The boss of a foreign organization called the police, claiming that he was defrauded by me

After a period of sailing, the supply ship finally rejoined the fleet from Mengyin. As boxes of supplies were unloaded onto the ship, the crew eagerly opened them for inspection, only to find that inside were fresh water and food, as well as ordinary clothing and life-saving equipment; there wasn't even a decent weapon.

A suppressed commotion spread among the crew. They exchanged puzzled glances, finally fixing their gaze on Meng Yin, who stood silently to the side.

"Sir, what... what does this mean?" A young sailor finally couldn't contain himself any longer, holding up a life jacket, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, "Why is this all we have? Our weapons are already inferior to those of Yan Kingdom, and now our supplies are delayed. Are we supposed to fight against Xingyun Kingdom's powerful ships and cannons with our bare hands?"

“Yes, Lord Meng!” Another experienced old crew member also frowned, his bronze face full of worry. “The weapons we have are only good for dealing with ordinary pirates. If we really clash with the regular fleet of the Nebula Kingdom, I’m afraid… I’m afraid it’s like throwing an egg against a rock! Your Majesty’s move is truly puzzling.”

Looking at the mountain of supply crates piled on the deck, Meng Yin was equally filled with questions. Yang Xia's orders were indeed strange, but he knew that his leader never fought an unprepared battle. He took a deep breath of the salty sea air, trying to make his voice sound calm and powerful.

"Gentlemen!" Meng Yin raised his voice, drowning out the murmurs of the crowd. "How could we possibly fathom the King's profound wisdom? Since he has made this arrangement, he must have a sure-fire plan and a meticulous strategy. As soldiers, our primary duty is to obey orders! Put aside your doubts, take your positions, and strictly execute every single one of the King's commands!"

Despite the firmness of Meng Yin's words, the doubts on the crew's faces did not completely dissipate. However, their long military service had conditioned them to obey. They responded in hushed tones and returned to their posts, though an uneasy silence still lingered in the air.

Just then, a hurried shout broke the silence from the lookout tower at the top of the mast: "Situation ahead! Unidentified convoy spotted!"

Meng Yin's heart tightened. He immediately grabbed his binoculars and rushed to the bow of the ship. Looking in the direction his subordinate pointed, he saw a series of tiny black dots gradually becoming clearer on the horizon where the sea met the sky. As they drew closer, the outlines of ships appeared on those dots—more than twenty in number, clearly a sizable fleet!

Meng Yin's pupils suddenly contracted, and his fingers gripping the binoculars turned slightly white from the pressure. He recognized the type of the ships—they were warships from the Nebula Kingdom!
"They've arrived as expected..." Meng muttered to himself, his voice a mixture of tension and a sense of astonishment at the confirmation of his predictions. "King Yang Xia was indeed a prophet! The second batch of military supplies from the Nebula Kingdom has indeed arrived as scheduled!"

He turned abruptly to his crew, his voice sharp and urgent like a drawn blade: "All men, listen to my command! According to the King's plan, all ships line up in a single file to form an interception formation! Quickly! Lower all flags immediately and conceal your identities!"

The moment the order was given, the entire fleet sprang into action, operating with the efficiency of a tightly wound machine. Ships adjusted their course according to the instructions, and sailors ran to lower their prominent flags. At this moment, their doubts about Yang Xia had been replaced by the reality before them and their obedience to orders, replaced by a high level of excitement and tension before battle.

Meng Yin stared intently at the approaching Nebula Kingdom fleet, feeling immense admiration for Yang Xia's foresight, but also a sense of unease about the impending confrontation. He clearly realized that the two sides were at a generational disadvantage in terms of weaponry and equipment.

"My lord," he murmured to himself, "your plans are flawless, your foresight is unerring. Now, we have placed ourselves in peril, and everything... depends on your backup plan!"

He looked around and saw that although the crew was tense, they remained steadfast at their posts, gripping their weapons, which seemed incredibly rudimentary compared to the enemy's, their eyes fixed on the approaching threat. The wind on the sea seemed to freeze at that moment, the sound of the waves subsided, as if the heavens and earth were holding their breath, waiting for the moment of conflict to erupt.

