No need for strong eyesight at all, Russell could tell at a glance that the other party must be the escort fleet of the New Flying Chamber of Commerce.
There is no other reason. In this vast endless sea, apart from the three frigates currently owned by the Candela Empire Navy, only the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce has this kind of sea steel monster.
Russell frowned slightly as he watched the dozen or so frigates approaching quickly.
The sudden appearance of the New Flying Chamber of Commerce escort fleet here gave him some bad premonitions.
Not long after, the dozen frigates on the opposite side had arrived not far ahead and began to slow down slowly.
"Lord Russell, what do these guys want to do?" Tom, the captain of the Third Fleet of the Candela Empire Navy next to Russell who was responsible for commanding this operation, asked with a frown.
"I don't know... let's stop and take a look first." Russell shook his head.
"Stop?" Tom was stunned. "Master Russell, we are on a mission. How can we stop casually? If these guys don't get out of the way, we can just kill them."
Russell glanced at him: "Are you confident you can kill them?"
Tom looked suffocated and speechless.
If the Candela Imperial Navy was not familiar with frigates like the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce before, then in the eyes of the Candela Imperial Navy, which has always considered itself to be the best in the world, there is simply no one in the world who can withstand it on the vast endless sea. The advance of the Imperial Navy.
However, after a head-on conflict with the escort fleet of the New Flying Chamber of Commerce, they realized that there was such a fleet in the world that was even beyond their imagination.
more importantly. After the Candela Empire Navy ordered three frigates from the New Flying Chamber of Commerce. during an internal naval exercise. These three frigates have demonstrated countless times that their combat effectiveness far exceeds that of other ships within the navy, so much so that a consensus has been formed within the Imperial Navy.
These frigates manufactured by the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce are completely different from traditional sea-going ships. The comparison between the two is like comparing a fully armed adult with a child. It can be said that there is almost no comparability.
In internal exercises, these three frigates alone were able to easily defeat a huge fleet composed of dozens of traditional seagoing ships. You can also win and make the other party lose their temper.
But what appeared in front of them now was a dozen frigates, and they were piloted by the New Flying Chamber of Commerce escorts. How could Tom have the confidence to kill them
"Okay, stop first. I don't think they really dare to attack us. Maybe they just happened to meet us by chance."
Although Russell said so, he didn't think so in his heart.
Although the Endless Sea is extremely wide, the New Flying Chamber of Commerce escort fleet suddenly appeared just when the Candela Empire Navy entered the waters of the Luersun Kingdom. It would be too much to say it was a coincidence.
After a while. The fleets of both sides stopped at the same time about two kilometers apart, followed by Russell's frigate. The magic intercom used for communication rang.
"Is the Candela Empire Navy opposite? I am Leslie, the former commander of the escort fleet of the New Flying Chamber of Commerce. Is there anyone I know well on your fleet?"
Russell and Thom looked at each other, Russell coughed slightly and responded: "Hello, Master Leslie, I am Russell."
"Oh? Mr. Russell is here too? That would be great." Leslie's voice revealed a hint of surprise. "Lord Russell, this conversation is not convenient. Can we meet and talk?"
Russell frowned slightly: "We are on a mission, so I'm afraid it won't be convenient to waste time to meet you."
Leslie chuckled: "Mr. Russell, what I want to talk to you about is related to your mission this time."
Russell frowned, and Thom took over the conversation and said, "Sir Leslie, I'm sorry, we are on an emergency mission. Please lead your men to get out of the way and don't waste our time."
"What if I don't let you?"
Tom suddenly raised his eyebrows and asked: "Master Leslie, what do you mean by this? Do you know that deliberately blocking us like this is equivalent to declaring war on us? Are you sure you know the consequences of doing so?"
"I know, that's why I came." Leslie's tone was still relaxed.
Thom was furious and wanted to say more, but Russell stopped him.
"Master Leslie, what do you mean?" Russell asked in a deep voice.
"As I said just now, I won't let you pass."
Listening to Leslie's still relaxed tone, Russell was slightly angry, his face became a little more gloomy, and he asked: "Leslie, do you really know what you are doing? You are hindering the actions of our Imperial Navy like this." , I can definitely think that you are declaring war on our Imperial Navy, declaring war on the Empire! I will give you another chance, please get out of the way immediately for the sake of our friendship. "
Leslie's hearty smile appeared on the phone, but there was no further response.
"Lord Russell, let's leave him alone and just rush over. I don't believe he dares to attack us." Thom urged on the side. "If we delay it any longer, we will be delayed for too long, and it may affect the entire plan."
Russell frowned and thought for a while, then nodded slowly.
"Let's leave them alone."
Tom hummed and immediately passed on the order.
After a while, all the ships of the Candela Imperial Navy fleet started up again.
However, the three frigates at the front had just moved about ten meters when they suddenly saw a red light on a ship opposite.
Seeing this red light shining on, Russell and Tom both felt their hearts tighten.
If they read it correctly, this was clearly the light emitted by the ship-borne magic cannon specially equipped on the frigate!
"dodge!"
Just as Tom had time to shout, he saw a red light emitting from the opposite side, breaking through the distance of nearly two kilometers between the two ships in an instant.
However, this red light did not go straight to the frigate at their feet. Instead, it formed a small arc in the air and submerged directly into the sea water ahead.
