Another World: Naval Storm

Chapter 176 The Friendship of Enemies

"General, no need. I will be the captain of the King soon, and I feel great!" Nicholas rejected Bollinger's kindness without hesitation.

"You have to think clearly. The General Staff may be another starting point for you. Originally, you and Leo were known as the two strategic heroes of the Navy. Now Leo is far ahead in the Navy. If you don't work harder, you will never catch up with him! Are you willing to fall behind Leo forever?" Boller continued to ask.

"All the glory Leo has achieved now is what he deserves. I will not give up catching up with him, but I don't want to leave the King. The General Staff is not suitable for me!"

"That's great, young people are full of energy. Haha, if you change your mind, come to me while I'm still the chief of staff!" Bollinger did not insist and walked out of the conference room building.

April 1917, 4, Drake Imperial Pt.

In order to ease people's emotions, the Navy Department deliberately released the news that the investigation and evidence collection work of the Navy Procuratorate will be completed within a few days, and on April 4, the Navy Military Court will make the final judgment on Leo.

The enthusiastic Drake people were not afraid of the cold wind and were scattered in the streets and alleys, restaurants and bars of Platinum. They wanted to know the result as soon as possible. Some Platinum citizens and supporters who rushed in from other places gathered outside the court. They wanted to be the first to welcome the glorious return of the wronged naval hero.

"The trial is taking too long! Will the Navy prosecutor make things difficult for the general?" Professor Meli of Platinum University said worriedly.

"Probably not!" Booth, an 18-year-old freshman at Platinum University, stood on a step and expressed his opinion.

"I wonder if the general will take up the post of deputy commander of the Ocean Fleet. You know, the position of deputy commander of the Ocean Fleet has been vacant for a long time. With the general's ability, he should play his role in a higher position!"

"Little Booth, you think too simply!" Others did not dare to think so. It was only a matter of time before the 42-year-old deputy commander of the Ocean Fleet was promoted to commander-in-chief.

Platinum, Naval Court-Martial, Under the Scales of Justice.

Representatives of naval officers and sailors, reporters from major newspapers in the Drake Empire, Hannah, Wenna, Frank, and Mia and her husband all stood up from the gallery. The spotlights illuminated the entire space, and everyone was waiting for the final verdict.

"Based on the fact that the Kingdom of Tarun abused the flag of a neutral country to arm warships and hunt down Imperial submarines and transport ships after the war, which was the first violation of the rules of belligerence, this court rules that General Leo did not violate the law by flying the flag of the Kingdom of Noah during the reconnaissance operation in the Skagerrak Strait; after the Battle of the North Sea, the testimony of captured sailors alone could not prove that all the officers and soldiers of the reconnaissance fleet were killed, so this court rules that General Leo did not violate the law by insisting on listing the officers and soldiers of the reconnaissance fleet as missing persons after the naval battle." As soon as the words fell, cheers rang out from the audience.

"Quiet! Quiet!"

The judge kept knocking the gavel to remind the cheering crowd in the gallery to pay attention to the order of the court. But the cheers continued, forcing the judge to stop several times.

"Based on the investigation and trial, and since no new evidence has been submitted, I declare General Leo not guilty and release him on the spot!"

*****

"Our ancestors defeated the Invincible Armada, the Fleet of Flanders, and the Fleet of France after the war. We have dominated the ocean for nearly two hundred years! Although this is the most difficult time for the Kingdom of Talen and the Royal Navy, the Talen people have no precedent of voluntarily surrendering! No matter how difficult it is, we must hold on! Don't think of making us surrender!"

The new Minister of the Navy, Art Bell, did not give his allies any face and kept mentioning Talen's past glory to senior officials in Buckingham Palace.

"You say it so easily, as if we can defeat the Drakes tomorrow?" Looking at Art Bell's brazen remarks in the newspaper, Liam shook his head in disdain. There happened to be a trash can next to the wall. He threw the newspaper filled with garbage into the trash can and walked into his and Alex's temporary residence.

"General, you're back?" Alex was writing furiously at a small desk. He planned to write a memoir to tell the world about his life experience.

"Alex, there's no need to call me general here. We don't have any positions now. We are all in prison!"

"Okay, General... Liam, what are the results of the naval meeting held in Fog City? What suggestions does the Navy have for dealing with us sinners?" Alex has been waiting for news.

"Alex, two pieces of news, one good news and one bad news." Liam took off his coat, hung up his military cap, and told a black humor joke: "The good news is that Art Bell took over as the Minister of the Navy, and the bad news is also that Art Bell took over as the Minister of the Navy."

"General, your joke is not funny at all. Looks like we have no chance?" Alex still had a little hope during the long wait, but Liam's words extinguished the already slim hope and poured a basin of cold water on it.

As a senior naval officer, he was well aware of the meaning of Liam's words, and that these people would be liquidated.

With Art Bell taking charge of the Royal Navy, the old order will inevitably be broken. Given his character, he will not allow the Grand Fleet to have any voice against him.

"When it comes to the German and Tajik navies, Leo and I are often mentioned and compared. We have a deep friendship for more than ten years. We are both among the best in our respective navies. We even faced military courts at the same time after the same naval battle. It's a pity that Leo is respected for his glory, while I am handcuffed and cursed by the people!"

Liam, who was once known for his bravery and heroic spirit and was proud of his position in the Grand Fleet, is now somewhat depressed. The former vice commander of the Grand Fleet laughed at his fate.

"Hey, Alex, where did you start writing this book?"

"Oh, it started when we met Leo and Leon in the Far East," Alex replied.

"I remember that we met on a street selling antiques in Xunyang Yanjing. Leo suddenly appeared and scared us... It was so good at that time..." Liam's eyes were a little dazed. The past days would never come back.

"Liam, I don't know if this book can be published because it contains some sensitive content..." Alex was a little worried. Some of the content in the book was unfavorable to the Royal Navy, and perhaps no one in Tarun would dare to publish it.

"It's written very objectively and impartially! There should be no problem with publishing it. At worst, we can publish it in another country. My wife just happens to have some connections!" Liam read it from beginning to end and didn't find any faults.

"Liam, what do you think of a name? You are the protagonist in this story!"

“Let’s call it ‘The Friendship of Enemies’ to commemorate all these years!”