The Nebula Kingdom's fleet drew ever closer, the cold metallic sheen of the ships and the menacing shadows of their cannons becoming clearly visible. A sense of oppression, like a tangible sea fog, spread and enveloped everyone's hearts.

Meng Yin stood at the bow of the ship, unmoved, like a statue. He knew that at this moment, any hesitation or panic could affect the morale of the troops. He had to show absolute composure and confidence, even though his heart was already churning with turmoil.

The air above the sea seemed to solidify into a heavy, oppressive force, making it hard to breathe. Both crews held their breath, their eyes fixed on every subtle movement of the other vessel, fearing that a single blink or a breath's inattention would cause them to miss a crucial signal, leading to an irreversible and dramatic change in the entire situation.

In the tense silence, the second transport fleet of the Nebula Kingdom also keenly sensed something amiss. The once smooth, mirror-like sea surface was now inexplicably rippling with irregular waves, as if some enormous creature was awakening beneath the surface. An indescribable unease quickly spread among the crew.

"Sir, look over there!" A sharp-eyed observer pointed in the direction of the Mengyin fleet, his voice shrill with tension. "The formation of those ships... doesn't look like ordinary merchant ships or fishing boats!"

The commander of the Nebula Kingdom fleet, a man named Calvin whose epaulets were embroidered with intricate silver stars, instantly darkened his expression. He grabbed the high-powered binoculars handed to him by his adjutant and peered intently. In the binoculars, although the ships had lowered their flags, making it difficult to immediately identify their affiliation, their arrangement and course clearly revealed a tactical intent.

"Damn it!" Calvin cursed under his breath, lowering his binoculars, his knuckles turning slightly white from the effort. "Their presence on this route is no coincidence. Our supplies absolutely cannot be exposed!"

A suppressed commotion and whispers immediately arose on the deck.

"What should we do? Charge through or go around?"

"Could they have already discovered it?"

"Although our firepower is not weak, the mission could very well fail once we engage in combat..."

The crew members chattered amongst themselves, their anxiety palpable. Just then, a man in a dark blue senior officer's uniform, exuding a cool and aloof air, strode out of the cabin. He was Brady, the highest-ranking officer in charge of this secret transport operation, codenamed "Night Owl." His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, swept across the distant, shadowy convoy, a cold glint in them.

"What's the panic!" Brady's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly silencing all the discussion. "Try to contact John from the advance team immediately! They arrived in this area before us. We must find out what's going on and what these unidentified ships are!"

"Yes, sir!" The adjutant beside him quickly bowed and replied, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

However, what Brady and Calvin were unaware of was that John and his advance team, whom they were so eager to contact, had already fallen into Yang Xia's control. At this moment, John stood pale-faced before Yang Xia, his previous arrogance completely gone.

In the command center of the Yan Kingdom's flagship, Yang Xia seemed to have anticipated the other side's actions. He calmly watched the connection request coming through the communicator, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. He then turned to look at the trembling John beside him, his gaze calm yet carrying an invisible pressure.

“Mr. John,” Yang Xia’s voice was steady, but every word struck John’s heart, “I think you’re a smart man and know what to say. Don’t forget your previous ‘experience.’ If you wish to relive it, I’d be happy to do so.”

John's body trembled almost imperceptibly as the terrifying experience of being subdued flashed through his mind. He nodded frantically, "Y-yes! Lord Yang, please rest assured! I will answer according to your instructions and will not play any tricks! I only beg... I only beg you to spare my life..." Seeing John's submissive and terrified appearance, Yang Xia nodded slightly in satisfaction. He snorted coldly and gave John detailed instructions on how to answer the other party's questions, every detail meticulously planned.

Communication was established quickly. Brady cautiously inquired about the situation in the waters ahead. Following Yang Xia's instructions, John reported as naturally as possible that everything was "normal," except for the occasional encounter with some "scientific research vessels conducting hydrographic surveys," and implied that they had "no intention of conflict" and could "pass safely."

This explanation successfully lulled Brady into a false sense of security. After ending the communication, his tense expression relaxed slightly, and he instructed Calvin and the crew: "It seems to be a false alarm. They were just some surveying ships. Order all ships to remain vigilant and continue on the original plan. Make sure to reach the destination within the stipulated time! No one should let their guard down!"

