I built an armada.

The thick bulletproof glass kept out the slight chill of early autumn outside the window.

But it couldn't block out the faint, surging noise, like the ebb and flow of the ocean.

The cabinet leader stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his back straight, yet exuding an indescribable heaviness.

Below him, a dense crowd had gathered.

The number has now reached 32,000, these are the anxious, angry, and fearful souls of these people.

Their voices converged into an invisible pressure that penetrated the reinforced concrete and filled every corner of this room, which symbolized the highest power of the tribe.

"We are no longer poor and weak, at the mercy of others..."

The cabinet leader silently recited this phrase, which had been overused by the media and the public, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

Yes, the Longxia tribe is no longer the Longxia tribe of a hundred years ago. Today, the Longxia tribe possesses giant ships and heavy artillery, is rich and powerful, and stands tall in the East of the Blue Star.

However, beneath this powerful facade, undercurrents have never ceased to surge.

Although the sudden maritime conflict with the Eastern Wilderness tribe resulted in a brilliant tactical victory, it also pushed the entire tribe to the brink of a strategic crisis.

"A decisive battle to the death?"

He could almost imagine what would happen if he ordered the remaining fleet to rush towards the key ocean stronghold controlled by the Eagle Tribe at this moment.

What a magnificent and tragic scene that would be.

The steel behemoth was reduced to a burning coffin under saturation attack, and the brave young men perished in the belly of the fish. Apart from stirring up even stronger grief and indignation in the country for a time, it did nothing to help the overall situation and was almost a suicide mission.

And are they seeking "escort" or "mediation" from the Eagle Tribe's aircraft carrier fleet that sails in the far seas?
That would be like trying to get something from a tiger; it's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away, and the price to pay would likely be even more painful than defeat itself.

Every move is a dead end; every choice leads to a deeper abyss.

At this moment, he, the head of the cabinet, felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

His heart was churning with humiliation, resentment, weighing options, and deep anxiety about the future, but his weathered face remained calm and undisturbed, like an ancient well.

He couldn't express his opinion; at least not until he found that "lifeline" that might not even exist, he had to remain silent.

"Leader".

A deep voice broke the silence in the room.

Intelligence officer Kyuujima walked in silently, a barely perceptible, almost eerie expression on his face.

The cabinet chief did not turn around, but looked at his subordinate, known for his good information and shrewd methods, in the reflection of the glass.

"Countries in the European Seas."

The voice of the man in the tree was slightly hurried, "They just suddenly made a collective statement!"

The cabinet chief's heart skipped a beat, and he turned around abruptly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Europa!
That ancient and complex sea, those countries that have had both exchanges and frictions with Longxia throughout history.

Their attitude at this moment is enough to influence the entire situation!

Could it be... a turning point?

They saw the danger of regional power imbalance after the conflict between Longxia and Donghuang, and were willing to step in to restrain it.
Even to intercept the Longxia naval expeditionary fleet that was crossing oceans and trying to demonstrate its presence toward Europe in order to seek a diplomatic breakthrough.
"What did they say?"

The cabinet leader's voice carried a hoarseness and anticipation that he himself was unaware of.

If he could use Europa's help, even just to make a tough stance and deter the Dragon Xia expeditionary fleet, it would greatly alleviate the dual predicament he was currently facing, stemming from the war in the Eastern Wilderness and the pressure from the Eagle.

The farmer on the tree bobbed his Adam's apple, seemingly finding it difficult to speak.

But he still gritted his teeth and clearly reported: "The major countries in the European maritime region, including Gaul, Germany, Italy, etc., issued public statements almost simultaneously..."

"Welcome to the Longxia Naval Expeditionary Fleet. We look forward to friendly consultations with the Longxia tribe on regional and international affairs of common concern, and wish the peace talks a good outcome."

"Welcome...to the...good outcome of the peace talks?"

The cabinet chief repeated these words, each one like a cold hammer striking his heart.

The color drained from his face at a visible speed, and his expectation deflated instantly like a punctured balloon.

This is not an attack, nor is it a deterrent!
Instead, welcome!

It's a welcome with open arms!
It was like a cold dagger suddenly stabbing him hard in the heart.

In an instant, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Then, like cold water being poured into boiling oil, it exploded with a bang!

