Bait

At the front of the white water dragon, the heavy body of the H-6 WZ began to cut through the waves and rush forward. As it accelerated, the huge wings began to capture airflow, and the fuselage gradually rose, while the draft of the hull-shaped bottom floats continued to decrease.

Once the speed reached VR (lift speed), Miao Xin gently pulled the stick back and slightly lifted the machine head, causing the massive machine to leap out of the water. After a brief suspension, it fell back down, splashing large sprays of water. Then, it leaped up again, like a giant bird skimming the surface of the lake, entering the "stepping" gliding phase.

The cockpit was a hive of activity, with everyone rapidly checking the data on their respective instrument panels. Miao Xin lightly steered left and right, moved the control stick back and forth, feeling the force feedback from the aircraft, and quickly made fine adjustments on the trim wheel with her fingertips.

"Avionics system normal!"

"Smooth pneumatic control response!"

Once everything was confirmed to be ready, Miao Xin pulled the control stick back. The massive H-6 WZ completely broke free from the water's constraints, climbed to a height of about twenty meters, and began to skim at low altitude, leaving a long white contrail on the water as it passed.

This is the normal flight attitude of the H-6 WZ.

To be precise, this behemoth, weighing three to four times more than the largest airplane on Earth, is actually a "ground effect vehicle".

It was designed to fly within the "ground effect zone," utilizing the additional lift generated by the compressed air layer when close to the water surface (or ground).

Therefore, this ground effect aircraft has a much higher payload capacity and range than normal aircraft, as well as a much larger size.

The limitations of ground effect aircraft lie in their terrain adaptability and speed. The H-6 WZ can only fly on water, even in large waves, and can only pass through the ground for short periods of time.

But this is in comparison to high-altitude aircraft.

This is not Earth. This other world has no airports, let alone readily available aviation fuel supplies. The massive size of the H-6 WZ provides strong combat redundancy and self-sufficiency, while its moderate fuel consumption allows it to conduct ultra-long-range raids and take off and land at sea at any time to receive supplies from ships.

Furthermore, from a survivability perspective, even if it suffers a large-scale malfunction or is damaged in an attack, the H-6 WZ can make an emergency landing rather than crash.

****

Soon, the H-6 WZ arrived at the Celestite Hydropower Station. They had already been notified that the water area and dam area had been thoroughly cleared.

As they got closer to the dam, Miao Xin increased the altitude, allowing the plane to ascend and pass over the dam.

The water level difference between the two sides of the dam is nearly 100 meters. After leaping over the dam crest, the aircraft loses the support of the optimal ground effect zone, the lift of the aircraft is significantly reduced, and the altitude drops rapidly.

Miao Xin remained calm and unhurried, pulling out the trailing edge flaps to maintain lift until the massive aircraft gently landed above the wide water surface of the lower reaches of the White River, re-entering the ground effect zone.

The river ahead was also cleared, and all the boats were anchored. Miao Xin slowly pushed the accelerator, and the roar of the engine grew stronger and stronger.

The behemoth-like plane swept across the water, flinging countless water droplets at high speed to both sides, creating a misty spray.

"Switch off all navigation lights and begin stealth!" Su Ming ordered.

All the lights on the fuselage went out, and several mages released their magic, activating the magic array on the wings.

The black surge, like a living thing, rapidly wrapped around and enveloped the massive fuselage of the H-6 WZ, concealing it in the night, leaving only the roaring noise and the streaks of water rushing forward like meteors.

"Hmm, what do you think the people who witnessed us will think?" Miao Xin gazed at the blurry, receding riverbank outline outside the porthole. "For example, will they create a legend about the White River Monster?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as they don't know it's an aircraft launching an attack," Su Ming said. "What's the speed now?"

"180 knots," Miao Xin replied. "This is an inland river, with winding channels. At sea, we can fly up to 250 knots."

"That's almost ten times the speed of the Pansy." A hint of satisfaction flashed in Su Ming's eyes. "Finally, we've unlocked a truly rapid mode of transportation."

"If we start from Brown Gold Island, we can fly to Dawn Territory in less than a day," Miao Xin said. "That's the efficiency of modern technology."

Su Ming sighed, "Where did this modern pace come from? I sent out a logistics ship carrying fuel and weapons twenty days ago."

