I built an armada.

At the same time, it "earnestly hopes to engage in unconditional dialogue with the Longxia tribe to seek a permanent peaceful solution."

Although it did not directly use words such as "surrender," "apology," or "reparations," the fact that this statement, hastily released before the deadline, was written in a humble tone and unilaterally announced the termination of the confrontation and requested peace talks, is undoubtedly a surrender.

The news caused a global uproar!
The Tiexue forum was instantly flooded with posts about "victory".

Inside the black palace, the chieftain looked at the briefing with icy eyes. He knew that Long Xia had already eliminated any worries.

Meanwhile, in Kyoto, the capital of the Eastern Wilderness tribe, countless people who had been watching television and online responded to the announcement with a range of reactions: some wept uncontrollably, some smashed their belongings in anger, and others simply shut down their screens numbly, plunging into utter darkness.

On this night, the ancient Eastern Wilderness tribe, along with this midnight announcement, saw its dignity plunge into the cold depths of the sea.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Continent of Longxia, a new era is quietly dawning, accompanied by the first rays of sunrise rising from the sea.

Longxia Tribe Time, 23 PM.

There is only one hour left until the deadline set by the Longxia Foreign Affairs Department.

The entire planet Earth seemed to have been muted.

From the Wall Street of the Eagle Tribe to the ancient exchanges of Europe, and then to the vast grasslands of Africa, countless eyes, whether open or hidden, are focused on that long and narrow island nation in the Eastern Sea.

Leaders of the European maritime nations, though separated by vast oceans, are closely monitoring the situation.

They knew that this contest in the Eastern Seas was not only about the change of regional hegemony, but could also reshape the future power structure of the entire planet.

The powerful rise of Longxia and the desperate attempts of Xiongying to contain it have created the most acute clash here.

Inside the black palace of the Eagle Tribe, the Grand Chief stood in front of a huge electronic screen. One side of the screen displayed the real-time situation in the Eastern Sea, while the other side showed a briefing on the meeting between the Deputy Chief and representatives from the Niying Tribe, the Philippine Tribe, and other tribes.

With one hand pushing forward "Project Dark Night," attempting to weave new chains, and with the other hand tightly gripping the whip pointing towards the Eastern Wilderness, he awaited the final outcome.

"What will the people of the Eastern Wilderness choose?" the chieftain murmured to himself.

He hoped that Donghuang could be more assertive, even if it was just to slightly delay Long Xia's progress, so as to buy more time and space for his "Dark Night Plan".

But there was also a concern that the foolishness of the Eastern Wilderness would completely enrage Long Xia, triggering an uncontrollable chain reaction.

In the intelligence analysis rooms across the planet Earth, analysts are also making various speculations:

"Did the Eagle Tribe secretly give the Eastern Wilderness some promise or leverage? Otherwise, how dare they delay until the last minute?"

"Not likely. The Eagle Tribe's own naval forces are currently stretched thin, so it's unlikely they would directly wage war against Dragon Xia for the sake of the Eastern Wilderness. It's more likely they would offer verbal support."

"The Dragon Xia Navy has completed the encirclement, but they are only putting psychological pressure on us by surrounding us without attacking. What they are after is probably not just an apology from the Eastern Wilderness, but a more complete surrender, or even... some kind of 'transformation'."

"I hope Donghuang will make a statement soon! If this drags on any longer, the entire Dongzhou sea area, and even the global market, will be severely shaken! Some people just don't want to see peace in Dongzhou!"

"The Dragon Xia people will definitely make a move this time. If the Eastern Wilderness people continue to delay, the world will probably fall into turmoil again. Damn it, when will Earth ever be able to have a moment of peace? Is true peace really that hard to find?"

This global attention and suspicion created an invisible pressure that weighed heavily on the Eastern Wilderness tribes.

The territory of the Donghuang tribe, with a 30-kilometer radius of sea boundary.

The sea was not calm under the cover of night. Fourteen main warships of the Longxia Navy, like silent steel behemoths, outlined their cold silhouettes in the darkness, forming an impenetrable encirclement.

Destroyers, frigates, and attack nuclear submarines lurking underwater form a three-dimensional blockade network.

The powerful radar beams scanned the sky and sea repeatedly, completely severing the Eastern Wilderness tribe's air and sea access to the outside world.

