"Dear Remito, are you serious?"
Chrysler Isore, Chief of Staff of the Candel Empire's Naval Staff Department under the Military Department, set down the document in his hand and frowned at Remito Russell across from him, his face full of confusion.
This Deputy Chief of Staff had always been his most valued and trusted subordinate. Everyone considered him the unquestioned choice to succeed him as naval Chief of Staff after he retired.
He often entrusted major affairs of the Naval Staff Department directly to Russell, both to test him and to build his standing in the department ahead of time, preparing him to take over in the future.
Russell had always handled these matters well, never making a single mistake, leaving Chief of Staff Isore thoroughly satisfied and reassured.
This time, however, the report he had submitted left Chief of Staff Isore feeling... somewhat incredulous.
What a joke!
The Candel Empire Navy faced the gravest crisis in its history?
Unless it changed immediately, the Candel Empire Navy would completely lose control of every sea?
That was sheer alarmism!
On this continent, apart from the Malo Empire, no country's navy could threaten the Candel Empire Navy. In fact, many countries did not even have a navy!
What Chief of Staff Isore found even more surprising and ridiculous was that the report actually claimed this greatest threat came from... the Guard Fleet of some damned Xinfei Merchant Guild!
When he read that line in the report, Chief of Staff Isore nearly spat out the tea in his mouth.
A mere merchant guild. What right did it have to be compared with the mighty Candel Empire Navy? How could it possibly pose a threat to it?
Yet years of self-discipline and his trust in Russell ultimately allowed Chief of Staff Isore to calm