"So, boss, you need to hurry up and set up logistics bases all over the world." Miao Xin shook her head. "Then, we can drive this thing around sightseeing!"

"Fine," Su Ming glanced at her irritably, "Once we unify the entire Taya world, we'll do this!"

****

The next morning, Miao Xin woke up to the outline of Su Ming Brown Gold Island, which was already faintly visible on the horizon.

The rising sun painted a flowing golden edge on the massive fuselage of the H-6 WZ. Su Ming and Ruixiuli and the others picked up their backpacks containing simple daily necessities, while the heavier office equipment was strapped to Mo Yuan's back.

As the rear cabin opened, the group of people leaped out in single file, their figures disappearing into the fresh morning breeze of the island.

Behind them, the massive H-6 WZ gracefully turned and began flying towards Silver Island, 500 kilometers away, where its logistics base was located.

[Miao Xin,] Su Ming instructed, [After arriving at Silver Island, you will focus on practicing takeoffs and landings under heavy load conditions, as well as bombing procedures.]

[No problem!]

The plane flew away, Mo Yuan spread his wings, carrying the four of them to land on an empty area of Brown Gold Island. There were no longer any miners on this coal mining island, and the mine shafts had become silent and desolate.

Instead, the two hundred giant dragons stationed on the island and their observers continued their noisy antics.

As soon as the group jumped off the dragon's back, a man and a skeleton approached them; it was Fletcher and Newman.

Fletcher was the former owner of Brown Gold Island, and also Younier's father. He had a noticeable scar above both of his eyelids.

It seems this is the mark left by Zijin's punishment back then.

"Good morning, Mr. Fletcher," Su Ming greeted him. "Why haven't you left yet?"

Instead, Newman explained, "We need someone who is very familiar with the island to assist with the work."

"Thank you for your hard work." Su Ming nodded. "Once you're done here, head to the Ruby Base as soon as possible. Younier has been talking about you guys a lot these past few days."

"Yes, President," Fletcher replied. "I wonder how Younier is doing these days?"

"It's fine, but there's just too much to do, and the little girl is working a bit hard," Su Ming replied.

Fletcher smiled with relief. "It's alright, this kid has always been hardworking!"

He hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, "President, is there anything else you might need my help with after this?"

"Of course," Su Ming replied. "After the war, I plan to deploy professional mining facilities here, turning this island into an industrial raw material base." He looked at Fletcher. "The management of mining and production requires an experienced person to oversee it. Would you be willing to take on that role?"

Fletcher's eyes lit up with joy. "Of course I'm willing! I'll do whatever the chairman asks!"

Not far away, Ruixiuli and his colleagues unloaded the office equipment from Mo Yuan's back and moved it to the nearby new office for installation and setup.

Su Ming's gaze fell upon the highest point of the island. There, a magical communication array had been completed, its blue runes shimmering in the breeze.

"It can be started now. Send information to all locations at high frequency," Su Ming commanded.

"Yes, sir!" the communications team member replied.

****

Ruby Base, Medical Center.

A few days ago, a mine collapse occurred, and several POW camp workers were injured by falling rocks.

Stacy then called the Fate Manipulator over to treat the wounded. She had been quite carefree lately, leaving any incidents in the POW camp to the Fate Manipulator to handle.

To be fair, the Fate Manipulator's skills were indeed quite good. Before long, the bloody wounds were properly treated, and the groans of the injured gradually subsided.

"Alright, go back to your room." Stacy waved her hand casually.

The so-called room was actually a heavily guarded prison cell near the medical center. The Fate Manipulator, quite self-aware, got up and went there under the escort of the guards, acting as if he could be summoned and dismissed at will.

Soon after, the guards of the prisoner-of-war camp came and took the prisoners, who had been properly dealt with, back with them.

After returning to the camp, the prisoners of war immediately gathered in a secluded corner. One of them pulled a note from the lining of his bandages; it was a piece of paper that the Fate Manipulator had secretly slipped into the cotton wool while bandaging him.

"The Bone King has already left the base?" The man stared at the handwriting on the note, his voice full of surprise and doubt.

The second half of the note briefly explained the source of the intelligence: a certain iron window in the medical center's prison cell offered a view of the core accommodation area where Su Ming was located.

For two consecutive nights, the room belonging to Su Ming and his personal guards remained completely dark. Currently, only two or three high-level management personnel remain at the base.

