King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer-Chapter 1819 - 1499: Our Fleet

US Dollar Berdjansk, Sergey took out the flask from his pocket and downed a swig of strong liquor...

The area has already become an occupied zone by Russia, yet the interior of the city remains relatively stable. As a Russian-speaking region, the locals aren't particularly fearful of the Russian Army; some even welcome its arrival.

Sergey is an old KGB veteran who later stayed in Ukraine to assist in the establishment and training of the Golden Eagle Special Forces.

Initially, only a small segment of the Golden Eagle troops defected and sought external jobs, but as the Eastern conflict intensified and Sergey led the Golden Eagle in prolonged activities in the East, more and more Golden Eagles chose to join Sergey's command due to internal reasons within Ukraine.

In the past three years, Sergey has been handling $2 million annually in funds from Boss Qiao and an unbelievably abundant supply of logistics resources, assisting local Eastern militia in resisting Axing battalion's purges while sending numerous Eastern talents to Greece.

The majority of those leaving included many like these Golden Eagles, raised in Russian-speaking areas yet disliked by both sides for not wanting to fight.

Another portion felt Ukraine held no hope and didn't wish to go to Europe and become second-class citizens.

In the past years, Sergey effectively acted as a smuggler...

He didn't take money from civilians but sent them to Greece based on their needs, leaving them free to choose whether to try their luck in Central Africa or stay and work in Crete, Greece.

However, when the war started, Sergey became the lifeline for many...

The northern and eastern lines of Russia performed terribly, prompting the Russian military, eager to save face, to continually urge the southern troops, resulting in a volatile southern line.

The Black Sea Fleet and Aerospace Forces launched brutal bombings on Mariupol, causing massive civilian migration.

But with Russia aiming to crush the Axing battalion within Mariupol to save face, they essentially cut off road traffic from Donetsk into Ukraine.

Kyiv's forces are organizing to encircle the capital, leaving the western forces completely depleted and the eastern forces immobilized, resulting in a vulnerable south, unable to break the Russian Army's siege on Mariupol.

Under such circumstances, Sergey used currency through local Donetsk militia to open a civilian evacuation passage at Berdjansk, east of Mariupol.

Those who can and want to leave should hurry up, and those unable to leave must wait for Russia's mood-driven relief.

Sergey stood warily at a dock of an abandoned shipyard in Berdjansk, gazing at thousands of local civilians who had waited in the cold wind for a day...

The old man eyed the distant air raid explosions illuminating the sky, spat thickly to the side, then instructed his assistant 'Battle Axe,' "Tell them to board the ship, wait any longer and someone will freeze."

The tall 'Battle Axe' hesitated and said, "Teacher, we haven't contacted the P·B fleet yet. Letting them board the ship now, if any issues arise along the way..."

Sergey shook his head, saying, "The Crimea Strait is already locked down; we must pass through the Kerch Strait while the Black Sea Fleet's focus is still near Odessa.

Russia's troops have gone berserk; those inept commanders both push incessantly and demand restraint from the troops. Their losses in Mariupol are severe...

Berdjansk is no longer safe either..."

Sergey's words were subtle, but 'Battle Axe,' as a soldier, knew well what he meant...

Russia's rear commanders follow a political route; they push the southern troops into reckless assaults while forbidding harm to Mariupol civilians...

Soldiers are human too; such inadequately trained and relatively untamed troops from Russia are even harder to control.

Generally, they wouldn't harm Russian-speaking civilians, but refugees are a different story.

Faced with significant casualties, soldiers with no outlet for their rage could do anything.

'Battle Axe' remained silent with a complex expression for a long time, then turned to rally his comrades and began organizing the shivering refugees onto the ship...

Once everyone started moving, 'Battle Axe,' with a pained expression, walked to Sergey and whispered, "Teacher, what will we do in the future?

Will we ever have a chance to return home?"

Sergey scoffed at the question, "Return home?"

Turning to look at the refugees boarding the ship, Sergey shook his head and said, "After fighting Axing battalion for four years and now helping these people who see Russia as robbers to smuggle...

Where do we have a home?

Who views us as their own anymore?"

'Battle Axe' took a deep breath and said, "It's good. I've long wanted to leave this hellhole...

Greece, Liberia, Central Africa all seem nice..."

Sergey sensed the demoralized spirit in 'Battle Axe'; most of these Golden Eagles were like this.

Don't talk about national honor; aiding civilians from 'occupied territories' was the peak of soldiers' honor.

Boss Qiao spends $2 million yearly for them to do 'the right thing,' sustaining their spirit.

Without Boss Qiao's funding, they would have become stray dogs of war by now.

