Chapter 1617: Chapter 1617

1617: Chapter 1613: Regrouping 1617: Chapter 1613: Regrouping Once a war is unleashed, it is very difficult to end before both sides can’t bear it anymore.

In fact, many countries and civilians regard this as the beginning of the Third World War.

This Plane War has undeniably spread to most of the world’s nations, and a vast majority of the global population is affected directly or indirectly.

When catastrophe strikes, everyone realizes how precious and fragile the once taken-for-granted peaceful life is.

And now, the island countries in the Pacific, perhaps, are the ones with the most painful realization of this reality.

“Perhaps, some countries are about to disappear from the stage of history…”

A large number of refugees are housed on rudimentary Original Wood Warships, and even though local officials have stressed that this area is safe, they are still unwilling to seek refuge in city gymnasiums.

Rumors and speculation are rampant; the civilians who are lucky enough to have survived are now like startled birds, and nobody can truly reassure them…

In fact, in the current situation, it’s not good to let one’s guard down and feel too safe.

No one can guarantee that the local area won’t become a battlefield again…

Among the refugees, some hope for protection from the Easterners’ fleet, believing without them everyone would die, while others try to expel these outsiders, thinking they bring disaster, and the arguments on both sides seem likely to come true.

Looking at the pouring rain in front of him, and the bewildered and despairing people behind, Lu Ping’an also has his reflections.

Memories from two lifetimes led him to subconsciously think modern national systems are quite stable, that even if there’s a fierce war outside, his hometown would remain peaceful as usual…

but now it seems that nobody is truly special; from the moment the Plane War starts, nobody is ready.

Perhaps, the modern nations that have persisted for thousands of years could also become history because of this war.

Lu Ping’an shook his head, dismissing these thoughts as they were irrelevant to him, as he is just a part of the whole world, a slightly larger Chess piece.

“Do what you have to do…”

As a savior, Lu Ping’an is top-notch, and as a Legion of war, the Third Fleet, which gathers a large amount of Eastern Country’s resources, is also top-notch.

As time passes, the rain stops, and the rescue and conquest of Hengyu City are also completed.

Outside the port, that huge Sea Beast has been dead for a long time, and those severed and burned Fish Heads are dragged onto the dock, where Craftsmen and porters are busy dealing with such Extraordinary spoils of war.

A massive pile of Fish Heads has accumulated in the harbor area, and the large Giant Soldiers are piled up into a makeshift defensive line.

There was no suspense in this battle, after all, this city was just one of the Foreign Invaders’ targets, and it was already a high consideration that a few Overlords were dispatched; but the Third Fleet that came to the rescue was an Elite combat power group of the Easterners.

A fist against a pinky finger, of course, there was no suspense; even the slower Overlord Level Life Forms left their corpses behind.

“We resisted for a day and a half, but still our defense line collapsed…”

The local defense force was much stronger than expected.

Here lies an important commercial port, which is also a possible source of support and resources, and even potentially an escape route for local residents; naturally, it needed to be heavily guarded.

In reality, there were once two regiments and a Demon Hunter Samurai Group (local Extraordinary Combat Brigade)…

But after the resident seventh-tier was consumed by the Overlords, the collapse of this city was just a matter of time.

However, the loss of high-end combat power and the existence of the local Extraordinary Legion indeed bought the city more time.

The first wave of people managed to escape successfully, mainly sailors, fishermen, and a minority of well-prepared citizens; many of them have been living on ships for half a month, and they were even mocked by the local news media as cowards just two days ago…

but looking back on this now is meaningless, opting for land routes is likely signing your own death warrant, now floating on the sea is also a desperate gamble.

And those who remained in the city thus lived for two more days until the reinforcements arrived, but…

“Originally, there were over four hundred thousand citizens here, and now…

there are probably only fifty to sixty thousand survivors…”

To have about one-tenth survive was already extremely fortunate.

If the rescue fleet had been delayed by another day, there might only have been ten to twenty thousand left.

it would have been rare for even a few thousand lucky ones to survive.

Lu Ping’an did not console the sorrowful manager of the Civil Affairs Bureau…

As the highest-ranking official of the local area, the Civil Affairs Bureau quickly became a deep pit, with him being one of the few administrative officials among the survivors.

Lu Ping’an delegated the task of consoling the refugees to his subordinates.

After all, he was a warrior and had no interest in comforting these local disaster victims—it was an endless task.

“Vice Admiral Su, how is the situation?”

Vice Admiral Su Yixin, a senior captain temporarily transferred from the Eastern Country Navy, also had at least twenty years of experience as a manager in the Long-Arm Tribe Military Region.

He was called over during the execution of the rescue mission, with his official role being “Inspector of Ordnance and Military Discipline”…

but regardless of seniority or military prestige, he far exceeded Lu Ping’an.

Before the departure, an urgent call was made to bring over an old general of equal rank to Lu Ping’an, and the purpose was quite clear…

Although the officials were confident in Lu Ping’an, they still worried that he might mess things up or make wrong strategic decisions due to inadequate tactical quality.

“Our personnel are in good condition, morale is high, and the ship losses are within an acceptable range.

Our logistics say the local shipyard can still be used; it seems like the Fishmen intentionally preserved it…”

As he listened to the detailed report, Lu Ping’an shook his head.

“There’s no need to tell me, just arrange it.

If there’s anything that needs my attention, let me know directly.”

Lu Ping’an wasn’t concerned about authority at all…

He was forced into this job and had no real interest in becoming an official soldier.

Someone willing to share the responsibility, especially a seasoned veteran, was naturally not someone Lu Ping’an would refuse.

Those high-level combat powers need you to soothe them, they seem to have some disagreements about the distribution of the spoils of war.”

The old general wasn’t polite and directly tasked Lu Ping’an with resolving the dispute among the high-level combat powers.

This time, the Third Fleet was fully deployed, and many of the high-level combat powers were either civilian or neutral; since they had contributed, they naturally demanded a share of the spoils of war.

Accustomed to being overbearing, they naturally weren’t inclined to let go easily.

Lu Ping’an was very decisive and quickly settled the matters…

The headache-inducing disputes between the high-level combat powers were effortlessly resolved, leaving many knowledgeable individuals baffled.

What Lu Ping’an did was actually quite simple; their disputes were merely over the inheritance of the Overlords, and if one obtained something, it meant another wouldn’t…

Lu Ping’an had them sell it directly to the Courtyard, then distribute Life Points, which they could spend within his Courtyard.

If someone wanted physical goods?

Internal bidding could be done, followed by splitting the money.

When a “generally accepted equivalent” is present, many disputes become more acceptable, especially when Lu Ping’an, acting as a “bank,” could also wield the power to “freeze your damn account.”

The Third Fleet, as expected, went through reorganization, and meanwhile awaited further orders and news of other fleets.

The First and Second Fleets were operating in this region and had called for reinforcements, which was why they had hurried over from the South Sea.

During the repairs, Lu Ping’an also continued to strengthen their warships and defensive positions…

as far as he understood, awaiting news on the battlefield often meant that worse news was coming.

And this time, was no exception.