Any ship attempting to leave port, or any aircraft attempting to take off, would immediately receive a stern warning and lock signal from the Longxia warship.

The invisible electromagnetic barrier has turned the Eastern Wilderness tribe into an almost isolated information island.

Outside the encirclement, at the core of the second combat chain, in the main control room of a 10,000-ton destroyer, the atmosphere was a completely different kind of intense and tense.

Captain Cao Youren stood ramrod straight in front of the integrated command platform, his eyes sharp as an eagle, staring intently at the huge countdown on the screen—less than fifty minutes until midnight.

There was no tension on his face, only the patience and coldness of a hunter waiting for his prey to fall into the trap.

"Final checks by all departments to confirm the status of the attack units!"

Cao Youren's voice echoed in the silent control room, "If the Japanese haven't given us a satisfactory response by 23:45 PM, then proceed with the planned 'fireworks'!"

"We must ensure that our Japanese neighbors have an unforgettable night!"

The so-called "fireworks display" is the code name for this operation, which refers to a high-precision, high-intensity, and limited surgical strike against a series of pre-planned military and non-military targets on the outskirts of the Eastern Wilderness tribe that have important symbolic and strategic value.

Unlike the first time he besieged the Eastern Wilderness Tribe, this time he wanted to completely disarm the Eastern Wilderness Tribe and make this country, whose crimes were countless, bear the punishment it deserved!

The vice-captain added from the side, his tone laced with a cold humor: "The superiors have instructed that as long as the Eastern Wilderness doesn't provide a clear result, our 'fireworks' will continue for another day. All losses incurred as a result will be borne unilaterally by the Eastern Wilderness tribe."

"So, everyone, there's no need to worry about any 'unexpected consequences.' We are simply carrying out a 'reminder' mission."

Inside the control room, officers and operators at all levels had determined eyes, their fingers flying across the control panel as they performed final parameter checks and system self-tests.

The atmosphere was heavy yet efficient, filled with the solemnity of an impending great battle.

Besides Cao Youren and the deputy captain, Captain Chen, Captain Dong, and others, who were also on high alert in their respective command positions on their ships, were also on standby.

They maintained close contact through encrypted communication channels, sharing data and preparing for battle together, like a fully drawn bow, ready to be released at a single command.

Time is passing by, second by second.

Inside the control room, only the soft hum of the instruments and the ticking of the countdown timer could be heard. Every second seemed to stretch out, striking a chord in everyone's heart.

At 23:40 PM, there were only five minutes left until the deadline.

Cao Youren stared at the screen, where there was still no official response from the Eastern Wilderness authorities, and his last bit of patience ran out.

He took a deep breath, pressed the communication button, and connected to a direct channel with headquarters. "Headquarters, this is Cao Youren. Five minutes remain until the deadline, and no valid response has been received from the target. Requesting confirmation: should the 'fireworks' contingency plan be executed as scheduled?"

After a brief silence, a calm and clear reply came through the headset from headquarters: "Cao Youren, authorize execution as planned. Repeat, authorize execution as planned."

"understand!"

A cold glint flashed in Cao Youren's eyes as he ended the call with headquarters.

He immediately switched to the internal command channel, his voice firm and unwavering:

"Attention all units! This is Cao Youren! Headquarters has authorized you! 23:45 PM sharp, proceed on time!"

"Captain Chen, Captain Dong! Third combat chain, launch the first attack on the designated target on time! Make sure to make a strong impression and establish a powerful presence!"

"Communications officer! Repeat this announcement to all vessels in the area via public maritime channels! We don't care who hears it!"

Moments later, an unencrypted, clear, and chilling warning message, transmitted via an international public maritime channel, spread like an invisible shockwave, instantly reaching all vessels and shore-based receiving stations with their relevant equipment activated throughout the Dongzhou waters:

"Warning! Warning! This sea area is about to become a military operation zone! The Longxia Navy will launch a military strike against targets related to the Eastern Wilderness Tribe at 23:45 Longxia time! Unrelated ships and aircraft, please take evasive action immediately! Repeat, this sea area is about to become a military operation zone!"

The Eastern Wilderness Tribe, the Eagle Tribe's garrison base, and military command center.

"General! General Koro!"

