Darkstone Code

Mr. President recounted everything that happened, including the order from the fleet admiral to annihilate Gafura's navy despite their surrender.

Some who weren't very clear on the details stood up in shock after hearing this, and others even demanded harsh punishment for the fleet admiral.

Everyone appropriately expressed their viewpoints, offering the President and the President's Cabinet more reference information from their respective fields, until Mr. Wardrick began to speak.

"Mr. President, fellow cabinet members, I have a question..." After gaining the President's consent to continue, Mr. Wardrick asked a question that others had overlooked, "Can the results of our combat with the Gafura Royal Navy be replicated?"

Not just the President, but the Minister of Defense, even Mr. Truman and everyone in the meeting room focused their gaze on Mr. Wardrick.

They were so shocked by this news that they failed to realize that if the naval battle's outcome wasn't mere luck, then why were they so frightened?

The Minister of Defense nodded, "Our new torpedoes can easily destroy all current battleship hulls in service, so if you ask whether this can be replicated, I believe it can."

Actually, the core of victory in this battle wasn't the bombardment between the Federation's fleet and the Gafura Royal Fleet; it's no exaggeration to say the Federation navy soldiers were vastly inferior in personal quality and abilities to Gafura's.

If not for bridging the human gap differences through various technologies, and without those submarines and new torpedoes, the Federation Navy might very well have lost in this naval battle.

Any strategic or tactical advantage actually holds little specific value in real combat because execution still relies on individual soldiers. If personal qualities don't meet the standards for executing strategies and tactics, then no matter how well-designed they are, they remain useless.

Fortunately, submarines and torpedoes salvaged the naval battle.

Mr. Wardrick nodded, "I have a suggestion, immediately hold a press conference to showcase our submarines' data, as well as the torpedoes' data..."

"Impossible!" The Minister of Defense almost blurted out rejecting Mr. Wardrick's proposal, "These are all military secrets!"

Mr. Wardrick shook his head, "Not anymore; people will soon find ways to obtain these specifics. Rather than letting them send countless spies to drill holes everywhere, and eventually losing these data, why not process them slightly and announce them publicly to the international community."

"Now is the best time to showcase our strength; we can demonstrate through releasing this data to anyone in the world that we can achieve the highest returns at the lowest cost."

"Whether it's Gafura or those who harbor ambitions, as long as they dare approach, we'll sink them to the seabed!"

The President thought it made a lot of sense; although Mr. Wardrick hadn't mentioned it explicitly, everyone knew what he omitted was the Congress Military Committee.

The Senate has a Federation Military Committee, consisting of twenty-four senators who serve as permanent members, authorized to review all federal documents and data related to the military.

Each of these people holds various secret foundations, and every year, the Military Industrial Group frenziedly funds them.

These people can digest the Military Industrial Group's money with peace of mind, naturally having the potential to swallow other people's money too. Checking equipment parameters under the guise of reviewing specific data is actually quite normal.

Competition among many Military Industrial Groups happens this way; before new bids start, they have full grasp of every competitor's soon-to-launch equipment parameters.

The President looked at Mr. Truman, who nodded slightly, "I think it's feasible; Mr. Wardrick's proposal is very constructive; it made me think of other things as well, but overall, I think it's doable."

The President made his first decision of the evening, "Then you all should immediately arrange personnel to carry it out!"

Mr. Truman walked to the Minister of Defense, led him to a corner, and quietly talked for a while.

There was nothing particularly special; he simply instructed the Minister of Defense to increase by about fifteen to twenty percent the figures to be disclosed after daybreak, and hasten the setup of some low-cost, high-return combat equipment.

For example, speedboats equipped with just one torpedo launch tube and operable by only one person.

A price under a hundred thousand to claim even a destroyer's battle damage, the Federation would profit greatly.

Shameless, despicable, yet highly effective.

If someone dares approach the Federation's near shore, they can effortlessly deploy thousands of torpedo speedboats.

While arranging for the Minister of Defense to deceive the media and the international community professionally, Mr. Truman noticed Lynch idly sitting in the corner.

He immediately halted his talk with the Minister of Defense and whispered to the President for a while; the President glanced at Mr. Truman before finally directing his gaze toward Lynch.

