Chapter 966: Chapter 966

Inside the command cabin of a Japanese warship.

Colonel Ryuben was staring solemnly at the target displayed on the monitor.

"Colonel, the target's position is 2035, altitude is 035, flight speed is 200 meters per second. Based on this, we can confirm it's a small fighter jet dispatched by Huaxia Country."

At this moment, an operator, watching the parameters displayed on the computer, reported to Ryuben.

"Command the ship-to-air missile to fire one. Shoot that fighter jet down for me," Ryuben said solemnly.

"Yes!" The operator wasted no time, pulling on the targeting lever. The two other operators beside him also began operating simultaneously.

Less than ten seconds later, the operator reported, "Colonel, the target is locked. Requesting permission to fire."

The three operators immediately performed their assigned roles, and one of them pressed the missile launch button.

Though inside the command cabin, the deafening roar of the missile launch could still be heard.

A slight smirk appeared on Ryuben's lips.

This missile was the most advanced in Japan's current arsenal. Even the Stars and Stripes Country, the world's leading military power, is negotiating to purchase it.

Two missiles were launched simultaneously this time, and no matter how advanced their fighter jet was, it should've been impossible to evade these missiles.

"How... how is this possible?" At that moment, one of the operators manning the position controls stared at his display in disbelief.

"What's happening?" Ryuben asked, frowning deeply.

"Colonel, that fighter jet is performing rapid lateral maneuvers in such a short time. A sharp turn like that should cause unbearable air pressure—no fighter jet in the world should be able to withstand this," the operator replied.

Ryuben stood and walked directly behind the operator.

On the operator's monitor, a clear light point was rapidly executing lateral movements.

The sight that followed left Ryuben utterly dumbfounded. The light point, after swiftly shifting laterally, started making continuous Z-shaped maneuvers.

Ryuben checked the speed, and the light point was moving at 300 meters per second.

To perform such maneuvers at this speed—it was beyond his comprehension...

"The missile failed..." an operator remarked.

"I don't care how the Huaxia people managed this! Listen carefully: you must shoot it down for me!" Ryuben's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness. "Order a double missile launch immediately!"

"Yes!" The three operators replied in unison.

Quickly, they locked onto the target again using their computer systems.

The missiles were launched without hesitation, streaking across the sky.

Ryuben stared intensely at the monitor.

A single ship-to-air missile costs five million US dollars. This double launch cost a full ten million dollars.

He couldn't tear his eyes from the monitor for even a moment.

The light point representing the missiles rapidly approached the target's light point. This time, the opposing light point didn't make any evasion maneuvers, and everyone in the cabin held their breath.

Closer and closer... three hundred meters, two hundred meters, one hundred meters! Fifty meters...

"It hit! It hit!" one operator shouted, leaping up to point at the monitor.

The other two operators echoed excited cheers.

Ryuben exhaled deeply, gazing at the monitor showing a bright flash. He knew that the bright flash represented the fragmented returns from the debris.

Surely, the enemy fighter jet had been completely obliterated.

Ryuben's lips curled into a grin. "Those Huaxia Country trash—they'll never be a match for us..."

Before Ryuben had finished his arrogant proclamation, one operator shouted in surprise while looking at the monitor.

Everyone in the command cabin turned to look.

Once they understood what they were seeing, their mouths fell open in disbelief.

Amid the bright flashes of debris, a single light point pushed through and headed straight for their warship.

Ryuben quickly checked the parameters beside the monitor.

Speed: 300 meters per second...

Just by looking at the speed, Ryuben immediately concluded—the approaching light point was the enemy fighter jet!

"Impossible! Impossible! It was hit by missiles—how could it still be flying?" Ryuben shook his head, utterly disbelieving.

Everything unfolding before his eyes had exceeded his understanding.

"Colonel, what do we do now?" an operator anxiously asked. "The enemy is less than ten kilometers from us!"

