards, judging from the excitement on their faces, it must have been conditions they couldn't refuse.

That's quite a lot of money, Councilor.

Nixiyasi sighed silently. She closed her eyes. The council's actions had broken the rules, and the generous promises had shaken her authority as commander. If she insisted on refusing to obey orders under these circumstances, she would not only be dismissed but it would also be of no use. Moreover, the special envoy had occupied the moral high ground with his high-sounding words, and she would be labeled a cowardly deserter, losing everything and nothing would change.

Thinking of this, the Flower of the Navy felt a wave of helplessness and powerlessness.

She whispered, "What are the specific orders?"

"Upon reaching the Broken Sea, dispatch a suicide squad to collect as much of the unknown material floating in and submerged in the sea as possible while confronting the island-defending fleet of the Broken Isles. All three types are essential."

The special envoy said with a smile, "The more you harvest, the richer the reward."

Nixiyasi shook her head and said, "A standoff? Even if Kang De doesn't use Forbidden Spell, it will be difficult for us to gain the upper hand. I'm sure you've heard about how terrifying the Knight Astolfo."

"But there's only one, isn't there?"

The special envoy shrugged and said, "The Distant Harbor Navy is extremely weak. Even with the recruitment of traitors from the three nations' fleets, their size is still far too small compared to the Azure Fleet."

He pointed to the nautical chart on the table. "We have the numerical advantage, so we'll attack from all sides. While confronting the island's garrison fleet, we'll launch small boats, and our suicide squads will collect as many of those three unknown substances as possible. The council has already finalized the reward list; the more you collect, the greater the reward. Not only will the suicide squad members who participate in the collection receive rewards and promotions, but the commander of the ship they belong to will also receive greater credit!"

This move was inspired by the Distant Harbor model... These days, the legislators have learned a lot.

Nixiyasi's expression shifted between light and dark.

She sighed, "Like scoundrels, the Azure Fleet has lost all honor..."

She understood what the special envoy meant.

Relying on the fact that the Distant Harbor wouldn't easily start a war with the Council, and that even if the fleets approached, the two sides would only confront and skirmish rather than engage in battle, they brazenly sent speedboats and sampans to collect and salvage the floating unknown substances. They were just openly robbing them; what were they going to do about it?

--How is this any different from throwing a tantrum and acting like a brat?

"This is for world peace, for the benefit of Civilization; everyone has a responsibility to sacrifice for it," the special envoy solemnly declared. "The Arcane Council remember your sacrifices and heroic deeds."

After a moment's hesitation, one of the captains shouted, "That's right! For world peace! Let's do it!"

Gradually, more and more people echoed this sentiment.

When a golden opportunity for promotion and wealth is combined with a noble and righteous spirit, who would refuse?

Nixiyasi remained silent.

She discovered that this special envoy who had come from Tula Xiaye had become the new core of the Azure Fleet, and she was powerless to stop it.

Even though she enjoyed high prestige in the fleet and was loved and respected by all the officers and soldiers, she could not change this trend—because she could not stop the officers and soldiers' desire for promotion and wealth.

And...

A woman's intuition told her that things were probably not that simple.

The fact that the council would go to such lengths and take such risks is certainly not as simple as "Kang De wanted to monopolize the unknown and dangerous mysterious substance, which could potentially threaten the entire world."

Looking at the special envoy who was nodding and smiling at the soldiers, and at the captains who had been gloomy a moment ago but were now eager to go, the lonely Nixiyasi suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment and helplessness.

She began to suspect that something was wrong with the Council she was loyal to and obeyed.

Her fleet, her beloved naval life, her loyal and reliable subordinates... in an instant, everything became so unfamiliar, so distant.

"Just as I thought."

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, at the observation station on the central island that had been cleared, Kang De looked at the Atmospheric Perspective reflection in the giant crystal plate and said calmly, "This is blatant robbery."

Quilion cursed, "Disgrace! Is this what they call the navy?"

He turned to Kang De: "Please allow us to fight, Your Highness Kang De. We will not allow these Council's wrecked ships to enter the Broken Sea even an inch!"

Kang De smiled. "So, Mr. Quilion, what do you plan to do?"

The martial spirited elf replied without hesitation, "Warn them to drive them away, then ram them! Big ship rams small ship! Or, if you'd like, we can fight them right now!"

Kang De asked curiously, "Isn't there any other way?"

Querion asked doubtfully, "What is your highness referring to?"

"I mean..." Kang De gestured, "You see, if ships from other countries trespass into your waters to fish, or sneak around provoking you or even conducting reconnaissance..."

Quilion arrogantly declared, "Who dares? They'd be asking for trouble! Just smash them with a magical artifact!"

"..."

Ugh, this other world is so damn barbaric.

I'm so envious.

Kang De shook his head and said, "Civilization. The Azure Fleet and I are only novices. We can't let things get so bloody and brutal that it'll get out of control..."

They're even trying to poach talent.

The elf asked, "Then what should we do?"

Kang De smiled mysteriously, "Have you ever played with a water cannon?"

"... What is that? Some kind of water-based magic?"

"No, you can try it in a bit, it's super powerful."

The Azure Fleet is approaching the Broken Sea.

The officers arrived at the bow of the ship, where all ships were already mobilized. Stimulated by generous rewards and promotions, the fear of the Forbidden Spell was forgotten, and the captains repeatedly tried to boost morale.

The main point is --

Kang De dared not unleash Forbidden Spell.

Kang De had nothing to fear except Forbidden Spell.

We have a large number of ships and are in a strong position; they can't do anything to us.

"Collect unknown substances from the sea surface and shallow waters as quickly as possible!"

"Three types! Golden crystal clusters! Red Levitation Stone! Green gelatinous substance!"

"The council has decreed that these three substances can be exchanged for their equivalent weight in gold!"