During the subsequent mining operations, a prisoner of war slipped a note into the tool bag of a dwarf miner. The prisoners of war were under guard, but the dwarf laborers were free to come and go.

As long as the dwarf miner takes the information out and delivers it to the Temple of Light's accomplices lurking outside the mining area, he will receive a jingling gold coin reward—this is the intelligence transmission channel they have established during this period.

However, after finishing his shift, the dwarf miner went straight to the security office set up there by the Dwarf Kingdom.

"Su Ming has left Ruby Base?" The security chief, clutching the note, began to ponder. "The Pansy has been out of port for quite some time; he clearly isn't going to rendezvous with the fleet."

"Could it be that the Bone King went to Brown Gold Island?" the dwarf asked.

"Very likely!" The section chief slammed his fist on the table.

It's an open secret that the Final Bone Mad Machines are about to launch an attack on the Divine Covenant Faction in the Western Continent. Brown Gold Island, not far from the Northern Continent and rich in coal resources, is an excellent resupply point for the Pansy.

A few days ago, two hundred dragons crossed the dwarven territory and boarded ships at the western port of the Eastern Continent, heading towards Brown Gold Island. Recently, convoys of transport ships carrying large quantities of supplies have been gathering on the island day and night.

All the information suggests that Brown Gold Island is the logistical base for the current operation of the Final Bone Mad Machines.

"Add all the intelligence on the dragon troop movements and supply transport," the section chief decided. "Consider it a gift to the Temple of Light."

Soon, the dwarf miners, carrying a slip of paper containing more detailed information, found their contact at the Temple of Light's outpost and delivered the information.

"Hopefully the Temple of Light can react in time," the director murmured. "We absolutely mustn't let the Final Bone Mad Machines continue to expand at such a rapid pace!"

****

A little later, Su Ming received Rupert's report.

Despite the twists and turns of the process, the news that he had left the Ruby Base and was very likely heading to Brown Gold Island was finally "leaked".

This is actually just one of many routes.

Several days before the Dawn Territory incident broke out, Katharine "inadvertently" showed Aoleisi a military map that marked the supply points on Brown Gold Island and even included Su Ming's travel plans.

There was also Baxter, the new ambassador sent by the Star Empire, who was received by a double disguised as Su Ming, deliberately revealing his flaws.

Ainuobia also went to the surrounding commercial area to buy swimwear and skincare oil, and asked the shopkeepers about how to protect herself from the wind and sun on the island.

In short, the intelligence will perfectly corroborate each other, and any one of them will be effective.

"I can understand spy organizations from other factions, but aren't the dwarves cooperating with us?" Ainuobia asked, puzzled. "Why would they betray us?"

"Powers never unite against a common enemy simply because of cooperation," Su Ming explained. "On the contrary, the more intense the war between the Final Bone Mad Machines and the Divine Covenant Faction becomes, the deeper our dependence on the dwarves will be, and the stronger the relationship between the two sides will become!"

"Yes," Newman added with a knowing smile, "The dwarves chose to betray 'us' precisely to maintain this good relationship."

Ainuobia looked somewhat disappointed. Although she could understand it logically, she found it difficult to accept emotionally. Some time ago, she had been busy with various cooperation agreements with the dwarves, and had gotten along very well with all the dwarven diplomatic representatives.

"When dealing with allies, you need to examine their motives, and these motives will constantly change with the situation." Su Ming decided to give her a few more pointers. "At present, the only ones whose interests are closely related to the Final Bone Mad Machines in the course of the war are the Dragon Race and the Feather Race."

"So that's why you set up this scheme," Ruixiuli said, "Was it to trick the Light Fleet here on Brown Gold Island?"

This actually didn't align with Su Ming's plan, but he didn't correct it. Because these people couldn't fathom the true operational objectives.

"I suppose so," Su Ming said. "From the very beginning, I was prepared for infiltration by multiple forces. And the eyes and ears the enemy planted certainly didn't disappoint me."

Ainuobia suddenly realized that Su Ming seemed to have been lecturing her.

"You're not planning to make me handle these things from now on, are you?" she quickly said. "I really can't manage this kind of thing."

Su Ming sighed softly, "Actually, I hoped you could shoulder more responsibility."

He needs to cultivate a manager for the Final Bone Mad Machines with a broad enough political vision; otherwise, even if he and Zijin complete the portal back to Earth, they will still be bogged down in the affairs here.

