Chapter 80: | 080 | Diplomatic Retreat?
"What the-" Theodore uttered in shock as he watched metallic warships rise from the boundless lines of the vast horizon. It appears that the so-called United Navy was of greater threat than they had previously imagined.
"War Master, what should we do?" One of the Magus beside him inquired as they needed someone to lead them with their captain completely unconscious on the floor.
"How's Captain Stolz?" Theodore asked since the captain of the Everlasting Sun or the supreme commander of Principatus Humanum must not die.
A Magus who was taking care of the unconscious captain calmly replied to the War Master.
"The captain is not dead, War Master Theodore. It seems that the dragoness didn't kill him, but I doubt there would be no consequences for what she had done."
Hearing the words of the Magus, Theodore furrowed his eyebrows as the situation was far from good. Their commanding officer was out, which meant that he was the next.
Will he continue to set out on what they were trying to do and fight against the United Navy before them?
The Fleet of Principatus Humanum was far from its strongest state yet. And their enemies had the dragoness in their ranks. They were practically at a disadvantage.
"Hey, War Master. Are you there? I'm waiting for your reply." In the runic communicator, Charlotte's aloof voice sounded out once again.
Theodore turned his attention towards it and decided to halt the action against the United Navy until Captain Stolz recovered from his current state.
With this in mind, he took a deep breath and spoke through the runic communicator as calmly as possible.
"You are lucky, girl." Through Theodore's response, the path the Principatus Humanum was taking was obvious to perceive.
"It seems that we are in agreement, War Master." In the Combat Information Center of the UNS Light Bringer, Vice Admiral Charlotte was smiling while talking with War Master Theodore.
It appears she was having fun with the discussion brewing under the runic communicator.
"Don't be arrogant, girl. You have awoken a sleeping beast. Your United Navy will be stomped upon by monsters beyond your understanding." Theodore warned once again as the tone of Charlotte was vexing.
"Take your time and leave our territory. I hope your forces won't pass along this part of the sea without permission. Otherwise, they will be plucked off the skies and sunk into the seas."
Charlotte continued speaking as though not bothering to think much of the old man's rambles. She had already understood the power of the Sovereigns. Reminding her over and over again was becoming annoying for the aloof Vice Admiral.
"Are you threatening us?" Theodore questioned with a cold tone. Being threatened by some organization that wasn't heard anywhere in the Ferus Sea was akin to a bad joke.
"Please don't misunderstand, War Master. The United Navy doesn't threaten. We warn." While Charlotte was uttering such words, Laplace stood beside the Vice Admiral while roasting some marshmallows with her fingers.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow when she noticed what Laplace was trying to do beside her and slapped her fingers that flickered fire away.
"Don't play with fire inside the Combat Information Center. Everything around us is sensitive equipment." She admonished Laplace of what the problem dragon had done and turned her attention to the runic communicator.
On the other hand, Laplace felt incredulous but simply nodded while taking a bit from her somewhat roasted marshmallow. The sweets of the United Navy were incredibly addicting.
"Then, I won't take your warning to heart," Theodore responded to the runic communicator and glanced at the Magus around him. Captain Stolz had already returned to his quarters where he would take a rest as they returned.
As he was the current commander of Principatus Humanum, those around him would have to follow their orders regardless of their thoughts about him.
"I have decided for us to retreat and regroup with more of our forces."
"Our current fleet is at a disadvantage against our adversaries. Unless you want to sink into the ocean with the ship, you'll have to follow my orders for now." Theodore said with a stern voice.
"Understood?!" He questioned the group of Magus around him. They nodded in agreement and followed through his orders. Even they weren't that confident against a skirmish with a force that had the dragoness on their side.
"Well, then… Prepare for mass spatial transmission. Let us return to where we came from. The longer we stay here, the riskier it becomes." Theodore ordered through the runic communicator and the War Masters throughout the fleet immediately acted.
Each battleship's War Masters activated the mass spatial transmission array with War Master Theodore leading them. It was quite an intriguing scene as a vast spell circle formed in the skies above the Fleet of Principatus Humanum.
Two clicks away from the designated location for the diplomatic talks. A middle-aged man with a Fleet Admiral's uniform stood inside the bridge with a smirk plastered on his face.
He looked at the spectacular sight before him and couldn't help but smirked from it.
"It appears that our Vice Admiral succeeded. Here I thought we would have to blow those medieval battleships to make a point. I guess there's no need to do so."
Abraham uttered with unnatural calm. At the very least, the United Navy wouldn't have to fight and have greater time to prepare for the inevitable.
"Damn… Their instant-transportation capabilities make me jealous." He shook his head with a tinge of disappointment on his face. The ability to teleport warships was overpowered.
With the capabilities of the United Navy to gather and send intelligence throughout the seas, it would be a game changer in strategies and logistics.
The vast spell circle above the Fleet of Principatus Humanum shone greatly and the space around the fleet distorted. It was like seeing the skies and the sea itself wobble.
Then, in a mere instant, the Fleet of Principatus Humanum disappeared.
It ended in a diplomatic success in terms of not duking it out the moment it failed.