Though he understood, Sergey still looked down on his student's weakness, shaking his head disdainfully and said, "We are soldiers; a soldier's duty is to fight...

The boss was chosen by us, and we chose P·B because we believe we can find a reason there to die with a clear conscience.

What you need to do now is trust in P·B, the people who went to Aqionghan have already been rewarded, and I believe we'll soon receive our rewards too."

As the old man spoke, he grinned and said, "Why should we run?

No one treats us as their own, so we'll just do it ourselves..."

'Battle Axe' thought the old man's brain had gone haywire when he was about to say something, the Talus communicator on his chest suddenly lit up...

"Calling Golden Eagle...

This is the Princess's maritime security fleet, I'm 'Trigger', the captain of the 'Piranha Squad', we've crossed the Kerch Strait, where are you?"

'Battle Axe' heard this and excitedly picked up the communicator, saying, "This is Golden Eagle, I'm commander 'Battle Axe', we're at the Berdjansk shipyard, arranging for refugees to board the ships.

We don't have enough fuel, food, or medical supplies, and might not be able to hold on until the Istanbul Strait, can you provide us with supplies?"

'Trigger' on the communicator was silent for a moment, then said, "We only have four Sea Hawk-43s and don't have enough supplies to provide you.

But how many of you are there? Can't you at least make it to Odessa?"

"Odessa?"

'Battle Axe' said in surprise, "Odessa is at war..."

'Trigger' paused, then laughed and said, "You don't know?

The boss bought Odessa, and our fleet has arrived..."

"Fleet?"

'Battle Axe' said, his voice trembling, "Our fleet?"

'Trigger' seemed to understand why 'Battle Axe' was so excited, he laughed and said, "Yes, our fleet...

Our boss wants me to ask if you're willing to go to Odessa, managing the port and maintaining order there requires a lot of manpower..."

Saying this, 'Trigger' seemed to think of something and said with a bit of bitterness, "You're 'Battle Axe', right? I've been at sea for almost five years, and my salary is only level 15. You're lucky, just sign the contract and you get to level 15...

The boss says Odessa needs a capable security chief..."

'Battle Axe' was stunned for a moment, he looked worriedly at his teacher, then said cautiously, "Me? Going there..."

'Trigger', feeling disappointed that this opportunity hadn't landed on him, said irritably, "Yes, you. They say there's an old man who wets his feet when he pees...

The boss's team is acquiring real estate and property in Odessa, and it'll all be handed over to you for management.

FUCK, why didn't this good fortune fall on me?"

When 'Battle Axe' wanted to speak, Sergey snatched his communicator and said, "Because you Americans will get killed the moment you land in Ukraine..."

Looking at the dark sky, 'Battle Axe' said solemnly, "It's 3 hours until dawn, we'll rendezvous near the Kerch Strait...

Be sure to monitor the movements of the Black Sea Fleet, there are some warships active here, make sure not to engage with the other side..."

'Trigger' was silent for a few seconds and said, "We have to pick up a few people, don't worry, Russia's dilapidated ships can't stop us..."

................

While 'Trigger' was speaking, on the sea 200 kilometers from the Odessa waters, the two 056 'Lion King' and 'Eagle' ships, along with twelve Sea Hawk-43s, went into formation, confronting Russia's fleet from a few kilometers away...

The anti-ship missile tubes on the Russian warships had already been opened, and despite their inadequate tonnage, the two 056 ships fearlessly blocked the side of the route, covering a cargo ship loaded with relief supplies as it passed through, while during radio negotiations, aiming their 127mm 'Oto' cannons at the Russian fleet...

The situation appeared tense, both sides were continuously negotiating via radio, and P·B's side was clearly acting more arrogantly...

The sailors, mainly from France and Italy, were veterans, and considering that apart from tonnage, the Russian ships didn't seem to have much else, these sailors showed no fear when faced with the overwhelmingly superior tonnage of the Black Sea Fleet...

All sorts of profanity were being sent via radio, while at the rear deck of the 'Lion King', an unmanned airship began to ascend quickly...

Meanwhile, 'Eagle' put on a more exaggerated display, as the sailors, almost as if showing off, rolled out two 'supermarket shelves' filled with triangular drones...

After using locks to secure the 'shelves' on the helicopter deck, four drones, almost akin to small Iranian motorcycles, ignited and took off into the sky instantly.

The Black Sea Fleet of Russia reacted with unexpected calm in the face of what was nearly a declaration of war...

An old frigate fired a series of demonstrative shots at the sea, then those on the ship began to shout at P·B's people to stop provoking and to exit the Black Sea channel.

P·B's people didn't respond this time. As the unmanned airship gradually ascended, twelve Sea Hawk-43s activated all weapon systems and began maneuvering at sea...