The Spell's Range Covers the Entire Territory of China? Hand It Over to the Nation

16: Chapter 16 The Seven Seas Joint Fleet! The Overt Scheme in ”No Man’s Land”On the boundary line between the international waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Longxia Country in the South China Sea, a confrontation capable of altering the world order was brewing.

Under the lead-gray sky, the sea surface seemed to be torn apart by an invisible giant hand. A massive steel fleet was cutting through the waves with an arrogant posture, advancing at full speed toward the southeast.

At the core position was a pitch-black behemoth, mountain-like in size—the pride of the Eagle Federation Navy, the nuclear-powered Magic Guide Aircraft Carrier, the ”poseidon”.

Its displacement exceeded an astonishing one hundred and twenty thousand tons, but that was not its most terrifying aspect. Around its wide flight deck, there were no dense close-in weapon systems commonly seen; instead, six semi-transparent rhombic crystal towers, up to thirty meters high, were suspended.

A faint blue radiance flowed within these crystal towers, a sign of intense reaction from highly concentrated liquid Demonic Energy. Six beams of light shot into the sky, converging a thousand meters high, then descended like a waterfall, supporting a pale blue hemispherical force field shield that enveloped the entire carrier.

As waves struck the base of the shield, they stirred up visible rings of energy ripples.

This was the crystallization of the Eagle Federation’s ultimate ’Magic Guide Technology’. This shield could not only withstand a Category 12 typhoon but theoretically could even endure a saturation strike from conventional anti-ship missiles.

Flanking the ”poseidon” were over twenty modern warships from seven allied nations, including Sakura Country, Austradia, and Gaul Chicken. Missile destroyers, cruisers, supply ships... various radar antennas spun incessantly, and the black muzzles of cannons were always aimed at the northern horizon amidst the rising and falling of the waves.

Banners darkened the sky, and the Killing Intent was chilling. This was the so-called ’Seven Seas Joint Fleet,’ capable of blockading the world’s oceans.

Inside the operations command room on the top deck of the ”poseidon,” luxurious Persian carpets covered the floor, and the air was thick with the mellow aroma unique to Cuban cigars, utterly incongruous with the grim atmosphere of war outside.

Eagle Federation Navy Admiral, ’Storm’ George, stood before a holographic tactical sea chart that covered an entire wall. He wore a crisp white naval dress uniform, his chest medals gleaming under the lights.

Compared to the fury and loss of composure he displayed earlier at The Pentagon when F-22s were mysteriously held suspended in the air by an unknown force, he now appeared exceptionally elegant and composed.

He even had the leisure to hold a stemmed glass, gently swirling the top-tier red wine inside, which was as clear as a ruby, while looking out through the massive floor-to-ceiling porthole, overlooking this invincible fleet that belonged to him.

”General, we are about to enter the Longya Island sea area.”

The adjutant strode over and reported, ”The Long Country Navy is frantically shouting over the public channel, claiming we are about to intrude upon their territorial waters and demanding we immediately change course, or they will take all necessary measures.”

”Necessary measures?” George took a sip of red wine, as if hearing a joke. ”Let them take them. Are they going to use those ship cannons whose range is less than half of ours, or do they plan to swim over and bite our hull?”

A restrained, low chuckle echoed in the command room.

The adjutant, however, showed a trace of worry on his face. ”General, although this is international water, it is still close to Longxia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. What happened last night was too bizarre; the principles behind those two F-22s are still unclear. If we charge in so openly, will it...”

”Relax, my child, you are too tense.”

George turned around and patted the adjutant’s stiff shoulder. ”Do you think I’m some brute whose mind is clouded by rage? No, quite the opposite. I have already simulated this battle countless times in my mind.”

He pointed outside the window. Within the core protection circle of the fleet, besides the menacing warships, a giant engineering vessel with a peculiar design was particularly eye-catching. That ship carried no weapons, but in its center stood a massive drilling derrick, up to a hundred meters high, like a spear piercing the heavens.

”See that? The ’Deep Sea Geological Survey Vessel’—the prometheus. It carries humanity’s ’lofty ideal’ of exploring the Earth’s mysteries.”

”Longya Island is a newly surfaced island. According to the ’International Convention on the Law of the Sea’, before its sovereignty is clearly established, it belongs to the unclaimed land. Since it is unclaimed land, any country has the right to harmless passage and scientific investigation. This is legally sound; we need not worry.”

