novelraw Chapter 1370 692: Only Failure Is Treason
Chapter 1370 692: Only Failure Is Treason
Two hours ago, on the outermost edge of the Seven Cities, at the farthest fringe of the barren Yamen Islands where not even birds bother to poop, Minkler arrived at the base of his utterly unloyal Defense Fleet.
The trip was smooth and unhindered.
Ji Jue didn't even need to use the prepared jamming devices.
Totally unnecessary.
The lack of vigilance was so severe that even if the Prosperity sailed right up to the doorstep, there wouldn't be the slightest stir. The essential posts were completely unmanned; even the radar alarms weren't triggered.
Yeah, because they were shut down.
Shut! Down!
Ji Jue felt completely uneasy and even started to get paranoid, wondering if this was some conspiracy to lure us deeper in?
"Relax, that's just how our Defense Fleet is."
Minkler waved his hand nonchalantly as if coming home: "If things were tight on security, then there'd actually be a problem."
Even when the battered Prosperity was about to dock at the wharf, someone only lazily approached, cigarette dangling from his lips, trying to calculate how much kickback he could squeeze out, only to see an unexpected figure descending the folding ladder and offering a sharp wake-up slap.
Another slap, to really clear his head.
After those two slaps, the man finally sobered up, eyes wide with disbelief: "Re-Rear Admiral? You're... back?!"
"No shit, if I wasn't back, you bunch of fuc-king dogs would've seriously gone rogue!"
Minkler directly booted him to the ground face-first, triumphantly strutting inside, with Ji Jue trailing behind, clicking his tongue in amazement. Forget about guards slacking off; here they were openly playing cards and drinking beer with no pretense.
The Seven Cities sure are heaven for talent; everyone's got a gig!
Even the incompetent have reached a refreshing level of capability.
Quickly, he came to a conclusion.
Intentional.
Discipline in troops? What's the point of that?
If Minkler truly enforced military decorum, command orders would be disregarded, and by Day One, he'd probably be ousted by a revolt.
It's not that mud can't be shaped; Seven Cities just don't need this particular mud to be functional.
Otherwise, what then?
A top-tier fleet, independent of the seven families, under one person's control? No way, who'd be able to sleep peacefully then!
Uselessness is the virtue.
Maintain the staff, as long as everyone can breathe, when time comes for integration, everyone can scrape together a crack fleet from leftovers.
In other times...
Just staying alive is enough, no grand aspirations.
No matter how promising you are, don't expect to survive until tomorrow.
The utter mess in specifications and coordination is even beyond mention.
Chaos is good, confusion is good; even some ship's activation keys aren't in their hands. You just left the harbor and a remote control at the other end can instantly lock you up.
The ammunition stockpile is enough to bring tears; aside from a batch of damp degraded ammo, the rest is filled with smuggled goods and random stuff.
Some even raise chickens...
As for whether the smuggled goods were confiscated or pooled together, haha, don't ask, asking is rude.
No wonder nobody really cared about Minkler. Knowing his name at all is already giving him face!
Fortunately, none of these are problems...
In Ji Jue's view, none of these are problems!
Ji Jue is only concerned about one thing.
How much real assets he has in hand to start operation, how many reliable personnel and confidants are there.
Soon, as they turned a corner, several van doors opened, and dozens of men jumped out, dark-skinned, burly, and tough-looking, with guns in holsters slung at their waists, scars and bullet holes covering their exposed arms.
The vans are familiar, Coastal Industry's new cheap and cheerful product, popular domestically and abroad. The men are familiar faces from the Cliff City Veterans' Club, majority bearing similar expressions, indifferent to life, disdainful of weakness.
They have truly witnessed the sea of blood and mountain of corpses, tasted hard battles.
Minkler said nothing of significance, only asked, "Where are the others?"
The leading lieutenant responded, "According to orders, they've gone to the ammo depot and comms room, ready to take over upon command."
Minkler nodded, scanned the crowd, and his expression changed slightly: "Hilmi?"
The lieutenant paused for a moment: "Dead."
"...I see."
Minkler's expression twitched for a moment, turning ruthless: "Leave the rest to me; you follow his orders next."
As he spoke, he pointed to Ji Jue behind him who seemed a mere bystander.
"Him?"
The lieutenant frowned, squinting at Ji Jue, his stare laden with skepticism and scrutiny, bordering on contempt. The others behind him were also unimpressed, their gazes cold.
Until Minkler added casually: "He's Lu Feng's brother."
Visibly, contempt vanished, indifference disappeared.
Minkler added again: "He's even more ruthless than that Lu family guy."
Instantly, everyone's expression turned innocent and enthusiastic!
Why the hell didn't you say so sooner!
"Know them?" Ji Jue asked.
"All brothers from back then when we fought on the Central Earth, not elites really, but with Lu Feng... well, uh... worked together."
Worked together means while Lu Feng flew up above, everyone below risked life and limb dodging bullets and shells, desperately chasing after...
How could that not count as teamwork!
