If anyone were nearby, they would undoubtedly be amazed by the complex composition of this fleet. A whole ten A-class fleets, numbering thousands of battleships, yet they bore four different insignias. The most astonishing of all was that two of these insignias belonged to the two superpowers of this era, who were as incompatible as fire and water. And the warships painted with these two insignias were astonishingly arranged at the flanks of the main formation of Leray battleship group, escorting it in a supporting military role.

Even the Feiyang President, who visited Binart before the battle, likely never experienced such a treatment. At the very least, the fleets that escorted them were usually C-class fleets used by the two countries for ceremonial and display purposes. No one would spend huge resources to launch two Elephant-class fleets and one Group Fleet into space, creating such a massive endeavor.

With the end of the battle, a few sneaky Western Alliance reconnaissance ships hurriedly jumped out of the Longbow Star System under the escort of the sub-fleet sent to the Jump Point. What they witnessed was enough to make them and the eyes behind them understand that the Longbow Star System had officially fallen into the hands of the Fei Alliance. Until the Western Alliance had enough courage and strength to launch an assault on a star system guarded by ten A-class fleets, every planet and every route in the Longbow Star System had nothing to do with them.

Post-battle operations proceeded in an orderly manner.

To Margaret’s perplexed observation, the Hidden Blade Fleet formally joined the bandit army’s combat sequence.

The great General Russell became the deputy of Major General Tian Xingjian. He was appointed as the Deputy Commander of the bandit army, concurrently serving as the Chief of Staff of the Group Army Command. After Fatty’s departure, Russell would cooperate with Douglas to station at Blue Stone Star, resisting the Western Alliance’s attacks until the end of the Resk Battle or a strategic maneuver was needed.

Margaret couldn’t understand.

Be it identity, position, military rank, or capability, Russell surpassed Fatty by much. Logically, Fatty’s bandit army should be quite satisfied to have a division position within the Leray Regular Army led by Russell. Yet, why was everything reversed, with three new-style Leray fleets and a half-captured Binart Elephant-class fleet becoming subordinates to dozens of damaged warships?! 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

What was even more confusing was that those Leray officers not only had no objections to this but instead wore expressions of complete acceptance.

"Tell me, what on earth is going on, that Fatty is actually leading General Russell?!"

On the Oracle Carrier’s bridge balcony, Margaret tugged Douglas’s arm, pulling the handsome young Vice Admiral’s face toward herself, and asked in bewilderment.

Douglas, Claudia, and the senior officers of the Nineteen Group Fleet, including Pang Mingjian, were invited aboard the Oracle after the Leray people’s incorporation of the Binart battleships was complete. The soldiers’ reunification celebration had ended, but the officers’ party was just beginning.

The meeting between Feiyang officers and bandit army officers was yet another emotional scene.

Upon seeing Fatty, Douglas immediately saluted and gave Fatty a bear hug with all his strength. There were also Pang Mingjian and Captain Hallman of the Oscar-class Battleship...... The Feiyang officers who had narrowly escaped death used their loud voices and strong arms to express their admiration and gratitude. If it weren’t for the party starting just in time, these Feiyang officers could have strangled their lifesaver with an embrace.

Looking at those in the banquet hall, with reddened eyes and raised glasses, with drunken tongues, shoulder-to-shoulder with bandit army officers, you could tell that the proud Feiyang had been conquered by the near-perfect performance of the bandit army. The pride of the Feiyang people comes from decades of being citizens of the world’s first superpower. Their high sights and haughtiness do not mean they are short-sighted fools.

Especially these soldiers who survived countless battles, walking the edge of life and death. All the worldly gazes and petty suspicions were seen as nonsense to them. They did not easily move emotionally. But when they did, their emotions burned hotter than the most fervent Constant Star.

Their respect was reserved for the bravest warriors! They liked that chubby Leray Fatty!

Being tugged by Margaret, Douglas helplessly handed his glass to Claudia, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the spilled wine on his hand, and sighed.

Because of Claudia and her uncle Admiral McKinley, he had known Margaret and become close friends for nearly five years. Until today, whether in his perception or in others’ eyes, Margaret had always been an exceptionally intelligent girl. Her talent in social, political, scientific, and artistic fields was just as astonishing as her military prowess.

As Douglas knew, many of the Hastings family’s matters had been handed over to her two years ago.

If at first, people only dealt with this little girl out of respect for the Hastings, eventually, everyone had to carefully regard her as the most formidable foe they had encountered.

Her talent in handling family politics captivated even the most cunning and experienced politicians.

But now....... Douglas could only sigh, as he never imagined that someone as smart as Margaret would ask him such a question.

Could she not see Fatty’s status in the minds of these Leray Warriors? No, she saw it. She was just unwilling to admit it, consumed by some emotion that clouded her vision.