In another direction within the inner area of Lihu County, a dozen black Battleaxe military mechas were advancing toward the center.
Dusk had already fallen, and the mechas had switched on their headlights. Accompanied by motorcycle escorts, they resembled gods of war emerging from the shadows.
"Sir, we've lost contact with the First Task Force."
In the middle of this mechanized unit, a fat man in a green camouflage uniform, with a cigar in his mouth, sat in the back seat of a silver sedan.
His car door was knocked on, and a soldier in exoskeleton armor reported to him.
"Maybe it's because this damn place is too remote and the signal is poor. Ignore them."
The fat man replied absentmindedly.
"But—"
The soldier wanted to continue speaking but was cut off by a faceful of cigar smoke blown at him by the fat man inside the car.
"Have you ever considered the possibility that those guys shut off communications on purpose and are plundering the local residents?"
With that, the fat man closed the car door.
He glanced at the darkening sky outside and couldn't help but sigh.
The current mechas were still too slow.
Ever since he witnessed the experimental mecha powered by the Wisdom Cube energy core at the Dongyun City military lab a few months ago, he had grown disdainful of the scrap metal he currently possessed.
If those Wisdom Cube mechas could be mass-produced, they could easily defeat not just the Fleet Girls but even the Sirens.
Once they regained control of the seas, Battleaxe Industries could invade the Natlan Empire and use the latest generation of mechas to annihilate their old enemy completely.
At that point, it wouldn't be impossible for Orlan to rule the world.
And Battleaxe Industries would be the greatest hero!
As the man indulged in his wild fantasies, his phone suddenly rang, shattering his dream.
"Hello?... Yes! Yes, it's me! Xu Ru, captain of the Dongyun City Second Task Force, ready to die for Boss Ye at any time!"
The fat man, Xu Ru, instantly went from lazy to fanatical the moment he realized who was on the other end of the call.
Knowing the caller's identity, his demeanor changed in an instant.
"I understand. Rest assured, Boss Ye, I will complete the mission without fail and will not let you down!"
Hanging up the phone, Xu Ru slammed on the brakes and leaped out of the car.
Their original target had suddenly changed, based on a direct order from the leader of Battleaxe Industries.
This unexpected joy was beyond Xu Ru's wildest dreams.
Initially, he had been ordered by Battleaxe Industries' Dongyun City agent to occupy Lihu County.
But now, Boss Ye had personally called him, so he would obey without question.
Boss Ye wasn't someone every employee had the chance to see. He was the sole leader of the massive military conglomerate Battleaxe Industries.
That was why Xu Ru acted like he had been injected with adrenaline the moment he received the call.
Being able to speak directly with Boss Ye was the highest honor for him.
In Battleaxe Industries, if you were willing to put in enough effort and risk your life, the conglomerate would definitely reward you in kind.
Whether it was power, authority, wealth, or anything else.
As long as your efforts brought value to the conglomerate, anything within its power would be granted to you.
Therefore, employees and even the management of Battleaxe Industries were essentially ruthless desperados, wolves in every sense.
"The bold get rich, the timid starve to death" was the true motto of Battleaxe Industries.
Boss Ye would occasionally issue direct orders to the lowest-level employees, which was a massive opportunity for promotion for every employee.
Xu Ru never imagined that he would one day encounter such a heaven-sent opportunity.
Suppressing his inner excitement, he shouted into the communicator:
"Everyone, turn around immediately! The target has changed!"
"Our mission has been updated. Now, follow me to attack the Naval Port Area in Lihu County!"
Upon hearing his orders, all the soldiers wordlessly turned around and charged toward the river estuary on the outskirts.
Not one of them doubted whether they could defeat the Fleet Girls at this small naval port.
In the eyes of these Battleaxe Industries task force soldiers, even if the mission meant going to their deaths, they would go willingly.
Apart from manufacturing military products, the members of Battleaxe Industries' dispatched task forces were all veterans or mercenaries.
Except for the fact that they fought for profit, they were nearly indistinguishable from a true army.
Xu Ru couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation at being assigned to attack a naval port.
This would be the first clash between human mechas and Fleet Girls. Regardless of the outcome, they would be remembered by the conglomerate.
He had seen Fleet Girls in battle before. In his opinion, as long as there weren't too many Fleet Girls in that port, they had a fighting chance with a sudden onslaught of mecha firepower.
Although he didn't understand why Battleaxe Industries had suddenly turned against the Navy, his only concern was following orders.
The rest would naturally be handled by those higher up.
Just as Xu Ru was in the car, contemplating the strategy for the upcoming sneak attack on the port, he suddenly heard the harsh sound of mechas screeching to an emergency halt outside.
"Monster! Monster!"
Xu Ru heard the terrified wail of the driver in the front seat and looked ahead in confusion.
In the twilight, a monster had appeared directly in front of their mecha unit.
Yes, a monster.
A black and red, three-headed steel dragon glared down at them with a fierce gaze.
Even the tallest mecha looked like a mere toy before this three-headed dragon.
"What is that monster? Open fire! Fire now!"
Xu Ru watched in horror as one of the dragon's heads aimed at them, its massive orange jaws opening wide as a torrent of orange flames swept toward them.
He let out a gut-wrenching scream.
But all his efforts were in vain.
The orange flames engulfed the street in an instant. A transparent energy shield appeared briefly before every mecha, only to shatter immediately under the blaze.
With a single strike, this monstrous dragon incinerated all life and vehicles of Battleaxe Industries along the road.
Xu Ru watched in despair from within the car as the flames poured in, incinerating his body.
He let out a cry of agony, but his voice was quickly consumed by the flames, his entire being turned to ash in the abnormal heat.
"To think they dared to suddenly change direction to attack my port. How reckless."
Lin Lan silently observed the sunken road scorched by the flames of the Rupprecht Warship Armor, his eyes icy cold.
He looked at the Rupprecht Warship Armor's demonic dragon. He hadn't noticed before, but this three-headed dragon bore a striking resemblance to the monstrous villain from a movie he had seen.
The cosmic monster King Ghidorah, also with three heads.
As the flames dissipated, the Rupprecht Ironblood Warship Armor vanished into the void once more.
Before he could continue recalling the movie's plot, the girl beside him hugged his arm, shaking it wildly and urging:
"Hey, let's go! It's almost dark!"
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