"Damn it! What do they mean by this? Are they kicking us when we're down?"

"Welcome? Can't they see the strategic intentions behind the Longxia Navy's current voyage? Are they going to sit idly by and watch the balance of power in the East completely tilt?"

"Impossible! There must be a conspiracy behind this! The Atlantic Ocean... Yes, something must have happened on the Atlantic side that we don't know about!"

"There must be some terrifying battle happening over there that we're unaware of?"

"Or perhaps the Eagle Tribe exerted pressure on them that we don't understand?"

The ministers were outraged, their faces filled with disbelief and humiliation.

It's clear they can't accept this outcome!

While Longxia appears to have achieved a major victory, it is actually falling into a strategic passive position. These European countries, which have always claimed to be neutral or have close ties with the Eagle Tribe, are now facing a crisis.

Instead of kicking him while he was down or at least keeping their distance as expected, they extended a hand of "friendship" to Long Xia in an almost "flattering" manner.
This is so abnormal!
It was so unusual that it terrified them.

They preferred to believe that this was a reluctant act by European countries under some kind of extreme pressure, and that a deeper trap was hidden behind it, targeting Longxia.

The cabinet leader raised his hand, silencing the crowd.

He knew better than anyone that this wasn't a conspiracy, or at least not entirely.

This is naked, power-based realpolitik!

The change in attitude of the European countries can only be explained by one thing: the "pyrrhic victory" that the Longxia Navy achieved against the Eastern Wilderness Tribe in the eastern seas was far beyond what the outside world, including their own initial assessment, could expect!

The power it displayed forced these shrewd European nations to re-evaluate their relationship with Longxia.

They were unwilling and dared not become the target of Long Xia's wrath at this time, and might even want to take this opportunity to get a share of Long Xia's rise.

"Looking across the entire planet... there are no more lifelines left."

A bald minister in charge of the economy slumped down, his voice hoarse, "The emotions of the people are out of control. Economic indicators have declined for three consecutive months. If the news of defeat in the war is confirmed, coupled with international isolation..."

"We cannot afford a second blow. This crisis is unlike anything we've seen in recent decades!" These words were like the last straw, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

Military difficulties, diplomatic "betrayal," domestic pressure, and economic concerns...

All the contradictions converged at this moment, forming an unsolvable deadlock!

The cabinet leader slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The shouts of the crowd outside seemed closer. He knew he could no longer hide in this office.

He had to go out, face those 32,000 eyes, and give them an explanation, even if that explanation was equally despairing.

Meanwhile, at the bustling heart of the Longxia Tribe's virtual world—the Iron Blood Military Forum—the atmosphere was the complete opposite of the somber atmosphere in the Cabinet Building.

At the very top of the homepage, a post pinned by the administrator in bright red bold font has become incredibly popular, with its title being quite striking.

[Good news! Our Eastern Fleet recently "found" another unclaimed aircraft carrier. It's in excellent condition and will soon be towed back to port for research. Netizens have nicknamed it the "Express Delivery Ship"!]

Below the post, comments were being refreshed at a rate of dozens per second.

"Haha! Found another one? Well done, naval brothers! It's windy at the beach, take care of yourselves!"

"I knew it! Our eastern sea area is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, producing all kinds of 'unclaimed' large ships!"

"Stop messing around upstairs, be serious! We're cleaning up marine debris and protecting the environment; it's everyone's responsibility!"

"Thanks to the anonymous tribe member for sending the aircraft carrier! Double tap 666!"

“I bet the Eastern Wilderness tribe is searching everywhere for their lost ‘package,’ but it’s already in our hands.”

"This is so interesting! Great news!"

Laughter and cheers filled the air, brimming with both playfulness and pride.

This is not the first time news of "finding" important enemy equipment has emerged, and each time it greatly stimulates the national pride and sense of humor of the Longxia people.

In their view, this was not just cold military equipment, but a symbol of national strength and military morale, and proof of the enemy's utter defeat.

Then, the news that the attitude of the countries in the European maritime region had changed dramatically and that they had publicly declared their welcome to the Longxia Navy was like another bombshell, setting off a new wave of excitement in the forum.

"Holy crap! Good things come in pairs! We just picked up an aircraft carrier, and now Europe is extending an olive branch?"