Most people's gaze followed the President's gaze, turning to Lynch.

"Mr. Lynch, each of us has offered our views and provided some suggestions within our capabilities; can you also offer us some thoughts of reference value?"

Tonight until now, Lynch hasn't spoken. Mr. Truman feels that it's not because Lynch has nothing to say, but because he doesn't want to speak at the moment.

Those who understand Lynch know that his thinking is very avant-garde, sometimes contrary to mainstream society. His ideas now must differ from those in the room, even could be in the opposite direction, which is why he remains silent.

Otherwise, he would have stood up and turned the room into his stage already.

This is also why Mr. Truman hasn't invited Lynch to share his views. His position isn't significant enough for everyone here to indulge him, but the President has that privilege.

Lynch's gaze lingered on the President's face for a few seconds before moving to Mr. Truman's face. He didn't speak immediately, hesitating.

At this point, Mr. Wardrick also stepped out, "Mr. Lynch, now is the time for us to unite. If you have any good ideas, please be sure to voice them."

With the President and Mr. Wardrick combined, their standing is considerable enough. Lynch nodded slightly, "Actually, you've all misunderstood something. It is not the Gafura Royal Navy that we are at war with, but the Pretton Pirate Group..."

"Impossible!" The Foreign Minister immediately denied it, "We all know it's the Gafura Royal Fleet!"

Lynch looked at him as if he were a fool, though this couldn't be blamed on him, but rather on the previous President.

Isolationism was terrifying, so much that diplomacy was almost neglected. This neglect doesn't mean the Federation's diplomatic staff aren't working or that the Federation does not engage in international diplomatic activities.

Rather, it means that in international diplomatic affairs, the Federation's methods are outdated or even regressed. Their diplomatic thinking lingers on years, if not decades, ago, unaware that in this world, only fists can protect interests.

International diplomacy once emphasized strategy because while the international community built connections, technology reasons prevented close contact.

In the absence of large-scale invasions, countries leaned towards rationality and means in diplomacy, until the outbreak of world war.

Political diplomacy is no longer mainstream; power diplomacy is now the trend. Those with strength have a louder voice.

Now that the Gafura has lost, the Federation's words become indisputable.

Still, work can't be done this way; methods need consideration. Lynch nodded in agreement, "You are not entirely wrong, so I believe what you should do now is contact the Gafura diplomatic ambassador, condemn their Royal Fleet for colluding with the Pirate Group, and see how they respond!"

Lynch's first half of the sentence left some disappointment, but the second half immediately impressed.

How will they respond? They certainly won't admit this. If they admit that the Gafura Royal Navy and the Pretton Pirate Group are together, then did Pretton control Nagariel United Kingdom's economy under Gafura's orders?

Once the seed of suspicion is sown, it can never be eradicated. Gafura is not popular, which will tarnish its reputation in the international community, while being guarded against and isolated!

"We can begin by isolating Gafura in diplomacy, spend some money, promise some benefits, let some conscience-stricken people stand out, like the leaders of anti-government armed forces, to tell the international community they acted under Gafura's orders."

"Secondly, I also have a question. Where is our fleet now?"

Mr. Truman had adapted to Lynch's rapid thinking jumps and answered immediately, "On its way back."

"I noticed earlier that we didn't annihilate the entire Gafura Royal Navy First Fleet. They still have two battleships and some other warships that didn't participate in the sea battle, and have been dispatched to the Amelia Region."

The Minister of Defense nodded. This information is not restricted secret news, and Emperor Gafura even publicly announced this to the international community.

Their purpose is to deter some ill-intentioned people in the Amelia Region, openly telling everyone that our fleet is coming, be obedient.

"Chase them!" Lynch's words caused a brief freeze in the room.

If it was said that the prior denial of Gafura's navy at the sea battle somewhat made sense, now chasing the remaining warships might...

Be a bit excessive?

"We don't need to start new battles or have close contact with them. Just staying within striking distance with our fleet will suffice."

"As for the justification..." Lynch shook his head slightly, "We are pursuing the remnants of the Pretton Pirate Group!"

The Foreign Minister couldn't help but say again, "Emperor Gafura will go mad since no one ever insulted them so!"

"No!" Lynch's tone was also very firm, "Because we have a reason he cannot refuse!"