”But Longxia Country will certainly claim it as their territory, especially since it’s within their traditional maritime boundary line,” the adjutant was still uneasy.

”Heh, what use is a mere claim? Words spoken cannot change reality,” George sneered.

”As for the Eastern mysterious weapon you worry about... Indeed, the intelligence department analyzed all the data and determined it is an extremely terrifying power involving the ’rules’ level. But in this world, every rule has a loophole; every procedure is not perfect.”

”His action in the Western Territory was because the F-22s not only ’invaded’ their airspace but also activated their fire-control radars, displaying clear ’hostility’. This triggered the core condition of a defensive mechanism—hostility and invasion.”

”But now, please observe our actions clearly.” George pointed to the route map on the screen: ”We are sailing normally on ’international waters’. Our objective is an ’unclaimed’ desolate island, and our purpose is ’peaceful’ geological survey. We have not crossed the line, nor have we fired, and even our fire-control radars are locked down.”

”To prove our ’innocence’, I even thoughtfully brought reporters from dozens of mainstream Western media outlets worldwide, who are currently live-broadcasting from the deck.”

Saying this, George’s smile grew brighter.

”Within the rules, it is indeed unrivaled. But what if we don’t touch its red line of rules? That ’God’ couldn’t possibly strike me down with lightning just because I glanced at the street lamp outside his house, or dug up a weed from the roadside, could he? If he did that, Huaxia would have violated international conventions, and they would have no face left to claim they are an ancient civilized nation.”

”At that point, we wouldn’t even need to lift a finger. The pressure of global public opinion could drown Longxia Country. We would stand on the moral high ground, accusing them of obstructing human scientific progress and accusing them of hegemony.”

The adjutant listened, dumbfounded. He had to admit that the Admiral’s calculation was truly brilliant. This was not just a military operation, but a meticulously planned political and legal trap.

”But... our true objective is ultimately...” the adjutant stopped speaking.

”True objective?” George made a shushing gesture. ”As long as our drill penetrates the earth’s vein and the shock bomb detonates, it will be an unfortunate ’geological disaster’, the will of God, or the inherent instability of Longxia Country’s earth vein. What does it have to do with us?”

”At that time, half of Asia’s coastline will become ruins. Longxia Country’s national fortune will be completely broken, and we will reap the benefits.”

”Report!” The communications soldier’s voice suddenly rang out. ”The Longxia Country fleet ahead refuses to yield passage. They sent an ultimatum: if we continue forward, they will intercept us at all costs, even... preparing for ramming!”

”Ramming?” George adjusted his collar, a victor’s smile on his face. The sense of superiority from controlling everything reached its peak at this moment.

”Tell all ships: maintain radio silence, ignore their clamor. Shut down all active radars except for navigation lights.”

”Pass my order: Full speed ahead! Ram straight through!”

”Remember, do not strike back if attacked, do not retort if insulted. We will proceed brazenly. If they dare to fire the first shot, they will be the sinners who destroyed world peace, playing right into our hands. And if they dare not fire...” George glanced at the impregnable Magic Guide Shield outside the window, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

”Then let their ships come and ram us. I also want to see whose steel is harder: their few old destroyers or our Magic Guide Shield.”

As the order was given, the ”poseidon” let out a roar. Its massive hull crushed the waves, carrying an Aura of crushing everything, charging toward the few, comparatively frail Longxia warships ahead.

This was a huge gamble, and George was certain he held the chips for an assured victory.

...

Thirty nautical miles from the main body of the Joint Fleet.

The seawater here was a deep blue, almost black. Waves shattered against the steel hulls, kicking up mountains of white foam.

Completely different from the luxurious scene aboard the ”poseidon” with swirling red wine and soft music, this area was filled with the smell of engine oil, ozone, and a nearly tangible scent of rust caused by extreme tension.

This was the frontline of Longxia’s territorial waters.

On the sea surface, the solitary Type 055 ten-thousand-ton destroyer, the ”Zhenhai,” looked somewhat thin under the protection of two frigates.

This formation might have had a fighting chance in conventional naval warfare, but at this moment, they were facing a massive fleet armed to the teeth and integrated with the Demonic Energy technology of the new era.

The disparity in scale between the two sides was despair-inducing.