"boom-"
With a loud noise, a giant water column rose into the sky.
Violent waves rippled across the originally calm sea. Several ships of the Candela Imperial Navy's fleet, which were less than a hundred meters away from the explosion site, began to shake.
Thom and Russell stared blankly at the wave of water falling from high altitude. Like a huge boulder hitting the sea. Another violent wave was triggered.
"He...he's crazy!" Tom couldn't help but cursed loudly.
Russell took a deep breath and pressed the call button on the magic call device without hesitation.
As soon as the green light showed that the call was successful, Russell immediately shouted angrily: "Leslie, are you crazy? How dare you actually attack us? Are you declaring war on our Candela Empire?"
Leslie's slightly lazy voice sounded from the intercom.
"Ah? Declaring war? No, no, no, Lord Russell, you misunderstood. I have no intention of directly declaring war. It's just my duty. I can't let you go like this."
"Where is the responsibility?" Russell was startled. "What does this have to do with your duties?"
"Of course there is. I signed a coastal defense agreement with the Kingdom of Lursun three months ago. The Kingdom of Lursun entrusted me and my fleet to provide maritime defense services for the Kingdom of Lursun to ensure that the waters of the Kingdom of Lursun are free of Invaded by foreign forces. So... Mr. Russell, you don't want to tell me that you came here with this Candela Empire Navy just for tourism, do you?"
"Coastal defense agreement?" This was the first term Russell had heard, but this did not prevent him from understanding the meaning of Leslie's words. "In other words, you are now equivalent to the navy of the Luersun Kingdom?"
"No, it doesn't count. The relationship between us is just an employment relationship. The Luersun Kingdom has no right to control me." Leslie responded.
"It's not important!" Russell waved his hands angrily and shouted: "I'm just asking you. Leslie, are you doing this at the instruction of President Xu? Is your Xinfei Chamber of Commerce planning to fully support Lu? The Wilson Kingdom wants to go against our Kandra Empire?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Actually... Mr. Russell, I left the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce as early as half a year ago. Now I have more than a dozen frigates that I bought from the New Aircraft Chamber of Commerce, and they belong to my personal Property. My men and I have nothing to do with the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce, please don’t get me wrong.”
"ah?"
Russell and Thom were stunned now.
Leslie had been the commander of the New Flying Chamber of Commerce's escort fleet before. When they were discussing with the New Flying Chamber of Commerce about purchasing frigates, the New Flying Chamber of Commerce's escort fleet was cruising in the southern waters of the Kandra Empire and entering the Kandra Empire naval port. When supplying, the two parties came into contact a lot, so they were so familiar with each other.
But this was the first time they heard that Leslie had actually left the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce!
"By the way, there is one more thing to say. I have now established a chamber of commerce, which is responsible for maritime transportation and security work. It is called the Leslie Chamber of Commerce. This time, the Kingdom of Luersun signed a contract directly with our Leslie Chamber of Commerce. The coastal defense agreement, um... The price is not expensive, and you only need to pay 800,000 gold coins to our Chamber of Commerce a year. Mr. Russell, do you think this price is fair? If your Candela Empire also needs this, you can contact me at any time. Oh. Because we are so familiar with each other, I can give you a 10% discount. In addition, there are other discounts... "
Russell had no interest in continuing to listen to Leslie muttering these meaningless things. He looked up at the dozens of frigates lined up on the opposite side, blocking the way. He pondered for a moment and said to Thom: "Retreat first. Let’s report the situation here to the military department before making a decision.”
Thom said in shock: "Lord Russell, if we just withdraw like this, we will destroy the plan designated by the military department, and the military department will definitely punish us."
"If we don't withdraw, will we really go to war with them?"
Tom turned his head and glanced at the dozen frigates, swallowed hard, and shook his head with a wry smile.
Although there were only a dozen ships on the other side, and there were hundreds of ships on their side, he didn't have the slightest confidence in defeating the opponent.
But if you just retreat without even daring to fight, what's the difference between that and fleeing without fighting
Russell easily guessed what Thom was thinking from the look on his face. He patted his shoulder and sighed: "Okay, don't give in. Such a hopeless battle has no meaning at all. I will do it when I go back." Write a detailed report and submit it to the military department, you don’t have to worry.”
Tom breathed a sigh of relief.
With Mr. Russell, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Navy, standing in front of him, he didn't need to worry about being charged with fleeing without a fight.
However, don't turn around and look at the dozen frigates in the distance, he is still very unwilling.
"Lord Russell, can it be that our mighty Imperial Navy will have no choice but to give in when we see them in the future?"
Russell fell silent, speechless.
If possible, he certainly wanted to proudly tell Thom that as long as the Imperial Navy was also equipped with the most advanced frigates, he felt that he could easily defeat a dozen frigates on the opposite side.
But the reality is that it is very rare for the Imperial Navy to obtain the three frigates they currently have. It is almost impossible to equip more powerful frigates.
Thom was also well aware of the dilemma of the Imperial Navy. Seeing Russell's silence, he immediately understood.
The two looked at each other and often breathed out.
After another moment of silence, Tom gave the order to turn around and retreat.
The fleet of hundreds of Candela Imperial Navy ships retreated dejectedly along the channel they came from. (To be continued...)