Navy Vice Admiral

Naples Bay, Sixth Fleet Naval Base.

The 1990s were the heyday of the United States Empire, the era when the new Roman Empire was about to be built.

The oceans of the entire Earth are the empire's inland lakes, and the vast Mediterranean Sea where Naples is located is, strictly speaking, just a part of the jurisdiction of the Sixth Fleet of the empire's massive navy.

To have the opportunity to wield such power is naturally an honor that is difficult for ordinary people to attain.

However, on this day, Vice Admiral Paladin General Colt, commander of the Sixth Fleet and commander of the Imperial Navy, who was waiting at the Naples Naval Headquarters, was not happy.

Because there has been just too much bad news coming in today.

The sprightly old man, with graying temples, a ruddy complexion, a neat uniform, and general's stars on his shoulders, was enjoying his afternoon tea in his office when a young officer rudely interrupted his lunch break.

Just as General Colt was about to calmly lecture the young man about not being too hasty or impulsive, his subordinate told him:

A Hornet crashed in Naples.

It is said that many innocent civilians were killed by the falling debris.

This is big news.

Although we are currently at war with the Balkan Alliance, for the world's strongest US Military, the United States, fighting here is as easy as taking a vacation.

The plane that crashed today is the first "combat loss" suffered by the US Military since the start of the war.

Unfortunately, accidents are always unavoidable.

General Colt could only simultaneously dispatch ground troops to the crash site for an emergency investigation, while in his office he instructed his subordinates to help prepare his speech for the upcoming press conference.

"I and all my colleagues in the Sixth Fleet are deeply saddened by the unexpected plane crash that occurred over Naples today."

"Lieutenant Sami is a quintessential example of the spirit of rice porridge; he dedicated himself to the just cause of spreading seed oil."

"No, Lieutenant General Colt."

His subordinate corrected him, "It's not Lieutenant Sam, it's Lieutenant Sam."

"Oh."

General Colt gave a casual reply, then muttered to himself, "Lieutenant Sam is a grain of rice in a pan."

"Etc."

His subordinate corrected him again. "Lieutenant General, you didn't hear me clearly. Lieutenant Sam is not dead."

"Huh? He's not dead?"

General Colt frowned:

The pilot survived, but a large number of civilians died. When he is interviewed by reporters later, the scene will probably not be pleasant.

This Lieutenant Sam got himself into a mess out of nowhere, it's really something.

"Very good!"

"It's a stroke of luck that our young man survived."

General Colt wiped away tears in front of several of his men, deeply moving everyone with the image of this old general who loved his soldiers like his own children.

Then, in this harmonious atmosphere

Even worse news reached General Colt's ears:

"What?"

"Where did the fighter jet crash site once appear, there was a transparent, cannibalistic monster?"

"The wreckage of fighter jets containing the Empire's core technology... that monster ate them all?"

He stared wide-eyed, as if listening to some fantastical tale.

After repeatedly confirming that it was not April 1st a few days later, and after learning that there were hundreds of survivors who could provide testimony, General Colt finally reluctantly accepted this absurd fact.

Then, after calming down, General Colt couldn't help but think of something:

"A monster as transparent as a ghost, invisible to the naked eye, yet undeniably present. Could this be..."

"The legendary 'stand power'?"

General Colt was not Stand User, but as a person of high rank and power, he had enough authority and opportunity to understand the hidden truth behind this world.

Stand, Stand User, Stand ability

He knew more or less about these things that ordinary people had never heard of.

In fact, as a member of the empire's upper class, General Colt also had considerable dealings with the Speedwagon consortium, which was also an upper-class group.

Joseph Joestar, an executive of the SPW Foundation and a New York real estate Joseph, also chatted with him on some social occasions.

Many of the Empire's classified projects were run and dominated by private conglomerates, General Colt vaguely remembered.

Research on Stand User and Stand abilities seems to have always been handled by the SPW Foundation.

"These kinds of supernatural events are beyond the capabilities of our navy."

"How about we call and ask Mr. Joseph to help investigate?"

General Colt was thinking this to himself.

But just then, even worse news arrived:

"Lieutenant General Colt!"

"The Mount Vesuvius Geological Institute has reported detecting abnormal geological activity beneath the volcano, as shown in computer simulations."

"In the coming period of time, Mount Vesuvius is very likely to experience a large-scale volcanic eruption."

Mount Vesuvius is a well-known active volcano, with its most recent eruption in 2044.

Stationed beneath this dangerous crater, the Imperial Navy naturally had to keep a close eye on the geological conditions of Mount Vesuvius.

"Volcanic eruption?"

"Damn it. Why did everything have to happen at once!"

General Colt's expression turned somewhat grim:

Anticipating the possibility of a volcanic eruption, they certainly had to evacuate to safety.

However, if such a large fleet were to retreat and relocate, it would certainly greatly disrupt the established battle plan.

The previous issues of fighter jet crashes, disappearing wreckage, and monster sightings haven't been resolved yet, and now a once-in-a-century volcanic eruption has occurred.

Could things get any worse?

General Colt was thinking this to himself

Immediately, another "impatient" young officer pushed open the office door:

"Lieutenant General Colt, something terrible has happened!"

"A biological terrorist attack has occurred in Naples!"

"The 'poisonous gas' has spread over an area of three to four kilometers, and the number of dead and injured is incalculable!"

"What?!!"

General Colt was startled.

He had lived most of his life and had never seen such a large-scale terrorist attack.

Are you sure it's a terrorist attack?

Are you sure it's a biological weapon?

General Colt clenched his Riot Games tightly, a surge of excitement welling up inside him:

A biological attack!

What does that mean?

This means that the "laundry detergent" that the congressmen took out of their homes was actually confirmed by terrorists who appeared out of nowhere!

With this debt in place, the Imperial Army holds the absolute position of justice.

If the casualties in the attack are heavy enough, the Empire can take the opportunity to expand the scale of the war, creating plenty of opportunities for these eager soldiers to make a name for themselves.

Although General Colt was already a high-ranking vice admiral, he still very much wanted to wear the five-star admiral's epaulettes.

He became increasingly agitated as he thought about it, and finally couldn't help but slam his hand on the table:

"How hateful!"

"These inhuman lunatics are simply enemies of all mankind!"

General Colt pursed his lips tightly, and two streams of tears of sorrow and compassion flowed down his cheeks.

Everyone was affected by the somber atmosphere and admired the lieutenant general's pure humanitarian spirit.

At this time...

Even worse news is coming:

"Lieutenant General Colt, something terrible has happened!"

A fourth, restless young man barged in.

He was so anxious he could barely stand, and blurted out a shocking piece of news:

"An unidentified helicopter is forcibly approaching our base!"

"Moreover, I don't know if it's because of that helicopter, but the 'poison gas' from Naples has also drifted over here!"

"A patrol team of young men was caught in a gas attack in an urban area less than five kilometers from the base!"

"Wh-what?"

General Colt's face turned green instantly.

He subconsciously ignored the fact that a group of soldiers had been poisoned in the city; he was more concerned about:

"The poison gas is only five kilometers away from us?"

"Yes!"

The subordinate gave a precise answer.

General Colt's former air of a white elite, an old-money, scholarly general vanished instantly:

"Then why did you come to ask me for instructions?"

He slammed his hand on the table and started swearing:

"Where the hell are your anti-aircraft missiles?"

"Pull it out and blow it up for me!"