"To be divided equally among the Clippers team members!"

"The more you fish, the more you earn!"

The Council really went all out! From top to bottom, they ensured that the enthusiasm of all naval officers and soldiers was ignited, and the entire Azure Fleet was engulfed in a frenzy of promotion and wealth. The righteous brainwashing from the special envoy also gave their actions a veneer of noble motives... This is not for ourselves, but for the whole world!

Kang De has nothing to fear!

The special envoy stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the hazy Broken Isles in the distance. His Eagle Eye allowed him to see large Levitation Stone suspended above the sea, mysterious and dreamlike. These magical extraterrestrial substances were his stepping stones to advancement, while the large teleportation array that had been set up was his guarantee of safety.

He turned to Commander Nixiyasi: "If the Broken Isles send someone to negotiate, then please, Commander, intervene. I've heard you have some connections with the Dragon of Cathay."

The image of Kang De flashed through Flower of the Navy's mind. They had indeed had one or two pleasant conversations before, but she never expected that their paths would cross again in this way.

Although she had already repaid the favor, she was now being made an enemy.

She said calmly, "I have no say in Kang De's affairs, so please don't bother."

The special envoy stared at Nixiyasi's beautiful face. Her long service at sea had given this beautiful mage a unique temperament—mysterious, strong, and elusive. With her blue hair and red eyes, her gaze was stern, possessing both the elegance of a spellcaster and the composure of a naval commander. The title of "Flower of the Navy" was well-deserved. If the special envoy were to encounter such a beauty in Tula Xiaye, he would certainly not hesitate to pursue her passionately.

But now is not the time.

He smiled reservedly, "I've heard that the Dragon of Cathay is a romantic gentleman who greatly respects women. If Commander Nixiyasi can use her personal relationship to gain Kang De's understanding and cooperation, it will certainly be a great achievement."

Nixiyasi coldly replied, "I am the commander of the Azure Fleet because I climbed up step by step over the corpses of my enemies, not because I was forced into this position by some big shot. If you continue to insult me with such disgusting words, I will use your skull as a bowl."

She turned and left, leaving behind a tall and alluring silhouette, her boots clicking softly on the deck.

"I'm tired," she said calmly. "The fleet is under your command. If you mess it up and people die, I'll kill you first."

This could be considered a dignified and proactive concession... Nixiyasi wasn't stupid; she sensed the suspicion from the council from the special envoy's behavior and attitude. Her attitude when the fleet was surrounded had already aroused the dissatisfaction of the councilors, so offering such a huge reward was to get the special envoy to take over command of the fleet.

Her gaze was cold and sharp, her steps firm as she walked towards the captain's cabin.

No one could see her face clearly—the beautiful and brave commander gritted her teeth, a few glistening tears welling up in her eyes.

The officers standing nearby awkwardly chuckled and made way, bowing and scraping as they watched the imposing commander leave. Then, they approached the special envoy with smiles, offering words of comfort, "That's just the commander's temper, please bear with him..."

"It's alright, I have great respect for Commander Nixiyasi."

The special envoy smiled reservedly, but in his heart he was already planning how to file a complaint with the council afterward, and then gradually use his power and the rules of the game to strip her of her military power, demote her, and then... the sight of this proud and aloof woman kneeling at his feet, swallowing her words Gandhi, must be quite interesting.

He smiled and said, "The commander has temporarily transferred command to me. Everyone, we're comrades now. If there's anything I've done wrong, please tell me..."

Before the officers could speak, a distant rumble arose.

The sky trembled as a massive aircraft, resembling an ancient behemoth, hurtled in at low altitude.

Several large passenger planes swept across the sky, kicking up water mist. The alien natives had no idea that these were civilian airliners, so their deterrent power was equivalent to that of AC-130 gunships.

They screamed as they watched the enormous creature fly by, which seemed even larger than their ship.

A colossal aerial behemoth, accompanied by a giant dragon, roared through the heavens and earth. Amidst the sea mist, the massive 10,000-ton Knight Astolfo broke through the waves. The air raid sirens blared, their eerie howls suppressing the surging morale of the Azure Fleet and silencing the fanatical soldiers. Although it would be nothing more than a destroyer on Earth, in this other world, A Fu's tonnage was an unimaginable legendary behemoth.

"This is the Broken Sea, the legitimate territorial waters of the Dragon of Cathay, Kang De. His Highness Kang De possesses indisputable ownership of this territory. By order of His Highness Kang De, we hereby warn you to immediately turn back and not approach. Otherwise, we will use any lethal force, and you will bear all the consequences!"

The sound rolled across the sea, and everyone's eyes were focused on the special envoy. The commander handed over command, and he became the spokesperson for this fleet.

The special envoy pondered for a moment and came up with a perfect reason and excuse.

They neither showed any hostility nor appeared too furtive.

"Please bring the amplifying magic device."

The special envoy's smile exuded aristocratic elegance.

"We can tell them that we have ships and soldiers missing in the nearby waters, so we're coming to search and rescue them."

Perfect.

Even the Dragon of Cathay would have nothing to say about this excuse.

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PS1: Update... By the way, because I've been adjusting my sleep schedule recently, I'm writing this in the morning. And because I'm not getting enough sleep, my efficiency is affected, so the update time has shifted to the morning, but the time is uncertain. Please understand and bear with me. I'll try my best to get back into shape as soon as possible.

PS2: I still didn't get enough sleep last night... I started sleeping around 8:30, woke up once in the middle of the night, and woke up again around 3:30. It seemed like I couldn't fall back asleep. I lay in bed until 6:00, with my eyes closed, and I yawned and felt sleepy, but I just couldn't fall asleep. I felt like my brain became active, and I kept having random thoughts... I'll go see a sleep specialist next week.