Descent, Formal Contact

Canglan Naval Port.

The moment the order was given, the entire naval port erupted into chaos.

A piercing battle alarm blared.

The once-quiet harbor mobilized within ten minutes; destroyers and frigates moored at their berths cast off lines and set sail one by one, their naval guns raised and missile launch covers fully opened, forming a defensive formation on the port's perimeter.

On the shore, air defense missile vehicles swiftly took position on the anti-aircraft emplacements, their radars spinning at full speed.

On the roads, tanks and armored vehicles of the Army's armored brigade formed a steel dragon, racing toward the naval port.

Fully armed soldiers disembarked quickly, constructing defensive lines behind the breakwater.

Behind the breakwater, two armored soldiers leaned against an armored vehicle, speaking in hushed tones.

"Something's off. The Navy's at top alert, but why'd they call in our Army armored brigade too? This setup doesn't look like a regular drill at all."

"No idea. Command just said an unknown massive target is approaching—even the port's phased-array radar can't lock onto it. It's eerie."

"Can't lock on? Our radar can sweep stealth fighters. What the hell could block all detection and still build a flying warship this big..."

The veteran beside him slapped his shoulder, his gaze stern: "Stop guessing. Stay on guard! Follow orders! Whatever it is, if it crosses the line, we hit it!"

Just then, a command came through everyone's tactical comm channel:

"Attention all units! Target sighted! Three o'clock, range 5 nautical miles!"

"Maintain alert. No unauthorized firing. Report target movements in real time!"

Everyone fell silent instantly, turning in unison toward three o'clock.

In the night, all the searchlights of the naval port blazed to life, several thick beams of light piercing the darkness, sweeping across the sea.

Then, they saw it.

First, a massive shadow, like a moving mountain, completely blotting out the moonlight on the water.

The searchlight beams slid along the shadow's edges, gradually illuminating the outline of that colossal object.

A Gothic hull covered in cold, hard metal patterns gleamed with a dark luster under the lights. Exposed secondary gun arrays bristled densely, and the faint glow of a Void Shield flickered around the hull.

Even from several kilometers away, the crushing pressure of that steel behemoth was palpable.

A 1.5-kilometer-long Cobra-class Destroyer slowly sailed into the waters off the naval port.

The moment its hull touched the sea, the immense buoyancy violently squeezed the water outward, raising waves several meters high that slammed heavily against the breakwater with a thunderous roar, making the ground beneath their feet tremble slightly.

The enormous shadow spread like a canopy, engulfing the entire naval port.

The soldiers looked up, feeling as though a pitch-black steel mountain was slowly pressing down on them.

The once-impressive ten-thousand-ton destroyers in the harbor instantly shrank to the size of small boats, their hull heights barely half that of the giant vessel before them, their lengths less than a tenth of it.

The originally thick main guns now looked like children's toys.

The tens-of-meter-tall gantry cranes on the shore seemed as short as stools next to the giant ship's bridge.

No gasps. No panic.

Every soldier and officer held their breath, gripping their weapons tighter, their eyes filled with sheer awe.

It was reverence for unknown technology, but not a trace of fear.

At the same time, at a certain S.P.E.A.R. Bureau command center.

A massive holographic screen displayed a real-time feed of the scene above Canglan Naval Port.

The 1.5-kilometer-long warship gleamed coldly in the night, clearly visible.

A middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the screen, his brows tightly furrowed.

An intelligence officer beside him reported quickly: "Director, the military has entered top alert status."

"The target vessel just sent a clear-text communication, identifying itself as Fu Haoran, requesting a discussion."

Zheng Xian was silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly: "To block all radar and approach territorial waters silently—this isn't the technology of any known nation."

He turned to look at the agents standing by behind him: "Have the combat team stand by, ready to intervene at any moment."

"Also, connect me to the military's direct line. I need to speak with Canglan."

His deputy hesitated: "Director, the S.P.E.A.R. Bureau's mandate is to deal with supernatural threats and foreign paranormal organizations... This kind of overt military contact would be more appropriate for the military, wouldn't it?"

Zheng Xian shook his head: "They're actively revealing their position, maintaining minimum speed, sending clear-text communications—every step shows goodwill."

"But someone who can field this kind of technology isn't here to discuss ordinary matters."

He paused, his gaze sharp: "And I have a feeling... the decision-maker they're waiting for might include us."

Inside the Canglan Theater Command Center, the moment the dedicated line call ended, the theater commander stared at the image of the giant warship on the screen, silent for a long time.

His adjutant asked quietly: "Commander, what did the S.P.E.A.R. Bureau say?"

The commander was silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly: "Zheng Xian said to let their people come ashore."

The adjutant froze: "Just like that?"

"Not simple." The chief shook his head. "He said that since this person dares to come, he must have a bargaining chip we can't refuse."

He looked up at the screen, his expression complicated. "Have the forward positions prepare to receive him. Let's hear first what he actually wants to trade."

Inside the destroyer's bridge.

The Tech-Acolyte turned to report. "My lord, all landing equipment is ready. The Leman Russ Tank and Chimera troop transport are on standby."

Fu Haoran looked down at the military port below, bristling with readiness, at the soldiers holding their weapons with alert but unflinching eyes. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Open the main hatch. Lower the boarding ramp."

"Yes, my lord!"

At the bow, the thick alloy hatch slowly opened, and the telescopic boarding ramp extended downward toward the sea.

Fu Haoran straightened his collar, turned to look at Lucifer beside him, and made a gesture of invitation.

"Let's go, my dear. The negotiation that follows is the real reason we came here."

Lucifer glanced down at the military port below, rose languidly, and walked to Fu Haoran's side, falling half a step behind him.

She swept her eyes over the soldiers and war machines arrayed in full battle readiness outside the porthole and said in a low voice, "Bringing all this down with you—are you afraid they won't understand your sincerity?"

Fu Haoran smiled. "Sincerity is attitude. Strength is confidence. You need both."

He paused, adding silently to himself: If this deal goes through, the Hive City's industrial production lines will be set up, and mass production of power armor will be within reach.

At the bow, the thick alloy hatch slid open to both sides, and the telescopic boarding ramp extended downward toward the sea.

The moment the hatch opened, the tension in the entire military port snapped to its peak.

Behind the breakwater, soldiers' fingers rested on their triggers, eyes locked on the slowly opening giant door.

The first to appear were the Servo-Skulls.

They floated out of the hatch, hovering in midair, their red optical lenses scanning the surroundings. They carried no weapons.

The soldiers' nerves relaxed by half a beat—at least it wasn't a row of gun barrels.

Then, two figures appeared at the hatchway.

The young man in front was in his early twenties, wearing a simple black combat uniform. His eyes swept calmly over the military port below, as if the full battle readiness before him was exactly what he had expected.

The woman at his side wore a meticulously tailored black robe, her expression indifferent, as if strolling through her own back garden, falling half a step behind him.

Behind the two, ten armored soldiers followed, holding only their weapons, arranged in a ceremonial formation on both sides.

Inside the giant ship's hatch, only the cold gleam of the Leman Russ Tank's cannon barrel and the shadowy outline of the Chimera troop transport could be seen, but not a single vehicle drove out.

Visible, but not deployed.

The way the other side lined up and emerged showed no hint of aggressive intent, instantly defusing the sword-rattling atmosphere in the military port.

Everyone understood that this standoff would ultimately be settled through negotiation, not gunfire.

But as they looked at those never-before-seen weapons and equipment, everyone's hearts still tightened, and their grips on their guns grew firmer.