Ortolan: I Will Carry the Marines' Justice Through to the End!
As soon as Ortolan finished speaking, the Admiral Sengoku looked at him silently without saying a word.
Sitting on the sofa, Ortolan was also drinking tea and said nothing more, but their eyes met as they observed each other, seemingly trying to see what the other was thinking.
Trust is a very mysterious thing. Ortolan actually trusted Sengoku, the Marine Admiral, but this trust stemmed more from his trust in the superior's ability and credibility.
The Sengoku period was very capable, reliable, and a man of his word. If he promised you a promotion, he would never be vague or make empty promises.
However, trust in one's position requires constant testing and compromise, and it can only be gradually built up through small, incremental interactions.
Ortolan trusts Sengoku's stance; he currently believes absolutely that Sengoku is on the side of the Marines's interests. However, he doesn't entirely trust the extent to which Sengoku is willing to go in this regard.
He wasn't quite sure what the Admiral Sengoku Mary Geoise!
Now that the topic has come to this point, it's time for both sides to test each other. He felt that the Admiral Sengoku was thinking the same way, which is why he said what he just said!
The atmosphere in the office was rather dull, and the clattering sound of the little goat eating paper was a bit annoying.
Ortolan glanced at the little goat and finally couldn't help but speak up first, "If all else fails, we can stew it!"
Upon hearing this, the Admiral Sengoku glared angrily at Ortolan and said, "I don't eat mutton!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two looked at each other and then laughed.
After laughing, the Admiral Sengoku reached out and ruffled the little goat's head, saying softly, "Ortolan, I can guess what you're going to say, and I'm sure you've already realized it. The reason I've come to you today is to discuss these matters with you..."
"Hmm..." Ortolan took a sip of tea and responded softly.
"Before we go any further, I have one last question for you, and I hope you will answer it truthfully..." The Admiral Sengoku looked at Ortolan and said in a serious tone.
Ortolan paused for a moment, nodded, and was about to speak when the Admiral Sengoku raised his hand to interrupt him, saying, "Don't rush to answer. I will only ask you this question once. No matter what your answer is, I will believe you this time. So, Ortolan, this is the most unreserved trust I have ever placed in you. I hope you won't lie to me... Do you understand?"
When the Admiral Sengoku said these words, there was wavering and hesitation in his eyes, but in the end, it gradually turned into firmness and unwavering determination!
In many situations, people need to take a gamble; taking a gamble is a way to find the answer!
Now, the Sengoku has reached a critical juncture. Either they continue to bow their heads and wait for Fleet Admiral Kong to become the commander-in- Fleet Admiral of the Fleet Admiral, and then make their move, but that would be many years from now, and it's uncertain what their chances of victory will be then.
Alternatively, abandon these conventional methods, take an unconventional approach, and go all out!
But this requires gambling on trust, and now he wants to gamble that trust on Ortolan!
Seeing the expectant look in the eyes of the Admiral Sengoku, Ortolan placed his teacup on the table and said earnestly, "Understood. This time, I will do my best to repay your trust."
"So, my question is, Bane Ortolan, is your stance truly with our Marines?" Admiral Sengoku asked in a sincere tone.
Ortolan remained silent for a moment, looking into Admiral Sengoku's eyes, before speaking softly, "I cannot guarantee anything here, but at this moment, my stance is that of the Marines, of justice, and of the Marines's interests. Of course, it's not all for personal gain; I have my own considerations, but in these considerations, I have no intention of betraying the Marines's interests. To be frank, Admiral, since we've come this far, I'll be frank: I want the Marines to become a truly righteous Marines, and I will uphold Marines justice to the very end! For this, I am willing to give my all!!!"
After receiving Ortolan's answer, the Admiral Sengoku remained silent and continued to watch him.
After a long pause, he laughed, shook his head, and said, "So you're also thinking about getting promoted and making money, right?"
"Hahahaha..." Ortolan laughed as well, saying, "That's true. I don't want to be a high-ranking Marines officer, I don't want to be a Marines. You have to love what you do. I also want to stand at the pinnacle of the Marines and look out over the boundless ocean..."
"If you don't want to be the Marines Commander, you're not a Marines. That's true!" Admiral Sengoku nodded affirmatively, then said, "Personal promotion and advancement do not conflict with the Marines's development and upholding justice. Since this is your answer, then I choose to trust you."
"I won't disappoint you," Ortolan said softly.
"Taking an unconventional approach isn't necessarily a bad thing..." the Admiral Sengoku began, "I'm sure you understood what I explained to you before: to get G-5 up and running without support from headquarters..."
"Ming, I will find a way to build the warships myself, I will find a way to produce the weapons myself, and I will earn the military funds myself. I will try to make all of these in G-5. If we can increase the scale in the future, it will also reduce some of the pressure on headquarters and give headquarters more say," Ortolan said in a deep voice.
"If you understand my meaning, then you are right." An Admiral Sengoku remarked.
He then added, "But there are some things I didn't say before, but now I have to remind you, Ortolan."
"Please speak," Ortolan replied.
"The progress of G-5 can be kept secret for a while, but not forever. Even if our headquarters covers for you and I help you clean up the mess, this matter is still unacceptable... Mary Geoise will find out sooner or later, and do you know what that means?" the Admiral Sengoku asked.
Ortolan knew this, so he replied, "I failed the political test."
"That's right!" The Admiral Sengoku affirmed this answer, then said, "This will cause Mary Geoise to lose trust in you, and I, at least on the surface, will not stand with you, because I must be the commander!!!"
When the Admiral Sengoku mentioned the word 'commander', his eyes were filled with determination. Ortolan could see that the determination did not come from a desire for power, but from the word 'responsibility'!
Before Ortolan could speak, Admiral Sengoku said, "Having lost Mary Geoise's trust and failing the political test, the highest I can push you to is the position of Admiral. In other words, Vice Admiral Ben Ortolan, after you make this decision, your dream of becoming a general will come to an end. Do you really understand this?"
Ortolan smiled and said, "I, Ming, the Admiral Sengoku, actually never intended to follow this route to become the Marines Commander..."
"So..." the Admiral Sengoku asked, looking at Ortolan with a somewhat complicated expression.
"There's something you, as a strategist, might not have considered." Ortolan extended a hand, slowly clenched his fist, and then said firmly, "Becoming the Admiral of the Marines isn't limited to Mary Geoise. When we finally achieve victory, the Admiral of the Marines will be decided by our own Marines!"
These powerful words startled Sengoku. In a daze, he murmured softly, "Is it up to the Marines to decide?"
After a moment, the Admiral Sengoku came to his senses and looked at Ortolan, saying, "That will be an incredibly difficult path, Ortolan..."
"But I had no choice, did I?" Ortolan said earnestly, "You have already shown me, through your own experience, where the end and the end of your path lie. So, even if this other path is incredibly difficult, if I want to change this terrible world and carry out the Marines's justice to the end, I can only grit my teeth and continue, can't I?"
At this point, Ortolan laughed again, saying to himself, "But coincidentally, I'm actually quite interested in and looking forward to this path!"
The Admiral Sengoku stood up and went behind Ortolan. He gently placed his hands on Ortolan's shoulders and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you..."
"Choose for yourself!" Ortolan said nonchalantly.
Today, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Banne Ortolan and Marine Headquarters Admiral reached a private, unspoken understanding Sengoku.
This made Ortolan feel that this trip to headquarters was truly worthwhile; at least, he and Admiral Sengoku had opened up and explained many issues.
This allows both parties to trust and understand each other better, and makes it easier for them to work together in the future.