Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1434: Chapter 121: Formidable Foe

The atmosphere in the entire conference room relaxed considerably after discovering the Western Alliance Fleet.

At least now, they finally knew where the opponent was hiding. Whether to fight or retreat, they had a clear idea in mind. The anxiety of being watched was swept away, and they could see the Western Alliance Fleet continuing to hide right under their noses, completely unaware. It felt so wonderful, like having control over everything in a game of hide-and-seek. All that’s left is to choose the game’s course.

On the SkyNet screen, Little Thief No.3 was trailing from a distance, while the long-range viewer’s cameras monitored the Western Alliance Fleet in full range mode, and Little Thief No.2 continued to approach the Western Alliance Fleet.

Initially, the ship captain and staff of the Phantom Fleet didn’t notice anything unusual. But as Little Thief No.2 approached the opponent closer in the surveillance footage, some people started to feel something was wrong.

Little Thief No.2 was too close to the opponent!

A fleet that is lurking could not be without electronic ship reconnaissance and alert around. If Little Thief No.2 and Little Thief No.3 avoided the opponent’s detection and found their fleet, it would be considered surprising yet fairly normal. However, the movements of Little Thief No.2 now fell entirely into the realm of extremely abnormal.

What were they planning? Rushing up to see which Western Alliance Fleet was hidden in the darkness, or were they planning to crash right into them to announce the presence of the bandit army?

”Stop, Oh God,” a ship captain suddenly stood up, pointed at the screen, and yelled urgently: ”Get them to stop.”

With the anxious voice of this captain, almost all the Phantom Fleet officers in the conference room stood up. In front of them, Little Thief No.2 was getting closer to the Western Alliance Fleet, so close that their hearts seemed to be jumping into their throats. Even Tony, Isaac, Garfield, and Diana lost their composure, showing fear.

The conference room instantly turned chaotic.

However, the Phantom Fleet officers’ anxiety seemed not to garner much attention from the bandit army officers.

Tony and the others noticed that despite the anxious cries of the captain, the bandit army communications officer at the SkyNet control console made no movements, while Blatt, Fei Ouwen, and other bandit army generals cast their gaze towards Fatty.

Their nonchalance formed a stark contrast with the anxious ship captains.

What’s going on?

Tony, with sharp observational skills, quickly glanced at Margaret beside Fatty... Like the bandit army officers, Margaret also showed no sign of anxiety.

Detecting the strange atmosphere, the anxious ship captains stopped shouting in confusion. The conference room fell into a sudden silence. Time ticked away, and the distance data on the virtual screen showed that Little Thief No.2 had slowly flown to an airspace less than 500 kilometers from the Western Alliance Fleet.

A red, clawed dragon and a knight in armor... The emblem and numbers on the bow of the Western Alliance battleship gradually appeared in the long-range viewer, becoming increasingly clear!

At a distance of 500 kilometers, the Jiepeng Royal Dragon Rider Fleet... Ship captains stared blankly at the long-range viewer footage from Little Thief No.2, their minds completely blank. Whether the current distance between Little Thief No.2 and the enemy, or the powerful emblem on the enemy battleship’s bow, was enough to petrify them in shock.

”Dragon Rider Fleet?” Fatty’s surprised voice shattered the calm in the conference room, ”What is this thing?”

”The Dragon Rider Fleet is one of the five elite super group fleets of the Jiepeng Royal Family,” Margaret explained seriously to Fatty while detailing the emblem, ”Its commander is named Port Auburn, a Jiepeng General second only to Mikami Yuto, nicknamed One-eyed Python. He is one of the opponents least desired by Space Navies across nations.”

Speaking, Margaret picked up a Western Alliance commanding officers general profile file from the nearby staff and handed it to Fatty: ”Auben ranks twenty-eighth on the general rankings, but in the Space Navy commander rankings, his position is higher than Mikami Yuto.”

Upon hearing his rank was even higher than Mikami Yuto, Fatty felt his heart skip a beat.

He never dreamed that the bandit army, which previously messed around with bricks, would now, having just drawn their swords and revealed their blades, encounter such a figure. Judging by Margaret’s tone and the reactions of the officers present—this guy had a gun!

Being merely a mechanic soldier without exposure to such aspects, his understanding of these renowned commanders was less than that of any Military Academy student.

When the students turned these thunderously famous names into part of their lives amidst coursework, idle chat, and dreams, for Fatty, a renowned commander was nothing but air, having no relation with him whatsoever. Lacking fame or honor, a group of burly, scruffy, bearded men—what was there to look at?

Moreover, even if one wanted to look, the editors of adult magazines wouldn’t provide introductions.