An intelligence officer, his face ashen, practically stumbled into the command center, clutching a freshly printed telegram. His voice trembled with terror as he cried out, "Intercepted...intercepted Longxia Navy's public channel communications in plaintext! They...they announced they will launch a general offensive against us...no, against the Eastern Wilderness tribes at 23:45 PM sharp!"

General Koro was in a secure call with General Cruz, both anxiously awaiting the Eastern Wilderness Tribe's final statement from their respective offices.

Upon hearing the intelligence officer's exclamation, Koro's heart sank. He immediately said to Cruise on the other end of the phone, "General, something's happened! We've intercepted Longxia's attack notification!"

General Cruise's furious voice came through the receiver: "Damn it! What are those idiots in the Eastern Wilderness doing?! Are they still clinging to unrealistic fantasies?! If they keep dragging this out, we're all going to get dragged into this!"

Koro was equally frustrated, complaining, "Every minute they delay is pushing us into a fire pit! If a new blockade alliance is formed, we might be able to stay as a forward foothold, but if a fight breaks out tonight... we might really not be able to leave!"

"Damn cabinet leader, has he lost his mind? Doesn't he know the Dragon Xia people aren't joking with them?"

"These damned Eastern Wilderness people, are they trying to drag us to our deaths here?"

Just then, there was a knock on the door of General Cruise's office, and his intelligence officer delivered the same intercepted information.

"Open-source broadcast?"

After listening to Koro's account and the intelligence officer's confirmation, Cruise frowned deeply. His first reaction was suspicion: "The Dragon Xia people have always been very secretive. Why would they use a public channel this time?"

"Could this be a trap? Is it psychological warfare?"

He forced himself to calm down and said to the intelligence officer, "Recite the details again!"

The intelligence officer trembled as he repeated the menacing broadcast from the Longxia Navy.

"23:45 exactly... All-out attack..."

Cruise chewed over these words, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

His primary concern wasn't the Eastern Wilderness, but his own safety: "How large is their so-called general offensive? Will it affect our base? Also, do the 'relevant targets' mentioned in their report include us?"

"Furthermore, what are the exact locations of Longxia's three aircraft carrier fleets? Have they already entered attack positions?"

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and he couldn't help but burst into a tirade: "That useless cabinet leader! He's utterly clueless! Even at a time like this, he's still trying to save face! Does he want to drag the whole country, including us, into hell?!"

The atmosphere inside the command center was extremely tense.

The time has jumped to 23:44 PM, and there is only 1 minute left before the final attack!
Just as Cruise and Koro felt their hearts were about to leap out of their chests, another intelligence officer rushed in, this time with a strange expression on his face, seemingly both shocked and relieved.

"General! Breaking intelligence! From the highest-level channels within the Eastern Wilderness tribes! The Eastern Wilderness... the Eastern Wilderness Foreign Affairs Department... released a global announcement 30 seconds ago!"

Cruise and Koro shouted almost simultaneously, "What's the content?!"

The intelligence officer swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "It's...it's a unilateral...declaration of surrender to the Longxia tribe..."

In that instant, time seemed to freeze in the entire command center.

General Cruise's mouth was agape, poised to roar, but no sound came out. The encrypted phone in General Koro's hand clattered to the console.

Outside the window, the distant eastern sea surface still seemed utterly silent.

But everyone knows that something has changed completely at the last moment.

The countdown is about to end.

The Eastern Wilderness Tribe, the Eagle Tribe's garrison base, and the underground military command center.

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds until General Cruise's tense jawline relaxed slightly. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, the breath that had been held in his chest for so long seemingly carrying away all his anxiety and unease.

"They surrendered... finally..."

Cruise's voice trembled slightly, a faint tremor from the exhaustion of being pulled back from the edge of a cliff.

He stopped looking at the suffocating countdown on the screen and instead looked at Koro, both of them showing the same emotion in their eyes—the relief of surviving a disaster.

General Koro bent down to pick up the encrypted phone that had fallen onto the control panel, hung up, and gave Cruise an extremely awkward smile: "General, it seems we are... safe for now."

He immediately urged the intelligence officer who had brought the crucial information, "Detailed report!"

At this moment, he couldn't wait to know the details, because it concerned whether he could successfully leave this place of fear and anxiety. (End of Chapter)