"Retreat! Immediately!" Ryuben commanded hurriedly.

Since their missiles couldn't take down the enemy aircraft, there was no point continuing. Retreat would be better than being slaughtered.

Beside Ryuben, his adjutant quickly picked up the microphone.

"Engine room, swing the bow around, full throttle, retreat!"

Ryuben forced himself to take a few deep breaths to calm his emotions before issuing another command. "Target the fighter jet again. Six-missile launch! No matter what, we must try again."

Without hesitation, the operators began locking onto the target.

Trained and disciplined, the three quickly completed the preparations.

Boom... Boom, boom, boom, boom...

Six missiles shot off in rapid succession.

Ryuben clenched his teeth and stared intensely at the monitor.

The six light points representing the missiles surged straight toward the opposing light point.

Three hundred meters, two hundred meters... fifty meters...

Finally, the six light points merged into one bright flash with the enemy's light point...

Explosion... According to the situation, it should have hit the target!

But inside the command cabin, there was no cheering. Everyone was fixated on that bright flash.

Soon... the opposing light point emerged again...

"Th-that... the enemy fighter jet is still there..." The operator watching the monitor stammered, overwhelmed.

The missiles had repeatedly struck the aircraft, but it remained unscathed.

They'd witnessed this with their own eyes, yet no one could truly believe it.

What kind of aircraft could withstand missile hits? Even a diamond aircraft would shatter under such attacks...

"Huaxia people... how did they manage this?" Ryuben muttered, his mouth agape. "How did Huaxia people manage this..."

While Ryuben was still in a daze, another operator near him spoke urgently. "Colonel, the enemy fighter jet is less than five kilometers from us—what should we do?"

This time, the operator's tone was filled with despair.

Their warship had exhausted all missile launches, and it was clear the enemy wouldn't just let them off. Chances of being sunk loomed large...

"Don't worry. As long as you follow the pre-planned course, Huaxia Country's aircraft won't dare do anything to us. All they know is protesting," Ryuben said, forcing down his shock.

"Yes!" the operators replied in unison.

At that moment, one operator suddenly shouted, pointing at the monitor. "Colonel, we're under attack!" The source of thɪs content is 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱

On the monitor, the light point was incredibly close to their warship. Another bright dot quickly separated from it, hurtling toward their warship.

It was obvious—the separated light dot was an enemy-launched weapon!

"Impossible. Huaxia people never act rashly—they… they wouldn't dare..." Ryuben muttered in disbelief.

Ryuben prided himself on being an expert on Huaxia, believing he understood them well. But he never expected these actions—an attack on their warship!

Boom... A tremendous explosion came from within their warship.

No one had to inspect—they knew the warship had been hit.

Sirens began blaring incessantly across the ship.

"Run for your lives!"

"Hurry up! We've been hit!"

Soon, everyone sprinted toward the deck. They understood—if the warship sank, staying inside would mean certain death. Having at least some chance to escape lay on the open deck.

Just as they reached the deck, a crew member shouted loudly, "Look! Out there!"

The crew turned to gaze at the sea.

Before their warship appeared a massive whirlpool, gradually growing larger. The ship began slowly drifting toward the center of the vortex.

Despair consumed every crew member aboard the Japanese warship.

A normal disaster at sea offered survival chances via rescue efforts.

But encountering a whirlpool meant certain death!

Drawn into the whirlpool would lead to unknown death in unreachable depths.

Ryuben himself was consumed by despair.

Regret filled him—why had he chosen to hunt down those Huaxia fishing boats?

Those fishing boats had appeared within the waters bordering Japan and Huaxia. At the time, Ryuben wanted to train his crew in live combat, so he ordered their warship to pursue those fishermen...

Ryuben believed attacking fishermen would at best incur Huaxia's verbal protests.

What he hadn't expected was this—their lives were at stake...

If only he had known, he would have never provoked the Huaxia people...