"The crisis is over? I thought we were in for a tough battle!"

"The person upstairs is too naive. This isn't a resolution; it's the result of our navy's strength demonstrating its power! How dare they not welcome it?"

"Got it! 'Picking up' the aircraft carrier is the direct result, and the welcome from Europe is the indirect confirmation! Dragon Xia Navy, awesome!"

"It seems that our victory in the eastern front was even more hardcore than we imagined! It really woke up those old nobles in Europe!"

Some observant netizens even dug up another message: "Breaking news!"

"The British tribe has just announced that it will relax entry and exit restrictions for scholars from China in certain high-tech fields. A group of highly skilled personnel who were previously detained have already boarded planes to return home!"

This message was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the emotions of all netizens.

"Times have really changed! In the past, our talented people were always trying to leave, but now they have to take the initiative to let people come back!"

"This is the indirect influence of a powerful nation! When you are powerful, others will respect you, and even your own people will look up to you!"

"Europe's attitude is a direct manifestation, while Britain's release of its people is an indirect manifestation! What does this mean? It means that our Longxia has become powerful enough to stand on equal footing with the entire Western world, and even to the point that they feel wary!"

"Economic gap? Just watch, at this rate, surpassing them is only a matter of time! I have full confidence in the future of Longxia!"

The forum was filled with optimism, confidence, and even a slightly inflated sense of self-importance.

Unlike the wariness and disbelief felt inside the Cabinet building regarding the "welcome" to Europe, here, the public interpreted it more directly as a victory for national strength, a great thing to celebrate.

They used keyboards and emojis to construct a bright future for the rise of Longxia, a future that is unstoppable.

In stark contrast to the "celebration" of the Longxia tribe, the Donghuang tribe was deathly silent.

Despite the official mouthpiece's continued efforts to cover it up, using vague terms such as "tactical adjustments" and "failure in contact combat,"...

But news of the disastrous defeat at the front spread uncontrollably across the internet like a plague.

Especially when the "rumor" that the Longxia tribe had "auctioned off the aircraft carrier captured from the Donghuang tribe (which netizens jokingly called the 'Express Carrier')" spread to the Donghuang tribe's online community, the entire nation's morale seemed to collapse under the last straw.

"A defeated nation...Are we already a defeated nation?"

"Even an aircraft carrier was captured and auctioned off... What a disgrace! What a disgrace!"

"Baka yarou! The Longxia tribe is going too far! They're trying to trample our dignity underfoot!"

"What are the officials still hiding? Admit it! We've been utterly defeated!"

"This cabinet must step down! They've led the country into the abyss!"

"This cabinet is utterly incompetent; they're a bunch of good-for-nothings! They must step down!"

The hustle and bustle that once filled the streets and alleys has disappeared, replaced by a suffocating dullness.

People hurried along, their faces etched with dejection and frustration.

More shops closed than usual, and the stock market plummeted, triggering a circuit breaker.

An unprecedented pain, a pain that uprooted national self-confidence, permeated the air.

Outside the Cabinet Building, the people who had been holding banners and shouting for "an explanation" and "severe punishment for the war traitors" seemed to have all their strength drained away after confirming the news of the defeat and the capture of the aircraft carrier through various channels.

The impassioned slogans vanished, replaced by a deathly silence, followed by suppressed sobs that gradually merged into a chorus.

Many people collapsed to the ground, covering their faces and weeping, their despair palpable.

Only now did they realize that all their previous anger and demands seemed so pale and ridiculous in the face of the cold, hard fact of defeat; they were nothing more than a last-ditch struggle of self-deception.

Amidst these desperate cries, the heavy door of the Cabinet Building slowly opened.

The head of the cabinet walked out alone.

He did not bring any attendants, nor did he bring any prepared speech, nor did he even step onto the pre-arranged podium.

He stood there on the steps, at the center of countless gazes filled with anticipation, anger, and despair.

The autumn wind swept up a few withered leaves, brushing past his graying temples, adding to his desolate air.

He surveyed the dense crowd below, looking at the tear-streaked faces, and after a moment of silence, spoke in a weary and hoarse voice, yet clearly audible to everyone: "Gentlemen, all of you, go back." (End of Chapter)