It was like an old soldier armed with a Hanyang Type 88 rifle standing alone against a fully mechanized heavy armored division.

In the combat room of the bridge, the atmosphere was oppressive, and the monotonous, rapid beeps of the radar sounded like hammers striking everyone’s hearts.

Lin Weiguo gripped the railing edge of the command console, his knuckles turning white from excessive force.

This old general, who had guarded this post for thirty years, now had blood vessels bursting in his eyes.

He stared at the massive fleet continuously approaching on the screen, his chest heaving violently, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

”Commander! Not only did they not slow down, they’re accelerating!” The radar officer’s voice trembled, ”At this speed, they will enter the twelve-nautical-mile range of Longya Island in twenty minutes!”

”What about the warnings? The hailing? Are they deaf?” Lin Weiguo asked.

”They replied...” The communications officer’s face looked as if he had swallowed a dead fly, ”They said... this is for the sake of scientific endeavors for all humanity, thanked the Long Country Navy for their ’enthusiastic escort,’ and even asked if we wanted to come aboard for a cup of coffee.”

Bang!

Lin Weiguo slammed his fist onto the control console, leaving a shallow dent in the alloy surface.

”They are pushing too far! These Anglo-Saxon bandits, even when wearing suits, cannot change their savage and hypocritical nature!”

How could he not see their true intentions?

The so-called research vessel, the ”prometheus,” had an extremely bizarre draft, completely violating the physical common sense of ordinary engineering vessels.

Not to mention, beneath the deck covered by a thick tarp, the ship’s infrared imager was emitting high-energy radiation fluctuations more intense than a nuclear reactor.

That wasn’t a trip to chip away at rocks for scientific research; it was clearly to plant explosives on the Dragon Vein!

If this behemoth managed to embed its drill into the earth’s Ley Line beneath Longya Island, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yet, he couldn’t make a move.

In the sky above the bridge, dozens of drones from major Western mainstream media outlets circled like vultures.

The lenses of long and short cannons locked onto every movement of the ”Zhenhai” from every angle, with even the landing and taking off of gulls on the deck being live-streamed globally.

If the ”Zhenhai” couldn’t contain its anger and fired first, even just a single warning shot, the next second, under the manipulation of the Western public opinion machine, Longxia Country would instantly transform from a ’defender of territory’ to a ’savage thug obstructing human scientific progress’ and ’hoarding public sea resources.’

In the international arena of public opinion, Longxia was already on the defensive.

If this shot were fired, it would feel satisfying, but the nation’s diplomatic situation for the next few decades would fall into extreme passivity.

Moreover, the power disparity between the two sides was severe.

Even if a real fight broke out, relying solely on this one destroyer and two frigates against the joint fleet equipped with Demonic Energy Shields was tantamount to an ant trying to stop a chariot.

They probably wouldn’t even penetrate the enemy’s shields before their own side sank to the bottom of the sea.

But if they didn’t fight... were they just going to watch them sail in unimpeded?

”Commander, what should we do?”

The Executive Officer was a burly man, but his voice was somewhat dry, ”The standing order from above is ’Hold the line strictly, do not fire the first shot,’ but under the current circumstances... if we truly let them enter, we won’t be able to face the common people behind us even if we die ten thousand times.’”

Lin Weiguo took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and after a few seconds, snapped them open, only determination remaining in his gaze.

”Pass down the order.”

”All ship personnel, write your last wills and testaments.”

The bridge instantly fell into a deathly silence.

No one questioned, and no one panicked.

The young helmsman silently took out a pen and notebook; the communications soldier took off the photo of his girlfriend he kept close, kissed it, and the radar officer pulled a piece of uneaten chocolate from his pocket, peeled back the foil, popped it into his mouth, and chewed vigorously.

”If the enemy forcibly intrudes within the twelve nautical miles of Longya Island...”

Lin Weiguo adjusted his military cap, pulling the brim low.

”The ’Zhenhai’ will proceed at full speed and ram them.”

”Even if we are just a piece of iron, we must knock out two of their teeth! I refuse to believe their so-called magic shield can withstand the charge of seven thousand tons of steel!”

Since they couldn’t fire cannons, they would turn themselves into cannonballs.

Since the rules didn’t allow pulling the trigger, they would use flesh and blood to forge the final defense line.