Though it sounds comical, a ground squad capable of coordinating with Armored Knights amidst the hail of bullets, even if they were cannon fodder, were indeed seasoned warriors among them.
"One of us, easy to talk to."
Ji Jue smiled and directly fished out from his pocket, like doing magic, wristwatches one after another, handing them over, "Wear it, don't worry, it's useful."
The lieutenant spared no words, and began putting them on.
Then watched as Ji Jue kept pulling one box after another from his pockets, distributing bulletproof vests, helmets, grenades, flashbangs, walkie-talkies, rifles, bullets...
"This place is yours."
Minkler didn't waste time, pointed at two people, then charged straight to the Central Building.
Barreling through, breaking doors and barriers, reckless, anyone daring to speak got slapped, his aggression and arrogance more rampant than ever, making everyone too scared to talk.
All the way to his office door, he saw his confidant waiting there, took a phone from him, and ordered the other end: "Sound the alarm, call the meeting!"
Then, amidst the piercing alarm, Minkler kicked open the door to the command center.
For the first time, in a long time, he arrived at his throne as a true Dominator and Commander...
His bloodshot eyes scanned the surroundings, looking at one bewildered face after another, and suddenly, he broke into a grin.
Click, a soft noise.
A loaded pistol was placed on the table.
He sat down.
Silently waiting.
Soon, chaotic footsteps sounded, the entire base was like a hornet's nest poked from its lethargic state.
However, the posture was anything but aesthetic, akin to his father's convulsions, with no order, pure chaos, some even ran outside in boxers and shoes...
More people tried to take out their phones, only to see the once full signal disappear abruptly.
A hand rose, the index and middle fingers stretched out like scissors, gesturing towards the signal tower, gently pressing together.
After the hallucinatory click sound, all external signals were completely severed.
[Everything's normal]
"Alright, everyone, let's begin."
Ji Jue turned around, glanced at the crowd of soldiers in the underground parking lot, armed to the teeth, and smiled slightly: "Move quickly, the list is rather long..."
In that moment of deathly silence, an orderly crisp sound was heard.
It was the sound of gun bolts being pulled, safeties being released.
The action begins!
.
"Min... General Minkler?"
Everyone entering the command center paused upon seeing the figure seated at the front, in disbelief, their expressions a spectacle.
Some were terrified, some perplexed, others delighted.
Even instinctively wanting to take a step back, turn around and leave, then noticing the two figures guarding the door, their cold eyes, hands placed on the grips of their guns.
Stiffened in place.
After coming to their senses, like living corpses, inching toward their positions.
"What's going on! Who allowed this!"
A thunderous roar sounded from the corridor as a bloated figure squeezed into the room, berating: "No abnormal situation, the council's orders, who dared to sound the alarm, you... Minkler?"
The deputy commander was momentarily stunned, then sneered with ridicule: "You dare to return..."
Bang!
The body fell backward.
Minkler put down the pistol, looked at everyone, telling them:
"Mutiny results in death."
.
"Emergency assembly? Minkler?"
The man at the telecommunication room scoffed, unapologetically mocking: "Really thinks he's something, huh? I'm damn sure I won't go, Minkler the waste can't kill me?!"
The answer was that he could.
Before finishing his words, someone burst through the door, not bothering to speak, simply raised a hand, pulled the trigger, with blood splattering onto the self-activated running equipment.
In the stunned gaze of others, coldly turned around and left, then pushed open the next door.
Pulling the trigger.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The increasingly dense gunfire sounded throughout the entire military base, soon growing sparse, until finally, in the silent void, no more sounds were heard.
And no one dared to stand in front of Minkler anymore.
"Please reconsider, General!"
Someone in the command center gathered courage, wiped cold sweat, reminding: "No need to go this far, after all, everyone..."
"Are you damn trying to rebel, Minkler!"
The logistics officer slammed the table in rage, unable to contain it, questioning: "What the hell are you trying to mess up?!"
Minkler yawned, glanced at him.
Indifferent.
"Watch your tone." Minkler said, "Understand who you're talking to."
"Me?"
The logistics officer laughed in anger, face reddened, and cursed: "Don't damn try to show off here, what the hell do you think you... you... you..."
He suddenly choked, eyes widened, speechless.
Because Minkler raised his hand.
In front of everyone, displaying the ring on his index finger, with its brilliant and dazzling, undeniable glow, the credential of the master of Xiang State.
Proof of the most noble among the Seven Cities!
At that moment, the continuous scraping of tables and chairs echoed, as everyone, eyes widened, instinctively stood, straightened up, and raised their hands.
Saluting the certificate of the Family Head in Minkler's hand!
"Seems like there's no need to prove my worth anymore."
Minkler tapped the table, indifferently asking:
"Anyone else have anything to say?"
Thus, no one spoke anymore.
Good.
Within fifteen minutes, all personnel were in place, fully prepared.
The Seven Cities Defense Fleet, fully deployed!
Suppress the rebellion! Suppress the rebellion! Suppress the rebellion!