”Is this guy very powerful?” Fatty flipped through the files, unable to find any personal details of this Auburn.

Margaret seriously nodded and said, ”Although Mikami Yuto ranks higher, that’s due to his strategic level prowess. Auburn is recognized as an expert on commanding a space fleet and tactical skills. His combat style resembles a python, silently preparing for an attack, and when he strikes, he coils around the enemy until consumed. Since one of Auburn’s eyes was blinded from injury, he is called One-eyed Python.”

”If you were to command the battle, what are the chances of winning?” Fatty pondered and asked.

”Less than thirty percent,” Margaret calmly replied. She showed no embarrassment in front of the officers present.

This was the truth. Despite her impressive military talent and personal training from Hastings, compared to these renowned commanders who have been famous throughout the galaxy for many years, she was still too inexperienced. What veteran wasn’t battle-hardened, what talent were they lacking? Their wealth of experience was enough to make any young genius unwittingly fall into their traps.

The cost of underestimating them was like a meteor’s fall into oblivion!

The conference room fell silent because of Margaret’s silence.

Fatty glanced around and found that none of the officers looked pleased. Clearly, the name Auben brought them a shock and threat far beyond his imagination.

Heh, Fatty chuckled foolishly.

Who is this Auben? Master Fatty feels he needs to reach out and touch to find out!

With the war reaching this point, do I have a way out? How many more challenges lie ahead, and how many great generals will gnash their teeth and whine? If the bandit army were to stop in fear because of one person’s reputation, why have I been struggling until now?!

He turned his head to look at Fei Ouwen and Chel. The two pillars of the Leray Space Navy were staring at him intently. Nearby, the Army leaders like Blatt wore expressions of mild indifference. For four years, Leray has battled against Jiepeng, Suss, Gazalin, and Desic. When have the commanders of this nation ever been afraid!

”Alright,” Fatty looked at his watch: ”We have one hour before the end of the 5th Leg...”

He walked over to the chair at the center of the SkyNet Control Console, input the interstellar map of the Bull Tail system into the simulation program, and said, ”Everyone plan, see how we can take down this one-eyed dragon.”

To fight?!

Fatty’s words were like a bomb dropped in the conference room. No one expected that after knowing the opponent’s identity, this General Tian would decisively decide to confront him. As if he were facing a rookie, ready to slice through with ease.

”Sir, the enemy has the advantage in terrain, and their forces are 1.5 times ours. Even if we win, it’s like killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of our own,” a ship captain jumped up and said: ”I don’t agree to fight.”

”Yeah, the opponent is Jiepeng General Auben,” a staff officer said worriedly: ”Hoping he makes a mistake or beating him with inferior troops in a direct confrontation is almost impossible!”

”Although we know the enemy’s whereabouts, once we pass through the obstacle area of the 5th Leg, we will be exposed to them with no way to sneak behind them. Knowing the enemy’s movements makes no difference in the battle. Unless we don’t pass under their noses.”

”I’m not afraid of fighting, but this battle is unwinnable!”

”Using numbers to overwhelm few and many to defeat less is the way of warfare! If we can’t annihilate the enemy with superior forces at our designated time and place, even a win is a loss! If our troops are exhausted, what will we fight with in future wars, with our teeth?”

The officers became increasingly excited as they discussed.

Margaret had no reaction to this almost undisciplined clamor among the Phantom Fleet officers. Although she knew, just sweeping her eyes around could make the entire conference room go silent.

She knew this unit too well. These people are unafraid of fighting and fear no opponent. They just don’t believe in Fatty right now!

They are elites who’ve emerged from the most elite forces of the Feiyang Military.

They have undergone the universe’s most rigorous training, serving and fighting in every corner of the galaxy. Even in peacetime, their combat intensity surpasses that of most armies today.

If not for her grandfather and herself, they would never entrust their lives to a stranger named Fatty.

For them, any suppression is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause. If Fatty wants to earn their respect and obedience, he must lead them to victory. There is no other way!

But the opponent is the Jiepeng Dragon Rider Fleet, it’s Auben!

This is a man even Hastings dare not underestimate, considered an aerial combat king among the Jiepeng people. He’s entrenched in the Star Domain where the bandit army must pass, ready to strike a fatal blow.

Defeating him would be a significant blow to the Western Alliance. The entire Fei Alliance would cheer enthusiastically for it.

Can the bandit army, showing its sword for the first time, defeat this formidable enemy?

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. This was from yesterday. There’s another update tonight.

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. (To be continued, to see what happens next, please log on to www.qidian.com for more Chapters, support the author, support licensed reading!)