Although the secretary assistant in front of me is capable of performing many tasks well, she lacks political acumen.

"Hey Su," Newman suddenly interjected, "Is it really that interesting to deal with all this scheming and backstabbing that makes everyone an enemy?"

"I didn't want this either," Su Ming said helplessly, "But between great powers, there are no purely enemy or friend relationships."

If the current situation leads to a defeat for the Divine Covenant Faction, the "friendship" between the Final Bone Mad Machines and the dwarves could actually be maintained for a longer period. However, if the war progresses smoothly, Su Ming could turn around and confront the dwarves.

War is unlikely, but King Star Pickaxe must pay sufficient compensation for their betrayal to quell the incident.

"I think you seem to really enjoy this, President," Jielusi muttered.

"Fighting with others is endlessly enjoyable," Su Ming smiled.

In fact, this was made possible by the support of the Dodder team. The staff conducted a lot of simulations and worked together to fill in any blind spots and oversights in our thinking.

"President, if I did these things, my brain cells would be completely drained," Ainuobia complained. "And people would think I'm incredibly stupid!"

Su Ming sensed that these people in front of him lacked the cultural refinement required for strategic maneuvering.

"In my hometown, there's a four-player game," he suggested. "You need to constantly watch out for the player before you, try to block the player after you, and also be wary of the player opposite you—let me teach you how to play."

"What's that?" Ruixiuli asked, intrigued, brandishing his weapon. "Is it a four-player free-for-all?"

Su Ming glanced at the white bone sword in his hand and suddenly realized that it was an excellent material for making mahjong tiles.

"You'll know once you try!"

****

When various intelligence reports reached Pope Augustus through different channels, his fingers holding the papers trembled slightly.

It's almost certain that Su Ming is on Brown Gold Island! The island's communication array started operating at high intensity precisely during the time when intelligence indicated Su Ming had left the Ruby Base.

This means that Brown Gold Island is not only the logistical hub of the Final Bone Mad Machines, but also the command center personally overseen by the Bone King!

The Expeditionary Crusaders fleet, tasked with turning the tide of the war, was hiding a short distance off the coast of Dawn Territory, only three days' voyage from Brown Gold Island.

This iron fist, built with the full strength of the Temple of Light, encompassed more than twenty main warships, and its accompanying transport ships were filled with ten thousand elite paladins.

This weighty bargaining chip was precisely the strategic force that Augustus had painstakingly prepared, intending to deliver the decisive blow.

Augustus's initial plan was to send this surprise force to strike at the enemy's supply points while the Final Bone Mad Machines ' frontline legions were bogged down in the mire, cutting off their lifeline and thus securing victory.

This was originally a plan that only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause. However, Su Ming's negligence has now presented him with the worst possible outcome.

Despite Su Ming deploying a formidable force of up to two hundred dragons for his own safety, Augustus believed that with the power of the "Expeditionary Crusaders" fleet, they were fully confident of victory!

Moreover, Brown Gold Island is not far from the Naga territory. They could easily join the hunt, blockade the sea, and intercept any ships attempting to escape.

If the surprise attack succeeds, we can eliminate Bone King, this major threat!

Augustus's gaze was fixed on the two Saint Rank powerhouses on the enemy side of the map. Bay Owl and Gelie were both in Dawn Territory at the moment, and the opportunity was fleeting.

Even in the worst-case scenario, this swift and decisive attack would be enough to completely destroy this supply hub, depriving the enemy forces in Dawn Territory of their foundation for sustained combat.

"Su Ming still trusted the dwarves too much," Cortes lamented. "He never dreamed that the dwarves who cooperated with him so closely would pull such a trick on him!"

"Should we launch an attack on Brown Gold Island?" Augustus asked hesitantly.

Despite the sudden appearance of an extremely favorable opportunity, he became somewhat hesitant.

Cortes did not answer directly, but instead looked back at the intelligence reports and battlefield situation.

Augustus composed himself and, together with Cortes, began to carefully analyze the reliability of the intelligence, as well as the various directions and details of the battle's evolution.

They found nothing wrong with any of the items, and finally the two made up their minds.

"Order the Expeditionary Crusaders fleet to immediately proceed to Brown Gold Island and launch an attack!" Augustus commanded in a deep voice.