So, the second batch of supply transport ships from the Nebula Kingdom started their engines again and slowly sailed toward the Mengyin Fleet.

Almost simultaneously, Meng Yin received the latest instructions from Yang Xia. However, the contents of the instructions left him dumbfounded, his thick eyebrows furrowing tightly, almost forming a knot.

"Charge at full speed towards the enemy fleet? Then, at the last second before contact, we're ordered to turn sharply or just barely pass by? And we're strictly forbidden from any actual contact?" Meng Yin gripped the order document, muttering to himself, his voice filled with disbelief and confusion. "What exactly is the King's intention? Such a dangerous move is like dancing on a knife's edge... What if the other side overreacts? Wouldn't a conflict break out at any moment? What is he planning..."

Countless questions churned in his mind. However, his long military service and his almost instinctive trust in Yang Xia forced him to suppress all his doubts. He knew that on the battlefield, the decisions of the highest commander were sometimes not immediately understood by lower-ranking officers, and absolute obedience was often the key to victory.

"Send the order to all ships!" Meng Yin took a deep breath, his eyes hardening again, and his voice echoed across the deck through the communication tube, "Adjust course, target: Nebula Nation fleet directly ahead! Full sails, full speed ahead!"

Upon receiving the order, Meng Yin's warships shot off like arrows, cutting through the waves and heading straight for the Nebula Kingdom's transport fleet, which was far larger than their own!

This sudden, almost suicidal charge once again tightened the nerves of the people of Xingyun who had just relaxed!
"Sir! They're charging!" The observer's voice was filled with terror.

Calvin snatched the binoculars at once: "What?! What are they trying to do? Suicide?!"

Brady rushed to the ship's side, staring intently at the rapidly approaching vessels, his face showing surprise and disbelief for the first time.

The other party's intentions became completely unpredictable—it didn't seem like an attack, nor was it simply a threat.

Mengyin stood at the bow of the assault fleet, his robes fluttering wildly in the strong sea wind.

His gaze was intense, fixed on the approaching Nebula Kingdom ships, his heart pounding in his chest.

Although he executed the orders perfectly, the true purpose behind Yang Xia's risky move remained shrouded in a thick fog, leaving him feeling deeply confused and uneasy.

The enormous shadow of the ship grew ever larger before his eyes, and a crisis was imminent. He could only suppress all his doubts for the time being and wait for the final moment to arrive.

"Boss, look at their route, could they be heading straight for us?"

The boatswain beside him gripped the helm tightly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Meng Yin slowly shook his head, his fingers unconsciously stroking the curved sword at his waist, his brows furrowed.
"It's hard to say. Logically speaking, the Nebula Kingdom's supply fleet always follows a fixed route. Why would it deviate so much today? And judging from the draft of their ships, they must be carrying a lot of heavy cargo, maybe even important items like weapons."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sentry on the watchtower suddenly shouted:

"Boss! The Nebula Kingdom fleet is making a move! They seem to have spotted us and are adjusting their formation!"

Mengyin immediately climbed onto the lookout tower and raised his binoculars to observe carefully.

As expected, the five cargo ships from the Nebula Kingdom quickly approached, forming a tight defensive formation. The busy figures of the crew could even be vaguely seen on both sides of the ships, clearly making defensive preparations.

Not long after, the leader of the Nebula Kingdom's fleet—a middle-aged man in a dark blue uniform with a thick beard—stood on the deck of the flagship and shouted loudly at the Mengyin fleet.

The sea breeze carried his voice intermittently:
"Listen up, ships over there! This is a transport fleet from the Nebula Kingdom, on an important mission! Please immediately deviate from your current course and do not obstruct our navigation!"

Meng Yin put down his binoculars, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He had already received Yang Xia's instructions to hold off the Xingyun Kingdom's fleet here to buy time for subsequent plans, so he naturally wouldn't leave easily.

He turned to the communications soldier behind him and said:

“Tell them we are sailing normally, not violating any maritime rules, so why should we deviate from our course? Let them adjust their course themselves.” (End of Chapter)