Even if they perished at the bottom of the sea and turned into reefs, they would never let the bandits easily cross this threshold!

”Commander...”

The Executive Officer suddenly grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, ”Uh, Commander, I won’t write my last will. I’m not married anyway, just a bachelor, unattached. It’s no loss if I die.’”

”Get lost, you brat! Those without wives must write theirs even more! Leave something for your mother! Tell the old lady that her son didn’t disgrace her; he’s a real man!” Lin Weiguo cursed with a laugh, then looked out the window at the shimmering sea, murmuring in his heart:

Old comrades, it seems today we are settling down here.

That’s fine too.

This sea can bury loyal bones.

...

Kunlun Palace, Villa Number One.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy.

Qin Shuangyue projected the real-time footage from the front line onto the wall; the death-defying posture of the ”Zhenhai” was clearly visible.

Long Yi rushed in, his footsteps slightly hurried.

Although he had absolute confidence in Su Yun, the scene from the front line still caused him a moment of palpitation.

Su Yun sat on the sofa, calmly watching the arrogant Western fleet on the screen, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, deep in thought.

”I can’t figure out where their confidence comes from.

Do they think they’ve studied my skill mechanics and believe my judgment range is limited only to ’territory being invaded’?”

”Or do they think that as long as they don’t fire, and are merely ’sailing,’ it doesn’t count as an invasion?

As long as they cloak themselves in ’scientific research’ and drive their warships in, they can evade suppression?”

”If that’s the case, then we have absolutely no need to panic.”

Beside him, Long Yi, whose brows were tightly furrowed, turned his head upon hearing this: ”Su Yun, what do you mean?”

Su Yun stroked his chin and analyzed:

”Perhaps they think that as long as they don’t step on the red line, they can repeatedly jump around at the edge of it.”

”However, although my talent, ’Territory is Domain,’ cannot deal with enemies outside the territory, if they dare to enter, then no matter how fast they are, they can never bring harm to Longxia.’”

Su Yun smiled at the two of them as he spoke:

”Especially since after this promotion, I have mastered 4 new skills; the information gap on these two fronts is enough to ensure this so-called ’invincible fleet’ never returns.’”

”Under the heavens, is it not the King’s land.

These Anglo-Saxons didn’t understand this principle before and thought they could dominate with a few ships.

After today, I will make them learn how to write those two words in a way they will never forget.’”

These words were not delivered with a hoarse roar; his voice was as steady as stating an established fact.

But the power contained beneath this steadiness invigorated the two people present.

Long Yi looked at the young man before him.

He didn’t know when it started, but the scholarly air around Su Yun had faded, replaced by a composure and dominance capable of suppressing a nation’s destiny.

Today’s Longxia truly didn’t need diplomatic rhetoric that only cited classics to protest, nor did it need forbearance that prioritized the bigger picture even when wronged.

This era required thunderous methods, the wrath of a Vajra beneath the heart of a Bodhisattva.

”Good.”

Long Yi took a deep breath.

At this moment, all the hesitation and calculation in his eyes vanished, replaced by decisive, iron-blooded ruthlessness.

”They don’t understand the protests from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nor do they fear the cannon fire of the destroyer; they even want to stage a petty quarrel, taking our restraint for weakness.

In that case, Comrade Su Yun...”

”This time, we must use a method they ’understand’ to properly explain what ’since ancient times’ means, and what ’not yielding an inch of territory’ means.’”

He extended his hand to Su Yun, his gaze burning: ”The South China Sea, I entrust it to you.’”

”Elder Long, rest assured.”

Su Yun nodded slightly, his expression calm.

”However, there is one thing that must be done immediately.”

Long Yi turned to look at the screen; in the footage, Lin Weiguo stared intently out the window, clutching the walkie-talkie tightly, clearly making his final mobilization.

”That old fellow is a stubborn mule, but also a truly pure soldier.’”

Long Yi’s tone softened slightly, ”His understanding of supernatural powers is still stuck in the past; even knowing of your existence, he will prepare for the worst.

Given his personality, he has probably already written his last will and testament by now.’”

”I need to inform him first.”

Long Yi picked up the phone, ”The pillars of our nation cannot be sacrificed in vain to these wicked spirits and monsters.

This kind of suicide mission is not necessary for them to undertake.’”

PS: Happy New Year’s Day to everyone!